"What's with all the amber on this mountain?"
"This must be where Mountain Shaper lives," replied Paimon. "Or maybe Cloud Retainer? Paimon isn't sure."
"It's probably Mountain Shaper," said Roxas. "Amber fits the name more."
He and Paimon cleared the last turn on the mountain trail, only to find a somewhat strangely dressed man praying in front of a shallow pool of water atop the mountain. "Have mercy upon me, o mighty and illuminated Adeptus..." he pleaded. "I beg of you...show mercy upon me and my brother...spare our lives!"
"Sir?" Roxas asked. "What's wrong?"
"Huh?" The man got up and turned around. "Who are you? What's going on?"
"Answer the question," Paimon demanded.
"...Oh!" The man's face lit up with realization. "You enjoy the luxury of safe passage through Jueyun Karst...and though you're not Adepti...that can mean one thing. You must be their messengers! D-Did they send you to rescue my brother? P-Please, tell me they did!"
"What drugs is he on and where do I get them?" Roxas whispered to Paimon.
The man didn't hear Roxas as he bowed his head and clasped his hands. "Please, mercy, o mighty messengers of the illustrious Adepti! I beg of you...save us! My brother and I...I assure you, we only came here because our family is poor, and we heard tales of treasure hidden in the amber of Mount Hulao. Indeed, it was a foolish choice, but we merely wished to find enough treasure to sell so we could support our family! We followed the path up the mountain, but...the amber...came out of nowhere and swallowed my brother, Li Dang! I fled and managed to make it here, and only then did I realize our wrongful trespassing into the abode of the Adepti. And absorption into the amber was our punishment..."
The man continued, "I hadn't a clue on how to rescue my brother, so I began praying for the Adepti to have mercy upon us, and lo, two messengers have come to my aid!"
Paimon opened her mouth to speak, but Roxas held out a hand to stop her. He cleared his throat. "Of your struggle, your transgression, your predicament, your sorrow, and of your repentance...one has become aware," he said in his most regal, Adeptus-like voice.
"A-Ah! Thank you, mighty and illuminated Adepti messengers!" the man cried, bowing in reverence. "I am eternally in your debt! Praise be to the mighty and illuminated Adeptus of Mount Hulao and their mighty and illuminated messengers of salvation!"
"Do you recall which cluster of the amber imprisons your brother?" Roxas asked, keeping up the charade.
"N-No...I do not," replied the man.
"...Very well," said Roxas. "One will search the amber and free your brother."
"O-Oh, thank you so very much!"
Oathkeeper and Oblivion won't cut it for breaking these, thought Roxas, but...
He switched out Oblivion's keychain. Dutiful Rose appeared in his hand.
Roxas wound up and cleaved through the large chunk of amber with Dutiful Rose, revealing a strange creature imprisoned within. "A Heartless!"
He swung Dutiful Rose again and again, tearing through the Heartless's body before it could react.
"Wait, Roxas," said Paimon after the Heartless was defeated. "Paimon doesn't think that was a Heartless you just killed."
"What do you mean?"
"A heart wasn't released when it died, right?" said Paimon. "And Paimon remembers those big fat ones back in Stormterror's Lair having this symbol on them - it looked like a black heart with red lines crossing over it. That thing didn't have it. And it doesn't look like the Heartless that are normally supposed to not have one."
Roxas thought for a moment. Paimon was actually right. And he recognized the emblem that the creature did have.
"I think I remember what it is," he said. "I've encountered them before. That monster was one of a species born from negativity: the Unversed."
"Paimon doesn't know why, but since you said they're created from negativity, Paimon has a feeling they're connected to the Heartless and the Abyss Order..."
From there, Roxas followed the path down Mt. Hulao, retracing his steps as he cut through the amber chunks along the way using Dutiful Rose. Most were empty, but a few had raw materials or treasure chests inside. The chests, however, didn't contain much of value aside from a few hundred Mora. Several of the amber chunks had monsters called Slimes inside. Paimon informed him that Slimes were actually native to Teyvat and were not usually controlled by the Abyss Order.
Roxas had trekked far down the path, almost to the base of Mt. Hulao, when he finally found Li Dang. The freed man coughed, spitting small fragments of amber out of his mouth as he did. Roxas guided Li Dang to bend down a little. He placed a hand on the man's back and firmly struck with his palm, helping Li Dang cough up the rest of the amber.
"You're safe now," said Roxas.
"Th-Thank you..." said Li Dang. "Oh! Have you seen my brother? His name is Li Ding, and we were climbing this mountain together. I just hope he didn't get trapped, too."
