Beginnings and Endings

Um, is it me, or are the bags under your eyes even darker than during the last round? Are you alright?

Thanks for the concern, Kaveh. I just... haven't been sleeping well lately...

Even though I try to fall asleep, I can't get the Championship out of my head... and before I know it, it's morning again.

*sigh* I know the feeling. That happens to me too when I'm agonizing over my blueprints.

Do you have any tips for dealing with that?

To be honest with you, no. You could say there are many things that don't have a quick fix, and can only be endured.

Hmm, I suppose you can think of it as something akin to an illness. Sometimes there's no effective cure, so you just have to let things run their course.

I don't know what's stressing you out, but I can feel all the anxiety and pressure coming from you. The next round's about to start, so chin up and do your best.

Oh, okay... You do your best, too.

Looks like everyone's here. I will now explain the second round to you all.

There are three Ley Line Disruptors buried in the area around Aaru Village.

These devices can imitate the effects of Ley Line disruption and will constantly interfere with the environment. Your goal is to shut them down.

The first three who manage to finish this task will be awarded four, three, and two points, accordingly.

Note that each person may only bring a set amount of food and water with them, and that leaving the designated competition zone will result in disqualification.

Well, what do you think? Want to team up again?

I shall consider letting you have the points on account of what happened in the previous round.

That's alright. I've been here many times, and in any case, machines are one of my specialties. I doubt this will be particularly difficult.

It's good to see such confidence in a youngster like yourself. I also happen to be well acquainted with this place. Let's see who will find these devices first.

But aside from us, you should remember that there's a favorite for champion. We must be careful of him...

A favorite to win? Who is it?

Shh, not so loud. I mean that boy, Tighnari.

He took first place in the previous round, and if he does so again this time, we may as well declare this competition over.

I heard that you solved the Avidya Forest's Ley Line effluence problem with him not long ago. Since this round involves resolving a machine-simulated Ley Line disruption, it should be a simple matter for him...

Hmm, that's true. It does look like his odds of winning are pretty high!

He already has Collei, who is an excellent pupil. If he were to win this round as well, then wouldn't we just be letting him have all the fun?

As his senior, it's my solemn duty to prevent such an inequitable arrangement from happening. I'm off!

I'll get going as well. See you later.

...How are you feeling?

I think I'm okay. But I'll take things slowly for now.

Is this all the water we're getting?

Sorry, that's what the rules say...

While this round seems to be about how quickly you can shut down the devices, it's also testing your ability to survive in tough conditions.

I knew it'd be harder than I had expected.

So we'll either need to find the devices as quickly as possible, or we'll have to save our energy and wait for an opportunity... Okay, I'll head out shortly. Thanks a lot, Nilou.

You're welcome. Please take care of yourself!

Well, there goes everybody.

So, who should we visit this time? Let Paimon think...

Oh, right! Didn't Faruzan say that Tighnari's the favorite to win? Let's go look for him first!

Uh, hey, Tighnari! Tighnariii!

Weird, the locator says that he should be around here somewhere.

Tighnari! Can you hear us?

He's over there.

You're right! Oh no, it looks like he's fainted. We have to help him!

Tighnari, are you okay?

It's... so hot...

Oh, so you passed out because of the heat! Are you not used to getting around in the desert?

That's right... I usually bring lots of water when I go to the desert, precisely to avoid this situation.

I went through all my water very quickly, and with the effects of the disturbed Ley Lines, I started feeling dizzy.

My ancestors, the Valuka Shuna, were originally from the desert. But I guess this is what happens when a species migrates — they become intolerant of their original environment...

This isn't the time for a history lesson. Let's get you some water—

Humans, such fragile beings. Your bodies can't even survive extreme changes in the environment.

Here, take this. Let him drink it.

Are you serious? This had better be just normal water... Hey! You're leaving already?

It seems it really is just water.

Paimon really doesn't get that guy... What's he up to? Anyway, let's focus on helping Tighnari drink some water first...

I'm feeling a little better now. Thanks, you two.

Oh, it wasn't just the two of us. Just now—

Found you at last.

Cyno! You're here too!

I was concerned, so I came back to check on you. Will you be able to go on?

The fur on my tail is so dry it's practically been singed right off. I don't see any purpose in pushing myself beyond what is reasonable.

It appears I'm not suited to this particular round — I should probably just return to Aaru Village and rest.

