"As I stated before, I have a Resistance, not outright Immunity. So even after I was able to revert it, there's still a tiny bit of corruption remaining in "me". ", "Paimon" said a few minutes later, pretty much answering everyone's unasked question, "But it's alright, I will snap if and only someone gets me extremely mad...Like if THEY dare murder a certain person I love and once again I would have to...", she soon added, her expression darkening once again, before there was short silence, "...It would be for the best, for everyone, if we continued the retelling now. Do you wish to restart it, Traveler...?"
She asked in a calmer, yet still slightly eerie voice,
As she turned to look towards them with a small smile on "her" face...
*A smile that didn't quite reach "her" eyes and felt more like a threat to everyone seeing it...
...
"..."Paimon", I know that you would have easily killed me if you wanted to, so to show me this kind of expression...", the Traveler commented moments later, as they couldn't help but look between her and a certain unconscious person, a weary sigh soon escaping their lips, "...Is this supposed to be some kind of test for me...? Because you must already know as well as I do, that my relationship with Venti is quite a close one. And you must also know how he feels towards those he sees as his friends and/or family.", they added matter-of-factly, looking towards the "Pixie" with a small glare on their face, in reply to which she showed a genuine smile this time, "...I don't know what this "test" was for, but I would rather not be playing mind games at the moment. Today was hard enough as is.", they slightly tiredly added, which followed by a deep sigh and a few seconds of silence, "...So, last time we talked about the "contract" put forward by the Temple of Silence to link Samir's and Nahida's lives together, so that he wouldn't need to disappear. Which Nahida and soon many other people agreed to, but Samir was reluctant to, even after all the reassuring words people told him. That's when Cyno "took things into his own hands" and summoned Kasala with this "Sacred Rite: Wolf's Swiftness" skill of his. After which...", they resumed the retelling, looking a little confused a few seconds later, "...Actually, I am not quite sure what Kasala(through Cyno) actually did. Apparently it was some kind of "Ancient magic" that he used to put Samir to sleep...?"
"It was part of the "Hermanubis technique", which was created by a fellow priest, also known as the "greatest of sages".", "Paimon" supplied, looking and sounding more calm than anything, "...Rhadames recognized it almost right away, but couldn't stop due to his extremely weakened state at that point. After which everyone had to be quick, or he might disappear any second."
"It was a literal rush for time, which only worked because Nahida readily agreed to proceed with the "contract", promising to do anything asked of her.", the Traveler admitted, looking and sounding a little concerned, as they once again moved the "Viewing Window" to show Nahida and Samir lying unconsciously on the bed, "By the end of it, she also fell unconscious and the two of them were like that ever since."
"Both of them are fine, Traveler. Their bodies are still getting used to this new connection between them. It shouldn't take them long to stabilize and once they do, they will wake up.", "Paimon" said almost right away, sounding reassuring, before there was a short pause, "...If you really want to worry about someone, how about checking on what Mahamatra Cyno and Yaksha Xiao are currently doing...? There is clearly something more going on with those two than just them volunteering themself as guards for this room.", she suddenly said, sounding quite thoughtful, "I can continue with the retelling while you are busy with that."
"...You think that they are faking being okay and...?", the Traveler started, before their words suddenly trailed off, "...Xiao recently saw that horrible "nightmare" and must still be affected by it. And with Cyno being connected to Kasala and everything that recently happened in Sumeru...", they thoughtfully and slightly worryingly added, before there was a small pause, "...Yeah, I should definitely check on how they are doing. Paimon...Uh, "Paimon", I will be back here in a few minutes. I think."
And with these words, sounds of walking were soon heard, followed by the sound of a click,
Before the "Viewing Window" was shifted towards the closed room door and then to the familiar Pixie's face...
...
