Layla

Laila studies theoretical astrology at the Rtawahist darshan, spending long nights charting the stars and writing dissertations.

Nevertheless, due to the high demands of her mentors, her desk is always piled high with assignments, which, no matter how hard she tries, never seem to decrease.

Laila suffers from sleep deprivation. Even on a blank sheet of paper, she sees swirling stars.

But that's not possible. You need to take a short nap to face this world with a fresh head.

When she woke up, a scattering of stars appeared on the blank draft.

Laila rubbed her tired eyes: maybe she was hallucinating, or maybe she was still asleep? Somehow, the assignment she had to hand in tomorrow was clearly visible on the paper.

Is it "Gifts of Heaven"? Or "Mercy of the Stars"? Or... the legendary "walking in dreams"?

...There's no time to figure it out – it's time to run to the next class.

Rtawahist is one of the six Darshans that make up the Sumeru Academy. Each Darshan focuses on a separate field of knowledge. Rtawahist, therefore, studies the cosmos, which has held the world in its embrace since time immemorial. Layla is one of many who have dedicated themselves to this field of research. She recently joined the Darshan, but has already earned herself several nicknames. The Eccentric Night Owl, The Walking Calculator, The Scientific Paper That Fell From the Sky... With each passing day, the nicknames grow.

At the Academy, you'll find two types of people. The first maintain an imperturbable calm and dignity. Whether conducting an experiment or writing a dissertation, an atmosphere of composure always surrounds them. The others walk around with sad faces and sigh mournfully. They helplessly clutch the lab equipment, then a second later make notes, only to immediately cross them out with a very distraught expression. Lyla, in the lab, undoubtedly belongs to the second type. Feeling unwell and sleep deprivation are not uncommon among researchers, but for Lyla, they've reached a whole other level. Huge dark circles under her eyes and a tired face testify to extreme stress. If you approach her, you can often hear her whispering things like "I don't understand," "Why?", "I'm doomed"... and other sympathetic lamentations. The Academy is not only an altar of knowledge for dedicated students, but also a source of their nightmares. It is here that they endure the torment of unsuccessful experiments and refuted theories. They say that every year many students drop out because they can't cope with the workload. Sometimes it seems Lyla is one step away from giving up. But in reality, several of her classmates have already left the Academy, and she is still holding on. In the pursuit of knowledge, talent is useful, but perseverance is vital.

Laila's poor health stems from sleep deprivation caused by her demanding studies. All Darshan students must complete a course of study, write a dissertation, and pass an exam or accreditation. It sounds simple, but it requires a significant amount of time and effort. Unfortunately for Laila, she always finishes her work slower than her peers. She often spends a lot of time pondering and worrying about the validity of her theses, the simplicity of her work compared to her classmates', and the accuracy and efficiency of her calculations. She feels that, as a student at the most prestigious Darshan, she cannot be negligent in her studies and dares not rush the writing of her papers. Overwhelmed by indecision, she sometimes cannot write a single word, watching time slip through her fingers. Because of this, she often works at night hoping to sleep during the day. However, new assignments often await her at dawn, creating a vicious cycle. As a result, abnormalities have begun to appear in her body. She often walks in her sleep. Upon waking, she cannot always remember where she was or what she did. This is very similar to the symptoms of sleepwalking, which she learned about from her peers. Students who have seen her nocturnal wanderings say she appears in various random places, and no one can say for sure where she goes or what she does. Along with sleepwalking, another inexplicable event has occurred in her life. Every time she wakes up after sleepwalking, she finds her unfinished work from the previous day completely finished, including precise calculations! Even the handwriting is similar to hers. Even stranger is the fact that the author of her work also has a habit of mercilessly criticizing the arguments and experimental methods of opponents. Laila simply couldn't imagine that she was capable of doing something like that, and suspected that someone was playing a prank on her. However, recalling her experience along the entire route from her home to the Darshan, she couldn't remember anyone.

