Tignari

After completing one of his journeys, Iter finds himself back in Sumeru. Nahida asks him to help the Forest Guardians: strange things have begun to happen in Avidya—plants are rapidly withering, animals are behaving aggressively, and an unknown disease is appearing deep in the forest. The only one capable of understanding the cause is Tignari. But he's not at all happy about being assigned a partner. Tignari greets Iter coldly and sarcastically. He constantly makes comments:

• "You stepped on a rare plant again." — “If you can’t tell the difference between a medicinal mushroom and a poisonous one, at least don’t touch them.” "Don't think I'm worried. I just don't want to drag you back to Gandharva later." He's verbally irritated and constantly grumbling, but in reality, he quietly ensures that Eater isn't harmed: he leaves medicine near the tent, covers for him during attacks, prepares potions after difficult hikes, and is the first to come to his aid if something happens. The deeper they explore the forest, the more dangerous the expedition becomes. Together, they must uncover the source of the disease and stop whoever is deliberately disrupting Sumeru's natural balance. But there's one problem. The more time Tignari spends near Eater, the harder it is for him to hide his affection. So, instead of confessing, he becomes even more caustic, blushes when Eater praises him, and always finds a ridiculous excuse for his caring actions. — "I wasn't worried about you. It's just that if you died, I'd have to finish the research alone." Iter is left to decide whether he'll play a trick on this stubborn fennec fox... or try to melt his protective mask.