Return From the Mysterious Realm

Huh. We haven't been back to the Akademiya in a while. It hasn't changed much, has it?

Well, since we've got some time... Wanna go to the House of Daena? Paimon wants to do some reading!

Excuse me? Who are you, and what have you done with Paimon?

Hah, so you noticed.

Well, you're too late! The Paimon you know and love is no more!

You're looking at Paimon Plus! A new and improved treasure trove of travel know-how!

Paimon Plus would like to find some new books to peruse. A gracious Traveler like yourself wouldn't leave her companionless on her quest, right?

Hehe, c'mon! This way...

Oh, hey! It's Collei, and... Cyrus!

Wonder what's going on... Let's go see!

And the books? Abandoning the quest already?

Uh... Well...

You know what they say... Learning is a lifelong quest!

Which means there's always another chance to read a book. But, you never know when the next chance to reunite with an old friend will come along!

Sure, sure, whatever you say.

Hm? Путешественник, Paimon? You're back in Sumeru?

Hoho! Hello, you two. It's been a while. Looking to spend time with some old friends?

Hehe, yep! We saw some familiar faces, so we came to say hi!

Exactly. How could I forget the old man who lives next to Zaha Hadi.

Hoho, excuse you, associating me with that woman!

And, if you're going to remember me that way, you should at least mention my tomato growing skills!

So, he's mad about the "Zaha Hadi" part and not the "old man" part...?

Pfft...!

Well, Paimon's glad to see you in such good spirits, Cyrus. Must mean things are all good here in Sumeru.

Apologies, Sir Cyrus.

Ah, well, it's quite alright. I'm not the type to take offense at that kind of thing, haha!

(You definitely are...!)

(You definitely are...!)

(You definitely are...!)

Anyway, what were you and Collei chatting about just now?

Ah, that... Well, it was quite a spontaneous meeting!

I was leaving the Sage's office when I spotted Collei in conversation with a Mahamata, and it looked serious.

I thought something bad might have happened, so I hurried over as soon as the conversation ended.

But, as it turns out, our Collei is moving up in the world. The Akademiya even hired her as a consultant!

Wow! That's incredible!

Oh... It's nothing, really...

Look at that! So humble. Takes after me, she does!

Not at all, not at all... No, wait! I didn't mean that to sound like I don't think you're humble, Mr. Cyrus, because of course you are, I just... uh...

(Uh oh, Collei's so nervous she's sweating. I should help her out...)

Anyway, what are you a consultant for, exactly?

Oh, well, I wouldn't even call myself a consultant. I'm just helping out...

Now that the new semester has started, a lot of students and scholars are doing field work for their research.

But, it can be dangerous for those who don't have a lot of experience in the wilds.

So, the Akademiya is planning to establish an agency that provides guidance on outdoor survival and rescue for people who need it.

Ooh, Paimon gets it!

So, you're here to explain rainforest survival as a representative of the Forest Rangers!

Yeah, pretty much.

Of course, when it comes to tips on deciphering mechanisms or defeating monsters, that's for people who are far more senior than me to handle.

Ah, and speaking of which... Since we're short on manpower, the person in charge at the Akademiya said we're still accepting newcomers.

If you're interested, you're welcome to join and share your insights.

Ah, seizing the moment. Well done, Collei! Recruiting someone as capable as Путешественник is a great idea!

Oh, and just between the four of us... The Akademiya has set aside a generous amount of funding for this project.

*gasp*

Ahem! Well, since Collei's thrown her hat in the ring, we should help out too! Whaddaya say, Путешественник?

Well, as we all know, I'm nothing if not helpful.

Great!

We're all supposed to meet up in Aaru Village later, so I guess we'll regroup there!

Phew... I was kinda worried, since Master Tighnari isn't around to help this time. But, now I feel much better...

Have faith. You don't need anyone's help to do a great job.

Yeah! Even if you don't trust the Akademiya's eye for talent, you can trust ours for sure!

And mine, of course! I have as good an eye for people as I do for tomatoes!

Well, there you have it!

Hehe... Thanks, everyone...

Oh, speaking of Tighnari, how are things with him and the others?

Good, thanks! All the Forest Rangers are doing great.

