The group swiftly leave the ruins and they meet Dainsleif
Dainsleif: So, we meet again, a little sooner than I had expected.
Paimon: Hey, it's Dain!
Sekai: Owh! It was you, stalker guy!
That managed to caught Dainleif off guard, but he managed to keep his composer
Dainsleif: Ehem… Judging by your expression, it seems you just experienced something quite strange. Could it be that you encountered and Abyss Herald in those ruins?
Paimon: (surprise) Huh!? How did you know that?
Dainsleif: I've been on the Abyss Herald's trail. I didn't expect to find you here as well.
Aether: Actually, the Abyss Herald wasn't all we encountered…
Then Aether tell Dainsleif about the strange statue and deceased thief…
Paimon: And then, as we got close to the exit, an Abyss Herald suddenly appeared and blocked our way. We fought a big battle with that thing. Maybe it hasn't gotten too far yet…
Dainsleif: Yes, this is a rare opportunity indeed. Come, lets catch up to it.
Sekai: Alright, boss… whatever you say…
Paimon: Owh come on Sekai, this was a rare opportunity! With Dain helping out, maybe we'll be able to solve more mysteries about the Abyss!
And with that start the technically RPG style of hunting rare item… basically, it like you thought the quest was straight forwards… but… it keeps on giving more and more side objective… what make it worst if you didn't do any of those side objective, the main quest was lock.
Why Sekai thought like this… well it was because just to find this stupid Abyss Herald… they returned back to Mondstadt… well let just say, he quite on hot plate, worried if somehow, Lisa or Eula knows about his returned…
But along their journey, Dain keep on instilling new knowledge especially about what happen 500 years before he come to this world.
Aether: I know about Khaenriah…
Paimon: …huh?
Sekai: Wait? Does that mean you as ancient as Ganyu then… damn Aether you are an old man.
Aether: I don't say I live in Khaenriah alright; I just have the memories of it.
Paimon: You have memories of being there? But that nation was destroyed 500 years ago…
Dainsleif: …Is that so? Well, everyone has their secrets. You did not pry into mine, so I shall not pry into yours… But if you would like to tell me, I will listen… so, the Khaenri'ah you saw, what was it like?
Aether: (speak to himself) Well, I can't hide it from him any longer… Dain and Khaenri'ah… it's worth a shot… the person who woke me up… And that sea of flames…
Aether tells the group about the sea of flames they saw 500 years ago, and that god he encountered with his twin…
Paimon: So that's the complete story, huh… Paimon thought that you ran into that unknown god first…
Dainsleif: Hmm… I see… So, you first memory after coming into this world was being awoken by your sister from within that….
Paimon: It seems your sister woke up first, but the question is, how long before you….
Dainsleif: And then your sister told you that the destruction of Khaenri'ah plunged the whole world into chaos and that you two should leave this world called Teyvat?
Sekai: The destruction of Khaenri'ah? She said that?
Aether: Correct. That what I heard at the time.
Dainsleif: That destruction you witnessed, that's… history from 500 years ago. It seems the first time you awoke in this world was indeed during that period.
Paimon: Huh… so your sister must have understood this world better than you did because he woke up first.
Dainsleif: And it was shortly after that you encountered an unknown god who blocked your path, so you couldn't escape…
Paimon: Oh, Paimon knows this part really well.
Dainsleif: …I understand. When you awoke at that time and hurriedly tried to leave for another world, you didn't know anything about Khaenri'ah
Dainsleif: but now, since you have come to gain some understanding of Teyvat, you are able to guess that the war you witnessed all those years ago must be the war that ended Khaenri'ah… am I right?
Paimon: Ah! If that's the case, you must've been flipping through all sort of books during our adventure these past few months. Before going to Mondstadt, you had just looked at some vague materials. Later, we managed to gather a whole bunch of old books from all around Mondstadt and Liyue, but you told Paimon they were useless…
Paimon: So, the whole time you were just trying to learn more about Khaenri'ah so you could find your sister?
Aether: it's the second most promising lead after looking for The Seven. Despite only having place name to go on.
Paimon: Oh yeah… you can travel around the seven nations to find The Seven but where can you got to find a nation that was destroyed 500 years ago…?
Dainsleif: I probably know more about Khaenri'ah than both of you. Khaenri'ah was nation without god—not because it had a god that died or abandoned them, but it never had god to begin with. It was a powerful nation, built purely by humans, an unprecedented flourishing and glorious civilization—it was the pride of humankind.
Paimon: A nation… without a god…?
Dainsleif: Later events unfolded just as you remember—it was all destroyed… by gods.
…
The air filled with an ancient heaviness as Dainsleif shares a part of history erased from most records.
Paimon's face reflects her shock as Dainsleif reveals a story that had been lost to the ages.
Paimon: "How could that be…? The history books don't say anything about that…"
Dainsleif scoffs, his eyes dark and distant.
