arrow_back 原神 クエスト 
Hesperides of Love and Hate
A lone lamp shines in the snowstorm...
Aglaya:
Myshkin? Is that you? You're finally here...
Paimon:
...Huh? Who's Myshkin? No, we're just passing adventurers — 旅人 and Paimon!
Paimon:
We heard there was a wedding happening here, so we came by to take a look! And we do have an invite, so it's not like we're crashing the wedding, right?
Aglaya:
...
Aglaya:
Please present your invitation to the statue by the door.
Paimon:
The statue? Uh... okay, sure...
Paimon:
(Ikhor, you came from in there, right? Then you must know this place better than we do. Do they always have weird rules like this?)
Ikhor:
(This does not seem to be part of the "ritual.")
Paimon:
(So you're just as lost as we are. Well, since we're already here, let's just do what she said for now.)
Saltykov:
The wedding is about to begin. We ask our guests to wait in the hall in the meantime...
Safonov:
The wedding is about to begin. We ask our guests to wait in the hall in the meantime...
Aglaya:
Welcome to the House of Hesperides.
Aglaya:
Since you have an invitation, then you are guests of this house, and every guest deserves a proper welcome. You may call me Aglaya.
Aglaya:
Is this your first time attending a Snegovik wedding?
Traveler:
Mmhmm.
Aglaya:
You two do not seem to be from around here, so I take it you have not heard about the scandal. I doubt you would have been willing to come here if you had.
Paimon:
A scandal?
Aglaya:
At least, humans would call it that. The last ceremonial ritual we held on this scale was Larisa's wedding.
Aglaya:
But that human betrayed her in the end. She killed him, and then the vow took her life, too.
Aglaya:
Larisa was the most beautiful of us all... even the way she died was beautiful.
Aglaya:
That day, her fury brought down a blizzard so fierce, it froze even the bolts of lightning mid-fall. You should have seen that beautiful, deadly Prime Ice magic...
Paimon:
Umm...
Aglaya:
Heh, but you have no cause for worry. You will be safe here at the House of Hesperides, as long as you stay away from what is forbidden.
Aglaya:
The ritual will begin when the clock strikes eight times. Please make your way to the chapel right away when you hear it.
Aglaya:
Until then, you may look around the main hall... The other rooms are not open to guests...
Aglaya:
But you are welcome to enjoy the entertainment here, or simply rest for a while. The choice is yours.
Traveler:
So, about those rooms we're not allowed into...
Aglaya:
Some of those are private quarters. We even have one set aside for the bride and groom...
Traveler:
Ah, excuse. I didn't mean to be rude.
Aglaya:
Once, there was a human woman who dared sneak into the groom's room while he was alone. Of course, she was caught almost immediately...
Paimon:
Wh-what!? Was she trying to steal the groom or something???
Aglaya:
Not from Pavlina, the Snegurochka princess. What Pavlina has laid claim to, no one takes from her.
Aglaya:
So cold is she by nature, she hardly seems like a Snegurochka at all. But that boy was hers, and there was no way she would let anyone take him away.
Aglaya:
...Regardless of that, the ritual will go ahead, and we will succeed this time. She has sworn it on the sword Larisa once wielded.
Aglaya:
And we all know what happens to those who break their vows.
Aglaya:
Enough of the dull introductions. This ritual is one that is worth celebrating after all. I wish the both of you a most pleasant and unforgettable day here at the House of Hesperides.
Aglaya:
Oh my, you ended up all the way over here?
Aglaya:
Let's get you back where you're supposed to be.
Snegovik Attendant:
The "ritual" is already underway. Please go on in... There's no need to be anywhere else...
Paimon:
Oh! Looks like it's time! Everyone's heading toward the assembly hall.
Paimon:
We'd better catch up!
Paimon:
旅人, you're already worn out? But what about the fun activities afterward...
Paimon:
All right, Paimon's with you.
Exhaustion seems to have finally caught up with you. You and Paimon curl up together on the sofa, drifting into a light doze. Then, somewhere between sleep and waking, eight faint chimes ring out...
Paimon:
Paimon's starting to feel a little nervous. It's like the Chicken-Mushroom Skewer she had this morning is dancing around in her stomach... Ugh.
Paimon:
Paimon wonders what Pavlina, the princess of the Snegurochka, is like... and what kind of person the groom is, too...
Paimon:
If Aglaya's story is anything to go by, Pavlina sounds completely enchanted with him. Humans even tried to steal him away! He must be some once-in-a-lifetime heartthrob.
Paimon:
Oh! And then there's Ikhor. He doesn't seem to be here either. Come to think of it, what was he doing in this mansion in the first place...?
Traveler:
The princess of the Snegurochka has to be connected to all this somehow.
Paimon:
Paimon was thinking the same thing. But today's supposed to be a happy occasion, and everyone's here to offer her their blessings.
Paimon:
If we catch her in a good mood, maybe she'll let a clue or two slip.
Eye of Graeae:
I have my doubts, Miss Paimon. Still, I agree. This is a good chance to gather clues up close.
Intoxicated Snegovik:
Pavlina! Pavlina!
Paimon:
Whoa! Where did she come from?
Eye of Graeae:
She's the mistress of this place. A trick like that is child's play for her.
Eye of Graeae:
But... no. How did she...?
Traveler:
What have you found out?
Eye of Graeae:
I sense that she carries a piece of my body's power in her life too. How is that even possible?
Paimon:
Huh?
Pavlina:
Today is a special day. We were a people that no one ever blessed or cared for. But that changes now.
Pavlina:
Love is what truly feeds the soul.
Pavlina:
We were born without souls, so we chased after love because we longed to have one. We live for love, and we live because of love.
Pavlina:
Yes. Human love is what gives us souls. It is what allows us to become beings in our own right.
Pavlina:
But the humans who share their souls with us, they can be such terrible creditors who end up forcing us to live by the rules of their fickle love...
Pavlina:
Larisa once stood here, too. You all saw the betrayal with your own eyes — treachery so vile, it cost her both her soul and her life.
Hesitant Snegovik:
But her death brought no shame upon us. On the contrary, it was something to be proud of, for it proved that nobility was always part of her nature.
Rational Snegovik:
Nevertheless, her passing was a great loss to us, for there was no Snegurochka more pure-minded than Larisa.
Rational Snegovik:
Pavlina, though... During her time at Hvergelmir — no, perhaps even before then... she had already been tainted by human ways.
Rational Snegovik:
That would probably explain why she sees things this way. It is the sort of idea only a human could have, even if Pavlina herself does not realize it.
Traveler:
Looks like not everyone agrees with her.
Paimon:
Actually, what Paimon really wants to know is, is that going to be your speech at the wedding? It sure doesn't sound like one...
Pavlina:
...Her wrongful death will be the final page in our kind's tragic chapter.
Pavlina:
The new beginning granted to us by the gods shall soon arrive, and from this day forward, our soulless past shall finally come to an end.
Pavlina:
You never knew the truth, and there is no need for you to know it now... For this day to come, a sacrifice had already been made some time ago.
Paimon:
Huh? What's happening??? It feels like the air in the room has just changed all of a sudden...
Pavlina:
Come to us, soul-water, born of the gods and made for the gods.
Pavlina:
Come to us, Ikhor. Come. Offer yourself up for our sake.
Ikhor:
...
Paimon:
...Wait, he's the groom? Hey! Ikhor!
Paimon:
He can't seem to hear Paimon... What's wrong with him? Did someone do this to him? Or is it that shackle?
Paimon:
We have to do something, 旅人! Paimon has a feeling this "ritual" isn't the wedding we thought it was going to be...
Eye of Graeae:
I'm afraid you're right.
Eye of Graeae:
However the Snegurochka princess came to possess that fragment of power before, she must have found a way to claim the rest of it now...
Eye of Graeae:
She wants to defy the natural order and give those under her protection souls. But she would never be able to do that by herself alone. And that is where that power comes in.
Paimon:
Then we must do something now! She's going to take him!
Pavlina:
Say it, Ikhor. Do you promise to give us what we've been wishing for?
Ikhor:
Yes, I do.
Aksinya:
I object to this union!
Aksinya:
...I know this is probably the last thing anyone wants to hear right now, but a Court Jester is supposed to speak up when advice is needed, isn't she?
Pavlina:
...Aksinya. Though I do not know how you managed to escape that inescapable prison... But you were not invited to today's proceedings.
Aksinya:
Yes, yes, you already told me that earlier today. With not a trace of kindness left for an old colleague. How sad.
Aksinya:
But you and I both know I have every right to be here — as an uninvited guest.
Pavlina:
Stop it!
Pavlina:
Why keep on fighting when you know it won't change anything? You know you won't win, not even now.
Aksinya:
I know. And that's why I came with some help this time.
Pavlina:
A cheap little trick. All that will do is buy you a little time...
You simply do not understand, Aksinya. The sacrifice has already been made. That means the ending has already been set in motion, and there is nothing you can do to stop it.
So I failed this time. But what difference does it make? It's just one more "rehearsal"...
