He woke up to the sight of the familiar ceiling...
*Was he really in his and Barbara's room in the Ca...?
-So you finally woke up, Venti. -A familiar voice interrupted his thoughts, as he soon turned around to its source, to the sight of Rosaria drinking wine from a fancy looking glass. -...Do you want some...? I made sure to bring two glasses. -She soon continued upon proceeding to turn around and walk towards the nearby table, where the wine bottle and another glass stood, as moments later she put her own glass down and poured wine to the other. -This wine is also quite good. I sto..."Found" it at Angel's Share a while ago.
She nonchalantly explained upon taking the two glasses into her hands,
And started the short walk towards the bed, as she soon gave the Archon the newly poured glass of wine...
*Barbatos thought about saying something about her small slip up, but since she was giving him wine...
-...So, can you tell me what happened after Paimon...After I was knocked out...? -He decided to ask instead, upon gratefully taking the offered glass and drinking some of the wine. Just as Rosaria told him, it was delicious~ -...Is the Library also...? You know...
-..Still in a restored state...? Yes. -Rosaria admitted before sipping some of her wine, as her expression soon turned a little annoyed. -...If I didn't know you were knocked out, I would have lectured you for using so much of your Time Power you would collapse, Lord Barbatos.
-...Y-you don't have to worry about that! I-I became much stronger lately, so this amount wouldn't make me collapse! -The Archon couldn't help but shakily reassure her, dreading the possible lecture, before he suddenly became quiet. Remembering how his Time Power became stronger, he wanted to visit THAT place again...And seeing as Rosaria was acting as his guard now. -...Due to how much my Time Power has grown, I managed to restore part of Old Mondstadt to how it was 2600 years ago, before the rebellion. If you don't mind, would you like to vi...? -His words suddenly trailed off, as his eyes widened. How could he forget something so important?! -...Sorry, before visiting Old Mondstadt, there's something else that I have to do. Are the Traveler and Paimon still in the restored Library...?
"There's something I need to discuss with them both.", was what he didn't added,
And yet, based on Rosaria's currently thoughtful expression, she must have already realized this...
...
But before she could even open her mouth to form a reply...
"Barbatos, we are so glad that you are alright now!", the Wind Spirits yelled out in happiness, upon suddenly appearing and clearly stopping themselves from tackling him, "...If not for that wine glass in your hand, we would have already given you a nice big hug. But we are not annoyed about this, since we understand that the wine must be very tasty.", they soon explained, before there was a short pause, "...Actually, now that we can take on a solid form, can't we also have a taste of this tasty looking drink you love so much?!", they suddenly exclaimed, looking and sounding shocked, before there was another pause, "Sorry about that. Even though we waited for you to wake up and "take things in" after what happened, to yell out at the idea of drinking alcohol...", they added in a guilt stricken voice, looking a little dejected now, "...Traveler from the stars and mo...HER soul are at the "Mysterious Lagoon" now.", they informed moments later, their voice now sounding a little sad, "...The Traveler from the Stars told us that they keep visiting the place because it helps them remember the times they spent with their Twin."
They were currently sitting around a small campfire,
Eating grilled fish, while watching the sea...
"This food is so tasty! I am really glad we decided to go fishing!
...It's a miracle that this sea is still alive, unlike the land near it, which had almost..."
"I agree, ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛, it's a really good thing we decided to come here."
...
"...As mysterious as the sea is, it's not as scary as everyone says it is.
...Besides, isn't it better to put trust into the unpredictable unknown, rather than the clearly bad known...?"
...
...
This was, another memory of them and their Twin,
One which was completely forgotten for the longest time...
*And the one they remembered thanks to staying in this place...
...
"...Besides, isn't it better to put trust into the unpredictable unknown, rather than the clearly bad known...?"
But this sudden question of their Twin's,
What was their reply to it...?
*This was something they still couldn't remember...
...
...
Besides that, this memory...Why did they remember it specifically...?
*It wasn't just because they were also…?
…
…
…
Their Twin becoming the Abyss Order Leader,
Could it have something to do with...?
-Oh, Traveler, Paimon, so this is where you were! -Their thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the familiar voice of their friend, as Venti just teleported in, his expression soon turning thoughtful. -...I just recently woke up after getting so suddenly knocked out. Which reminds me...-His gaze soon shifted towards Paimon, as his expression got a little serious. -...Paimon, what kind of connection do you have with Kairos...?
The Archon soon asked, catching her by surprise,
And even the Traveler was caught off guard by the sudden question...
*They knew why their friend was asking this, as he must have saw "Paimon" knocking him out,
But to ask Paimon of this so suddenly...
...
-...Eh...? Paimon has a connection...To the Goddess of Time...? -The Pixie asked in great confusion and some surprise, before she got eerily quiet for a few seconds. -...Paimon doesn't really know what Paimon is...And now Paimon has something to do with such a powerful and important person...?! But Paimon doesn't have any memory of even meeting her, so how can Paimon...?! P-Paimon even had to learn how to fight from the Knowledge Capsule and...!
The Pixie soon started to mumble to herself, her words getting too quiet to hear,
As both her voice and expression was getting progressively more and more shocked...
...
-It's alright, Paimon. You don't have to answer me if you don't know. -Venti soon told her, both his expression and voice reassuring, though a tint of sadness could still be heard. -...From what I saw and heard back then, I suppose it's no wonder that you don't know...
He couldn't help but soon mumble, upon remembering what exactly he "saw and heard"...