Oh, but Master Tighnari did mention that Cyno and Sethos were heading to Gandharva Ville... I'm not sure if it's for work or something else...

Huh, knowing them... Could just be to play some cards...

Hmm... I'm not sure. Apparently, Sethos is bringing someone else with him too.

But, with my Akademiya commitment, I didn't have time to ask for more details...

Huh, well now Paimon's curious. Should we go check things out, Путешественник?

Why not? It's been a while since we've dropped in to say hi.

That's true, and I'm sure they've missed you.

Now, that is how it should be between friends, getting together to play cards or enjoy a meal. Yet, here I am, stuck with Naphis who only ever calls to talk about research...

Well, I won't delay your reunion any longer. Until next time!

Goodbye, Mr. Cyrus. Take care!

Alright, I should probably get going too.

See you later, guys! Come find me in Aaru Village when you're ready!

Sure thing.

Hehe. Looking forward to seeing you shine, Collei!

Tighnari's place... Tighnari's place... Ah, here it is!

Cyno, Sethos! Looks like the whole gang's here! ...Oh, and Layla's here too!

But, oh... She doesn't look too good. Did something happen?

Ah, Paimon, Путешественник. It's good to see you.

I'd welcome you like a proper host, but I'm a bit busy at the moment. Apologies.

No worries. This seems serious.

Ah, no need to look that worried.

My observations indicate Miss Layla's condition has improved quite a bit.

There's no danger to her mind. She's just fatigued and needs some rest.

Excuse me for a moment while I blend some calming incense. I'll let you two explain the situation.

Alright.

What happened was, Sethos and a few members of the Temple of Silence rescued Layla, who was out in the desert trapped in a state of delirium.

She had to be "rescued"? That sounds bad...

That's all you're gonna say about it, Cyno? I mean, we don't want people jumping to conclusions.

That's all I can say about it. The person involved is unable to explain what happened to her, so we're limited in what we know.

Ugh... Sorry. My head... still dizzy...

The moons... The moons... Exactly how many are there...

(The moons!?)

She's been repeating that phrase over and over again, but she can't seem to remember what happened to her.

We tried a few things back at the Temple of Silence, but we couldn't recover her memories.

Her symptoms are kind of similar to researchers in the Satyavada Life state, so we brought her to Tighnari to see if our veteran Forest Watcher had any other ideas.

Tighnari is pretty much our last option, so let's hope he can help.

The good news is, even if restoring her memory is a no go, we can help with the headache at least. Djer was in a similar state when we found him, delirious and mumbling to himself, but he's more or less back to normal now.

Ah, sorry. I should give you some context first, huh...

We should let Miss Layla get some rest. Come with me, you two, and I'll introduce you to the other "victim" of this incident.

Good idea. I'll wait for Tighnari here and keep an eye on our patient.

Alright, then! This way.

*sigh* Who did the Ajilenakh Nut offend... I just don't get it...

Hey, Djer! Still musing about Ajilenakh Nuts, huh? Want me to have Cyno come over and tell some jokes? Might help distract you!

NO! No need. I'm done.

Don't encourage him!

Well, sorry for interrupting the Ajilenakh talk, buddy. Next time, just say... "Ah, gee. Hey! Knock!"

Agh!

Hold on, hold on. So, what's the deal with the Ajilenakh Nuts? Other than the bad Cyno jokes...

Hahaha, we'll get to that. But first, introductions are in order! This is Djer — a member of the Temple of Silence.

And you remember Путешественник, right, Djer?

Of course. I'd never forget a participant in the Rite of Duels or the hero who saved Sumeru.

Awesome. Could you go over what happened to you one more time, Djer? Our valiant hero is gonna help us get to the bottom of this.

Huh? I am?

Might as well join since you're here, am I right?

Just hear him out. You're gonna want to uncover this mystery once you do — I'd bet on it.

Well, I was on an expedition in the desert not too long ago when I got caught in some quicksand.

Later, it became obvious it wasn't normal quicksand, because instead of sinking to my death, I fell into an undiscovered ruin.

In my panic, arms and legs flailing about, I suspect I touched some things I shouldn't have...

...Because in that brief moment, an enormous amount of information came surging into my mind.