Next time... Next time, it will work...
"The clock strikes again."
A cold voice whispers the words in your ear. You know this isn't the first time you've heard something like this before.
In that voice, you hear a soul taking shape, polished by countless trials until it slowly grows to be more beautiful. That is, if pain, too, could be called beautiful...
In that same voice, you hear a soul taking form, growing ever more magnificent as it undergoes an endless process of transcendence. That is, if distortion, too, could be called magnificent...
Each time brings greater pain than the last.
Each time brings you closer to the thing you've been longing for...
And yet...
The mouth opens, then slowly closes again. It is too late. No words can stop what has already begun.
After all, that wish matters more than anything now.
"Yes. The clock strikes again. So let us begin once more. Your..."
You say you know you've heard these words before...
"Mine."
"'Ours...'"
"This endless 'wedding' of ours."
Paimon:
Huh? Where did Ikhor go? Goggles, did you see where he went?
Eye of Graeae:
My apologies. Some special ritual power seems to be affecting this entire place. I can no longer sense his presence. Given some time, I may be able to determine what's going on...
Paimon:
Honestly, Paimon still had so many questions for him. Like, if he's obviously just one part of one part of Goggles' body, how does he have a whole body of his own...?
Eye of Graeae:
That part is easy enough to understand. It is like... "A pomegranate split open, its seeds scattered across the ground. Piece the shell back together, and it can still, just barely, be called whole."
Paimon:
Ugh... Okay, even if he isn't really human, that example was still pretty creepy.
Paimon:
But we're out of leads for now, so we'll just have to wait for Goggles to figure things out.
Paimon:
Come on, 旅人, let's go soak up the wedding atmosphere! It's not every day you get to see a Snegovik wedding!
Paimon:
Huh? Where did Ikhor go? Goggles, did you see where he went?
Eye of Graeae:
My apologies. Some special ritual power seems to be affecting this entire place. I can no longer sense his presence. Given some time, I may be able to determine what's going on...
Paimon:
Honestly, Paimon still had so many questions for him. Like, if he's obviously just one part of one part of Goggles' body, how does he have a whole body of his own...?
Eye of Graeae:
That part is easy enough to understand. It is like... "A pomegranate split open, its seeds scattered across the ground. Piece the shell back together, and it can still, just barely, be called whole."
Paimon:
Ugh... Okay, even if he isn't really human, that example was still pretty creepy.
Paimon:
But we're out of leads for now, so we'll just have to wait for Goggles to figure things out.
Paimon:
Come on, 旅人, let's go soak up the wedding atmosphere!
Eye of Graeae:
...As far as I know, Pavlina, princess of the Snegurochka, isn't really the type to marry a human. How strange.
Eye of Graeae:
If anything... I would have thought she'd be more attached to her own kind than to humans...
Paimon:
Well, you never know! Maybe she met the one and went, "Hehe, I don't care what anyone says! I'm marrying him!"
Eye of Graeae:
It's possible, but the chances are slim.
Eye of Graeae:
Still... perhaps the wedding itself is the clue.
Paimon:
Okay, then let's go to the wedding and see what we can find out! It's a Snegovik wedding, after all!
Paimon:
旅人, you're already worn out? But what about the fun activities afterward...
Paimon:
—Yay! —Mhm!
Exhaustion seems to have finally caught up with you. You and Paimon curl up together on the sofa, drifting into a light doze. Then, somewhere between sleep and waking, ten faint chimes ring out...
Paimon:
Should we wait here until the wedding starts?
Exhaustion seems to have finally caught up with you. You and Paimon curl up together on the sofa, drifting into a light doze. Then, somewhere between sleep and waking, eight faint chimes ring out...
Snegovik Attendant:
The "ritual" is already underway. Please go on in... There's no need to be anywhere else...
Paimon:
Paimon's starting to feel a little nervous. It's like the Chicken-Mushroom Skewer she had this morning is dancing around in her stomach... Ugh.
Paimon:
Paimon wonders what Pavlina, the princess of the Snegurochka, is like... and what kind of person the groom is, too...
Paimon:
If Aglaya's story is anything to go by, Pavlina sounds completely enchanted with him. Humans even tried to steal him away! He must be some once-in-a-lifetime heartthrob.
Eye of Graeae:
...Maybe this wedding is more than it seems.
Eye of Graeae:
If what 旅人 saw in the Pale Crown Palace really happened, then Pavlina was one of the people who betrayed Miss Aksinya... Which means...
Paimon:
Pavlina probably has one of the pieces of your body.
Eye of Graeae:
Right. The one who has the fragmented power of my body is... Ikhor. So I suspect the groom may be...
Intoxicated Snegovik:
Pavlina! Pavlina!
Paimon:
Whoa! Where did she come from?
Eye of Graeae:
She's the mistress of this place. A trick like that is child's play for her.
Eye of Graeae:
But... no. How did she...?
Traveler:
What have you found out?
Eye of Graeae:
Just as I expected. She carries a piece of my body's power in her life too.
Paimon:
Huh?
Pavlina:
Today is a special day. We were a people that no one ever blessed or cared for. But that changes now.
Pavlina:
Love is what truly feeds the soul.
Pavlina:
We were born without souls, so we chased after love because we longed to have one. We live for love, and we live because of love.
Pavlina:
Yes. Human love is what gives us souls. It is what allows us to become beings in our own right.
Pavlina:
But the humans who share their souls with us, they can be such terrible creditors who end up forcing us to live by the rules of their fickle love...
Pavlina:
Larisa once stood here, too. You all saw the betrayal with your own eyes — treachery so vile, it cost her both her soul and her life.
Hesitant Snegovik:
But her death brought no shame upon us. On the contrary, it was something to be proud of, for it proved that nobility was always part of her nature.
Rational Snegovik:
Nevertheless, her passing was a great loss to us, for there was no Snegurochka more pure-minded than Larisa.
Rational Snegovik:
Pavlina, though... During her time at Hvergelmir — no, perhaps even before then... she had already been tainted by human ways.
Rational Snegovik:
That would probably explain why she sees things this way. It is the sort of idea only a human could have, even if Pavlina herself does not realize it.
Traveler:
Looks like not everyone agrees with her.
Paimon:
Actually, what Paimon really wants to know is, is that going to be your speech at the wedding? It sure doesn't sound like one...
Pavlina:
...Her wrongful death will be the final page in our kind's tragic chapter.
Pavlina:
The new beginning granted to us by the gods shall soon arrive, and from this day forward, our soulless past shall finally come to an end.
Pavlina:
You never knew the truth, and there is no need for you to know it now... For this day to come, a sacrifice had already been made some time ago.
Paimon:
Huh? What's happening??? It feels like the air in the room has just changed all of a sudden...
Pavlina:
Come to us, soul-water, born of the gods and made for the gods.
Pavlina:
Come to us, Ikhor. Come. Offer yourself up for our sake.
Ikhor:
...
Paimon:
...Wait, he's the groom? Hey! Ikhor!
Paimon:
He can't seem to hear Paimon... What's wrong with him? Did someone do this to him? Or is it that shackle?
Paimon:
We have to do something, 旅人! Paimon has a feeling this "ritual" isn't the wedding we thought it was going to be...
Eye of Graeae:
No, it isn't. It is a ritual to transfer the power held in my body...
Eye of Graeae:
However the Snegurochka princess came to possess that fragment of power before, she must have found a way to claim the rest of it now...
Eye of Graeae:
She wants to defy the natural order and give those under her protection souls. But she would never be able to do that by herself alone. And that is where that power comes in.
Paimon:
Then we must do something now! She's going to take him!
Pavlina:
Say it, Ikhor. Do you promise to give us what we've been wishing for?
Ikhor:
Yes, I do.
Aksinya:
I object to this ritual! ...I know this is probably the last thing anyone wants to hear right now, but a Court Jester is supposed to speak up when advice is needed, isn't she?
Pavlina:
...Aksinya. Though I do not know how you managed to escape that inescapable prison... But you were not invited to today's proceedings.
Aksinya:
Yes, yes, you already told me that earlier today. With not a trace of kindness left for an old colleague. How sad.
Aksinya:
But you and I both know I have every right to be here — as an uninvited guest.
Pavlina:
Stop it!
Pavlina:
Why keep on fighting when you know it won't change anything? You know you won't win, not even now.
Aksinya:
I know. And that's why I came with some help this time.
Pavlina:
A cheap little trick. All that will do is buy you a little time...
You simply do not understand, Aksinya. The sacrifice has already been made. That means the ending has already been set in motion, and there is nothing you can do to stop it.
So I failed this time. But what difference does it make? It's just one more "rehearsal"...
Next time... Next time, it will work...
Paimon:
Huh, this lamp is weird. But for some reason... now that we're near it, the blizzard's easing up. It even feels kind of warm...
Paimon:
Wait a minute. Paimon's heard that if you suddenly start feeling warm on a snowy mountain, it could mean you're so cold you're starting to hallucinate...
