arrow_back Genshin Impact Quests 
The Scattered Past
The Scattered Past
You meet a Fatui Mirror Maiden on Broken Isle who keeps going on about losing a photo. It seems that you won't be able to communicate with her normally... But if you find some way to bring her back to her senses, perhaps you might be able to figure out why she is here.
Paimon:
Why are the Fatui here? This Mirror Maiden...
Paimon:
They're not up to something again, are they?
Mirror Maiden:
...I have to get back... I have to get back... He's still there. But my brothers are gone, and their photo...
Paimon:
Hey, who are you? What are you doing over here?
Mirror Maiden:
The photo of my brothers... I can't go back if I lose it...
Paimon:
Hey, you! Fatui person over there!
Mirror Maiden:
No, I can't leave him behind... Mustn't leave him alone...
Paimon:
Honestly though, Paimon's still wondering how this Mirror Maiden is here in the first place...
Paimon:
Why don't we find a way to wake her up, Traveler? Then we can ask her what the Fatui scattered outside are up to?
Traveler:
We can't just leave her in this state...
Paimon:
Yeah... That Fatuus might be a bit of a weirdo, but Paimon doesn't think it's a good idea to leave her alone.
Paimon:
But how in the world did she end up like this...
Traveler:
It must've been that machine's fault...
Paimon:
Oh right, the machine affected everyone on the island... But it has been shut down...
Mirror Maiden:
The photo of myself and my brothers... I can't go back if I can't find it. But he's still there, waiting for me, all alone...
Paimon:
Paimon gets it now... Let's find that photo that's so dear to her, Traveler. Maybe it'll bring her to her senses!
Mirror Maiden:
The photo of my brothers... I can't go back if I lose it...
Traveler:
(Looks like we still can't talk to her...)
Agafya:
Zakhar! Zakhar! Can you hear me?
Agafya:
What happened here? There was a cave here when we first arrived. And what's with the thorns...
Paimon:
Eh, you can thank your Mirage experiments, or whatever that was.
Paimon:
There are similar thorns all over the island, but with the help of a certain method...
Agafya:
You mean fire? You're not trying to set the thorns on fire, are you? Someone's still inside!
Agafya:
To be fair, I've heard that the two of you are extremely dangerous and that we might be attacked even while en route to work.
Agafya:
But are you seriously going to burn someone alive? Not even the cruelest Fatui Agent would do that.
Paimon:
Of course not. Anyway, burning these thorns with fire won't do us any good...
Paimon:
We have a way to clear the thorns without hurting people inside.
Agafya:
Seriously? You can't be that good, can you? I don't believe it.
Paimon:
What? Bah! C'mon, Traveler, let's show her how the pros do it!
Paimon:
Huh? You did that on purpose!
Agafya:
Ah, so you saw right through me. What a pity.
Paimon:
Grr, you sneaky Fatuus! We almost fell for your trick!
Traveler:
Correction, *you* almost did.
Paimon:
Ugh... So, uh, anyway, here's the deal. We'll save the person in there, but in return, you'll have to give us some intel.
Paimon:
That's how you wring intel out of the enemy, right? By threatening something precious to them?
Agafya:
Whoa, that's inhumane.
Traveler:
Yeah, that does seem kinda inhumane.
Paimon:
Are you agreeing with her? Whose side are you on!?
Agafya:
Anyway, you want intel? Here's some intel. Agafya. My name's Agafya. That's all I can tell you for now.
Paimon:
Just a name!?
Agafya:
If I do tell you something important, you could make a scary face, say something like "you've outlived your usefulness," and then take me out...
Agafya:
Our instructor said that there are many such incidents every year, and so we are not to reveal any sensitive information.
Paimon:
We wouldn't do that! And that's a very weird thing for your instructor to say...
Agafya:
Is it? I think that's pretty normal. Anyway, I'm here, all alone, and you can take me out pretty easily. I can't get away.
Paimon:
Hmm... Honestly, this really doesn't feel like a fair trade. Still, Traveler, let's clear the thorns away first.
Paimon:
Traveler, there's something fishy about the Mirror Maiden...
Agafya:
...I have to get back... I have to get back... He's still there. But my brothers are gone, and their photo...
Paimon:
Hey, Fatuus...
Agafya:
The photo of my brothers... I can't go back if I lose it...
Paimon:
Hey, you! Fatui person over there!
Agafya:
No, I can't leave him behind... Mustn't leave him alone...
Paimon:
Now, pardon me, but I think we've seen this scene before...
Traveler:
The Fatuus we met earlier...
Paimon:
Right. When we met Chevka earlier, he was muttering about some "insignia" thing, and he came to his senses after we gave the insignia to him.
Paimon:
The Fatui are doing experiments here that even affect their own people. Well, Paimon calls this "getting a taste of their own medicine"!
Traveler:
That's right!
Paimon:
So... This Mirror Maiden could be a member of Chevka's squad, right?
Paimon:
Should we try to find something and get her to regain her senses?
