(Author's Note: If you didn't read my 100K Milestone chapter I'm going to say it again. Because Bronya can talk normal again because of transforming into the Herrscher of Truth, she will be talking normal in here from now on.)

(Port Ormos)

At Port Ormos, Aether, Paimon, Patrick, Kiana, Neptune, and Nepgear were at Port Ormos just walking. That's when Masrur saw them and ran up to them.

Masrur: Huh? Wait, you're that blond traveler who's on a journey to all corners of Teyvat, right? And you're his friends right?

Patrick was going to say something when Neptune jumps in.

Neptune: Yes that's us!

Paimon: Who's asking...? Do you need something from us?

Masrur: You bet I do! Phew, I was worried I wouldn't be able to find you! I have a letter for you, you see — it's from another outlander...

Patrick, Kiana, and Nepgear all speak at the same time.

Patrick, Kiana, and Nepgear: Another outlander?

Masrur: He was a crafty fellow, lemme tell you... Took advantage of a loophole in our mailing system by opting for Guaranteed Delivery then filling in the most obscure mailing address I've ever seen!

Patrick: You don't say.

Paimon: Well, we are always on the road, so yeah, it's pretty tough to get mail to us unless we happen to go to the post office on a whim...

Kiana: And the majority of us are scattered across Teyvat doing other things.

Paimon: So, um... what address did that person give you, anyway?

Masrur: Uh... he just wrote, "next to a small, white-haired talking fairy."

This made Paimon shocked.

Paimon: What!? So the address is Paimon!?

Neptune: That's one way to describe Paimon. She is kind of a fairy.

Masrur: *sigh* Exactly, right? And if I'd failed to deliver the letter, I'd have been bound by regulation to compensate him... Really, he got me good. I count myself very lucky that I ran into you here.

Aether: Great. Well, let us see this letter. I'm really curious who could've sent it...

Neptune: So am I.

Masrur: Of course, here it is. All yours!

Masrur hands the letter over to Aether.

Paimon: C'mon, Paimon wants to have a look, too!It's been a while. How have you been?

Everyone in the group looks at the letter.

I've heard that all of you are traveling in ,
And I happen to be in Port Ormos on official business.

Lately, I've been stopping by Djafar Tavern for a drink or two every afternoon.
If luck's on my side, and this letter successfully reaches you...
Come to me then and we can catch up on old times.
We'll see it as a fated encounter.

— Your Trusty Buddy, Kaeya

You noticed that Kaeya's name was signed on the letter.

Patrick: Kaeya. So it was him.

Paimon: Kaeya, huh? So he's here in Sumeru... Hmm, now that Paimon thinks about it, "crafty" does describe him pretty well.

Aether: Yeah. Can't say I'm hugely surprised. This is definitely Kaeya's style.

Paimon: From what he wrote in the letter, it looks like he didn't think there was much chance of it reaching us...

Kiana: Now he wants to see us.

Paimon: Hmm, or maybe he's just being sneaky... Do you think he's making this sound like a miracle of fate so that we'd have to go meet up with him?

Patrick: He is always shady. I mean he's always been shady.

Aether: Very scheming indeed... Well, no harm done. It'll be nice to catch up with him.

Paimon: Eh, yeah, you're right. It's always nice to see old friends!

Paimon: The letter says that he hangs out at Djafar Tavern every afternoon. Perhaps we should drop in on him then, huh?

Neptune: We should. Let's go!

(Afternoon)

After waiting for a while, it was time to go see him at Djafar Tavern.

Paimon: Kaeya should be at Djafar Tavern right now. Let's go see him!

The six hurry over to Djafar Tavern to go see Kaeya.

(Djafar Tavern)

Kaeya was there at a table ordering something.

Kaeya: ...I'll have something I haven't tried yet, Boss.

Eymen: Um... Sorry, Sir, I'm afraid you've already tried every type of liquor we serve...

Kaeya: Oh? Well then, just the bill, please. It's just as well, I suppose. I do have other matters to attend to...

That's when he notices the group of six approaching him.

Neptune: Kaeya!

Kiana: Long time no see!

Paimon: Kaeya! You're really here! Paimon half thought you were playing some sort of prank on us...

Kaeya: Hey, Paimon, Aether, Patrick, Kiana, and Neptune and Nepgear. Looks like the gods smile upon me after all. And come now, I wouldn't joke about wanting to see my good friends,

The six take their seats with Kaeya.

Aether: haha... If you say so. We've missed you too.

Patrick: We haven't seen you since we came back to Mondstadt for the Windbloom Festival where Amber reunited with Collei.

Paimon: Wait a second, you must be here on official business, right? What do you think you're doing, spending every afternoon drinking at the tavern? You itching for a lecture from Jean?

Kiana: Paimon is right. You will get yelled at by Master Jean. Especially Amber.

Kaeya: Hahaha, not at all. The positively terrifies me. Why would I ever do anything that might displease her?

Aether: Uh-huh... Very believable.

Nepgear: You? Terrified? I don't buy it.

Patrick: Neither do we. You are shady after all.

Kaeya: The truth is, I'm in Sumeru to learn about the alcohol industry here. So despite how it might look, I'm actually at Djafar Tavern for strictly business purposes.

Neptune: And...

Kaeya: Sumeru's spices are famous the world over, and it's long been rumored that this fine establishment was where a certain very popular spiced cocktail was invented. That's why the Knights sent me, their foremost expert in alcoholic beverages, to come and see if it is as good as the rumors say.

Kiana: (Sounds more like a job for Auntie Himeko than Kaeya.)

Paimon: And how did that go?

Kaeya: So far so good... I'm already in talks with some spice merchants in about some potential collaboration.

Paimon: Yeah, that does sound like a great business opportunity. Guess and Master are gonna make a tidy sum from this one too, huh?

Kaeya: Well, let's not get ahead of ourselves... Whether this lucrative opportunity gets passed along to Dawn Winery or not depends on how nice I'm feeling... Hahaha.

Paimon: Hey! Using your job to settle personal grievances isn't very knightly, Captain!

Aether: ...I'm guessing you've been to Sumeru before?

Kaeya: Oh? What makes you say that?

Aether: You came to Sumeru all on your own. So you must be quite familiar with the place.

Patrick: And you were just talking with the waiter and he said that you've tried ever alcoholic beverage in the tavern.

Kaeya: Very sharp of you... I wouldn't say I'm familiar, though. I just came here on the sly once, when I was very young.

Patrick: Oh really?

Kaeya: ...

Paimon: And? Do continue...

Kaeya: Heh... Do I have to? When I said we could talk about the old times, digging up my past wasn't exactly what I had in mind...

Aether: Don't worry about it. You don't have to go into great detail.

Patrick: We understand that your past is too tragic to talk about and too traumatizing and that you don't like talking about your past. (Considering how we've dug into your past. And how we except Aether and Paimon read the manga about what happened between you and Diluc.)

Kaeya: No it's fine. I can talk about a bit of my past.

Neptune holds her fists up with stars in her eyes.

Neptune: Go ahead tell us!

Kaeya: Well, alright, since you're so interested...

Kaeya began telling his story of his past.

Kaeya: Like I said, I was very young then. Dawn Winery had only just taken me in. I overheard my talk about sending a team of merchants to Sumeru during a business meeting. I'm sure you'll agree that everyone's curious about their roots on some level. And my roots... They're in Khaenri'ah, which is said to have been located deep underground somewhere near Sumeru.

This made Aether get an angered expression and Paimon get shocked. The others were surprised to hear about Khaenri'ah.

Aether: Khaenri'ah...

Aether's reaction wasn't very very big. But everyone else in the group were super shocked.

Patrick, Kiana, Neptune, Nepgear, and Paimon: KHAENRI'AH?!

Kiana: You're saying that Khaenri'ah is located underneath Sumeru?!

Kaeya: Something like that. Yes. Located somewhere near Sumeru. And so I stowed myself away amidst the cargo, and silently joined the merchant delegation on their trip to Sumeru... But it wasn't long before the merchant delegation received news that I'd gone missing. Their leader promptly found me, and before I knew it, my adoptive father was dragging me back home by the ear...

Kiana: I know how that feels. Aunties Himeko and Theresa always dragged me by the ear. Sometimes literally.

Kaeya laughed.

Kaeya: Hahahahaha... Very funny, Kiana. As I was saying. It was a short-lived adventure. Sorry I don't have a more thrilling story for you, hehe...

Patrick: It's fine, Kaeya.

Aether: Speaking of Khaenri'ah... How much do you know about it?

Kaeya: Honestly, not much. The only reason I knew that Khaenri'ah was near Sumeru is because I happened to read that in a book when I was young.

Neptune and Nepgear: A book?

Unknown to them, someone mysterious was listening to them.

Kaeya: Yes, a book. My life had less and less to do with Khaenri'ah as I grew up, and so I started caring less as well. I used to believe that I had inherited some sort of duty from my father... But then I began to wonder... Maybe my father left me in the peaceful land of Mondstadt for no other reason than simply to keep me alive... As well as ensuring that I'd be safely cut off from certain things... The thought that I might be able to actually live a happy life there must have been the icing on the cake.

Neptune put her hands on the table pushing herself closer to Kaeya.

Neptune: Maybe. Or maybe a different reason. That's what happens in lots of stories. When parents leave their children hidden somewhere to keep them alive, they run away to distract the bad guys only to get themselves killed.

Kaeya: Haha... exactly like what happens in those stories... ...This is obviously all speculation. Simply put, I'm afraid that I'm not particularly in the know on this topic. These days, my surname, Alberich, is probably the only link to Khaenri'ah that I have left.

That's when the mysterious person joins in the conversation and sits down next to Aether.

Dainsleif: ...One Death After Noon please, Boss.

Everyone except Kaeya: ...?

Dainsleif: Tell me... what do you know about the significance of that name, "Alberich"?

