"it originates from beyond Amphoreus?!" Phainon's eyes froze for a moment.
"It's possible. Much like the black tide, no?"
Anaxagoras remained calm, as if he didn't care how shocking his words sounded.
From beyond Amphoreus, and the Black Tide…
As a scholar of the Grove, Phainon understood what Anaxagoras meant.
In Amphoreus, the words "from beyond Amphoreus" meant the unknown, mystery, and overwhelming power. Even Titans would suffer setbacks when facing such mysterious things.
But Phainon's expression only flickered briefly before he lifted his head and said firmly, "...Nonetheless, it's an enemy we must overcome."
Hearing this, Anaxagoras rarely smiled. Spreading his hands, he said directly, "We? Drop the pipe dream, Phainon. No one wants to see you fall by their blade."
Phainon clenched his fists and said nothing. Yet the stubbornness in his eyes was as clear as a child's.
Anaxagoras grew curious. "Why are you so fixated on the black-robed swordsman?"
Phainon fell silent for a moment. His brows twitched, as if recalling something especially painful.
Anaxagoras did not urge him, only watched calmly.
After a while, Phainon looked up and asked in a low voice,
"You should know that not long ago, I entered Nikador's trial."
"While inside, I saw the burning village again. My family, my friends, my people, everyone lay fallen in the sea of flames."
"A half blood-red sun hung in the sky, just like back then. The murderer was right before my eyes…"
"In the trial, I clearly saw his appearance."
"A black cloak, a strange mask, and a shattered great sword radiating an ominous aura."
"Exactly as you described." The sorrow in Phainon's eyes gradually turned into blade-sharp hatred.
"He stood before me and destroyed Aedes Elysiae… and killed Cyrene…"
Phainon took a breath and said sincerely, "So, I want to eliminate a threat to the city I pledged to protect. That's all. The tragedy as that one and the one at the Grove must never happen again."
After Phainon finished speaking, Anaxagoras made a gesture inviting him to sit.
"Take a seat. Since you are sincerely seeking enlightenment..."
"I suppose I can tell you one more thing."
Just as the audience leaned forward in anticipation, waiting for Anaxagoras's revelation, the scene suddenly cut away, leaving everyone hanging.
...
: Huh?! What important thing?!
: Damn it, cutting off at the crucial moment again!
: I can't take this!
: We just learned some of the black-robed swordsman's background, how can it end here?!
: So Aedes Elysiae was destroyed by the black-robed swordsman?
: No wonder Phainon's expression changed when he heard that name.
: Who is Cyrene? Is it that pink-haired girl?
: Wait!!! No wonder that pink-haired girl was split in the painting, was that hinting she was killed that way by the black-robed swordsman…
: What?! That's so cruel?!
: Damn, why is the black-robed swordsman so evil?!
: Phainon's past… is this heavy too?
: We only knew his family was destroyed before, turns out it was this violent…
: I feel so bad for Phainon!
: Hearing his description, massacre, killing Cyrene right in front of him… I can't handle this…
: That damn black-robed swordsman!
: Too brutal!
: He has to be killed later! I can't accept this kind of butcher getting redeemed! Absolutely not! He must die!
: And the pain Phainon felt, make him suffer it back! Torture him!
: I'm so angry, this is horrible!
...
The pain Phainon showed on camera, and the scenes he described, made the audience instinctively feel disgust.
Such slaughter, any normal person would feel sick at heart.
Originally, because of the black-robed swordsman's strength and intimidating presence, quite a few viewers thought he looked cool.
But now, that feeling vanished instantly. All that remained was a strong urge to see the black-robed swordsman die as soon as possible.
The comments continued condemning his cruelty.
Meanwhile, the scene on screen shifted, to the Abyss of Fate.
Tribbie, Trianne, and Trinnon stood before the square, looking up at the towering gates of the temple.
Trianne slightly closed her eyes, looking uncomfortable.
"What's wrong, Trianne?" Tribbie gently took her hand.
Trianne opened her eyes and said tiredly, "Nothing! Just... remembering what happened at the Grove."
"Monster in the black cloak, so scary. Everyone, in danger... Nightmare, can't forget."
"Don't be scared... There are no bad guys here. Didn't you save everyone with the Century Gate, Trianne?" Tribbie comforted.
Hearing this, Trianne put her hands on her hips, and a hint of pride appeared on her sleepy little face.
"Mm! Trianne threw it away. Far, far away. It's never coming back."
With Tribbie's encouragement, she regained some energy. But soon, she forgot why she had come here in the first place.
This kind of forgetfulness… was a sign of erosion.
She was becoming more like a child, less and less able to keep things straight.
...
: QAQ, my little baby.
: Wuwuwuwu, I just gave birth , I really can't bear to watch this kind of thing.
: So pitiful.
: Rubbing and hugging, don't cry, don't cry.
: Trianne is so pitiful, just like when my little one catches a cold, all listless, it breaks my heart!
: I really want to hug Trianne.
