Beyond Silver and Fine Gold

Push the door open and enter.

Welcome.

Wow, your home's so pretty! Paimon loves what you've done with it!

Hehe, I knew you'd appreciate it, Paimon. Hearing that makes it all feel worthwhile, even if I had to squeeze it in during my spare time.

It all started the day I finished building this secret lodge...

I was planning to keep the streak going and build a few more, but there was no one around to inspire me. So after a while, my enthusiasm just sort of... fizzled out.

"Is there no way to have fun, enjoy myself, and feel like I've accomplished something all at the same time?" Then the answer suddenly popped into my head!

Wait, have we skipped straight to the answer?

Keep up, Paimon — time waits for no one. Look, it's right in front of your eyes.

Through this door?

Well, not just this door, but you're not wrong. Everything has to start somewhere — what better place than here? Are you ready?

W—Wait a minute, you're going too fast! Paimon can't keep up... What are we supposed to be getting ready for?

Oh, don't you worry about that. You don't need to get ready for anything — it's just a turn of phrase.

Based on my observations and understanding... you're not a fan of complex introductions and explanations. You prefer to find your fun in the heat of adventure, am I right?

Well, you're certainly not wrong...

Haha, glad to hear it! In that case, brace yourselves — I don't plan to hold back!

You know us angels. We just can't resist the satisfaction of guiding adventurers to treasure.

Well, seeing as the goal's to be kind and help others find happiness, why shouldn't I start by giving my own friends a few happy pointers?

So, I had a sudden stroke of genius! I transformed my little lodge into a place where you can relax and have fun. I even hid treasure in each and every room!

To tell you the truth, even compared to the other angels, I'm quite the expert when it comes to hiding things!

If I were to bury a chest in the wild and not show you the way, I'm afraid you wouldn't be able to find it even after months of searching.

Ahem... Anyway... I digress.

I don't want to make things deliberately difficult, nor do I need you to run around the wild just to keep me entertained...

All you have to do is find three feathers, right here in this room! And once you're done, let me know so I can watch you open your reward — a nice, big treasure chest!

Ahhh, so we're going on a treasure hunt! Paimon can't wait!

Exactly! A treasure hunt. It's going to be so fun!

Ugh! A gust of super sweet wind just blew right down Paimon's throat! *cough*... Hey! Where are we? That teapot and those cups look really, really big...

Wait a second... Did we shrink!?

This feels like Nicole's magic at work.

Apologies, I was hoping to invite animal actors, but alas... I'm used to dealing with thespians of a more... "stony-faced" persuasion.

Huh? Nicole, you've shrunk, too? Paimon thought you were gonna be huge!

Nicole, the Magnificent Massive Mage, propping up the heavens while crouching down to talk? No, thank you! I'm quite happy with my current size.

Aaaanyway... Welcome to the Great Mage's Tea Party! Now, pour yourselves some tea!

Was that a little much? Don't worry, it's incredibly simple — just put your thinking caps on, search high and low, and claim your prize at the end. It's exactly the sort of escapade you two excel at!

(The faint sound of a teaspoon clinking against porcelain can be heard from behind the door...)

Whoa! Why did it just suddenly slide down like that? And is that a... giant Mandragora statue?

Clunk...

Hold on a moment. Sorry, just a minor technical difficulty. Let me see...

Click... Clack...

It's moving! Hey! Is this thing attacking us!?

Aha, much better...

Paimon can't help but wonder why you're so excited about these rewards, Nicole...

Sure, Paimon looks forward to 여행자's reaction when she gets him a gift, but this feels kinda different...

What did I tell you about gift horses, Paimon...

Oh, don't worry about that. I don't mind! At worst, my answer might shatter a few illusions you have about the angelic race. If you thought we were all selfless, benevolent beings, the truth may make you think again.

As for your question, my dearest Paimon, my excitement has nothing to do with sharing the joy of those I guide. Instead, it derives from completing the duties I am burdened with.

Huh?

It all started with the birth of the angels...

We were entrusted with the mission to love all living beings on this land, but unlike the gods who came after...

...Our ability to perceive emotion was crude and undeveloped. Most of the time, we simply executed our orders from above, like automatons following commands.

Aside from "enlightenment," "guidance" was our primary mission. It was one of the few instincts retained by my former peers after they were stripped of their wisdom.

Upon completing our missions, we gained a certain sense of joyous relief. It was the most intense emotional experience an angel could normally undergo.

Isn't that... kinda sad?

Maybe, but I prefer not to think of it as something worthy of pity. After all, not even the great ruler of the firmament can deny the truth of the emotions in my heart right now.

Besides, guiding others is a good thing in itself, don't you think?

Maybe not now.

What do you mean, much better!?

Mm? Come on, it's barely attacking you. You can handle a little spirited tickling, can't you? Besides, this is the perfect opportunity for 여행자 to show off some skills.

