arrow_back Genshin Impact: Nhiệm Vụ 
A Long Day in the Mountains: Chapter 1
Paradise
There appears to be a survivor who's escaped punishment at the Desert Pavilion...
Paimon:
Where are we? Is it all over?
Vitruvius:
That's right, it's all over, and everyone's been restored.
Kshama:
...
Venipi:
...
Vitruvius:
What is it? Why are you worrying your lips like that? Are you so moved at seeing me that you have to keep yourselves from crying?
Kshama:
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Venipi:
Ahahaha... K—Kshama, stop... don't laugh... You're going to... give the joke away!
Vitruvius:
Laugh all you want. I'm only a little embarrassed.
Vitruvius:
Love is fate, as is death — and neither is a laughing matter!
Venipi:
Fine, fine. No more laughing.
Paimon:
Oh, where's Zeitlind, by the way?
Vitruvius:
I've no idea. I was standing outside with everyone else. They were still in each other's arms a moment ago.
Vitruvius:
I told little Scarpa to stop and get everyone back to the main hall. Then I left them and came over to you.
Vitruvius:
Everyone should still be somewhere around here. In which case, she can't have gone very far yet.
Zeitlind:
This is...
Paimon:
...An amethyst brooch.
Zeitlind:
It belongs to my older sister, and was one of the things in my suitcase that I lost.
Paimon:
Ah, got it now! Nice, that's one taken care of.
Venipi:
It must have been placed here as an exhibit from this era.
Vitruvius:
Actually, the reason I started thinking about what to write on my epitaph is because your sister asked about it. Those words weren't exactly things I've been holding in for thousands of years.
Raumhilda:
Does nobody die here? Wouldn't it be impossible for anyone to leave behind a truly magnificent epitaph then?
Vitruvius:
Given my former status, I could probably be laid to rest at the priests' cemetery, alongside branches of silver and white.
Vitruvius:
Which would be a tremendous honor, albeit one without any space for an epitaph.
Raumhilda:
In that case, it's a no for me. Because I've already written mine.
Raumhilda:
And it says——
Venipi:
Thank you so much.
Paimon:
And what about that coin of yours? The one from King Deshret's day?
Venipi:
You're still thinking about that? Fine, you can have it once I've finished chanting my ten thousand prayers of penance to King Deshret.
Vitruvius:
This one over here got worked up upon hearing Kshama talk about the King's fall that he actually cried, "You lie! You lie!"
Vitruvius:
"You lied! Liar! That's impossible!"
Vitruvius:
Honestly, that's better for a laugh than my epitaph.
Paimon:
Eh, if you're gonna be so grudging with the coin, just forget it.
Paimon:
Hmph. And this is the point where we say we're only here to help Zeitlind find what she lost.
Paimon:
We're helping you out just 'cause you happened to be here!
Zeitlind:
...Thank you, Paimon. Thank you, Nhà Lữ Hành.
Paimon:
Oh, no, no. You only got dragged into this because of us. So, we gotta make this right for you.
Venipi:
Such undisguised partiality.
Zeitlind:
I'm truly grateful to you two.
Paimon:
Oh, you're here, Istoria!
Istoria:
Indeed. Everyone from the Desert Pavilion is now back at the main hall, which is why I hurried over here.
Istoria:
Zeitlind, have you found what you were looking for?
Zeitlind:
Yes, I have. Thanks for asking.
Istoria:
Splendid.
Istoria:
By the way, do you know what the names "Melanta" and "Nihilita" mean?
Paimon:
Paimon will go first! Nope!
Zeitlind:
Yes. They mean "melancholy" and "nothingness," don't they?
Istoria:
Most sagacious of you! I believe you and I shall be even better friends than I was with your sister, since we have the same interests.
Zeitlind:
Yes, my sister's the outdoorsy, extroverted type. Still, before I could read for myself, she used to read to me all the time.
Istoria:
Yet, what has "melancholy" got to do with someone like that?
Istoria:
Of course, I speak of pathological melancholy, not the sort The One above feels when gazing upon on our suffering.
Zeitlind:
...Did she tell you all that?
Istoria:
Frankly, I was agape at the revelations she presented. I wouldn't have thought anyone audacious enough to build a sanatorium atop the site from which the Temple of Space had ascended.
Istoria:
Did you know? It was initially thought that melancholy was a biological ailment. The word itself actually comes from the term for "black bile."
Istoria:
But subsequently, people came to believe that melancholy was an affliction of the heart.
Paimon:
Well, it does take time to get to the right answer...
Istoria:
But today, humans have once again discovered the truth: melancholy is indeed also pathological. Thus, both medication and companionship are vital to recovery.
Istoria:
We already knew all that back in my day. The angels had told us so.
Istoria:
But while the songs of the angels and the latter-day Anemo Archon can cure melancholy, the hollow consolations of ordinary folk cannot be expected to work such wonders.
Zeitlind:
What are you trying to say?
Istoria:
I shall to have to whisper this, for it is a secret.
Istoria:
Why would the great One above who rules over sky and space name her own creations "nothingness" and "melancholy"?
Istoria:
They say she lacks the ability to empathize with others. There is nothing she cannot do, yet she is utterly helpless against genuine futility and the ailments of the human heart.
Istoria:
This is why she named her creations the two things she is least able to deal with.
Paimon:
Paimon gets that. Naming things after enemies you've never beaten makes them sound cool and powerful.
Paimon:
Paimon's would be called "No Mora," "Hunger," and "No Nhà Lữ Hành."
Traveler:
Heh. They sound weak.
Zeitlind:
I fear I can't keep up with your thousand year's worth of wisdom.
Istoria:
Hahaha! Wisdom? Bah.
Istoria:
I pray for the courage to give this all up and live a real life once more. Can you see what I'm saying?
Istoria:
Feel free to come to me if you ever need anything — even if all you want is to talk about your sister.
Zeitlind:
I... will do that.
Vitruvius:
Don't come any closer!
Vitruvius:
It might be a bit self-indulgent to worry about my own epitaph. You probably think me ridiculous, but I've actually already decided what mine will be.
Vitruvius:
"Please, tell my love in Patraipolis that——"
Paimon:
Vitruvius!
Zeitlind:
...He turned into sand even before he was done speaking.
Venipi:
Ah, I'm hopeless — I'm actually fighting the urge to chuckle out loud at this sad juncture. He's going to be so mortified once he stops being sand.
Zeitlind:
That's a rather optimistic take on the situation.
Venipi:
We have a choice to make. Do we deal with that guard first? Or search for survivors for as long as we can?
Venipi:
You people... I've not seen you around before. Are there really still newcomers showing up now?
Venipi:
But since Dex is with you, I suppose you're backup. My name is Venipi, and I come from an era when King Deshret's divine form still walked among us.
Paimon:
Paimon's the name, and this is Nhà Lữ Hành. And our team's got one more member, Zeitlind.
Paimon:
We're probably what you consider people from the most recent era.
Venipi:
Zeitlind... Would you happen to have an older sister, by any chance?
Zeitlind:
Do you know my sister too?
Venipi:
Of course. Here, everyone is friends with everyone. It matters little what station they occupied in their former life.
