Enter the Painted World

During our battle against Alleikhreos, the Æther left a mark on you.

Originium can disrupt the Æther, but it works both ways. Your body is already weak, it can't take this constant reaction.

Why deny us, the right of survival? Why disown us, the hearth of your own?

My Maker is ... only ... deceived by her...

Shut your trap, stone head!

Do we have to do this again? The Æther is turning your brain into porridge! Stop acting tough!

As for Endfield, the other operators and I are here. Don't worry, Endmin.

I still have things to deal with, so I'll take my leave... But don't you dare be late!

It's been decided. We're hauling you there whether you like it or not.

If she has made up her mind, nothing can change her decision...

She hopes you can set off right now, and get treated at a designated location.

The Endmin leaving Dijiang to receive treatment not provided by Endfield... There is no precedent for this.

That is why I made this trip. I have to verify your status and vouch for Lady Si.

Why don't you just listen to the ladies? Do I have to step in and make you?

I came just to pay you a visit... Endmin, you look even more wasted away than before.

Supervisor Perlica, it seems we have no choice but to follow Lady Si's instructions.

Endmin, remember back at the Yinglung Pass? Lady Si said she'd help treat your injuries.

The Big Three are following the Band Accord as we speak. Defense protocols have been initiated, giving the Civilization Band the readiness it needs.

Endmin, Lady Si must have her reasons for making this arrangement.

We've successfully defeated Nefarith and the Bonekrushers, foiling their schemes on Wuling City and the Very Large Rift.

As a Feranmut Proxy, Lady Si rarely makes public appearances. She usually communicates with HAS through special liaisons.

Her sudden presence to support us at Yinglung Pass is probably due to your presence, Endmin.

That being said, Lady Si is never absent in times of need. You can always trust her, both professionally and personally.

I hope it works out, Endmin.

The North Wuling Exclusion Zone has also been reclaimed. We can finally rebuild our lost home.

You should take this opportunity to heal up. That will put my ... our worries to rest.

Endmin, does your head still hurt? The suppressor gave very troubling readings just then.

I understand. You don't want to make us worried.

No. It's what Lady Si requested. She did not explain why.

Feranmut power is not like Originium Arts. There are certain principles known only to the proxies.

I have faith in Lady Si. The two of you have been friends for many, many years.

Endmin, please cooperate and let her treat you.

But your body can no longer afford to delay treatment. Conventional measures have had little effect. Lady Si's solution might work.

Endmin, I'll be waiting for you on Dijiang.

I thought you'd get lost, but you made it here pretty quickly.

Good. You came alone. I'm glad both you and that little supervisor listened.

Talos-II may be large, but only a few places in this world can treat your injuries. This is my home. Goes without saying.

It's a painting, can't you tell?

Mmhmm. Think about it. How long did it take to build Wuling City?

But a painted world works independently. I just need a suitable site to hang the painting.

Living far away keeps annoying people at bay. And I can monitor the Exclusion Zone for Hongshan. I call this a brilliant idea.

Come on. Hop on. Let me show you what it looks like inside the painting!

Watch closely. Talos-II may be vast, but nowhere else will you find anything like this.

Hm. You're not seeing things. That's indeed "Dijiang".

Well, too bad I couldn't achieve a full-size depiction. And it's a vertical hanging scroll. The work is not quite perfect.

Dijiang is your headquarter. You're the reason why I painted it.

We'll do some hiking, reach the peak, and let that "Dijiang" treat your injury.

There's a reason behind this arrangement. You'll know afterwards.

Let's go. First we'll find you somewhere to rest.

Just like the butterflies you saw at the Marker Stone. It's a simple doodle.

An entire world, real or imagined, given life by my brush.

Mm... Prepare yourself. Once inside, everything in the painted world will be real to you. You can see them, and you can touch them.

Lazy bum! The sun is up already!

Yeah, yeah, sure. The sun never sets here anyway…

Oh dear, milady! You should've let us know you were coming back?

There're no guests at the inn, and I was just taking a break. Surely this doesn't count as slacking off, right?

Enough. Can't you see we have a guest here?

Dark hair... Endfield... This is the one you kept talking about... Mmm, what's up with the mask...?

Quit yammering. Get the business running, now!

Hmph. Now this is a proper inn.

Well, well, someone's being observant...

It adds life. The scene here is beautiful. I don't want it going to waste.

Speed Dasher works in the kitchen, but he's super slow. Watching him work is pure torture.

(Hmhmph)

"Witty" is the oldest assistant. It's one of the mountain Ink Spirits that didn't come from my brush.

Of course not. I can't have random doodles help run my inn.

Real or imagined... Does it really matter?

Anyway, while you are here, feel free to ask them for anything.

Take a look around first, then come find me at the second floor. I'll show you to your room.

Those are the inn assistants... You've met Job Rusher, our receptionist. Little sneak slacks off whenever she can.

Loud Speaker takes the orders. Despite all these years, she's still very shy and can't talk to strangers.

Forgot which day it was, but I woke up seeing a bunch of these little critters around me. I just found them really cute. They also give me a sense of closeness.

"Witty" was the smartest of them all, so I've kept it close to me ever since.

T-today is a special case! We usually have a lot more guests than this.

Haha. You found out.

Ten years ago, you were a regular at the inn.

Every time you came by, our Lady would get really excited, and the inn would be buzzing with energy.

And I mean real excitement, not the kind whipped up with her little trick.

Oh dear, I just can't keep secrets! Our Lady forbids us to tell you about the past!

Sorry, patron! I gotta get back to work!

Here. Your room. If you're missing anything, just ask the assistants — What are you looking at?

S-stop overthinking it! I have standards, okay? No innkeeper wants to deal with guest complaints.

It's been set aside for you. I don't mind leaving it empty.

Back in those days...

You just need to know this is my best room, and I've kept it empty for ten years ... which costs me quite a fortune...

Don't worry, I'll give you the bills later.

You actually brought in most of the books on the shelves. I've left them untouched.

Hmph. I don't think seeing your old things will jog your memory.

It's okay. I'm not upset. Anyway, the room is clean. Go ahead and grab some sleep.

I control time inside the painting. None of your official business will get delayed!

The Æther is tearing your body and mind apart. Treating such injuries won't be easy!

You need to follow every single instruction I give. Got it?

You're being stubborn again... Look, you need some proper sleep. It's the best way to prepare for your treatment.

I'll tell the help downstairs to quiet down.

Something on my nose? Ah... I was in too much of a rush when I was cleaning…

Still smelling dust? But I already opened the windows to aerate the room...

You also loaded the room with all kinds of stuff. Look around. Everything should still be there.

*Sigh*. Talking about it won't bring back your memories.

Trespassers will be doused with hot tea! Trespassers will be doused with hot tea!

Bad excuses deserve hot tea! Bad excuses deserve hot tea!

Let's be civil and serve the tea properly...

Hmph. Mister brighthair is just an errand boy for Hongshan. He's not that capable!

Yeah. I tried living really far away, but Hongshan keeps sending people over ... just to say hello or borrow my stuff...

And since we go back for quite a while, it'd be rude of me to shut my door in their faces...

Prior to this day, I've only led your stray burdenbeasts back to their pens. I have not set foot in your inn.

Lady Si, I am only acting on command. Since you have returned, we should proceed as agreed and start —

He's not your concern. Just some troublemaker making things hard for my inn.

Nonsense. I'll never paint an annoying guy like him.

Oh, right. I've got an urgent errand to deal with. You can keep exploring the inn. Once I'm done, I'll take you up the mountain.

"Job Rusher"...

Take good care of her. Remember, I don't want to find you slacking or running your mouth. / Take good care of him. Remember, I don't want to find you slacking or running your mouth.

Heard you loud and clear... Oh, milady, I thought you got a job to rush to?

Hmm?

I'll show our patron around the backyard...