Everyone except Kaeya: D—Dainsleif!?

Kaeya: Ah, you've decided to join us? I was wondering how long you planned on listening in. I believe I've seen you before in Mondstadt... Dainsleif, if I'm not mistaken?

Dainsleif: So you remember me. Then we are already acquainted, Kaeya Alberich... descendant of the Abyss Order's founder.

Kaeya: ...

This makes Patrick, Aether, Paimon, and the two Planeptune goddesses shocked.

Aether: The Abyss Order...?

Paimon: What!?

Dainsleif: I take it that you weren't aware of this until now, Kaeya, or you wouldn't have been so forthcoming with your surname.

Kaeya: Oh, my... that's quite a lot of baggage for a surname, isn't it? Though I must say, it does confirm an old suspicion of mine. I suppose that was why my father left me in Mondstadt after all...

Patrick: (This confirms our theories and Kaeya's Bio!)

Dainsleif: I'm surprised that you take me at my word without the faintest hint of skepticism...

Kaeya: Well, perhaps what you told me just happens to answer some questions I carry in my memories. And, in any case... I recognize your eyes... You're a pure-blood Khaenri'ahn, aren't you?

Patrick: He has star shaped pupils in his eyes. That answers your question, Kaeya.

Dainsleif: Very clever. Forgive me for being direct, but I sincerely hope this new knowledge doesn't change anything. If you've already let go of your ties to the past... then keep it that way.

Neptune: (Wow. What a huge plot twist for those who haven't read the Manga or Kaeya's bio.)

Paimon: Kaeya... You're not involved with the Abyss Order in any way, are you...?

Kiana: Kaeya... You've been a good friend to us since we first met you in Mondstadt. There's no way you would ever double cross us.

Kaeya: Hey, hold on now. This conversation has taken a rather sudden turn for the deadly serious... and I'm afraid that as someone from Mondstadt, I'm not accustomed to this sort of atmosphere... So what if I know my ancestry? Do I strike you as the type who would be bound by that kind of thing?

Patrick: Well...

Kaeya: Relax. I'll be just as delighted to hunt down the Abyss Order tomorrow as I have always been.

Aether: I trust you, Kaeya.

Neptune: So do we.

Nepgear: You've done nothing wrong to us.

Kiana: We still trust you.

Patrick: You're our friend Kaeya.

Kaeya stands up.

Kaeya: Either way, looks like we're out of time. I've got a spice merchant to meet in a minute, so I'll leave you to carry on the conversation without me.

Paimon: Huh. Well, alright then... You go do your thing, Kaeya.

Patrick: We'll go get the rest of our party that is here in Sumeru soon.

Kaeya: See you 'round. And Dainsleif, no need to listen in from the sidelines next time we meet. Let me buy you a drink.

Kaeya leaves them.

Dainsleif just hmphed.

Dainsleif: Hmph...

Paimon: You don't really trust him, do you, Dain? You're both from Khaenri'ah, but you get on like oil and water...

Patrick: have you met him before seeing him in Mondstadt?

Dainsleif: The fact is, I still do not know him well. It would be meaningless for me to jump to conclusions.

Neptune: That's right. It's wrong to jump to conclusions without any concrete proof or evidence.

Dainsleif: But can a person truly be unaffected by their ancestry? This remains to be seen.

Aether: So, you said that an Alberich founded the Abyss Order? I thought my sibling was the founder...

Dainsleif: Well, I suspect that they call your sister their Princess precisely because there is a succession of sorts.

Paimon: Oh, so if she was the founder, she'd be the "Queen," right?

Patrick: Precisely.

Aether: So what do you plan to do here in Sumeru?

Dainsleif: I mean to investigate the "Loom of Fate." Do you remember that name?

Paimon: Yeah, the Abyss Order's evil plan! We learned about that back in Mondstadt.

Kiana: We've also been coming up with theories involving the Fatui and the Abyss Order.

Aether: You've got a new lead?

Dainsleif: Not new. Not exactly... My memories suffer from erosion, but while I was recovering my health recently, I suddenly remembered something...

Neptune, Nepgear, Kiana, and Patrick: What is it?

Dainsleif: Your sister... she mentioned the "Loom of Fate" back when we traveled together.

Patrick: All the way back then?

Aether: So that was already a thing several centuries ago?

Dainsleif: Apparently so. I was also quite surprised when these memories tallied up. I recall that we were traveling to Sumeru when the matter was brought up.

Paimon: So you're going to the place that she mentioned back then?

Dainsleif: Correct. At that time, they must have been introduced, in one way or another, to this concept. If I recall correctly, we were somewhere in Avidya Forest then...

Paimon: Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go! Maybe we'll discover some secret that's lain hidden for hundreds of years!

Dainsleif: No. Now is not the time.

Kiana: What do you mean no?

Aether: Are you concerned about the Abyss Order or are we waiting for the perfect moment?

Dainsleif: No, it's just... I'm still waiting for my drink.

Everyone got annoyed at his answer

Paimon: Seriously...?

Patrick stands up from his seat.

Patrick: I guess in the mean time. Kiana, Neptune, Nepgear, and I will go get everyone else.

Kiana stands up next.

Kiana: We should.

Then Neptune and Nepgear stand up.

Neptune and Nepgear: Let's go.

The 4 of them go to somewhere hidden then they transform and fly away. Later after Dain finishes his drink, he, Aether, and Paimon prepare to travel to Avidya Forest...

(Statue of the Seven)

All the Valkyries, CPUs, and CPU Candidates all met up with Patrick, Kiana, Neptune, and Nepgear met up at the Statue of the Seven outside of Gandharva Ville.

Noire: So Dainsleif is here?

Neptune answers Noire in a happy voice.

Neptune: Yes!

Bronya: And Kaeya confessed that he's from Khaenri'ah?

Kiana answers Bronya.

Kiana: Yes.

Patrick: We didn't tell him that we already knew what happened between him and Diluc because it would be a dead give away for us.

Theresa: Is it save to assume we know where Kaeya stands?

Patrick shakes his head no then speaks.

Patrick: Not yet. We do not have enough speculation on where Kaeya stands due to being from Kahenri'ah, to being adopted in Mondstadt, and being our friend.

Kiana: And how shady he's been.

Blanc: We'll think about Kaeya later. Right now we must go help Dainsleif.

Vert: Where is he anyway?

Nepgear: He's with Aether and Pamon on their way to this forest.

Uni: Which means we better go meet up with them.

Noire: Now let's go.

Everyone: YEAH!

(Gandha Hill)

They got back together with Aether, Paimon, and Dainsleif and they were now investigating. They approach some kind of field and house. That's when Dainsleif stops everyone when realizing something.

Dainsleif: Wait... This place, it's... familiar.

Patrick: It is?

Paimon: What about it? It looks pretty normal to Paimon... Was it like this hundreds of years ago, too?

Dainsleif: Yes. The forest has barely changed from how I remember it. There is very little human activity here, after all.

Dainsleif: Let's search the area and see what we can find.

Dainsleif takes a few steps forward. And starts investigating.

Paimon: Is this a field? It must belong to whoever owns that house over there... But it looks like it's been abandoned for a long time. You could be forgiven for thinking nothing was ever grown here... Or wait, maybe nothing ever WAS grown here.

Kiana: Maybe.

Bronya investigates a pot over an extinguished fire. Paimon floats to Bronya and looks at it.

Paimon: It's an extinguished bonfire. Forest Rangers, perhaps?

Bronya: Yes it is.

Paimon: Looks like it's been ages since it was last lit. And clearly they put it out carefully to prevent a forest fire, too. That's responsible.

Dainsleif: Nothing else stands out in this area. All that's left is that building. Come on.

Paimon: Wait, we're just gonna go barging in? What if someone's home?

Noire: She's right. It would be criminal of us to just go in without permission.

Dainsleif: Unlikely. There are no signs of life in this area. We should be able to enter without incident.

Bronya summons Project Bunny and scans the whole area and detected no signs of life.

Bronya: Dainsleif is right. There are no signs of life in this area.

Paimon: If you say so... Well, uh... you lead the way then, Dain. Hehe...

The large group follow Dainsleif as they go up to the house. When they got up to it, only Dainsleif, Aether, Paimon, Patrick, and Kiana go in to find that no one was living in it.

Paimon: Huh, so there really isn't anyone home... *cough* Ugh, this place is so dusty! Paimon bets no one's lived here in years!

Patrick: Well it is covered in dust so it makes sense that it's been abandoned for years.

Paimon: Yeah you're one to talk!

Dainsleif: Investigate carefully. We mustn't miss a single detail.

So everyone inside investigates. First they investigate the bed.

Paimon: This bed looks pretty ordinary. Huh, there's nothing underneath it, either. What sort of person would wanna live here? It's so dark and damp... Can't be all that comfortable...

Patrick: You can say that again.

Kiana: I've lived in a cabin before.

Then they investigate the box.

Paimon: There's a box over here. Why don't we open it? Uh, and by "we," Paimon means you...

Aether makes an annoyed face at Paimon as did Patrick and Kiana.

Paimon: Paimon's just scared that... whatever's inside might bite her fingertips off...

Aether: What in the world is going through your head...

Patrick: You sure are going places with your paranoia...

Kiana: Coward.

Paimon: Don't call Paimon that!

Aether opens the box and inside was a broken mirror.

Paimon: Huh? This is... a mirror.

Kiana: It is a mirror.

Aether picks up the mirror and takes a look at it.

Paimon: It's broken, too. Was this a makeup box?

Aether: It's just a regular mirror.

Aether puts t back in the box then closes it.

Paimon: Hmm. That's kinda... disappointing. Paimon was hoping we'd uncover some super big secret, especially after Dain talked this place up.

Lastly they investigate the bowl.