Venipi:
In my day, I was a nobody, just one of many working on King Deshret's mausoleum.
Venipi:
I was traveling in the desert one day when I was suddenly plucked from the sands and thrown into the Apathic Interval, where I was for... I want to say less than a hundred years?
Venipi:
Then, once I left and came here, I found the place full of ancients, some from times preceding even King Deshret himself. But we all got along just the same.
Venipi:
Later on, the sisters of the deity here told me they hadn't plucked any desert buildings, and asked that I reconstruct them from memory.
Venipi:
It was only with everyone's help that we managed to build this place at all. But now... look at these ruins.
Paimon:
You know, speaking of which, Paimon has a question. Those sand statues out there... are those, um... artworks from your era? You know, from back in King Deshret's day?
Zeitlind:
Perhaps they were created to serve as a reminder of the impermanence of the physical body and life itself...?
Venipi:
...You truly are different from your sister. You must really enjoy reading, like the others.
Venipi:
Those are people — all of them. They were punished by being turned into sand.
Paimon:
Whoa!
Venipi:
Don't worry, they're all still alive. Death does not exist here. They'll be restored once the problem here is resolved.
Paimon:
Oh, wait — didn't you say that whoever saved you would get that coin King Deshret gave you as a reward?
Paimon:
Paimon bets it's worth a lot of Mora!
Venipi:
Haha, I'm not handing it over! It's my lucky charm! Besides, it's the only thing I have left to remind me of my old life.
Paimon:
Pfft. Since it's so important to you... Alright, guess we'll be super nice and not press you for payment.
Venipi:
Ugh, we've been chatting for too long! Looks like it's here!
Venipi:
We don't have time to stand around talking. Are you at least at the level of a novice Remurian Centurion?
Paimon:
There we go again! Paimon doesn't even know what kind of standard this is supposed to be...
Venipi:
Oof, that was quite something. You're easily at the level of a high-ranking Centurion!
Traveler:
Didn't you have your own hierarchy back in King Deshret's day?
Venipi:
Well, those scholars at the Mahavaipulya Archives have read enough books that their combat assessments actually hold some weight.
Venipi:
Ah, it's nice to be so well read.
Venipi:
For instance...
Venipi:
On average, the knights serving under Erinnyes could take on three standard Remurian Centurions at once, though they're half a rank below Erinnyes.
Venipi:
Medjay, who served the Crocodile King, wasn't considered exactly an elite fighter, but was highly adept at dealing with monsters. So in terms of rough power level...
Paimon:
Alright, alright, let's go save your friends first!
Traveler:
But I wanna know more.
Paimon:
We can talk about that later!
Vitruvius:
Venipi! You're still alive! How wonderful to see you!
Vitruvius:
Of course I know that death is not possible here. What I mean is, I'm so glad you didn't turn into sand.
Vitruvius:
Anyway, you know what I mean.
Venipi:
I do.
Vitruvius:
And thanks to all of you, and Dex too.
Zeitlind:
I didn't do a thing.
Venipi introduces you all to Vitruvius and recounts what just happened...
Vitruvius:
Incredible — your strength exceeds even that of a typical Chief Centurion!
Paimon:
Now, even Paimon's kinda interested to see how you actually stack up in that system.
Traveler:
Oh yeah?
Vitruvius:
In that case, I'll take you to the others.
Vitruvius:
After all, Venipi only provided the pattern work and motifs from King Deshret's times. I was the one responsible for the main layout and pathways in this area.
Venipi:
That's right. While this may look like a building from some gilded age, it's really the result of everyone's knowledge.
Kshama:
Venipi! Dex! And Raumhilda and our new friends! Thank you all!
Zeitlind:
...I'm her younger sister Zeitlind.
Kshama:
I see. The two of you look so much alike, and oh so pretty. My name is Kshama, and I come from... Ah, what was I going to say?
Kshama:
I see. The two of you look so much alike, and oh so pretty. My name is Kshama, and I come from Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's era.
Kshama:
The era in which the Dendro Archon had yet to become a child.
Venipi introduces Kshama, and Vitruvius's tragic circumstances are revealed...
They also speak of the epitaph he took thousands of years to come up with.
Kshama:
That is beyond absurd.
Venipi:
If I hadn't told you, you would never have known.
Kshama:
Now that you have, it's going to be hard for me to look Vitruvius in the eye without laughing.
Venipi:
Alright, enough small talk. We've come all this way, and it doesn't look like we've missed anything.
Venipi:
Is there anyone else?
Kshama:
I'm afraid not.
Venipi:
Then how about how we can stop folks from turning into sand? Any ideas?
Kshama:
We didn't manage to learn much from exploring earlier. After all, no one here at the Desert Pavilion is well-versed in the mystic arts or the sciences.
Kshama:
So, it seems we're back to the only known method: defeating the Punisher of Gomorrah.
Venipi:
That you need not worry about. We have Nhà Lữ Hành, who has the strength of a Remurian Tribune.
Zeitlind:
Looks like someone's been promoted again.
Kshama:
But there's no way to find the Punisher of Gomorrah. It has hidden its form.
Venipi:
That is a problem, yes.
Paimon:
You know, it wasn't easy getting everyone out. How about we leave this place first and get back to the main hall?
Paimon:
Istoria and Josephus are there too. They seem rather knowledgeable, so maybe they know a way.
Kshama:
Oh, Istoria's safe too? That's really good to know. He's the most experienced of us all, and is always open to learning new things.
Kshama:
If we're talking about anecdotes, history, and culture, he's probably the most knowledgeable person in this world.
Venipi:
Then let's go now. The earlier we get back, the earlier we can figure this out and save Vitruvius and the rest!
Strange ink blots wander around the Luyang Academy...
Daozi:
Oh, sorry to keep you waiting. Looks like things went smoothly for you guys, too.
Paimon:
Daozi, can you believe it? We ran into a fake Escher!
You fill Daozi in about what just happened...
Daozi:
Hmph. This must be Melanta working from behind the curtain.
Daozi:
To him, names are nothing but a string of numbers slapped onto us when we arrive here.
Daozi:
How would he know that "Maukie" was a nickname that Escher's grandfather and father gave him in his childhood?
Paimon:
But as it turned out, everyone here gets along so well that you all call him that now.
Daozi:
Just because we were somewhat... unsettled by his paintings doesn't mean we dislike him.
Daozi:
It's just that messing with space is a grave issue around here.
Paimon:
That only makes Paimon want to see his work even more.
Daozi:
You'll get the chance to see it, I'm sure.
Daozi:
Now that we've got the whole set of paintings, one stroke is all we need to connect them. Allow my clumsy hand to provide that finishing touch.
Daozi:
After all, I did coach Kanou on his Liyue landscape paintings. He won't mind me adding a little something.
Daozi:
Through this painting, you should be able to reach the Pavilion of Paintings at the center.
Daozi:
Once you're inside, try reaching out and plucking the heavenly heart.
Daozi:
It just occurred to me — "adding feet to a dragon" and "dotting the eyes of a dragon" are both sayings concerning dragons.