Really? So you're backing out?

Yes. I do have my results in the first round to serve as a buffer, so even if I forfeit this round, I still have a chance to turn things around later.

Withdrawing now will allow me to conserve my energy. Continuing to push onward would be counterproductive.

Very decisive...

A wise decision. Let's get you back to Aaru Village.

Ugh... It's fine, I can make it back on my own...

Oh, stop trying to be so polite. Come on, we'll help you back to Aaru Village!

How are you feeling now, Tighnari? Do you want to rest some more?

There's some shade here, so we can stop for a while.

Alright, let's do that.

Oh, Cyno and Tighnari... and you've got 旅人 and Paimon with you!

Oh, hey Layla!

Yeah, the sun was too strong, so I decided to take cover here for a while.

What about you? Are you all done already?

Unfortunately not. I'm not quite as capable as I thought... I intend to withdraw from this round. Cyno and 旅人 are escorting me back to Aaru Village.

W—Withdraw? Can you even do that?

I believe the rules do provide for such a situation. Alhaitham did say that the act of leaving the competition grounds would result in disqualification from the round.

Didn't I ask you if you were alright before this? If you had just decided to withdraw then, you wouldn't have had to suffer.

Well, I had to try, didn't I? So I tried, and it didn't work out — and now I'm backing out while I can.

When I get back, I'm definitely going to make a batch of sun-resistant oil. Next time I venture into the desert, I'll be prepared.

By the way, you're Layla, aren't you? You don't look very well yourself. Will you be alright?

I did feel a little faint when I first entered the desert, but I feel a lot better after resting here for a while.

Be careful not to push yourself too hard!

Don't worry, I'm just...

Feeling the pressure?

Huh? You can tell?

Your expression is similar to the ones I see on criminals' faces when I interrogate them.

To tell you the truth, I'm still not sure whether I have what it takes to represent the Rtawahist Darshan in the Championship.

Most people voted for me because of all the rumors surrounding me, and to be honest, those rumors don't really mean anything. Now I don't know how to deal with all the expectations they've put on me.

Even the people who usually criticize me voted for me this time... So I feel like I have to live up to their expectations somehow...

So their expectations are putting pressure on you?

Yes. Actually, I heard that you were voted in as well, Tighnari. How do you deal with it?

To be completely honest, I don't really feel any pressure.

Firstly, those who expect things from you do not necessarily do so for benign reasons. On the other hand, those who do consider your feelings certainly wouldn't want you to push yourself.

Next, we are researchers. Our primary duty is to interact with knowledge, not to meet others' expectations.

As for me, I took part in this competition to advertise for an academic lecture at Gandharva Ville next month. I'll obviously try my best during the competition, but I won't let any additional pressure get to me.

I think you can also try to find a clearly defined goal. That may help you.

I understand. Thanks for your advice.

Phew... I'm absolutely parched after talking so much.

I've still got some water with me.

No, I'll be alright. We aren't far from Aaru Village, so I can go the rest of the way myself. You should get back to the competition. Don't you want to win that limited-edition card?

Yes. Alright then, your spirit will live on through me.

...Hey, don't talk like that. I'm not dead, Cyno.

Everyone, I'll be heading back now. See you after the round ends.

I'll continue searching for the Ley Line Disruptors.

Are you feeling better now, Layla?

Yeah. I feel like some of the weight has been taken off my shoulders after chatting with Tighnari.

It's been a long time since I first left my hometown to come to the Akademiya, and every day here has been so precious... But of course, there have been some tough times.

All sorts of complex astrological models, countless quizzes, and essays that took all my brainpower to barely finish... Each of those things are like huge boulders barreling at me, forcing me to continue running forward.

When I was chosen as my Darshan's representative, it felt like another boulder was added to the ones already rolling behind me. Every time I close my eyes, I think of all the people I'd disappoint if I mess up.

Yeah, I think that's what Tighnari was trying to tell me.

You're our good friends, which is why you didn't stop him from dropping out of this round, and why you don't feel disappointed in me.

That's right! No need to feel so down!

That said, he did also say that he hopes I could have more concrete goals for taking part in this competition. I don't have any now, but I'll give that some thought.

Anyway, I won't take up any more of your time. You still have to record the other contestants' progress, don't you? Perhaps they've had some breakthroughs while we've been chatting.