Paimon: Hey look, it's a bowl. Guess whoever used to live here liked to cook, huh?

Dainsleif: Can't you smell it? There's a heavy scent of medicinal herbs in here.

Paimon: Ohh, so it's a medicine bowl? ...*sniff* Hmm, seems you're right! You've got a good nose on you, Dain!

Patrick: (Like Tanjiro.)

After some more time, they finished their investigation.

Paimon: Doesn't look like there's anything else worth our attention here. You sure we're in the right place, Dain?

Kiana: Because it doesn't look like we're in the right place.

Dainsleif: My memories are quite foggy, but my subconscious and instincts both assert that something once happened here. But, we'll exhaust ourselves if we search aimlessly...

That's when Dainsleif hears something outside.

Dainsleif: I hear noises outside. Let's go and check.

Paimon: Noises? Is it...

Dainsleif: It's not much. Just some minor adversaries.

Then they hear sounds of attacks which were louder. They rushed outside and saw everyone else fighting against slimes.

Paimon: Monsters! Wow, Dain's ears are sharp, just like his nose. He's in surprisingly good shape for a 500-year-old...

Patrick: Well he is immortal. And he must of had time training all his senses. So that does make sense.

Paimon: Hmm, although for someone who's as full of surprises as Dain, it's hardly a big deal... Anyway, let's beat up these monsters!

They summon their weapons and join the fight as more slimes appeared. After defeating the Slimes, they were a tiny bit tired from fighting.

Neptune: Whew. That was certainly some excitement. I barely broke a sweat.

Kiana: just where did they come from?

Blanc: These monsters just showed up out of nowhere while you were investigating.

Dainsleif: I doubt that the appearance of those monsters was wholly random. There must be something nearby that attracted them.

Noire: Like what? What could have drawn them here?

Dainsleif: A anomaly, perhaps? ...Hmm, but it seems to be more than that. Okay — I'll go slightly further out to investigate any issues with the nearby Ley Lines. I might be a while. You should wait for me here.

Paimon: What? You're going alone? You'd better not be trying to keep some secret from us!

Vert: That's right. You could be keeping secrets from us. So some of us should come with you.

Dainsleif just crossed his arms.

Dainsleif: ...Your suspicions are as banal as they are unwarranted. I merely think that this house should remain the focus of our investigation, and as such, someone ought to stay here and keep an eye on it. And I have to do it alone. Not to mention that if even Forest Rangers are capable of investigating Ley Lines, I will be more than able to handle it alone.

Paimon: Ugh, fair enough. Guess we'll just camp out here, then?

Nepgear: We might as well. And don't forget that we still have our Serenetea Pot.

Paimon: Good thing there's a bonfire over there. Let's make ourselves something to eat! All this running around has made Paimon real hungry.

Mei: Aether and I will cook something for everyone.

Dainsleif leaves the party while everyone sets up camp and the bonfire is lit up and after a few hours, night sets in. Everyone was sitting down in their seats after they finished a great meal cooked by Aether and Mei.

Paimon: Ahh, your cooking is as good as ever! Even if there was no other reason, the food alone would be enough for Paimon to stick with you, hee-hee!

Aether: You're easy to please.

Kiana: Let's also not forget Mei's cooking too!

Vert still had a tea cup with tea which she takes a sip out of.

Vert: Both their cooking was great.

Paimon: Changing the subject, Dain's taking forever! He said that there might be an issue with the nearby Ley Lines... How bad do you think it could be?

Blanc: It could be very bad.

Paimon: *sigh* We came together, but now it's back to just being without him again... Y'know, now that Paimon mentions it, we all really have spent lots and lots of time together, haven't we?

Patrick: Yes we have. From when we first met in Mondstadt to finding missing friends in Liyue then to meeting more in Inazuma.

Kiana: Since first arriving in this world, we've had lots of great moments together.

Neptune: All the monsters and bad guys we've battled against.

Patrick: And all the schemes we've foiled.

Seele: And the beautiful sights we've seen.

Paimon puts her arms behind her back.

Paimon: Um, so... don't take this the wrong way or anything, but, uh... d—do you ever get tired of Paimon being around?

Aether: What do you mean? We never get tired of having you around.

Kiana: You're a great friend Paimon and the best guide.

Neptune: And you're the face of...

Nepgear covers Neptune's mouth.

Nepgear: The face of our party!

Aether: Everyone is right. You make our day every day, Paimon.

Paimon gets embarrassed as she covers her eyes with her hands then puts her hands behind her back again.

Paimon: ...Aww, oh you, stop it! Now you're embarrassing Paimon... Hmm... So, um, next question... Don't know if it's okay to ask this, but Paimon's curious: What was it like traveling with your sister?

This peaks everyone's interest.

Patrick: That's what we all want to know.

Neptune: Like what were those other worlds like where you traveled too?

Aether looks up at the sky making a serious face.

Aether: ...

Everyone else looks up at the stars.

Everyone: The stars?

Aether: We'd gaze at the stars, just like this. And we'd point at the planets we wanted to visit.

Paimon: Wow...

Bronya: So you have traveled across the universe.

The others pitched in.

Neptune: We know how you feel. I've traveled across different dimensions, dimension tripping. Like to ultra dimension, the zero dimension, and illusory dimension. Us CPUs and our little sisters come from Hyper dimension.

Seele: I've traveled around to different bubble universes across the Sea of Quanta.

Bronya: So did Patrick and me.

Patrick: Continue Aether.

Aether continued.

Aether: We traveled through the universe, always by each other's side... We saw all manner of hope and despair. This is the first time we've ever been separated. If nothing else... I just want to know what happened.

Everyone got saddened.

Paimon: Yeah... Paimon understands. Being separated without even knowing the reason why... it's just terrible.

Kiana: The Heavenly Principles took Lumine away because of having connections with Khaenri'ah. That's probably why.

That's when Paimon's mood changed and what she said also made everyone's mood change.

Paimon: But we'll find the truth together, sure as Paimon's your guide! Just you wait, Heavenly Principles! And you too, Teyvat!

Everyone stands up and says the same thing Paimon said.

Everyone: YEAH! Just you wait, Heavenly Principles! And you too, Teyvat!

Then they all raise their fists up into the air.

Kiana: We know you'll be able to find, Lumine with our help. And once we face against the Heavenly Principles. We'll be ready for her.

Patrick: We'll continue to get stronger so we can defeat the Heavenly Principles before the Tsaritsa and The Fatui.

Paimon: Uh... Y'know what? We've talked too long about this sad stuff. Let's talk about something happy instead! 'Cause if you're sad... Paimon will be too.

Aether: Don't worry about it, Paimon. Thank you.

Paimon: Alright, alright. It's getting dark, so why don't you all rest? Paimon will take first watch. Don't worry, no monster's gonna come and eat you up!

Aether: Well, that's a first. Paimon, not going to bed before us?

Paimon: Oh, come on, don't say that... Paimon just wants to look after you for once.

Noire: Even if you can't fight?

Paimon: Yes. Even if Paimon can't fight.

Aether: Alright. Goodnight then, Paimon.

Everyone goes to their tents to turn in for the night and recharge.

Paimon: Nighty-night! Go on, shoo, off to sleep!

As Aether fell asleep, memories of Lumine fill his mind as he fell soundly asleep...

(Next morning)

As morning came, everyone was waking up. They come outside to see Dainsleif had finally returned.

Dainsleif: Hey, time to wake up. The sun has risen.

Everyone was able to stand up and walk up to Dainsleif.

Mei: Good morning, Dainsleif.

Dainsleif: Yes. Good morning, Mei. You all were deep sleepers. You do know that we need to...

Dainsleif notices something on Aether's face.

Dainsleif: Hmm? Tear stains... You dreamed of your sibling last night, didn't you?

Everyone looked at Aether

Blanc: Wow. He did cry.

Dainsleif: ...Alright. Rest here a bit longer then. I'll head into the forest to investigate. The rest of you stay with him.

Dainsleif leaves them again.

Uni: And there he goes again. Leaving us.

Nepgear: Just let him go.

Aether: (Huh? Why're you going back into the forest...)

Aether still felt drowsy and falls back asleep.

Rom: There he goes back to sleep.

Ram: He still hasn't fully recharged yet.

Patrick: He... Wait a minute... Where's?...

Some time passed and Aether finally fully woke up now recharged.

Aether: *yawn* ...

Noire: It's about time you woke up.

Aether: Well I... Hmm? How did we sleep till morning?

Patrick: We did.

Aether: Why didn't Paimon wake us up to switch shifts? ... Hang on a moment... Where IS Paimon, anyway?

Noire: We don't know. We didn't see her.

Aether: Ah, I vaguely remember Dain coming over. Did Paimon go into the woods with him, seeing how I hadn't woken up yet?

Kiana: We didn't see her when we woke up and she was not with Dainsleif.

Aether: Whatever the case, looks like it's just us here for now. Guess it's time to stretch our limbs and have a look around.

???: (Clatter...)

There was a sudden clattering sound.

Aether: Wait, did that noise come from... inside the house? Paimon, is that you? Paimon, this isn't the time for hide-and-seek...

No response.

Aether: No reply... We should go inside and check.

The whole party goes up to the house after they had packed up the camp.

Patrick: It's not like Paimon to just go off on her own.

Neptune: Could she have ab...

Noire shuts Neptune up by yelling at her.

Noire: Don't finish that sentence! She would never!

Neptune: EEK!

Bronya: There is only one way to find out.

They approached the house. And as they were gonna check the inside...

Intimidating Man: Halt! What do you think you're doing!?

Everyone: Agh!

Everyone got startled that it caused some of them to summon their weapons and point at the intimidating man which causes him to get frightened and put his hands up.

Aether: You startled us!

Intimidating Man: This place is not whatever you think it is... Nor should you be poking your nose into my business! Begone!

Aether tried to calm things down.