"Your brother's safe," Roxas assured him. "He sent us to find you. He's at the top of the mountain."
"Then that means he's okay." Li Dang breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, stranger! I'll head up to find my brother now."
"Hey, when you find him, you two might wanna skedaddle to...somewhere not on this mountain," Roxas advised. "Li Ding may be able to tell you why."
"O mighty and merciful messengers of the mighty and illuminated Adepti, I thank you for rescuing my brother!" Li Ding cried.
"Tell me," said Roxas, "have you seen the Adeptus here?"
"W-Well, no," replied Li Ding. "I mean...like everyone else, we heard stories about there being an Adeptus on Mount Hulao. But ordinary people like us don't have the slightest chance of ever meeting one. But you...you're Adepti messengers. You lead a life very unlike mine."
"You're not wrong," Roxas agreed.
"Anyway," said Li Ding, "I think we've trespassed long enough. Come on, Li Dang. Let's go home." He turned to Roxas one last time. "Again, I am eternally grateful, o mighty and merciful messenger of the mighty and illuminated Adepti. But...before my brother and I leave...may I ask...what is your name?"
"Call me Roxas."
"Roxas...a name unlike any other." Li Ding smiled. "Thank you...mighty and merciful Roxas."
"Hey, the Adepti may not be so...casual, but you can drop the 'mighty and merciful' part with me," said the former Nobody. "Just call me Roxas."
"Very well...Roxas. My brother and I will be leaving now."
"Okay. Stay safe out there."
Li Dang and Li Ding left in a hurry.
Paimon exhaled. "If only we were actual Adepti messengers," she mused. "Because it seems like the one that lives here is a bit picky about who he lets onto his mountain."
"WHO DARES TO TRESPASS UPON MY MOUNTAIN!?" roared a booming voice. "AND WHO DARES FREE THE THIEF FROM HIS IMPRISONMENT!?"
"Uh oh."
An Adeptus appeared. This one bore dark brown and bright orange feathers, taking the form of a crane. This was Mountain Shaper.
"ONE IS APPALLED THAT SUCH A FOOLISH MORTAL CARRIES SUCH A NOBLE WEAPON AS THE KEYBLADE," said Mountain Shaper. "AND IT IS MORE APPALLING STILL THAT YOU WOULD USE SUCH A THING TO DESTROY THE AMBER OF MY MOUNTAIN. FOOLISH, UNWORTHY MORTAL...COME FORTH AND RECEIVE YOUR PUNISHMENT. AT ONCE."
Roxas took a breath, stepping forward to meet Mountain Shaper. He took the Sigil of Permission from the inner pocket of his coat. "Mighty and illuminated Mountain Shaper," he said. "With all due respect, the brothers did not know they trespassed upon your sacred abode until it was too late for them. Furthermore, they only did so in search of something to support their...less than fortunate family. I...I humbly pray that you show them mercy. Moreover...the mighty and illuminated Moon Carver sent me to relay a message."
"MOON CARVER...TRUSTED A MERE MORTAL AS HIS MESSENGER?" Mountain Shaper seemed confused. "AND THIS IS...A SIGIL OF PERMISSION. HM, ONE IS SURPRISED THEY STILL EXIST WITHIN THE MORTAL REALM. THERE WAS A TIME, LONG AGO, WHEN REX LAPIS WOULD PERSONALLY CREATE THE SIGILS OF PERMISSION FOR MORTALS TO USE. EVEN SO...FEW WERE MADE THEN, AND THAT TIME HAS PASSED. NOW, FEWER STILL REMAIN. SPEAK, THEN. ONE IS WILLING TO LISTEN TO THE MATTER WHICH BROUGHT YOU HERE, AND ONE WILL VERIFY ITS TRUTH. I CAUTION YOU TO SPEAK THE TRUTH, FOR LIYUE IS NOT SO FAR FROM HERE THAT ONE WOULD BE EASILY DECEIVED."
Roxas filled Mountain Shaper in on the situation, just as he had with Moon Carver.
"REX LAPIS...ASSASSINATED? AND AT THE RITE OF DESCENSION?" Mountain Shaper stood silent for a moment. "WHAT MORTAL IN ALL OF TEYVAT...NAY, IN ALL THE WORLDS, WOULD CONSPIRE TO COMMIT SUCH AN EGREGIOUS DEED? OR PERHAPS THE MORE APPROPRIATE QUESTION IS...WHAT POWER ACROSS THE WORLDS COULD ASPIRE TO ACHIEVE SUCH A FEAT? REX LAPIS TASKED THE ADEPTI WITH LIYUE'S PROTECTION, AND WE HAVE HONORED THAT DUTY EVER SINCE. AS ITS PEOPLE BEGAN TO PROSPER AND GROW, WE GRADUALLY WITHDREW HERE, TO THE MOUNTAINS. INDEED, THIS WAS A GESTURE OF GOODWILL AND RESPECT TOWARDS HUMANITY. BUT NOW...ALAS, REX LAPIS IS GONE..."
