"If you ask me, most in Sumeru aren't interested in Lesser Lord Kusanali," Asfand had said.

"Why?" I had asked. "She's the Dendro Archon."

"Aye, but in their eyes, Greater Lord Rukkhadevata was the one who founded Sumeru and gifted us with the Akasha. Lesser Lord Kusanali just happened to inherit her legacy," Asfand had explained. "Because of the Akademiya's influence, most citizens are more familiar with Greater Lord Rukkhadevata and hold her in greater esteem. Not to mention that Lesser Lord Kusanali never makes an appearance, and the Akademiya never announces anything about her. As far as the people of Sumeru are concerned, she's just a god that exists – and that's all."

We've already spent over half the day on hopeless leads. Even after visiting Asfand, we talked to so many people around town, young and old, with no luck at all. Dejected, I collapse onto a bench on Treasure Street with Paimon by my side. "Asfand was right about the prevalent attitudes here," I concede. "People are genuinely uninterested in the Dendro Archon."

"Not only that," Paimon says petulantly. "They even say things like 'if the Akasha doesn't think I should know, then I don't need to know.' Can you imagine?!"

"We've been asking for information non-stop ever since we got to Sumeru, but the closer we get, the more hopeless everything seems. There must be at least one person in this entire city who cares about Lesser Lord Kusanali, right?" I say desperately. "She is the Dendro Archon, isn't she?" I rest my head between my hands and close my eyes.

Then as if sent by the Dendro Archon herself, a female voice says, "you two are interested in Lesser Lord Kusanali?"

My eyes snap open. In front of me stands a young, slender woman, dressed in fine silks, hair adorned with a golden comb. She's lovely, but something about her feels fragile, as if sun could shine right through her pale complexion. Ethereal, but definitely human.

"Who are you?" I ask suspiciously.

"From the sound of it, you two are outlanders who recently arrived here," the stranger says. "You've been asking around for information on Lesser Lord Kusanali, right?" Then as if just hearing my question, she stammers, "I'm sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Dunyarzad, one of Lesser Lord Kusanali's faithful followers."

"Really?" I say. "Do you know how we can meet with her?" This seems too good to be true.

Dunyarzad shakes her head. "I'm afraid I can't help you with that, but your conversation earlier did remind me of a legend about the Dendro Archon."

"What sort of legend?" I ask, perking up. Legends have so far proven as valuable as experts in this land of many mysteries.

Dunyarzad settles down on the bench beside me and arranges her skirts elegantly. "It goes like this," she begins. "Long, long ago, there was a man who heard that a great calamity was about to befall him. Panicked by this prophecy, the man sought out the Dendro Archon in the hopes that she would bless him with the wisdom to help him escape his predicament. The man journeyed across deserts and through rainforests, and experienced tribulations of every kind. However, he still couldn't find any trace of the Dendro Archon. In despair, he thought, 'Alas, the Archon has abandoned me!' He had no choice but to resign sorrowfully to his fate."

"What happened then?" Paimon asks. "Did he die?"

Dunyarzad smiles. "Indeed, the calamity came to pass! However, to his own surprise, the man felt emboldened by the trials of his journey. By relying on his own strength, he managed to overcome the adversity. At that moment, a bird perched upon his shoulder. This bird was, in fact, an avatar of the Dendro Archon. She said: 'O archon-seeker, do you now understand? She and her wisdom have long been found by you. Along your journey, we were in every flower and blade of grass, every ray of sparkling sun, and every breath of dancing wind. So long as you continue to think and ponder, we'll be wherever you go.'"

What an amazing story. Looking around us, I imagine the Dendro Archon's power stretching through every branch and every leaf, comforting us in our seemingly hopeless search for her.

"In a way, it seems like this story is also one of the Dendro Archon's avatars," Dunyarzad says.

"Since you worship Lesser Lord Kusanali, can you tell us anything else about her?" I ask. "What is she known for? What does she do?"