Agafya:
The photo of myself and my brothers... I can't go back if I can't find it. But he's still there, waiting for me, all alone...
Paimon:
Paimon gets it now... Traveler, let's find that photo that's so dear to her. Maybe that'll help her recover her wits!
Agafya:
Zakhar! Zakhar! Are you alright?
Zakhar:
Agafya... What's going on? I was just sleeping. I feel all better now.
Agafya:
...*sigh* It's good to see that you're alright.
Zakhar:
Hehe... Oh, Agafya, about the four fruits you gave me earlier, I didn't eat them. I was saving them for you.
Agafya:
Seriously, you didn't? I picked them for you... Just eat them if you're hungry.
Zakhar:
But things were much harder on you, weren't they? You took on the mission alone, after all. So even though I was very hungry, I held myself back!
Paimon:
Huh? A lone mission? What for, Paimon wonders...
Zakhar:
Well, Yakov nearly broke the device, so...
Agafya:
Zakhar! Why are you spilling everything to these outsiders!?
Zakhar:
Uh, what? Oh, wait. You're the one on the internal communique. Traveler and...
Traveler:
"Flying companion."
Zakhar:
Yes, this is the "flying companion"!
Paimon:
It's "Paimon"! How hard is it to remember one name?
Zakhar:
Hehe, I can be kind of scatter-brained like that. The name's Zakhar. Wait, you and us... We're enemies!
Zakhar:
Agafya, did you bring them here?
Agafya:
Yes, they rescued you from the thorns. They are nice... enemy rescuers.
Zakhar:
That's right. Soon after you left, huge thorns suddenly sprouted and sealed the cave. Wait, you were the ones who got rid of those giant thorns? Amazing!
Paimon:
You bet we did!
Zakhar:
But aren't we your enemies? Why help us?
Paimon:
That's a good question...
Paimon:
But well, she did promise that if we got you out, she'd tell us exactly what you're plotting here.
Zakhar:
What? You sold us out, Agafya?
Agafya:
It's alright, Zakhar. We'll just palm them off with something like "we Fatui are hunting mysterious Medaka in these waters"... or whatnot.
Paimon:
What? Are you seriously talking openly about deceiving us? You're really underestimating us, huh?
Paimon:
Well, the thorns have been cleared out, and Zakhar is safe and sound. It's time to pay up.
Zakhar:
Don't tell them anything, Agafya!
Agafya:
*sigh* At this point... To be honest, though, we really don't know much. We were just here to conduct some tests.
Agafya:
Some sort of signal tests I guess... I don't know the details, but the other group from our squad should know.
Paimon:
That's all you got?
Agafya:
That's all I know for sure... Now then, you have our intel, so can you let us go now?
Paimon:
We didn't promise that, but you don't seem like you want to cause any trouble...
Traveler:
Consider this a mercy then.
Agafya:
Well, you have our thanks. Don't know what happened to the guys in the other group, though. We planned to get back to the camp in the middle of the ocean once our mission was completed.
Paimon:
The guys in the other group?
Agafya:
Yes, the other group of two. They said they were heading to the two islands in the south. And that's some extra intel for you, free of charge. You didn't trick us into that, you hear?
Paimon:
A large island to the south... That has to be Minacious Isle.
Agafya:
Alright, let's cut the chatter. We need to hurry back to our base camp...
Paimon:
Speaking of which, we picked up a pocket watch with a group photo inside it on the island. Could the photo be the one?
Traveler:
Show her the pocket watch.
Mirror Maiden:
This... Ah, this is mine. There's a photo of me and my brothers inside...
Mirror Maiden:
It's so great to have it back. Where did I lose it? ... Agh! My head... hurts...
Paimon:
We found it beside the hilichurl camp!
Mirror Maiden:
Thank you, thank you so much...
Mirror Maiden:
No, wait! You're the blond young man and his flying companion, whom we saw in that internal communique!
Paimon:
That's "Paimon" to you! But you know what? We might as well change Paimon's name to "flying companion" if this keeps happening...
Mirror Maiden:
What have you done to me? My...There's a gap in my memories. You didn't perform some weird experiment on me, did you!?
Mirror Maiden:
We may be on opposing sides... But there must still be limits to one's conduct, surely!?
Paimon:
You guys are the ones doing the strange experiments here!
Paimon:
We found the photo for you, you know? Is this how you're gonna pay us back?
Mirror Maiden:
I see... But since I came to my senses, it means that Researcher Persikov's experiment has failed.
Mirror Maiden:
You've probably guessed the reason for the failure... Well, but from where we stand, we're still enemies. Bringing that photo back to me... Has anyone told you that you're too nice to your foes?
Mirror Maiden:
The logical thing to do would've been to take the enemy's valuable possessions. For example, you should have snatched my group photo from the pocket watch and used it to wring some intel out of me.
Paimon:
Are you seriously lecturing us now...
Mirror Maiden:
...Indeed. And that's what they taught us after we joined the Fatui.
Paimon:
That's right! What are you guys up to here, huh? Spill the beans!