Mountain Shaper took a minute to compose himself. "KEY-BEARING TRAVELER, OF THE MATTER YOU HAVE RELAYED TO ME, AS WELL AS OF YOUR TRUE WORTH OF BEARING THE KEYBLADE...ONE HAS BECOME AWARE. ONE KNOWS NOW WHY MOON CARVER HAS SENT FOR US. ONCE ONE HAS RECTIFIED CERTAIN...OTHER MATTERS THAT REQUIRE ATTENTION, ONE SHALL CONVENE WITH ONE'S FELLOW ADEPTI."
"Thank you for your mercy, o mighty and illuminated Mountain Shaper," Roxas said, bowing. "But, if I may ask...what of the amber? Is it really your doing?"
"THE AMBER IS NOT UNDER ONE'S DIRECT CONTROL," replied Mountain Shaper. "IT IS BORN FROM THE KARST CRAWLER, A FLOWER ONE PLANTED HERE LONG AGO. THE MAJORITY OF THE PLANT LIES UNDERGROUND. WHEN AN INTRUDER STEPS ON IT, THE KARST CRAWLER SECRETES A MASS OF SAP TO IMPRISON THE INTRUDER. THE SAP IT PRODUCES IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER SAP, FOR IT HARDENS INTO AMBER IN MERE SECONDS. ONE PLANTED THE KARST CRAWLERS UPON THIS MOUNTAIN TO ENSURE THAT ITS TRANQUILITY WOULD NOT BE DISTURBED. THE FLOWERS HAVE PREVENTED MANY A DISTURBANCE THROUGH THE YEARS, BUT IN THE PROCESS, IT SEEMS SOME HAVE ENSNARED SOME RATHER...CURIOUS THINGS...ONE KNOWS EACH AND EVERY SINGLE THING THAT FALLS VICTIM TO THE KARST CRAWLERS. ONE PARTICULAR SITUATION IS WITH A STRANGE CREATURE ONE HAS NEVER SEEN BEFORE...A CREATURE BEARING A STRANGE EMBLEM..."
Roxas immediately knew what the Adeptus was talking about. "I believe I encountered the creature of which you speak, o mighty and illuminated one," he said. "And it was not the first time I have seen one like it."
"OH?" Mountain Carver looked closer at Roxas. "SPEAK. ONE WISHES TO HEAR WHAT IT IS THAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT CREATURE."
"It is one species of many creatures known as the Unversed, o mighty and illuminated one," said Roxas. "The Unversed are born from negative emotions. Originally, they were all born from one individual: Vanitas, an old enemy of my friends and myself. I thought they had disappeared with Vanitas's defeat, but it seems that they're returning..."
"ONE CONCLUDES THAT YOU SPEAK THE TRUTH," said Mountain Shaper. "AND IF ONE'S MEMORY IS CORRECT, THAT...'UNVERSED,' AS YOU CALL IT...CAME AT THE COMMAND OF THE ABYSS ORDER, ALONGSIDE OTHER CREATURES BEARING AN EMBLEM DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF THE UNVERSED."
"If I'm not mistaken, mighty and illuminated one," said Roxas, "the other creatures may be the Heartless. They are physical manifestations of the darkness within one's heart and are born when a heart falls to the darkness. And while Unversed can be defeated with any weapon, the only way to destroy Heartless is with the Keyblade."
"YOUR HONESTY IS SHOWN YET AGAIN," said Mountain Shaper. "NOW, ONE BIDS YOU TO SEEK OUT CLOUD RETAINER. MEANWHILE, ONE WILL TEND TO THE KARST CRAWLERS."
"Of course, o mighty and illuminated Mountain Shaper." Roxas bowed his head. "I will take my leave."
"BEFORE YOU DEPART," said Mountain Shaper, "ONE MUST KNOW YOUR NAME, FOR ONE BELIEVES THIS WILL NOT BE THE LAST TIME ONE SEES YOU."
"Roxas."
"ROXAS...YOU ARE A STRANGE MORTAL, YET YOUR HEART SHINES WITH RADIANT LIGHT. NOW, SEEK OUT CLOUD RETAINER. AND FAREWELL."