Aether: Whoa, whoa... Just calm down. We're only here to look for our traveling companion.

Nepgear: He's right Mr! You've got it all wrong! We weren't trying to break in! We were just looking for our travel companion!

Intimidating Man: Your travel companion? ...You mean the one that was keeping watch by your side last night?

Kiana: Yes that's her... Wait?! How did you know?!

Intimidating Man: Your companion departed for the forest early this morning. That much I saw with my own eyes.

Aether: (I thought so... Still, I don't know if we can trust this person's word just yet.)

Patrick looked at the man's clothing then his eyes.

Patrick: (Judging from his clothing and his eyes. He looks like he's from Khaenri'ah.)

Aether: So you mean to say that...

Noire blushes and points at the intimidating man in anger.

Noire: You were stalking us last night?!

Intimidating Man: Stalking? Stalking?! What business is that of yours? All you need to know is that I claimed this place first — and what I do here is none of your concern. Do I make myself quite clear? Leave!

The intimidating man gets closer to them.

Aether: ... (There's something strange about this person. I need to find out what he's hiding...)

Intimidating Man: Well? What are you waiting for?

Aether: I don't think we'll have much luck trying to find our companion in the woods... I think we're better off waiting here for them to come back.

Blanc: He's right. It will be too hard for us to go look for our flying companion. So we are waiting here whether you like it or not.

The intimidating man face palmed in annoyance.

Intimidating Man: *sigh* If you must... Suit yourself. I've been observing you lot, and you don't look like Forest Rangers, nor someone from the Akademiya. Still, I'm warning you, no funny business. Promise me that, and you can do as you please.

Patrick: We're no villains.

Aether: Nor will we pretend to be saints.

Intimidating Man: Okay, fine, whatever... Move aside. I'm heading in.

Aether: May we join you?

Intimidating Man: You...

Seeing that they would not leave him alone. He finally accepted them.

Intimidating Man: *sigh* Oh, go on then, have it your way. I knew I wasn't going to be able to hide this anyway. Just come in. But no overreacting to anything you see in here, okay? You understand me?

Neptune: fair enough.

Aether: Relax. I've been around, it takes a lot to faze me.

Patrick: Us too.

Intimidating Man: Come on, then.

The intimidating man goes inside the house.

Everyone looked at each other.

Patrick: I overlooked his clothes and eyes. And it looks like he's from Khaenri'ah.

Aether: What do you mean?

Patrick: I mean look at how he's dressed. The white and purple. I'm pretty sure that's how the people of Khaneri'ah dressed up and all have star shaped pupils in their eyes.

Aether: He is also hiding something. We have to find out.

Neptune: I think you both might be onto something.

Patrick: There's only one way to find out.

Aether: Let's go in.

So they go inside to see that the inside wasn't dusty anymore but what got them shocked was that there was a hilichurl laying down on the bed.

Hilichurl: ...

Kiana: A hilichurl?

Aether: Why do you keep a hilichurl at home?

He looked back at them.

Intimidating Man: Mind your own business. Don't worry, he isn't aggressive...

Then he turns back to the hilichurl.

Intimidating Man: ...How could he be. He was too young for anything like that. So don't you lay a finger on him. Just find yourselves a corner to rest if you're tired or cold.

Patrick: You're... from Khaenri'ah, aren't you?

Intimidating Man: Huh?!

Patrick: Drop the act. I already could tell that you're from Khaenri'ah.

Intimidating Man: You know Khaenri'ah... Who are you people, exactly? And how do you know I'm from Khaenri'ah?

Patrick: From your clothes and your eyes.

Aether: We've met others from Khaenri'ah.

Intimidating Man: ... Do any of you worship a god?

Aether made an angered serious face.

Aether: I follow no god. Though I count some of them as my friends. But one as a foe.

Patrick: We don't actually follow any of the 7 archons or the other gods of Teyvat.

Patrick turns to the CPUs and CPU Candidates and makes a face and waves his hand underneath his chin to tell them not to tell them that their goddesses in which they nod their heads in agreement. Then he turns back to the intimidating man.

Eide: ...Sounds like you've all had eventful lives. Alright, well... my name is Eide. And you are correct — I was once Khaenri'ahn.

Eide: I apologize for my earlier hostility.

Theresa: No it's fine. We get that you were trying to hide this hilichurl.

Eide: But you must understand... As far as I'm concerned, humans who do not worship  are nigh extinct... ...And all who place faith in the gods are my enemies.

Aether: That sounds a little too black-and-white.

Patrick: Spoken like a true Khaenri'ahn.

Eide: ...That may be, but the fact is that chances to talk to people like yourselves have been few and far between since the cataclysm. This wretched curse of immortality... Who knows how long I must continue to suffer like this?

Aether: I take it that's how you've survived for so long?

Eide: Yes. The Curse. Huh, it was a little gift given to the people of Khaenri'ah by those vile gods... We lost our home, our loved ones, everything... The agony of the cataclysm itself was already too much to bear... but then came the curse, robbing us any chance of release. All we can do is watch helplessly as our souls erode and our bodies decay.

Aether thought in his mind.

Aether: (So Eide is just like Dainsleif, someone who bears the curse of immortality.)

Patrick spoke up.

Patrick: Well it was Khaenri'ah's fault for angering the gods for gaining too much power over them. That's why they destroyed Khaenri'ah.

What Patrick said caused Eide to get angry.

Eide: ... No... You don't understand... It wasn't Khaenri'ah's fault. Us Khanri'ahns are innocent.

Aether: So why did some people turn into hilichurls while you were afflicted by this curse instead?

Patrick: That's what we've been wondering about.

Neptune: Tell us!

Eide: Because although Khaenri'ah began with a single bloodline, it was a home to others, too... Any who forsook their gods and came to Khaenri'ah were welcomed as our fellow citizens.

Noire: So those who abandoned their gods came to Khaenri'ah because they stopped giving faith to their gods?

Eide: Precisely. It was a place where they could be free from their gods. When the cataclysm came, we pure-blood Khaenri'ahns were declared the "greater sinners." Upon us, the gods placed the curse of immortality...

Eide turns back to the hilichurl.

Eide: But those whose ancestry belonged to the domains of other gods were punished with the curse of the wilderness as they fled, turning them into monsters.

Aether: So... who is this hilichurl to you?

Eide: He is Caribert... my illegitimate son.

Everyone was shocked.

Everyone: YOU'RE SON!

He facepalms again.

Eide: *sigh* How times have changed. I can say that out loud with no consequence now, but... it was once a matter of unspeakable shame. I was a noble of Khaenri'ah by blood... but I resented the life that my family had arranged for me.

Vert: So you hated being a noble?

Eide: Something like that. I hated it. I hated my family for not letting me choose the life I want. Then one day, I met a beautiful woman amongst the people. Her roots were in Mondstadt... but that mattered not to me. It was love at first sight.

Mei: And then she gave birth to your son?

Eide: Yes. ...Caribert faced great hardship from the very moment of his birth, all due to my selfish desires... and I was never able to be there by his side for any of it.

Nepgear: And what happened to Caribert when the gods destroyed Khaenri'ah?

Eide: ...After all that, he turned into a hilichurl right before my very eyes. I always owed him much, and now... at least I can finally be close to him.

Aether: ...What happened to his mother?

Eide turned back to everyone finding it hard to answer the question.

Eide: She was... ...*sigh* We were separated. I do not wish to dwell on it.

Everyone was saddened.

Bronya: You have our sympathies.

Aether: We know this must cause you great pain.

Eide: ...It could be worse. I suffer the pain of loss because I once had everything I could wish for. And now... now that I have lost almost everything, the little that remains I see with new clarity. If nothing else... At least I still have Caribert.

Aether: ... What do you plan to do now?

Eide: Ah, yes, that reminds me. I only returned here to check on Caribert, but I do have other things I wish to do... You may come with me, if you're so inclined.

Patrick: I think we should.

Blanc: We're in.

Neptune: We do want to get questions answered.

Bronya: We shall.

The group follows Eide down to where they were camping at the farming area where a crafting table was set up with things.

Eide: Over here.

Aether: What are you going to use this for?

Eide: I'm sure you're wondering why I brought Caribert here, to Sumeru.

Rom: Yes we are Mr.

Ram: Please tell us.

Eide: Well, it's because he needs a medicine that can only be made here... One which will help him to recover his clarity of mind.

Aether raised an eyebrow.

Aether: Recover his clarity of mind?

Aether whispers to the others.

Aether: When we were in The Chasm, Dain said that the curse could not be undone... Is recovery really possible?

Patrick whispers back to him.

Patrick: Maybe. Remember what happened with Halfdan? Somewhere deep down he was able to retain himself. And he was finally able to rest in peace.

Aether: That is true. But this is different.

Kiana whispers to them.

Kiana: For now we better watch what happens.

Eide: I do not hope to break the curse. I am well aware of my powerlessness against the punishment of the gods. But it's said that this medicine is imbued with the power of Sumeru's God of Wisdom, and can awaken the mind from a state of deep stupor... It has been used in the past to treat cases of mania. I believe that it might just work...

Aether: Where did you hear of this?

Eide explained while also laughing at the same time.

Eide: ...I read about it in a book from the Royal Library of Khaenri'ah. It was banned, since this medicine requires the power of The Seven to work. In my youth, I—I disliked the life of nobility, and craved excitement. I was leafing through some forbidden texts and happened upon it.

Vert: You know, there must've been a reason it was banned...

Aether: It sounds dangerous...

Eide just shook his head angrily.

Eide: ...What other choice do I have? What exactly would you have me do? The gods have already punished us! What does one more sin matter now?

Eide pointed his right arm.

Aether and Patrick put their hands up in front.

Aether: Alright, don't get too worked up...

Patrick: We understand. No matter what, you have to try.