Paimon:
Aha! So you felt it too! It really is getting warmer!
Ikhor:
Don't worry, you two. This is a special lamp. They say it was blessed by the fae that is now inside it a long time ago.
Ikhor:
It offers some protection from the cold.
Paimon:
Whoa! D—did someone just... appear out of nowhere?
Ikhor:
Hello, my flying friend.
Ikhor:
This is my lamp. I left it here earlier when I got a little bored and went for a walk.
Paimon:
Oh, so it's yours... Wait, you went for a walk in this blizzard? Dressed like that? How are you not freezing?
Ikhor:
...Freezing?
Ikhor:
Should I be reacting to temperature changes? Is that what you were expecting?
Paimon:
Uh... That's not really the point. Most people would freeze solid if they wore that little in this weather like this.
Traveler:
Maybe all the shivering is what keeps them from freezing...
Paimon:
Right, because all that shivering would totally warm them up... As if! But that's only for regular people.
Paimon:
The fae don't really mind the cold. Just look at the Snegovik and the Jack Frosts. They probably don't do well in a place that's too warm.
Paimon:
But you don't look like a fae, and you're not cold either... So who are you, anyway? And what are you doing out here with no luggage and barely any warm clothes on?
Ikhor:
I... I am Ikhor. Someone... a woman told me to leave the house, but she didn't tell me where to go. So I've just been waiting here.
Paimon:
The house...? You mean the House of Hesperides? We're on our way there for some wedding.
Paimon:
Paimon's never been to a Snegovik wedding before. They say the Snegovik live for love, right? So their weddings must be super romantic!
Ikhor:
A wedding... Yes. For the Snegovik, it is an important ritual. They have been preparing for it for a long time.
Paimon:
So it must be a really big deal, right? Hehe, how exciting! Oh, right. Who's the woman you were talking about? You know, the one who told you to leave the house.
Ikhor:
I have no idea. I'd never met her before that.
Paimon:
H—hold on! You mean to say that someone you didn't even know told you to leave the house, and you just went along with it!?
Ikhor:
Yes. Because that was what she wanted, and she wanted it very badly. And if someone wanted something so badly that it becomes a wish, of course I should grant it.
Paimon:
(旅人... He doesn't look that young, but the way he talks and acts is just like a little child. He feels a little... not all there...)
Eye of Graeae:
...I can sense it. There's definitely a part of my body's power that's inside him.
Paimon:
(Wait, really? We found it already?)
Eye of Graeae:
But the power inside him is incomplete. That may be why his mind seems a little... not quite there as well. The power that's in him... is so broken up that it's impossible to recover.
Paimon:
Huh? Then what do we do now?
Eye of Graeae:
Before I can reclaim this part of my power, it must be restored to a more complete state first... I sense that the part of my body here was split up through a special ritual of some kind.
Eye of Graeae:
If only I could get closer to the core of that power. Then I might be able to give you a clearer answer.
Traveler:
(Sounds like we should head over to the wedding then.)
Paimon:
(So are we taking him with us? Hmm... We can't just leave him here. But we still don't know why that person made him leave the house...)
Paimon:
Um... This is kind of a strange favor to ask, but could you show us the way to the House of Hesperides?
Paimon:
We... don't really know the area, you see, and you're from there, so... you'd be the perfect guide!
Ikhor:
Is this your wish?
Traveler:
Yes. Could you help me out with it?
Paimon:
And Paimon thinks it'd be better for you, too! Even if you don't get cold, it just doesn't feel right for us to leave you out here in this storm dressed like that.
Ikhor:
"People do not always know what is best for them. They choose storms in the morning, then pray for peace by night."
Paimon:
Hmm?
Ikhor:
Someone once told me that. While I do not feel the cold, maybe you are right.
Ikhor:
So long as someone asks it of me, I am willing to grant their wish. Now, allow me to fulfill yours. Please follow me.
Paimon:
...旅人... 旅人!
Paimon:
Whew — there you are! Did the bell wake you? You were completely out. Is the bed here really that comfy?
Traveler:
I think I had a dream.
Paimon:
No wonder. You were asleep for a long time. Paimon's been keeping watch the whole while. Was it a nice dream, or a scary one?
Paimon:
Actually, never mind. Tell Paimon later. Now's not really the time.
Paimon:
Do you remember what happened earlier? We came to the House of Hesperides for a wedding.
Traveler:
But that "ritual" wasn't a wedding at all.
Paimon:
That towering princess of the Snegurochka, Pavlina... She nearly killed Ikhor...
Paimon:
Paimon knows Ikhor isn't really human, strictly speaking. He's just a fragment of the power that originally belonged to Goggles. But even so...
Eye of Graeae:
Compassion is something to be respected, Miss Paimon.
Paimon:
Thanks, Goggles. Oh, right, when Pavlina cast her spell, Goggles was the one who protected us and brought us here, somewhere safe.
Paimon:
While you were asleep, Paimon did some poking around. Looks like someone named Myshkin used to live here. Didn't Aglaya mention him when she first welcomed us?
Aksinya:
...*cough* Hello? Do you copy? You should be able to hear what I'm saying?
Aksinya:
*sigh* Thanks for nothing, you two. I poured so much effort into getting "him" out, even if in part... Only for you to send him right back, as if nothing had happened. Pavlina almost won right there and then.
Paimon:
Huh? Aksinya! Wait, how are you coming through Goggl—?
Aksinya:
Ha! I am the creator of the Eye of Graeae, after all. I can still make use of some of its functions.
Aksinya:
...Hmm. It's been a while since we last met, eh, dear colleague? Don't you think you're getting "a bit too passionate" right now?
Aksinya:
Ah, sorry, that wasn't meant for you. I'm currently busy dealing with that crazy shrew... How tragic, Pavlina of the Snegovik. You've completely lost it.
Aksinya:
Her gaze is like Prime Ice, but her mind is like a powderkeg. A single spark could set her off and destroy all around her.
Aksinya:
I've trapped Pavlina, but have little time for anything else right now. Take "his" fragments away from here, one by one, while her grip on this area is weakened, away from her grasp.
Aksinya:
That's the only way to ensure that shrew won't be able to offer up "his" power for her people.
Aksinya:
We have to take back all that power, don't we? It's not the same as why she seeks your power, is it? "To have a body once more"... that's what you wish for, isn't it?
Eye of Graeae:
Y—Yes...
Aksinya:
Then go. I won't be able to hold out for long... Hurry—
Paimon:
She's gone...
Paimon:
Take Goggles' fragments... one by one? What does she even mean? Doesn't she know that Pavlina has some of Goggles' power too???
Traveler:
She may have something else up her sleeves too.
Paimon:
Yeah... Better take what she says with a huge rock of salt. But what should we do now then?
Paimon:
Hey, you know what? This is about Goggles! We should ask what he wants.
Eye of Graeae:
I think... Maybe we should gather at least some of the power that has been split up, and try to make him as complete as possible. Then we can take it all back.
Eye of Graeae:
This may sound a little ironic, but my wish is for the fragments, incomplete as they are, to be as whole as possible...
Eye of Graeae:
It's just like how the Snegurochka princess must have decided to perform the ritual because she wanted to help her people become more "whole."
Eye of Graeae:
And that is something I can understand, and even empathize with, to some degree.
Paimon:
How can you feel for her!? She was gonna gobble you up, piece by piece, just to get what she wanted!!!
Paimon:
Paimon can share her food or Mora with other folks, no problem. But if you want Paimon to hand over an arm or a leg...
Paimon:
Or even Paimon's hair! Hmm... Actually, hair seems alright... especially if it's just a few strands—— Anyway, that's not the point.
Paimon:
It doesn't matter what the other person's reasons are. This is something... something Paimon needs to think over! Very carefully! Though Paimon probably won't say yes anyway, to be honest...
Traveler:
Yes. It's not good to over-deplete yourself for the sake of others.
Eye of Graeae:
...You are right. But that aside, there is another reason we must reclaim him "whole."
Paimon:
Another reason? And what would that be?
Eye of Graeae:
...
Traveler:
That you don't need to know, Paimon.
Paimon:
Huh? Are the two of you keeping something from Paimon!? And Paimon's not talking about secret snack stashes or anything like tha——
Traveler:
We should get moving.
Eye of Graeae:
I have marked the fragment locations. Let's go, before the clock strikes ten.
Paimon:
Huh, this lamp is weird. But for some reason... now that we're near it, the blizzard's easing up. It even feels kind of warm...
Paimon:
Wait a minute. Paimon's heard that if you suddenly start feeling warm on a snowy mountain, it could mean you're so cold you're starting to hallucinate...
Paimon:
Aha! So you felt it too! It really is getting warmer!
Ikhor:
Don't worry, you two. This is a special lamp. They say it was blessed by the fae that is now inside it a long time ago.
Ikhor:
It offers some protection from the cold.
Paimon:
Whoa! D—did someone just... appear out of nowhere?
Ikhor:
Hello, you two. Don't be so alarmed, my flying friend.