Daozi:
But their meanings are worlds apart.
Paimon:
They sure are.
Daozi:
Reach out your hand and touch the painting. Break this veil of illusion, and the world beyond shall receive you once more.
Paimon:
Huh? What are you talking about?
Daozi:
In simpler terms, touch the painting, and you'll be able to return. Though the world outside is just another illusion.
Daozi:
Touching this screen should do it.
Daozi:
Then, try to pluck the star.
Zeitlind:
These photos...
Daozi:
Ah, they were painted using a Kamera, yes?
Daozi:
Back then, your sister told us of something capable of creating pictures even more lifelike than the most realistic paintings.
Daozi:
We all wondered what it would be like.
Daozi:
It's a shame that she didn't have a Kamera, nor did she have a picture painted by it on hand.
Daozi:
Now that I've seen one myself, it does look incredibly lifelike.
Paimon:
Hehe, how's that for feeling smug? Machines have taken realism to its natural end, but there's still room for imagination, y'know?
Daozi:
Not exactly. No matter how realistic the painting, it still carries the painter's emotions and aesthetic sense.
Daozi:
Though some of the colors can't be found in the real world, you can really feel the painter's heart from the way said colors are used.
Daozi:
Even the most realistic painting carries within it minor details of fiction, exaggeration, and blur. That's where the artist's aesthetics and craft come into play.
Paimon:
Okay... It's not like Paimon doesn't get it. Paimon just wanted to compliment you so she could ask you to, y'know, maybe draw something for us later...?
Paimon:
Paimon wants to see what a more expressive version of her would look like, though!
Zeitlind:
Thank you so much.
Paimon:
Zeitlind, could Paimon have a look?
Zeitlind:
Sure. These photos were taken during my sister's vacation.
Zeitlind:
The passerby she asked was really bad at photography, so some photos only show the top of her head poking out from the bottom.
Daozi:
But I can tell that she's smiling happily all the same.
Zeitlind:
Sorry to let you see that. The lighting and composition of these photos are terrible. There's no sense of depth or layering at all.
Daozi:
It's not that bad. I think these are the best... uh, pho-toes.
Daozi:
If your sister hadn't insisted on only showing her head, these would've been the worst of scenic paintings... I mean, scenic photos.
Daozi:
But thanks to her, they have become memories and proof of her presence there.
Zeitlind:
...I think I get what you mean.
Zeitlind:
I've found my stuff. Let's keep helping Daozi out, shall we?
Daozi:
I think the painting there leads to the Abode of Resplendent Talent. See if you can find a way to the Tower of Radiant Light from there.
Daozi:
That said, I won't be joining you for your next journey.
Daozi:
I'll head back to the central area to let others know we're safe. Then I'll be back in no time.
Daozi:
Whether I succeed or not, I should have enough time to see you again on my way back.
Istoria:
Looks like everything's going smoothly.
Paimon:
Istoria! What are you doing here?
Istoria:
Daozi told me that you had arrived at Luyang Academy, so I came along with him.
Istoria:
How's the search going? Have you found what you were looking for this time, Zeitlind?
Zeitlind:
I have.
Istoria:
Could you tell me what it was that landed in Luyang Academy this time? This is the place of painters, after all.
Istoria:
And to tell the truth, I haven't a foggiest what it might be.
Zeitlind:
Photos from my sister's Kamera.
Istoria:
A Kamera... I've heard people talking about such devices before.
Paimon:
Hehe, you're falling behind. The painters have all heard about Kameras from Zeitlind's sister.
Istoria:
That's because people here focus on the visual arts. It's normal that she'd talk to them about it.
Istoria:
The thing I discussed most with Hilda was... philosophy.
Paimon:
Philosophy!
Zeitlind:
It's hard to imagine my sister talking about this with someone as knowledgeable as you.
Istoria:
Oh, you flatter me. We weren't getting into any deep or complex debates. We were just chatting about how to look at the everyday things around us.
Istoria:
For example, the most fundamental question of philosophy is whether one should or shouldn't end it all tomorrow.
Paimon:
Huh?
Zeitlind:
...
Istoria:
Allow me to explain. In a sense, our inquiry into the world is a search for the very meaning of our existence within it.
Istoria:
Whether we are the children seated upon the gods' knees, or merely echoes in the winds of inconstant time...
Istoria:
All of that is too far removed. How can an ordinary person weigh themselves against the universe? For most, the "world" is no more than their own life.
Istoria:
If we one day discover that everything is destined to return to nothingness in the far future, would our lives now still hold meaning?
Istoria:
Or, should our lives be a shoreless sea of suffering to begin with, then the world may in truth be but a collection of agonies.
Istoria:
In either case, there is no difference between living and not. In the latter, death might even be called a release.
Paimon:
Paimon... Paimon doesn't think that's right. Not that she knows how to argue against you, though.
Zeitlind:
And what was my sister's response?
Istoria:
Never mind that. I was the one arguing that even if life is inherently meaningless, we should still choose to live it.
Zeitlind:
Ah, it seems you haven't heard.
Zeitlind:
I saw my sister's tombstone back at the sanatorium.
Istoria:
...
Zeitlind:
Thanks for trying to save her in the end.
Istoria:
What's written on her epitaph?
Zeitlind:
"One lifetime doesn't count."
Istoria:
Is that what it says?
Istoria:
I see.
Paimon:
Zeitlind...
Istoria:
I can hardly believe it myself, and I wish I could say something to take your pain away.
Istoria:
Give me some time, though.
Zeitlind:
You don't have to say anything.
Zeitlind:
I thought I'd cry the moment I saw her tombstone, but as it turned out, I was unusually calm.
Zeitlind:
It would have been better if I had cried.
Istoria:
That's not what I meant.
Istoria:
Anyway... you'll understand later.
Paimon:
It won't open. Nhà Lữ Hành, how about giving it a real nasty kick?
Traveler:
(Kick forcefully)
Paimon:
How is it?
Traveler:
I can't feel my leg.
Paimon:
Pfff...
"Maukie":
Hello, my name is Escher. I'm a painter.
Paimon:
Oh, so you're the "Maukie" that Istoria was talking about? The one who did all those amazing paintings?
"Maukie":
Yeah. My birth name was Escher, though.
"Maukie":
Anyway, please come with me, I'll take you somewhere safe.
Paimon:
But we're not looking for a safe place. We're here to solve the problem.
"Maukie":
If that's the case, you should also come with me. I'll take you where you need to go.
Paimon:
These melons...
Bosch:
Mm-hmm.
Paimon:
Are they ripe?
Bosch:
Huh?
Paimon:
Paimon means, are you sure they're ready to eat?
Bosch:
That doesn't matter.
Bosch:
Zeitlind, the two of us used to teach your sister how to draw.
Zeitlind:
That's her signature...
Bosch:
And since it's her stuff, you should be the one to keep them and take them away from this place.
Zeitlind:
What do you think of this painting?
Bosch:
How should I put it? Some people can paint on par with masters in their teenage years, and so they spent the rest of their lives searching for paintings imbued with childlike innocence.
Bosch:
I can neither discern a masterful temper nor childlike innocence from Hilda's painting.