"...Well, looks like I would be continuing the retelling alone now.", "Paimon" soon said, looking and sounding a little amused, "...But that is going to be in "part 2", everyone~"
Approximately five minutes ago the Traveler went to check on Cyno and Xiao,
While "Paimon" promised to continue the retelling, which she soon did…
"...'Approximately five minutes ago the Traveler went to check on Cyno and Xiao, While "Paimon" promised to continue the retelling, which she soon did...'...Yes, that looks like an adequate enough way to start our 'part 2'.", "Paimon" soon said, still looking and sounding quite amused, which was followed by a small chuckle, "...As for the retelling, there's not much left to tell, really. Most of the info is about Sumeru's post-crisis aftermath.", she continued, looking and sounding more serious now, "First of all, since the Sanctuary of Surasthana is the main and "easiest" gateway for Irminsul, it's now being guarded with the cooperative help of the Eremites and the Aranara. Which is truly an interesting decision to make, since in order to enter it from there, you must either be Kusanali/"Irminsul Branch" or be in a possession of a Gnosis. And I can't see "Ill Dottore" returning to Sumeru anytime soon...", she thoughtfully added, before there was short silence, "Other than the matter of entering Irminsul from the Sanctuary of Surasthana, there were also discussions about what happened during the recent crisis and afterwards, which also included the "Shinjimouche" project and the "Irminsul Burning" situation. This was when the news of the Sages' plan to revive Rukkhadevata through the Fatui Harbringer has come to light, as well as the summary of what led to the "Irminsul Burning" situation. The people are still waiting for the Traveler and Paimon, as well as Rhadames and Kusanali, when the two wake up, to tell the details of the situation. As for the treacherous Sages led by Azar and their allies...", she smiled in clear amusement, before there was a short and dramatic pause, "For the moment, while people decide on the appropriate punishment, the "lackeys" that could still move were given to the mob to judge. As for Azar and the 3 treacherous Sages, the Jinni Liloupar was given full permission to "lecture" them thoroughly and even help decide on an appropriate punishment. Considering how much trouble they made for her former and current masters, I am certain they are having a "great time" at the moment~", she darkly chuckled by the end of the sentence, her expression still mostly amused, "...Speaking of an appropriate punishment, I can make a suggestion or two, as well...One that would continue forever, happening over and over, as if in an unbreakable loop...", she suddenly mumbled, as her expression darkened considerably, before it became brighter once again moments later, "The Traveler already promised to stay in Sumeru for some time, in order to help Kusanali and Rhadames rebuild it after the recent crisis. And as mentioned before, they are also going to explain the "Burning Irminsul" situation in detail, so that Sumeru can send letters of explanation to the other nations."
She ended the explanation with this, soon quietly floating in place,
As she was looking towards the "Viewing Window" with a blank expression on her face...
*As if waiting for someone to either say or ask her something,
Or at least, that's what it looked like to most of the office's occupants...
...
Which included Albedo, who has just realized what he wanted to ask for some time now...
*A memory that came into his mind as "Paimon" was talking of the "Original timeline" during her retelling about Rukkhadevata...
...
...
That time, during the resumption of the Weinlesefest festival,
The Winds' words to him...Their "confession"...
"Not just the Equivalent Exchange, but there was another "side effect" of HER reviving Barbatos: SHE split, which brought her power out of control...
...Which reset Teyvat's TIME to at least days if not a week or more prior, with some changes made from the "first timeframe" continuing onto the new one.
...And now the TIMEline itself is a complete mess..."
...
...
With HER now here, calling herself "Paimon",
Perhaps, asking about this would be alright...?
...
"...I remember almost everything, but small details here and there...Like I sometimes forget about being the Anemo Archon! Other than that...I can't remember everything that happened five hundred years ago...I remember being woken up by the people, fighting Durin together with Dvalin and then going back to sleep again...Yet, my memory between those two events is blank, as if it was erased or sealed...
...I think I rushed somewhere, that I saw the other six Archons on one side and another person on the other...
...I think I saw everyone's horrified expressions and someone yelling my name...?
The next thing I remember was lying in someone's lap...And looking up to see the shocked (And horrified...?) expressions of the other 5 Archons...With the Dendro Archon...Nowhere to be found...There was...Wetness...From above...She...She...Was..."
...
"Erasure...From Irminsul...? Erasure of the memory of your existence from this world…All your failures and successes attributed to someone else...