Ikhor:
This is my lamp. I left it here earlier when I got a little bored and went for a walk.
Paimon:
Oh, so it's yours... Wait, you went for a walk in this blizzard? Dressed like that? How are you not freezing?
Ikhor:
...Freezing?
Ikhor:
Should I be reacting to temperature changes? Is that what you were expecting?
Paimon:
Uh... That's not really the point. Most people would freeze solid if they wore that little in this weather like this.
Traveler:
Maybe all the shivering is what keeps them from freezing...
Paimon:
Right, because all that shivering would totally warm them up... As if! But that's only for regular people.
Paimon:
The fae don't really mind the cold. Just look at the Snegovik and the Jack Frosts. They probably don't do well in a place that's too warm.
Paimon:
But you don't look like a fae, and you're not cold either... So who are you, anyway? And what are you doing out here with no luggage and barely any warm clothes on?
Ikhor:
I... I am Ikhor. Someone... a woman told me to leave the house, but she didn't tell me where to go. So I've just been waiting here.
Paimon:
A house...? You mean there's a house up here on this snowy mountain? With people living in it?
Ikhor:
Yes, there is a house. It is called the House of Hesperides, and it is where the Snegovik live. The lady of the house is Pavlina, the Snegurochka princess.
Ikhor:
Right now... I believe she is preparing for her wedding.
Paimon:
A Snegovik wedding?
Paimon:
Paimon's never been to a Snegovik wedding before. They say the Snegovik live for love, right? So their weddings must be super romantic!
Ikhor:
A wedding... Yes. For the Snegovik, it is an important ritual. They have been preparing for it for a long time.
Paimon:
So it must be a really big deal, right? Hehe, how exciting! Hmm... Do you think we can go see it?
Ikhor:
Is that what you wish for?
Paimon:
Well, with the storm this bad, it'd be nice to have somewhere to rest for a bit... And besides, we'd get to see a Snegovik wedding...
Traveler:
So this is Paimon's wish, then?
Paimon:
Yeah, yeah!
Ikhor:
I understand. In that case, please take this...
Paimon:
Oh, what's that?
Ikhor:
This is a wedding invitation. With it, the house will receive you... as honored guests of the ritual.
Paimon:
But um... isn't this invite yours?
Ikhor:
No... friend who is named Paimon. Invitations are only for guests.
Paimon:
Oh, okay! Thank you then! Oh, right... Who's the woman you were talking about? You know, the one who told you to leave the house.
Ikhor:
I have no idea. I'd never met her before that.
Paimon:
H—hold on! You mean to say that someone you didn't even know told you to leave the house, and you just went along with it!?
Ikhor:
Yes. Because that was what she wanted, and she wanted it very badly. And if someone wanted something so badly that it becomes a wish, of course I should grant it.
Paimon:
(旅人... He doesn't look that young, but the way he talks and acts is just like a little child. He feels a little... not all there...)
Eye of Graeae:
...I can sense it. There's definitely a part of my body's power that's inside him.
Paimon:
(Wait, really? We found it already?)
Eye of Graeae:
But the power inside him is incomplete. That may be why his mind seems a little... not quite there as well. The power that's in him... is so broken up that it's impossible to recover.
Paimon:
Huh? Then what do we do now?
Eye of Graeae:
Before I can reclaim this part of my power, it must be restored to a more complete state first... I sense that the part of my body here was split up through a special ritual of some kind.
Eye of Graeae:
If only I could get closer to the core of that power. Then I might be able to give you a clearer answer.
Traveler:
(Sounds like we should head over to the wedding then.)
Paimon:
(So are we taking him with us? Hmm... We can't just leave him here. But we still don't know why that person made him leave the house...)
Paimon:
Um... This is kind of a strange favor to ask, but could you show us the way to the House of Hesperides?
Paimon:
We... don't really know the area, you see, and you're from there, so... you'd be the perfect guide!
Ikhor:
Is this your wish?
Traveler:
Yes. Could you help me out with it?
Paimon:
And Paimon thinks it'd be better for you, too! Even if you don't get cold, it just doesn't feel right for us to leave you out here in this storm dressed like that.
Ikhor:
"People do not always know what is best for them. They choose storms in the morning, then pray for peace by night."
Paimon:
Hmm?
Ikhor:
Someone once told me that. While I do not feel the cold, maybe you are right.
Ikhor:
So long as someone asks it of me, I am willing to grant their wish. Now, allow me to fulfill yours. Please follow me.
Paimon:
Hmm. It feels like the farther up the mountain we go, the heavier the storm gets...
Paimon:
Huh? What's this?
Eye of Graeae:
It's an invitation...
Paimon:
An invitation? Let Paimon take a look... Hmm. It says Pavlina, Grand Duchess of the Snegurochka, is inviting... whoever's holding this invitation to attend a wedding...?
Paimon:
"Those who wish to attend the ceremony may present this invitation as proof that they have been invited..."
Paimon:
Hmm... So the wedding is being held at... House of Hesp-something, up on the snowy mountain...
Eye of Graeae:
House of Hesperides. Yes. It was once home to the sovereign who ruled over the Snegovik. As for Pavlina...
Eye of Graeae:
That name does sound faintly familiar...
Paimon:
So, Pavlina, the princess of the Snegurochka, might be tied to Goggles' past too?
Eye of Graeae:
Most likely.
Paimon:
The house's all the way up the mountain? And we still have to climb higher?
Eye of Graeae:
I'm afraid so. Unless House of Hesperides somehow moved in the last five hundred years...
Paimon:
Fine. Then let's keep going and check it out.
Paimon:
Paimon's starting to feel a little nervous. It's like the Chicken-Mushroom Skewer she had this morning is dancing around in her stomach... Ugh.
Paimon:
Paimon wonders what Pavlina, the princess of the Snegurochka, is like... and what kind of person the groom is, too...
Paimon:
If Aglaya's story is anything to go by, Pavlina sounds completely enchanted with him. Humans even tried to steal him away! He must be some once-in-a-lifetime heartthrob.
Eye of Graeae:
...Maybe this wedding is more than it seems.
Eye of Graeae:
If what 旅人 saw in the Pale Crown Palace really happened, then Pavlina was one of the people who betrayed Miss Aksinya... Which means...
Paimon:
Pavlina probably has one of the pieces of your body.
Eye of Graeae:
Right. The one who has the fragmented power of my body is... Ikhor. So I suspect the groom may be...
Intoxicated Snegovik:
Pavlina! Pavlina!
Paimon:
Whoa! Where did she come from?
Eye of Graeae:
She's the mistress of this place. A trick like that is child's play for her.
Eye of Graeae:
But... no. How did she...?
Traveler:
What have you found out?
Eye of Graeae:
Just as I expected. She carries a piece of my body's power in her life too.
Paimon:
Huh?
Pavlina:
Today is a special day. We were a people that no one ever blessed or cared for. But that changes now.
Pavlina:
Love is what truly feeds the soul.
Pavlina:
We were born without souls, so we chased after love because we longed to have one. We live for love, and we live because of love.
Pavlina:
Yes. Human love is what gives us souls. It is what allows us to become beings in our own right.
Pavlina:
But the humans who share their souls with us, they can be such terrible creditors who end up forcing us to live by the rules of their fickle love...
Pavlina:
Larisa once stood here, too. You all saw the betrayal with your own eyes — treachery so vile, it cost her both her soul and her life.
Hesitant Snegovik:
But her death brought no shame upon us. On the contrary, it was something to be proud of, for it proved that nobility was always part of her nature.
Rational Snegovik:
Nevertheless, her passing was a great loss to us, for there was no Snegurochka more pure-minded than Larisa.
Rational Snegovik:
Pavlina, though... During her time at Hvergelmir — no, perhaps even before then... she had already been tainted by human ways.
Rational Snegovik:
That would probably explain why she sees things this way. It is the sort of idea only a human could have, even if Pavlina herself does not realize it.
Traveler:
Looks like not everyone agrees with her.
Paimon:
Actually, what Paimon really wants to know is, is that going to be your speech at the wedding? It sure doesn't sound like one...
Pavlina:
...Her wrongful death will be the final page in our kind's tragic chapter.
Pavlina:
The new beginning granted to us by the gods shall soon arrive, and from this day forward, our soulless past shall finally come to an end.
Pavlina:
You never knew the truth, and there is no need for you to know it now... For this day to come, a sacrifice had already been made some time ago.
Paimon:
Huh? What's happening??? It feels like the air in the room has just changed all of a sudden...
Pavlina:
Come to us, soul-water, born of the gods and made for the gods.
Pavlina:
Come to us, Ikhor. Come. Offer yourself up for our sake.
Ikhor:
...
Paimon:
...Wait, he's the groom? Hey! Ikhor!
Paimon:
He can't seem to hear Paimon... What's wrong with him? Did someone do this to him? Or is it that shackle?
Paimon:
We have to do something, 旅人! Paimon has a feeling this "ritual" isn't the wedding we thought it was going to be...