Eide: Never mind, as long as you understand... I—I'm sorry, I struggle to take control of my mood sometimes... Perhaps a consequence of having lived too long. As it happens, I am in dire need of some help to make this medicine. My hands don't have the dexterity they once did. I fear that they may be decaying from within... all thanks to this curse of immortality.

It was now time to start.

Eide: Okay, to start with, take this ingredient...

Eide takes out a strange looking mushroom.

Everyone: A mushroom?

Aether: I've never seen a mushroom of this kind before...

Kiana: Neither have we.

Eide: Also, do you have any of Sumeru's regional specialties on hand? I believe they're called... Kalpalata Lotuses and Sumeru Roses.

Vert: Oh yes we do.

Aether: We've picked some before, yes.

Eide: Wonderful. I—In that case, we have everything we need. This is the method for making the medicine. You just need to follow the steps.

Aether gets to work on making the medicine. He follows the steps and mixes the ingredients and then the medicine was finished.

Eide: Is it done? Splendid, let me see...

Aether shows the medicine.

Eide: Hmm. In all honesty, I do not know what the end product is supposed to look like. The banned book didn't feature any illustrations... ...Well, the moment has finally arrived... Curses.

When he said curses he made a suspicious face which causes everyone to glare at him.

Aether: Is it time to give Caribert the medicine?

Eide: No, no. We need to perform one final step to complete the medicine.

Seele: And just what would that be?

Eide: I said before that this medicine relies on the power of the God of Wisdom for its restorative effects... Which means... we must pay a visit to a Statue of The Seven.

This caused everyone to take a step back.

Aether: Ouch... that can't be easy for someone from Khaenri'ah...

Noire: We understand your reluctance.

Kiana: Give us a second. We have something to discuss.

The group walks a few steps from Eide to he can't hear them and keep their voices down.

Aether: Since he needs the God of Wisdom's power, should we get Nahida to help?

Vert grabs Aether by the shoulder.

Vert: Out of the question. There's no telling what could happen. He could try to hurt Nahida or...

Aether: ...Forget it, Vert. Eide hates the gods — And you're right. It's out of the question. It could complicate things. We'll just do it his way.

Patrick: For now.

Seele: He wants to save his son. So we have to do it.

Uni: He could also try to attack us.

Uni summons her guns.

Mei: We still have our guard up, Uni. If he does try to attack us we'll attack.

Mei summons her sword then Theresa summons her chains.

Theresa: And restrain him.

Neptune: Let's go back to him.

They made their weapons disappear and go back to Eide.

Kiana: Ok we're ready to go, Eide.

Eide: Let's go. Bring the medicine with you.

They use their wind gliders to glide to the Statue of the Seven. Patrick gets closer to Vert as they glided.

Patrick: One more thing, Vert. If he says insults about Nahida. Don't attack him or else he'll...

Vert: Yes Patrick I know. But I can't stand it when haters insult Nahida.

It was't like till they reached it. Eide just couldn't stand being in front of the statue.

Eide: Look at this statue... How can I bow before this thing...

And then he starts ranting.

Eide: God of Wisdom. Look at me. I will utter no prayer, nor will I sing your praises. You and your kind destroyed my home, wrought unfathomable suffering on my compatriots... Yet here I stand before you.

This was making Vert angered at Eide.

Eide: You cannot mock me more than fate itself already has. God of Wisdom, I seek not to disavow myself of the sinful blood that flows through my veins. I wish only to beseech you to have pity upon a young and unfortunate soul. My son, Caribert... He was turned into a monster before he had the chance to witness anything beautiful in this world... This is no fate for a child. ... If everything the gods have done was in order to have the impious people of Khaenri'ah bow their heads...

His tone of voice suddenly changed.

Eide: Then... I bow to you now. I have given up all I ever stood for... All I ask for is a tiny miracle. For Caribert to see this world once more. Please, god... I beg of you.

Aether put his hand on his chin and thought in his mind.

Aether: ... (My friends and I may not know the whole truth behind the cataclysm, but the people of Khaenri'ah have truly suffered... Why could Khaenri'ah and The Seven not coexist in peace?)

Patrick: (Khaenri'ah was probably destroyed because maybe that's what the Heavenly Principles wanted and ordered the gods to do so after she took control of Celestia.)

Eide: I have made quite enough of a fool of myself for one day. Let's go.

Aether: Things will get better.

Eide: ...Hm.

They return back to the house where they go up to Caribert.

Eide: Caribert?

Caribert: ...

No response came from the hilichurl.

Aether: (The hilichurl seems almost lifeless. Its reactions to everything are incredibly weak...)

Eide: Well, we've prepared the medicine. We might as well try it.

With Aether, Patrick, the Valkyries, CPUs, and CPU Candidates' help, Eide feeds the newly made medicine to the hilichurl. Eide sits on the bed close to his son.

Eide: Caribert? It's me... It's your father. Caribert?

Caribert didn't respond.

Aether: Anything?

Patrick: No.

Eide tries again.

Eide: Caribert... Please, say something.

Caribert: ...

Still no response.

Eide: I'm sorry I couldn't be at your side when you were born... and that I failed to reach you and mama in time when you both were suffering... But I'm here now. Papa's been by your side all these years. I've never left you. Not once. Are you still angry with me, Caribert? I know you're awake now... Do you not want to talk to me?

Eide stands up from the bed.

Eide: I'm so sorry, Caribert. Forgive me, please! Say something. Anything! Please... please...

Aether: Eide, stop... It didn't work.

Blanc: He's not going to anything you say.

Eide: Aah!

Eide gets angry and looks up.

Eide: Gods above! What more do you want from me!? You took everything from here, and I still bowed to you!

Eide: I'd give you my very life if only you cared to take it! But you won't even let me die! ...I knew it. I should never have trusted anything that had to do with the gods. I was just deluding myself... The gods of this world have never stood with humanity... Not even for a moment!

Seele: Calm down, Eide.

Aether: There might be other reasons it didn't work.

Eide: Other reasons... What do you mean?

Aether: Such as... who knows, perhaps the dosage was too low.

Vert: Or maybe it takes a full course of treatment.

Eide: Huh... you really think so...?

Patrick: You seriously have to exhaust all options...

Aether: Unless if you are ready to give up on Caribert...

Eide: Give up? No, no. Never! ...Yes, you're right. I cannot let myself wallow in despair.

Eide: Even if I must stay here with him for... fifty years? A hundred? What difference does it make? I do not lack for time...

Everyone smiles.

Uni: That's the spirit.

Aether: We'll keep helping you.

Eide: You will?

Theresa: That's right. Because it's the right thing to do.

Patrick: You want to save your son. So we're going to keep helping you.

Aether: (To have infinite time, yet no hope... can only be called torture.)

Eide: Let's go. We'll make another dose. The most crucial ingredient in this medicine is the unusual mushroom, which makes things complicated... but not impossible.

Aether: Where did you get those mushrooms from, anyway?

Eide: I grow them. In that field.

Aether: Wait, in a field? Like a crop?

Eide: ...The details don't matter, right? Curb your curiosity and just do as I instruct — if you truly wish to help me, that is how you can do it.

Aether: Fine.

Eide: There is a waterfall near the statue I prayed at. I need you to collect some water from there around two in the afternoon.

Patrick: That is questionable. Why specifically at two in the afternoon?

Eide: Doesn't matter. Don't ask.

Patrick: If you say so.

Eide: I'll be here watching Caribert. Once you're back, I will make some fertilizer for the mushrooms.

Aether: Got it.

Eide: Good. Then please head over when the time comes.

https://youtu.be/aF-a06YjvDQ

Time passes quickly. Before they know it, it is two in the afternoon... Once it was two in the afternoon, they went to the waterfall and got the water then brought it back to Eide where he was waiting for them at the field.

Eide: Ah, you're back. Caribert's condition is stable...

Neptune: Well that's good news. The same with how we got your water!

Neptune presents the bucket of water to Eide.

Eide: By which I mean... he still isn't responding.

Neptune: Oh...

Eide: Anyway. Give me the water.

Eide takes the water and then Eide carefully waters his field...

Eide: I need you all to stand guard here for a while. Whatever you do, don't let any Forest Rangers approach the house. Understand?

Kiana: Of course...

Aether: Your secret is safe with us.

Eide: Good. I'll be back soon, the fertilizer won't take but a moment to make.

They wait in the field for Eide to return. After a while... Fungi monsters appeared. Aether believed that they were coming for the field and believed that watering the field must have attracted the monsters. So they fend them off. After they defeated the monsters, Eide came back.

Eide: What happened? Was it monsters?

Neptune: Oh you don't have to worry about that. The monsters are already taken care of.

Eide: Thank goodness you were here. I couldn't have taken them on all by myself... I'd have to hide and wait until they were gone.

Vert: Did you get the fertilizer?

Eide: Oh yes — I've got the fertilizer. The effects can take some time to kick in, so let's get on with it.

Eide spreads the fertilizer evenly. Before long, the elemental energy within starts to take effect...

Eide: Next, we pick the mushrooms and repeat the same steps as before to make another dose. I trust you still remember the method?

Aether: Yes I do.

Aether picks the mushrooms then goes back to the crafting table and makes the Nameless Taboo Medicine of the Royal Court.

Eide: ...

Aether: Eide, the medicine's ready.

Eide: Oh! Uh, sorry, I just... After resting in this field for a while, my thoughts began to wander... I have been so very weary, for many years... if only I could fall asleep here in this field, and never wake up again...

Aether: But though the curse denies you even this... You still have Caribert.

Eide: Hehe, I do indeed, that's why it was just a fleeting thought... Thank you for your help once again. Now for the final step... Back to the Statue of The Seven.

Once again they came back to the Statue of The Seven. It was already sunset.

(Music ends)

Eide: We're here. Let's begin...

Eide he suddenly stops talking as he notices a Hilichurl walking below.