-...Your existence...No one remembers...They are not allowed to...
...In their memories, you never were...
...You are just a void...
...Formless...Bottomless...Forgotten...
...Forever...Gone..."
...
...
Their Archon's situation,
And also...
...
...
"I am glad to see how much everyone here cares for Barbatos.
...
...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."
...
"...Yes, you are right that "Paimon" only saw Barbatos die once. This time, it truly seems to be the case.
...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...
...Call me selfish, but I hope that this time he will survive. Resetting everything so many times in succession is starting to get tiring…"
...
...
That person, she...
...
"It's alright. Everything is going to be alright.
Now that you saw Barbatos' condition for yourselves, it is time I share with you what I know and the way to save him."
...
That time when Venti forced himself into a deep sleep,
Just so he wouldn't hurt anyone during his amnesia...
*What happened to Lily was truly hard on him...
...
...
If they were truly the "same" person,
But separated "parts"...
...
"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...
...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...
...If only people had more resistance to it, just as "I" and (now also) Barbatos do..."
...
"As I stated before, I have a Resistance, not outright Immunity. So even after I was able to revert it, there's still a tiny bit of corruption remaining in "me".
But it's alright, I will snap if and only someone gets me extremely mad...Like if THEY dare murder a certain person I love and once again I would have to..."
...
...
It would be best to ask this, while he still can...
*Who knows when he would have another chance...?
...
But in a way that THEY wouldn't notice...
...
...
"It's fine, I can read your thoughts. Your realizations are correct, "we" already talked before.", "Paimon" suddenly said, now looking straight at him through the "Viewing Window", "...As for the Winds' words and the "Equivalent Exchange" situation, that's when I took his place.", she mysteriously admitted, while showing a small and sad smile, "Just like last time, 𝓅𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓈𝑒 𝒸𝑜𝓃𝓉𝒾𝓃𝓊𝑒 𝓁𝑜𝑜𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒶𝒻𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝐵𝒶𝓇𝒷𝒶𝓉𝑜𝓈 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓂𝑒, 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎𝑜𝓃𝑒.", she almost pleadingly said, her voice sounding unusually mesmerizing, as she went into a small bow, "...If something happens to him again, I..."
...
...