: Seeing how weak Trianne sounds, I'm really about to collapse.
: MiHoYo must treat these three well! No child abuse allowed!
: Yes yes yes! Otherwise we'll report you!
...
The comments scrolled past. All of them were people feeling sorry for Trianne.
And just beyond the screen, a peculiar kind of support culture was surging within the massive audience, forming a special system.
Just like how Phainon has a group of fans who are completely infatuated with his personality and looks.
The three little girls have that too.
But among those who like them, besides most normal viewers, there is also a huge number of "maternal/paternal love" supporters, even grandparents.
It can be said that the three have the largest middle-aged and elderly fanbase in the history of Star Rail.
This is probably the strangest "fan circle" since the show began airing. This is a group that crosses age and gender.
What they share is that some instinct in their hearts was stirred by the three sisters. Among them are people old enough to be grandparents, as well as moms and dads.
People like this naturally have little resistance to children and are in a stage of life where their affection for kids is especially strong.
Before, with Star Rail's grand plotlines, these people might have just watched for fun.
But in Amphoreus, because of the extremely detailed character portrayals, and with the three as the main focus, their sense of immersion arrived.
Yet their understanding of Amphoreus became filled with a sense of family drama.
Aglaea is the worried parent. Phainon is the well-behaved but unfortunate good kid next door.
Mydei is the rebellious but good nephew.
And the black-robed swordsman? He must be a child trafficker who bullies the weak and elderly, a neighborhood menace who must be severely punished!
These old age viewers fixed their perspective firmly on the three they loved most.
And their way of supporting them was also quite unique.
They don't browse fan forums or discuss the plot, but they seriously write letters to the official MiHoYo website, speaking up for the three.
They simply cannot bear to see these three little girls suffer even the slightest grievance.
In their letters they gently suggest: the children are still young, the story can have ups and downs, but their hearts should still be full of sunshine~
Just like now. The comments scrolling across the screen, resembling caring messages sent by elders in family group chats, are mostly written by this group.
...
On screen.
With the help of Tribbie and Trinnon, Trianne finally regained some clarity from her dazed state.
The three held hands and walked toward the interior of the temple.
"Tomorrow, we will reveal the prophecy's past to everyone."
Tribbie recalled last night's dream, it revealed some things she had already forgotten, which were necessary for interpreting the oracle.
"But first, we need to restore the memories that have been blurred by the fragmentation. We hope to present the full truth to everyone, without hiding anything." She added.
This was the purpose of their visit. The memory split was an influence brought by Janus.
In the nightmares, the chaotic echoes and memories were also because of this. And the only one who could help them offset this influence was Oronyx, who was also a Titan.
"Ah, yes! Trianne remembers now!"
Trianne nodded, revealing a bright smile. "Then let's go find Oronyx!"
"I hope this time… it will meet us." Tribbie said with some worry.
Oronyx was like a shut-in, staying cooped up in the Temple of Fate every day, extremely resistant to contact with outsiders.
But no matter what, they would only know by trying.
The three first split up. They planned to search the temple for Oronyx's favorite "saffron", an offering.
They walked through the temple like this. But strangely, unlike the last time, the temple felt unusually quiet, as if something was off.
No monsters, no black tide, nothing at all. The search for "saffron" went surprisingly smoothly.
The only thing that wasn't so good was Trianne's condition.
The three sisters were originally one person. Their daily communication could be carried out directly in their minds.
No matter how far apart they were.
But… Trianne could no longer hear it.
While Tribbie and Trinnon confirmed in their minds that there was no saffron ahead, Trianne energetically pointed forward, insisting it was right there.
"Trianne can't even hear our own telecommunication?" Tribbie and Trinnon exchanged a glance, feeling heartbroken.
After steadying their emotions, the three continued searching for saffron.
During this time, the time and space around them occasionally overlapped.
Sometimes it became the past, sometimes the present.
But they were not worried. Oronyx was like a child, perhaps playing tricks on them, just like before.
Only, from time to time, books recording the memories they had lost would fall before them.
"Oronyx's attitude… seems different from before."
"Is it trying to help us?"
At the center of the temple, Tribbie held two thick books recording their lost memories and spoke with some doubt.
"Mm… there don't seem to be any particularly difficult mechanisms either."
Trinnon nodded, holding a large bundle of saffron.
"No matter what, Oronyx must really like us!"
"Trianne is the best at acting pitiful! It must think Trianne is super pitiable!" Trianne shouted childishly, not thinking too much.
Tribbie smiled and took the lead toward the very center of the temple.
Following the long staircase, they finally arrived at the place shrouded in mist.
"Oronyx. Are you there?!"
Trianne stood still and immediately called out loudly into the fog.
But… there was no sound.
No reply.
Just as Trianne was about to call again, Tribbie's expression suddenly changed …
"No! It's too quiet! Something's wrong."
She suddenly realized.
Everything just now wasn't Oronyx trying to help them. It was trying to give them a hint.