True, we should go look for the others. Hmm, now who's left? Tighnari's dropped out for the round, and we just saw Cyno...

You could go see how Madam Faruzan's doing. I've heard that she's quite knowledgeable about the desert, so she's probably made some progress by now...

Okay! Let's go look for Faruzan!

Hey there, Faruzan. Have you made any progress?

Ah, you're just in time. I'm about to start digging right here.

Oh, you found the Ley Line Disruptor already?

Hmph, such a simple problem could never confound me.

Not long after entering the desert, I discovered a Primal Construct that was acting abnormally, so I followed it all the way here.

Once I got near here, it suddenly disappeared. Something unusual must be happening around this area.

You're a true expert, Madam Faruzan! You knew what to do right away!

Well, I do happen to have more experience than most. But that aside, has anyone completed this challenge yet?

Nope, not yet!

Well then, I suppose I'll be the first. What about that boy Tighnari?

He withdrew from this round.

Oh, and why's that?

He's not used to being out and about in the desert...

Huh, I didn't think he would have such a weakness. I suppose he could use a bit more training.

What about the others? Is that Rtawahist girl still a bundle of nerves?

Tighnari gave Layla some advice, and she seems to be doing a lot better now. Cyno just started his search for the Disruptors, and as for Hat Guy... Well, who knows what he's thinking.

And what about Kaveh? Has he found a Ley Line Disruptor yet?

Paimon doesn't think so, or our locators would've already let us know.

Strange, what's he lollygagging for? With his skills, you should've heard something from him by now.

Well, I'm afraid the most thrilling moments are already done here. You should probably go find Kaveh and see how he's faring now.

Come on, stop following me! I already gave you all the food I had on me.

*whine*

You can cry all you want. I don't have any more food! All I have left is half a bottle of water, and I can't possibly give you that.

Without water, traveling in the desert will be incredibly difficult, and I still need to find what I'm looking for.

Mehrak, can you help me out here? Keep them away!

Beep-boop!

Kaveh, there you are!

Faruzan told us to come see how you're doing. What are you up to?

*sigh* Just thinking about it makes me upset. Not long after I entered the desert, I was accosted by these fellows.

I don't know why, but they didn't leave the competition grounds, and now the Ley Line disruptions have left them confused and circling around the area.

The moment they saw me, they wouldn't leave me alone. They even cheated me out of my limited food supply.

Beep-boop!

*whine*

Hey, didn't I ask you to keep them away?

Kaveh, is this flying metal thingy yours?

That's right. This is my toolbox, Mehrak.

Your toolbox? It seems pretty fancy... Uh... Hey there, can you understand us?

Beep-boop?

Why's it here with you?

Sometimes I need to carry things when I go out, so it's handy to have a portable toolbox.

Well, this definitely doesn't look like an ordinary toolbox, that's for sure.

It's a long story. When I was working in the desert, I ran into a merchant group who had a machine core they excavated from some tomb.

It was clearly from King Deshret's civilization. His technology still isn't fully understood, and Kshahrewar has many different opinions on this topic.

Our current theories cannot explain such mysteries. Upon seeing such a rare, complete specimen before me, I forked over all the Mora on my person to purchase it.

Some time back, I wanted to make an automated case that could store my offloaded items. With that core, I created Mehrak.

It can't understand commands that are too complex, but it can serve as my assistant and help me with things like mapping and surveying.

Most importantly, it can't talk, so it can't give me any attitude.

Beep-boop!

Oh, yes — thanks for helping hide the fact that I live at Alhaitham's place earlier.

Well, Paimon was the one who gave it away in the first place.

Hehe, sorry...

*sigh* I hope this season of my life ends soon, so I can get things back on track.

Things just... started going downhill at some point. Maybe it all started when my mom remarried and left for Fontaine. Or maybe it all started when I spoke to Alhaitham in the library...

Or maybe it's because constructing the Palace of Alcazarzaray burned through my funds. I'm still paying off the debt from that one... Argh, when's this going to end!?

*whine*

Now that I think about it, I guess we're all unlucky here.

It's not like any of you asked to be trapped in a Ley Line disruption... Okay, let me get you all out.

Kaveh, aren't you going to look for the Ley Line Disruptors?

Yes, but I can't just leave them here, can I?

Oh, forget it. The more I think about this, the more I feel a headache coming on. I'll get back to searching once I get them out of here.

Time's a-wasting — I'm off!