"I̷̘͙̹͍̟̘̯̲͇͑̍̇ ̶͚̰̙̪̼̻̲͇̰̐͛͑̑̅̇̈́͜͝m̸̢̞̞̖̦͍̲͙̟̀̑͊i̷̛̫̜͐͋͛̈͆͒g̵̛͉͖̿̏͌̓̾̾̚͝h̷͈͛̏̈t̸̙̺͕̼̖̙̒̓͌ ̵̫̳̟͖̭͉̭̮͈̔͑̍͋̔̋̓̚͠͝j̵̧͍͙̜͉̠̄̉̉̈͘͝u̴̦̱͆̏͐̉̿̓̎͠͝s̸̨̨̡̡̹̫̝͓̬̋̒̂͝͠ͅt̶̛̼͚̯̠̖͛̾́.̷̗̓̀̀̀̾͂̈́͠ͅͅ.̶̛̺̣͉͈̠̀̈́̓͋̓́͝͠.̴̨̙̟͖̩̦̫̱̘̃̔̍̈̀̈ͅO̷̤̼̲͈̭̪̺͔̣̬͇̦̍̕ͅn̷̹͘ć̴̢̨̡͙̝̳̜̜̳͇̞̱͂̈́̓̎͋ě̷̡͈̱̣͚̩̄͑̇ ̷̱̼̼̦̫̪͔͙̤̩̋̄̆͋͌͝ā̴̧̨̛̩̣̺̳͔͇̖̔͐̈͊̕͜ͅg̴̨̧̡̨͖͉̩̮͖͚̲͔͗͝͝a̷͖̖͒̄ḭ̵̤̼̞̥̰̰͚̮̭͕͈̈́̾̓͑͐̈̑͗͛̀͘͝͝n̷͖̈́̏͌͛.̷̤̥͙̖̺́̾̉͊̍̃̈́̂̈̐͘͜.̸̧̢̝̮̤͇̥̻̮̯̰͉́ͅͅ.̵̡̼̜̭̖̲̮̰̦́̆̃͋̽̕͜͜Ţ̶̙̭̙͐̽͗̌̃̍̒̒̀̆́͐͛̂̃͋͋͊͒̎̌̽̀͘͘͠ḣ̸̛͓͍̼͕̬̼͙̖̜͈̘͍̒͗̓̎̋̍̆̋̓̀̏̽̂̓̽͗͐͑̓͆̄̾̇͘̕͘͜͝ȩ̷̡̗̖̝̀̐́̉͑̓̆̔̾̌̒̉̆͗̆͋̆̌͐͐̾́̑̄̓̕ ̵̨̡̡̛̛̛̝̼͎̗̗̘̠̩̼̝͚̩̖̦̭̪̦̫̱̖̼͖̯̘̣̔̿̆͗̾̒̏̃̿̇̒̈́͑̐͂̈́̚ͅt̴̯͙̼͖̟͚̻̭̞̖̙͓̱̠͖͖̞̟͉̻̱̲͎͈͈̻̆̀̀ͅį̵̢̡̛̫̻͇̞̺͙̤̳̥̈̅̅́̋̐̋͝͝͝͝m̸̼̠͚͓̮̝̻͈̼̜͓͓͗̈́̏̑̆͆̓͒̈́̍͊e̷̠͎̫͍͙̖̙̱̱̜͌l̸̙͒̒͝i̵̱̪̦͋͂̀̎͐̄̌̈́̉͋̐͆͋̂͂̒̋͗͋̈́́̾̆̚̚̕̕͠n̸̢̛̠͓̟̫͎͉͙̙̞͚̣̬͔͉͇̺̦̝͉̗͙̲̰͇̑̾̔́͒̈́͂͛́̔͒̉̈́́̅̅̈́̎́̒̚̚͝͝ͅe̶̢̡̜̝̖͖͚̮̣̪̰̱̬̦̮̱̖̭̫̮̰̗̣̅̔̎͑̀̋̒̿̀̐̿̑̚͘̚͜͝ͅ.̸̢̧̨̛̯̦̫͎̳͎̭͙̭̱̼̣̺͓̘̳̱̯͕͚̪͍͕̀̋̈́̊̆̒.̵̡̛̰̮̟͓̻̯̳̖͙͉̫̗̌̈̐̏̂̈́̎̓̑̓͛̇͗͗̒̅̉̃̈́͝͝͝.̶̻̠̜͓͚̖̫̖͎̪̩̦̣̳̜̝̻̟̩͗̎̓́̆̒̌͐͊̒͋̀͆͋̋͝͠"
...
...
"...Let's just end the call here, this retelling took a lot of TIME, right...?", "Paimon" said moments later, upon straightening herself, as she proceeded to float neared to the Dodocommunication Device, "...Whatever happens in the future, remember that FATE can be changed. It's hard, but possible nonetheless. The main problem is overwriting THEIR "Defective system"..."
She almost mumbled the last part, before completely closing the call,
Leaving everyone in the office to think about what just happened…
-This "retelling" left a lot to think about and it's really starting to get late now. Shouldn't everyone return to their duties and continue with this tomorrow...?-Diluc couldn't help but say around three minutes later, as he looked between everyone in the room, his gaze stopping on Kaeya. -...And in the meantime, I would like to get some answers, as well.
"Like what this 'child of a noble clan of Khaenria'h and it's temporary rulers after king Irmin's failure of 500 years ago' was all about.", was left unsaid,
And yet it needed not be, as Kaeya soon realized what his brother wanted to know...
*There were still things that he didn't share with Diluc, even now when they finally made up...
...
He was truthfully a little worried about his brother's reaction to these news,
Which might be due to what happened between them in the past...
...
...
-You don't need to worry about me, Dear Brother. And there is no need to blame yourself for what happened in the past. -Kaeya couldn't help but soon say, trying to look and sound as reassuring as possible, upon seeing Diluc's reaction. Looks like his uncertainty showed in his expression...-...I am going to tell you everything this time, Diluc. Even if it's going to take some time.
