"Paimon is fine now, really.", the Pixie reassured a minute or two later, as she was now looking more weary than anything, "...Paimon just can't understand how a person like Dottore even exists, both insane and extremely evil. Paimon can't even laugh about how he is, like Paimon is doing with Azar, since there is nothing for Paimon to laugh about."
"Yeah, at least we can make jokes about how pompous and idiotic Azar is. But as for Dottore...", the Traveler started, looking and sounding both confused and thoughtful, "...Can he even be called "Human" at this point...? He even made those "segments" of himself, as if he split his very soul just like...", their words soon trailed off, before they sighed, "...This is not the time to wonder what that "Mad Doctor" reminds me of...Even if he is completely insane and would probably become a very big..."Annoyance" in the future.", they mumbled, so quietly that everyone who was not Venti could barely hear them, "After Nahida saved Scaramouche's life, we briefly discussed what just happened with our allies. It was soon decided that most people will stay in the city proper to take care of the Civil War aftermath, while myself, Paimon and Nahida are going to FINALLY save Irminsul. Xiao soon volunteered to go with us as a guard (Cyno wanted to come as well, but he had to discuss something with the Temple of Silence) and was very insistent about it, so we accepted his help. And just when we were about to leave for the Sanctuary of Surasthana(apparently, there are certain rules that need to be followed in order to be able to "enter" Irminsul), an annoying looking Samir teleported to our side, asking to join. Nahida happily agreed. We decided to teleport to the palace to make things faster, but it was still enough time for Samir to tell everyone what an annoyance Dottore's "segments" were.", they recalled, as their expression turned a little amused, "...So to summarize: Dottore knows Samir was Deshret in the past and it actually made him more happy than anything. Happy that he could do one more of his "field experiments", by having his "segments" die to Samir's different attacks, so he could "analyze" them.", they couldn't help but chuckle moments later, "Samir made sure to add that it felt like killing annoying cockroaches and he already killed one of those when he "noticed it" being held in the Temple of Silence base."
"...Well, isn't Samir still supposed to be stronger than the average god...? And Dottore "splitting" himself so much must have also made each one of his "parts" weaker, Paimon supposes.", the Pixie thoughtfully said, looking quite serious now, "...Yeah, Paimon is not surprised that Samir "took care" of them all. But how many "Dottoroaches" were there anyway...?!"
She couldn't help but wonder aloud,
Her voice and expression turning shocked...
-The more the better. -Diluc "answered" her, looking and sounding dead serious. -If you want my opinion, the less of that..."Person" there are around, the easier everyone would be able to sleep at night.
-...Considering everything that he did until now, I have to agree. Someone like him doesn't deserve any mercy or to have a second chance. -Venti soon admitted, looking and sounding quite thoughtful. -...And also that bit about him possibly becoming trouble in the future, I think that you are right, Traveler. He did "steal" all the remaining power from "Scararobot", right...?
"...At this point, I just hope the Tsaritsa realizes that he IS very dangerous and takes care of him herself.", the Traveler admitted, looking and sounding quite serious too, as well as a little concerned, "...You said that you knew her before, but after the Cataclysm 500 years ago, she completely changed. Isn't that right, Venti...? So then, does she not see or does she not care about how utterly insane some of her "subordinates" are...?", they asked, sounding more confused than anything, before they sighed, "...Considering everything I found out about her until now, including Childe saying she had to harden herself because she was too gentle and the Shivada Jade Gemstone description...Perhaps she is just "broken", similarly to my Twin. "The end justifies the means", right...?", they sadly added, their expression mirroring their mood, "...Just what exactly is happening to this world that...?", they started, before sighing once again, "...I should really stop thinking about all of these for now and focus more on the "task at hand"...", they quietly mumbled once again, before their expression turned a little serious, "...After we all arrived at the Sanctuary of Surasthana, Xiao was left to stand guard, while myself, Paimon, Nahida and Samir entered Irminsul. That "Mysterious message" I heard before, I soon found out what it was about: "Let the world completely forget me."...", they explained, before there was a short pause, "She wanted Nahida to erase her from Irminsul, thus also getting rid of the "last bit" of corrupti..."