Eide: Wait a moment... Hey, what was that? ...Caribert?

Everyone: What!?

Aether: He left the house?!

Eide: Oh no... He must have left while we were too busy preparing the medicine to notice... Come on! We have to catch up with him!

Everyone jumps down and goes after the hilichurl into the cave. But Eide stops as did everyone else. They realized something.

Eide: That's... that's not Caribert.

Aether: No, it's not.

Patrick: There's no silk scarf around his arm.

Eide: Right. Caribert's scarf was a gift I once gave to his mother. I use it now as a marker of sorts. M—My eyes must be going... how could I not recognize my own son? Ugh, this decrepit body of mine... *sigh*

Nepgear: Still, this hilichurl...

Aether: There's something strange about it.

Eide: Yes... It doesn't seem interested in us in the least. It seems intent on walking in that direction... Where could it be going?

Aether: No idea.

Patrick: There is only one way to find out. We better continue to follow it.

Eide: Yes... The more we know about hilichurls, the better.

They continue to follow the hilichurl in the cave but when it entered into some mysterious goofy mist, it disappeared.

Eide: Did it go in here? Hmm... Well, let's head in.

Theresa: Let's keep going.

They enter the Unknown Sanctuary.

Eide: What a ghastly place... Has it always existed? I swear I've never noticed it before...

Kiana: It wasn't here before when we were at the Chasm or when we got to Sumeru.

Aether notices something.

Aether: Look...

He points at something further and see hilichurls. They were bowing and walking up further.

Aether: What are those hilichurls doing?

Seele: No idea. But they are doing something.

Eide: Huh. It looks like they're... worshiping. Sometimes walking, sometimes kneeling in worship... And it appears to be in earnest. I've never seen anything like this in all my life. What in the world does this place conceal? Oh, there's only one way to find out.

Aether: (The air here, and this creepy scene... it's eerily familiar...)

Patrick: (It feels like when we were in Liyue we found that upside down Statue of The Seven.)

Patrick summons his Dragon Sword.

Patrick: We better have our weapons out. We better maintain our distance so they don't notice us.

Eide: Taking safety precautions I see.

Everyone else summons their weapons.

Theresa: Stay behind us, Eide.

Eide: Alright, Theresa.

The party slowly followed the hilichurls as they went up the stairs. The three hilichurls kept on walking then stopping to bow then continue walking and kept doing the same thing. When they reached the top, the hilichurls entered into a room then turned left. The party quietly followed them into a hallway where there was a purple portal where the hilichurls entered and disappeared.

Neptune: Now where did they disappear to?

Aether pointed at the portal with his left arm.

Aether: They disappeared into that portal.

Nepgear: Where does it lead to?

Theresa: There is only one way to find out. I'm going in first.

Theresa walks into the portal and disappears. Everyone else followed and entered into the portal. At first there was purple space around them then they appeared in another area.

Aether: Is this a teleportation device? What energy is powering it...

Patrick: Abyss energy maybe?

Bronya: Or something else.

Aether: Either way. Let's keep going.

They entered into a large room then they looked up and saw the hilichurls on the bridge bowing then continuing walking. But then large Hydro and Electro slimes appeared.

Everyone got into fighting stances.

Patrick: Stay back Eide. We've got this.

They fought against the slimes and defeated them. After doing that, a door opened further ahead revealing another portal.

Vert: Another portal.

Aether: We should go through.

Neptune: Looks like we better keep going.

Neptune leads the group to the portal then they go through then the same thing happens again then they ended up in another room then they ended up on the bridge where the hilichurls were. Then they went down the hall then went up the stairs to a tall door that slowly opened up to reveal a larger room with more stairs. They go up the stairs only to encounter more slimes. They defeated them.

There was a strange orange stone at the center so they picked it up then went up more stairs to the next portal but after they entered through they were on the ceiling.

Neptune: Huh?! How did this happen?!

Aether: How did we get on the ceiling? Did the room turn upside down, or gravity itself...?

Mei: No idea.

In front of them was another orange stone. They grabbed it also. Then they went to the lower floor and at the center looked like a door.

Aether: It seems like we need to find a place to insert the runes.

Vert: I think the runes go in there.

Neptune: Lets see.

They placed the two runes in place but were down one more rune.

Patrick notices a mechanism then he goes up to it then he activates it then the doors on the other floor open. After they get the last rune and place it on the door, they open the door.

Patrick: We might find the answers down there.

Aether: Let's go.

Everyone drops down. When they landed another tall door opens then to their shock, an Abyss Herald appears. This causes everyone to get into fighting stances.

???: Halt, humans. Fate has not granted you the right to enter this place...

Aether: (An Abyss Herald? No, he doesn't look like someone from the Abyss Order...)

Patrick: That Abyss Herald looks different. Judging from its colors, it looks like it has ice abilities.

Kiana: Just what we needed. Another Abyss Herald.

???: Hmm, do you insist on an audience?

Neptune answers.

Neptune: Something like that...

???: ...Very well, then I grant you the trial of destiny.

Kiana whispers to Patrick.

Kiana: Should we transform?

Patrick: No. Not until if necessary. Eide is with us and we can't have him hating us.

Neptune: Alright. We can take him in our normal forms.

https://youtu.be/pKv_wua6kFE

Patrick, Aether, Neptune, and Kiana go up to the Abyss Herald: Frost Fall.

Patrick, Aether, Neptune, and Kiana: HA!

They charge in and so does the Abyss Herald. It attempts to slash at them but Patrick and Neptune block its blades with their swords. Aether and Kiana get behind the Abyss Herald and slash at it with their swords. Then Patrick and Neptune jump back then rush in with Pyro covering Patrick's sword and Electro covering Neptune's great sword then they slash at the Abyss Herald causing the overloaded reaction which forces the Abyss Herald back.

Patrick: This Abyss Herald is new to us. It's using Cryo attacks.

Aether: It is using Cryo attacks.

Kiana: Better use Pyro attacks to melt it's ice.

Neptune: And cause an overcharged elemental reaction with Electro.

The Abyss herald gets up then jumps up then dives at them with a Cryo attack but they dodge as the Abyss herald landed and Cryo spreads. Patrick shoots fire from his left hand and melts the ice causing a lot of damage. They kept on fighting till when the Abyss Herald's HP was low, a Cryo shield surrounded its body just like the same deal with the other Abyss Heralds and Lectors they faced against.

Patrick and Neptune: Swap out!

Patrick and Neptune swap out with Noire and Vert as they rush in. Fire covered Noire's spear and air covered Vert's rapier.

Vert and Noire: HA!

They attack at the same time causing a swirl reaction. After their attack, the Abyss Herald does its frigid sweep attack striking Vert and Noire. Kiana and Aether strike back with Dendro attacks. Bronya and Blanc heal Noire and Vert.

Kiana and Aether: Swap out!

Kiana and Aether jump back and taking their places were Nepgear and Uni. Nepgear uses Electro Spells while Uni shoots Pyro blasts from her guns. Using the attacks caused the overcharged elemental reaction. Now the four fighters charge up a combo attack then attack all at once then strike the Abyss Herald and finally the Abyss Herald was defeated and turned into blue particles.

Noire: Finally defeated.

Eide: Who was that? He was... he was...

Patrick: Terrifying.

Aether: We've seen similar characters before.

Kiana: And fought against them and beat them.

Eide: ...He was a perfect being. I'm in awe.

Eveyrone: ...Huh?

Eide was sounding impressed with the Abyss Herald.

Eide: He had the most wondrous aura, a perilous yet beautiful power... Truly mesmerizing. And yet you were able to defeat him. Your strengths are greater than I had imagined. Hehe...

Nepgear: You have unconventional tastes.

Aether: We just have lots of combat experience.

Eide: Let's continue on. I find myself growing more curious by the second... and more excited.

The door opened up again this time they go through it then go up a corridor then enter into another room where there was a control mechanism. Aether uses it and opens the door. On the other side as they approached was a larger room and above them floating was a large chained purple crystal.

Eide: I think... we've made it to the end...

Aether: What is that thing!?

Patrick: It look like a giant purple crystal chained up and floating.

That's when it hit the outlanders.

Aether: (Wrapped in chains, hanging in midair, emanating a sinister aura... There's no mistaking it. It's just like the Defiled Statue! So it does have something to do with the Abyss Order. And these worshiping hilichurls remind me a little too much of the Grand Thief...)

On the other platforms were hilichurls bowing.

Patrick: (This is bad. We have to get out of here!)

Aether: Eide, this place is bad news. We've got to go!

Kiana: Aether is right! We have to get out of here!

They turned to Eide but to their shock he was bowing just like the hilichurls.

Eide: ...

Aether: Eide?

Neptune: Didn't you hear us?! We've got to get out of here!

Voice Inside the Heads: ...O dear creature, why do you bow down? For fear of the unknown? Or for a power that you covet?

Aether: Whose voice is that? It must be coming from right inside our heads... Can't Eide hear it?

Patrick: I don't think he can.

Rom, Ram, and Seele were scared. Rom and Ram held each other while Seele grabbed Bronya's arm.

Voice Inside the Head: ...O dear creature, why do you bow down? For I am no god... I am but a "Sinner."

Aether: A "Sinner"...?

Noire: What are you talking about?

Voice Inside the Head: You are like a flower born in sin yet pure, spotless... I know your fate well. You need no longer hold back your resentment, nor accept the countless lies. Go forth, become a transcendent one, rise beyond the fate bestowed upon you... And I shall shed a tear at the end of time... as I gaze back upon your life.

Aether: ...Who in the world are you? What do these words mean?

Voice Inside the Head: ...

The voice did not reply as it was gone.

Aether: The voice... it's gone...

Seele: We better get out of here.

The crystal glows and wisps of purple energy fly into Eide's body.

