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Witch's Homework: The Role of a Guide...?
At the site of the mages' tea party, you meet Nicole, who seems to be talking to someone...
Nicole:
Leaving already? Hey, Barbie! Aren't you forgetting something? Like a whole bunch of stuff you were supposed to give...
Nicole:
...me.
Nicole:
Nonsense, your arrival is more or less in line with Barbie's prophecy... Though to be honest, I did think you'd be here a little later.
Nicole:
Anyway... Before we get down to business, it might be best if you two... have something to eat?
Traveler:
D—Did Barbeloth's prophecy say we'd be hungry?
Nicole:
No, of course not! But my hearing happens to be quite sharp, and I heard Paimon's stomach rumbling a mile away...
Paimon:
*rumble* *rumble*
Paimon:
Whoa! Paimon's stomach is rumbling for two... We must both be super famished...
Traveler:
How was I supposed to know that place would run out of steak...
Nicole:
Don't you worry about that! I've got plenty of cookies and cake — and as you know, nothing bad ever happened to hungry travelers who accepted food from a "witch"...
You and Paimon munch happily on cookies and cake while gulping down tea. Strangely, no matter how much you eat or drink, the teapot remains half full, and there is always a fresh cookie and slice of cake on your plates...
Paimon:
Paimon's so full... No matter how much she puts in her tummy, there's always more on her plate...
Traveler:
Is this what mages' tea parties are like...
Nicole:
Of course! You can't have a tea party without an ample supply of food and drink.
Nicole:
Though it's true, it is hard to display an appropriate "magely" elegance after stuffing one's face. That's why the teapot is usually only half full, and there's only one cookie or piece of cake on each plate.
Paimon:
Paimon really can't eat any more! She's coming apart at the seams... Can we get down to business now? *burp* Oh... well, sorry...
Nicole:
Alright. I gather you're here to deliver my "homework" — the one that Barbie prophesied?
Traveler:
You knew all along...
Nicole:
Nothing of the sort. We were discussing something completely different. The moon's massive shift has knocked her hydromancy out of whack, so she needs to head back for a while to undergo a period of silent meditation.
Nicole:
While she's away, I'll be taking over responsibility for everyone's homework. I also plan to help her add the next round of homework to the dictionary.
Paimon:
Huh? You can just swap the person in charge like that!?
Traveler:
Well, if anyone can do it...
Nicole:
Not like I had much choice! Before Barbie and Alice even told me about it, they'd already inscribed my "special homework" in the dictionary.
Nicole:
As much as I'd like to erase the whole thing and keep on casually observing the world, Alice is busy maintaining Teyvat's borders, and Barbie is off realigning her hydromancy...
Nicole:
Octavia didn't bother to come back, and you can forget about Rhinedottir... The other mages all have their own affairs to attend to, so the duty of supervising this homework has fallen to me.
Traveler:
I didn't realize the Hexenzirkel was so busy...
Nicole:
There really are. I don't even know how long it's been since we all got together to make this a proper tea party.
Nicole:
In any case, as long as I finish my homework, my story will be officially inscribed in the dictionary.
Nicole:
After that, I'll be able to go back to observing and guiding... So, 旅行者, Paimon, it's time to deliver your message — what's my homework?
Nicole:
Oh, and since this doesn't count as a prophecy — just something Barbie and Alice came up with ten minutes ago — there probably isn't any useful information to be found in that dictionary you're carrying...
Paimon:
You're right, Nicole! We had a look before coming over, and there aren't any detailed instructions at all. There's only these two sentences...
Traveler:
"Nicole will fulfill her duty."
Nicole:
Alright. That first sentence was clearly written by Barbie, but I'd bet my bottom Mora it was Alice who added the second.
Nicole:
Anyway, let's get cracking on this homework! Just let me think, where should we begin...
Traveler:
Hold on, you actually understood what they want you to do?
Nicole:
Huh? Oh, Barbie gave me a rundown of my tasks just now.
Nicole:
Basically, I just need to go to a few homework locations, make sure everything's up to scratch, and conduct some fieldwork.
Paimon:
Wait a minute! Paimon thought she was giving you a prophecy? How does a "rundown" count as a prophecy?
Nicole:
Ah, well, you see, I naturally view anything Barbie says to me as some sort of prophecy.
Nicole:
Besides, when Barbie wrote this homework of mine, all she actually did was flip straight to the final page of my story and tell me the ending in advance.
Traveler:
Isn't that a massive spoiler!?
Nicole:
Hmm... You make a fair point, but then what's the difference between a prophecy and a spoiler anyway? Alright, enough dawdling — come on, follow me. We're going to... Hmm, yes, that seems like as good a place as any...
Paimon:
Just like that? Hold on, how are we supposed to get the—
In the blink of an eye, you find yourselves standing at the edge of a cliff...
In the blink of an eye, you find yourselves standing at the edge of a cliff...
Nicole:
Alright, we're here. This Seelie Court has some really great views, don't you think? See that spot over there? That's the starting point.
Nicole:
Did I use it to get us here faster? You bet I did! These Seelie Courts are connected to the Ley Lines, and nobody really uses them. They're very handy when it comes to traveling about.