-Erasure...From Irminsul...? Erasure of the memory of your existence from this world…All your failures and successes attributed to someone else...-Venti suddenly said, looking and sounding afraid, which was shocking to even himself. What was he saying...? Why was he saying it...? And why...? -...Your existence...No one remembers...They are not allowed to...-...Did he suddenly feel so weak...? -...In their memories, you never were...-...Did he...In the past...? -...You are just a void...-...But they still... -...Formless...Bottomless...Forgotten...-...Remembered...Him...-...Forever...Gone...
It was now a minute or so later and the room was in a state of chaos,
With everyone wondering why the Archon suddenly collapsed...
-Venti...? Lord Barbatos...?! Wake up, please! -Seamus was busy frantically shaking the unconscious Archon, which didn't seem to be having any effect no matter how much he tried. -...Would praying work...?
-You have my permission, gather all the church members if you need to. -Varka told him, looking and sounding quite serious, yet also concerned. -If it's not enough, we could gather the whole city for a mass prayer instead!
-This is definitely not good. He should be stronger now...-Diluc couldn't help but comment, as he was watching the scene in clear worry. -Something must have happened for the bard to collapse like this!
-It is just like that time. It is just like that time when he fell into a coma after remembering...! -Albedo was the next to panickedly say, before his words suddenly trailed off. Just like last time...-...His sudden collapse and the words he said beforehand, was the information about the "erasure from Irminsul" part of the "Equivalent Exchange" one...?!
-...If it's part of the "Equivalent Exchange"...-Frederica gravely said, looking both worried and thoughtful, before her expression turned determined. -...Chief Alchemist Albedo, Alchemist Emilia, please gather all the necessary "materials" for his awakening.
-Let me help out, as well, Alder Knight. -Kaeya volunteered, before he turned to look towards the "Viewing Window". -Sorry Traveler, but we would have to continue the retelling at another time.
"I know. Venti's wellbeing comes first.", the Traveler admitted almost right away, looking and sounding both worried and thoughtful, "Since the Crisis here is mostly over, I would like to help out, too. Tell me what I can help Venti with and I will make sure to..."
-There is no need for you to help us out, Traveler. After the "Sumeru crisis" you have just recently experienced, what you need the most is to take a break. -Emilia interrupted them, looking and sounding quite serious. -I, as the Alchemist of the Knights of Favonius, promise you that Mondstadt would take care of its Archon and family member/friend.
She made sure to add in as much reassurance as possible, a determined expression on her face,
One which everyone else soon mimicked, as well, all of them ready to do everything in their power to save Venti and...
"I am glad to see how much everyone here cares for Barbatos.", a familiar yet unusually tender voice was suddenly heard, the sound coming from the "Viewing Window", where Paimon was now looking right through it with a warm smile on her face, "But there is no need for worry, Barbatos is just sleeping. He should awaken in a few hours.", she added in reassurance, before her expression quickly turned sad, "...I saw Barbatos die so many times before, that I am truly glad he is both alright and has so many people who love him now."
"...Paimon, but you saw Venti die one time and later revive. All the other times he was either comatose or unconscious.", the Traveler commented moments later, looking and sounding both thoughtful and suspicious, "...The way you are talking right now and the things you said, is there something you are not telling me about...?"
"...Yes, you are right that "Paimon" only saw Barbatos die once. This time, it truly seems to be the case.", the Pixie(?) soon admitted, looking and sounding quite sad, "...But it was way different for all the previous loops, when Barbatos...Each and every time, in different ways. This selfless and self-sacrificing child...", she sorrowfully admitted, before sadly sighing, "...Call me selfish, but I hope that this time he will survive. Resetting everything so many times in succession is starting to get tiring…"
She both sadly and wishfully added, upon looking through the "Viewing Window",
Right at Seamus now carefully laying Venti on a nearby sofa, as he soon took a chair to sit by his god...
-...Paimon, tell me the truth, are you truly "Paimon"...? -Kaeya suddenly asked, voicing pretty much what everyone was now thinking. -...I would like it if you answer the question directly, without any vague...
