Y/n pov:

Nahida and I have been working on something to help Aether when we have to fight Scaramouche.

I hate the fact that I know there will be a big battle against him soon. I don't know how I'll fight, but I know I will.

While we waited for Aether and Paimon to return, Nahida spoke.

"The boy you were in love with... it's him isn't it?" Nahida asked, obviously referring to Scaramouche.

I stayed silent for a while. "It is... however they're so different... I just... wish that he would at least be some sort of mix between Scaramouche and my Kunikuzushi." I said and sat down on the stairs.

She looked at me sadly. "If you don't want to fight-" she started however I cut her off. "I will. Don't worry Nahida, I want to fight him."

Perhaps it was because I wanted to show him I didn't fear him like he assumed that day we met at the delusion factory.
Or perhaps I wanted to stand up to him, to show him this wasn't what I wanted. Although he probably wouldn't care for my opinion.

The door of the sanctuary opened and Aether walked inside.

We greeted each other and Nahida introduced our creation.
"This is a small device Y/n and I put together just now. Think of it as an upgraded Akasha terminal.  It should be helpful in certain situations." Nahida said.

This 'certain situation' was obviously the upcoming battle.

For a moment, Paimon started weeping as she thought the creation looked too similar to her, fearing it could replace her. Nahida had to comfort her.

"By the way there's something I have to confess... even if I'm an archon... I'm not good at fighting." Nahida spoke carefully. It was obvious she wouldn't be a professional in fighting. And I didn't mind at all.

I had a feeling me and Aether could fight well by each others side.

"If we get into a situation where combat is our only option... I will have to count on you two..." she said.

"Fighting is my forté, don't worry." Aether reassured her and I nodded in agreement.

"So the god of wisdom isn't good at fighting? That actually sounds about right." Paimon concluded, almost making me snort.

"Me and Y/n have located where the false god is. Time is of the essence, so let's skip to it." Nahida said.

We agreed and walked to a door on the other side of the Sanctuary.

And then, we entered the new domain.

-

"What is this place? Woah, who woulda thought there'd be a place like this hidden right slap bang in the middle of the city!" Paimon exclaimed as soon as we had entered.

The air was ominous and the room reminded me of the delusion factory. He's surely around here...

Nahida and Aether discussed for a few minutes while I took a look around our surroundings, trying to figure out our path forward.

When they mentioned The Balladeer, I turned my attention to them again.

"So... The Balladeer is who they're trying to turn into a god..." Nahida started.
"We had previously come into contact with his consciousness. He harbors particularly strong obsessions..." Nahida said.

I walked towards them again.

"One is the desire for a gnosis, since he was created to be the vessel for one. I wonder how he got a hold of The Electro Archons gnosis though..." Nahida said.

I felt myself sweat drop. That's right, no one knew I had given him the gnosis yet...
Maybe I should come clean about that...

"Well... about that... I'm sort of... the one who gave it to him..." I said, chuckling nervously.

They all turned towards me with wide eyes, almost making me jump.

"What?! Why?! When?!" Paimon asked loudly, leaning towards me.

"It's a long story, I didn't know he would use it for this. I just felt like... I owed him something..." I said guilty, looking down.

Nahida spoke again, "About that, his other obsession... is probably related to his past. Maybe Y/n herself as well..." she said.

Aether doesn't know my past with him yet I assume. I have a feeling he will find out one day, even if it was against my will.

"Paimon knows he was a prototype puppet for the Raiden Shogun before he became a Fatui Harbinger." Paimon said.

I looked to the floor.
"He was... so much more than that before he became a harbinger." I said, not intending to explain further.

"Sounds like all of you know The Balladeer quite well." Nahida said.

"We've had earlier encounters..." Aether responded.

"I see. Tell me more about how he's like." Nahida said to us all.

Aether explained how he had seen him, met him and spoken to him. How his encounters with him were all terrible.

I decided not to speak at all. I didn't want to tell them my vision of him. This gave me a sense of Deja vu. When I used to sit behind a screen, playing this very game. This was the feeling I had when I saw Scaramouche.

A feeling of abandonment, connection, and relating to him. And now when I had been with him for so long, a feeling of love. These were all feelings I couldn't bring up now with these people. They wouldn't understand, not at all.

"Ah... I see. How fascinating." Nahida said as Aether finished his explanation.

"Alright, time to go. Let's get through here and meet him in person." Nahida said.
I nodded in agreement and we started heading on our way through the domain.

There were soldiers in almost every room.
But with both me and Aether, they all easily went down.

Through hallways, we ran, we climbed, and fought.

The whole building reminded me of the delusion factory again, as well as the encounter with Scaramouche I had there.

