"I… I don't mean anything strange," Nahida said softly, her face flushed crimson.
"I just wanted to know whether, when you look at this form of mine, you still remember how unreliable and childish I once was… or whether you still have objections toward me."
"That's why… you won't accept this version of me."
As she spoke, Nahida stood close, her posture timid yet unguarded—like someone offering herself up without resistance.
Idris didn't respond immediately.
Instead, he looked at her calmly and said,
"Then I'm sorry—but that past is precisely what allows me to stay clear-headed."
"Redemption begins with never forgetting what one has done wrong. Only then does atonement have meaning."
"That's how I see you now."
"…I see."
Nahida smiled faintly. Disappointment flickered through her heart—but it didn't linger.
She wasn't in a hurry.
Back then, it had taken her time to earn Idris's recognition—to be acknowledged as his sage, his ruler.
If necessary, she was willing to spend months… even years… atoning properly in his eyes.
But as she stood so close that her body nearly brushed against his, Idris chuckled.
With a casual flick of his hand, his Serenitea Pot flew out—
—and without another word, enveloped the two of them inside.
The sudden shift made Nahida stiffen, her cheeks burning.
"W-Wait! Grand Sage—what are you doing?!"
"The guest room outside is a bit small," Idris replied evenly.
"But my Serenitea Pot is quite spacious. Come in and sit for a while."
"…Th-Thank you…"
And just like that, Idris spent yet another different kind of night.
The next morning, after stepping out of the Aaru Village guest quarters, Idris subtly sensed the Dendro energy flowing within him.
It had grown denser.
More importantly, his control and affinity over Dendro had become smoother than before.
The improvement wasn't dramatic—perhaps only a one-percent increase.
But such things could be… repeated.
"Grand Sage Idris," Candace greeted respectfully as he stretched.
"Did you rest well last night?"
Her tone held noticeably more reverence than before.
Clearly, she now understood what Idris truly represented.
Idris nodded casually.
"Yes. I slept quite well."
"That's good," Candace said, relieved.
She glanced around, hesitated, then asked,
"Grand Sage… where is the Little Lucky Lord?"
"She?" Idris paused.
Nahida was still asleep inside the Serenitea Pot.
Frankly, this was her own doing—she'd underestimated things.
Anyone who dared challenge royal authority had to accept the consequences.
"As for the Little Lucky Lord," Idris said coolly,
"don't concern yourself with her affairs. Just continue guarding the village."
"…Understood."
Candace watched Idris depart.
There was a trace of regret in her heart—but more than that, joy.
The old king had fallen.
The new king had risen.
Clad in the identity and legacy of the past, yet walking toward a new era.
Perhaps… that wasn't a bad thing at all.
High above the desert, Idris unfurled his elemental wings and flew alone across the vast sands.
About an hour later, a familiar voice echoed in his mind.
With a flick of his fingers, Idris released a certain Dendro Archon from the Serenitea Pot—then calmly tucked her under his arm and continued flying.
As though nothing had happened the night before.
Nahida, face still red, curled quietly against him, summoning vines to bind herself securely so she wouldn't fall.
Once settled, she whispered,
"Thank you… Grand Sage Idris.
And my king."
"That's nothing to thank me for," Idris replied flatly.
"You asked for it. I simply fulfilled your wish—and didn't shortchange myself."
"You're as detestable as ever," Nahida muttered.
The two fell silent as they flew—until their destination drew near.
"Grand Sage," Nahida said quietly,
"Are you really going to confront the Dendro Dragon King, Apep, right now?"
"Of course," Idris answered.
"If my intelligence is correct, Apep is already severely weakened."
"Even at full strength, I've defeated King Deshret. I have no reason to fear her."
Though ancient, Apep lacked the authority of a Primordial Dragon.
Her power was, at best, comparable to King Deshret's.
"I don't doubt your strength," Nahida said carefully.
"But I have a feeling… if we go in like this, things may not end well."
In the original storyline, resolving Apep's crisis had required enormous sacrifice.
Without the Fungi's self-immolation, Nahida herself would have reverted to a seed.
But Idris merely smiled.
"I never said I planned to negotiate."
"The choices I offer are simple: submit—or die."
Dragon Kings. Elemental Sovereigns.
He acknowledged none of them.
In Sumeru, there was only one king.
Rainforest or desert—those who refused to bow would receive no mercy.
Even if killing Apep disrupted the rainforest…
Idris possessed sealing arts—and a World Tree fragment hungry for energy.
If Apep wished to sacrifice herself willingly?
He would welcome it.
Nahida said nothing more.
She was, after all, merely his secretary.
Soon, they reached Apep's domain.
A colossal, emerald dragon manifested in the sky—its pressure eclipsing that of any ancient god.
"Insignificant god. Insignificant human."
"Leave my territory at once."
"Do not presume that a mere human king may tread here!"
The presence was overwhelming—but that was all it was.
Idris scoffed.
"Apep," he said calmly,
"Yesterday, I defeated King Deshret."
"Through his legacy, I learned the truth—you've been corrupted by forbidden knowledge and the Abyss."
"You're operating at less than ten percent of your former strength."
"This manifestation is your limit."
"YOU—!"
The dragon's fury shook the sky.
"So what, human?!"
"Even if you inherited that detestable desert king's legacy—what then?!"
"I'd like to see what you intend to do!"
"Simple," Idris smiled.
"I can purge the corruption within you."
"But it's a trade."
"I cleanse you completely."
"In return—you submit."
"Become my mount."
Otherwise?
Remaining eternally crippled suited Idris just fine.
After all, he was lacking a proper mount.
Barbatos had Dvalin.
Why shouldn't he have one too?
Though Apep looked like a pickled dragon at rest, her manifested form was majestic enough.
Slender. Regal.
Acceptable.
Apep erupted in rage.
"Blasphemous human!"
"I would rather perish than kneel to you!"
"And do you even comprehend the price of killing me?!"
Indeed—when beings like her died, catastrophe followed.
Unchecked vegetation.
Runaway life.
Total ecological collapse.
But Idris was unmoved.
"Apep," he said coldly,
"Do you think this is still the age of gods?"
"That era ended long ago."
"This is the age of humanity."
"No matter how ancient you are—no matter what pacts you once made—"
"I am Sumeru's king."
"Submit… or be sealed."
His wings flared.
He surged forward.
"You still have time to choose."
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