...
"Besides, why are you still calling her Paimon...?
You should know well by now that "Paimon" was in fact the soul-part of..."
"Dream Dvalin's" words to him at that time...
...
...
Paimon, just like himself and the Traveler, must be part of HER "Plan"...
...
"̶̡̧̜̼͓̪̟̪̮̳͈̹̰̳̼̖͉̪̤̣̹͕͍̻͓͍̻̰̟̒̍̔̄̒͂̏̍̈́̃̎͜I̵̢̛̳͙͇͖͑̾̑̈́͊̃̉͑͛̇̌̀̌̎́͌̆̃͊̾̈̓̔̒̾̚̚͝͝n̶̡̨̫̦̞͓̲̗̩͕͕̲̭͕͍̩͈͖̖̬͖͔͙̼̮̠͒́̌͊͊̐̒̔̓͆̂̃̎̄̊̂̉̃͒̅͆̅̊̑̕͜͜͜ ̴̧̢̢̧̛͖̫̻̣̮̩̱͉̪̹̾́͌͜͝t̷̥̠̗͚̬̜̲͍͉̠̪̱̠͑̍̕h̵̺̞͙͉̝̦̪̥͊͋͐̐͋͛͛͑͒̈́̕͜͝é̴̤̜̱̟̮̪̰̑͗̓̿̃̈́͋̚͝ ̶̧͙̤̳͙̹͔̻̞͕̬̥̘̱̤̥͓̟̆́̎͊̀̀ẃ̶̡̢̞͕̖͇͖̝͈͉̯̦̈́̀̿̒̇̈́́́͐̇̅̀́̔̈̈́̉̊̒͌̿̂̚̚̚͝͝͝ͅơ̷̧̢̧̭̫̗̯̺̦͔̥̙͓̰̫̱̫̲̝̟̳̼͎̦͎̯̗͓͒͋̈́̊̇̏̉̏̾̓̐͑̇͒̈̓̄̈́͊̇̌́͗̇̄̕͘͜r̴̡̛̯͓̹͕̗̲̰̮̤̱̹̮̻̻͍͇͍͎̤͉̼̤͋̑̒̽͛̊̂̎̋̉̀̑̐̋͑̏̔̀͋͘̕̕͘͘͜͜͝͝s̵̢̛̰̫̗͈͔̽͗̂̓́̆͐́̓̈͋̏̃̽͆̎͐͗̄̂͘͘͘͘̚͠ͅͅẗ̴͕̣̭̺̣͖̣͔̞̣̪̓̑͗̑̾̾̚͜͠ ̷̢̢̜̼̳̩̑̓͊̀̎̄̊̓́̊͠͝c̵̢̮̟͈͔̓͗͘a̴̡͎̯̬̟̜̥̙̠̬̣̝̺̞̭̗͇̩͆͒̐̆̐̔͑̀̿̅͘͠ş̸̛̛͎̱̙͇̖͙̝͇͕̩̫̖̲̖̟̠̦̬̼̜̼̣̍̓̓́͗̂͐̈́͌̉̿̊̐̐̋̇̇̀͆̍̔͂͘̚̕͝͠ͅͅe̴̦͚̤͍͕̟̠̊̿̀̒̌̋̈͂̒̉̈͗̇̕͝ͅ ̸̟̯͖̜͓͇̭̼̜͈̻̯̘̠̎̓͆̉̂͌́̄͗͋̐̎͋̔͂̿̓̅͑̄́̆͘̚͜͝͝͝s̶͈̤̯͆̀̈̋̈́̕͝c̸̢̨̧̛̛͙̪̺͚̜̱͓͉̱̭̙̟̬͕͎̈́̓̽̈́̂̒̑̈́̀̔͊́͗̑͌͠͝e̸̞͇͍̦̻̽̔n̵͙̹͙̹̖̻̘̪̗͓̬̞̮̣̺̱̳͑͜ạ̶̡̢̡̛͍̘̗̹͎͎̣̼͙̤̮̘̖͍̝̙͕̦̺͆͒́̎̋̔͜r̶̡̧͙̩̘̼̪̲̪͈̥͍͍̬̥̭̯̿͋͂̋̽̾̀͗͗͐͊̀̿̅́͗̒̚̕̕̕ͅį̴̛̛͍̲͕͕̠͕̣̼̤̱̬̳͈̘̓͑͑͜o̵̫̲̣̗̔̀̾̇̔̇͘͝,̸̡̭͒͛͆̏͌̈ ̸̨̰͚̺̝̭̜̫̻̟͖͔͈͖͇̫͎̟͖̺͕̜̲̟̥͚̘̰͐̈́̽̃͆̔̐̿͋͆̿́̌̓̃̌͘͜͜͝Ḯ̷̢̨̧̧̛̛̙̩̜̺͇̣̜̦̖͈͎̤̩͙̜̭͙̣̰̮̫͇̈́̄͒͑̾̽̏͊̅̔̾͑̾͑̔͂́͒̓͋̾͘̚̕͜͝ ̷̡̻͙̯̜̬͇̫̠͎͍̜͈̥̓͋̎́̒͌̀̐̆͛̐̂͐̃̓̏̀͆͌̇̒̒̂̓̈͂͝͠w̸̢̛̜̫̺̩̞͚̞̬̣͎͍̫͖̩͐̓̉̂̌́͒̃̎̍͋̆́̎̂͋̀̊́̆̇̈́̇̔̕͘͝į̸̡̧̠͓̖͉̬̞͎̥̫̬̙̼̼̞̥̗̫̝̜̳̻͖̳̫̬̈́͂̊̊̓́͊͊͂̍́͛͑̚ͅĺ̷̛̛̛̛̝̺̳̥̱̬̖̰̬̹̫̥̝̇̔̀̓̋͊̋̊̆̋̉̉͛̑̏́́̄̿̐̂̇̚͝ͅļ̷̩͈̪͚̻̗̤̘̺̤͙̰̞͔͋͊̅̌̚ ̶̢̺͌̏́͊̏̍̑̉̄̽̓̇̉̈́̉̍̾̓̃̏̈́̃͑̿̂̀͝n̵̡̧̬̬̦̠̼̼̺̻̜͍̥̜̯̭̍͒̾̍͘͠e̵̢̢̬͇̱͔̫̩͚̪̙̻̜̜̊͛̓͆̂͂͑̿̕͝e̷͕̟͇͚̫̝͕̼̳̹̝͗ḓ̸̡̛̟͓̪͍̻̪̖̰̙͓̖̞̳͕͉̪͚̈́̓̋̀͐̏͊̿̀͌̓̑̋́̃̍̄́̇̍̐̈́̆̕͠͠͠ͅ ̷̢̢͓͚͔̥͚̞͎͇̗̮̩͈̹͇̬̱͖̰̠̱̲̼͇̦̮̼̺̒̀́̈́̉͂̌͐̈́̾̿́̇͛͂̂̚͜H̶̨̧͍͎̟͙͉̺̭͔̪͕̰̤̠̱̫̗͂̅́́͌̌̑̍̆̄̅̅͌͊͑̏̆͜ͅĘ̴̢̛̘̭̫̱͔͚̟̭̩̖̣͇̳̫͍͕̎͗͊̀̂̀̉̿̓̏̈̈́̆͠͝R̵̻̻̮͍̰̠̟̿̾̋̾̍̈́́͘ ̴̛̜̏́̂̔̔̎̂͑̃̾̃͜t̵̢̛̩̬̰̙̝̳͊́̎̊́͑̀͋̅̚͘͜͠͠ǫ̸̘͔͉͇͇̝̖͖͓͈̩͉̋̃̈́͑̽̓̔͌̋̍͜ ̵͉̖̙̰͚̠̻͎̳̯̻͓̳̤͆̓̈́́́͒̋̇͋̓̈́̽͌̔̔̾̑̕͜b̸̢̧͈̳̠̬̫̬͙͖̙͉̻͖̜̻͍͍̫̲͍̥͔̙͇̐̽̊ȇ̸̢̛̠̼͚̘̹̩͔̪̹͉̻̣̻̜̥͚̘̹͔̩̭̋͐͑̅̀̽͋̓̓̓̉̃̄̄͛͛̓̇́̊̓͆̅̚͜͠͝͝ ̷̟̟̹̿̊̈́͗̓̇́̀̈́̐̃̅͛̀̓̔̂̓͐̍̊̄͒̕͘͠͝ş̶̧̻̮̣̪͚̯͎̬̬̀̈́̒͐̑̅̔͒̓͐͌̒̃͛͒͛̈́̚ͅá̸̧̡̨͉̪͇͎̼̙͖͙̟̦̖̗̼̜͈͎̘̬̝̄̃̍͆̇̉̒͘͝͝ͅc̶͖͚͕̥̜̙͎̹̗̳̰͎̞͖̬͒͊̓̍̽͒̃̆́̚r̶̨̜̞̤̺̬̰̻̪̘͂̾̍̋̆̓̐́͛̇͐̈́̄̓̇̓̌̈́͊̽͒̈́͘͠i̶͎̼̪͈̭̝͎̫͔̮͇̩̠̠͔͈̪̩̯̜̫͇͓̬̦͈͌̆̒̀́͌̔̌̾̓͆̈̑̀̃͊̋̔͌͜͝͠f̴̧̛̻̙͖͔̙̭̫̭͇̪͈̫̬͓̆́͗̔̈́͑̑̃̅͛̑͘͘̚͜͠ͅi̶̧̢͉̪̙͈̮͎͖̤̣̠̩̜̹͓̫̱̔c̵̡̞͎͕̮͖̥͔̙̃͂͒̈́̀̓̐̓̾͌̈͆̏͋̿̄͂̆͘͠͝͝ȇ̷̢̡̼͕̙̩̻̠̩̜̪̺͙̞̦͔̙̹̻̫̻͓̘̯͕̝̂͆̔̅̈́̽͑͊͛̌͆͒̈́̀̐̀͝d̷̢̩̥̱͉̗̳͓͕̙̖̼͚̮̻̫̀͗͆̊̾͂̽̆͗̀͛̍̎̍̉̓͂̋̚͘.̶̻̥̱̻̘̞̱͚̓̈̎̎̆͂̑̓̀̇͊ͅ"̶̛̳̠̗͕̦̰͖̮̥͚͍̂̓̈̀̾̽̈́̀͒́̈́͌͝͝
...
...
Even if Paimon was "just a part",
Wasn't this still way too cruel...?!
...
...
"..."Wendy", are you perhaps...The fusion of the memories I forgot/were sealed away...?"
...
"...Not all of them, but yes. I am part of your sealed memories…Barbatos."
...I was originally supposed to be a part, but, well...As you can see, I somehow became my own "person"..."