Follow me, dear patron.

My dear patron! The mountain is a trove of game and herbs. I'm treating you to a proper welcoming feast!

It seems something has happened to you. People say nothing in life is predictable. But they also say your actions determine the outcomes.

And you, dear patron, appear to believe in the second saying.

Haha. I can't say much, but Lady Si is a great benefactor to all three of us. That's why we are her assistants.

As for our origins, our actual names, and whether we're Ink Spirits or not...

It's just as our Lady said: real or imagined, it doesn't really matter.

Life is an arduous journey, and we are all but travelers upon it.

(Hmhmph)

Ah... I-it's you, dear patron...

I wasn't blaming you. I wasn't, really.

Please, Witty! Stop swallowing things!

"Witty" just swallowed the service bell. I had a hard time getting it to spit the thing out.

(Hmhmph)

Sorry, Witty, swallowing isn't a bad habit. It just gets ink all over the place and makes quite a mess...

If Lady Si loses the brush, she'll get pretty upset about that little Ink Spirit. I hope you are not disturbed, Endministrator.

Definitely not, milady. We have, by chance, retrieved your brush. I hope it has not been damaged.

You were secretly feeding "Witty" and whispering to my assistants. Do you think you can get away with that?

I've made arrangements for everything. I don't need his help.

Anyway, time to start hiking.

The brush alone suffices.

Good thing is, you've been quite cooperative so far.

I'll need you to follow my words closely, okay?

My plan was to let you stay in the inn for a bit. But since Ye Minghe has led you here, we don't need to head back anymore.

My apologies. I should have introduced myself sooner... I am Ye Minghe of HAS.

I believe I know you better than most. My presence here was requested by several Tianshi to assist in your treatment.

Haha. You actually caught me at an awkward moment.

Lady Si likes her peace. She doesn't like being disturbed by envoys. She was just enjoying her reunion with you, and my visit probably got in the way.

I went around looking for you, only to find you here gossiping about me?

The Endministrator's safety is critical to the entirety of the Civilization Band. Hongshan naturally wants an agent on-site.

Hur. I've got young little Zhuang to vouch for me. Is that not good enough for you?

Not quite.

You little...

But since you're ready to take the Endministrator up the mountain, I won't delay you any further.

But should the need arise, I will interfere. Do pardon my intrusions, milady.

Endministrator, it may not be completely pleasant. Allow me to apologize to you as well.

The guy's quite the diplomat. Worse, he has the fighting skills to back it up... Such people usually mean trouble, so I just ignore them.

But "Dijiang" is a long climb ahead. To get to your treatment, we may have to endure quite a journey.

(*Bored snorting*)

(Does not react)

(Shakes her head unhappily)

(Shakes her head impatiently)

Well, since it's you asking, she can't really blame me for running my mouth!

*Sigh* it's obvious you're keen to reach the mountaintop. But treating injuries is like running a business. You can't rush things.

Our Lady keeps saying, "That silly dolt probably never took a break after awakening. That means no mountain hiking for now!"

She just wants you to calm your spirit, so you're prepared for the treatment.

Staying in the inn will make you overthink things. Our Lady cares too much, and it's messing with her decisions...

OH NO! The brush ... the brush has escaped!

So what are you doing back here? Go chase it down!

'Cause I was scared. There are so many waregeists out there!

Yes. Inks or things, it doesn't matter. Inanimate objects would start gaining intellect after staying around our Lady for too long.

Our Lady calls them all ... "Apparitions". Just think of them as mountain spirits or imps.

Waregeists are okay if you don't mess with them. But "Witty" is carrying the Lady's brush. They'll be all over it...

Really?! Oh, thank you so much!

You're still injured, my dear patron. Be careful out there.

"Witty" took away our Lady's precious brush!

Besides hall work, we need to take care of the stables and the farms...

Believe in Lady Si's ability. You'll be getting a full recovery, Endmin.

Still here? Are things too noisy for you?

Stop thinking, and just go to sleep.

Go to sleep!