The Teyvatians plus Aether are in awe at what the compartment looks like. It showcases elegance and weath without it being to much. Plush red couches on both sides of the compartment. A few tables with comfy looking chairs in the same red color as the couches can be found on both ends of the cart. Huge windows make up the wall on both sides, allowing for a panoramic view of the outside. Above them was a light fixture in the shave of whale. One huge and a couple of smaller ones scattered around it.
The group sees Himeko, Welt and Pom-pom at the centre of the room discussing with each other while there was a map of Teyvat on one of the window monitors.
Himeko turns to them and says "Oh. Seems our little friend was exhausted. You can put her down on one of the couches for a while" Her motherly tone back kn force. All sweet and pleasant.
Aethers nods mkving to place Paimon on the nearest couch. He sits placing her head on his lap.
Everyone gathers around them to begin discussions on where to best park the Express.
"Our destination will be at Starfell Valley. The beach hidden between Stormbearer Point and Starsnatch Cliff to be exact." Venti says pointing at the map.
"The best route would be passjng between the mountains north of the Chasm, through Tianqui Valley, Cuijue Slope then Guili Plains to Yaoguang Shoal. From there we take the sea route skirting the edge of Dragonspine, the cliffs of Galesong Hill moving north to Starfell Valley Beach." Zhongli inputs. Pointing at each location on the map as Dan Heng places pins to mark them.
"Is there something special about that place? I cant see why we need to go so far. It seems to be too much trouble" March inquires.
"Unfortunately we have to. The powers of this world do not take kindly to outsiders. I, myself, am a testament to that" Aether replied
"That right you said you were a traveler too. We wont pry into your story but it seems you had a rather troblesome past here" Himeko asks curiously.
"An unknown God prevented me and my sibling's escape from this world. She sealed my powers trapping me and my sister here. But dont worry Ive been slowly regaining them as I journey across the 7 nations." Aether answers her. Its not really a secret that he travels to different worlds and to be able to kindle a sence of beloning to fellow world travelers is very much welcome.
"We can discuss this further later" Ei states. "We need to hurry if we are to beat the sun rise and move in the cover of night" she adds on impatiently
"Thats right. Venti, and Ei can provide us cover by shielding the Express and conjuring a storm on our path. The clouds should obscure us enough that people wont take much notice" Nahida tells them.
"Very well, Im looking forward to our discussion later. Everyone please take a seat and Pom-pom can get the Express running" Welt suggest. Waving a hand to the couches and seats around.
As the train departs Sumeru City, Venti creates a wind barrier around the express to sheild it from the storm that Ei creates. From the compartment, the Crew was at awe at the display of power. Sure Mr. Yang can recreate mini black holes amd Dan Heng in his High Elder form can part the sea but this is different. The entire Express was bubbled by a wind current. Outside of it a thunderstorm was raging.
The sceneries around them changed from the thick verdant rainforest to steep sky high mountains. The Express moved between them careful not to go high up to be spoted by Celestia. Eventually they made it to Guili Plains and from there a clear straight line to the sea of Dragon Spine the straight to Stombearer Point Beach
"Ugh. What? Aether where are we?" Paimon wakes up and asks sleepily.
Aether looks at her and replies "Stormbearer Point Beach. You fainted after hearing about the Express's Buffet Cart"
"Ugh that was embarrassing. Wait Paimon missed our travel. Why didn't you wake Paimon?" She replies sheepishly
"I see Paimon is awake. We were waiting for you" Zhongli wakes towards them.
"Huh? Why? Whatever it is Paimon didnt do it." Paimon panics and answers rapidly.
"Haha. Relax Paimon. Our dear new friends would like some info on Teyvat. Who better to educate them than Teyvat's best travel companion" Zhongli states. Trying to Calm and compliment Paimon
"Come Paimon. Our new friends await your wisdom and knowledge" Aether jokes at her.
The trio approach the larger group. As they do March and Himeko turns their attention to them.
"I see you're awake. How was your nap Paimon?" Himeko says.
"Paimon's fine. Sorry about the whole fainting thing. Hehe. Mr. Zhongli says that you guys need some info on Teyvat." Paimon says swaying as she floats.
"Well look no further. For Paimon is the best Travel guide you could find on Teyvat. Paimon's been with Aether all this time explaining and giving him trivias about the Seven Nations." She says proudly hands on her hips.
"Thats great our records are inaccurate at best since it was created more than 500 years ago Teyvat time." March says cheerily.
"Alright then. Everyone find a seat and get comfortable. Wherever you're ready Paimon. You can also start on whatever topic you want. We'll create a new file on our system and compare notes with what we have later." Welt says sitting down near where Dan Heng has his keyboard ready Caelus by his side.
Everyone moves to find a comfortable spot to sit. Once everyone was seated, Paimon starts her Lecture.
"Welcome to Paimon's Teyvat 101. Please hold all question until after the lesson. To start off, the now world of Teyvat is divided into 7 nations. Each Nation is ruled by a Diety or Archon. The Archons are the victors of a war that has ended 2000 yrs ago. This was known as the Archon war."