She was similar to "Wendy",
Having her own personality and...
...
...
"... W-what...? W-what do you mean..."Sacrificed"...?
...P-Paimon might...Get sacrificed...? B-but why...? E-even if she acts annoying sometimes, she is still...!"
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"̶̡̣̹͉̔̓́͆̀͊̈́̋͐̔̄̄̈͑͌̇͛͗̆̈͒̾̑̀̚͠͠ͅA̵̡̡̦̞̬͙̬̼͈̥̱̺͗̈́͛̓́̌̒͂͂͂́̆̚͠͝ ̸̢̧̧̯̱͉̹̠̹̣̯̗̣̟̖̼̼̬̰̹̙̰͚͇̜͒́̾̈͛̃̇̿̈́͗̌̐̄̔̏̄͒͒͑͗̅̎̂͘͘ģ̸̡̡̡̢̡̩̭̱̯̗̬̝̥͔͙̭͓̬̠̣͚̺̝̓̓̋̈̏̈̿̂͑͊̒̓́͐̓̂͛̑͛́͠ͅȏ̵̡̹̩͍̪̓̈́͑̄͐̑͆ǫ̴̛̼̰̩͓͛̄͐̎͌̌͌͗̈́̅̉̊͊̉̉̇͌͊͋̄̀͐̈́͑̄̏̕̕͝d̶̨̢̨̞̫̼̯̳̫̙͔̺̟̻͓͕̻̳̹̪̜͋̎́͛̍̆̄͑̉̓́̾̈́͌̚͘͝ ̵̧̧̞̥̯̬̤̘͉̗̬̭͓͇͉͚̉̈́́̋̔̔̓̕͘͠͠ͅf̸̢̪̬̭̪̝̞͇̳͓͖̮̞̠̭̣̘̺̥̞̹̪̩͈̗͈̞̮̃ṛ̷̨̛̲̟̭͛̈́́̈́̑̈́̆͑̎͐͋̕̕͝ī̶̯̥̌̏̌͜e̴̪̥̰̭̞͉̘̗̠͍͍͍̩̪̜͊͆̆ͅͅṇ̷̢̱̪̻̳̰͚͖̔̈̃͋ͅd̷̪̄̎̎̑̓͜,̷̼̬̗̣͊̃͌̽̀̿̄̊̈́̅́̒̿̃̑̎͌̋̈͛͑̈́͑̌̈́͝ͅ ̸̨̡̧̧̘̝̝̼̝̼̻͓̦̥̹̬̲̹͈̹̮̘͉̼̣̈́́͊̐̃͑́̒́̉̀̆̒̿͝ͅͅą̸͎͚̜͉̜̝̪͉͍͙͔͈̲͉̖̰̬̼̅̋̚͜ĺ̶̢̮̖͕͉̯̗͈̬͈͉̫͍͖̤̌͆͐̌̌̾̓̍̋͊̊́̈́́͆̽͊̊̄̚͠͠ͅm̸̧̡͚̫̟̝̺͉̰͎̫̙͔͍̰̙͚̂̀͊̕ơ̶̧̢̧̙̣̦̞̮͎̹̲̏̇̂̇̎̀̒̄̇͗̓̽̑̒̿̈̆́̀̕̕͝ͅṡ̵̨̩̣̪̰͎̮͇͚͕̞͍͍̳̙͓͖̼̘͚̈́̊̈̅͊̆̑͑͐̅̀̕͜͜͠t̵̩̯̭̖̰̲͚̹̤̹͓͈̞̙͉̦͇͋̀̌̏̿͐͐͐͂̾̀́͆̌̈́̅͌̓̈́͗̚̚ ̵̢̨̡̧̠̥͚͖̭̝̟͉̤̭̦͎̮̠͉͕̣͎͛̄̌̉͗͊͆͝ͅͅà̵̡͕̠͚̍̓͑́͋̉̋͊͒̐͗͘̕͝͠ ̴̗̟̣͇̖̭̲̭̺̩̣̬͈̯̟̗̻̱̼͎̣͂̇̎͋͜ş̶̡̡̧̢̢̫̩̲̜͈̻̺̞̱̞̣͙̠̥̰̯̟̞͇̟̗͕͒͋̇̍̑͆̋͑̆̀̅͂̾́̑̅̿̇̽̉̈́͗̾́͘̕͝͝͝͝ï̷̟̟̼̰͈̪̝̜̗̖͖̺̮̘͉̯̹̽͝ͅͅͅb̸̧̮͔̰̠̼̫͉͎̳̣̭̣̠͖͎̳͓͖̪̺̒͌̍͑̅̐͜l̶̨̧̻͇͉̜̦͎̲̫̻̥̗͔̥̘͔͈̣̘̠̙̃̏͌͛̆̇̆̂̂̾̍͗̈́̂̚͘͘͠͝͝͠͝į̵̤͔͓̩̲̲̫͇͚̫̘͎͎̲͔̬͔͔̂̓̃̌́͒̔̄̈́̿̇͌̇͂́́̽͘̕͝͝n̷̨̛̛̻̤͖̙̣͍͓̹̮̗̰͇̥̲̮̺͓̻̝̻̲̼̤͈͖̻̘͈̑́͆̌̇̈́̅̓̅̌̀͌̂̊́̂͜͠g̸̢̦͕̼̮̺̖̪̘̱͈̣̖̝͊̈́͐̓̐̉́̈́͗̾̂̒͊͒̌͘̚͝.