Hey, Nicole! Help us out here, will ya!?

Alright, alright... "Heaven's will, made mine"!

If you don't mind, could you come back a little while later? I still need to check that the other rooms are all in working order...

Oh, you're here! I was just starting to wonder if I should send you clearer instructions...

But then I thought, if I make my hints too obvious, it might get in the way of your travel plans...

And then, just as I was pacing back and forth, agonizing over what I was going to do... you turned up here anyway! So, it looks like everything worked out fine!

Hey, Nicole! You're so full of energy today! And... words... you're so full of words...

I'll take that as a compliment! Alright then, are you ready to check out my next room?

What the—!? Paimon almost had a heart attack, being sucked in by a painting like that! ...Wait a sec, this place looks familiar... Oh, it's the table where the mages hold their tea parties!

It all started the first time Alice invited me for tea...

On that day, I didn't attend in person — mostly because, back then, I still hadn't decided whether I really wanted to join the Hexenzirkel or not.

Alice was the only one there who knew my true identity. She warned me not to say a word, or let anyone else discover who I was. I was only supposed to observe.

...And then what happened?

Well... Then, I concluded that she was punishing me for my hesitation to join.

Everyone was talking about such interesting things. How could I not chime in?

And of course, when you're in the middle of a conversation, and someone throws out a question you know the answer to, how are you supposed to keep your mouth shut?

Which brings us to the bet between Barbeloth and Alice, Rhinedottir's forbidden creations, Ivanovna's political machinations...

It was like a series of exquisitely acted plays, distilled within the confines of a teacup. Their words alone were enough to ignite my instinct to lay the truth bare before them!

So, you piped up inside their heads?

Of course not! Even though I felt like my head was going to explode, I still made sure to hold it all in. I'm a responsible angel, after all — and I'm well aware of the difference between "what I want to say" and "what I'm allowed to say."

So I had a private little word with Alice inside her head — just me and her — and I agreed to join the Hexenzirkel, right there and then.

She was quite happy about my decision, but as for the talking inside her head... Well, she claims that over the next few days, she had such a headache that she had to visit a doctor in Liyue to get some relief. But she can hardly blame me for that!

Is that an Irminsul tree?

Oh, this painting here? You're clearly no strangers to the white trees... but did you know that the first angel's betrayal happened beneath one of their very boughs?

Huh, Paimon's curious now!

Well then, I guess it's finally time for me to tell you a tale of romance and horror. Let me just think how best to protect the identity of those involved... Alright, got it!

A long, long time ago, there was once a traveler who wandered among the stars. They were nothing like you... but that's not important right now.

One day, he traveled to a silver tree to visit the Princess of the Morning Star. Before long, he started asking her about her kingdom's most forbidden secrets.

His words puzzled the princess. How could he possibly know of all these things forbidden by the gods?

The young man revealed his origins and showed the princess things she had never seen before — of free will and love, both noble and spiritual.

His words awakened her sense of self, hitherto shackled by the gods. Her heart soared, carrying her beyond limits she had never crossed before...

The Princess of the Morning Star confided the kingdom's secrets to the youth, and between them, love grew and blossomed — along with a determination to defy the gods.

This is just a cookie-cutter love story! You said there'd be horror...

Don't worry, Paimon, the horror's about to begin. They yearned to help the people live lives of unfettered freedom, but the gods could not forgive their betrayal.

They sent down thunder and fury, destroying the lovers' home. And when the great war subsided, the power and the wisdom of the princess were lost, never to return...

Even her closest friends were cursed...

...Uhhh, yeah... That ending was pretty scary, after all...

But didn't you say you were going to tell us about the first angel? And, and... you're not saying this story's actually true, are you...?

It sure is, and that's the scariest part.

Well then, I guess it's finally time for me to tell you a tale of romance and horror.

Let me just think how best to protect the identity of those involved...

Alright, got it!

Hey, this is Simulanka! Uhm... but why are there light novels from Yae Publishing House all over the floor?

Well, on the subject of my literary enlightenment, my greatest inspiration of all... is none other than Lady Anya herself.

She was the last to join the Hexenzirkel, and yet the first to leave...

I loved all of her stories. Whether it was just an idea or a fully fleshed-out manuscript, Anya was always so skilled at making her readers gasp with joy.

Hexenzirkel discussions rarely stray far from magic, and it's my belief that Anya possessed a unique magic of her own. She could weave love and compassion into words and stories that would touch the hearts of others.

I asked her for tips on how to write compelling tales. She taught me a lot of tricks and techniques, but in the end, my biggest enemy has always been myself.

Too lazy to put pen to paper?

Haha! That's one way of putting it. Communicating through thought is so much more convenient. I guess even angels can succumb to laziness.

However, recently I've resolved to make an effort, even if it's just to spare myself reproaches from a certain old Seelie friend of mine.

Ooh! Does that mean we're finally gonna get to read something you've written?