"Farewell, mighty and illuminated Mountain Shaper."
"This must be where Cloud Retainer lives," said Roxas. "That might be their dinner table."
"Paimon agrees," said the faerie. "There's a wine jug and everything. And there's names carved into the seats!" Paimon floated to each seat, reading the carvings aloud. "'Here sits Retainer,' 'Here sits Guizhong,' 'Here sits Carver,' 'Here sits Shaper,' 'Here sits Rex.'"
"Maybe 'Rex' is short for Rex Lapis," Roxas suggested. "No idea who Guizhong is, though. And 'Retainer' is probably Cloud Retainer, same for Shaper and Carver."
"If there's a table set for all the Adepti...and whoever Guizhong is," said Paimon, "maybe that means the Adepti liked to have dinner together."
"I can see it," Roxas agreed. "Sort of."
"Maybe that's how we can get Cloud Retainer's attention," Paimon stated.
"But there lies the problem," said Roxas. "What the heck do Adepti eat?"
"Maybe some people came here to make offerings," Paimon suggested. "Offerings of food, Paimon means. Try looking around and seeing if there's any ingredients or recipes."
Roxas got to work. He found a cooking pot not far from the table. The area was oddly clean. A thorough search revealed some fresh meat and Matsutake mushrooms. A piece of paper turned out to be a recipe.
"I found something!" Roxas called to Paimon. "Looks like a recipe for Matsutake Meat Rolls. And all the ingredients were here, too."
"Oh, Paimon found something, too!" said the faerie. "There's another cooking pot this way."
Roxas followed her to the place she'd found.
"Paimon found Snapdragons, some Lotus Heads, Tofu...whatever they were trying to cook here was definitely complicated."
"I think this might be the recipe." Roxas noticed a piece of paper near the unlit firewood. "And wouldn't ya know it, it is. For 'Jewelry Soup.'"
"And here's a third pot," said Paimon. "Eugh, what a mess."
"At least there's a recipe." Roxas picked up a crumpled piece of paper. "For...'Mora Meat.' Alright, then."
"But which one will Cloud Retainer like?" Paimon wondered aloud.
"Maybe..." Roxas sighed. "Well, I can hold my own in the kitchen, so I'll try and cook all three as best I can. Then we can offer all three of them to Cloud Retainer and see what happens."
Roxas got to work. His meager cooking experience from working a part-time job at Twilight Town's Le Grand Bistrot had thankfully stayed with him. That experience proved vital to his cooking, and he was able to make a surprisingly presentable-looking trio of meals.
"And you say you can't cook!" Paimon exclaimed. "Did you lie to Paimon?"
"Ehehe..." Roxas rubbed the back of his head. "A little. Back home, I had a part-time job at a restaurant in town. It was the first time I'd ever been in a kitchen for something other than grabbing a snack, but...well, I'd say I did alright. Heh...you wouldn't believe me if I told you who the head chef was."
"Paimon wants to know, but we should worry about getting this food offered up to Cloud Retainer," she said. "Wait, look! That path was blocked by an Adeptal barrier before! It's open now!"
"Maybe that means Cloud Retainer is letting us in."
BGM: Cavern of Remembrance - Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
"What the heck? So this is an Adeptus's home?"
"Correct," a matronly voice responded from both nowhere at all and everywhere at once. "This is one's abode. And one senses the presence of a Sigil of Permission."
"A-Ah...yes, o mighty and illuminated one." Roxas gathered his composure at the sound of Cloud Retainer's surprisingly gentle voice. "I carry a Sigil of Permission."
"Hm...one does not know why you have come," said Cloud Retainer, "but one knows the sincerity of your offering. Hence, one grants you an opportunity. If you can find your way through this abode, you may receive an audience with the Adeptus you seek."
"Very well, o mighty and illuminated one," said Roxas. "I thank you for accepting my...sudden intrusion."
"It was no such thing," Cloud Retainer refuted. "One has allowed you to enter. It was your generous offering that caught one's attention. Now, stay on your path, and you will soon find whom you are looking for."
"Understood."
Roxas found a button, pressing it. A floating platform ahead turned, and a translucent bridge of light connected it to the one Roxas stood on. He tentatively placed a foot on the bridge of light. To his relief, it was solid.
Roxas crossed the bridge to the nearby platform before crossing another bridge to another platform. Another button terminal sat there, guarded by a few Slimes and Hilichurls. They all fell to the crushing power of Dutiful Rose.
"I think I'm getting the hang of this claymore malarkey." He dismissed Dutiful Rose.
He was about to push the button but stopped. There's another bridge ahead, along with another platform. Maybe I shouldn't press it just yet.