̶̧̛̬̩̜̭̫̤̼͎̟̬͙̲͙͎͚̮̺͊̂͐̀̐̔̑̈́̈̒̆̉͂̓͊͗͊̈̏͌̀̑͑͘͜ͅ ̸̢̛̰̖̣͉͇̲̤̿͊̋͂̄͗̎́̓̈̊͒̓̈́͛̒̈́̃̊͑̕̚ͅỈ̸̧̧̡͖͈̯̮̜̜̖̪̘̦̰̲̖͈̪͇̰̖͕͍͕̫̺͕̜͎̾̒̆̈͑̀̀̇̈́͘͜ ̴̢̛̻͓̺͚̤͍̈́̈́̆͊̏̒̿̃̋̎͆͌̐̑̓̍͌͜͝͝͝k̸̙̼̼̊n̴̢̩̥̩̜̰̲̤̱̳̙̹͍͇̣͉͈͓͙̹̬̘̩̟͈̱̑̓͆̋̎̄͌̊͗̐̈́̃̉̂͐͜͝͝͝ͅͅͅȏ̶̡͉͍͓̬̬̳͔̫̝̦͚̘̯̼̺̙̤̀̆̀̿̈̈́̿̀̾͌̈͠ͅw̶̧̧̢̡͍̗̠̙̦͖̝̝̘͕͙̭̻̙̣̰͔͚̮̬̺̋̅͘͜͜͝ͅ ̵̢͈̼̤͉̫͔̙̱̜̫̜͍̤͎̤͓͉̱̭̜̱͙̔͗͐̀̒̽͗̇͌̐͜t̷̨̧̛̛̤̻̼̘̬̻̠̰̟͉̟͉̎̃̈́̔̄̅̈́̍̈́̅̎́̎͑̽̀̐́́̄̀͛̂̚͝͝͝͠ḣ̸̛̛̛̲͔̥̳̑͛̇͛͆̉͛͐̂̍̀͒̈́̀̈́̏̏̽̈́̾̕͘͠͝ą̴̛̗͖͙̩͖̱̫̠̖̺̤̙͕͉͍̩̬̫̣̫̞̺͇̤̻͍̝͋́̉̑̾̋̀̅̈̏͂͆̈́̓͑͆̆̀̉͛́̾̿͜͝͠͠t̴̡̛̙̝̩̳͓̝̙̬̜̟̥̙̱̭͖̱̺̘̗̫̬̀̆̆͑̈̍̓͂͆̐̔͌̌͌͑͊̊͌̊̎̀̇̄̋̚̕͝͝ͅ ̴̰̮̭̬̱̭͖̯͍̞̱̀͋̐̊͐̈̎́̿́̌͑̏̉́͝w̴̧̡͖̰͇̗̟̘̰͖̠̼̹̬̭̘͍̝̙̭̤͚͚̤̤̱̒̓͋̌̀̅͒̋͂̋̿̀̈̅̅̽̑̀̿͌̾̇͛̚͘͘͠͝͠ͅͅẹ̶̢̯̙̗̬̬̤̳̫̦͙͇͍̋̈̉̌̿̂̓͛̓̄̔̽͜ͅļ̴̨̡̡̛̩̤͇̣̯͓̞̱̳̮̯̱̪̪̾̈́̊̈́̓̊͛͆̽͒͊͒̂̓̎̇͜͠͝l̵̥̰̪͆̓̓.̵̡̣̭̜͔̮͇̰͉̘̙̤͎̜̬͚̊͒͜͜
̶̛͍̗̮͍̲̾̋͋͋̀͛̌̾͜͠
̷̨͓͓͚̩̝̹̒͊͐͗͐̂̏̕͘͠.̵̨̡̳̼̘̟̫̬̬͙͙̞̘̯͖̻̥̮͇̥̬͕͚̈́͛̒̋̆͋̍̋̇̏̑̾̃̈́̈́̃̑̎͆͆̐͛̽͂͘̕͜͝ͅ.̶̧̨̢̡̯̞̻͚͙͖̼̮̼͉̖̥̝̝͍̜̩͚̞͉̍͒͒̽͋͒́̑̎́̀̃̕̕͝͝͝.̷̸̢̨̢̛̩̯̪̯͔̝͙͓̳̮̳̭͔̗̞̮̥̘͓̱̺͎͉̰̖̳̬̟̜̹̰͎̼̹͉̖̳͕̙̦́͒̓̂̽̅̐͐͋̀̑̏͋̓̿̈́͊̓̏̀̆̔̇̾̍̈́̊̚͜͜͝ͅͅB̴̡̧͍̭͔̼͙̟̣͈̜̝̯̼̠̜̙͠ͅṳ̶̘̹̫̑́̿́͂̾́̀̍͆́̈̆͠ẗ̸̛̼͚͈͚̻̯̦̞̹́̉͌̎͊͗͐̅̅̀͋̐̐̈́̾̈́̾̀̿̈͒̚͜͝͠ͅ ̶̧̡̰̫̟̭̜̣̺͙̻͔̱̹͇̥̯̼̼̬̬͓͑̀̋̑̏̅͊́̊͑͛̀́̏̈́̈́͋́͐̔̎̍͋̀̐͛̐̕i̸̜̤̖̘̺̠̖̤͑͆̈́͆f̶̡̲͚̫̻̲̫͖̤̩̞͖͕͕̌ͅ ̸̦͉͍̭͂̈́͌t̴̡̡̨̢̳͎̗̫͎̘̼̗̞̰͙̪͓̟̣̘̰̞͍͓̻̦͙̫̎̋̒̀̓̓͋́̂͂̓̓̈́͂͑̕̚͝͝ͅh̸̡̢͓̤̫̦́̐̀͆͆̏̈ȩ̸̧̛̟͙̻̼͎̟͓̣̞̞͉̤̱̼̜̬̜̥͌̓̇͛͆͐͊́̽̇̾̔̽̌̿̕ṙ̵͇̩̖͈̻̰͇͕̜͔̬͓̠̩͇̬͎̈̀́̿̃̓̕̚͝e̷̛̛̠͕̼̥̬̹͂̆̃̎͂͛̀̍̏̐͊̑̅͗̑̈́̄̐͘͘ ̷̛̙̣̦̣̯̯̺̮̫̭̖͓̪̑̓̽̂̓̈̄̐̓̓͂̐͐̄͛̅̐̀̚̕̕͠͝ī̶̛̦͚̣̌̏̀̄̀̽́͆̐͆̅̅͛̉̀̒͑̅́̕͠͠͝ş̸͖͖͙͈͛͋̽̓̏̍̃͂̃̾͒̓̈́̆͐̍̉̐̑́̋̀̕͝ ̸̢̨̥̹̭̟̘̗̫̮͎͖̹̱͓̳̮͎̞̥͖̩̦̌̆́̇̀͂ń̶̨̙̺̖͓̩͙̣̥͕̫̜͙́̌̑̉͗̈́͐̏̒̀̈́̈́̓̃͗͒̈́͌̑̿̂̂̑̀͝ͅȍ̴̟̱͎̲̰̠̻̲̹͉̓̾̂̽̀̊͊̋́̿̓̌̍̈̀̄̆̑͜ ̵̧̟̖̬͕̗́̃̈́̒̿̑̏͗́̎̆̍̇̍̆̀̃̕͝ö̵̡̨̝͙̯͔̱̪͕̖͔̘̗͎̫͍̱̭͕́͐͆̋̍t̴̢̛̯͕̦̤͋̆͐̑͛̈́̑̌̚͝ĥ̷̫̼̞͖̮̣̘͕̖͖͌̃̿̈́̂̀̔͆̇̓͒́̈́͐̄̎̀̂̎̐͗̐͠͠ͅe̴̺͈̓ŗ̴̢͔̗̬̩̳͎̞̞̳̰̖̺͎̥͙̩͉͎̮̟͙͍͚̱͔͇͗͑̋̉̓͛̽͒̒̒̇̓͊̽̉̈́̊̈̅̅͆͌̈́͊͘̚͘͜͠ ̶̢̡̫͈͇͓̯̝͒̾̉̑̈́̀͛͋̓̋͛̎̌̀̆̌͂̑̓̓͆̿͘͝͝ͅc̶̢̧̛̦̘̯̰̞̭̠̜̗͉̮͓̀̃̃͌̆̒̅̐̀̀̇͌̊̓̍̎̆͌̑̆̑̕̚͜h̶̞̘̥͖̮̖̥̣͓͍̥͕͓͇̘̤̘̖̱̟̆͌̾̔͒̉͆͐̆̑̀̉̌͒̑̽̕̕͝͝ͅȏ̴̫̫̩̲̙͇̩̰̬͓̘̹̞͖̗̝͇̅̆̀̿̆̇͐̀̊͌̃̒̇̆̏͒̔͆̍̎͊͑̔̚͜͝͝͝͝ͅi̷̛̻͙͖̩̫̇̇͐̌́͆͂͆͊̿̔͋͐̌͌̄̓̃̎̐͑̀̋̾̽̐̚̚c̸̛̱̲̱͎̺͍̦̔̌̎̊͋͑́̓̈́͒̈́̅͆́́̄̈͛͋͗͝͝ͅę̵̨̨̨͍̱͚̩̰̦̰̮͕͇̰͈͙͕͈̘̩̈́̈́ ̵̨̖͔̮̪̩̰̫̝͙̲̖̖͉͖̭̞͖͉̀̃̉̔͜ļ̷̘͇̯͔̥͉̝̭͇̙̖̦̦̞̠̮͚͈̹͖̗̠͍̫̏͘͜ͅȩ̷̢̧̯͍͇̘̜̱͖͎͕̠̮̟͍͇̜̩̘͌̋̅̂͛̃̊̔f̸̢̯̫̗͈̬̱̳̫̫̬̘͕̱͉̬̼̣̘̬͖̒̓͂͗̅̄͒̇͑̌͗̃͆͊͠t̴̨̢̙̝̜̭̪̯̫̳̫̹̯̼͙͔̔͒̊͒̀̐̕.̷̦̥̰̘͖͚̮͇̣̮̤̯̭̌͋̓͆̔̑̐͝.̴̧͖̞̯͎͖̲̰̰̤̘̪̣͓̟̝͈̠̮̹͓̬͍̙̩͙̥̿̾̈͊̒̎̔͜.̵̡̢͔̘̣̲̪̩̜͉̼̠̗̆̔̈́͊̐̈́͋̂̀́͒̅̾̑͛͑̄͊̕͜͝͝
̷̡̞̳̺͍̠͕̙̯̮̻̫͔͍̼̙̘̀̓̀̉͜.̷̲͖̳̪͚͇̺̿.̶̨̘̗͈͉̭̭̳̝̜̮̉̀̕͠.̸̢̨̡̛̯̜̖̮͉̲̫͔̝̮͈͙̪̗̫̹͙̻̗̜̑͒̒͌͛̎̿͗̊̈͛̈́̚͝͝