Kaveh looks like he's conflicted... He really wants to win, but he can't ignore those he wants to help...

Paimon's always felt like he's the type who easily gets himself into tough spots.

Um, Paimon doesn't mean this in an insulting way, but... he seems like the kind of guy who'd be really easy to take advantage of.

You're certainly cruel with the truth...

Woah, someone's done already!

That was quick.

Right? Wonder who it is. Let's go back and ask Alhaitham!

Verification complete! Congratulations on being this round's first winner, Cyno!

Ooh, so Cyno was the quickest!

I am from Spantamad, after all. We know a lot about Ley Lines, so finding a disruptor was never going to be particularly difficult for me.

Since 旅人 and Paimon also happen to be here... Do you have anything you want to say?

Anything I want to say...? My friend couldn't continue on, so failure was never an option.

"The bonds of yesterday will forge the road to tomorrow. With the ties of friendship that bind us, I won't lose to anyone."

...That's a line from "King of Invokations," one of my favorite works, and it sums up my thoughts right now.

It might be a good thing that Tighnari isn't here, or else he'd give Cyno a good smack right about now...

That's so Cyno.

Oh wow, it's already so late. Everyone's probably running low on food and water — it'll only get harder from here on out.

Something similar happened in "King of Invokations." What a classic.

Any thoughts on that, Alhaitham?

I have no thoughts regarding "King of Invokations."

Nilou obviously wasn't asking about that!

Deserts are much more dangerous at night, so this competition should be nearing its end. At the moment, only Faruzan, Layla, and Kaveh remain.

I wonder who the next person to find a disruptor will be...

Wait, only three people are left? Tighnari forfeited, and Cyno's already done... What about Hat Guy?

He also forfeited not long ago.

Paimon can't understand what he's thinking at all...

But like Alhaitham said — the round's almost over. Let's go see what the other contestants are doing!

Hello again... You know, it suddenly occurred to me that you guys have had to do a lot of running around this time. Don't you find it tiring?

Really? Wow. I dunno where you get your strength from...

The desert's getting colder now that night's falling. And the wind can really sting your face because of all the sand in it.

Has anyone finished this round yet?

Cyno's already shut one down. Have you made any progress yet?

I circled the whole area, but I didn't find anything.

But I did have the chance to think some more about that thing that was weighing on my mind, and I realized something.

And what was that?

Well, my fellow Rtawahist members must have all put my name forward for different reasons. And maybe a lot of them only picked me because they wanted to watch me make a fool of myself.

But be that as it may, I believe that a lot of them genuinely do expect great things from me.

And I want to live up to their expectations. I don't want them to regret putting my name down.

Huh? But doesn't thinking like that put a lot of pressure on you?

Of course, that comes with some amount of pressure, for sure. But now I've thought about it, I don't feel like this is something I have to do. Instead, it's something I want to do.

That may not sound like a huge difference to you. But it's helped me relax a lot... so don't worry about me.

Well, that's great!

Also, now that I've relaxed... I'm suddenly really sleepy...

I think I'll just... take a quick nap... just a quick one...

...

Hmm? But the competition isn't over yet... Oh, Layla, Layla... she's really a bundle of nerves, isn't she?

Wait, you're...!

"Sleepwalking Layla"?

Good to see you too. Whew, it's nice to be out — feels like I've been cooped up inside for quite a while.

Well, since I'm here, I guess I should help her finish this. What are we supposed to be doing here again? Finding a Ley Line Disruptor, was it?

Let me see... Hmm, looks like she's basically gathered all the information she needs. It won't take long to wrap this up.

Come with me, you two.

Ah, this should be it, right? I'll turn it off — that should restore the Ley Lines in the area to normal.

Nice work!

Again, I didn't do any of the real work. I'm just wrapping up.

She'll probably wake up soon... No doubt she'll be a little disoriented at first, but once she's got her bearings, she'll go and report that she shut down this disruptor.

Will you be staying here for a while? Or are you going to check on the other contestants?

Time to check our locator... Whoa! It looks like Kaveh and Faruzan are heading toward the same place!

Perhaps they're about to find the last disruptor. ...Also, speaking of Kaveh, he's an interesting one.

Huh? Why do you say that?

Before the second round, he had a chat with the other me. He said that worries can be like illnesses — they don't always have a magic cure. Sometimes, you just have to endure them as best you can until they run their course.