"Of course!" Dunyarzad replies, eager to share her passion. "Did you two know that–" Seeming to hear something, Dunyarzad jerks her head around suddenly as her face drops. Looking back at us, she says, "I'm terribly sorry, but something has come up. Let's chat another day." Abruptly rising from the bench, she stumbles up the hilly road.

"Wait!" Paimon calls out, but she's nowhere to be seen. "What just happened?"

Rising, I take a close look around us. Everything is the same as before, save for the arrival of some Eremites, surveying the area. "It may have something to do with these people," I say, tilting my head towards them. "It looks like they're searching for someone."

"This stinks!" Paimon exclaims. "We finally found a lead about Lesser Lord Kusanali, and they scared her away!"

"She wasn't running very fast," I say calmly. "If we distract them, perhaps we can catch up to her. Come on." I walk nonchalantly towards the Eremites' direction and sure enough, one of them waves me over.

"Hey you there!" The man calls out. "Have you two seen a brown-haired girl wearing a purple top and a long blue dress?"

"Did she have bandages wrapped around her wrist?" I say innocently.

"Yes, that's her!" He replies eagerly. "Did you see where she went?"

I point in the direction opposite from Dunyarzad's path. "That way," I say.

The Eremite grins broadly and calls for his companions. "She went that way!" He shouts. "After her!" The band rushes off in the wrong direction.

When we're certain they're gone, Paimon and I hurry up the road Dunyarzad took. Sure enough, we find her a short distance away, leaning against the side of a building.

"There you are, Dunyarzad!" Paimon shouts without thinking twice. I swat at her, making hushing sounds. We don't want to notify her pursuers.

"Ah, it's just you," Dunyarzad says quietly. "You startled me there."

"Sorry about that, but don't worry," I say. "We misled those people chasing you."

"Thank you so much," Dunyarzad replies, "but unfortunately there are still more groups on the hunt." She slides down to a sitting position against the wall.

"Um," Paimon gulps, "I think another group is coming this way."

"If you hadn't been so loud, Paimon," I hiss. "Dunyarzad, we have to run."

Dunyarzad's eyes go wide, and she admits, "actually, my body isn't in the best shape right now. I don't think I can outrun them."

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

That would be an issue. "Do you know anywhere we can hide?" I ask instead.

"Yes, that would work," Dunyarzad replies. "There's a tavern on the other side of the port. They probably wouldn't expect to find me in a place like that." She reaches a hand towards me, and I pull her to a standing position. Supporting Dunyarzad, we progress relatively rapidly down the street.

It's not long before we arrive at Lambad's Tavern, a lively establishment full of locals and gossip. Warm colored light streams in through the stained-glass windows, and the air smells delicious. Letting the heavy doors shut behind us, Dunyarzad lets out a deep breath and her body relaxes. "We made it. They shouldn't be able to find us now. Let's have a seat."

I glance around for a table. Many are full of regular patrons, eating and drinking the night away, but I spot an opening near the edge of the tavern. Signaling to Dunyarzad, I start walking over, but suddenly Dunyarzad stiffens again. Following her gaze, I see a tall woman staring back at us, blade pointed straight at me. Her dark hair is loose and long, and she wears the iconic red silks of the Eremite people. "Dehya!" Dunyarzad gasps. "Stand down." Breaking free of my grasp, Dunyarzad rushes between me and Dehya.

"My lady," Dehya says politely, lowering her blade, "who are they?"

"They're travelers that I met on the street just a moment ago," Dunyarzad replies. "They happened to notice that you all were searching for me, so they helped me hide."

"I see," Dehya says coldly. "In that case, you two should scram. There's nothing here for you."

"Who are you, and why can't we stay?" I demand.

"I'm Miss Dunyarzad's bodyguard, here to see that she returns home safe and sound," she replies matter-of-factly. Addressing her quarry, she says in a gentle, but equally firm tone, "my lady, let's go. You've been gone for so long that your parents are worrying themselves sick."