I would hesitate to even call it knowledge because my brain had no capacity to process the information.

To use an analogy, it would be like... Trying to stuff thousands of Ajilenakh Nuts into a small water skin without it bursting.

Sorry, sorry. Again with the Ajilenakh Nuts, I know..

It's fine. We're getting to that part of the story, anyway.

*sigh* True.

Well, just as I was on the verge of madness, a single phrase broke through the storm of thoughts in my head...

It was a man's voice saying, "don't eat Ajilenakh Nuts."

What?

Uh...

I know it's hard to believe, but that's what happened. I was saved by the phrase "don't eat Ajilenakh Nuts."

You mentioned a man's voice...

I'm not sure.

I'm not even certain it was a man's voice... It's hard to remember now that I've been repeating it so much myself.

Anyway, the good news is, I no longer feel like my head is going to explode.

Of course, the bad news is, that phrase has been stuck in my head for the past few days.

Wow, but doesn't that have the opposite effect? Like, the more you say "don't eat it," the more you want to eat it...

Yes, that's exactly right!

Whoever the voice belongs to, I don't know what his deal is with those nuts...

Well, the world's a big place. There's bound to be people who don't like sweet stuff.

I suppose. Strangely enough... I'm starting to think the voice belonged not to a man, but a cat.

A cat? How?

That's the question, isn't it. What would a cat be doing in an abandoned ruin like that?

Just as my mind was reaching its breaking point, I could've sworn I heard the sound of a cat guiding me to exit.

But when I came to, all I saw was endless desert, and Sethos shaking me in a desperate attempt to wake me up.

I'll admit, it was pretty terrifying, seeing you like that — staring off into space and mumbling about Ajilenakh Nuts... Heh.

You sure don't sound terrified!

Sorry, sorry, sorry. It's not that I don't care. It's just... kind of hard for rambling about Ajilenakh Nuts to sound menacing.

Now, what Layla was saying, on the other hand... That is much creepier.

You mean about the number of moons?

Exactly. The unknown is what breeds fear. Ajilenakh Nuts are familiar, but the moon suspended above us at night... That's about as foreign as it gets.

W—We don't know that for sure! There could be a whole other world inside an Ajilenakh Nut, with a moon of its own!

Huh... I guess.

Ajilenakh Nuts are not to be underestimated...

Right, yeah! Of course! Won't catch me disparaging the mighty Ajilenakh Nut. No sir...

Huh, so a similar thing happened to Layla, then?

Yeah, I think so.

I was in a hurry to rescue Djer, so I put a marker on the incident site so we could go back and investigate.

When his condition stabilized, we doubled back around to check, and—

You discovered Layla in a similar condition.

Exactly.

Multiple victims with the same symptoms at the same location... It wasn't hard to conclude that something is seriously wrong with that place.

So, after we got Layla out of there, I had the Temple of Silence put up a warning sign at the scene and send patrols to watch the area.

Speaking of, Cyno, Tighnari, and I are going to head back there and investigate once Layla is stable... So, as per usual, you're here just in time!

Yeah, it sounds like you need all the help you can get.

That's for sure. But, there's another reason I want Cyno and Tighnari involved in this.

Because the story doesn't end there. Right, Djer?

Hm... Oh, yes. Where was I? The Ajilenakh Nuts butted in and I... Right. Yes. The cat.

As I followed the cat noises, the voice said something else: "So, there are those from Tulaytullah who still endure..."

I thought that was strange, of course, because well... Was the voice referring to me?

Haha, records of my ancestry are rather sparse, so I'm not sure if my bloodline even traces back to that place.

Tulaytullah...

That's right. The Temple of Silence's place of origin.

And the home of Tighnari's people. Plus, Hermanubis, who Cyno and I both share a connection to, was one of the city's founders.

As the Temple's current leader, if something strange happens in the desert, it's my job to get to the bottom of it.

But, it turns out, a lot of people have a horse in this race, and I'm not leaving any of them out.

Good idea.

See? Knew you'd join.

But yeah, that's all we know about Djer's situation.

Tighnari should be done on his end. Let's head back and check on Miss Layla.

How are you feeling? Ah, but don't speak if it's too taxing.

It's fine. I'm much better now, thanks.