Roxas crossed the bridge, following suit with another bridge. "Ah, great. No way up."
"Can't you just fly up there?" said Paimon.
"Yeah," said Roxas. "But then I'd feel like I cheated."
"Eh, that's fair."
"One is aware of your situation," said Cloud Retainer. "In truth, one would receive your presence with an audience regardless of how you find your way through one's abode."
"So...I could just fly straight to you, o mighty and illuminated one?"
"Correct," replied Cloud Retainer. "One would not have any qualms about it."
"Even so," said Roxas, "I want to prove myself, o mighty and illuminated one."
"One respects this mindset," said Cloud Retainer. "By the way...you need not use such formalities. One has never favored them."
"Then shall I call you by name?" asked Roxas as he continued trying to solve the puzzle of his path forward.
"Correct. And...you may also forgo such...regal speech. One senses that it is not how you usually converse."
"Hehe...you got me there."
End BGM
"Hmm...one is most impressed. The path through this abode defies those of ordinary abilities."
Cloud Retainer stood before Roxas, bearing the form of a crane with sky-blue feathers. She almost laughed a little. "And since you are seemingly capable of flight...one believes your capabilities would in turn defy the path through one's abode. Now. The one before you is the Adeptus, Cloud Retainer. Pray tell, what is the matter that brings you here, young key-bearer?"
"Can I ask you something first?"
"You may."
Roxas met Cloud Retainer's gaze. "Those mechanisms back there...were they all your work?"
"You surmise correctly, young key-bearer," said Cloud Retainer. "Even Guizhong and Rex Lapis themselves found one's technological accomplishments to be worthy of commendation."
"But...with all due respect, why build a place like this as a home?" asked Roxas.
"Hm...one is simply impartial to the tedium of socialization, and wished to find a place with peace and quiet."
Roxas smiled. "Heh, you're an introvert, too?"
"An...introvert..." Cloud Retainer thought for a moment. "Hm...one supposes that you are correct. And find it one did, until you arrived shortly thereafter, bearing your Sigil of Permission. But...enough. State the matter which brings you here, and promptly. You have disturbed the tranquility of this place for long enough."
"Okay, okay, I'll make it quick and then I'll be out of your hair. Or...feathers. But anyway..."
"Rex Lapis...has been assassinated!?" Cloud Retainer was in shock, to no one's surprise. "How can this be!? Such...Such a heinous crime! Who would dare!?"
Roxas flinched.
"The notion is so preposterous - nay, unbelievable...one shall have to verify the truth independently. But...perhaps one should quash Liyue first, then convene with the other Adepti..."
"You what!?" Roxas summoned Dutiful Rose, quickly shifting it back to Oathkeeper and summoning Oblivion.
"No, don't do that, please!" Paimon begged.
"Only a response of sufficient and equal magnitude can prevent any further incidents," said Cloud Retainer.
"I thought you were sworn to protect them," Roxas said through gritted teeth.
"Indeed, it is as you say," replied Cloud Retainer, "but if Rex Lapis has truly been murdered, then Liyue is in great peril. To delay in eradicating the threat is to invite further disaster. It is precisely because one does not wish to see further suffering that exceptional measures are deemed necessary in this exceptional crisis."
"Destroying Liyue would be a disaster on its own!" said Roxas. "Don't you see the irony of this? You can't just end their suffering by destroying them! That'll only mean more suffering in the process! The ends don't justify the means here! Besides, if you focus on wiping out whatever killed Rex Lapis instead of wiping out Liyue, the people won't have to suffer! Would the people want this? Would Rex Lapis want this!?"
Cloud Retainer was silent.
"If one were less tired, one would have cast you out of this abode for such...brash words," said Cloud Retainer. "But...alas, you are...correct. Rex Lapis...he would not want this. And one does not truly wish to destroy Liyue Harbor. One believed it was the only way, however, and so one was willing to do so, despite the heartache one would feel. Furthermore, you come bearing a Sigil of Permission..." Cloud Retainer sighed. "When Rex Lapis first cast those Sigils, he imbued them with Adeptal power. That power once aided mortals in battle. Most of the Sigil's power has long since disappeared. It is but a collector's trinket now, and cannot be accepted as solid proof of your honesty. One must investigate this matter independently. But this is doubtlessly the reason for which Moon Carver has summoned us. Now, your audience with the Adeptus before you has concluded. Begone...one wishes to slumber awhile and approach this predicament with a clear mind."
"Understandable."
Roxas summoned his Naught Glider and flew to the entrance of Cloud Retainer's abode.