Mirror Maiden:
I... We... ugh, we came to this island and... Right! Yes, Zakhar!
Mirror Maiden:
He's still there alone. I need to get to him!
Having seemingly remembered something, the Fatuus, now clear of mind, departs.
Paimon:
Hurry, show her the photo inside the pocket watch!
Traveler:
Show her the pocket watch.
Agafya:
Ah, Zakhar... I hope you're safe and sound... What is it? You haven't cleared the thorns yet?
Agafya:
We're just running errands here. That's all I can tell you.
Agafya:
Zakhar! Zakhar! Are you alright?
Zakhar:
Agafya... What's going on? I was just sleeping. I feel all better now.
Agafya:
...*sigh* It's good to see that you're alright.
Zakhar:
Hehe... Oh, Agafya, about the four fruits you gave me earlier, I didn't eat them. I was saving them for you.
Agafya:
Seriously, you didn't? I picked them for you... Just eat them if you're hungry.
Zakhar:
But things were much harder on you, weren't they? You took on the mission alone, after all. So even though I was very hungry, I held myself back!
Paimon:
Huh? A lone mission? What for, Paimon wonders...
Zakhar:
Well, Yakov nearly broke the device, so...
Agafya:
Zakhar! Why are you spilling everything to these outsiders!?
Zakhar:
Uh, what? Oh, wait. You're the one on the internal communique. Traveler and...
Traveler:
"Flying companion."
Zakhar:
Yes, this is the "flying companion"!
Paimon:
It's "Paimon"! How hard is it to remember one name?
Zakhar:
Hehe, I can be kind of scatter-brained like that. The name's Zakhar. Wait, you and us... We're enemies!
Zakhar:
Agafya, did you bring them here?
Agafya:
Yes, they rescued you from the thorns. They are nice... enemy rescuers.
Zakhar:
That's right. Soon after you left, huge thorns suddenly sprouted and sealed the cave. Wait, you were the ones who got rid of those giant thorns? Amazing!
Paimon:
You bet we did!
Zakhar:
But aren't we your enemies? Why help us?
Paimon:
That's a good question...
Paimon:
Well, she promised that if we got you out, she'd tell us what exactly you are plotting on the island.
Zakhar:
Is that true? Are you selling us out, Agafya!?
Agafya:
It's alright, Zakhar. We'll just palm them off with something like "we Fatui are hunting mysterious Medaka in these waters"... or whatnot.
Paimon:
What? Are you seriously talking openly about deceiving us? You're really underestimating us, huh?
Paimon:
Well, the thorns have been cleared out, and Zakhar is safe and sound. It's time to pay up.
Zakhar:
Don't tell them anything, Agafya!
Agafya:
*sigh* At this point... To be honest, though, we really don't know much. We were just here to conduct some tests.
Agafya:
Some sort of signal tests I guess... I don't know the details, but the other group from our squad should know.
Paimon:
They did tell us a whole bunch of stuff, yeah. But is this all you got?
Agafya:
That's all I know for sure... Now then, you have our intel, so can you let us go now?
Paimon:
We didn't promise that, but you don't seem like you want to cause any trouble...
Traveler:
Consider this a mercy then.
Agafya:
Well, you have our thanks. I don't know what happened to the guys in the other group. We planned to get back to the camp in the center of the sea once we'd completed our mission.
Paimon:
"Other group"? Oh, wait, you're talking about...
Traveler:
She's talking about the Fatui we met earlier...
Agafya:
You've met them? Zakhar, we have to return to camp and reach the rendezvous point as soon as possible...
Agafya:
What is it? Is there anything else? I've already told you everything I know...
Agafya:
Like I told you, I don't know much about it... They were probably just some simple tests, but running all over these islands was just... incredibly tiring.
Zakhar:
We are enemies, you know? We really shouldn't be chatting this much.
Zakhar:
If you talk to the enemy too much, you will become close and your heart softens, which puts you at a disadvantage in battle...
Zakhar:
That's what our instructor told us.
You meet a Fatui Electrohammer Vanguard on Minacious Isle who keeps going on about an insignia. It seems that you won't be able to get through to him... But if you find some way to bring him back to his senses, perhaps you might be able to figure out why he is here.
Paimon:
Traveler, let's try and show him the insignia...
Traveler:
Yeah, let's show him that insignia...
Electrohammer Vanguard:
It's all my fault... I'm the reason he became like that...
Electrohammer Vanguard:
No, I need to... bring the insignia back to him... I've got to find it...
Paimon:
What's that Fatui guy muttering about?
Paimon:
Hey, what are you doing here?
Electrohammer Vanguard:
The insignia... The insignia...
Paimon:
Well... this does worry Paimon a little. Why is this Electrohammer Vanguard here? He isn't up to something bad, is he?
Paimon:
Traveler, how should we deal with this guy?
Traveler:
Eh, only his charging attack is any threat...
Paimon:
Right, Electrohammer Vanguards are pretty dangerous when they sprint at full tilt... Wait, no, that's not what Paimon was talking about!