But the way I see it, his situation is much worse than my other self's... She just hadn't found what she wanted to do at that moment, which is why she felt lost.

Kaveh, meanwhile, knows what he wants to do — he's convinced that he has to win — and yet, he still seems conflicted...

He doesn't have a second personality, but... somehow, he still seems like he's at odds with himself in some way.

...I don't know exactly how to describe it. It's like he's smiling on the outside, but there's no joy inside. Only sorrow.

Still, who knows. He must be more experienced than me — maybe he's just better at dealing with it all than I am.

Oh, but back to the topic of wrapping up... Shouldn't you be getting back to the action to record how everything plays out? Last one, then the round's over.

Oh, true. Okay then, guess we'll be going now! We'll keep everything you said in mind!

It should be around here...

Finally found it...

Kaveh? Are you...

Madam Faruzan! And here I thought you would've finished this round by now...

Faruzan, Kaveh!

Oh, looks like Layla's already done.

I didn't expect that you and I would find a disruptor at the same time... How are the other contestants doing?

Tighnari and Hat Guy forfeited, while Cyno and Layla are already done. You two are the only ones left.

Huh, that's weird. Didn't you start digging really early on?

Yes. I kept digging, but instead of finding a disruptor, I found a ruin.

I fell down pretty deep, and it was completely dark in there. It took me quite some time to unlock the various mechanisms and return to the surface.

That's... actually really impressive...

Finishing a week's worth of trials in such a short time... That's pretty amazing, Madam Faruzan...

What about you? Why are you so late?

I encountered a lot of lost Desert Foxes along the way, and I brought them to the outskirts of the competition zone. When I came back, I was absolutely parched... and then I blacked out. Probably from the heat, you know.

When I woke up, it was already night. I used the last of my strength to come here.

A most curious reason indeed... Ah, but are you sure you're alright? It sounds like you were in an incredibly dangerous situation.

You said you were familiar with the desert, but the way you handle problems... It does feel rather at odds with your title as a genius.

Ahaha, it was problematic, but that had nothing to do with me being a genius. It was my decision.

...The way I did things wasn't optimal, but I wouldn't have been comfortable not doing it, either. My conscience would've weighed on me.

...Hmph. Youths these days, each stranger than the next.

But back to the main issue at hand. Since we're both very certain that this is where the final Ley Line Disruptor is, let's dig it up then.

Well, this is indeed it, of that there is no doubt. But how should we count the score this time?

Phew...

What is it, youngster? You seem relieved.

Oh, nothing. I was just thinking that this round's finally over.

...There shouldn't be any more innocent creatures getting wrapped up in danger.

As for the points... I guess we can draw lots again later. I can't think of anything better.

Alright. In that case, let's all head back to Aaru Village. Paimon thinks you'll both need some water and rest.

Looks like the second round is over. I wonder who was faster, Kaveh or Madam Faruzan? ...Huh? Where's Madam Faruzan?

She went to get water — she'll be back shortly. We basically arrived at the same time, so we'd like to draw lots again.

You get caught up in some things so easily — like drawing lots.

I'm not "caught up" in anything! Don't make it sound like I take pleasure in having bad luck!

Really? Then, should I say that you have a curious affinity for drawing lots?

Um, I'll go get the box and slips of paper for the lots. Please wait a moment...

...

Oho, here we go again. Let's see how I fare.

I got it! Did you see that? I won!

Congratulations!

Looks like Kaveh's luck's taken a turn for the better!

Finally, after all this time... *sniff*

It looks like you've been rewarded for your tribulations in the desert. This round's points are yours.

...

And with that, our second round is done. Cyno, Layla, and Kaveh are our victorious contestants!

As for the current standings, let me see...

Cyno and Layla both have four points, putting them both in first place. The rest in descending order are Tighnari, Faruzan, Kaveh, and Hat Guy.

The next round will be the final one. Please rest up before then, everyone.

I heard that some stalls at the Wisdom Gala are debuting new games, so feel free to drop by if you're interested. Otherwise, see you next round!

Now that the round's begun, who do you think will win, Alhaitham?

The ones who find the disruptors will win.

Well, um, yes... but aren't you just repeating the rules?

I didn't expect Tighnari to drop out...

Being able to acknowledge one's own weaknesses is a rare quality.

Things are really heating up now! You can feel the contestants' passion too, can't you, Alhaitham?