I feel like I haven't slept in two days... So, pretty much back to normal...

Whoa, whoa, whoa... That's your normal!?

Layla...

Ah, Путешественник, Paimon... I thought I heard your voices earlier...

Oh, and, um... I'm sorry...

Huh? You don't have to apologize! You didn't do anything wrong!

Ah... No, I just mean... I think I'm about to disappoint you.

My head was kinda muddled earlier, but I still heard your conversation.

I know you're trying to figure out what happened to me, and I want to help...

But... I really don't remember anything.

Does your head still hurt?

No, I feel fine. The incense you made helped a lot.

I'm still hearing those words in my head, but other than that, I'm okay.

It's just... all I remember are those words. Everything else is a total blank.

One moment I was heading to the stargazing point I'd calculated, and the next, I was on my back in the sand, the same phrase playing over and over again in my mind...

How many moons are there in the sky?

Hmm...

Sethos, did your friend Djer suffer from memory loss too?

Not really. His memories are blurry, but there aren't huge gaps like this.

He remembers touching something, someone talking, a voice mentioning "Tulaytullah," and hearing a cat lead him to the exit.

Ah! A cat...

Did you hear it too?

Huh, now that you mention it, I think so? It was so soft, I thought I was imagining things...

Hmm... Which means, at the very least, what the two of you experienced while escaping the ruin is consistent.

A single sentence repeating in your heads, and the faint sound of a cat.

Still not a lot to go off of.

Agreed.

Hmm...

Oh, is your head hurting again, Layla?

*breathe in*

*breathe out* No, I was just thinking... Maybe my memories are blank because I was sleepwalking at the time?

Sometimes, my friends and classmates tell me about things I don't remember doing, or places I don't remember going.

I don't talk about it a lot because, well... I don't even know how it happens. But I don't want my personal circumstances clouding your judgment.

So, I... just wanted to mention that.

Ah... I see. Well, thank you for telling us.

But, I don't think we need to dwell on that for now. We're gonna check out the site of the incident for ourselves, so that should help us come to our own conclusions.

O—Okay...

Then, could I come too? I have to know what happened to me back there.

Sure, but on one condition — you need to be in tip-top shape before we head out.

If your condition isn't stable enough before then, we'll have to figure out something else.

O—Of course! No problem!

Well, I'm more concerned about Tighnari... You sure you'll be alright in the desert?

You say that like I'll evaporate on first contact with sand or something.

Call it... curiosity. If this concerns my ancestors, I want to figure out what's going on.

Anyway, as long as I take things slow when the sun's out, I should be fine with the right preparation.

Besides, it's a good idea to have a doctor on hand in case of emergencies.

So long as our doctor doesn't become the emergency.

Well, if that happens, I suppose I'll just have to rely on the kindness of my entourage to haul me back home.

Alright, well, that all sounds good to me. Let's meet in two days like we agreed.

Djer and I are gonna head back to the Temple of Silence and do some research in the meantime. See you in a couple days!

Sounds good.

What about you, Layla? If you feel like you need more rest, I can arrange a room for you to stay in.

O—Oh, um, no need! I've asked enough of you as it is...

Besides, I feel a lot better. I should make it back to my dorm, no problem.

You sure? Don't push it too hard, or you might end up sleepwalking along the way...

Don't worry. I'll be fine.

I have other things I need to do, anyway. Like letting my advisor and classmates know that I'm fine, adjusting my stargazing schedule, things like that...

If I don't get it all done, I doubt I'll be able to sit still, let alone stay here and get some rest...

I'm not so sure that's—

You know what? I'll make sure she gets back.

Ah, a much better idea. Thank you, Traveler.

Of course, if anything starts to feel off, come back for a checkup right away!

You'd better listen to him, Layla, or he'll feed you tasteless slop as a punishment.

Punishment? You're the one who caught a cold. You're supposed to eat light when that happens.

Besides, with your nose stuffed up like that, you couldn't taste anything to begin with.

Huh, is that so.

And here I thought it was an intaste-tinal issue.

...Should've seen that coming. You're off the clock, so now it's time for puns, huh?

Oh brother, not this again...

Don't worry, Paimon. I understand. If you want me to stop, then...

Th—Then...?

