Genshin Impact: Awakening in the Darkness

Thus, through the combined efforts of Wendy and the Traveler, Jake finally obtained his "Glorious Sword of Courage" and "Radiant Shield of Will".

"Thank you, thank you! I found what I was looking for!" Jack exclaimed, then immediately ran towards home, shouting as he ran, "Mom and Dad! Look at the amazing artifact I found!"

"Hey? Wait a minute!" Wendy suddenly realized, "Where's the wine you promised?! I must be tired after helping out so much—"

But seeing that Jack had already left, there was no need to hide it anymore. Wendy called out directly to a tree nearby, "Hey? Isn't that Stanley? Are you here for a walk?"

Stanley hadn't actually run far; he had taken a detour and gotten ahead of them to hide. However, he hadn't expected to be discovered, and upon hearing Wendy's words, he could only awkwardly emerge from behind the tree.

Stanley: "Ah, hahaha, isn't this the bard! What a coincidence, you're here for a stroll too?"

Wendy: "Yeah, we went for a walk after dinner and helped a friend find something."

Paimon (softly): "I'm increasingly convinced that Mr. Stanley might be a fraud..."

Sora: "I think so too..."

Paimon (softly): "So Stanley deliberately came here ahead of time to set up the sword and shield so as not to hurt Jack's feelings?"

While Kong and Paimon were whispering to each other, Wendy and the great adventurer began to talk.

Wendy: "Great adventurers must be very familiar with Dadaupa Valley, right? After all, this is where you fought."

Stanley: "Of course, of course, I could walk all over this place with my eyes closed!"

Wendy: "I see. I really admire your memory and perseverance."

Stanley: "I'm a great adventurer, after all! But you guys, there are a lot of Hilichurls here, so don't let your guard down! Well, goodbye then, young people."

Stanley left in a hurry.

Paimon: "He really does seem very guilty."

Paimon put his hands on his hips and said with a hint of disdain.

Wendy: "Well, what can I do? He made such a big promise to Jack. But... watching it again is definitely more interesting."

Wendy: "A person who is unwilling to forget the 'past' and abandon the 'present'... if he is forced to take the first step 'towards the future,' in what direction will he take it?"

Paimon: "Huh? What do you mean?"

Wendy: "Haha, just talking to myself."

Wendy: "By the way, Traveler. Tonight, let's go check out [Angel's Gift]."

Paimon: "Then let's invite Jin Xuan and Qing Yue. I remember Jin Xuan really likes to eat melons."

Wendy: "Haha, I'll tell them."

Kong: "See you tonight."

Paimon: "Bye-bye, Wendy, see you tonight."

—As night fell—

Sora and Paimon have already gathered at the entrance of "Angel's Gift".

"Huh? Where are Qingyue and Jinxuan?" Paimon was puzzled when he saw that there was only Wendy.

"Chirp chirp!" (I'm here!) The familiar golden bird perched on Wendy's hat; it was none other than Xuan Yue.

"Oh, it's Jin... oh no, it's called Xuan Yue now." Paimon quickly corrected himself.

Kong: "Where's Qingyue?"

Wendy: "That guy said we should just bring Xuan Yue. He has some things to do and will be there later..."

Paimon: "Hmm! Qingyue seems really busy, while Xuanyue seems much more relaxed in comparison."

"Chirp chirp chirp! Chirp chirp!" (That's too much, Paimon!)

Wendy kindly advised, "Paimon, I advise you not to provoke Xuan Yue again, or your fruit will be in danger..."

"Ah! Ugh! I'll shut up!" Paimon immediately covered his mouth to indicate that he would stop talking.

Kong helped Paimon change the subject: "Let's go inside quickly, Stanley is probably already drinking."

Wendy coaxed Xuan Yue, "Let's go in too, there's probably some gossip to be had."

"Chirp chirp!" (Hurry up!) Xuan Yue wasn't angry to begin with, so why not hurry inside?

In "The Gift of Angels," Stanley was already quite drunk. Wendy and the others quietly sat down at the table behind Stanley and listened to him speak.

Stanley: "Stanley... tell me, what should I do..."

Paimon (softly): "Huh? Why is he calling his own name?"

Kong (softly): "Could there be some hidden story?"

Paimon (in a low voice) guessed, "Could it be that there's another person named Stanley?"

But Xuan Yue knew that this time, Paimon was right. The truth was probably indeed true.

Stanley was still crying...

Stanley: "Waaah! Waaah... Stanley... why wasn't it me who died in the Sea of ​​Ashes?! Why didn't your spirit stop me when I used your name? Stanley!"

Stanley: "If it weren't for protecting a newcomer like me, you wouldn't have died in that windless place! You already had the title of a great adventurer, but... but because of a piece of trash like me, you can never become a legend..."

Paimon (softly): "What...what exactly is going on?"

Wendy (softly): "I think he really did find the Sea of ​​Ashes back then. The crisis he encountered there was real too. Only, the companion who explored with him was the real [Great Adventurer Stanley]."

“The real Stanley died to save the ‘Stanley’ we knew.” Wendy’s heart ached as he said this. Xuan Yue gently pecked his forehead, as if to comfort him. Wendy just smiled and didn’t say anything…

Paimon (softly): "Ah...so the reason this 'Stanley' is called Stanley is because he 'stole' someone else's name?!"

Wendy (softly): "I'm afraid that's the case."

Stanley: "Stanley... I've been afraid for so many years, afraid that the people of Mondstadt would forget you completely, so they'd go around telling you your adventure stories..."

