Learn of Rise and Fall

My painting's damaged, and it's blocking the way up the mountain.

That was my line. Can *you* fix it?

You've been curious how that mountaintop "Dijiang" is gonna heal you, right?

I can now tell you this. "Dijiang" can promptly detect and visualize Æther Blightification of your body.

This damage we're seeing is the result of that visualization.

And there's more than a single site. Gotta fix them all before we can reach the mountaintop.

Try looking around. You've noticed it, right?

The damage has affected the contents of the painted world. Even the nearby areas are in trouble.

Let's solve the problem so we can repair the damage and get you up the mountain for treatment.

Let's try our best... Maybe we can visit the village first?

Think of it as a "diagnostic" process. It helps us locate your injuries.

We all grew up in Xiaohe Manor. How can we leave our homes like this?

Hark, good elder, are you blind? Disasters and strife, one barely recedes yet a new one rises? We are fearful for our lives.

Behold, good elder, don't you see? Our youths are spent, our numbers grow thin. There's naught but woe for me.

I ... No. I won't leave.

Lo, good elder, do your eyes fail? The old tree is unwell, it withers and dries, drawing only sad tears from myself.

Li, our good elderman! Join our sorrowful band. Fate has played her hand, so we must leave this land.

My dear old friend, my dear old friend... if this keeps going on, I'll be the only one left in Xiaohe Manor...

Don't bother. He can't see us. It's like shouting at a painting; the people inside won't respond.

Are you trying to solve the thing with the PAC? Your precious Endfield tech is not gonna work here.

We can do whatever we want without upsetting them. Isn't that way easier?

Here. It's for you...

Woe is me. There's nothing in the granary, but the rustling of wind...

Woe is me. Must we grow cold and hungry? We might as well leave!

This used to be the granary of Xiaohe Manor. I've never seen it like this before.

Try using the brush. Let the ink flow with your will to repair the painting.

What ho? Do my eyes deceive?

My old friend! Did you finally hear my call...

Let's go look around other places.

I had only blinked, yet fully stocked is our granary?

Alas, good land yields naught with only raw labor. There's no replacement for manure or water.

Alas, my hard toil gave me nothing! I might as well leave!

Many farm plots have been abandoned. The soil itself doesn't look healthy either.

Try using the brush. Let the ink flow with your will to mend the things within the painting.

I had only blinked, yet suddenly the waterwheel's churning?

My old friend, I knew you would never abandon us...

Let's go look around other places.

My old friend, the Wishing Tree of Xiaohe Manor, you're just as withered as before...

The granary is full; the waterwheel is repaired. I thought ... you were willing to protect us once again...

I thought you'd continue to bless us with good weather and abundance, and to shield us against disease and disasters.

All this while I've been carrying everything. I've done all that I could. But I'm nothing like you...

Can you hear us? Will you still heed our calls...?

Still thinking about the Sub-PAC? Look, my brush is far more capable here, but even it couldn't get them back on track.

At least, back when it was planted, it was just an ordinary tree.

If it's special at all, it's likely due to its connection to you. But you probably don't remember any of that.

I thought we were back to the old days ... and you'd keep us together as one tight community.

Hey. Stop spacing out.

Why, my good elder! The ancient tree was doomed wither, yet it came back to live, as hale as ever?

Why, my good elder! Strange things have occurred, but what is the cause, I'm left bewildered!

Twas a miracle of the Wishing Tree... Good Elder Li, Xiaohe Manor may yet live!

We have a miracle, but it's not the one we see right now.

I can't explain how the Wishing Tree came back to life, but I just remembered things... things that we had forgotten long ago.

There was a time when we wandered aimlessly in the mountains, till we saw this tree.

No one knew how its seed was brought to the wilderness. But when we first met the tree, its green buds had yet to fully sprout.

We were the ones who watered the tree and kept out the beasts. We made the decision to raise the sapling and build our village around it.

We conquered our own suffering ... yet somehow we ended up losing faith in ourselves.

So the Wishing Tree had always been tended by our own hands.

Since when had these hands learned only to ask for blessings?

My good people, I beg you again. Please stay here!

We can still fence the granary and build more waterwheels. There's still time and plenty to be done...

How could you be so certain that they would come to their senses? They might end up being further misled by false hopes.

If the villagers of Xiaohe Manor had heard you, they might have fixed the problem long ago.

It was we alone who had always kept this village whole.

Oh Li, you fool. You almost went down the road of total despair yourself.

I know nothing about that.

You're the Village Elder! How could you even think of abandoning the tree? You were about to leave it and join the others.

Thank goodness a kind soul decided to intervene, or you'd have made an irreversible mistake!

My sincere thanks.

It's a huge mountain. I can't populate it with just my doodles. It'd be boring.

Why bother caring? You said he has what it takes, and he'll figure things out on his own.

Anyway, this spark of inspiration should let you repair the damage... Try it out.

You've got amnesia, you're badly injured, yet you're still worrying about everything.

By the way, the things about Valley IV and all those names you mentioned, I didn't know any of them.

You can tell me all the interesting details once we have the chance...

Ugh, forget it. It's not like I'm really interested. You never even knew how I felt every day before your awakening was near...

No need for that. The bottom line is, you solved that problem back there on your own. You proved your skills.

Alright. The path is clear. Let's keep going.

Yeah. I was really close to your injury... *gasp* I see — the changes to Xiaohe Manor were caused by your own concerns.

It's only natural to be worried. It can keep you occupied, but don't let it weigh down your feet.

Twas 'neath that tree where we once held a feast. We invited a throng, and joined our voices in song.

Xiaohe Manor, the hamlet of grain. The prosperous past has faded, we mortals lived in vain.

Reminiscing brings only grief. Alas, there is no choice but to leave.

Twas 'neath that tree where harvest was tallied. Abundance we had, the land gave us plenty.

Xiaohe Manor, the hamlet of grain. By honest work we were raised, a joyful community we had made.

Reminiscing is only for dreams. Alas, there is no choice but to leave.

Twas 'neath that tree where we played with fowlbeasts. Our world was in order, a reign of harmony.

Xiaohe Manor, the hamlet of grain. No sorrow touched our days, seasons went by without weight.

Reminiscing doubles the pain for what we missed. Alas, there is no choice but to leave.

What ho? Do my eyes deceive?

......

What is it? What are you still worried about?

Maybe we should listen to this villager?

I had only blinked, yet fully stocked is our granary?

My old friend! Did you finally hear my call...

My good people, we now have enough to go around. The days of hunger and despair are behind us.

I ... I must think this over ... carefully...

I beg you all to stay! Don't leave Xiaohe Manor behind!

Maybe we should listen to this villager?

I had only blinked, yet suddenly the waterwheel's churning?

My old friend, I knew you would never abandon us...

My good people, since the fields are watered, our work will yield a harvest! We can start all over again!

......

I ... I must think this over ... carefully...

Please stay! Xiaohe Manor needs you! I need you!

What is it? What are you still worried about?

Twas 'neath that tree where we napped in peace, where we shared our ideas and our very dreams.

Xiaohe Manor, the hamlet of grain. We were neighbors and friends, a community unstrained.

Reminiscing does not bring back serenity. Alas, there is no choice but to leave.