Even under heavy workload, Layla finds time for relaxation. She enjoys taking a ship to Port Ormos. There, merchants from all over the world set up their stalls, selling all sorts of exotic goods and performing breathtaking tricks that always energize the tired Layla. She saw desert dwellers testing themselves in exciting dexterity challenges, throwing daggers at distant apples. She met a strange man who claimed he could fly. Using only a carpet, he managed to lift himself off the ground. But the most impressive impression was made on her by the stall owner who invited passers-by to participate in a game and try their luck. He arranged colorful sheets with prizes in wooden boxes. Showing amazing speed and dexterity, he shuffled these boxes and moved them from place to place. After that, he offered participants to choose one box. In the first few attempts, she failed to win the main prize, but after several tries, Layla began to notice a pattern. The stall owner had incredibly fast hands, but Layla realized that his left thumb hardly moved during the shuffling. Therefore, the box closest to his left hand practically didn't change its position. Understanding this, Layla managed to win the main prize many times. When the curious stall owner discovered that Layla, with her insight, had looked beyond the mirage of speed, he was filled with admiration, and he offered her a generous bonus reward. For Layla, the reward was secondary. She truly enjoyed contemplating the amazing abilities possessed by other people. Unlike the conservatives at the Academy, she didn't look down on the arts and crafts of those who worked on the streets. On the contrary, she was grateful to all the merchants of Port Ormos for the happy memories they gave her.

As her first year at the Academy neared its end, Layla listed her strengths and weaknesses, planning to write a self-assessment. She possesses good observation and assessment skills, and is able to plot the trajectories of stars on star charts twice as fast as her peers. Furthermore, she considers her mathematical skills acceptable; she can quickly perform simple calculations mentally without resorting to solving equations on paper. Before entering the Academy, Layla accidentally met her future mentor. He praised her then, saying she was a child blessed by the stars with the ability to seek true knowledge. This gave her the courage and hope to seek education and wisdom at the Academy. However, upon entering the Darshan, she found her strengths insignificant compared to her peers. Only the best of the best could enter Darshan, and therefore Layla felt she paled in comparison. As for weaknesses, Layla found countless numbers. For example, her habit of getting bogged down in problem-solving causes her indecisiveness. Furthermore, she is poorly socialized. When participating in discussions, she often appears detached and arrogant to others due to her unwillingness to express her point of view. For this same reason, she has few friends in Darshan. Her self-confidence is further diminished by the fact that among the many works she submitted, only a few were written by herself. They were a byproduct of the "blessing of the heavens." From Layla's perspective, she consists entirely of shortcomings. She doesn't know that the teachers and peers have a completely different opinion of her. "Mysteriousness and eccentricity are signs of genius." "How does she manage to draw star charts so quickly when we're conducting field research? Does she have cameras instead of eyes? Wait, did she already draw the stellar orbits?" "I reviewed her work and calculations and find them thoughtful and meticulous." She has ironclad logic.

Once upon a time, there was a determined, intelligent, and modest girl. Perhaps even overly modest. She always felt that her mediocre intellectual abilities were nowhere near those of a true genius. Nevertheless, she strived for perfection, wanting to stand shoulder to shoulder with the greatest minds, to make her teachers and family proud. Conflicting desires bound her: she didn't want to let go of and reveal her true self, but she also didn't want to suffer from the monotony of everyday life. Over time, she was overwhelmed by a storm of emotions: shame, disappointment, impatience. All this burdened her and left its mark on her psyche. In the end, her soul needed an outlet. Something that would allow her to breathe freely. While her body and mind are awake, they realize that she is too bound by misfortunes to be free. Therefore, when she sleeps, her deepest desires find freedom, manifesting and allowing themselves what she denied herself while awake. During sleepwalking, she is not subject to self-doubt and depression, which allows her to easily handle things like writing papers, compiling star charts and tables. Questions that usually trap her in indecision and anxiety become simple, allowing her to pour out her innermost thoughts and answer very complex questions. This is the liberation of her long-held desires. But all dreams end sooner or later. When the body wakes up, she again becomes an insecure, withdrawn girl. She can't even realize that the cleverly written articles and cunningly calculated equations were created by her own hands. She is as intelligent and resourceful in her sleep as she is reserved and modest while awake. All these are different facets of one girl. Like a sapling in the process of growth, she is torn between self-doubt and a desire to break free. This imbalance manifested itself as her sleepwalking.