"What if I refuse to go with you?" Dunyarzad says defiantly.

Dehya shrugs and smiles. "It would be easier for the both of us if you cooperated, but if you insist on not going, then I'll have to carry you like a sack of potatoes." I choke on a laugh at this unexpected humor from this very stern lady.

"Hey!" Paimon says indignantly, "Dunyarzad already said she doesn't want to go back. Why are you still pushing her?"

"Stay out of this. You don't understand the situation," Dehya replies. She nods to Dunyarzad and crosses her arms. "Sorry, my lady. Even though I'm your bodyguard, your parents are my employers. I have to answer to them."

Frowning, Dunyarzad crosses her arms too. "So how much?" She asks.

"Wait, what?" Dehya says, taken aback.

"How much Mora do I have to pay you to become your employer, so you never listen to my parents ever again? Double, triple? Give me some time and I'll get that much!"

"My lady! This isn't about Mora," Dehya exclaims, aghast. She sighs and continues, "I don't know what you think of us Eremites, but let me say this: I like Mora, but I'll never go against my principles for money. That's why I'm here looking for you. Sure, it's an order from my employer, but my conscience also told me it's the right thing to do. Knowing your health, carelessly running around like this is going to hurt you. For the sake of those who love you, don't be so stubborn."

"No, you're wrong!" Dunyarzad protests. "I'm aware of my limits, and I know what I'm doing. Honestly, the only people being stubborn right now are my parents. They know perfectly well that it makes no difference if I'm at home or not! They still won't accept reality! Every time I bring this up, they just change the subject. Dehya, you've been living with us a long time already. This should be old news to you."

Dehya is silent.

"Dehya, I know it hasn't been easy for Mother and Father, and I'm grateful for everything they've done for me, but there is someone else in this world I'm also grateful to. Because she saved me. The love I have for her is the same I have for my parents. This is my life and my last chance, so I want to do something meaningful!" Dunyarzad’s face is red, and she's out of breath.

"My lady, are you sure what you're doing now is meaningful?" Dehya asks, exasperated.

"Yes, I'm sure," Dunyarzad replies. "At least to me it is." She stares back, determined to have her way.

Dehya contemplates this situation for several moments. Finally, she gives in. "Fine, I won't ask you to return home anymore, but let me make myself clear. I'm only allowing this because I respect your determination, not because I agree with you."

"Thank you, Dehya!" Dunyarzad says, embracing her companion for the first time since she entered the tavern. "Sorry for being so rude just now. My nerves were acting up, and I even tried to throw Mora in your face!"

"Don't worry about it, my lady. I did say that I like Mora," Dehya says. "Besides, that's our next topic of conversation."

Dunyarzad's face drops slightly. "I'll find the money to pay you, I promise."

Laughing, Dehya shakes her head. "Today's little excursion caused such a ruckus that every single bodyguard at the estate was deployed. It won't be easy to hide things from your old man. Since this definitely won't be your last escapade, here's a little tip. You should at least make it look like your room and things are still in order when you leave. Also, you'll need someone to speak for you when you're out and about. So I'll let you hire me, my lady, to cover your tracks. This way, everyone wins. As for the pay, I'll be reasonable. Let's say half of what your father pays me. We can settle the bill when we return to the estate."

Letting out a breath, Dunyarzad agrees, "deal." She must be relieved that Dehya didn't ask for more.

"Now my lady, stop trying to look tough," Dehya says. "We're already in a tavern, so let's rest up and grab some grub." She walks over to the open table we saw earlier and pulls out a chair for Dunyarzad, who takes it graciously.

"How about a menu over here!" Dehya shouts, over the noisy chatter of the tavern.

The tavern owner himself waves at us and walks over eagerly with a stack of menus. "Well if it isn't Dehya!" He shouts back. "Haven't seen you in nearly half a year! Word on the street is that you became a bodyguard for the Homayani family. Heh, don't you find that kind of work boring?"