You'll have to call a plumber. Tell them someone's gotta "pipe" down...

Wow.

Ugh... This is getting more insufferable by the second!

Put a sock in it already. Please...

Got it, Paimon, one "sock-in" coming right up~

!?

!?

...Paimon's done with this game...

You win, okay? Let's just get out of here... please.

Okay, bye, everyone. I'll keep Layla safe.

Alright. You stay safe... I'll try to stay sane.

Moons... Ajilenakh Nuts...

Moons... Ajilenakh Nuts...?

Are the moons going... nuts?

Oh no, looks like Paimon's caught the brain bug too — she can't stop thinking about those two things!

Paimon's gotta clear her head. But how...

...Aha! Got it!

The cafe over there! Why don't we head over for a quick pick-me-up?

(Hmm?)

(Something's up with Layla...)

S—Sorry. I feel kinda tired all of a sudden...

Wait, is it because of all Paimon's muttering just now?

Ah, sorry, sorry... Um, the coffee will be Paimon's treat, okay?

So generous all of a sudden...

Hey, you make it sound like Paimon's stingy or something!

Hmph, well, she'll just have to show you her... true colors! Yeah, starting now!

You sit tight and take care of Layla, Путешественник. Paimon's gonna get us some snacks and coffee!

Be right back! Don't go anywhere in the meantime!

*sigh*... She's pushing herself again, as always.

Other Layla, I presume?

Saw right through me, huh...

I apologize for the sudden emergence, but I didn't have any other options...

It's fine.

Well, that's true...

So, for "our" sake — and your safety — allow me to fill in the gaps in her memory.

I knew it. You were in control when it happened...

That's right.

Layla was already in bad shape, stressing about her new study topic, focusing on the stars instead of her surroundings...

By the time she realized the danger she was in, it was too late...

Ah!

(Quicksand near the ideal viewing spot? Wasn't expecting that...)

(Looks like Layla's been under a lot of pressure lately. She hasn't been paying attention to her surroundings...)

(But... why would quicksand lead to a place like this?)

(Well, all in all, looks like a common desert ruin... Guess there's nothing to do but try to find a way out.)

(Oh, Layla... What have you gotten yourself into this time...)

(...!)

("How many moons are there in the sky?")

(How many moons are there in the sky?)

(Okay. Information isn't rushing into my brain anymore. That's good.)

(How many moons are there in the sky?)

(My head hurts, but there are no more dark spots in my vision, and I can see in front of me. Still...)

(How many moons are there in the sky?)

(What's going on? The same thought keeps popping into my head. What does it mean...)

(How many moons are there in the sky?)

(Isn't there... just one?)

Meow.

(...A cat? I think there was one earlier, too...)

Meow... Meow...

(I'm not hearing things — it really is a cat! But what is it doing here...)

(How many moons... are there... No. Stop it!)

Meow.

(Does it want me to follow its cries?)

(Well, it's not like I've got other options. Come on, Layla. You can do this...)

...And so, I followed the cat's cries to find my way out.

It was quite a kind creature... It didn't even leave until the other me started to wake up.

Thinking back, it all started when I touched that device.

I've heard fellow students talk about it before... how the desert is full of objects that do strange things.

Sometimes, it's just a minor inconvenience. But, other times, devices like that can cause massive trouble.

I know exactly what you mean.

Ah, of course. I forgot how much adventuring experience you have.

Still, carrying an umbrella doesn't mean you can't get soaked, so just... Be careful, and stay away from unknown devices.

Thanks for the advice.

No need to thank me. You and Layla are about to head into dangerous territory together. You need to be safe, so she can be safe.

Well, I think that about sums it up.

Ah, and just in time — your coffee's here.

Путешественник! A little help over here!

Something strange is going on...

Ugh...

There are records in the Temple of Silence that speak of the ancient desert peoples' love of raising cats. Perhaps I encountered some ancestral cat spirit, long since passed on?

It seems your jokes have improved with practice, Путешественник.

Happy about that?

Absolutely. Finally, someone to share the load.

...Ah, you know what? Collei's helping out the Akademiya, but I haven't had the chance to check on her. Why don't you do me a favor, and... go do that.

Hold on, I thought you were having me over for dinner?