Paimon:
What Paimon meant is... Shouldn't we, y'know, wake him up and ask him what he's doing here...?
Traveler:
It is quite the curious thing, indeed...
Paimon:
Yeah. It's not every day we have a Fatuus here muttering about some insignia or whatever... It seems like he's looking for something.
Paimon:
This really isn't something that happens every day.
Paimon:
Still, Paimon wonders what happened to leave him in this state...
Traveler:
It must've been that machine's fault...
Paimon:
Right, the Fatui were also affected by the machine. But isn't there anything we can do to bring him back to his senses?
Electrohammer Vanguard:
I gotta find the insignia... That's the only way...
Paimon:
Seems like he's looking for some kind of insignia... Guess we need to find it for him, Traveler.
Paimon:
Wait, is the insignia we picked up on the beach the one he's muttering about? You know, the one that looks kinda shabby?
Paimon:
We might as well show it to him, huh?
Traveler:
Yeah, let's show him that insignia...
Chevka:
Huh, so there was an island like this there. How strange...
Chevka:
I don't remember this being here the last time when we were investigating earlier...
Paimon:
What is it, Chevka?
Chevka:
Hmm... No, it's nothing, really.
Paimon:
Yes, it seems that Yakov definitely came to this island as well.
Chevka:
That's right. I've got to find Yakov. I've got to! Yakov—!
Paimon:
Hey, hey, didn't we tell you to relax? Stop yelling so loudly!
Chevka:
Oh. Um. Sorry.
Paimon:
There's no need to be so nervous. This place is very safe. Now, Traveler, let's go look for Yakov...
Phonograph:
(The gramophone is playing songs that bring back warm memories of the past...)
Yakov:
Oh... why...
Chevka:
Yakov, Yakov, wake up! What happened to you...
Paimon:
You were just like him earlier, you know, muttering on about that insignia!
Chevka:
Oh right, that insignia...
Chevka:
Yakov, look! This is your insignia. You threw it away earlier, but it's been found...
Chevka:
It's an honor you earned together with your father, and now it's back in your hands... What do you say, Yakov? C'mon, man, wake up already...
Yakov:
Why... Why... Why did you leave me alone...
Paimon:
It doesn't seem to have helped...
Chevka:
If this won't bring him back to us, then what in the world does he want...
Paimon:
You don't know what he's looking for? Aren't you guys teammates?
Chevka:
I... I always thought that honors were all that mattered to him. But no, I was wrong. That was just "what I thought he valued"...
Chevka:
He got this badge for completing an emergency mission together with his father, but his father never returned...
Chevka:
His mother passed away when he was born... So after losing his father, he was then all alone in the world.
Chevka:
*sigh*... Though he's younger than me, he'd earned more honors than I. Maybe I was... I guess I was jealous of him. I didn't even know how to get along with him. The only example I could draw from...
Paimon:
You got this from how your father treats you, didn't you...
Chevka:
Well, this is kind of embarrassing... But you guessed it.
Paimon:
Y'know, it somehow doesn't surprise Paimon that the two of you have problems...
Chevka:
Our base camp is on an island in the center of the sea. Yakov is still delirious, so I must send him there first.
Chevka:
And... Oh yes. We... we were part of the team assigned by Researcher Persikov to conduct signal tests here.
Chevka:
I've heard that one of the Lord Harbingers has learned in Sumeru that we can connect people's minds with the help of certain technologies, and that the impact of such technologies could cover an entire region...
Chevka:
Things weren't looking all that promising, but Researcher Persikov decided to go ahead with these experiments anyway, and we were assigned to go out to sea and carry out signal tests in various places for this machine of ours...
Chevka:
Speaking of which, I wonder how those experiments are going...
Paimon:
Well, we are here, so the Fatui experiment...
Traveler:
The experiment is kaput, duh.
Chevka:
That how it is? Haha, then I guess Researcher Persikov's gonna have to pay that toll.
Chevka:
That's all I know. I made arrangements with the other team members that we'd go back to our base camp in the center of the sea once we finished testing...
Chevka:
They should be somewhere on the two islands in the north... According to our mission progress, they're probably on the northwestern island...
Chevka:
*sigh*... Agafya would be crazy mad at me if she saw Yakov like this... But I've got to bring Yakov back no matter what!
Electrohammer Vanguard:
It's all my fault... I'm the reason he became like that...
Electrohammer Vanguard:
No, I need to... bring the insignia back to him... I've got to find it...
Paimon:
Hey! What are you doing here?
Electrohammer Vanguard:
The insignia... The insignia...
Paimon:
Gah, he's completely ignoring us...
Traveler:
A little louder, Paimon!
Paimon:
It's pretty clear that he can't hear us. Speaking louder won't help at all...
Paimon:
He acts exactly like Agafya earlier, remember? She came to reason as soon as we gave her the pocket watch with a picture.
Paimon:
Maybe there is also something that can wake the Electrohammer Vanguard from the impact of the machine?