Besides notes, star charts, and journals, a thick book filled to the brim with photographs sits on Layla's desk. No matter what else is on the desk, the photo album always takes pride of place. Its pages are filled with photographs Layla took herself. There are pictures of her home and parents, her friends, and the mentor who inspired her to attend the Academy. Each photograph holds great significance for her. She uses them as a diary, detailing her experiences and trials on her journey from home to the Academy. Every time she looks through the photos, she finds the strength to remember her former fiery determination and uses it to overcome her doubts. Recently, Layla added several new photos with (a certain blond-haired traveler). The number of photographs keeps growing, and who knows how thick the photo album will be by the time she finishes her studies?

Laila never engages in arguments. It's simply her nature. And yet, one day she found herself embroiled in a heated debate. During a discussion in her theoretical astrology class, the respected Khirbad glanced at Laila's and her classmates' work, then began to sharply criticize one of Laila's arguments. In Khirbad's opinion, theoretical astrology is a sacred product of the wisdom of generations of researchers, and each of its laws has been verified by countless scientists and cannot be questioned, while Laila dared to doubt these laws and attempt to correct them, which is undoubtedly sacrilege. Laila didn't respond to the criticism impulsively. Instead, she meticulously laid out her arguments in a report after the seminar and submitted it to Khirbad. Shortly thereafter, Khirbad attached his refutation to Laila's report and returned it to her. By this point, most students had decided to remain neutral and cease the conflict. On the one hand, a failing seminar report would lead to serious negative consequences on the final exams. On the other hand, arguing with a Khirbad on academic matters, regardless of knowledge and qualifications, is a serious offense. After all, any Khirbad is far more knowledgeable than a simple student. Perhaps Laila's arguments, questioning a long-accepted doctrine, were simply a miscalculation on her part, and she entered the argument out of fear of humiliation. Despite this, Laila did not give up. She continued the dialogue with Khirbad, relying on her reports. Then, after six months, Khirbad sought out Laila. He admitted that after consulting with other researchers, he had discovered that there was indeed an error in the law that had not been taken into account. Concluding his explanation, he said to Laila with pride and excitement that each year fewer and fewer students dare to challenge him for the sake of knowledge. The purpose of education, both for the student and for the teacher, lies in the pursuit of knowledge in its purest form.

The landscape of Sumeru is quite diverse and includes both tropical forests and deserts, which occupy the majority of the region.

The previous Dendro Archon, the Great Ruler Rukkhadevata, perished during the cataclysm 500 years ago, defending Irminsul. Her place was taken by the Lesser Ruler Kusanali, who still rules the region to this day.

Lisa studied magic at the Sumeru Academy, where she is considered the best student in the last 200 years. Despite the prestige she enjoyed there, she eventually left the Academy and returned to Mondstadt, disillusioned with the "mad scientists" and the price one "has to pay for the pursuit of knowledge."

The Desert Guides are a group of mercenaries who travel throughout Teyvat. They consider themselves those who "are not afraid of death, so that they can truly live." Nazafarin, a scholar from Sumeru, claims that some of them possess "strange but formidable abilities," and finds the topic of the Desert Guides rather unpleasant, after which she closes the subject after a brief explanation to the Traveler.

The statue of the Seven Archons in this region depicts a female figure who looks like a child. She is wearing something that resembles a cloak and flowing garments. The figure in the statue is depicted sitting on a large tree leaf, which is an attribute of the Dendro Archon's mantle.

