Arknights story · First of A Thousand Autumns
TA-3 Dense Ink Trace
Jun halts Ya's attack at Savors at Yu's. Ch'en follows the scriptgeists' trail into the library from her dreams, and encounters an unfamiliar relative. Scriptgeists cause a commotion in the Sky Mirror Pavilion, and a fight breaks out.
2 scenes, 380 lines
1. Before Operation
215 lines*sigh*... *siiiigh*...
What are you sighing for? Does your tooth hurt?
It's my HEAD that hurts!
If you have too much time on your hands, go count the cabbage stock for winter.
Hey—
Are you going or not?
Going where, when the sun hasn't even climbed above the rooftops?
Don't play the fool with me! The city is almost empty. Why do you stay?
Almost means it's not totally empty. Travelers, soldiers on duty, they all need to eat.
Besides, we have someone right here in the restaurant.
She doesn't count!
If you don't go now, there's nothing I can do when the Sui Regulator hears of her visit to this place.
I just put the fowlbeast on the grill, and there are another four or five dishes still to be served. There's no rush.
Oh, you're just—!
Stop worrying so much, first thing in the morning. Go open the door, if you really have too much time on your hands. It's business as usual for breakfast hours!
You're bold as a boulder, you know that?
What else can I do?
If you're sleepy, go to bed. If you're hungry, eat something. Who knows when someone might suddenly miss a certain taste? A customer could show up at any moment—
See? A customer just showed up.
Take a seat you like! Only the breakfast menu is available right now—
Oh, it's you.
What are you doing here?
I'm not sure what you're asking... I run this place. What else would I be doing?
You 'people' just keep getting more and more ridiculous.
Why the rudeness? Insulting the chef before you've taken a single bite?
Keep this up, and I'll kick you out. Even my patience has its limits.
...
The frosty individual walks into the restaurant and sits down at the table beside Yu.
What flavors does Savors at Yu's savor?
All of them, of course, from sweet to sour to salty to spicy.
And to get the smell of fire and smoke all over yourself... do you like this?
Of course. Can't be a good cook, if you don't like to cook.
I can't speak to anything else, but I'm pretty confident in my cooking.
I could make a couple of dishes for you. On the house.
One has to taste different flavors in life. Isn't it a waste to be obsessed with a single flavor?
...
Ah... but I guess I can't really use these words to persuade you.
They say, 'he who tells others to forgive and forget will be struck by lightning.' Besides, I guess the bad blood between you is pretty thick.
I understand how you feel. Really!
You have every reason to hate Yan, hate humanity, hate It... and I suppose it's not out of the question for the hatred to last a thousand years.
But if you keep hating and hating, with nothing to do but let the hate destroy you... is it really worth it?
You remind me of my brother, come to think of it...
...
You're not afraid of me at all.
Why should I be?
Beggars, mandarins, even the gods in Heaven and the Feranmuts of legend, they're all customers when they walk into this restaurant.
You're different from the others...
You're unusual, even among your... kind.
You don't look concerned at all, even when your life is on the line.
*sigh*... I guess I've gotten used to living in fear. It's been this way for a century.
Your timing isn't great, I have to say. You would really have had a treat, if you had come when the ingredients were still fresh in the kitchen.
Sometimes, all it takes to change your mood is a nice, hot meal. Maybe the things that seemed impossible will solve themselves.
The buns are ready, chef, but our breakfast sign is gone! Did Blaze—
There's actually a customer? At this hour?
A Candleholder?
All alone... far too arrogant, you are.
Feeble, ignorant, juvenile... you and these ants.
Her sword is already raised before She has finished Her sentence.
Stop!
Chef—
Like the falling of the judge's gavel, or the crack of thunder in winter.
It is supposed to be a dining table, but it feels like a court of law.
All is silent.
The dining table is no place for swords and bloodshed.
Pick up your chopsticks, if you're here to eat. Don't let good food go to waste.
And if you're not here to eat, you ought to get out.
Its parts... protect the humans of the Sui Regulator...
How ironic.
We don't need you to tell us how to live our lives.
On the other hand, I would suggest that you eat something. Hunger tends to make one grumpy.
The woman quietly pushes a steaming plate of buns in front of Ya.