Paimon:
Seems like he's looking for some kind of insignia... Guess we need to find it for him, Traveler.
Electrohammer Vanguard:
I gotta find the insignia... That's the only way...
Traveler:
(Let's talk to him after we find the insignia...)
Electrohammer Vanguard:
This is... Yeah, this is the one. I remember every scratch on this insignia. Huh, there's a new dent here. Why's that?
Electrohammer Vanguard:
Oh right. Yakov threw it down back then, didn't he...
Paimon:
Oh, so that's why that insignia was in such a weird spot.
Electrohammer Vanguard:
I see. So you found it on the beach, eh... Heh, so it was found at last. Thank you both so much. I'm lucky to have met people as kind as you are.
Electrohammer Vanguard:
...No, wait. You're Traveler and Paimon!
Traveler:
That's right. That's Traveler to you!
Paimon:
And Paimon's Paimon!
Electrohammer Vanguard:
I... I see. Now that I'm at your mercy, there's not much I can do.
Electrohammer Vanguard:
My father once told me that "if you have fallen into enemy hands, it is a better option to sacrifice yourself for the honor of your family."
Paimon:
What? That sounds horrible...
Paimon:
To be honest, though, we were just curious about why you're here...
Electrohammer Vanguard:
...
Electrohammer Vanguard:
My father once told me that "giving information to the enemy is no different from betrayal. Our family raises no traitors!"
Paimon:
That's way too harsh.
Traveler:
Harsh indeed...
Electrohammer Vanguard:
To be honest, it is truly shameful that I have fallen into your hands and even had to accept your help. That's what my father's teachings say.
Electrohammer Vanguard:
To be honest, I'm so ashamed now that I want to cry!
Paimon:
Okay, okay, we got it. Still, this isn't something to be proud of. You don't have to say it so loud.
Electrohammer Vanguard:
Yet, my father also told me that "When you receive a favor, you should return it." His words seem to contradict themselves in this situation.
Electrohammer Vanguard:
So I have decided to...
Paimon:
Have decided to do what?
Electrohammer Vanguard:
Just do what I wish and tell you everything!
Paimon:
Well, you sure became easygoing super quick!
Chevka:
My name is Chevka. I was carrying out signal testing work for the machine... Huh, my memory about it is a bit blurry. Anyway, I remember that we came all the way to this island...
Chevka:
Oh, yeah, and I was with Yakov. We got into a fight, and that's why he threw the insignia away.
Chevka:
Then... I saw him walking into something really abnormal and disappear along with... whatever that abnormality was. Um, this doesn't mean that I'll never see him again, right?
Chevka:
That's what I hoped, anyway, and that's how I wound up looking for a way to reunite with him here. But then there was a buzzing sound, and my mind suddenly went blank. That's how I got into the state you saw me in earlier.
Paimon:
A thing that disappears with you once you walk into it? Is this some kind of Golden Apple Archipelago urban legend?
Traveler:
Some kind of horrifyingly warped trap?
Paimon:
Uh, Paimon thinks those might be a bit off the mark. But it might just be like those strange mechanized paths we've seen before.
Paimon:
In which case, there might just be a way to re-open the way through them!
Chevka:
Wait. You... You can open those...?
Paimon:
Yeah, we can, sure. But hey, why should we help you?
Traveler:
You're a Fatuus, you know...
Chevka:
If you can open it and help me find Yakov, I will tell you anything you want... Well, I will not speak ill of the Lord Harbingers regardless.
Paimon:
Whoa, that was a quick decision. You almost made us feel like the villains here... Also, hang on, did you just forget your father's teachings altogether?
Chevka:
It was my fault in the first place that Yakov was... And some things are more important than so-called principles or instructions... That's what I think, anyway.
Paimon:
Well, alright then. Let's give it a go, Traveler!
Chevka:
Have you found a way to open the device? I mean, I'm not rushing you or anything, but... Why, is there something wrong?
Chevka:
We came here to complete our glorious mission, of course. But as for the details... I'll tell you more after we find Yakov...
Phonograph:
(The gramophone is playing songs that bring back warm memories of the past...)
Yakov:
Oh... why...
Chevka:
Yakov, Yakov, wake up! What happened to you...
Paimon:
You were just like him earlier, you know, muttering on about that insignia!
Chevka:
Oh right, that insignia...
Chevka:
Yakov, look! This is your insignia. You threw it away earlier, but it's been found...
Chevka:
It's an honor you earned together with your father, and now it's back in your hands... What do you say, Yakov? C'mon, man, wake up already...
Yakov:
Why... Why... Why did you leave me alone...
Paimon:
It doesn't seem to have helped...
Chevka:
If this won't bring him back to us, then what in the world does he want...
Paimon:
You don't know what he's looking for? Aren't you guys teammates?
Chevka:
I... I always thought that honors were all that mattered to him. But no, I was wrong. That was just "what I thought he valued"...
Chevka:
He got this badge for completing an emergency mission together with his father, but his father never returned...