Bosch:
Instead, it is tinged with sadness.
Paimon:
Isn't the sadness conveyed by painting the fruit impressive enough?
Raumhilda:
Really? Are you telling me this painting is devoid of childlike charm and doesn't look like a master's work?
Daozi:
Talent and diligent practice are prerequisites for cultivating the spirit of a master.
Daozi:
So, uh, why don't you forget what we've taught and do another painting?
Raumhilda:
You guys are hilarious.
Raumhilda:
I'm not doing another painting. I've experienced it once already, and I find it quite interesting.
Raumhilda:
But just as a canvas, once colored, cannot return to pristine white, how could I possibly forget what I've learned?
Raumhilda:
Let the mediocre piece be as it is.
Zeitlind:
Is that so? So it's just a mediocre piece.
Zeitlind:
And yet... she still signed her name on it.
Bosch:
Yes. When we artists take commissions, we always use secret signatures to sign our work.
Bosch:
So she named the painting "Long Live Life"... and then she left.
Yoshitoshi:
What do you think? Are you going to take her painting with you?
Zeitlind:
No, let it stay where it belongs.
Zeitlind:
Such paintings may become lost and destroyed in less than a hundred years if brought outside. Better let it repose in eternal peace here with you.
Daozi:
I see.
Yoshitoshi:
Speaking of which, I haven't seen Maukie anywhere. Did he end up trapped in the Desert Pavilion?
Daozi:
That's on you lot. Why did you lure him into the construction site anyway?
Yoshitoshi:
We weren't excluding him or anything! We just wanted him to show the people from the "Desert Pavilion" how shocking the spatial distortion is. After all, they're the ones who are so obsessed with space.
Daozi:
Messing with space might break the rules around here. He's probably been "forcibly exiled" by Melanta by now.
Daozi:
Hahaha! Mountains cannot crush the buried spirit; through riven clouds, the sky at last appears. I'm free!
Daozi:
Hilda, Dex, and my new friends, please, accept my thanks.
Zeitlind:
I'm her younger sister, Zeitlind.
Daozi:
Oh? Why, you two look so alike!
Zeitlind:
Yes, I've been told that a lot.
Daozi:
And who are these two?
Paimon:
My name's Paimon! And this is Nhà Lữ Hành. It was Istoria's commission that brought us here.
Daozi:
In that case, let's dispense with the introductions. Do you possess any degree of martial skill? Preferably of the sort that might see off a Legatus of Remuria.
Paimon:
Just how did you come up with that description?
Daozi:
Ah, this goes back to how a certain border fortress rose to prominence when Remuria was destroyed.
Daozi:
One day, after much time had passed, an old man arrived at its gates, claiming to be the acting master of the Guhua Clan.
Daozi:
One day, the two sides fell to arguing.
Daozi:
When the Remurian commander said that he was in charge of music in the army, the acting master thought him weak.
Daozi:
But in truth, the greater your musical mastery, the higher your rank in the Remurian military. And this commander, why, he had already undergone petrification!
Daozi:
By the way, I don't know if you've heard of this, but everyone in the Remurian inner circles was transformed into "Ichor," becoming semi-immortal golems.
Daozi:
So, when the acting master channeled his inner energies into a single strike, he only wound up hurting his own hand.
Paimon:
Uhhh...
Daozi:
He then spoke harshly, lamenting a lack of successors to the Guhua Clan's secret arts and the withering of talent on the vine in his era. Why, so he claimed, he didn't even possess a Vision!
Daozi:
— Of course, he wouldn't have been selected if he had one in the first place.
Daozi:
After enduring the Apathic Interval, we could no longer receive Visions... But anyway, back to our story.
Daozi:
The commander shot back with choice words of his own, claiming that the Legati of Remuria were far more terrifying than he could ever be.
Paimon:
Eh, sure. Cool story, Paimon supposes? Also, don't worry. Nhà Lữ Hành's one thousand percent got what it takes to defeat a Legatus.
Daozi:
Hahaha, that's great.
Paimon:
By the way, why were you in the painting? And what are those humanoid ink blots?
Daozi:
This is how Melanta delivers punishment: Sealing people into paintings and smushing them into ink blots.
Daozi:
Just like my cage, which was encased in layers of paintings.
Paimon:
So the ink blots we saw back there were actually... people?
Daozi:
Yes.
Daozi:
Now, a word to the wise.
Daozi:
The more realistic a painting is, the more fitting a cage it is to ensconce your spirit. After all, its essence may be grasped at a glance.
Daozi:
As such, expect hidden secrets lurking behind any realistic paintings you find here.
Paimon:
And what should we do next?
Daozi:
This is not the right place for such talk. Let's head back first.
Paimon:
Huh. We sure made it back quickly!
Zeitlind:
This place truly is full of wonders.
Daozi:
It is indeed fabulous, comparable to the finishing touch from Rex Lapis's hand, which brought stone to life.
Daozi:
And with the power of your heart and mind, you can really turn those lifelike paintings into reality.
Paimon:
Anyway, what's our next plan of action?
Daozi:
The key to restoring the entire library lies in completing that final, illuminating stroke. But before we do that, we must first restore this painting.
Daozi:
"Once the Heavenly Heart Emerges, the Four Horizons Fade to White."
Paimon:
Wh—What a commanding name.
Daozi:
That's Inazuman preferences in painting names for you.
Daozi:
Theoretically, we should be able to complete the missing part of the painting in the Tower of Radiant Light.
Daozi:
But with our path barred, it seems we can only head to the Abode of Resplendent Talent to see if we can reach the Tower of Radiant Light from there.
Paimon:
Wait, it was behind this door the whole time?
Paimon:
Paimon had Nhà Lữ Hành kick this thing, full force! Nhà Lữ Hành's strong enough to level mountains, but the door didn't even budge.
Daozi:
Is your foot numb?
Traveler:
Yeah...
Daozi:
Probably because this door was manifested from the painting through the mind. As such, it doesn't exist as physical matter as we know it.
Daozi:
Istoria once mentioned that he had a teacher named Aristocles, who was always saying that "mind prevails over matter." I guess this is what they meant.
Daozi:
But leveling mountains, you say... That would make you just as powerful as Azhdaha. Speaking of which...
Daozi:
Yu Huangyi from the Mahavaipulya Chamber told me that Azhdaha already existed back in his era.
Daozi:
As such, the so-called "finishing touch" that brought the dragon to life was nothing more than a legend, the invention of later generations. A fine story all the same, of course.
Paimon:
And did you realize something from that?
Daozi:
I just told him, "You've ruined a precious memory, you know that?"
Zeitlind:
I can relate.
Daozi:
*sigh* Never mind, just take it as a fun little anecdote. Anyway, since the door was born from a painting, a painter must open it. Allow me to do that for you.
Zeitlind:
You don't seem very surprised.
Paimon:
That's because Nhà Lữ Hành's been through even crazier stuff.
Zeitlind:
Lots of extraordinary adventures, huh? Guess I shouldn't even be surprised if you've saved the world before.
Paimon:
He and his sister were separated by an awful god.