̵̢̘̹̱̥̪̫̊̈́̇̕.̷̡̧̧̟͓̲͈̲͍͙̠͓̗̗̲̼̱̗͍̹͈̰͖̈̏̈́͆̀̿̉̽̍̂̋̆͛͆̒̿͛̂̀̾̒̍͆̈́̄̕͘̕͜͠ͅ.̸̗̠̱̈.̵̧̭̱̠͚͉̍̾͛̋̎̔̒̆͑̋͌̍̀̔͊̃́̿̄͋̌̾͒̈́͘͘͠͠͠
̷̘̲̫͍̻̣͈̩̻͚͖͖̻̱̟̰̖̙͔̟̹͑̊̓̑̐͂̎̅́͗̇̋̆͛̔͛̾̈́̅̏̿̓͋͘͝I̸̡̡͕̘̺͇̫͔̱̘̻̞̹͚͎̽͗̋͋̏̄̓ ̷̧̢̡̧̧̛̼͙̻̲̣̥͙̞̤̣͓̗̤̲͉̭̘̱̩̙͔̃̄͊̊̀̎̎̊̽́̊̂͌̈́̑͐̎̚͠͠ͅͅͅa̴͓̱͖͎̟͕͈̠̱͖̲̞̔͐̑͌̉̀̾͐͋̒̎̅̎͆͝͠m̶̡͎͓̠̦̝̜̤͚̮̦̤̤̙̞͖̖̤̩̲̟͕̖͊͌͊̽̓̿̌̿̎͒͂̿̔̃̊̉̔͑͒̾̒͘͝ ̵̨̨̘̪̣̣̰̼͕̣̮̭̲̙̖̼͉̱̠̺̟̩̩̆̎̈̑̾́̍̀́͐̃̈́̄̈͌͋̉̉͂̊͘͝͝ͅt̷̨̤̗̞̦̙͙̫̍̀ȓ̵̮͈̮̳̝̟̦̳̦̪͌̌̉̊́̄͛̌̍͊̈́̓̌̽́͒̎͂͘͜͜͠ư̵͓̠̲̠̲̥͍͚̱̬̺̙͉͕͕̤̭͖͕̤̼͋̓̇̐̔̌̅͜l̷̨̧̢͈͉̜̞̣͚̻̼̼͍̪͖̜̲̺̪͚̭̬̪̝̗͂̈̓̿̿͆̂̈͌̓̆̊̔̄̀̄̒̍͛̏͘͝͠͠y̷̨̛͍͖̳͚͓̠̭̘̤̗̹̬̖̟͊̃̆͑̌͊̌͑̏̒̿̊̓̎͑͗̆̊̆̾̏̕̕͜͜͝͝ ̷̢̢̧̩̪̪͔̳̬̱̜̲̯̦̟̭͙̓͌̎̐̆̄̾̉̀̒́͆̔̃͊͆̀̎̇̿̃͗̑̉̓̕͝͠͝ş̸̧̨̹̺̜̜͎̥̗͈̗̱͙͇͙̙͕̈́̒͑̇̿̓͗̓͂̆̋̚͠͝͠ͅͅơ̷̧̧͕̝̼̰̝͔̲̱͖̰̻̥̣̳̅̊͗͛̒͛͛̀́́̒͜r̸̨̧̡̛͍̘̠̪͚̺͈̼̠̦͇̭̼̬͉̻͍͎̘̬̣̒͆̽̀́̈́̐̋̊͐̊̈́̀̈́̔͜͝ṙ̵̰̳̗͙͊̿̀̕ý̵̨̫̫͂͛̌̌͋̈͆̀̃͘,̴̧̧̧̢̩̱̮̞̘͈̥̘̻̮̹̮͇̠͈͗̆̓͋̌̊͛͌ ̵̡̢̛͍̗̩̦̯̣̤̺̦̻̱͈̝͇͕͎͔̩̪̜͚̜̮͓̊́̽̄͋̀̿̏̌̽̈́̅̍̆͊̑͑̓͑͐̑̕͝͝͝B̵̰̟̰̬̥̄̈́͋͊́̄͊͛̀̆̿̀̎̀̏̾̈́̂̅̏͘̚͘͝͝ä̸̡̪̤̻̝̩̲̟̲̘̖̠̪́̔͐̃̋͂͑̋̈̓͌͜r̵̨̺͈͖̝͍̤̦̫͎̫̱̜̦̟͔̦͓̄̉͊̏́͗̀̀͊̇͐̑̇̍́̊̓̈́̇̊͒̓̽̉̎͠ͅb̶̨̛̯̖̭̜͖̘̙̱̳̍̓͌̈́̑͐͊͜͝ͅͅa̴̡̨̢̨̪͍̦̩͉͇̝̲̣̠̝̗̗̥̫͓̜̟̼̻̳̺͇͋̌̆͌̇̍̑̀̊̌̇͊̾̋̿͜͜ͅt̴̡̡͍̻͚̦̝̦̗͖̔͛͗̈́̇̉͑̓̂̀̒̑̀̎͘͜͝ó̵̢̧̬̲͚̙͓̪̖̺͖͉͙̝̖͍̫̗̲͎̟̲͒͛̊̂̄̐͑́́́͊̈̓̔̔̈̋̐͊̄̋͛̋͋̑̚͘̕͜͠ͅs̷̨̛̥͎͕̙̹͙̹̲͉̟͔͈͙͍̋̔̎͗̈́̈̄̐͑́̀̍̕͜͝.̸̨̡̻͈̦̣̣̜̝̠̘̪̜̘̊̑̀̔̀̒͑̔̏̚͠"̶̝̰̜̠̦̙͚̞̯̫̔̂̈́͗̐̌̄̊͒̈́͊͊͒̂̆̑̉̔͊́̔̉͌̔̀͌̐͆͝
...