Everyone: !!!

Aether: ...Eide?

Eide suddenly gets back up fully awake.

Eide: *pant* *pant* ...What just happened?

Theresa: You were bowing just like the hilichurls.

Eide: When I saw that thing, my heart was instantly at peace... I—I was overcome by a sense of awe... or joy, perhaps.

Aether: Are you alright now?

Eide: I am... I feel good, in fact... I—I feel better than I did before I came in here. How peculiar...

Aether: Something's not right about this place. We need to get out of here.

Eide: Oh, i—is that so? Alright, as you wish.

Kiana: Now let's get out of here.

They leave the ominous cave as fast as they could and return to Eide's house. Caribert was still resting on the bed.

Eide: Caribert! Oh, thank goodness. He's still okay.

Aether: Don't we still need to go to the Statue of the Seven?

Eide: I... I have a strange feeling that what just happened was meant to be.

Patrick: A strange feeling?

Eide: For this to happen right at the moment when I was dreading worshiping at a Statue of the Seven... it's as if fate was calling to me.

Neptune: Calling to you?

Eide: You say that I bowed before that thing, so perhaps... it might be just as effective?

Aether: That sounds like a ridiculous idea... But if you insist...

Eide: I have to try. No matter what. ...You said it yourselves: I have to exhaust all options.

Another dose of medicine is administered to the hilichurl...

Eide: Caribert...?

Caribert: ...

Caribert opens his eyes to see Eide

Caribert: ...P—Papa...?

Caribert was talking normal in a human child's voice.

Eide: *gasp* ...Caribert! Oh, my goodness, it worked! It's a miracle!!! Oh, Caribert, my dear son...

Aether: I can't believe it...

Patrick: It worked.

Neptune: He's talking normal! YAY!

Kiana: He can talk in human language again.

Eide: You see!? It worked! Caribert can speak again!

Caribert: Where's... Mama?

Eide: Mama is... Caribert, look at me. Do you know who I am?

Caribert: Of course... You're Papa.

Eide: Hahahaha... Yes! Haha... Salvation, sweet salvation... Yes, this is what this feeling is... How do you feel, Caribert? Are you fully awake now?

Caribert: Yes... it feels like I just woke up from a long, long sleep. I dreamed that I was hiding in a little room. I didn't dare go out the whole time, and I didn't want to either...

Caribert looks down and sees his hands and feet.

Caribert: Wait...

A feeling of shock overcame him.

Caribert: My body! What happened to me? Is this... is this me? Papa... What's happened to me!?

Eide rushes in to calm down Caribert.

Eide: ... ...Don't panic, son. It's just... while you were sleeping, we went into a fairytale world. There's no more  here, no more home — but do you know what that means? No more red sky... no more end of the world. In this world, you have to be a little monster... but you get to stay with Papa forever.

Caribert: Am I... dead?

Eide: No, no, of course not! Look, Caribert... you still have Mama's scarf on your arm. That means she's watching over you, protecting you. So how could you be dead?

Caribert: Really...?

Eide: Yes, really! You've only just woken up, and this must all be very confusing for you. Just rest here for now... Things will get better. Oh, and um... you have to promise me something... Never take off your mask. Understand? Whatever happens, you mustn't take it off...

Caribert: Okay, Papa... I won't, I promise...

Father and son talk for a long while. Eide seems like a changed man after his religious experience... After a while, Eide talks to the party outside the house. It was already night.

Eide: Not since that day have I been so glad as I am now... I can't believe this is really happening...

Neptune: Yeah...

Aether: It's unbelievable.

Vert: A hilichurl being able to act human again.

Eide: Hmph, I knew that placing my hope in  was a waste of time... I even worshiped at one of their statues like a common fool. Never before have I humiliated myself like that...

Eide was acting angry.

Eide: Once a murderer, always a murderer... I was naive to think that the gods who conspired against us would ever offer redemption. But the god we saw in that cave... Now that was a truly mighty god! Nothing like one of The Seven!

Neptune: A god? We didn't see anyone else in that room only the large crystal and more hilichurls bowing.

Eide: That wondrous power... It was truly enchanting... Surely, that must have been the reason I bowed down? Hmm, now then... after one beseeches a god, and the god responds by answering their prayers, should they, um... do something to show their devotion? Piety is hardly my area of expertise... but surely I should honor the god that has honored my wishes.

Aether: But Eide... that was not a god. That was... a "Sinner."

Neptune: That's what he called himself.

Eide: A "Sinner"? Don't be absurd. You all don't know a single thing about him... how dare you utter such blasphemy? You and I have both witnessed his divine power. When have The Seven worked a miracle like this before? Never... He is a god mightier than they! And yet you would call him a "Sinner"? Preposterous!

Patrick: But that's what he is and called himself.

Eide: No matter... Believe what you will. You cannot shake my faith. I am going to pay my respects — with or without you.

Eide leaves them.

Patrick: You...

Aether: Fine, go ahead.

Kiana: Should we go follow him?

Aether: Eide's experience has deeply affected him... Not that he was particularly stable to begin with, but this... religious fervor is something else... We better catch up with him anyway. There are monsters everywhere... I can't stand by and let him fall into their hands.

Patrick: You're right. We better follow him.

Everyone runs behind Eide to catch up. He was going into the Unknown Sanctuary again. They stood at the entrance.

Neptune: I think he's officially lost his sanity after getting that energy from the purple crystal.

Nepgear: Not fully.

Rom: I don't want to go in there again.

Ram: neither do I.

Seele: We could've gotten killed.

Aether: I know what you're feeling and I don't want to either but we must.

Vert: He's right. We better go in again.

Bronya and Blanc: And don't worry. The both of us will protect you.

After they said the same thing, they looked at each other then back at the twins and Seele. Seele and the twins looked at each other then they had looks of confidence on them.

Rom, Ram, and Seele: Alright.

Rom and Ram hold hands with Blanc while Seele holds hands with Bronya.

Patrick: Let's move.

They enter back into the Unknown Sanctuary holding their weapons once again.

(Unknown Sanctuary)

They went through the same path and killed monsters along the way. They caught up with Eide and got to the same location where the crystal was. However...

Eide: No, impossible... What happened?

Aether: It's gone...

Neptune: But it was right here...

Eide: The hilichurl worshipers have disappeared, too... Was it all an illusion?

Aether: That seems unlikely... We couldn't have both seen the exact same illusion.

Eide: That's true... Yes, it can't have been an illusion. I still feel that awesome and wondrous power flowing through my mind and body... It was neither illusion, nor coincidence, and certainly no dream! It was a wonder... yes, a divine wonder.

Patrick: Could somebody else have taken it?

Bronya: Unkown.

Eide: ...Let's go, everyone. There is surely a reason for its disappearance... And I do believe that some day in the future, we shall see it again.

Eide turns and walks to the exit while everyone else follows him.

Neptune: You're turning into a zealot, Eide.

Aether: Let's just get back.

Eide: Could he really have been a "Sinner," and not a god...?

They take Eide, who seems to be in a trance, back to the small house... But to their shock, Caribert was not there anymore.

Eide: Caribert? Where has he gone!?

Aether: He's not in here...

Patrick: Uh-oh...

Kiana: This can't be good.

Eide: Oh no, no, no... Maybe someone else came by and found him? No, no, it can't have been that. There's no sign of a break-in, and no sign of anyone having been here...

Aether: Maybe he ran off?

Patrick: But why?

Eide: This does not bode well. What if he's spotted by a Forest Ranger? Or an adventurer? In his current state, they'd...

Aether: Then we have to find him first... There's no time to lose...

Eide: Wait a minute... This isn't how we left it...

Eide notices the box on the table is open.

Eide: Oh no, did he...

A mirror is face-down on the floor. Eide picks it up.

Eide: ... The mirror... It's broken...

Nepgear: This is bad!

Aether: (Hmm? But... hasn't the mirror been broken this whole time?) What does the broken mirror mean?

Eide: He must've taken his mask off... and seen what he looks like beneath it... Ugh, if he'd just done as he was told... We have to find him!

They run outside. It was raining.

They notice the silk scarf on the crate.

Eide: It's his scarf... he dropped it. Looks like we're going the right way. Come on.

They run down the direction.

Eide: Caribert...! Caribert...! Where are you?

As they were running they stopped because there were three Forest Rangers. They almost got into a quarrel but Aether broke it up then after some speaking they were on their way. That's when they find the hilichurl at a cliff.

Caribert: ...

Eide: Caribert!

Aether: We found him!

Eide: Caribert, stop! It's me! It's Papa! Whatever you saw, it was... it was all a trick! An illusion! I told you, we're in a fairytale world now, nothing here is real... Please, Caribert, come back... it's time to go back!

Caribert does not respond.

Caribert: ...

Eide: Caribert?

Aether: He's not responding...

Patrick: He's relapsed...

Eide: How could this happen? He regained his mind... He must be able to hear me, surely?

Neptune: The medicine we gave him must be wearing off..

Eide: NO! It can't be! Come, Caribert, we have to go home now... Papa's here to take you home, alright?

Aether: Hold on, something's not right with him...

Patrick: What has that strange power done to him?

Caribert: ...

Caribert cannot accept the cruel revelation and takes off his mask in utter grief. Then, some immense energy impacts your psyche, and thus, you pass out...

Caribert begins to glow with purple energy.

Caribert: Papa...

Eide: Caribert...

Caribert: ... Papa, I can't take it...

Eide holds his left hand out.

Eide: Please, Caribert, it's my fault. I'm so sorry... If only I'd known...

Caribert: It's all... it's all too much, Papa...

Caribert pulls off his mask and purple energy bursts out. But all of a sudden, the party blacks out.

Back in the house.

Eide: ...Haha, I see, I understand now... Finally, it all makes sense...

The Traveler awakes and sits up on the bed. The rest of the party wakes up too but found themselves all over the floor.