Paimon:
The main goal of our adventure is to find his lost sibling.
Paimon:
So Nhà Lữ Hành can understand how you feel.
Zeitlind:
I hope you find your sibling, and may you live a life of peace and happiness.
Paimon:
Oh... Paimon's sorry. She forgot that you won't...
Zeitlind:
Ah, please, don't apologize. It was my fault for bringing it up. Also, that's not what I meant.
Zeitlind:
I really hope that your wish comes true.
Traveler:
Thank you, Zeitlind.
Daozi:
Alright. Open sesame!
Paimon:
Let's get moving, then!
"Maukie":
Hello, my name is Escher. I'm a painter.
Paimon:
Oh, so you're the "Maukie" that Istoria was talking about? The one who did all those amazing paintings?
Paimon:
Wait, Paimon just remembered... Have we met before?
"Maukie":
No, and Escher was my birth name, so...
Paimon:
Oh, really? Do you have any brothers who suddenly disappeared?
"Maukie":
I'm afraid not.
"Maukie":
Anyway, please come with me, I'll take you somewhere safe.
Paimon:
But we're not looking for a safe place. We're here to solve the problem.
"Maukie":
If that's the case, you should also come with me. I'll take you where you need to go.
Paimon:
Hmm. Weird guy. Eh, whatever. Let's follow him and see what he's up to.
Daozi:
Kanou, Yoshitoshi, Bosch, you've all come back to life!
Kanou:
Ah, yeah. And I never want to paint another screen again.
Daozi:
Good to have you back, Nhà Lữ Hành, Paimon, and our young Zeitlind.
Yoshitoshi:
I owe you all a great deal.
Bosch:
You really look like Hilda.
Zeitlind:
She's my older sister.
Bosch:
I know, I know... This old man's still got an eye for people.
Bosch:
Speaking of which... Zeitlind, come here for a moment.
The Keepers of the Pillar Hall consider the contents of Zeitlind's suitcase to be relics, and have placed them throughout the Temple of Space. Istoria says that many people are still waiting for rescue in those same areas...
Zeitlind:
Nhà Lữ Hành, Paimon... thank you. I'm really glad I met you at the end.
Paimon:
Hehe. If anything, it feels like you got dragged into all this because of us.
Paimon:
Wait, "the end"? What do you mean?
Zeitlind:
I mean... ours were all pretty dangerous adventures. But I got to see so many incredible things.
Zeitlind:
That's not so bad.
Paimon:
Hey! Don't just brush Paimon's question off like that.
Zeitlind:
Did I?
Paimon:
Istoria, we've basically freed all three areas. Most of the people are safe now, too.
Paimon:
And we even found everything Zeitlind lost.
Istoria:
Oh, thank you very much. I have to say, Nihilita's got quite the eye for people now that he's opened it.
Paimon:
Alright, your turn now! You mentioned a way to go up above before, and a price to go with it.
Paimon:
Bring it on! Paimon's not scared of a couple of adventures or a bit of Mora!
Paimon:
Oh! And what about Zeitlind? How are we supposed to send her back down now that she's done here?
Istoria:
I can explain all of that, but you should rest first. I'll go through everything in detail tomorrow.
Paimon:
Okay. But um, there's no bed here. Or food!
Istoria:
Such desires cease here. Think about it. You've been here all this time, but you are neither hungry nor tired.
Paimon:
Huh? Then what's Paimon supposed to do all day while we rest?
Istoria:
This place is full of remarkable people from every age — speaking with them could be fun.
Paimon:
Alright, fine. But Paimon gets to sleep whenever she wants. Tired or not, Paimon's still sleeping on Nhà Lữ Hành's head!
Istoria:
Zeitlind, after you've rested a bit, could we talk? It's about what I mentioned earlier, the thing I needed time to think about.
Istoria:
Speak with me a while, would you?
Zeitlind:
Okay.
Istoria:
Nhà Lữ Hành. Paimon. Once you're feeling rested, come see me.
Istoria:
Are you feeling rested? Have you talked to everyone you wanted to?
Istoria:
Alright. Take your time.
Istoria:
Zeitlind, calm down for a moment and hear me out. I have no wish to be disrespectful, or to speak out of blind hope.
Istoria:
Your sister may still be alive.
Zeitlind:
I saw her gravestone.
Zeitlind:
Her picture was right there.
Istoria:
But... isn't it possible there's nothing buried within?
Paimon:
Paimon wants that to be true, really. But isn't that kind of optimistic?
Zeitlind:
In the last letter she wrote me, my sister said she'd already decided to...
Istoria:
That farewell wasn't written as a final goodbye, was it?
Zeitlind:
She said she was going somewhere far away.
Istoria:
She mentioned it to me before. She always wanted to travel the world before she got old.
Istoria:
Hilda wasn't speaking figuratively. She really did leave the sanatorium and set off.
Zeitlind:
She talked about that?
Istoria:
She was always so bright. She got along with people easily.
Zeitlind:
Then she probably never told you... that we were all that the other had.
Istoria:
I...
Zeitlind:
Let me be honest. Let me be cold for a moment.
Zeitlind:
If her leaving would've caused three or four people to grieve, that weight might've outweighed her sadness.
Zeitlind:
But now it's only me. She knew I'd understand. That I would forgive her for it.
Istoria:
It's not like that. You shouldn't think of it that way.
Zeitlind:
You don't have to feel sorry for me. When we were kids, our parents were still around, and life was good. Those memories were enough to carry us forward.
Zeitlind:
But growing up... The world gets hard.
Zeitlind:
I've always been more introverted, and dealing with people at work really wears me out. I thought my sister, being so outgoing, would have it easier.
Zeitlind:
But even she always looked exhausted once she grew up.
Paimon:
Huh...
Istoria:
You two still have a future.
Zeitlind:
Oh. Then she probably never mentioned her fiance.
Zeitlind:
He was just a good person. An ordinary one. Kind. Interesting. Sometimes I wish he hadn't been. If he'd been a bad man, things might've been easier.
Zeitlind:
His family had a hereditary illness. Some strange disease — they never lived long.
Zeitlind:
He'd joke about it sometimes, blame the Anemo Archon for planning Mondstadt too well, so even a family like his never faded out.
Zeitlind:
One day, he said he was going to save the world, and then he left.
Zeitlind:
Save the world...
Zeitlind:
Well, the world's still turning. So maybe, somewhere out there, in a place no one noticed, he really did.
Zeitlind:
You know how you always say that if someone who lives forever can't love everyone and be loved back, the world would drown in sorrow?
Zeitlind:
I think you're right. Which means a short life isn't even allowed that much.
Zeitlind:
He wanted to give his life to love. And it only hurt my sister more.
Zeitlind:
So much that she was sent to a sanatorium in the mountains — this very place beneath our feet. A place steeped in curses.
Istoria:
She never told me any of this. I'm sorry.
Zeitlind:
And knowing all that, you still think she's alive?
Istoria:
I do. Because she did something here.
Istoria:
And because of my fear, she was forced to live on.
Zeitlind:
You have my respect, Istoria, you really do. But I think you've seen too much suffering across history.