The name "Sumeru" is based on the name of the mythical sacred mountain Meru, which is a central part of the cosmology in Hinduism and Buddhism. The tropical part of Sumeru, "The Dharma Jungle," is based on Indian culture. A huge number of elements are also borrowed from Zoroastrian Iran. Meanwhile, the desert part represents ancient Egypt and the Maghreb states. In Sumerian music, one can clearly trace Indian motifs (Sitar, tabla, bansuri), Persian (saz, tombak, nay), Arab, and Turkish (baglama). According to Paimon in the Traveler's voice-over "About Teyvat...", the people of Sumeru are known for their ability to read the stars. The local alcoholic beverage in Sumeru is snake tincture. Burnt stones are frequently found in the deserts of Sumeru. They were once only found there, but later, due to the shifting of the Earth's Arteries, they appeared in Liyue. Sumeru is one of the seven regions of Teyvat.

In Sumeru, the Goddess of Wisdom, the Dendro Archon Lesser Lady Kusanali, is worshipped. Sumeru is also known as a center of science, and the Sumeru Academy is located there.

The landscape of Sumeru is diverse and includes both tropical forests and deserts, which cover most of the region.

Sumeru City is a subdistrict and the main city located in the Avidya Forest, Dharma Forest, Sumeru.

The city of Sumeru is known throughout Teyvat as the "City of Wisdom." It is under the jurisdiction of the Sumeru Academy and built atop the Divine Tree.

The city has many districts and attractions, such as the Grand Bazaar, the Zubair Theater, Treasure Street, and others. The Academy, which serves as the main base of the Sumeru Academy, is located in the middle and upper half of the tree. At the top of the Academy is the Surasthana Shrine, a palace atop the tree where the Younger Lord Kusanali resides.

Al-Haytham's House is the residence of Al-Haytham and his roommate, Kaveh. Normal entry to the interior is impossible; it is only accessible during the following quests: It consists of a central living room, a study in the room to the right, a corridor to the left with a painting, a broom, and a red floor cushion, and a corridor to the right of the previous corridor with a bookshelf. These corridors lead to two inaccessible doors.

The Bimarstan is located southeast of the city's northwestern teleport waypoint. It's a hospital run by the Academy that provides free medical care to all the residents of Sumeru.

The Citadel of Regzar is the headquarters of the Thirty-Year Corps.

The Grand Bazaar is known as a vibrant artistic space filled with vendors selling handmade goods. The inhabitants of the Grand Bazaar are mostly ordinary people who strive for a peaceful life.

There are three entrances to the Grand Bazaar from the city of Sumeru.

Daina's House is the largest library in all of Teyvat.

Although the rules state that only students and teachers of the Academy can borrow books, this doesn't stop players from constantly storing collectible books in Daena's House.

The Lambada Tavern is run by Lambad and is the main restaurant in Sumeru.

The treasure shop Menakari is run by Khalid. His goods were not in stock because they were reserved upon arrival in Sumeru.

Despite being ostensibly a shop, many of the items on display are not for sale, but rather from Khalid's personal collection. He prefers to sell off items he considers tasteless, but has no desire to sell valuable antiques, knowing that most people wouldn't be able to afford them anyway. The shop displays kitchenware such as plates, painted pottery, and pots, as well as jewelry in boxes and other antiques.

Puspa Café is a coffee shop with a long history, where people often gather to predict their fate or play Genius Invokation TCG.

A tabletop card duel game that's all the rage in Teyvat. Join in as a "Genius Invokation TCG" player, collect cards, build your deck... and battle head-to-head with various opponents at the table!

The Razan Garden is a tranquil garden located along the path to the Divine Tree, which can be accessed by passing through the right or left door inside the Academy. It is adorned with numerous gazebos and decorative pavilions.

The Restricted Archive is a repository of forbidden Academy documents, accessible only to the Mahamats and their trusted partners. Entry is possible during all "Returns to Silence" in the Sinoa "Story Quest," chapter on the golden wolf: Act I - "Vicky of Loneliness," "In the Sands of Loneliness"; entry is impossible after completing the quest.

The entrance to it is hidden in the wall, near the entrance to Daena's House. It consists of a small room furnished with many bookshelves, filled with research archives of former students and researchers who studied dangerous, forbidden topics.

The Surasthana Sanctuary is the residence of the Younger Lord of Kusanali, the current Dendro Archon. Until recently, it was also her prison, as the sages of the Sumeru Academy held her there for five hundred years.