Bell of Recollection

I, uh, I only asked the Endmin to help 'cos I got really desperate... And you always reminded me that, uh, that the Bell of Three Presences is crucial to the city's safety and how I must keep that in mind.

Oh, so you are capable of remembering things. Now that your memories are evidently working, I got a problem for you to work on. Solve it and you'll get your replacement part.

Well, it happened many, many years ago. On the back of a distant peak, the Tianshi of Hongshan raised a city named Suiming for studying Tianshi Pillars.

Mis-mister Yu?! Why are you here...? We were about to pay you a visit...

Hmph. And you're still that confused bumbler. I decided to stop waiting for you to show up... It'd be rude to let down the esteemed visitor.

I should be the one giving you the full honors, Esteemed Endministrator.

I've guessed the purpose of this visit, and I apologize that you have to make this trip with this brat... He has a habit of misplacing his priorities.

You're so amazing, Mr. Yu... You really guessed everything... Oh man! What the! It's another assembly problem! I hate questions like this...

Look. I've got all the parts and materials laid out. Get on with it, lad. You have two hours. No more.

Yes, sir! I'll get started right away!

A two-hour session isn't too long, nor too short... Endministrator, if you don't mind, perhaps I can share an old tale to while away the time.

A day came when a sudden Blight Tide rose and swallowed the city whole... However, the disaster did not come unannounced...

Well, Endmin? Is there something you'd like to know?

Who knows...? Perhaps there was a disciple like him who experienced the disaster ... who regretted not fixing the Bell in time and failing to save more lives...

Yet the disciple also knew that their grieving will never absolve the mistakes of the past...

Nevertheless, the author who composed the story may have a dream, a commitment to create a far better ending —

The wish isn't to change history, but to teach the younger generations how to avoid the problem.

What's happening...? The Waking Bell is giving me error reports. Is it being affected by the surging Blight Tide...?

Hooo. It's finally done! Time to toll the Waking Bell and give an evac warning before the Blight Tide rises...

No. I must find a way to contain the Blight or I won't have time to replace the parts...

That's right! I should've thought of it sooner! I can build a barrier with these backup materials...

Wait. I can use these components! These Blight-resistant structures should be able to hold...

Mister, the Tianshi mentioned that Blight Tide activity is getting a little strange. Maybe I should fix the Waking Bell quickly so it can warn everyone just in case...

You're right, Yu. Disaster might strike at any moment. Fixing the Waking Bell will definitely help us...

But I'm sick and won't be able to give you much help... I can give you this, the activator of the Waking Bell.

From the previous maintenance log, four of the Bell components are severely damaged. They must be replaced...

I jotted down places that store the replacements in the Waking Bell Mission Log. Go and read it...

And that is how Suiming succumbed to the Blight Tide, Endministrator... What do you think about its ending?

Haha. The details aren't that important. The "story" is just something that might've happened in the past.

How it truly ended does not matter. While we reflect upon the past, our gaze should focus on the present ... and see what we can and should do at this very moment.

Unlike the waters drawn from a river, time does not flow in reverse. Instead of grieving about what had happened, we should care about what we have today...

Mr. Yu! Look! I made it! Check this out! IT'S A — WAIT?! Isn't this a replacement part for the Bell of Three Presences...?

So you finally realized, kid. And you did it within two hours... I'll give you a pass.

I should've failed you when you ignored to notify me at the very moment of runic component deterioration. Part crafting and assembly would be a skill better suited for someone else.

But Mr. Yu...! I ... I was, uh...

Well, since the Endministrator has agreed to help you, let this be your last act of irresponsibility ... and my final lesson to you.

Let no "insignificant issues" delay proper inspections and repairs of the Bell of Three Presences. Understood?

What? Story? Mr. Yu, you're actually a storyteller...?

Hurhur... Endministrator, I believe you already have the answer. And that is good enough for me.

For the story of Suiming, if there are any details you would like to know ... I'm always available to narrate it once more, Endministrator.

I can't drag this out any longer. Something bad might happen... Ugh. The only option left is wait for the Endmin...

E-Endmin?! You're here! Awesome! The fix might actually be on-schedule this time...

Yeah. We have to perform a full inspection and maintenance every year. A runic component of the Bell has completely deteriorated. It must be replaced ASAP...

But we got no spares in the city and I can't get a suitable replacement on time... I thought about asking my mentor to help...

He made plenty of Bell components. A runic component replacement would be easy for him.

NO! You're the key! So, erm... We had a big argument when I left his mentorship years ago. I don't know if he's still mad at me...

But the old man really admires the legendary Endmin! He always told us stories about you, that's why I thought —

Heheheh... Yeah, got me right there. We can visit my mentor together. Having you around might make him more open to communications...

That's a yes?! Thank you so much, Endmin! I'll take you to him. He's a master bellfounder called Yu Shigui, just a little stubborn, though...