“I want everyone in Mondstadt to remember that Stanley reached the heart of the Ember Sea… He is the greatest adventurer, and he lives! Stanley will not die, because I am him!… Because I am… Stanley…” But then Stanley’s tone grew increasingly lower, and he said with a face full of apology, “I’m sorry, Stanley… Even I’m old now, I’m old now…”

"Hey...you guys, how long are you planning to eavesdrop?" Stanley didn't turn around, but his words were clearly directed at Wendy and the others.

Paimon: "Oh no! He found out...!"

Sora: "Well, there's no other way... Let's try talking to each other."

But it was clear that Stanley was refusing to talk: "Let's go, don't ask anything, just let me have some peace and quiet..."

Paimon: "But..."

Stanley: "Let's go! Don't make me say it a second time!"

Just then, Jack pushed open the door and came in. He was already carrying his luggage, looking like he was about to embark on a long journey.

Jack: "Honorary Knight, Wendy, and Paimon! Great, you're all here! I've been looking everywhere for you! I'm here to thank you; thanks to you for finding the sword and shield, my parents have given their approval!"

Wendy: "Oh? Really?"

Jack: "Really! They even said they'd pay to have the 'Sword of Glorious Courage' and the 'Shield of Radiant Will' repaired so I can take them with me on my journey."

Wendy: "That's great. Jack, are you leaving Mondstadt to embark on a journey across Teyvat?"

“No, not yet. With my current abilities, I'm afraid I can't go very far. Besides, I want to hear more of Mr. Stanley's story. Hehe… after all, he's the starting point of my dreams.” Jack even tried to wake Stanley: “Mr. Stanley… ah, he's drunk again…”

"See you tomorrow, sir. Tell me some more stories when you're sober, okay?" Jack didn't seem sad at all; he even gently closed the door as he left…

Wendy: "I think Stanley really likes this kid, what do you think?"

Upon hearing Jack's name, Stanley instantly jumped up.

Stanley: "Jack? Jack!"

Wendy: "Jack has already gone back."

Stanley: "Really... Well, thank you for not revealing my secret."

Wendy: "Huh? Suddenly facing reality? This isn't like you at all."

Stanley: "I... I didn't even dare to look at him just now. His passion for adventure is pure and unadulterated... I'm a tired and useless conman, but that kid is still a shining newcomer, and I can't destroy his dream."

Paimon comforted him, "You can't really call him a fraud, can you? Because Stanley's adventure stories and experiences are all true."

Stanley: "The story...the experience...ha, let's forget about it. Actually, nowadays, my memories of the adventure, of Stanley...are all blurry."

Stanley: "That's my biggest secret, my biggest fear... I've lived for his story all these years. But I can't remember his personality, his life anymore. Hahaha..."

"The only thing I can't forget is that he died in the windless, desolate Sea of ​​Ashes; the wind cannot carry his soul away!"

Sora: "His life was overwhelmed by guilt..."

Wendy: "Yes, that's right... The real Stanley, in his memory, is no longer that vibrant friend, but is forever frozen in the image of a scarred warrior, binding his entire life."

Stanley: "I'm old... No matter how unwilling I am to let go, I can't hold onto much... I'm useless! Useless... But an adventurer can't die that way... No..."

Wendy transmitted her voice to Xuan Yue: (Please help me, little Xuan Yue...)

Xuan Yue: (Okay, okay, you can do it without worry. I won't let anyone outside notice anything unusual...)

Wendy: (Hehe, thanks.)

With Xuan Yue's assurance, Wendy felt relieved and asked, "Hans Jacibord?"

Stanley—no, Hans Jacibord—was instantly jolted awake: "How...do you know my real name...?"

Wendy smiled slightly, and then silent gusts of wind appeared beside them. The wind brushed against Hans Jacibord's face, and a clarity returned to his mind: "The wind...it's the sound of the wind from the Sea of ​​Ashes, a wind that yearns for but cannot find..."

In an instant, Wendy was illuminated by light, pulling him and "Stanley" into a space.

Stanley was visibly excited: "I...I've always believed in you..."

Wendy simply smiled gently and extended her hand to him: "May I have the soul of my old friend?"

When Stanley's trembling hand touched Wendy's outstretched hand, Hans Jacibord saw the true soul of Stanley in his eyes...

He smiled and nodded at him, as if saying goodbye, before finally dissipating into scattering fluorescent light...

He opened his eyes again, and it was still the same tavern. The same people were still there, but he felt a sense of relief, as if a shackle had been removed from his heart…

Stanley: "This...this is incredible...thank you...thank you, Lord Barbatos...I'm sorry, I need some time to process this...but I think I'll be alright..."

"Yeah, that's great! Stanley has found his true self, and Jack has successfully become independent. With so many good things happening together, it's worth having a drink to celebrate!" Wen clearly seemed to be in a very good mood.

"Are you planning to stay in this tavern and drink until you drop?" Paimon suspected Wendy was up to it.

Wendy: "Haha, the wine here is too expensive. Grandpa Qingyue isn't here either, but Jack still owes me money. He promised me a rare and precious wine as payment, remember? I'll go find him and get that bottle first. Let's meet at the 'usual spot' in a bit!"

Wendy finished speaking and ran off, leaving Paimon stomping his feet in frustration.

Paimon: "Huh? What old place? I don't know it. Hey! Hey, street performer!"

Sora: "Okay, the usual spot, see you there!"

Paimon: "Hey!"

Paimon was furious; she was once again shut out of their conversation.