Chevka:
His mother passed away when he was born... So after losing his father, he was then all alone in the world.
Chevka:
*sigh*... Though he's younger than me, he'd earned more honors than I. Maybe I was... I guess I was jealous of him. I didn't even know how to get along with him. The only example I could draw from...
Paimon:
You got this from how your father treats you, didn't you...
Chevka:
Well, this is kind of embarrassing... But you guessed it.
Paimon:
Y'know, it somehow doesn't surprise Paimon that the two of you have problems...
Chevka:
Our base camp is on an island in the center of the sea. Yakov is still delirious, so I must send him there first.
Chevka:
And... Oh yes. We... we were part of the team assigned by Researcher Persikov to conduct signal tests here.
Chevka:
I've heard that one of the Lord Harbingers has learned in Sumeru that we can connect people's minds with the help of certain technologies, and that the impact of such technologies could cover an entire region...
Chevka:
Things weren't looking all that promising, but Researcher Persikov decided to go ahead with these experiments anyway, and we were assigned to go out to sea and carry out signal tests in various places for this machine of ours...
Chevka:
Speaking of which, I wonder how those experiments are going...
Paimon:
Well, we are here, so the Fatui experiment...
Traveler:
The experiment is kaput, duh.
Chevka:
That how it is? Haha, then I guess Researcher Persikov's gonna have to pay that toll.
Chevka:
That's all I know. I made arrangements with the other team members that we'd go back to our base camp in the center of the sea once we finished testing...
Paimon:
Ah, you must be referring to the Fatui we met earlier!
Chevka:
Oh, so you've met them, have you...
Chevka:
*sigh*... Agafya would be crazy mad at me if she saw Yakov like this... But I've got to bring Yakov back no matter what!
Chevka:
What happened back there? I... don't really understand.
Chevka:
How did it go? Have you found Yakov?
Chevka:
*sigh*, what am I gonna do about Yakov... What, is there anything else, Traveler?
Chevka:
Why... I joined the Fatui?
Chevka:
Well, I did it to help realize the long-cherished wish of Her Royal Highness the Tsaritsa... and to bring more honor to my family. I was raised to fight for the Tsaritsa.
Yakov:
Why... Why did you leave me alone, Father... Why...
Traveler:
(He still doesn't seem to be in his right mind...)
The Fatui team members you've brought back to their senses have all returned to the camp on the central island. You wonder if the Geochanter Bracer named Yakov has regained his wits or not...
Agafya:
Yakov, Yakov... That was your favorite song.
Agafya:
So, has Yakov woken up?
Zakhar:
No, he's still not responding.
Agafya:
Every time I sing the song, especially when I get to the line "Midsummer passed, flowers faded. You'll sail away someday, but I'll be here, waiting..."
Agafya:
Every time I got to it, he'd look at me misty-eyed. Why didn't he react at all this time?
Agafya:
*sigh*...
Zakhar:
I made him his favorite soup. It smelled so good that it made my mouth water, but he remained unconscious.
Chevka:
I got it, Agafya! Yakov wants his father to come back more than anything else. How about I pretend to be his father?
Agafya:
Shut it, you. Don't talk to me! I should've never let Yakov go with you!
Chevka:
It wasn't my fault, you know. It was that experiment!
Agafya:
Oh, Yakov. Poor Yakov...
Paimon:
Is Yakov still not responding?
Agafya:
Oh, it's you. Well, as you can see, Yakov is still unresponsive.
Agafya:
What should we do now? If he goes back to Snezhnaya like this, he'll probably be dismissed from the Fatui...
Agafya:
But he's all on his lonesome now. We've got our own duties to perform, so none of us can afford to take care of him. How will he survive if he gets dismissed?
Agafya:
Hey, Traveler. You know how to deal with situations like this, right?
Agafya:
Please, I'm begging you, just find a way to wake Yakov up!
Paimon:
But...
Agafya:
You want intel, right? We can trade! Even classified secrets such as...
Zakhar:
Yes, such as "we Fatui are secretly hunting for mysterious Medaka in the Golden Apple Archipelago"!
Agafya:
Zakhar...
Zakhar:
Sorry, that's all I can remember.
Chevka:
Running errands is what we do. We don't know any classified secrets.
Agafya:
Just shut up already, Chevka.
Paimon:
Well, how do you feel about the intel that "the Fatui are secretly hunting mysterious Medaka on Golden Apple Archipelago," Traveler?
Traveler:
It's news to us, at least...
Paimon:
Alright, it's a deal then. We'll help you.
Agafya:
Thank you so much!
Paimon:
But how do we wake Yakov up, exactly?
Paimon:
They look like they've been staying at this camp this whole time... Traveler, why don't we rummage about and see what we can find?
Agafya:
So, did you find anything?
Paimon:
Well, it's not exactly a lead, but it has potential.
You explain the function of the conches to the three Fatui...
Agafya:
Wow, I didn't expect that the conches affected by the strange machine would have such an effect.