Enjoy, while it's hot.
...Hmph.
Ya looks coldly at the buns in front of Her, before turning to leave.
You're going?
The Shanhaizhong's words were truth mixed with falsehood, but I will get my hands on what she promised to deliver to me.
As for you... I've met many of Its incarnations, but none who answer my questions straightforwardly. What use is there for you people?
I will not say that an eye for an eye is unreasonable, but you should watch your step, in case someone has dug a pit for you.
Ridiculous.
Does She speak of the proxies, the Shanhaizhong, Herself, or the steaming plate of buns in front of Her?
Phew... good thing you showed up, Jun.
It doesn't seem like She's here for any particular reason. Looks like She's been tricked by someone. Whether I'm here or not doesn't make much of a difference.
It's not 'us' that She's after.
...*sigh*.
What is it?
I just feel like She must have led a hard life.
A road of hardship that only leads to even greater hardship.
...
Never mind that. Does my second oldest sister have business here in Baizao?
I have an appointment to keep.
An appointment? How about you sit down and enjoy a meal, if you're not in a hurry—
I'm afraid it might be a little hard to sit down and enjoy anything...
Considering the burning smell coming from the kitchen.
Oh no... my roast fowlbeast!
Stop.
The sound of paulownia seeds striking the ground rings clear through the faint morning autumn wind.
The slender woman in front of her has a nervous expression on her face, seemingly trying to hide her timidity at all costs.
A visitor? When there is a general evacuation order throughout Baizao?
Who are you? What business do you have in the Sky Mirror Pavilion?
I didn't mean to disturb—do you work here?
You must have seen the strange soldiers all over the city. They seem to have originated here.
Could you please tell me exactly what happened?
The Pavilion does not need an outsider meddling in its affairs. Besides, your identity is unknown, and you have trespassed into this place, armed.
As Magistrate of Water for the Sky Mirror Pavilion, I cannot allow you to enter, whether it is for the safety of the Pavilion's archives, or for your own safety.
Turn back.
Magistrate of Water... what kind of position is that?
The Sky Mirror Pavilion is the first library of Yan. The Magistrate of Water is responsible for preventing fires.
What are you doing in the Sky Mirror Pavilion, if you don't even know this?
I thought... a modern library wouldn't need a specific person to prevent fires anymore.
Indeed, you're right. Smart girl. Now, get out.
I'm sorry... I mean no offense.
But I happen to know someone who used to work in Baizao's library...
Who? What's your relationship?
That's not important. It was many years ago.
Hm...
The aloof woman takes a few steps forward, lifting her lantern to look closely at Ch'en's face.
Ch'en instinctively takes a step back.
Enough. Nothing you say will matter.
Leave, if you have no business here. You'll regret it when the gates close.
But you're the only one here. Are you sure you'll be fine?
That's none of your business—why do you poke your nose into it?
Honestly... I came to clear out these monsters.
But when I saw this library, I felt like... like I've seen it in a dream. Like someone intentionally guided me here.
A dream? Is that the best excuse you can come up with?
It's not an excuse. Besides, I used to be a cop. I'm familiar with security work.
Please, trust me. Let me participate in the investigation.
You... you're really a police?
Ch'en shows her ID.
You're from Lungmen...
Ch'en... Hui-chieh.
Ch'en Hui-chieh? What are you doing here?
Huh...?
Don't think a piece of paper grants you free passage.
I, Ch'en Chao-ch'ien, am the last of the Ch'ens. Have you come to mock the House of Ch'en? I'll never understand the imperial family's hobbies.
That means, you're—
Still playing dumb? Don't you even know who your parents are?
Your family never cared about the husband's side of the family when Princess Yanjing remarried, only to ruin the careers of the entire Ch'en family when she died...
What did my cousin do wrong? How could he possibly refuse?
Maybe you don't believe me... I can hardly believe it myself, but no one's ever told me so much about my family like that.
I thought... I was the only one.
You didn't know? Then why have you come to the Sky Mirror Pavilion?
They stare at each other wordlessly, as though looking into blurry mirrors.
I'm sorry...
Enough... leave. A few nice words, that's all. You were willing to say them, and I appreciate it. Let's leave it at that.