Compared to the abstraction of human emotions, the desert heat is easier to intuit. Tighnari made the right decision to forfeit.

This seems more annoying than the last round. That's fine, though — I'll find someplace to sit and watch them scurry.

The sun is especially intense today. I hope Tighnari will be alright.

*sigh* Probably not. I should go check on him.

*pants* I feel... a little faint...

Let me see. Where would they put one of these disruptors...

A Desert Fox? Why would there be Desert Foxes here? Woah, stop biting my clothes! Hey!

You two must have a lot of free time if you came looking for me.

There's another one...

Don't worry, I'll be fine.

Looks like someone's taking it easy!

You should be thrilled that I have nothing to do. Otherwise, that means someone's in for a very, very bad day.

But if you don't get any points this round, you won't have a shot at winning!

It's not like I care about winning or clout. Really, the real prize for me is watching all these people fight over something so useless.

Oh, you've reminded me of something. There shouldn't be any more incidents after this round. If you'll excuse me, I have somewhere to be.

"I will never give up..."

Hmm, how did the rest go... Oh, right! "I will never give up! My will is my greatest weapon..."

I think I'll start by doing a loop around the competition zone...

Mm-hmm! Here it comes! I think I'm about to strike gold!

There's a few things that seem a little off about this place. Lemme collect my thoughts for a second...

Hmph, I see. Twenty years ago...

Are you alright?

Much better. Aaru Village's hospitality sure is something... Two whole pitchers of water, to be precise.

If your throat's too wet as a result, I can provide some dry humor—

No, no thanks! Much appreciated, though.

Shh, quiet. I'm currently trying to find a way out of here.

*whine*

It feels like something's been on your mind this entire time.

旅人, Paimon! I've finally found you.

"Finally"? Did something happen?

Don't you feel like there's something off about this year's Akademiya Extravaganza?

When Candace and I were at a café earlier, we might've caught sight of some mercs on business. Thing is, they were disguised as tourists here to shop.

But no disguise can mask the stench of blood. Just from their suspicious looks, I bet they do dirty work like kidnapping or assassinations.

We eavesdropped on them for a while. Their target seems to be someone called Sachin.

Sachin? Isn't that the person who Kareena mentioned during the opening ceremony?

He's apparently the sponsor behind the competition prizes and the Diadem of Knowledge. But he hasn't shown himself at all...

Sounds like a rich person, all right... It makes sense now.

The Eremites have been struggling to make ends meet recently, so a lot of groups have been doing "private" work that involves the rich.

In their words, one gig sets you up for half a year. Just one job like this nets them enough Mora to take it easy for a while.

The Extravaganza has brought many tourists to Sumeru City all at once, so it's likely that they took advantage of the bustle to sneak in.

Dehya and I wanted to directly capture them, but they were on guard and made some excuse to slip away.

I would've tied them up if it wouldn't have caused a scene.

Who's legally supposed to take care of this kind of thing? The matra? Or the Corps of Thirty?

Hmm... If Cyno were here, he'd definitely get involved. Why don't we head over to the Akademiya and tell a matra?

Thanks a million, you two!

Not at all. It was coincidence on our part as well.

Yeah, don't sweat it. The Eremites' reputation is gonna get even worse if these scumbags succeed.

But this is Sumeru City. Candace and I don't have as much freedom to act here, so we're leaving this in your hands.

Should you require our aid, come find us at the café.

Paimon's noticed that something's bugging you. Is it the Extravaganza? 'Cause Paimon's starting to think that there's more than meets the eye here, too...

Ugh, but thinking like this isn't doing anything. Let's just go find a matra!

Hello both. It's been a while. Do you have any issues to report?

Someone's planning to kidnap Sachin? Goodness... Though I suppose it's not all that surprising.

The growing popularity of the Extravaganza has given him quite the reputation boost as its sponsor. He's seen as one of these "super-rich" types.

Well, since he's got a target on his back now, shouldn't you send some people to protect him?

To tell you the truth, we've thought about doing just that. However, Sachin apparently prefers to spend most of his time out doing field work, and hardly ever comes back to Sumeru City. No one has been able to contact him.

Our only lead is something he once said... "Each time the Interdarshan Championship is held, I will be watching from close by to choose a suitable person to inherit my estate."

