When speaking of Suru's cuisine or famous restaurants, most people struggle to na any in particular.
Mondstadt has Good Hunter and Goth Hotel.
Inazuma has Uyuu Restaurant.
Liyue hardly needs introduction, Liuli Pavilion, Xinyue Kiosk, and Wanmin Restaurant are all widely renowned.
But Suru?
Even Suru's own citizens hesitate when asked.
Ask about cafés, however, and they beco experts.
Along the main avenues of Suru City, one finds café after café every few dozen ters. Large or small, each serves its own specialty brew. For many citizens, als are little more than an accompanint to coffee.
As Alhaitham once put it, coffee sharpens the mind. In the Nation of Wisdom and Reason, nothing matters more than ntal clarity.
Restaurants do exist, of course, but grand banquets are rare. The rational ethos of Suru traditionally discourages indulgence of the senses. Under the forr Grand Sage's doctrine, pleasure was dismissed as frivolous. Intellectual pursuit reigned supre.
Thus, recreational and culinary spaces within the city were scarce. Nahida had long noticed this, resolving quietly to improve it in ti. After all, a flourishing spiritual life is part of genuine prosperity.
The group sampled a modest Suru-style al, subtle, aromatic, distinct in its own way.
Then they set off.
Though Nahida concealed her identity, such a striking entourage inevitably drew attention. rchants from Liyue and other nations were present throughout the city, and figures like Ningguang were easily recognized.
Fortunately, Liyue rchants rely greeted them politely. With Suru joining the Four-Nation Alliance, and the Archons themselves having visited, an inspection by prominent leaders was hardly surprising.
Suru was not yet like Liyue. In Liyue Harbor, during festivals, shops would open freely to all, expenses covered by the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Suru did not yet possess such financial confidence. Still, prices today were noticeably reduced.
Nahida and Klee walked hand in hand, bouncing like twin sisters. Paimon dozed on Ryen's shoulder, subdued by post-al drowsiness, though a snack would instantly revive her.
Nahida listened quietly to passing conversations.
Citizens spoke animatedly about the Akademiya ceremony, about desert restoration, Eleazar's cure, the alliance. Joy overflowed.
At first, Nahida felt ward.
Gradually, however, embarrassnt crept in.
The praise was excessive.
They compared her to Greater Lord Rukkhadevata. Called her the most benevolent Archon. The purest, kindest Dendro Archon in the world.
And then,
A young woman raised her fist and declared loudly before the crowd:
"I am Lady Nahida's slave!"
Her voice rang like a sermon.
"I will devote myself eternally to Lady Nahida! I am forever her loyal hound!"
Shockingly, applause followed. Others echoed her words, swearing similar devotion.
Nahida's face burned crimson.
Head lowered, she grabbed Ryen and Klee's hands and hurried around a corner until the voices faded.
"What is going on?!" she muttered in distress.
"That's too extre!"
Ryen pinched her cheek teasingly.
"Deep down, you enjoyed it a little, didn't you?"
She glared at him.
"How could I enjoy sothing like that? I'm not a tyrant!"
She firmly believed in equality.
In her heart, no one was another's slave.
She puffed her cheeks indignantly.
"I'll speak with the Akademiya tomorrow. Cyno must ensure such thinking doesn't spread. We'll stop it at the source."
The others struggled not to laugh.
Ryen checked the sky.
Evening approached.
It was ti for the Grand Bazaar.
They had saved it for nightfall, when lanterns would glow and atmosphere deepen. And Nilou's performance would soon begin.
"Let's go," Ryen said with a smile. "It's ti to see the legendary Dance of Sabzeruz."
Nahida's eyes sparkled instantly.
If asked who anticipated the dance most, she would rank second only to Dunyarzad.
In truth, it made sense that she and Dunyarzad beca close friends.
One had dread of seeing the dance before dying.
The other had been imprisoned for five hundred years, dreaming of the sa.
Fate had aligned their wishes.
Turning a corner, they encountered Dunyarzad, Dehya, and Dunyarzad's parents.
The Homayani family had been granted leave despite current responsibilities. Today, they were simply a family.
Dunyarzad glowed with health. No more scales. No more concealnt.
Her mother had dragged her through endless shopping to compensate for lost years. Dehya had suffered alongside her, warrior of the desert though she was, fashion shopping was not her battlefield.
Dehya smiled.
"You're going to see Nilou too? The Grand Bazaar is already packed. Nilou reserved seats for us, co along."
They proceeded together.
The entrance was crowded beyond asure, yet citizens parted respectfully for them.
Inside, scholars, rcenaries, rchants, and citizens mingled freely. The Grand Bazaar had never felt so alive.
Nahida sat on Ryen's lap, eyes fixed on the Zubayr Theater stage.
Night deepened.
Then, the lights ignited.
Nilou erged in radiant attire, bowing gracefully.
The crowd fell silent.
Only a single beam illuminated her.
The art once suppressed under tyranny now blossod openly beneath the stars of Suru.
Nahida's eyes curved with delight. Flowers seed to bloom across the stage.
Nilou began to dance.
Her movents flowed like petals carried by wind, gentle, luminous, free.
Beautiful, undeniably.
But to Ryen,
The most beautiful sight was the small Archon clapping happily on his lap.
He rested his chin lightly against her head.
"Nahida… happy birthday."
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