Eye of Graeae:
No, it isn't. It is a ritual to transfer the power held in my body...
Eye of Graeae:
However the Snegurochka princess came to possess that fragment of power before, she must have found a way to claim the rest of it now...
Eye of Graeae:
She wants to defy the natural order and give those under her protection souls. But she would never be able to do that by herself alone. And that is where that power comes in.
Paimon:
Then we must do something now! She's going to take him!
Pavlina:
Say it, Ikhor. Do you promise to give us what we've been wishing for?
Ikhor:
Yes, I do.
Aksinya:
I object to this union!
Aksinya:
...I know this is probably the last thing anyone wants to hear right now, but a Court Jester is supposed to speak up when advice is needed, isn't she?
Pavlina:
...Aksinya. Though I do not know how you managed to escape that inescapable prison... But you were not invited to today's proceedings.
Aksinya:
...You never would have said that to me in the past, Pavlina.
Aksinya:
What changed you? Was it the pain of an ambition that could never be satisfied?
Aksinya:
But you and I both know I have every right to be here — as an uninvited guest.
Pavlina:
Stop it!
Pavlina:
Why keep on fighting when you know it won't change anything? You know you won't win, not even now.
Aksinya:
I know. And that's why I came with some help this time.
Pavlina:
A cheap little trick. All that will do is buy you a little time...
You simply do not understand, Aksinya. The sacrifice has already been made. That means the ending has already been set in motion, and there is nothing you can do to stop it.
So I failed this time. But what difference does it make? It's just one more "rehearsal"...
Next time... Next time, it will work...
"The clock strikes again."
A cold voice whispers the words in your ear. You know this isn't the first time you've heard something like this before.
In that voice, you hear a soul taking shape, polished by countless trials until it slowly grows to be more beautiful. That is, if pain, too, could be called beautiful...
In that same voice, you hear a soul taking form, growing ever more magnificent as it undergoes an endless process of transcendence. That is, if distortion, too, could be called magnificent...
Each time brings greater pain than the last.
Each time brings you closer to the thing you've been longing for...
And yet...
The mouth opens, then slowly closes again. It is too late. No words can stop what has already begun.
After all, that wish matters more than anything now.
"Yes. The clock strikes again. So let us begin once more. Your..."
You say you know you've heard these words before...
"Mine."
"'Ours...'"
"This endless 'wedding' of ours."
Snegovik Attendant:
The "ritual" is already underway. Please go on in... There's no need to be anywhere else...
To recover all of the Eye of Graeae's power, you and Paimon will have to collect the various fragments scattered all over...
Eye of Graeae:
I see. The fragment lies within the garden — more precisely, within the great tree there.
Paimon:
Okay, let's go have a look...
Paimon:
Hi there! Would it be all right if we went in and looked around?
Ladon:
...
Paimon:
Uh, we're visiting from somewhere far, far away, and we've never seen a garden as wonderful as this one before...
Ladon:
Ah, visitors from a distant land. Thank you for the compliment. When Larisa was still alive, she would come by often for some work here and there. The plants all thrived under her care.
Ladon:
At that time, that big tree over there would bear the biggest, most beautiful fruits. But after she left us for good, no matter how or what I tried, that tree would simply bear fruit no more...
Ladon:
But there is more to this garden than that tree, wouldn't you agree?
Paimon:
So, do you think we can get in there? For, uh, you know, a closer look at its beauty?
Ladon:
Ha, I'm afraid not.
Ladon:
The garden is currently under maintenance, and no one's allowed in there except the fae help. I apologize, but rules are rules.
Ladon:
But you are absolutely welcome to look at the garden from here. Didn't you say that you come from a distant land? You can tell me some stories while you admire the view.
Paimon:
Just hold on a sec, please!
Paimon pulls you aside so that the Snegovik standing guard won't hear you...
Paimon:
Ugh... He had Paimon thinking for a second that he was gonna let us in! And then he said no! What are we gonna do now???
Paimon:
旅人, how about we skirt around and see if we can climb over a wall somewhere?
Paimon:
Hmm, but it's gonna look a little weird if the both of us disappear at the same time. That's gonna raise an eyebrow, don't you think?
Traveler:
Then I'll have to trouble you to occupy him for a little while, Paimon.
Paimon:
Huh? You're asking Paimon?
Traveler:
You know I'm not the chatty type.
Paimon:
That's true... Well, you can leave it to Paimon then!
Paimon:
But it's got to be a quick in-and-out, you hear? Even Teyvat's best guide has only so many stories to tell...
Ladon:
Well then, little one. Tell me more about what it's like out there.
Paimon:
Sure...
Paimon:
(旅人, just like we planned, Paimon'll keep him talking. You sneak around from the side!)
Ladon:
...Wow, I never knew that. I really learned something new today.
Paimon:
That's right, that's right... Oh look, Paimon's friend is here. Gotta go. We, uh, have something to attend to.
Ladon:
Don't worry about me. It's been great talking to you. Please come back to visit when you have the time!
Paimon:
Heh... sure...
Traveler:
Did I interrupt something? You two seemed to be having a good time.
Paimon:
Ugh, you're finally back, 旅人! This is the first time ever Paimon's gotten tired from all that talking...
Paimon:
Paimon's got to rest and talk a little less for now... Yes. That's what Paimon's going to do.
The ritual is not yet complete. Better stop Pavlina before that happens...
Paimon:
I-Is that lightning... frozen solid!?
Paimon:
旅人, remember what Aglaya told us? On the day Larisa died, the blizzard raised by her fury could freeze even bolts of lightning mid-fall. Could this be what she meant...?
Eye of Graeae:
Then it seems the final site of the "ritual" lies at the summit... above the clouds.
Paimon:
Whoa... 旅人, watch your step on the way up, okay? And if you can't help looking down, Paimon will cover your eyes for you!
Pavlina:
The two of you were not invited.
Traveler:
But I have an invite on me.
Pavlina:
An invite... I see. Though the two of you weren't meant to be invited, this altered fate has named you intruders all the same.
Pavlina:
What would Koshchei say if he were here...? He would say, "Something like this was bound to happen."
Pavlina:
But the bow has already been drawn, and the arrow is set. Fate has carried us here, and there is no turning away from it now.
Aksinya:
...I'm finally free. You have taught me all I know, Pavlina, and the ins and outs of your traps are no news to me.
Paimon:
Wh—Where did you come from...?
Aksinya:
Never mind that for now. The ritual mustn't continue. "His" power mustn't be sacrificed this way... And once we accomplish that, I have a score to settle with her too.
Pavlina:
...
Aksinya:
You took "his" power away from me, just for the sake of your people... But are they really worth it? Are they really worth betraying that world His Majesty has promised?
Aksinya:
We should have had a better future.
Pavlina:
Her people are my responsibility, my burden to shoulder...
Pavlina:
A better future? It might have been so for you. But for us, that would just have become yet another prison.
Pavlina:
Aksinya, you seek a "tomorrow," a place of eternal joy and flow, and a world of everlasting love. But what about us fae and those without love?
Aksinya:
They... will be reborn in a new courtyard.
Pavlina:
No, Aksinya, they won't. Both you and I know full well that the cycle has run its course and there will not be new civilizations henceforth.
Pavlina:
There will be new creation no more. All that remains to us is the sifting and remaking.
Pavlina:
The door is one that we will... never pass. It is but a pageant leading to the executioner's blade.
Aksinya:
...
Pavlina:
...Yet I must, for the sake of my friend who perished in pursuit of that absurd notion of "love" — for her sake alone... seek a way that even my people may find meaning in lives born of artifice.
Aksinya:
But it appears that this isn't something all of your people can comprehend... Pavlina, you say that they are your responsibility and your burden. It may well be likewise for them — I'm speaking of the burden part.
Pavlina:
...The ones who love, and the ones who are loved, will always be burdens to each other.
Pavlina:
But how about you, Aksinya? Have you ever given "him" a chance to choose "his" path?
Aksinya:
..."He" will come to understand.
Aksinya:
Once upon a time... you told me that they do not know what is best for them. But I must say, you are no different than them.
Pavlina:
Perhaps we are all so.
Pavlina:
A price has to be paid for that "tomorrow" that should come. A price, and a sacrifice.
Pavlina:
We have all chosen the paths that we thought were the best. As for where those will lead us to... is not something I can predict.
Pavlina:
You have won this time, Aksinya... Go on. Claim the spoils of your victory...
Aksinya:
I am aware of that. But I have never hoped for your loss... Pavlina.
Aksinya:
Pavlina...
Paimon:
She... disappeared!?
Aksinya:
But she did not vanish entirely, for she has left this. The union ritual is complete. It's just that she did not manage to offer up that power...
Eye of Graeae:
And that is why the parts of my body that were fragmentized and then fragmentized again re-crystallized after the ritual.
Aksinya:
That is correct. It is fortunate that we managed to stop Pavlina. She... was so close to success.
Aksinya:
Here, take this.
Traveler:
What's this...
Aksinya:
This is the Eye of Graeae... Or rather, what was originally a part of the Eye of Graeae's body.