Zeitlind:
Pain vast enough to drown the world... For someone as ordinary as me, even a small part of that is enough to bury an entire life.
Zeitlind:
You can't truly understand my sister and I.
Zeitlind:
So, how do I set foot on mortal earth once more? I'm just a short-lived little someone. Eternity isn't meant for me.
Istoria:
*sigh*
Zeitlind:
Mr. Istoria?
Istoria:
This place used to be completely cut off from the world above. There was no way in and no way out.
Istoria:
But after Nihilita fell, Dex seems to have gained the ability to carry people of the living world between the Pillar Hall and the surface.
Istoria:
Even so, it cannot return those who were chosen to come here. It is a Watcher in juvenile form, and that limitation is part of its nature.
Paimon:
Huh? You're saying Dex is the same kind of being as Nihilita?
Istoria:
♪~
Istoria:
If we want to go back down, there's only one way. We have to give up every memory we have, everything we know, and climb to the very top. In the past, that meant meeting the mistress. Now, it would be Melanta.
Istoria:
So I can't go with you. But at least, let me see you off.
In the Mahavaipulya Chamber, many are those who have been imprisoned within the pages...
Paimon:
Speaking of which, what kind of stuff do you two write about?
Paimon:
Just wondering! Paimon got curious all of a sudden.
Yu Huangyi:
I haven't finished my novel yet. It covers the era of the Archon War, when the adeptal arts were scattered across the mortal realm, leading to the development and evolution of three distinct traditions.
Yu Huangyi:
Conflict erupted between the Fanghu Sect of the Mountains and the Yuanjiao Sect of the Seas. Ultimately, the three adepti of Jueyun Karst, the masters of its three summits, descended to mediate this divide of earth and tide.
Paimon:
Wait, did this actually happen in real life?
Yu Huangyi:
Probably not. Then again, the stories that never happened are the ones worth writing.
Calcerius:
And as for Okikuni...
Calcerius:
He took the entire cast of Liyue's "Yakshas: The Guardian Adepti" and gender-flipped everyone, then retitled it "Chronicles of the Alluring Yakshas Ravishing Enough to Topple a Kingdom."
Yu Huangyi:
How can anyone stand this? That's not a title, that's a synopsis!
Okikuni:
Oh, come on... It's just a little something I wrote after reading a light novel. Does swapping the genders really take away from how epic and tragic the story is?
Yu Huangyi:
To be fair, after changing the lineup to two boys and three girls, the intimate bond between the girls makes the sheer scale of the tragic ending feel even more devastating.
Yu Huangyi:
Liyue wasn't a thing in my day, of course, but as a Liyue local, I'll give it an 8 out of 10. Now please, never write again.
Calcerius:
The book is really weird, but it's a fantastic read. It's even piqued my interest in the original Yakshas.
Paper Person:
Hello, Raumhilda, and our new friends.
Paper Person:
Oh, Dex is here too.
Zeitlind:
I'm Zeitlind, her sister.
Paper Person:
Oh, I see. You two look so alike...
Paper Person:
My name is Okikuni. As later generations would account it, I should be from the era when youkai roamed the lands, before Narukami unified the thundering archipelago.
Paper Person:
I'm Calcerius. I'm from the Remurian era.
Paper Person:
And I am Yu Huangyi. I come from the era when Shanhui Fort stood at the foot of Mt. Tianheng, and the Guili Assembly had not yet been founded.
Paper Person:
Just a heads-up, besides the newcomers from the borderlands, all Remurians are made of rock. Don't freak out when you see them.
Paper Person:
For the last time, it's "ichorification!" I'll show you "made of rock," you—!
Paimon:
Whoa! We've got one person seamlessly switching between three different personas here!
Paper Person:
That's because we're all stuck inside these pages!
Paper Person:
Quiet, you! If you hadn't gone and rewritten Erinnyes, would we even be in this mess?
Paper Person:
As I see it, this is clearly on Okikuni!
Paper Person:
This place is called the Mahavaipulya Chamber. You can call it the Mahavaipulya Hall or the Mahavaipulya Archives, whichever you prefer.
Paper Person:
As you can see, we have been condemned to exile, pressed between these pages.
Paper Person:
Hey, uh... Can you get Dex to restore me first? We can talk after.
Zeitlind:
These are... the letters we wrote to each other. My sister and I.
Paimon:
They must be really personal. Let's not look through them, Nhà Lữ Hành.
Zeitlind:
It's no big deal, really. Just family stuff. She was bored at the sanatorium and wrote them to pass the time.
Zeitlind:
She wrote about how the air was fresh, how there were old people everywhere, how comfortable it was in the mountains, but also how dull it was.
Zeitlind:
She said that she often went to the sanatorium graveyard to read the epitaphs. She wanted to learn the stories of those who never returned home, those who found their final rest upon the mountain instead.
Zeitlind:
She wrote that the sanatorium itself was about to be demolished, that she had to emerge from the shadow of the past.
Zeitlind:
And then, one day, she wrote to me and said...
Zeitlind:
She was going somewhere far away. And that I shouldn't worry.
Paimon:
Ah.
Yu Huangyi:
No way. Your sister was really upbeat and talkative when she came here.
Zeitlind:
...Then I came to the temple beneath Windrest Peak and saw her gravestone, perched on a lonely mountain, in a strange and distant land.
Paimon:
Oh no, Paimon made you talk about the sad stuff again. And she doesn't know how to comfort you either. Sorry...
Zeitlind:
You don't have to comfort me. The latter half of life is nothing but a series of farewells.
Yu Huangyi:
...It's like writing in the sand. Here one moment, scattered by the next.
Yu Huangyi:
Apologies. I really didn't know... I never could've guessed that something like this would happen.
Yu Huangyi:
When she arrived, the selection process for elevation was already a mess. Everyone was in low spirits.
Yu Huangyi:
Time, which was already at a standstill, lost all meaning then. It turned into true Nothingness.
Yu Huangyi:
Her arrival brought a spark of life we hadn't seen in a long time. She was truly a good person.
Zeitlind:
That's right.
Zeitlind:
I'm really sorry to say this, but I didn't ask for your names just now... because I came with the intention of saying goodbye.
Zeitlind:
I didn't plan on meeting anyone new, because I didn't want to say even more goodbyes.
Paimon:
We don't really mind! What matters is that we know each other now, right?
Traveler:
Farewells are the seeds of reunions.
Zeitlind:
Going on adventures with lively people... It's not so bad.
Zeitlind:
I never imagined I'd have a chance like this after growing up.
Yu Huangyi:
That's exactly how your sister made us feel, too.
Paimon:
And now that we've found what Zeitlind lost, we just have to fix the Restoration Core, right?
Yu Huangyi:
Amazing! Melanta's control over this area will finally be broken.
Yu Huangyi:
One more thing, Zeitlind...
Zeitlind:
What's the matter?
Yu Huangyi:
I misspoke a moment ago. I'd like to correct myself.
Yu Huangyi:
Living is a grand adventure, and life is a long journey.
Zeitlind:
I've held on for this long. Where are the good things I was supposed to find?