I gave up asking more questions a long time ago. Thunder and rain are both gifts from Heaven. I should be grateful I still have a job—
Wh-What? Didn't they disappear...?
Oh no! The books!
I'll take you inside. It's faster that way. Excuse me.
Stop! Such gall—w-wait!
Insolent child—
Beneath the tall dome, densely packed bookshelves extend as far as the eye can see, reflecting in the floor like a massive, constantly expanding weiqi board.
Ink-colored scriptgeists wander amidst them, scattered like weiqi stones.
This is not good. The monsters here are much stronger than the ones I encountered at the gate.
It's like they came flowing out of the shelves... what are they?
Not shelves. Pages. Can't you tell?
Hey, don't grab me—
Fine, I suppose your intentions are righteous.
What do you think, Candleholder Zuo? Is the news timely enough for you?
Going straight for the source of the geist trouble—even you Sui Regulator people haven't been able to react yet.
Do you believe me now?
Shut up and give it back!
The sound of metal clanging against metal.
Sparks fly as blades clash.
Hmph.
Mo Yi clenches her teeth as the soreness spreads from her hand to the rest of her arm.
You blockhead... gotten stronger in the span of just a few days, haven't you?
What do you want, Shanhaizhong bandit?
Don't tell me you haven't noticed something's not right with the Sui Regulator?
It belongs to a proxy, just like the Book of Kung Fu. I believe... it has something to do with the vanished proxy.
...
As for taking it...
Would you have cooperated and come with me to the Sky Mirror Pavilion, hard-headed as you are, if I didn't?
He pushes so hard that it sends the doll in Mo Yi's arms flying.
(Oh no!)
You won't—
Blades cross again in the blink of an eye.
The force sends both of them recoiling.
The blades vibrate and hum.
—Look out!
The bookshelf collapses towards Mo Yi, the shockwave forcing her back.
Stop! STOP!
(Who are they...?)
You're swinging swords at each other when there are still monsters around?! And you toppled an entire shelf of books?!
Out! GET OUT!
Wait, be careful—
Hmph...
It is unclear who moved first.
The balance is broken, and chaos breaks out.
Mo Yi turns towards the charging Magistrate of Water, angling her wrist to point her sword at her foe's shoulder.
Zuo Le's swing misses Mo Yi by inches, cutting the red rope tied to the wooden lock.
Stand back!
Ch'en has no time to pull Ch'en Chao-ch'ien back. Almost by instinct, she draws Chi Xiao, and barely parries an attack, without even seeing who made it.
Sparks fly amidst the poorly lit bookshelves, accompanied by the piercing sound of clashing metal.
Huh?
Mo Yi grabs Ch'en Chao-ch'ien by the collar and pulls her away from the scuffle.
Ch'en steps forward, her blade leading the way.
Zuo Le stands his ground—
Stop!
The girl holds up the petite form of the Magistrate of Water, and turns her blade around.
You! Give the wooden lock back!
Stop, all of you! Don't hurt the innocent!
You're... Lord Wei's niece?
Why is the token in your hands, Miss Ch'en? This is important to the Sui Regulator. You must return it at once!
Lower your weapon!
What a mess...
2. After Operation
165 linesMiss Ch'en, return the item—
Let her go!
Return the lock!
I-I'm sure we can talk about this, calmly, like reasonable people...
I could hear you all the way from upstairs. I thought it was geists at work again.
I did not expect to see a three-person sparring session.
Mr. Liang?
I hope you're faring well, Lord Zuo.
(Lord Zuo... I've heard the name on Rhodes Island.)
I must admit, I was at my wits' end about how to resolve the trouble here...
My mind can be at ease now that the Sui Regulator has sent you to deal with it.
Well...
Do I misunderstand?
The Supervisor has her plans. There is no need to worry. I will offer what assistance I can.
Is it under the Supervisor's instructions that you are arresting this young lady?
She is Mo Yi... a member of the Shanhaizhong. She had been causing trouble at Mangshan Town a few days ago, and now she has appeared in Baizao, coinciding with the geist troubles.
This is highly suspicious and calls for a thorough investigation.
How ungrateful of you, Candleholder Zuo...
The Shanhaizhong...