Assuming he remains committed to that promise, then he must be right here in the city somewhere. I suspect that the Eremites in question must've heard about that as well, and decided to come here and try their luck.

So they shouldn't know where Sachin is either, right?

I would assume not. Anyway, Mahamatra Cyno is still on vacation, so I'll handle this.

Don't you worry. A couple of kidnappers aren't gonna get very far in Sumeru City these days. I have my ways of forcing them out into the open.

All of that said — if you're interested in Sachin's story, why don't you try tracking him down as well?

The sooner we ascertain his whereabouts, the quicker we can act to ensure his safety. I mean, you could task all the matra and the whole Corps of Thirty with someone's protection, but if the client doesn't show themselves, there's nothing we can do to help them.

Fair point. Guess we should start searching for him too. But where should we start?

Do the matra have any information at all on Sachin?

None, I'm afraid. He's never committed any crimes or broken academic protocol, so we don't have a very detailed file on him.

I've heard that Alhaitham has now stepped down from his post as Acting Grand Sage and is back to being the Scribe again. Maybe it's worth checking to see if he knows anything?

Good idea. Okay, we'll head back to the Extravaganza venue and see if we can find him!

Phew... Hey, Nilou, have you seen Alhaitham anywhere?

Alhaitham? Why, what is it?

We're trying to track down someone, and we need him to pull up some records for us.

Oh, I see... Sorry, I don't know where he went.

He's always the first to leave after the competition ends, and he never tells anyone where he'll be going...

Huh. Yeah, actually, that sounds about right for him.

Lemme think... To be honest, he doesn't seem very interested in the Extravaganza, so he probably doesn't stick around longer than he has to.

To him, being a commentator is just extra work he was roped into. Do you guys know of any places he'd go after work?

Uhh... There's still one more round to go. Would he really go to a tavern in the middle of the competition?

Oh! Here's a thought. Maybe he just went straight home?

Paimon remembers that his house isn't that far from here, so we might as well check it out!

Let's try knocking...

(Knock.)

No answer... Maybe no one's home?

(Knock.)

Hellooo...? Alhaitham? Are you in? We need your help with something!

Oh, it's you two?

Oh, Kaveh! You're home!

...Come on in. I'll get the door for you.

We didn't hear a peep when we first knocked — we thought no one was home!

Well, I can't be too careful. If someone from the Akademiya came here looking for Alhaitham and I opened the door for them without thinking, before long the whole city would know that I'm living here...

You're pretty conscientious about this, huh...

So... what happens if someone comes inside looking for him while you're at home?

It's fine, as long as I stay in my own room. Anyway, why would someone just barge in here looking for him? Most people have better things to do.

Fair enough. So do you know where he is at the moment?

What do you think? Who knows what he does in his free time. All that matters to me is that he's out of the house!

Did you have a quarrel or something?

I wouldn't call it that, he's just incapable of saying anything pleasant at all!

I told him how the second round went. I won the lot draw, remember? Because of good karma, of course. My luck's on the rise.

But him, being him... You wouldn't believe what he said after I was done talking!

"You're always quick to remind me that you're my upperclassman, and yet you do not problem-solve in the manner becoming of an upperclassman. This begs the question of why we attach prestige to seniority at all." What does he mean, "manner becoming of an upperclassman"? What, am I supposed to earn the title of upperclassman now!?

And he didn't stop there! He said:

"I'd encourage you to reflect on why you've ended up having to rely on luck every round. Frankly, it's incomprehensible to me how you've managed to make it to this age without acknowledging the proverbial elephant in the room of your life."

Hahaha... Yeah, that does sound like something Alhaitham would say...

I've had it with him! Every time I talk to him it's the same way! He finds a way to infuriate me, every single time!

Anyway, the disdain is very much mutual between us, so I'll be moving out as soon as possible. I'm actually packing my things right now. He'll have to get used to doing his own cleaning and tidying from now on!

See those perfectly hung paintings on the walls? They're coming with me, too! Heh, if his life wasn't utterly devoid of artistic sensibility already, it certainly will be after today.

Wait, you're moving out already? But the competition isn't even over yet. How can you afford it?

Well, obviously I can't just yet. I'm just packing early, to get ahead of the game.

I've got my new place picked out already. The moment I have my hands on the prize money, I'm going to buy it and move my things right in. It'll take me three days tops to move out of here for good.

I now know what I have to do to achieve this goal. No matter what happens in the third round, I will win. I will emerge triumphant! You'll see!