Agafya:
What you described sounds like what happened when I took Yakov, who feared a dressing down, to find Chevka.
Chevka:
Now that you mention it, I do remember that incident.
Agafya:
But that was quite a while back, and... uhh... My memory's still hazy from whatever it was that huge machine did to me.
Agafya:
There are supposed to be four conches, though, so there should be three more!
Paimon:
Your memory's hazy, yet you know that there are four conches?
Agafya:
While regrouping at the camp, we realized that we forgot to bring bowls for soup, so we used conches instead, one for each of us.
Zakhar:
Before we took off, however, Yakov left his on a box.
Zakhar:
The rest of us took ours!
Agafya:
Uh, we thought they were just ordinary shells, so we threw them away after using them...
Agafya:
Let me think, I had just gotten on the large island to the northwest... Then I finished the soup and tossed the conch into a watery cave.
Chevka:
I think I might've left mine on a mountain on the large island to the south...
Zakhar:
Hehe, I threw mine into a well on the large island to the northeast.
Paimon:
You guys sure scattered them everywhere, huh...
Paimon:
The northwestern island should be the one from Xinyan's dream, or Broken Isle.
Paimon:
The large island to the south should be Minacious Isle. And as for the northeastern one...
Traveler:
Must be Twinning Isle.
Paimon:
They were scattered on those three islands.
Traveler:
We have to find all three conches.
Paimon:
Yup, if we find these three conch shells, maybe we'll find a clue to helping Yakov wake up!
Paimon:
Huh, the projection is actually at the center of the stage.
Paimon:
What are those two doing? One seems to be talking and the other is sitting on the ground.
Paimon:
Ooh, Paimon knows! She must have been telling the person sitting on the ground a story before they went to bed. That's the kind of picture this is!
Traveler:
Do Fatui listen to bedtime stories too?
Paimon:
You never know.
Projection of Yakov:
Agafya, Persikov has ordered us to perform some signal reception tests. Looks like all four of us have to go... Chevka will probably get mad at me.
Projection of Agafya:
Come on, Yakov, orders are orders, and Chevka isn't going to blame you for them!
Projection of Agafya:
...You know what, if you're that scared, I'll go with you to talk to Chevka, alright?
Paimon:
Huh, so she wasn't telling a story after all...
Paimon:
But this snippet just kinda comes outta nowhere. We can't tell what's going on at all...
Paimon:
Hey, looks like those two people are lying on the ground... Are they stargazing?
Paimon:
To be honest, this image seems a bit weird...
Projection of Zakhar:
Yakov, what did the commander say to you that's got you so down?
Projection of Yakov:
Well, the waves were really choppy, so I slipped and fell while carrying the device. Fortunately, I was quick enough to save it...
Projection of Yakov:
But the commander still gave me an earful and ordered our squad to do signal reception tests. I mean, ugh, that's the toughest job around...
Projection of Zakhar:
Oh come on, don't feel so down. We've done this stuff a hundred times before. Hey, chin up! Go get yourself something to eat!
Paimon:
They're pointing towards something high up. Are they looking for something to eat?
Paimon:
Wait, is this conch crooked somehow?
Paimon:
Seriously? That conch just floated up from inside the well...
Paimon:
That's pretty amazing. Ooh, look, Traveler! Someone's bending over... Ah!
Paimon:
Don't move, Traveler, behind you...!
Traveler:
Uhh, should I be very concerned...?
Paimon:
Oh, wait, no. It's just the image projected from the conch. It just appeared behind you so suddenly...
Projection of Yakov:
Two signal testing sets...
Projection of Chevka:
You know, I honestly thought that he was in serious trouble this time. Who knew this was just about being assigned slightly more annoying work! So yeah, that was a relief.
Projection of Agafya:
Hah! You should have seen how afraid he was of getting scolded by you. It was almost like watching a little brother cower at the thought of his older brother scolding him. Y'know... do you think he's just afraid of disappointing us?
Projection of Agafya:
I mean, we're just squad-mates... but it does sometimes feel like we're family as well...
Projection of Chevka:
Family, huh...
Paimon:
Um, Paimon gets the feeling that we just eavesdropped on something we really shouldn't have...
Paimon:
To be honest, these Fatui don't seem all that bad...
Paimon:
By the way, Traveler, we saw strange conch images in all those places they mentioned.
Paimon:
Those three conches we picked up might have something to do with that. We should put them on the box and see!
Agafya:
Can't find the conch? If I remember correctly, it should be in a watery cave on thebig island to the northwest.
Paimon:
Hmm? Look at the conch on that crate, Traveler...
Paimon:
It feels like we've seen this sorta thing before, haven't we? Let's go have a look.
Chevka:
I think I might've left that conch of mine on a mountain on the large island to the south...
Chevka:
Gah. If I knew what those conchs could do, I wouldn't have taken mine out of the camp.
Yakov:
Why... Why did you leave me alone, Father... Why...
Traveler:
(He still doesn't seem to be in his right mind...)