Aether: (What happened... did I faint? I remember Caribert taking his mask off, but then...)

Eide: Aha, everyone , you're awake... Finally, we can all rejoice together! Especially you Aether.

Eide: Wait, no... Why am I still calling you "Aether"? I have known your true identity for some time now.

Aether: What do you mean, "true identity"?

Patrick: Yes what are you talking about?

Seele: Eide, are you okay?

Eide continued to laugh madly.

Eide: Hehehe... I suspected it was you from the beginning! I had to talk to you to be sure.

Aether: But I've never met you...

Eide: Oh, of course you haven't. With your status? You can hardly be expected to know all of us.

Patrick: Ok now you have us confused.

Everyone was confused.

Eide: In any case... I've been using a fake name this entire time. "Eide" is the name of a servant I once had... My real name is Chlothar...

Chlothar: ...Chlothar Alberich.

This causes everyone to get shocked.

Everyone: Alberich!?

Patrick: You can't be!?

Everyone except Aether summoned their weapons.

Patrick: WHO ARE?! WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!

Chlothar: You saw it too, didn't you? Unmistakable... The power inside Caribert and the power of the one you call a "Sinner," it was one and the same... I am positive now... it's the power of the Abyss, isn't it? At long last, I have seen it with my own eyes...

Aether: What happened to Caribert?

Chlothar: That is no business of yours!

Patrick instantly materialized swords all around Clothar which causes him to scream fear.

Patrick: YES IT IS! WHAT HAPPENED TO CARIBERT?!

Clothar: I'll never tell you! It's none of your business anymore!

Patrick: *growls*

Aether: ...

Clothier looks out the window.

Chlothar: A sinner... Yes, salvation for a sinner can only come from a sinner... Caribert did not deserve his fate, but now... It's wonderful — he will be able to weave his own destiny anew.

Then he turns back to the party.

Chlothar: Born into abject sorrow, he shall now become... ..."The Loom of Fate."

Aether: (There's that term again... the "Loom of Fate"...) You're right about this being from the Abyss... But the Abyss is sinister and dangerous...

Patrick: He's right. the Abyss is evil.

Chlothar: ... ...Sinister? ...Dangerous? ... Evil?... I never imagined that you, of all people, would deny the Abyss... How ridiculous! We once believed that you would bring new strength and hope to Khaenri'ah. To us, you were the Abyss... A wondrous mystery far beyond our imagination and comprehension... ...And the one who controls the Abyss can control everything! We yearned for that future. We looked to you to take us there. But what did you bring us instead? O Princess... of Khaenri'ah?

Everyone was shocked and had widened eyes.

Everyone except Aether: EHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

Everyone stares at Aether.

Aether: No... It can't be...

Aether is bewildered by how Chlothar just addressed him. He stumbles back.

Aether: What did he just... call me?

He picks up the mirror on the table, only to see the face of Lumine reflected in the shattered glass. Only then does he realize that everything he and everyone else witnessed previously was the experience of his twin. Then he hears Dainsleif calling from outside the door. It's time for you to wake up.

Aether, now appearing as Lumine drops the mirror in shock and grabs his head.

Aether: AHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

Everyone else was shocked and they recalled all the events with Eide as Lumine.

Patrick: These were... Lumine's memories.

Everyone else couldn't speak. All of a sudden they hear Dainsleif's voice.

Dainsleif: ...Aether... Patrick... Everyone... ...Hey, everyone!

Aether still as Lumine, breaks out of their spell and turns to face the door. Then everything blackened.

Dainsleif: Everyone!

Everyone snaps back into the real world with a scream. They were back in the camp with Dainsleif and Paimon.

Paimon: ...You're all awake! Oh, thank goodness, you're all awake! Paimon was worried sick! ...Uh, Aether? Aether?

Paimon turns to the others.

Paimon: Anyone?

Aether: ...

Neptune: ...

Kiana: ...

Patrick: ... You have no idea.

The group gets together from their sleeping spots.

Dainsleif: What happened while you were unconscious?

Rom: We had a bad dream.

Ram: No! We saw the past!

Noire: We were all in the same dream.

Dainsleif: I checked the Ley Lines nearby. It appears that the Abyss tampered with them, and they've been in turmoil ever since...

Dainsleif: Information and memories flow within the Ley Lines... What did you witness?

Kiana: We witnessed Lumine's past.

Aether: The founder of the Abyss Order... Alberich...

Dainsleif: You mean Chlothar Alberich?

Patrick: Yes that's him.

Dainsleif: After founding the Abyss Order, his faith in the Abyss led him to do a great many things. But the curse of immortality continued to torment his body and mind, and in the end, neither his faith nor the Abyss he worshiped could save him. After a hundred years, he lost his mind completely, and was never seen again. Yet his dark legacy lived on... The Defiled Statue that we encountered previously was just one perverse product of his use of Abyssal power during his life.

Aether: And despite that... My sister ultimately sided with him, didn't she?

Dainsleif: You could say that. She wouldn't be the Abyss Order's Princess otherwise.

Paimon: Are you alright? You have troubled looks on your faces... What happened?

Aether: I... we... have a story to tell you.

Blanc: A long story to be more specific.

Dainsleif: ...

Their words send Dainsleif deep into thought...

Dainsleif: So, you saw her memories from centuries ago... through your own eyes. It all but defies belief.

Patrick: Yes we did.

Dainsleif: Still, as I'd suspected, the notion of the "Loom of Fate" did indeed rear its head during that time... And it seems closely connected to Chlothar Alberich's son, Caribert, and what happened to him... And yet your sister never breathed a word of this incident to me... I wonder, was that the moment that she decided to go down this path...?

Mei: Maybe.

Aether: I also wish that I could know... But one thing is clear: ...This was not a happy memory. What she thought about all of this. But one thing is clear: ...This was not a happy memory.

Dainsleif: Indeed. Clearly, this series of events sparked a long period of deep contemplation. This... was where it all began.

Aether: Yes... Oh, I almost forgot... There's something we need to check.

Dainsleif: What is it?

Aether: I need to know what lies buried in this field.

Paimon: The field? What does that have to do with anything...

Patrick: It's something we have to check for.

Dainsleif: ...You mean, here? Well, let's start digging and see.

Aether: Bronya. Scan the field.

Bronya: Right!

Bronya makes Project Bunny appear then she scans the field then locks onto something. After some time, everyone discovers what is buried in the field... But Paimon had her eyes covered.

Paimon: ...You scared the dook outta Paimon. D—Did you re-bury them yet?

Aether: We're done. You can open your eyes now.

In their sight were two skeletons.

Dainsleif: A male and female skeleton, buried together...

Kiana: Those are what we're checking for.

Dainsleif: Interestingly, the male skeleton appears to have been interred much later... and it's holding a silk scarf in its hand.

Dainsleif: But what does this mean? And how did you know that there were bodies buried here?

Aether: We think that the bones of the man... Belong to Chlothar Alberich.

Dainsleif: What? That's impossible... Unless... Chlothar Alberich finally found a way to rid himself of the curse.

Aether: Perhaps he did...

Neptune: We watched him develop a medicine to help his son act human again. So maybe he found a way to break free from the curse.

Dainsleif: ... This all raises far too many questions... I need time to think. And to search my memories for some missing pieces... We should part ways here.

Girls: Part ways?

Paimon: Huh? You're just gonna leave? Why? You could come with us, y'know.

Vert: And we need more answers and information.

Dainsleif: It's better that we split up for now... I think that "he" might have seen you.

Everyone: He?

Paimon: Who's "he"?

Aether: You mean... The voice that we heard inside our heads in the dream?

Dainsleif: Yes. I have my suspicions as to his identity, but I need to confirm some other details before I can be sure. If the time is right, I will tell you when we next meet.

Paimon: But what do you mean that he "saw" them? How is that possible?

Aether: It was just a memory... It all happened hundreds of years in the past...

Dainsleif: I fear that while these things would limit anyone else... they are no obstacle to him.

Paimon: What? Why? ...What IS he?

Aether: A "Sinner"...

Dainsleif: Alright, let's leave it there.

Kiana: But...

Dainsleif: I said let's leave it there, Kiana.

Kiana: Fine. Alright.

Kiana crosses her arms.

Neptune: Now we have to wait longer for more questions to be answered.

Dainsleif: Get some rest... Goodbye.

And then Dainsleif leaves them.

Paimon: There goes Dain. And just like that, it's back to being us again, huh?

Patrick: Yes. Just back to us and everyone else who are away from us.

Aether smiles.

Aether: Oh, Paimon... one more thing:

Paimon: Hmm? What is it?

Aether: ...I missed you.

Aether hugs Paimon which causes Paimon to blush deep red.

Paimon: Huh!?

When Aether lets go, Paimon had an angered expression and her cheeks were puffed.

Paimon: What was that for?!

Neptune: It was just a hug Paimon. We did miss you. It's showing you love.

Paimon: Showing love! That was all too unexpected without any announcement!

Aether: She's right Paimon. I missed you the most. You're our most important companion.

Neptune: We did miss you just like the time when we were fighting against the former sages we disappeared and you got worried about us then you cried when we came back.

Paimon: Don't remind Paimon of that!

Patrick: Oh yes we can!

The camera zoomed up from a Birds Eye view as they continued teasing Paimon.

Kiana: And we can remind you of the time when you got scared by a ghost girl at Wangshu Inn.

Paimon: Don't make Paimon remember that either!

Neptune: And all the times you were called Emergency Food!

Paimon: NEVER CALL PAIMON EMERGENCY FOOD!

Everyone just laughed. Then the camera looked up at the sky then turned black.

(Author's Note: Before getting to the Fontaine Archon Quest. I'm gonna be doing Nahida's act 2 quest. Involved in the chapter will be me, Vert, and Ishtar.)