Dehya shrugs and smiles. "You get used to it, and it pays well," she says.

Lambad squints at us, then exclaims, "why, isn't this lil' Miss Homayani herself! We don't get to serve personages like you very often. We'll be sure to prepare our very best!"

Dunyarzad blushes and puts up her hands in protest. "Thank you, sir, but there's really no need. I don't have a lot of Mora on me, and I really ought to save as much as I can." Looking at us, she adds, "but please bring these two the best food you have. They're my new friends, so I want to be a good host for them."

"No need to break the bank," I say. "We'll pay for our own food. What are some dishes the regulars favor?"

"How about our coconut charcoal cakes?" Lambad suggests, gesturing to a table nearby. "They're our signature snack, and they run cheap."

I glance over and see a plate of blackened pastries atop a large leaf. Somehow, my appetite is not piqued by the sight of them. Forcing a smile, I ask Lambad, "perhaps something more savory?"

He grins. "How about butter chicken? Creamy, juicy, and sure to fill you up."

"Great!" Dehya says. "We'll have an order of that, plus some biryani and masala cheese balls."

"Coming right up!" says Lambad, retrieving the menus and heading for the kitchen.

"So Dunyarzad," I say, now that we're waiting for food to arrive, "Lesser Lord Kusanali doesn't seem to be the most popular of deities here. What made you want to follow her?"

"Well, remember when you asked me if I knew how to meet the Dendro Archon?" She replies. "Even though I don't know how, I think I've actually seen her before."

"Really?" I say. "How did that come to be?"

"It was when I was a child," Dunyarzad explains. "At that time, my illness had kept me bedridden for the better part of a year. I was stuck inside, and I had no friends. My parents did their best to find treatments for me, but the Akasha didn't have any helpful information. My younger self no longer had any hopes or dreams. One flare-up was so bad that I was in a semi-conscious state for several days."

"Then one night, I woke up alone in my room. I was terrified, and my body was paralyzed. Even when I cried, there was no sound. At that moment, an ethereal voice – a girl's voice – spoke inside my mind: 'Dunyarzad, don't be scared. You don't have to cry.'"

"'Who are you? How do you know my name?'" I asked the voice."

"'How do I explain this,' that voice murmured, 'you might not be able to understand, but, I know everything about you. I know that you're scared of thunder, that you hate taking medicine every morning, and that you love counting the petals on your mom's skirt.' I was amazed. She really did know the secrets of my young mind."

"Then she asked me, 'Dunyarzad, is there anything you want?' I could only shake my head. I couldn't go anywhere or do anything. I didn't know anything about the world outside. So I asked her, 'can you make my illness go away?' To that, she responded, 'I'm sorry, but I'm not powerful enough to do that right now.' Instead, I asked, 'can you be my friend?' After that, the voice agreed, 'okay, I'll be your friend.'"

"Although my body was in terrible pain during those days, that voice encouraged me and told me many wondrous things. Beyond my window was the flourishing Sumeru City, beyond the city was a lush rainforest, and beyond that was the Wall of Samiel, deserts, and all of Teyvat," Dunyarzad recounts. "Once I finally made it through that bout of illness, I couldn't hear the voice anymore. I told my mother about it, and she said that I must have been dreaming. Still, I know that that voice wasn't a figment of my imagination. Before that, I had never even heard of 'Teyvat.'"

I take a few moments to let the story sink in. It reminds me of that legend she told us earlier, of the Archon who looked after her people, not by providing answers, but through mentorship and guidance. "So you believe that the voice you heard was Lesser Lord Kusanali?" I say finally.

"Yes, for sure," Dunyarzad replies. "If it weren't for that voice, I would have never grown curious about the outside world. Nor would I have learned how to read and enjoy so many books. That voice sparked in me a deep desire for wisdom – it had to have been the Dendro Archon."