I would face him again, in a new domain, on opposite sides. This time... I wasn't alone. And it wasn't about my feelings, this was about the fate of Sumeru.
But for some reason... I still hoped he would acknowledge my presence in the room...

Finally, we entered a huge room, with a pattern on the ground.

"The pattern on the ground seems all messed up, let's see if we can fix it." Paimon spoke.

I separated from the group to fix other mechanics, while Aether and Nahida went their own way.

I fixed about two of the mechanics, and went back to the pattern.
I waited for Nahida and the rest, when I saw the rest of the patterns being put into place.

Then, the barrier stopping the elevator disappeared.

We met up in front of the elevator and stepped into it.

It moved upwards for a minute until it reached a new room.
This time, the room was empty, except for one door.

My heart sped up as I knew exactly what I could find behind this door. Again, Deja vu came over me, remembering as I stood in front of the door at the delusion factory, just as nervous as I was now.

"We must prepare for the worst. The god they wanted to create is likely close to completion or already completed." Nahida said.

I felt more nervous.

"Oh no, what do we do? Paimon can only imagine what it is like to fight against a fatui harbinger with a gnosis, oh Y/n! Why did you have to give it to him!" Paimon pointed towards me.

I turned away from her and looked to the floor. She's right... I'm the cause of all of this.
So I didn't answer her.
Nahida looked at me sadly. Deep inside, I hoped she would understand the feelings I had. Again, I was thinking selfishly...

Why am I like this?...

"Paimon, are you nervous?" Nahida asked Paimon, bringing the attention away from me.

"Of course Paimon's nervous! Aren't you all too?" Paimon answered immediately.

"I am nervous." Nahida said honestly.

I simply looked at the doors wanting to finish this conversation and see the face of the person I still loved.

"But I am also curious." Nahida said in the background. "About what?" Paimon asked.
"About our fate." Nahida answered simply in return.
They spoke for another couple of minutes as I anxiously looked towards the door, waiting.

Then Nahida snapped my attention back towards them. "Let's continue on. I can sense 'his' aura from here..." she said.

Then I felt nervous again. I wanted to see him but I also wanted to hide, but whatsoever, we opened the door.

-

We stepped inside and our faces dropped. Aether, Nahida and Paimon were observing the mechanic that had been built.

I however... was looking at the man inside the mechanic's head.
Scaramouche had his eyes closed as he stood still, wires attached to him.

As I saw him I felt like breaking down. This was the opposite of what I wanted him to become when I decided to try save him. To think I failed to this extent.

Nahida walked in front of us and used her powers. They flowed up to Scaramouche and electricity started sparking.

Then his eyes snapped open with so much force.
Paimon was blown away. Nahida slid on the ground, barely keeping on her feet. Aether covered his face as from the wind and slid backwards as well. I myself was forced backwards, but didn't fall.

We stabilized ourselves as Scaramouche peered down at us all.

He raised his arms slowly to his sides as he spoke. "Who would have thought... the world would be so eager for my 'birth'." He said before glaring down at up.

None of us spoke yet. "I remember you Buer, the God of Wisdom." He said as he looked at her.
"And standing beside you the traveler and..." he turned his gaze to me.

He tilted his head before smirking. "How kind of you to bring her here..." he said mockingly.

Paimon was scared, "Is he all-knowing and powerful now like Greater Lord Rukkhadevata?" She asked worriedly.

"No, I can't feel the same kind of divinity I felt from Greater Lord. It seems that the sages didn't get the chance to infuse the Divine knowledge capsules into him." Nahida answered.

The mechanic started to move.

"But even still, he has undoubtedly become a true 'god' now." She spoke.

Paimon hid behind Aether. "So we're too late? The Balladeer has already become a god...?" Paimon asked.

Scaramouche cringed at that name. "The Balladeer. A long bygone title. When my spirit ascended to divinity, I felt as if I had existed for the same number of epochs as heaven and earth." He then looked towards me with a cold look.

"Looking back... the existence of what once was called Kunikuzushi appears infinitely small and ugly." He said. His words made my heart drop.
Kunikuzushi was the name I had given him the day we met.

I gave him that name in hope that he wouldn't later on claim it as a wanderer.

The head of the mechanic closed and it rose, ready to battle.

He spoke from inside the mechanic. "I am angry about the fact I wasn't given the opportunity to personally participate in the archon war. And you Buer, who doesn't even seek power... no wonder your people has abandoned you, God of Wisdom!" He insulted Nahida.

Then Aether spoke. "Nahida's followers will only continuity increase in number." He said.

"Your judgment is as your existence: unsubstantial. This is where everything ends Buer. You should know that wisdom is not going to solve every problem. Like now, when your only option is to face me in combat." Scaramouche spoke.

We stayed silent. Then he laughed. "Let's reenact the scene of the archon war. Come an inaugurate my birth as a god."