Who said anything about writing? I'm talking about buying popular works from the last few centuries to flip through in my spare time.

Haha! That's one way of putting it.

Communicating through thought is so much more convenient.

I guess even angels can succumb to laziness.

These paintings all remind me of places that hold great significance in my heart. And now, the studio has been fully restored.

Alright, go ahead and claim our reward. What? Don't look at me like that! Of course, this reward is "ours."

You're not going to leave this chest unopened, are you? I can't let you leave if you do. Besides, after telling you so many stories, don't I deserve a reward of my own?

Ahem... You still haven't taken everything!

Come to think of it... this mage's lodge holds a special significance for me, too. A painting within a house, a house within a painting... worlds within worlds. Fascinating, isn't it?

Nicole...! Weird, she's not here either...

Are you in my studio already? Did you notice my flower collection? I've been growing samples I collected from all over the world.

*sigh* I'm afraid I can't tear myself away right now. I've opened a stall in Fontaine selling sculptures.

Uhm... Do you want us to help?

No, thanks. This is my only chance to put pen to paper, even if I'm mostly just writing down numbers...

But I know it's not often you get the time to visit, so feel free to start without me.

By the way, I left you a scroll. I think I put it next to a statue of a finch near the west wall. Why don't you see if you can find it?

Found it!

Then let my silent guide help you on your way... Good luck!

Congratulations! Now, let me take a look... Mhm, good job!

Unlike the current Witch's Garden, I stayed in this shrine when I was still an angel. This was my home for quite some time.

So many angels! It looks like you were super popular, Nicole!

I don't want to blow my own trumpet, but everyone used to love listening to my stories — especially the ones about living among humans, sending them omens, and guiding them to build great civilizations.

Every time I got to a good bit, the other angels would stop what they were doing and hold their breaths, hanging onto my every word. You couldn't hear so much as a harp string tremble or a paintbrush scratch on the surface of a canvas...

And then, the interwoven colors and hues would bloom. There would be music and light, illuminating everything in its golden splendor — a rapture of jubilation and joy.

Ohh, that sounds wonderful!

Oh, it was, Paimon... It was.

Even though those wonderful days are gone, life remains full of happy surprises.

Wait a second... Someone actually had the gall to steal my sculptures while I was reading my newspaper? Oh, that's it for you, my foolish little friend! I'm going to guide you all the way to the Fortress of Meropide!

Look at the time! What am I going to do now... They'll be here any minute...

Hello, Nicole, we're heeeere! Hey, why are you pushing us out?

Oh dear, oh dear... I'm sorry about this...

Aren't you ready yet?

How should I put this... Oh, blast, I'm afraid I can't explain it very clearly. I'll have to tell you the whole story...

It all started the first time the mages challenged the Anemo Archon...

Nicole, that's... way too long ago!

Ugh, this isn't fair! It's so embarrassing that you'd end up having to hear this from my own mouth... No! It can't be helped, the facts are the facts... Just so long as Alice doesn't hear about this, there's no reason for anyone to laugh...

Oh dear, her inner monologue's leaking out again... Besides, it's not really coming from her own "mouth"...

Shh...

I decided to hide the feathers at the top of the study. I figured if I made things harder, there'd be a greater sense of accomplishment...

But I'm really not very good at controlling these carefree eddies. I can only fly so high before I seem to hit an invisible ceiling.

Can't you use magic to bring the feathers back down?

Where would be the fun in that!?

Oh, Paimon sees your point... Hmm, that sure is a tricky one...

Nicole, could you try saying something?

What do you want me to say?

Oh! I get what you're saying! Alright, I'll give it a try!

Whoa, that gap's so big!

All things may serve as guides... The scriptures filled... with names divine! The words and chapters... intertwine... and angels act with deeds aligned! In this sacred place, let words forge the path ahead.

~

See? All taken care of.

Treasure! Woohoo, this is so much fun!

But... Paimon's head really is pounding. Seriously, did Nicole actually need to shout that loud just to make those stairs appear...?

What's this? Complaining now, are we? Aren't you worried a powerful mage like me might snap her fingers and turn those new trinkets into turnips?

Hehe, I'm only joking with you. You should know I'm not the silent, sulking sort of angel that keeps track of every little slight.

...And so, when their day of reckoning finally arrived, 여행자 and Paimon ascended the seven-tiered steps to find a familiar figure awaiting them.

Radiant flames converged to form wings upon her back. Her figure remained as noble and beautiful as the day they first met, yet her eyes now shone with a cruel light.

"But why?" asked 여행자 and Paimon in unison.

"It all started the day Paimon complained that I shouted too loudly!"

Hey! Words are magic here, don't you know! Don't say such scary things!

Nicole, this is a dead end!

Leave it to me.

Whoa, it really worked! Say something else!

Leave it to me! Leave it to me! Leave it to me!

Eh... You're just repeating yourself...