(Cautiously backs off while still holding Ch'en Chao-ch'ien hostage)
The city is under martial law. I should commend Miss Mo for her boldness, if you are only here to cause trouble.
You seem duller than this Candleholder is, but I didn't expect you to be a reasonable one.
Care to persuade our Lord Zuo to listen to me before drawing his sword, for once?
My station is insignificant, and my words carry little weight. I can only ask you to release my... colleague.
'To travel across the land, and delve deeply into the laws of nature.' The original creed of the Shanhaizhong a thousand years ago. I doubt it is your intention to harm an innocent.
Mr. Liang?
How do you know that...?
...Hmph.
Mo Yi falls silent for a moment, then sheathes her sword, and gives the Magistrate of Water a gentle push.
Are you alright?
I'm fine...
Duoxie, new transcriber.
Hm...
If I recognize that sword...
You must be Miss Ch'en. It is surprising that you would return to Baizao, at a time like this.
You're Liang Xun, advisor of Yumen. I've seen you with Wei Yenwu.
You are too humble, to say that your station is insignificant.
I've left the position and am merely a humble transcriber now. Perhaps you have not yet heard the news, since you have been traveling.
(Eyes locked upon the wooden lock in Zuo Le's hand)
No sudden moves!
The token's one thing, but that lock was mine to begin with!
And what of it?
You dare?!
Speak your intentions, and I'll decide what to do with this lock.
You wouldn't believe me if I told you.
Why did the Old Tianshi allow you to come to Baizao?
Hmph...
She said that war is coming to the city, and some people will inevitably try to take advantage of the chaos... 'that young Candleholder will likely run into trouble.'
She took Deputy Minister Lin and Mr. Yun, so she wanted you to have help—
'Deal with anyone who tries to obstruct the boy, as best as you can.'
Did you think I wanted to help you, blockhead?
And what of the lock?
...
Still keeping secrets?
...It belonged to my late mother.
...
(Freezes)
I've let the hostage go, and you have my mother's heirloom. What more do you want?
...You'll still have to come with me to the Sui Regulator, to explain the previous incidents.
Cause no more trouble, and I assure you the lock will be returned to you without a scratch once all is settled.
You just want to hold me hostage with it, don't you?
...
Like I said, the Sui Regulator—
Good youths, now that we've resolved our misunderstandings, why don't we call a truce and clear up what's going on here?
You have been in the Sky Mirror Pavilion for some time, Mr. Liang. Do you know what these soldier apparitions are?
I believe Lord Zuo is in a better position to explain it.
They are geists.
The Sui Regulator has discovered that some Feranmuts are able to animate the inanimate things, be it drawings, objects, or text.
The geists that have appeared in Baizao may be based on the Yan armies during the Great Hunt depicted in the history books in the Sky Mirror Pavilion's collection.
Their appearance likely has something to do with events at the Tomb of Sui, but it's unclear why they seem to flicker in and out of existence—
It's the breathing of the Feranmut.
'Breathing is what gives life.' The increasing frequency of geist appearances is a sign that It is waking up from Its dream.
How do you know?
I told you, you people are way behind on Feranmut knowledge.
Then why did the scriptgeists originate from the Sky Mirror Pavilion?
I'm not well-versed in Feranmutology, but I have a hypothesis concerning the Sky Mirror Pavilion...
Mr. Liang! Watch your words!
Still clinging to your stupid rules? Do you have any idea what the situation is?
It's not my intention to poke my nose into the Sui Regulator's secrets, but this is an emergency, and we need to share information.
Writing knife?
Could it be... the top floor of the Sky Mirror Pavilion, which has always been sealed shut?
It is very special. After the death of the proxy, everything that she owned, everything that she had poured her heart and soul into, disappeared with her.
But this writing knife remains.
If the geists in the city come from words, it is very likely that they have something to do with the knife.
...
...It all makes sense now.
What do you mean?
...
A little while ago, the Ministry of War sent people to search the Sky Mirror Pavilion every few days.
But the Sky Mirror Pavilion is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites. Mr. Liang has submitted several complaints to the Department of Discipline and Supervision.
They finally laid off the search these couple of days.
The Ministry of War?
Patrol Battalion soldiers tried to stop me on the main street just now...
Could this be... the Grand Commandant's doing?
...