"Sadly, I can't do that or THEY might notice. We are neither in Barbatos' "Dreamscape" or "Special places" like Enkanomiya, the "Time and Wind" Island or Lupus Boreas' Challenge Arena, after all.", "Paimon" interrupted him, looking and sounding dead serious, before her expression turned slightly amused, "As for who I really am, let's just say that the best way to hide is in plain sight...Isn't that right, Kaeya Alberich, child of a noble clan of Khaenria'h and it's temporary rulers after king Irmin's failure of 500 years ago...?", she knowingly added, to which the Cavalry Captain became visibly shocked, "...I know many things, but sadly, I can't share most of them...", she soon admitted, before sighing, "Well, from what I already said before and just recently, you must have already realized it, right...? At the moment, while I am "in this body", it's fine if you simply call me "Paimon". After all, "she" and "I" are...", her words soon trailed off, before she turned to look towards the Traveler, her expression turning a little happier, "Since Barbatos is alright now and is being looked after by Mondstadt's Seneschal, how about you continue the retelling, Traveler...? I wouldn't mind helping you explain some of the "mysteries" which happened during the "Visit" to Irminsul and afterwards~"
"...Continuing from where I left off before, Rukkhadevata(Or rather her "remaining consciousness") wanted Nahida to erase her from Irminsul, in order to rid it of Forbidden Knowledge.", the Traveler started a minute or two later, looking and sounding quite sad now, "Apparently, since Rukkhadevata was the Avatar of Irminsul, she was connected to it on a more intimate level. So when Forbidden Knowledge invaded and polluted Irminsul 500 years ago, she got affected by it as well. So even after dying to save Irminsul, she couldn't get rid of it completely. This is also when we found out that she created the Akasha system in order to "borrow" her citizens' wisdom in the form of their dreams, which she then used to purge the Forbidden Knowledge, just like she did thousands of years ago when Samir...Uh, King Deshret, unintentionally unleashed Forbidden Knowledge on Sumeru...", they soon sighed, "Upon hearing this news, Samir looked so regretful and was about to apologize, but Rukkhadevata(?) stopped him, saying that if not for that, she wouldn't have known what to do during the Cataclysm in order to stop the Forbidden Knowledge from spreading."
"...She is right about that. Since she already dealt with Forbidden Knowledge before, Rukkhadevata knew what to do about it during the Cataclysm. Not only had she borrowed her people's "Dream Energy", but she also snapped the purest branch of Irminsul and created Kusanali using all of her remaining energy, her incarnation in the "next samsara". It's a good thing that Rukkhadevata did what she did, even if she died for it or Sumeru might have actually been overrun by Forbidden Knowledge...", "Paimon" continued, looking and sounding thoughtful, before her expression turned a little annoyed, "At least, that's what I would have said if this was part of the "Original Timeline". As things stand, everything is not as simple as Rukkhadevata remembered...Or most people remembered and still remember...", she soon deeply sighed, her expression turning a little warm moments later, "...But I am grateful that she helped Egeria, the previous Hydro Archon, stop the Abyssal energy from pouring into Teyvat. The three (mostly) separated realms are already unstable enough as is and even a little "tear" can turn out disastrous...", she gratefully, yet slightly sadly admitted, "...If only people had more resistance to it, just as "I" and (now also) Barbatos do..."
She added in a quitter voice,
One which was still heard in the quiet "space"...
-...By "resistance", do you perhaps mean the Time Power...? -Kaeya asked moments later, looking and sounding both serious, thoughtful and a little suspicious. -...Considering what happened that time he got corrupted by the Abyss Order and everything you said until now...
"THEY are also affected. As was "I" at some point, but soon was able to revert it.", "Paimon" mysteriously said, answering another unasked question, before she slightly chuckled, "...I seem to be quite talkative 'today'. Perhaps it's because I usually "work" alone...Did I become socially needy sometimes during all those numerous loops...?", she added in a sad mumble, before her expression soon shifted into a determined one, "Traveler, as long as I can stay in "this body" without THEM noticing, I would answer your questions to the best of my ability. But not now and especially not before Mondstadt's people, most of which simply don't have the necessary resistance to this kind of Knowledge.", she told them, before turning to look between everyone else, "To continue the retelling, Rukkhadevata's last "part" wanted the goddess' existence to be completely erased from Irminsul, thus saving it from corruption. Yet, there were people who were against it, mainly her own next incarnation and Deshret's reincarnation."