...
He knew this was a "last resort" option, but still...
...
-Venti, can you tell me what you saw when you were unconscious...? -The Traveler soon asked, looking and sounding thoughtful, as well as a little serious. -...Your sudden question to Paimon...Is because of what you saw back then, right...?
-...So you knew I was seeing "Visions" at the time, Traveler. -The Archon couldn't help but soon say in some annoyance, before he sighed. -But you are right, it also has to do with Paimon.
At these words he glanced towards the Pixie,
Who in turn was looking towards him in some confusion...
...
-...Paimon is still confused about what this has to do with Paimon, but it should be alright to tell Paimon about what you saw, Venti...! -She started, still looking and sounding quite confused, as she was clearly trying hard to act cheerful and failing. -...Whatever you saw in those "Visions", Paimon was always Paimon, is still Paimon and will always be Paimon, right...?
-...So this is what you saw, Venti...-The Traveler couldn't help but say at the end of the retelling, as they looked and sounded very thoughtful. -A possible future where...We won, right...? So...My Twin is...They are still…Alive, right…? They must be, or else…-They soon mumbled, their words getting too quiet to hear, before their expression suddenly became shocked. -...And I was really sitting at the throne back there...?! Why would I...?!
...
𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔨𝔢𝔢𝔭𝔢𝔯 𝔦𝔰 𝔣𝔞𝔡𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔞𝔴𝔞𝔶, 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔠𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔱𝔬𝔯 𝔥𝔞𝔰 𝔫𝔬𝔱 𝔶𝔢𝔱 𝔠𝔬𝔪𝔢.
𝔅𝔲𝔱 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔴𝔬𝔯𝔩𝔡 𝔰𝔥𝔞𝔩𝔩 𝔟𝔲𝔯𝔫 𝔫𝔬 𝔪𝔬𝔯𝔢, 𝔣𝔬𝔯 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔰𝔥𝔞𝔩𝔩 𝔞𝔰𝔠𝔢𝔫𝔡.
...
...
This sudden memory...
*Where was it from...?
...
...
Wait, just like that "letter",
Perhaps it was incomplete...?
*If so, then...
...
𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔨𝔢𝔢𝔭𝔢𝔯 𝔦𝔰 𝔣𝔞𝔡𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔞𝔴𝔞𝔶, 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔠𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔱𝔬𝔯 𝔥𝔞𝔰 𝔫𝔬𝔱 𝔶𝔢𝔱 𝔠𝔬𝔪𝔢.
𝔅𝔲𝔱 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔴𝔬𝔯𝔩𝔡 𝔰𝔥𝔞𝔩𝔩 𝔟𝔲𝔯𝔫 𝔫𝔬 𝔪𝔬𝔯𝔢, 𝔣𝔬𝔯 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔰𝔥𝔞𝔩𝔩 𝔞𝔰𝔠𝔢𝔫𝔡 𝔱𝔬 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔰𝔢𝔞𝔱 𝔬𝔣 "𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔤𝔬𝔡."
...
...
Was this the complete version...?
*If it is, then their purpose he...
-...Paimon is a "soul-part"...? -Their thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice, one which sounded both confused and sad. -...H-hey, is Paimon really just a part of someone...?
At the Pixie's words, the Traveler couldn't help but feel guilty...
*Even after hearing everything from Istaroth, they still...
-Paimon is really annoyed at you for not telling Paimon anything, Traveler! -Paimon interrupted their thoughts again, as she clearly saw the guilty stricken expression that they couldn't hide. -...But Paimon also understands the reason why you hid it from Paimon. If Paimon is just a "Part", then what is going to happen to Paimon...? -She continued in clear sadness, now looking miserable. -In the future, is Paimon going to fuse into whoever Paimon is a part of...? Will Paimon just disappear and...?
-You are not just a "Part", Paimon. Neither to me, nor to the Traveler. -Venti couldn't help but interrupt her in reassurance, as he turned to glance towards the still guilt-stricken looking Traveler, who nodded in agreement moments later. -We like you as you are, Paimon. As the sometimes annoying, yet endearing person that you are. -The Archon added in warmth and some amusement, glad to see the other react to being called "annoying". -...Paimon, whether you are a part or not, to me you are like a sibling I never had. And that will never change.
He admitted in as much warmth and reassurance as he could muster,
And not even a moment later, as if on instinct, he enveloped her into a hug...
-...V-Venti, why do you...? T-to Paimon...? -She asked him in clear surprise, one which soon turned to confusion and lastly gratefulness. -...T-thank you...F-for accepting Paimon...!
She soon mumbled upon burying herself into his chest,
And not a moment later, he felt something wet on his "clothes"...
-I am here too, Paimon. My good friend and guide. -The Traveler reassuringly added moments later, as they proceeded to pat her on the head. -...Remember, Paimon, you are not alone.