Episode 23: A Treasured Companion


For years, they had been an inseparable pair.

[Traveler and Paimon]

The two names just belonged together. Where one was, the other was sure to be also. The bond between those two was one that few would ever fully comprehend. How could they? The amount of time they had spent together was staggering. That sort of bond was so rare, and so precious.

From the humble beginning of their journey in Mond to the horrific "end" at Lumine's side, she had been with him, always guiding him with words of encouragement. He had saved her life, after all. The least she could do was offer her companionship, lacking as she knew it was.

She truly did her best, though. From time to time she remembered things that she didn't understand, and it worried her, but she kept a smile and upbeat disposition, wanting to make sure she stayed the same. She would be Aether's rock, no matter what. That was her greatest desire.

Her lack of memories bothered her, and sometimes she almost felt like a part of her mind was missing. It frustrated her greatly when she couldn't think as clearly as she wanted to, or when she didn't know something she knew she should know, but she never let on to it at all. In a way, her efforts were truly admirable.

To presume her innermost thoughts would be a crime, but perhaps, just perhaps, she truly loved Aether. Not as a woman loves a man, but as a family loves their own.

Family.

That word sounded so kind, so nostalgic, that Paimon couldn't help but smile.


Opening Theme: My First Story - Home


Dainsleif had reached the end of his twisted tale. Every face was turned towards him, showing their reactions to the impossible secret he had revealed.

Kaeya looked down, his face indiscernible. Diluc's visage showed shock, yet comprehension. And Traveler just stared ahead, his eyes hard.

"But just… why? Why would the gods do that?" Paimon spoke first, her voice cracking.

"It is quite simple: we were never meant to know that truth… That this world has been repeating endlessly, without any sign of beginning or end. I'm sure the feeling inside you now gives you a small understanding of why that is so."

Diluc knew. It was a familiar feeling, after all. He first felt it when he saw that necklace, and again that night when Dain appeared in their room. Now it had grown so much it couldn't be ignored.

That feeling was dissociation. It was as if the tangible world had become distant, and reality itself questionable.

Diluc turned to Aether, a serious look in his eyes.

"Is this guy for real?"

"…I think so. He's never been wrong before."

"Right, he's helped us several times too," Paimon spoke up as well.

Diluc shook his head in disbelief, and Kaeya held his head in one hand as if he was in pain.

"But Dain, why did you tell us this now? Is something happening?" Aether continued, grasping for some words of hope from that blond man.

"No, something is about to happen."

Dain looked around the room, as if expecting something that no one else could see. Then he started speaking again.

"In most of of the repetitions that I have suffered through, there has been a common denominator. A wild card that allowed me to re-do my mistakes, and get closer to the truth than I ever should have. Without that card, I would have forgotten everything long ago, without a doubt."

Dainsleif turned to look at the little floating girl beside Traveler. Kindness and regret tainted his smile.

"That wild card is you, God of Time. The time to awaken is here once again."

A bluish glow radiated from Dainsleif's hand as he stared straight through her.

"Wha-?!"

Paimon squealed, then suddenly went silent. Beside her, Aether's eyes showed great consternation. Diluc felt chills crawling up his back. Something was happening.

Paimon's face twisted in anguish for a few seconds, showing expressions she had probably never revealed before. Then, she spoke, with a broken, tired voice.

"No… No, that can't be… You're telling me that's…"

"Paimon…" Aether muttered, reaching for her.

But before he could reach her, she slapped his hand away roughly.

"NO! Don't!"

Her large eyes - as pretty and deep as the night sky - began leaking tears. They poured out, and just wouldn't stop. She covered her face with her tiny hands, and sobbed.

"No… Why…? That's just too cruel…!"

"What's wrong, Paimon?! Talk to me!"

"How could I talk to you?! I've betrayed you!" she wailed.

"I don't get what you're saying!"

"They… They've been using me all this time…? No, that's WRONG! WHY ME?!"

Paimon screamed like a lunatic, completely out of control. Diluc and Kaeya watched, deeply concerned by this turn of events. But when they saw Dain's face, his calm look told them that this wasn't an unexpected outcome.

Paimon carried on for some time, wailing and gnashing her teeth like she had been told she was damned to hell itself. After her composure finally returned, Paimon started speaking again, this time in a level voice.

"I can't stay here any longer. My true place is in Celestia."

Those words came out in a robotic, even voice, contradicting the tears still staining her tiny cheeks.

"What the fuck?! What are you saying?!" Aether shouted, trying to reach out to her again.

"Stop. This is all my fault. I cannot hurt you any longer, Aether."