"...Oh, yes, now that you remind me of it...It was quite bad.", the Traveler admitted a few seconds later, looking and sounding a little distracted, "...About answering my questions, you are going to keep this promise, yes...? And it's also going to be information that you can safely share, right...?", they soon asked in some suspicious, to which "Paimon" slowly nodded, "...I suppose that it's way better than nothing, even if most of the answers you gave until now were quite vague…And a little concerning.", they admitted, looking and sounding quite thoughtful, before their expression turned more serious, "...To continue the retelling, Nahida didn't want to erase her predecessor from Irminsul, while Samir wanted to take her place as atonement for what he did in the past. And so the two+Rukkhadevata soon started a small "squabble" about who should be the one to "pay the price"...", they wearily sighed, "Then Samir just went and used some magic or something to take all of Rukkhadevata's corruption into his own body, asking to be erased instead of her while saying that it's only fair. At the same time, Nahida started saying that she should offer her body to Rukkhadevata, so that her predecessor can rule Sumeru through it. Rukkhadevata didn't like any of these "suggestions" and so she told both that there is no need for this and why: Samir already redeemed himself long ago and yes, that also goes for Nabu Malikata's death. And even though Nahida is not her and can never be her, she is still a good Archon for her people.", they recalled, before sighing once again, "...Well, the reassurances didn't quite work and those three continued this "No, me! No, me!" thing, which started getting really annoying after a while!"
"...Before long the Traveler had a deadpan expression on their face, as they looked between the trio arguing about who should be the one to sacrifice themselves.", "Paimon" continued, looking and sounding a little amused now, "Not like I don't understand their reaction, Irminsul had to be saved and fast, yet this trio were dallying so much. This is what happens when you are surrounded by stupid self sacrificing people...", she thoughtfully added, sounding a little sentimental as she did so, "...Understandably, the Traveler was quite done with them by this point, so they decided to intervene and purify Rhadames from the "earlier stolen"(as Rukkhadevata called it) corruption."
"And Samir looked really annoyed about this, as if I did something wrong!", the Traveler added in some annoyance, before their expression turned thoughtful, "...He also mumbled something about everyone being "idiots, sentimental morons!" and how he is "going to leave soon anyway, so what is the point of any of this...?!"...Now that I think about it, he was really prepared to die again, didn't he...?", they couldn't help but wonder aloud, "...But I am not sorry about what I did, since: "If Tragedy can be avoided, then we have to do everything we can so it will.". I am just glad that I have enough of my original power back, which helped the purification succeed. Thanks to this, not only Rukkhadevata didn't need to be completely forgotten, but both Samir and Nahida could safely continue their lives.", they gladly admitted, before wearily sighing moments later, their expression suddenly turning annoyed, "...And then, after we all talked between ourselves, the "Irminsul burning" situation happened...", they soon started summarizing, in their own words, what happened back then and after, the whole thing taking around 5 minutes, "...After closing the call with Venti, we soon followed after Samir and Nahida with Xiao's help(he teleported us to where they were), just in time to see Samir showing the shocked people a certain "video", as Nahida was begging him to "Stop this, please!", "There is no need to blame yourself for everything!", "None of what happened later was your fault!" and similar pleadings. Which he seemingly ignored, continuing to show the "video" with a determined and somehow glad look on his face.", they wearily sighed, once again, "...It was the same one he apparently "downloaded" that time when we were at Priest Kasala's tomb, as Samir was actively trying to have people blame him for Rukkhadevata's death and what followed…By starting to "explain" to people how him bringing Forbidden Knowledge to Sumeru affected all of these situations for the worse…", they sadly explained, before pausing for a short while, "...And all of this just so that people would fully accept Nahida as their true (+selfless and innocent) Archon after he "leaves", since his "contract" was about to "expire" soon..."