Zakhar:
My conch? Well, I threw it into a well on the great island to the northeast. That was one deep well.
Zakhar:
Yakov, what did the commander say to you that's got you so down?
Yakov:
Well, the waves were really choppy, so I slipped and fell while carrying the device. Fortunately, I was quick enough to save it...
Yakov:
But the commander still gave me an earful and ordered our squad to do signal reception tests. I mean, ugh, that's the toughest job around...
Zakhar:
Oh come on, don't feel so down. We've done this stuff a hundred times before. Hey, chin up! Go get yourself something to eat!
Yakov:
Agafya, Researcher Persikov has ordered us to perform some signal reception tests. Looks like all four of us have to go... Chevka will probably get mad at me.
Agafya:
Come on, Yakov, orders are orders, Chevka isn't going to blame you for them!
Agafya:
...You know what, if you're that scared, I'll go with you to talk to Chevka, alright?
Chevka:
Well, look who's back. Pfft. Well, at least you didn't wreck the device or anything.
Yakov:
But...
Chevka:
Bah, it was just a signal reception test, not the end of the world.
Agafya:
See? Chevka doesn't mind!
Yakov:
Well... Guess I'll make preparations. We'll head out later!
Yakov:
Two signal testing sets...
Chevka:
You know, I honestly thought that he was in serious trouble this time. Who knew this was just about being assigned slightly more annoying work! So yeah, that was a relief.
Agafya:
Hah! You should have seen how afraid he was of getting scolded by you. It was almost like watching a little brother cower at the thought of his older brother scolding him. Y'know... do you think he's just afraid of disappointing us?
Agafya:
I mean, we're just squad-mates... but it does sometimes feel like we're family as well...
Chevka:
Family, huh...
Yakov:
Family... But I don't have any family now...
Yakov:
My father stayed behind so I could get away and return to Snezhnaya. After confirming that he didn't make it, they sent me that insignia...
Yakov:
But I don't want any accolades or honors. I... I just want my family back. Oh father, why did you leave me behind in this world?
Agafya:
Yakov.
Yakov:
Ugh, my head hurts... What happened? Why are you here, Agafya? Weren't you in the other squad?
Agafya:
The experiment and our mission are both over, Yakov.
Chevka:
So it was about "family," huh? Well, at least I was half right!
Yakov:
Why are you all looking at me like that? Did I say something strange?
Agafya:
No, we just heard your true feelings, Yakov. By mistake, yes, but still... Family sometimes goes beyond blood, you know.
Zakhar:
Heh, if you ask me, I'd say that family is whoever you feel comfortable breaking bread with, day after day.
Yakov:
I... Oh, I know...
Chevka:
You can think of me as your father if you want.
Yakov:
Uh, I'll pass. That would be weird...
Paimon:
Ah, there we go! Yakov's regained his wits!
Traveler:
That's great news.
Yakov:
...Wait a minute. I've read about you two in our internal files...
Paimon:
Actually, Paimon's been meaning to ask...
Agafya:
Um, it's nothing. There's nothing all that important written there...
Agafya:
Oh, right, yes! Without their help, you might have been in a coma forever, Yakov!
Yakov:
Well, uh... I don't know what happened, but thank you all the same!
Paimon:
Hmm... Honestly, there's some stuff that Paimon still wants to know, but whatever. At least we've finished this "errands for intel" trade, eh?
Projection of Chevka:
Well, look who's back. Pfft. Well, at least you didn't wreck the device or anything.
Projection of Yakov:
But...
Projection of Chevka:
Bah, it was just a signal reception test, not the end of the world.
Projection of Agafya:
See? Chevka doesn't mind!
Projection of Yakov:
Well... Guess I'll make preparations. We'll head out later!
Paimon:
Ooh, so these conches can record images...
Paimon:
Hmm... it does feel like the snippets it gets are all over the place, though. It's like something's missing.
Paimon:
Let's go ask those Fatui, Traveler.
Agafya:
Well, that's it. We've told you everything we know. Have you found some way to wake Yakov up?
Agafya:
Like I told you, I don't know much about it. They were probably just some simple tests, but running all over these islands was just... incredibly tiring.
Chevka:
*sigh* Oh, what are we going to do about Yakov... Do you have any clues, Traveler?
Chevka:
Why... I joined the Fatui?
Chevka:
Well, I did it to help realize the long-cherished wish of Her Royal Highness the Tsaritsa... and to bring more honor to my family. I was raised to fight for the Tsaritsa.
Yakov:
Why... Why did you leave me alone, Father... Why...
Traveler:
(He still doesn't seem to be in his right mind...)
Zakhar:
Ah... How much longer till Yakov regains his wits?
Zakhar:
Our instructors taught us that we Fatui are soldiers of Snezhnaya who should stand ready to sacrifice ourselves for a greater cause, and that we should not be too swayed by unnecessary emotions...
Zakhar:
But we've spent so much time together as a team, day in and day out... I'm not the brightest spark, I know that, but can anyone truly feel nothing at all for their comrades?