Paimon turns around to point at the monitor. Turning everyones attention to the floating citadel in the sky.
"Paimons brings your attention to Celestia. Celestia is the overall gods of this world. Even the Archons answer to their calls and whims. The Archon war occured when 7 seats opened up in Celestia. The gods of the world used all their cunningness, strength, and resources all to claim a seat."
"Seven Ideals, for seven gods. Freedom, Contract, Eternity, Wisdom, Justice, War, and Love. The archons are Venti/Barbados, Zhongli/Morax, Ei/Beelzebul/Baal, Nahida/Kusunali/Buer, Furina/Focalor, Murata/Aym, and uh Paimon actually doesnt know the last one. We only call her as the Tsaritsa. The Cryo Archon who rules Snezhnaya. The 7 nations of Teyvat are Mondstadt, Liyue, Inazuma, Sumeru, Fontaine, Natlan, and Snezhnaya. There used to be an 8th nation, Khaenri'ah. A nation without a god. Not because the god died but it just never had one to begin with. "
"This leads to Paimon's next topic. The elements. When ones fervent ambition burns brightly the gods will cast their gaze upon you and grant you a "Vision". They allow an individual to control one of the 7 elements. Anemo/Wind, Geo/Earth, Electro/Lightning, Dendro/Nature, Hydro/Water, Pyro/Fire, Cryo/Ice. According to some theories the element of the vision one obtains correspond to the following. (Taken from Genshin redit: rhymeofmona Anemo useres are flexible. Keeping calm in the face of adversaries. Geo users are diligent and hard working. Electro users are ambitious. They strive for some achievement or recognition. Dendro users are knowledgeable. They desire to learn, to improve themselves and their surroundings. Hydro users are Temperate. Meaning they can be calm despite the multiple aspects of their lives. They mosly treat their visions as mere tools to further their goals Pyro users are passionate. They are driven by strong belief. Cryo users are compasionate. They arr driven by the love they feel for others. Whether familial, to the self, or romantically. The traveler is a special case since he can control all seven elements. Although he has to resonate with a statue of the seven first before unlocking it. The Statue of the seven are scattered across the land. They represent the Seven's peotection of the land."
"Ugh. Paimon thinks thats all on how Teyvat works. Moving on to ugh History. As Paimon stated earlier. The Archon war happened more than several thousand years ago. History before that time is unclear. So Paimon will focus on the "near history". So after the archon war time was relatively peacefull until the Khaenri'ah disaster that happened 500 yrs ago. This even was known at simply "The Cataclysm".Ugh Paimon thinks Nahida would be best to explain it. Hehe. Over to you for now" Paimon sheepishly floats to Nahida.
She gets up from her seat and makes her way infront of them to continue explaining.
"Hehe. Alright. Thanks Paimon. The Cataclysm was the combination of multiple events simultaneously occuring. The top of the list was the sudden burst and flooding of Abyssal Energy. Second was the spread of "Forbidden Knowledge". Third was the rampage of Khaenri'ahn technology and creatures threatening the other nations. In an effort to stop the disaster. The Heavenly Principles, Celestia, and the Seven, except for me, where summoned to the nation of Khaenri'ah. The battle was brutal. Gods fell, men, women, and children died. I, as the avatar of Irminsul, secured its safety and tried to repel the "Forbidden Knowledge". The Heavenly Principles and Celestia were ruthless. Khaenri'ah was buried and sealed beneath Teyvat. The Khaenri'ahns were cursed turning into monsters of the land and Abyss. Eventually time eroded history. Khaenri'ah and the Cataclysm was reduce to no more than simple stories and events in history. Simply a tale of a fallen nation without a god. And thats all I can say" Nahida tells them.
The story was Grim. Sad. To the Express crew it was truely tragic and unfortunate but it did gave them more info to look into. Afterall Akivili's last entries match up, time wise, to this disaster.
Paimon floats to the front again to Nahida.
"Thanks Nahida. Paimon definitely didnt know about those facts. So um Paimon would like to move on to the events that followed. Dont worry its short and should take much longer. According to Aether it was during that same disaster that He and his sibling decided to leave Teyvat but their path was blocked by the entity known as the Heavenly Principles. He and his sister was defeated. His powers were sealed and they are stuck here now. We've been traveling across the nations to restore his powers and find answers to his past. So far we journeyed from Mondstadt, Liyue, Inazuma, and Sumeru. We just arrived in Fontaine when you arrived so we had to go back. No worries though. We are happy to help you out. and I think that concludes our Teyvat 101 lesson. Any questions?" Paimon finishes hands behind her back. She was looking at them looking for approval. Did she do good. She hopes so. She has a reputation as the best travel guide to live up to.
"Wow. Unbelievable" March states in awe.
"Thank you Paimon. I think we would need a break to process the information. Why dont we have lunch in the meantime, then we can get back to this." Welt states. He too was still processing the story that they were told. Teyvat is truely an extraordinary place.