Well, we'll be rootin' for ya. But... are you sure you'll be alright?

Hmm? In what way?

Layla said that she thinks you'll get caught up in internal conflict.

...Meaning what, exactly? Don't tell me you think I have serious personality flaws, too...?

We didn't say that! But think about it. You say you wanna win, but you also turned Faruzan down when she offered to give you her points. Plus, you took it upon yourself to help those Desert Foxes...

Wait, what's so unusual about all that? I gave you my reasons — I would have felt guilty otherwise... Where's the conflict in that?

Why would you feel guilty?

...

Well, when you put it like that... Yes, why, indeed? It's a good question. I guess it's just in my nature. Plus, if I just did nothing, then there'd be no escaping the blame if something bad came of it later down the line.

But thinking like that all the time must make your life so exhausting. Not to mention that by helping out, you put yourself at risk... Fainting in the middle of the desert, for example. Was that really worth it?

It's complicated, I... Look, let's maybe leave this conversation for another time. What was it you needed Alhaitham's help with, anyway?

We'd like him to help us look into Sachin.

Sachin? Huh, he did actually mention a Sachin recently.

I remember he brought a few documents home that day. He was thinking out loud as he looked through them, making some notes and doodling as he went. He even suggested that I should take a look, but I didn't. Gimme a moment, let me go find them...

Ah, this is the one. Here, take it.

Uh... You sure he'd be okay with this?

With taking liberties? He's certainly okay with helping himself to my beer whenever he pleases.

And anyway, he did ask me if I wanted to read his notes. I didn't see the point at the time, so he just left them on the side.

He doesn't leave documents lying around unless he's okay with other people reading them. It's fine, I promise.

Cool, if you say so. Okay, let's see what he's got on Sachin...

That was a lot of information... Paimon's getting a headache.

So to sum up, Sachin put the Akademiya in charge of managing his estate and went off to do research, right?

He even said that if he really liked one of the contestants, he wouldn't just give them a reward, but his entire estate as well... That must be worth heaps and heaps of Mora!

What!? Are you serious?

All of Sachin's wealth, that's... more than I could spend in a lifetime, surely. Heck, if I got chosen, I'd be able to pay off all my debts, then buy a new place, and still have cash to burn...

I could build another Palace of Alcazarzaray... Except this time, I'd make it ten times bigger...

Then there's that new project in Port Ormos, of course — the bridge renovation. To do it properly would take upwards of—

Hey, hey, snap out of it! You're getting way ahead of yourself there, mister!

You're right. First, I need to focus on winning and moving out of this place...

Huh? Wait a moment, there's a loose slip of paper tucked in between these pages.

Did Alhaitham write this? It looks like he was jotting ideas down as he was thinking things over. Hmm, let's see... Um, two phrases have been circled:

"Sachin, dead or alive? Unknown"... and "Diadem of Knowledge"?

Some of this stuff is just plain incomprehensible. Is this written in some other language?

Let me see... Huh? I recognize this script. Hmm, give me a second...

"Lofty ideals may provide no defense at all against nihilism, but perhaps little decisions can"... That's a rough translation, anyway. I can't guarantee it's one hundred percent accurate.

...Hmm? There's another, smaller line of text underneath... Huh... Why would he bring that up?

Wow, it's so cool that you can actually read this script!

We worked together on a project once when we were students — the title was "Decoding the Runes and Architectural Philosophy of the Ruins of King Deshret's Civilization." I had to familiarize myself a little with this script at the time.

Oh, interesting! So... Any idea what Alhaitham meant by all of this?

Heh. Who knows? The way his mind works is one of the great mysteries of the world.

Fair enough. Well, guess we've learned all we can here.

Let's hope Aarav's made some progress.

Yeah, he'd better catch those crooks. But until then, uh... let's just head out for a stroll.

I'm surprised anyone has the guts to try and pull off something like this during the Extravaganza. Just goes to show how tempting a fortune like Sachin's is.

What would you do if a sum of Mora like that suddenly landed in your lap?

I don't know. I've never thought about it.

Come on, first thing off the top of your head. How would you spend it?

Hmm... Buying food, finding water sources... That kind of thing, I guess?

Rest assured that I will bring these criminals to justice.

I fetched the documents for you. Feel free to look through them at your leisure.

I wonder where Alhaitham would go?