Dainsleif: "The history of Teyvat is riddled with gaps, stories… 'conveniently' erased. There are things the gods prefer to keep hidden, tales of those who challenged the heavenly order."
Paimon and the Traveler listen, silent, as Dainsleif continues.
Dainsleif: "One such story is of a figure known only as the 'Hero.' He was a powerful, influential force in Teyvat's past, fighting against the beings that sought to invade this world. He was once even a friend to the Heavenly Principles, yet he defied the gods to protect this land in his own way."
Dainsleif pauses, a faint bitterness edging his voice.
Dainsleif: "The Hero joined the Archons in a great war against Teyvat's invaders, aiding each of the Seven at some point. But his most significant battle… was in Khaenri'ah, where he faced the Abyss. Without his intervention, half of Teyvat would have met the same fate as my homeland."
The words hang heavily in the air, and a strange tension fills the silence.
Traveler: "He fought in Khaenri'ah? What happened to him?"
Dainsleif: The Hero sacrificed much of his power that day, buying Teyvat time to prepare against the Abyss's resurgence. It is said that he scattered his strength across the land forming a protection veil, hindering another invasion from being beyond Teyvat.
Paimon's expression softens, her usual cheer subdued by the weight of the story.
Paimon: "That's… incredible. But why would the gods hide this?"
Dainsleif: "Perhaps they feared him. He was no mere mortal—he was a figure who walked alongside the gods yet defied them when he deemed it necessary. Heroes who refuse to follow orders are seldom remembered kindly."
Dainsleif's gaze turns distant, as if recalling a memory lost to time.
Dainsleif: "It's a cruel irony. The Hero gave everything for Teyvat, yet his story has been reduced to nothing but whispers. Perhaps one day, he will be remembered as he deserves."
The somber silence that follows is broken only by the faint breeze rustling through the ancient ruins, as if the world itself is mourning the forgotten Hero.
To recover from the somber tone, Dainsleif share interesting fact about Khaenriah, he explained about the roaming Ruins Guards which its original name called Field Tillers, powerful mortal weapons, and after the destruction of Khaenri'ah they wandered aimlessly spreading throughout all of Teyvat.
Form there, Sekai got his 'eureka' moment, predicting that Abyss Order is trying to find something about this Field Tiller thing.
Dainsleif conclude that, there was something special with the first field Tiller, and along the way, they heard from interrogation on one poor Abyss mage, they want to create loom of fate. Aether suggested that, the Field Tiller may link to this somehow.
So, after much pondering, they all reach the conclusion they need more hint to find this first Ruin Guard.
Aether: That statue… it looked like the Anemo Archon
Sekai: Should we ask the Church of Favonious about it?
Paimon: Yeah, that Tone-Deaf Bard is too difficult to track down anyway. Let's go to the Cathedral first and ask around, maybe we'll learn something.
Dainsleif: The Cathedral… Hmph…
Paimon: Huh? What's the matter, Dain?
Dainsleif: nothing. Let's get moving.
-Favonius Cathedral-
Dainsleif: A huge, a grandiose Cathedral… The people of Mondstadt clearly spent great deal of resources and energy to construct them. but how aware of this was the Anemo Archon on receiving this gift, and how much did he give back in return?
Paimon: Faith doesn't ask for anything in return though, does it?
Dainsleif: Hmph, as long as the gods have a clear conscience about it all, there's nothing I can say about it.
Paimon: Shh! We're about to enter the Cathedral. don't say anything bad about the Anemo Archon… and actually, the Anemo Archon is… Gah, never mind.
Dainsleif: I never specifically said I would enter the Cathedral. I'll leave you two to mingle with the sisters.
Paimon: Huh?
Sekai: then… I will join you, old man Dain.
Aether: (snicker) I do know why Sekai didn't want to enter Cathedral, but you Dain. Aren't you curios.?
Dainsleif: I do want to know why Mr. Silver didn't want to join you two, but for your question, it because you all are trusted in Mondstadt, bringing me will only rise their suspicions.
Aether: because they don't know you?
Dainsleif: Correct, and just as our little friend said… I might say something bad about church at any time.
Paimon: Okey then, traveler, we'll just go in ourselves and ask around. And Sekai, happy hiding (chuckles)
Sekai: yeah-yeah, don't need to remind me.
And with that Traveler and Paimon went inside Favonius Church for little snooping. Leaving Sekai with Dainsleif.
As the awkward silent brew, Dainsleif starts questioning why Sekai act like he was on hot plate.
Sekai sigh in expression, stating that, he wants to avoid someone that he knows inside the city. It's not like he had bad relationship with them or something, but knowing Eula character, she will definitely chase him around because leaving without informing her.
Dainsleif hearing this have a rare smile on his face, somehow this reminds him of distance past situation.