Yu Huangyi:
You met Nhà Lữ Hành, Paimon, and me. And then you came here.
Yu Huangyi:
It might be a complete mess at the moment, but to be chosen to come here and attain eternity is a one-in-a-million chance.
Yu Huangyi:
You said you wanted to stay here a while ago, right? What do you think? Would you like to stay?
Zeitlind:
This is a good place.
Zeitlind:
Everyone lives in harmony. You are all wise and pure of heart.
Zeitlind:
But...
Yu Huangyi:
We can talk about that later, let's head back first. I wonder how Okikuni and Calcerius are doing.
Okikuni:
You did it! You guys are amazing!
Okikuni:
In terms of strength, you are, at the very least, an entry-level Legion Commander.
Calcerius:
You say that, but even amongst "entry-level Legion Commanders," you've got golem constructs, arbiters, aspirant arbiters, and arbiter-golem hybrids.
Calcerius:
You can't put them on the same tier.
Yu Huangyi:
You keep your mouth shut. The last Restoration Core has been hidden in your stupid novel this whole time. All I can think about right now is landing a fist right in your face!
Calcerius:
I'm ichorified. Your hand is the only thing that will hurt.
Yu Huangyi:
That's exactly why I haven't used my Guhua arts to hit you yet.
Paimon:
Whoa, the paper people have become... um, solid people!
Calcerius:
I can only say...
Okikuni:
This feels SO good!
Yu Huangyi:
When was the last time I had a good stretch?
Paimon:
So how did you guys get turned into paper in the first place?
Yu Huangyi:
Okikuni got so fired up reading the Liyue novels written by later generations that he wanted to dive in and join the adventure.
Yu Huangyi:
He wanted to see if he had the strength of an entry-level Centurion... So he got turned into a paper person.
Okikuni:
Cut it out. Be serious.
Calcerius:
We've been swapping fun stories ever since we were selected to come here. Guess our earthly instincts never really left us, though, because we fell back into the habit of writing novels.
Yu Huangyi:
Though the relentless torment and tempering within the Apathic Interval sought to erode our will and desire, it somehow aligned with the ancient art of severing the Three Deadly Selves.
Yu Huangyi:
But even if that tiny creative spark fades, a single good idea will suffice to bring it back to life.
Calcerius:
Indeed. The Apathic Interval has stripped away my faith in Phobos, but I still get the urge to write every once in a while.
Yu Huangyi:
And then, of course, we got punished by the guards. It's not hard to see why. Anyone who lays eyes on what Okikuni wrote can't help but exclaim...
Calcerius:
"What's this weird stuff you're writing? But you know what, it's got a kick to it..."
Yu Huangyi:
Mind you, it helps that the original work by those who came after in Liyue was excellent to begin with.
Okikuni:
Don't rub it in. They'll start thinking that you're being serious.
Okikuni:
Melanta classified our work as a pollutant. He claimed that it blurred the line between fact and fiction, sullying what should be a pure and proper cultural landscape.
Okikuni:
Admittedly, our stories were shelved right alongside actual historical works and academic papers...
Yu Huangyi:
His principles are one thing, the stuff you write is another.
Yu Huangyi:
By the way, Zeitlind, which of the five Yaksha generals do you like the most?
Yu Huangyi:
Your sister read these stories with you when you were younger, right? She said Vritras was her favorite.
Yu Huangyi:
We had already been pressed into a paper slip by the time she arrived, but she thought nothing of it and chatted with us for a bit.
Zeitlind:
I like Alatus. He seems really strong and resilient. Neither my sister nor I could ever be as tough as he is.
Paimon:
Just a side note, how do we restore this place and rescue the others?
Yu Huangyi:
What? That's hardly a "side note," it's serious business!
Paimon:
You could've fooled Paimon there with how much you're talking!
Calcerius:
The thing that Dex just touched is the key. Whenever space is manipulated, it leaves a residual trail of its own reversal.
Calcerius:
As for what it's called, we haven't given it a name yet. We'll have to come up with one, though, or it's going to be a pain to talk about.
Yu Huangyi:
I think we should call it the "Ark-Key-ology Stone." We're digging through deep mysteries to unlock them. So, archeology, but with a key.
Calcerius:
No, I'm all for "Hope-Key Dope-Key." It's more fitting. At the end of the day, hope is what remains within.
Paimon:
Ugh, this is such a hassle! The two of us are doing all the heavy lifting...
Istoria:
!
Paimon:
The three of us are doing all the heavy lifting, so we should get to name it!
Paimon:
We'll call it the Restoration Core! No objections allowed!
Yu Huangyi:
I don't really mind. Once this place is completely liberated, we probably won't ever have to see it again.
Okikuni:
I'd say it'd be best if nothing like it never exists again.
Calcerius:
Fair enough. Well, you have our thanks for taking care of this.
Calcerius:
Since the three of us, combined, barely have the strength of an entry-level rookie soldier, we'll sit this one out.
Okikuni:
Heh. You've clearly overestimated yourself as a Remurian, just as you've overestimated the average strength of an average Remurian soldier.
Calcerius:
The library entrance is right over there. With Dex's power, you should be able to find the hidden door in no time.
Paimon:
You can return to the main hall in the center now. You'll be safe there. That's where Istoria and Josephus are waiting.
Yu Huangyi:
You guys get yourselves out of harm's way as planned. I will act as their guide for this leg of the journey.
Calcerius:
Be careful! You haven't finished your novel yet.
Okikuni:
We'll let everyone know we're safe, and then we'll come straight back. Please don't get turned into paper again.
Paimon:
Phew. That was a... unique experience.
Paimon:
How are you feeling?
Paimon:
Thanks, Zeitlind!
Zeitlind:
No need to thank me. The stakes were much higher for you.
Paimon:
Istoria! You're here too!
Istoria:
That's right. Calcerius said that you stepped in at the Mahavaipulya Chamber. I suspect everything will fall into place from here on out.
Paimon:
Hehe, that's too honesty from you, buster! Paimon's blushing already!
Istoria:
Zeitlind, have you found what you've lost this time?
Zeitlind:
I have.
Traveler:
Speaking of which...
Traveler:
I'm here for my own reasons too.
Zeitlind:
That's true. Since you came up here, you've done nothing but run around on my account...
Zeitlind:
I don't understand what the Watcher of Nothingness was saying, but I can tell that there's something in this place that matters to you.
Istoria:
Nhà Lữ Hành's been a massive help. To hold up my end of the bargain, do tell me — what is it that you need?
You tell Istoria and Zeitlind about your experiences, and what Nihilita has said...
You ask if there are traces of your sister here.
Istoria:
The story you speak of... It's simply incredible.
Istoria:
If this were back in my academy days, I would have mulled over it for at least half a day before giving you an answer, just to prove I was taking you seriously.
Istoria:
It's true that I've been here longer than anyone else, and I have witnessed all that has transpired. Unfortunately...
Istoria:
The highest point of the temple, the Atrium of Suchness, is where gods and Watchers dwell. It's said that certain hidden truths are kept within its walls.
Istoria:
But hardly anyone is brave enough to set foot up there.
Paimon:
Are you saying it's so, so high that even the most fearless would get scared?