Nicole:
Besides, the Seelie and I used to be angels, so we're old colleagues. I'm sure they won't mind me borrowing their homes every once in a while.
Traveler:
There doesn't seem to be anyone else around...
Nicole:
We're early. In but a short while, a bard will come to sing odes of old and call back the thousand winds that wander the ages...
Traveler:
I don't suppose this homework is for...
Nicole:
Shh... Patience. All will be revealed in time. Before long, you will become a single lilting melody ensconced in an ode, and the thousand winds will swirl around you.
Nicole:
But before that happens, we should allow it to slumber in peace... Come, let's head to our next location.
Traveler:
Hey, isn't this...
Nicole:
Yes, I read about that in the dictionary. Based on how it ended, you and Lord Barbatos must have played quite a beautiful tune. Such a shame that Barbie couldn't hear a single note.
Nicole:
When Alice heard about it, she laughed so hard her hat nearly fell off. Ahem! How about we head to the next location! Which should be...
Paimon:
Is this Wolvendom? Doesn't seem like the best place for doing "homework"...
Nicole:
This is the nearest Seelie Court to where we're going. Don't worry, we're not far from the starting point.
Paimon:
Whoa! Where did all those wolves jump out from!? Hey... We're not here to hurt you! We're friends with Razor...
Wolf Pack:
...
Nicole:
Shh. Has that child not arrived yet? Perhaps we've come too early again. Not to worry, as long as he stands beside his "lupical", he can overcome any foe.
Wolf Pack:
...
Paimon:
Why've they come back? Did they hear us talking? If only Razor were here, he'd be able to tell us what they want to say...
Nicole:
You're not wrong, Paimon, but there's a lot more he'd need to understand than just the chatter of wolves...
Traveler:
Hey, isn't this...
Nicole:
That's right. That child already claimed victory in the battle he was destined to fight.
Nicole:
As long as he stands beside his "lupical", I believe he can overcome any foe.
Wolf Pack:
...
Nicole:
...I'm sure his lupical feels the same way, too.
Nicole:
Alright! That's about it for this place. I could do with a good rest. Come on, let's go. Time to head back for a cup of—
Paimon:
Whoa! When did this door appear!?
Traveler:
There's a note stuck to it...
Nicole:
This looks like Alice's handwriting. Let's take a look...
Nicole:
"Thanks for your help with the homework! Now hurry home and have a hot cup of tea!"
Nicole:
"P.S. There is a surprise waiting behind this door!"
Nicole:
Hurry home? Wait a second, why does this door look so familiar? There's no way it could lead to...
Nicole pushes the door open, then strides through purposefully as you follow. A moment later, you find yourselves standing inside a room...
Nicole:
Anyway... My "guidance" doesn't end until you open that chest! For the sake of the dictionary, can you please see what's inside?
Read Alice's note...:
"Thanks for your help with the homework! Now hurry home and have a hot cup of tea!"
Read Alice's note...:
"P.S. There is a surprise waiting behind this door!"
Paimon:
Somewhere new? Hey, isn't this...
Nicole:
No wonder Alice wanted to borrow the lodge key... She said she wanted to set up a tea room, even though I told her I already had one...
Traveler:
So this is a gift from Alice?
Nicole:
It symbolizes "the completion of guidance," "the end of a journey," and "the fulfillment of prophecy."
Nicole:
You've followed Seelie before, right? Only when a Seelie returns to its Seelie Court does its guidance come to an end.
Nicole:
So, to give this unwelcome homework a clear conclusion, Barbie and Alice must have built a Seelie Court right here.
Nicole:
This is the only way for my story to be inscribed among everyone else's without interfering with their own homework.
Traveler:
But you're not a Seelie, are you?
Nicole:
Ah... Uhm, well, we're not all that different. Once upon a time, we were all angels, after all... But that doesn't really matter. What's important is what it symbolizes.
Nicole:
It's like writing a novel. As long as the main outline is there, there'll always be a way to flesh out the details so the pieces fall into place.
Nicole:
As long as I take my seat, this homework of mine will be officially over...
Nicole:
It's a nice touch, but it feels like... the ending to a story written on the fly. If Anya were here, I'm sure she'd have come up with something more clever...
Traveler:
I see...
Nicole:
Don't you worry, that's an essential element as well...
Paimon:
Hey, a treasure chest!
Traveler:
Hey, a treasure chest!
Paimon:
Now this homework's starting to make sense!
Traveler:
So this is what it feels like when the pieces all fall into place...
Nicole:
What did I tell you? It seems like this has been a fruitful little excursion after all!
Nicole:
Ahem... And it seems my story has been formally inscribed in the dictionary.
Nicole:
Which means... that today's homework ends here, and also, that there'll be a formal tutor to provide guidance on all future assignments.
Traveler:
...Will there be more chests for those assignments, too?
Nicole:
Well, that depends on what assignments are... assigned.
Nicole:
Personally, I'd love nothing more than to bury chests for people to find by completing their homework. I'd leave clues and watch them enjoy a merry little treasure hunt... Now that would be fun!
Nicole:
*sigh* But Barbie's been keeping a close eye on me, so I'm not sure I'll get the chance...
Leave:
Leave the room.
Leave:
(The lock won't budge at all. Perhaps you should open Nicole's treasure chest first...)