Paimon:
Are you sure you want to give this to us? Also... Hmm. Tell us, why did you want to stop that Snegurochka princess?
Aksinya:
Because you and I share the same purpose.
Aksinya:
Oh, that's right. Though I already know who you are, I suppose I have yet to formally introduce myself to you...
Aksinya:
I am but a lowly "Court Jester" who once served His Majesty, the late Belyi Tsar. My name, insignificant as it is, is Aksinya.
Eye of Graeae:
Aksinya...
Aksinya:
Yes. Does that serve to refresh your memory?
Aksinya:
Izmaylov always complains that my introductions are far too humble. But personally? I see it as a deliberate choice in style.
Eye of Graeae:
"Aksinya"... That name sounds very familiar.
Aksinya:
Well, that happens to be the name of the person who built the mechanism you're residing in right now, after all.
Traveler:
You... are the one who made Goggles?
Aksinya:
Yes, it is I.
Aksinya:
Haha, so you see, "Goggles" belongs to me. Do be good and return it now, you little thieves!
Paimon:
Huhhhhh????
Aksinya:
I'm only teasing. Feel free to keep "him" with you.
Aksinya:
In that grand design, it was also I who was supposed to obtain the Eye of Graeae along with the will inside it. But since "he" has made "his" choice...
Aksinya:
I believe in the Eye of Graeae, and I also believe in you, the ones "he" has chosen.
Aksinya:
That's enough of an introduction. Our goal is the same... to help the will inside the Eye of Graeae find its body and reclaim its power.
Eye of Graeae:
So, what exactly is this "power"?
Aksinya:
...Have you forgotten even what it is you wish to reclaim? Do you remember nothing but the will to recover what is yours...? It is a thought that gives one pause. But I suppose it serves the purpose for which the plan was first devised.
Aksinya:
Your power, your body, they were created so that "life may transcend life itself."
Aksinya:
And that is also why Pavlina sought to steal your power... A number of the fae were originally servants created by the Hyperboreans. They were never perfect creations...
Aksinya:
The Snegovik can only achieve completion and perfection through rituals. And what better than a ritual with an offering that would allow the Snegovik here to transcend as well?
Aksinya:
That was what Pavlina was trying to do...
Aksinya:
She sought to cast off the shackles placed upon her at the time of creation... The truth was, however, that because her existence was incomplete, she could only draw upon "his" power by performing one ritual after another, endlessly...
Aksinya:
Though she is a Snegurochka princess, and thus among the mightiest of the fae, these ceaseless rituals nevertheless brought great pain to both her mind and will.
Paimon:
And... you said that she was close to success regardless!?
Aksinya:
Her success would have been the greatest defeat for the world.
Aksinya:
The "tomorrow" she has in mind is a tomorrow where her people could become whole. This, perhaps, is how she loves them.
Aksinya:
But for the rest of the world, using such power for a purpose like that would be nothing short of a waste... It is fortunate that we were able to recover it before she could do so.
Paimon:
That's... Paimon feels a little bad for those Snegovik now.
Aksinya:
...Pity is a conceit born of arrogance and self-importance. Perhaps those Snegovik have no need to be pitied, nor for her so-called love.
Paimon:
Uh... Paimon supposes you could be right...
Aksinya:
Perhaps. And her people certainly do not have the right to condemn her.
Aksinya:
But for the world... Her love is one confined to too small a circle.
Paimon:
Tsk. All this sounds so complicated. Can love really be too great or too limited...?
Aksinya:
Some would say yes, and others would say no. Yet this is what I believe: a love capable of saving more lives is a love all the greater, and all the more noble.
Eye of Graeae:
So... What would I become if I recovered all my power? Would I then be... strong enough... to save everyone?
Aksinya:
That would depend on the choice "you" make when the time comes.
Aksinya:
Very well. Since we share the same purpose, I am certain we shall meet again... Until that day...
Aksinya:
There is much that remains for us all to do.
Paimon:
She's gone... How's it going with you, Goggles? Now that you've recovered some of your power, do you remember anything new?
Eye of Graeae:
A few things. But they're... only vague impressions for now.
Paimon:
Oh... Okay then.
Paimon:
That's alright. She did say we'll see her again later anyway... So, when we do, we'll just make her tell us everything!
Aksinya:
Pavlina...
Paimon:
She... disappeared!?
Aksinya:
But she did not vanish entirely, for she has left this. The union ritual is complete. It's just that she did not manage to offer up that power...
Eye of Graeae:
And that is why the parts of my body that were fragmentized and then fragmentized again re-crystallized after the ritual.
Aksinya:
That is correct. It is fortunate that we managed to stop Pavlina. She... was so close to success.
Aksinya:
Here, take this.
Traveler:
What's this...
Aksinya:
This is the Eye of Graeae... Or rather, what was originally a part of the Eye of Graeae's body.
Paimon:
Are you sure you want to give this to us? Also... Hmm. Tell us, why did you want to stop that Snegurochka princess?
Aksinya:
Because you and I share the same purpose.
Aksinya:
Which is to help the will inside the Eye of Graeae find its body and reclaim its power.
Eye of Graeae:
So, what exactly is this "power"?
Aksinya:
...Have you forgotten even what it is you wish to reclaim? Do you remember nothing but the will to recover what is yours...? It is a thought that gives one pause. But I suppose it serves the purpose for which the plan was first devised.
Aksinya:
Your power, your body, they were created so that "life may transcend life itself."
Aksinya:
And that is also why Pavlina sought to steal your power... A number of the fae were originally servants created by the Hyperboreans. They were never perfect creations...
Aksinya:
The Snegovik can only achieve completion and perfection through rituals. And what better than a ritual with an offering that would allow the Snegovik here to transcend as well? That was what Pavlina was trying to do...
Aksinya:
She sought to cast off the shackles placed upon her at the time of creation... The truth was, however, that because her existence was incomplete, she could only draw upon "his" power by performing one ritual after another, endlessly...
Aksinya:
Though she is a Snegurochka princess, and thus among the mightiest of the fae, these ceaseless rituals nevertheless brought great pain to both her mind and will.
Paimon:
And... you said that she was close to success regardless!?
Aksinya:
Her success would have been the greatest defeat for the world.
Aksinya:
The "tomorrow" she has in mind is a tomorrow where her people could become whole. This, perhaps, is how she loves them.
Aksinya:
But for the rest of the world, using such power for a purpose like that would be nothing short of a waste... It is fortunate that we were able to recover it before she could do so.
Paimon:
That's... Paimon feels a little bad for those Snegovik now.
Aksinya:
...Pity is a conceit born of arrogance and self-importance. Perhaps those Snegovik have no need to be pitied, nor for her so-called love.
Paimon:
Uh... Paimon supposes you could be right...
Aksinya:
Perhaps. And her people certainly do not have the right to condemn her.
Aksinya:
But for the world... Her love is one confined to too small a circle.
Paimon:
Tsk. All this sounds so complicated. Can love really be too great or too limited...?
Aksinya:
Some would say yes, and others would say no. Yet this is what I believe: a love capable of saving more lives is a love all the greater, and all the more noble.
Eye of Graeae:
So... What would I become if I recovered all my power? Would I then be... strong enough... to save everyone?
Aksinya:
That would depend on the choice "you" make.
Aksinya:
Very well. Since we share the same purpose, I am certain we shall meet again... Until that day...
Aksinya:
There is much that remains for us all to do.
Paimon:
She's gone... How's it going with you, Goggles? Now that you've recovered some of your power, do you remember anything new?
Eye of Graeae:
A few things. But they're... only vague impressions for now.
Paimon:
Oh... Okay then.
Paimon:
That's alright. She did say we'll see her again later anyway... So, when we do, we'll just make her tell us everything!
The so-called wedding at the House of Hesperides turns out to be less delightful than expected. Pavlina tries to sacrifice Ikhor for her wish, though she is fortunately thwarted by Aksinya in the end. Pavlina is also thrown into the Shadow Realm, where she will continue to face off with Aksinya...
Frozen Gate:
(It won't budge. It seems it will only open when the appointed time arrives...)
Aglaya:
Who are you people? And what are you doing here in this room?
Paimon:
Oh? You must be Aglaya. We, uh, we've already shown our invite earlier...
Aglaya:
Is that so? But how do you know my name...? Ah, you must have heard it from the others.
Aglaya:
Alright then. I'm guessing someone has already told you about the dos and don'ts around here.
Aglaya:
But this room is... also off-limits... Ahem. This isn't a room for ordinary guests.
Aglaya:
The ritual will begin when the clock strikes eight times. I wish the both of you a most pleasant and unforgettable day here at the House of Hesperides.
Aglaya leaves...
Paimon:
The way she was acting, it was like she had never met us before... That's weird. Is it because... everything has restarted?
Snegovik Attendant:
I'm not sure why you did that... but it does cause us some trouble.
Snegovik Attendant:
Please don't do anything so dangerous again.