-...I don't care how much time it takes, even if it would be the whole evening and night. -The older brother truthfully answered, soon looking a little guilt stricken. -And even if you say it's okay now, I am sorry for reacting the way I did in the past and leaving you traumatized. If only I have been a better brother...-He admitted, his words soon trailing off, before his expression turned determined. This was not the time to feel sorry for himself. -Let's go to Dawn Winery together, Kaeya. I am certain that Adelinde is already preparing dinner and it would surely be too much for me to finish by myself...
He soon added, sounding mostly calm,
Yet there was still some uncertainty in his voice...
-Oh, so you are inviting me just so I could finish your food for you. Can't eat it all by yourself, even when it's so delicious, eh...?~ And here I thought you were already a "big boy"~ -The younger brother teased moments later, looking a little amused. -But fine, I don't mind keeping you company and helping you with the food. As long as there is some of that fine Dawn Winery wine to go along with it~
He ended with a small and mischievous smile towards his brother,
Which Diluc returned moments later, before the two proceeded to leave the room together...
...
-We should go back to the lab now. -Albedo said moments later, as he turned to look towards Emilia with a thoughtful expression on his face. -Your "flower children", how soon can you send them to me, sister...?
-...If I leave for Dragonspine now, I can send some to you early in the morning. -Emilia answered a few seconds later, looking and sounding quite serious, before her expression turned a little amused. -...But since I am doing you a favor here, brother, how about you accompany me to the mountain...? This way, you could also choose the ones you prefer most yourself.
-...Oh, is there some small difference in their physical attributes or personality...? -He couldn't help but wonder soon enough, looking and sounding thoughtful now, before there was a short pause. -Alright, let us go there together, Emilia.
He said in all seriousness,
As they too, soon proceeded to leave the room...
-...Just wait a moment as I give the notes to Temporary Librarian Fischl. -Was what Emilia said before they went out of the room and closed the office door behind them.
...
-I am going to take Lord Barbatos back to the Cathedral. -Seamus promised moments later, as he went to put the Dodocommunicator in his Vision's "Hammerspace", before proceeding to take the still sleeping Venti into bridal carry. -...All the "revelations" we were told about during this "retelling"...-He quietly and slightly worriedly said, upon standing in place with the Archon in his arms. -...I think I need some time to reflect on them and decide on the next course of action. -He admitted before turning to glance towards the other occupants of the room, as Varka and Frederica now looked a little worried, as well. -...Our Archon...To think there is so much happening to and around him...And we probably don't know even half of it…!
And with these words, he soon proceeded to leave the room,
With the Alder Knight helping him out by opening and then closing the door...
...
-We should take a break for today and continue things tomorrow. -Frederica said moments later, looking and sounding a little weary now. -Both the documents reviewing and sighing...And the discussion of everything we heard during today's "retelling".
-That would be nice, Alder knight. -Was all Varka could answer, looking and sounding a little weary as well. -...And here I thought that taking care of all those documents was tiring...-He soon mumbled, while looking towards where the Dodocommunicator was before, before he turned his gaze to the nearby sofa where Venti was lying until recently. -...In such a confusing and worrying situation, is there something we can realistically do...?
In reply to his words, Frederica was silently looking through the office window,
Towards their City of Freedom and the sky above...Where Celestia was...
*But what if Celestia was not the only "thing" there, in the sky...?
What else could be there, that they couldn't see from here...?
...
And what is "the sky" to begin with...?
...
...
...
"Alchemist Emilia was not wrong. Thanks to HER "judgment", Mondstadt cannot afford to lose Barbatos. Because if he does die and then disappear...", the Winds commented to one another a minute or so later, sounding quite thoughtful, as well as concerned, "...Not only the people, but the Timeline itself will be affected...Istaroth, she...Yet another reset...", a deep sigh was soon heard, "...How many of them were there until now, anyway...? And just how much was changed or stayed the same between each one…?"