Why didn't you say anything about the Patrol Battalion soldiers following closely behind that Candleholder from the Sui Regulator?
Hey...!
...
Come on, it's just a guess.
I never said anything about the Sui Regulator being in league with the Grand Commandant in some kind of underhanded deal.
The Sui Regulator does not indulge in faction politics.
Bureaucrats who don't engage in faction politics? That would be a first for the Baizao court.
I'll clear it up when I report back to the Supervisor!
Don't get so worked up over a mere guess.
What does the Ministry of War want with the writing knife?
What use does it have, other than its association with the scriptgeists?
A writing knife is a tool used to erase characters scribed on bamboo slips. But I know nothing about what powers the proxy's knife possesses.
You do, don't you, Lord Zuo? Go on.
...
The proxy assisted Yan with compiling the nation's history. Her powers were unusual.
The scrolls of the Sui Regulator record, 'With her pen, she fathoms the laws of Heaven and human affairs; with her knife, she has the power to erase and rewrite history.'
Apparently, the writing knife can erase things that... cannot and must not be hastily touched.
The name of a person, or their very existence... even the existence of an entire segment of history.
...
You have got to be kidding me... how can history be altered so easily?
What does altering history involve? Does it change people's memories? Or does a single word erase someone's existence?
The powers of the Feranmuts are far beyond our comprehension... we cannot interpret this through the lens of normal logic.
According to Sui Regulator research, however, the writing knife has been used for such purposes in the past.
So it seems you don't have full knowledge either.
However, the one who seeks the writing knife, the one with ulterior motives, must know how to use it.
What...?
Drat... what do we do, then?
Do we stop people with ulterior motives from getting their hands on the knife? Or do we use it to stop the geists in the city?
As far as I know, the writing knife was sealed away in the top of the Sky Mirror Pavilion many years ago, and the Sui Regulator placed strong wards on it.
Two keys are needed to unseal it. The Supervisor and the fourth proxy each hold one. The seal can only be broken if both are present.
Or maybe we can use the thing you took from the Garden of Grotesqueries?
Give it a try?
—?!
Absolutely not!
We know little of the true powers of the writing knife, and even less of this object from the Garden of Grotesqueries. We can't act rashly—
Not this, not that. Guess we'll wait for Sui to wake up and go down with the rest of Baizao.
...
Miss Ch'en has been quiet. What is on your mind?
What IS on your mind, Ch'en Hui-chieh?
Mr. Liang. What did you mean when you said, 'the one with ulterior motives'?
Forgive me if I'm wrong, but you are here for private matters at Lord Wei's behest, are you not, Miss Ch'en?
...
Where is Lord Wei?
He's missing.
...
In that case... have you entered the city because you suspect that Lord Wei is already here?
Impossible! He would be accused of attempting a coup!
...
Wonderful. MORE sordid affairs of the big shots.
These are extraordinary circumstances, Mr. Liang. There is no need to mince words.
The writing knife, the Patrol Battalion, the Sui Regulator... do you think the unusual activities of the Ministry of War have something to do with Wei Yenwu's disappearance?
I dare not make a hasty judgment, but it's true that they were not so brazen before Lord Wei's disappearance.
As far as I know, Lord Wei and His Imperial Majesty are polar opposites. Lord Wei is decisive but sometimes rash, while His Majesty's cautiousness might be seen as indecision by some.
Perhaps the Grand Commandant's faction found Wei Yenwu's weakness and coerced him to enter the city, planning to use the writing knife to rewrite history to...
No, anyone who tried to blackmail Wei Yenwu would only suffer a hundredfold payback...
Could he willingly...?!
But it was the True Lung who summoned him back to Baizao. Unless he changed his mind at the last minute... but why hide, if he's answering an imperial summons?
...
Human minds are complicated things, and Lord Wei's is more so than most. If you're truly worried for him, you could start by investigating the writing knife, right here at the Sky Mirror Pavilion. Responding to change by staying still, so to speak.
Responding to change by staying still. I like that.
Where do we go then, to find out what this writing knife can do, and to protect it, Mr. Liang?
We should—
(Whispers) Mr. Liang, she—
Up.
The higher we climb in the Sky Mirror Pavilion, the more precious the tomes. They will be of great benefit.