Paimon:
Are you okay? How do you feel now?
Eye of Graeae:
He may have a body now, but he is still only a puppet. He cannot feel anything so complex, nor can he answer you.
Paimon:
Paimon knows, but still... It's not like it hurts to ask. Just let Paimon be.
Eye of Graeae:
Like I said before, your compassion is something to be respected. That kindness is one of your virtues.
Eye of Graeae:
But I don't think 旅人 would want it to end up hurting you.
Paimon:
What do you mean...? Wait, does this have something to do with what you were all hiding from Paimon earlier?
Ikhor:
You... really are an odd one. You are me. But it's something I've only realized today.
Eye of Graeae:
That is because my presence has become more evident now that the princess is no longer in the way.
Traveler:
How does it feel to converse with yourself?
Eye of Graeae:
More ordinary than I'd ever imagined. Even if I was fortunate enough to have a body right now, I doubt we'd be throwing our arms around each other and crying.
Ikhor:
This body won't shed a tear, for it is created out of Prime Ice.
Eye of Graeae:
Yes. That, I am aware.
Ikhor:
Ah, that's right. You may not possess form, but you have something that I don't... reason and intelligence.
Paimon:
Um, could we pick up this conversation again a little later? We've got to get somewhere safe now. Who knows when Pavlina is coming back...
Paimon:
Although, she still has one of the fragments with her... That's right. What are we gonna do about that fragment?
Paimon:
Do we talk her out of the ritual? That doesn't seem very possible... She hasn't exactly been open to persuasion so far.
Paimon:
Is defeating her the only way then? Not that Paimon doesn't have trust in 旅人 or anything...
Ikhor:
...Do you seek to stop the ritual?
Paimon:
Mmhmm! If that ritual continues, you'll be finished! Finito! Dunzo!
Paimon:
Paimon knows that you're not really human, and your uh, form of existence is different from ours. But we cannot possibly sit back and watch you get wiped out by her.
Ikhor:
I apologize, but I'm afraid I cannot assist with this wish of yours.
Paimon:
Huh? Why?
Ikhor:
The ritual has long been set in motion. Though the taboo that must not be inquired into or spoken of has already been broken, the ritual has fallen into distortion... It can neither be halted nor reversed.
Ikhor:
The only course remaining to me is to become one with it... or fade entirely into the ether.
Paimon:
What!?!? But without you, Goggles will never be whole again...
Paimon:
But if the ritual were to continue...
Ikhor:
This is neither death nor the end. It is a return, a birth. If all goes well, all the Snegovik under her protection will receive a new lease of life.
Traveler:
Is that what you really believe, or what she made you believe?
Paimon:
Y—Yeah... Paimon remembers how you never pushed back on anything, not even once, when we first met you. Are you sure she didn't put this idea in your head, too?
Ikhor:
Strangely, my mind feels remarkably clear at present, and I find myself recalling certain things from the past.
Ikhor:
We were once companions who shared the same ambition... And we were willing to pay the price for a love set free, for the sake of that "more perfect world" of her dreams.
Ikhor:
Of course, it is natural that one pays a price for their dreams to come true. Yet even if you have finally made your choice, the path ahead will not be an easy one either.
Ikhor:
And eventually, she simply disappeared somewhere along the way, among the countless refinements and ascensions...
Ikhor:
She had even forgotten that I once chose to do all of this, without need of shackles.
Eye of Graeae:
...You do know that you will not succeed.
Ikhor:
I have neither your reason nor your intelligence, and I cannot predict things that have yet to happen.
Paimon:
Is that the thing you were reluctant to tell Paimon??? That's ridiculous... Are you sure there's no other way?
Ikhor:
Just as the dew upon leaf and flower inevitably finds its way back to the stream, so too is the path toward becoming one irreversible. Once a single drop has returned to the waters, there is no way it can be reclaimed.
Ikhor:
But nevertheless, I thank you for your... consideration. I now understand why the other "me" chose to travel with you.
Aksinya:
...Hey! I do hope the two of you have sent out the fragments like I said, since I am in quite the predicament now myself.
Aksinya:
I'm trapped here, and shall have to be away for a while... That was quite the move. I will leave the rest to you.
Pavlina:
...
Ikhor:
I should go now. She's here for me.
"The bell tolls again."
You hear a cold voice say:
"No matter how many times this happens, you cannot stop it..."
"You cannot stop any of it..."
Paimon:
...旅人... 旅人!
Traveler:
We're in a loop...
Paimon:
Mm... are we...? Ah... right...
Paimon:
Ugh, Paimon's head suddenly feels so fuzzy... But if we're awake again, then...
Eye of Graeae:
Then the ritual isn't finished yet.
Eye of Graeae:
Miss Aksinya is still holding Pavlina off for now...
Paimon:
Then we'd better hurry. We need to get that fragment back before Pavlina gets here.
Frozen Gate:
(It won't budge. It seems it will only open when the appointed time arrives...)
"The bell tolls again."
You hear a cold voice say:
"No matter how many times this happens, you cannot stop it..."
"You cannot stop any of it..."
Paimon:
...旅人... 旅人!
Paimon:
Whew — there you are! Did the bell wake you? You were completely out. Is the bed here really that comfy?
Traveler:
No, Paimon... We've already been through this...
Paimon:
Huh? Oh... right. Paimon knew this felt familiar...
Paimon:
Ah, Paimon remembers now. The bell rang eight times... and then we...
Eye of Graeae:
Wound up right back here.
Paimon:
Oh, Goggles...
Eye of Graeae:
It is the ritual taking place here... It repeats over and over...
Eye of Graeae:
Until Pavlina, princess of the Snegurochka, has drained every last bit of power from the fragment of my body.
Paimon:
Then, does that mean she's already completed the ritual? Are we too late?
Aksinya:
...Have you not succeeded yet?
Aksinya:
Seems I'll have to hold on a little longer... It seems Pavlina does not need to maintain the ritual that causes the mansion to loop...
Aksinya:
The good news is... that any ritual she does not perform will not result in a "full restoration." Things that you modified in a previous cycle cannot be wholly reset...
Aksinya:
Similarly, she could not absorb any power from that last cycle... We do happen to be evenly matched within the Shadow Realm at the moment, after all...
Traveler:
So I suppose we're not too late?
Aksinya:
...Not this time, at least.
Aksinya:
Still, I cannot say how much longer I can last. Three cycles? Four?
Aksinya:
Before I... Before my strength fails, you must... *sigh* Time runs short.
Paimon:
But... looks like the ritual isn't over yet.
Paimon:
Let's go get that fragment back!
Frozen Gate:
(It won't budge. It seems it will only open when the appointed time arrives...)
Paimon:
...旅人... 旅人!
Paimon:
Whew — there you are! Did the bell wake you? You were completely out. Is the bed here really that comfy?
Traveler:
I think I had a dream.
Paimon:
No wonder. You were asleep for a long time. Paimon's been keeping watch the whole while. Was it a nice dream, or a scary one?
Paimon:
Actually, never mind. Tell Paimon later. Now's not really the time.
Paimon:
Do you remember what happened earlier? We came to the House of Hesperides for a wedding.
Traveler:
But that "ritual" wasn't a wedding at all.
Paimon:
That towering princess of the Snegurochka, Pavlina... She nearly killed Ikhor...
Paimon:
Paimon knows Ikhor isn't really human, strictly speaking. He's just a fragment of the power that originally belonged to Goggles. But even so...
Eye of Graeae:
Compassion is something to be respected, Miss Paimon.
Traveler:
They've been carrying out this "ritual" again and again.
Paimon:
Is... is that what was happening?
Paimon:
So that's what you saw in your dream?
Eye of Graeae:
旅人... please stay calm. This is to be expected. Pavlina is a fae, after all... She can't draw all the power from my body fragment at once.
Eye of Graeae:
So she has to do it bit by bit, through the ritual again and again... That's what the Snegovik's ritual is: they take a soul from someone they love, to make themselves whole.
Eye of Graeae:
...Snegovik are fae created without flesh and blood, and thus their souls are incomplete.
Paimon:
Snegovik are fae born for love...
Eye of Graeae:
Rather, they are fae who can only become whole through love... by taking another's soul.
Eye of Graeae:
...That is why so many love stories centered on Snegovik end in tragedy.
Paimon:
How could that happen? Thank goodness... Actually, thank goodness Goggles was there. We never would've made it out of that wedding without him.
Paimon:
Thanks, Goggles. When Pavlina cast her spell, Goggles was the one who protected us and brought us here, somewhere safe.
Paimon:
While you were asleep, Paimon did some poking around. Looks like someone named Myshkin used to live here. Didn't Aglaya mention him when she first welcomed us?
Aksinya:
...*cough* Hello? Do you copy? You should be able to hear what I'm saying, I think.
Aksinya:
*sigh* Thanks for nothing, you two. I poured so much effort into getting "him" out, even if in part... Only for you to send him right back, as if nothing had happened. Pavlina almost won right there and then.
Traveler:
Huh? You're...