"Stop?! I won't stop! Not when you're talking like you're leaving!" Aether said, losing his composure completely.

"I must go. They have already seen all they need to see. I'm so sorry… my old friend."

With that final whispered apology, Paimon rushed out the door faster than Aether had ever seen her move, leaving the group stunned beyond words.

The Traveler almost immediately leapt to his feet, rushing towards the door, but in an instant, Dainsleif was behind him. A strong, steady hand gripped Aether's shoulder.

"It's too late. It has begun."

"I don't understand! What did you do?!"

"I only allowed the truth to be revealed to her. Once confronted with that, she could no longer deny the whisperings she had heard all this time."

Everyone was shocked and appalled. Paimon had been spying on Traveler all along, without knowing it? That seemed too pathetic to even consider. Diluc's eyes burned with anger as he spoke.

"What's she up to now?" he growled.

"As she said, she will return to Celestia, then most likely inform the powers that be about what she has seen. I'm afraid that means very bad news for us, my friends." Dain said with a straight face.

"So we're fucked then?!" Diluc shouted.

"We are certainly in a lot of trouble. However, this too must come to pass. The path to the end is still there. I've seen it once before, that beckoning door at the end of everything…"

"Look, could you stop talking in riddles already?! If Celestia comes down again, it could be a repeat of what happened to your home! How can you act so calm?!" Diluc continued on.

"I thought you would understand that by now, my friend."

"I don't understand shit! You told us all these ancient stories, throwing everything we know away, and you expect me to just roll with it?"

"You must. There is no other option to reach that place you desire most in your heart."

"In my…"

"Don't look so surprised, Diluc. You now know that I've seen many futures just like this one, countless endings that fell short before the unequivocal power of the Heavenly Principles. But now, all the pieces are here once again. We can try again, and this time, we will not fail."

"The pieces?"

"Yes. Traveler is here, and with him, an item that will lead us to the end."

Aether looked at Dain in confusion, not comprehending the meaning of his words.

"No matter, you will witness it when the time comes. For now, it is best if you prepare for the end."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Diluc shot at him, looking concerned.

"It means make peace with whomever you must, and prepare for this god-forsaken world to finally reach a conclusion."

"Wha-?!"

Dain's words shocked the group again. None of them had been prepared for anything this significant. If what he was saying was true then…

"You're saying we should say our final goodbyes…?" Kaeya whispered.

"That would be wise. I apologize for withholding some things, but this is the path we must take. It is the only one with any remaining hope of a different conclusion."

"Dainsleif, you bastard!" Diluc shouted, knocking over the chair he had been sitting in.

"Hold on, Diluc," Aether said, putting his hand on the red-haired man's shoulder. "Let me handle this."

Dain raised an eyebrow as the gold-clad outlander drew near.

"So you're saying this is our only hope?"

"Yes, without a single doubt."

"Then what are we supposed to do from here?"

"As I said, make your peace as if your life will end. Because one way or another, for all intents and purposes, it will."

Kaeya's jaw clenched as he stared daggers at his fellow countryman. Diluc had apparently suppressed it all, and was now gazing without emotion at the scene before him.

"Once you've settled things, we will journey to that place where the door awaits, and take fate into our hands at last. I will explain more when that time comes."

None of those who listened to Dain's words could fully understand it all. Like the grief of a loved one lost too soon, this news hit everyone too suddenly - so much so that they simply couldn't process the fact that their future had run out. It didn't make any sense, like a dream that had turned to a nightmare with no rhyme or reason to it.

Seeing the stunned and angry looks on their faces, Dainsleif spoke again.

"I know this is sudden. I'm sorry, I truly am. But the time is too short. Our window of opportunity will not last forever."

No one responded, and silence fell over the group. Dain's shoulders slumped, and he sighed, muttering a few words of parting.

"Meet me at the Statue of the Seven tomorrow morn. I will be waiting there."

And like a shadow fading into the night, he was gone.

Left in his wake were three men who now faced a completely unreasonable future.

"I'm going too," Aether spoke up, his voice wavering. "There's someone I have to find."

The group dwindled by one more as the Traveler dejectedly pushed his way through the door. Diluc and Kaeya were the only ones remaining now, standing with drooping shoulders in the silent, empty pub that held so many memories for them. Before Diluc could leave as well, the blue-haired man put his hand on his shoulder, and spoke in a soft voice wholly unfitting for him.

"Don't leave yet. Let's talk… You deserve to know the truth."


Ending Theme: FELT - find the light


Next:

Episode 24: In Desperation