Istoria:
Only those who choose to abandon all their memories are permitted to enter that hall.
Istoria:
To seek an audience with the master of the temple is to seek answers and closure. It follows, then, that all memories that one gathers here shall be wiped away.
Istoria:
One must construct the Path to the Heavens with their own memories and wisdom. Only then can they encounter the sacred beyond.
Paimon:
But memories aren't even solid! How are you supposed to build a path to the heavens with them?
Istoria:
Such is the nature of this place. The divine power of the gods can weave "emptiness" and "reality" into one another.
Istoria:
Here, mere vacuum is not perceived as nothingness. In the eyes of that being, it is a state that can be filled in the space of a single thought.
Istoria:
Only a "nothingness" where even meaning does not exist... Only that is a place beyond the reach of the gods.
Istoria:
And I suspect that the Path to the Heavens should be similar to the half-real, half-illusory scenes that you saw in the library.
Istoria:
I'm just a coward at heart, after all. I never dared to make the climb. I simply don't have the courage to cast aside my responsibilities.
Istoria:
I am one who lived to witness what came before, and who continues to learn of what follows from those who come after. I am but a vessel for my precious memories.
Istoria:
Even if there is no hope of their ever returning to the surface, every lost civilization will live on in my memory.
Zeitlind:
Are gods really that horrid? To design such a cruel choice for someone to make...
Paimon:
Some gods are good, others are bad. Take the one who kidnapped Nhà Lữ Hành's sister, for instance. Totally bad!
Istoria:
Perhaps it's the opposite. The god who designed the Path to the Heavens was not the mistress of the temple.
Istoria:
You see, if you intend to leave this place, you simply cannot take its history, secrets or knowledge with you.
Istoria:
The way I see it, the description of "using your memories to construct the Path to the Heavens" is too... emotionally charged.
Istoria:
Your memories are supposed to be wiped the moment you return to the mortal realm. But before that happens...
Istoria:
People here have the right to look back upon all they have ever been, all they have ever owned, and the path that results from both.
Paimon:
Hold on. Let's see if Paimon got all that. It's like we've made a rule that says, you can read a book, but you have to chuck it into a fire the second you're done.
Paimon:
But just it all burns to a crisp, you find out the book has an epilogue and an afterword, where you get to look back at all the best parts.
Zeitlind:
And then, in the end, nothing's left of the story. Only the feelings and impressions stay with you.
Istoria:
Spot on. A perfect read.
Istoria:
You've got a real knack for analogies. Reminds me of one of my students, in fact. He went to Delphi Pytho.
Istoria:
I have no idea what it's called now, or if he survived the war.
Istoria:
His name was Abrax, and while I've asked many people, no one has ever found his name in historical records.
Istoria:
Hmm. I went off on a tangent. Anyway...
Paimon:
Yeah! You've said all that, but how do we get up there?
Paimon:
Nhà Lữ Hành's memories are too important to forget.
Paimon:
And as for Paimon, well, she hasn't clashed so hard with Nhà Lữ Hành as to need a total reset.
Zeitlind:
I...
Istoria:
You don't have to worry.
Zeitlind:
...
Istoria:
Once we've rescued everyone, I'll help you with this. Actually, I've figured out how the Path to the Heavens works.
Istoria:
The seat of the god has been left empty, so the rules have begun to falter. As such, a section of the Corridor of Nothingness's previous Path to the Heavens was preserved.
Istoria:
Melanta's fury destroyed half of it, but the remaining half, the stairway to heaven, is still vaguely visible.
Istoria:
This means that the stairway can be used by others. We just have to make it whole again.
Paimon:
Wait, do you mean...
Istoria:
Don't get the wrong idea. As I've said before, I am a coward burdened with too much memory, yet too scared to even die.
Zeitlind:
Istoria...
Paimon:
Where's the last Restoration Core?
Yu Huangyi:
I believe it's hidden in this book.
Yu Huangyi:
This book is called "Tale of the Lochknight Aerinny," Calcerius's translation of "Erinnyes."
Yu Huangyi:
It's more of a rewrite than a translation, though.
Yu Huangyi:
Istoria spoke very highly of it after his read. He said it captured the precise moment when realism collapsed into nominalism.
Paimon:
Paimon has no idea what that means!
Zeitlind:
I'd love to read it.
Paimon:
Okay. Anyway, do you have any idea how we can retrieve the Restoration Core?
Yu Huangyi:
As I said before, we can use the power of this library to manifest scenes. The Restoration Core should be hidden in the book.
Yu Huangyi:
You'll need to enter the book and go on an adventure, Nhà Lữ Hành.
Yu Huangyi:
It's time for you to experience what it's like to be a paper person, eh?
Traveler:
But I'm a hero in three dimensions...
Paimon:
If anything happens, Paimon and Dex will come save you!
Traveler:
I need the greatest guide in Teyvat!
Paimon:
You're unbelievable... Fine. Paimon will go with you.
Paimon:
Uncle Huangyi... This is super important, so don't mess up, 'kay?
Yu Huangyi:
Actually, the restoration's success might rest entirely with Miss Zeitlind.
Zeitlind:
What?
Yu Huangyi:
Melanta has reviewed and tampered with this text. It's filled with a great deal of unwarranted malice.
Yu Huangyi:
And I'm too familiar with both "Aerinny" and the original "Erinnyes." My heart lacks the power to alter the scenes in time.
Yu Huangyi:
Put another way, my perception of this story is irrevocably locked on its tragedy. But it must be rewritten to have a happy ending.
Paimon:
So what do we do?
Yu Huangyi:
We'll need Zeitlind to neutralize every crisis that emerges in the text, then steer the plot toward a happy ending...
Zeitlind:
Are you really going to put their safety in my hands?
Zeitlind:
And you even want me to imagine good things happening out of the blue...
Zeitlind:
I can't do it. I can't do anything right.
Paimon:
We believe in you!
Yu Huangyi:
We aren't just "living," we're adventuring! Fortune favors the bold, you know. Heaven helps those who help themselves.
Zeitlind:
...Alright. I'll try.
Paimon:
Ugh, it's a trap!
Paimon:
Zeitlind, are you okay? That was a nasty fall!
Zeitlind:
Nhà Lữ Hành had my back. I was a little scared, but I'm fine.
Zeitlind:
I'm sorry. I keep dragging you down...
Paimon:
No you don't!
Yu Huangyi:
Well, I know I'm dead weight. No one so much as gave a hoot about little ol' me.
Paimon:
Whaddayamean? Didn't Paimon grab onto you and Nhà Lữ Hành just now?
Yu Huangyi:
You weren't pulling us upwards! You were using me as a buffer!
Paimon:
Pfft. Uncle Huangyi, Paimon can fly. She wouldn't even have fallen if she wasn't trying to help you and Nhà Lữ Hành.
Yu Huangyi:
Oh yeah, alright. It's all my fault for being so heavy, I guess.
Zeitlind:
Heh.
Paimon:
Zeitlind smiled! We make a great team, Uncle Huangyi!
Yu Huangyi:
Don't wind yourself up too tight, Zeitlind.