Aksinya:
...Hmm. It's been a while since we last met, eh, dear colleague? Don't you think you're getting "a bit too passionate" right now?
Aksinya:
Ah, sorry, that wasn't meant for you. I'm currently busy dealing with that crazy shrew... How tragic, Pavlina of the Snegovik. You've completely lost it.
Aksinya:
Her gaze is like Prime Ice, but her mind is like a powderkeg. A single spark could set her off and destroy all around her.
Aksinya:
In any case, I know what you want. We have the same goal.
Aksinya:
I've trapped Pavlina, but have little time for anything else right now. Take "his" fragments away from here, one by one, while her grip on this area is weakened, away from her grasp.
Aksinya:
This mansion... I came here often in the past... I shall provide you with the map in a while.
Aksinya:
Get moving. I won't be able to hold out for long. Finish your business before the clock strikes eight times. Before the wedding, or perhaps everything else, starts all over again...
Paimon:
Hello??? Hello...? She's gone...
Paimon:
Take Goggles' fragments... one by one? What does she even mean? Doesn't she know that Pavlina has some of Goggles' power too???
Traveler:
She may have something else up her sleeves too.
Paimon:
Yeah... Better take what she says with a huge rock of salt. But what should we do now then?
Paimon:
Hey, you know what? This is about Goggles! We should ask what he wants.
Eye of Graeae:
I think... Maybe we should gather at least some of the power that has been split up, and try to make him as complete as possible. Then we can take it all back.
Eye of Graeae:
This may sound a little ironic, but my wish is for the fragments, incomplete as they are, to be as whole as possible...
Eye of Graeae:
It's just like how the Snegurochka princess must have decided to perform the ritual because she wanted to help her people become more "whole."
Eye of Graeae:
And that is something I can understand, and even empathize with, to some degree.
Paimon:
How can you feel for her!? She was gonna gobble you up, piece by piece, just to get what she wanted!!!
Paimon:
Paimon can share her food or Mora with other folks, no problem. But if you want Paimon to hand over an arm or a leg...
Paimon:
Or even Paimon's hair! Hmm... Actually, hair seems alright... especially if it's just a few strands — Anyway, that's not the point.
Paimon:
It doesn't matter what the other person's reasons are. This is something... something Paimon needs to think over! Very carefully! Though Paimon probably won't say yes anyway, to be honest...
Traveler:
Yes. It's not good to over-deplete yourself for the sake of others.
Eye of Graeae:
...You are right. But that aside, there is another reason we must reclaim him "whole."
Paimon:
Another reason? And what would that be?
Eye of Graeae:
...
Traveler:
That you don't need to know, Paimon.
Paimon:
Huh? Are the two of you keeping something from Paimon!? And Paimon's not talking about secret snack stashes or anything like tha——
Traveler:
We should get moving.
Eye of Graeae:
I have marked the fragment locations. Let's go, before the clock strikes eight.
Paimon:
...旅人... 旅人!
Paimon:
Whew — there you are! Did the bell wake you? You were completely out. Is the bed here really that comfy?
Traveler:
I think I had a dream.
Paimon:
No wonder. You were asleep for a long time. Paimon's been keeping watch the whole while. Was it a nice dream, or a scary one?
Paimon:
Actually, never mind. Tell Paimon later. Now's not really the time.
Paimon:
Do you remember what happened earlier? We came to the House of Hesperides for a wedding.
Traveler:
But that "ritual" wasn't a wedding at all.
Paimon:
That towering princess of the Snegurochka, Pavlina... She nearly killed Ikhor...
Paimon:
Paimon knows Ikhor isn't really human, strictly speaking. He's just a fragment of the power that originally belonged to Goggles. But even so...
Eye of Graeae:
Compassion is something to be respected, Miss Paimon.
Traveler:
They've been carrying out this "ritual" again and again.
Paimon:
Is... is that what was happening?
Paimon:
So that's what you saw in your dream?
Eye of Graeae:
旅人... please stay calm. This is to be expected. Pavlina is a fae, after all... She can't draw all the power from my body fragment at once.
Eye of Graeae:
So she has to do it bit by bit, through the ritual again and again... That's what the Snegovik's ritual is: they take a soul from someone they love, to make themselves whole.
Eye of Graeae:
...Snegovik are fae created without flesh and blood, and thus their souls are incomplete.
Paimon:
Snegovik are fae born for love...
Eye of Graeae:
Rather, they are fae who can only become whole through love... by taking another's soul.
Eye of Graeae:
...That is why so many love stories centered on Snegovik end in tragedy.
Paimon:
How could that happen? Thank goodness... Actually, thank goodness Goggles was there. We never would've made it out of that wedding without him.
Paimon:
Thanks, Goggles. When Pavlina cast her spell, Goggles was the one who protected us and brought us here, somewhere safe.
Paimon:
While you were asleep, Paimon did some poking around. Looks like someone named Myshkin used to live here. Didn't Aglaya mention him when she first welcomed us?
Aksinya:
...*cough* Hello? Do you copy? You should be able to hear what I'm saying?
Aksinya:
*sigh* Thanks for nothing, you two. I poured so much effort into getting "him" out, even if in part... Only for you to send him right back, as if nothing had happened. Pavlina almost won right there and then.
Traveler:
Huh? Aksinya?
Aksinya:
Ha! I am the creator of the Eye of Graeae, after all. I can still make use of some of its functions.
Aksinya:
...Hmm. It's been a while since we last met, eh, dear colleague? Don't you think you're getting "a bit too passionate" right now?
Aksinya:
Ah, sorry, that wasn't meant for you. I'm currently busy dealing with that crazy shrew... How tragic, Pavlina of the Snegovik. You've completely lost it.
Aksinya:
Her gaze is like Prime Ice, but her mind is like a powderkeg. A single spark could set her off and destroy all around her.
Aksinya:
I've trapped Pavlina, but have little time for anything else right now. Take "his" fragments away from here, one by one, while her grip on this area is weakened, away from her grasp.
Aksinya:
That's the only way to ensure that shrew won't be able to offer up "his" power for her people.
Aksinya:
We have to take back all that power, don't we? It's not the same as why she seeks your power, is it? "To have a body once more"... that's what "he" wants, isn't it?
Aksinya:
Then go. This mansion... I came here often in the past... I shall provide you with the map in a while.
Aksinya:
Get moving. I won't be able to hold out for long. Finish your business before the clock strikes eight times. Before the wedding, or perhaps everything else, starts all over again...
Paimon:
She's gone. Again...
Paimon:
Take Goggles' fragments... one by one? What does she even mean? Doesn't she know that Pavlina has some of Goggles' power too???
Traveler:
She may have something else up her sleeves too.
Paimon:
Yeah... Better take what she says with a huge rock of salt. But what should we do now then?
Paimon:
Hey, you know what? This is about Goggles! We should ask what he wants.
Eye of Graeae:
I think... Maybe we should gather at least some of the power that has been split up, and try to make him as complete as possible. Then we can take it all back.
Eye of Graeae:
This may sound a little ironic, but my wish is for the fragments, incomplete as they are, to be as whole as possible...
Eye of Graeae:
It's just like how the Snegurochka princess must have decided to perform the ritual because she wanted to help her people become more "whole."
Eye of Graeae:
And that is something I can understand, and even empathize with, to some degree.
Paimon:
How can you feel for her!? She was gonna gobble you up, piece by piece, just to get what she wanted!!!
Paimon:
Paimon can share her food or Mora with other folks, no problem. But if you want Paimon to hand over an arm or a leg...
Paimon:
Or even Paimon's hair! Hmm... Actually, hair seems alright... especially if it's just a few strands—— Anyway, that's not the point.
Paimon:
It doesn't matter what the other person's reasons are. This is something... something Paimon needs to think over! Very carefully! Though Paimon probably won't say yes anyway, to be honest...
Traveler:
Yes. It's not good to over-deplete yourself for the sake of others.
Eye of Graeae:
...You are right. But that aside, there is another reason we must reclaim him "whole."
Paimon:
Another reason? And what would that be?
Eye of Graeae:
...
Traveler:
That you don't need to know, Paimon.
Paimon:
Huh? Are the two of you keeping something from Paimon!? And Paimon's not talking about secret snack stashes or anything like tha——
Traveler:
We should get moving.
Eye of Graeae:
I have marked the fragment locations. Let's go, before the clock strikes eight.
To recover all of the Eye of Graeae's power, you and Paimon will have to collect the various fragments scattered all over...
Snegovik Guard:
Uh, who are you...? But whoever you are, this place is off-limits to ordinary visitors. Please do not linger here either.
Snegovik Guard:
Uh, who are you...? But whoever you are, this place is off-limits to ordinary visitors. Please do not linger here either.
Vase:
(Looking more closely, there are signs of scraping on the floor around the vase...)
Vase:
(You also spot what looks like cat scratches on the bottom of the vase. Could this be...)
Traveler:
(Turn the vase.)
Paimon:
Hey, look! The door's open! Now we can go farther in!
Vase