A Child's Secret
Last updated 2026-09-09
A Child's Secret is the first part of Venti's Story Quest, Carmen Dei Chapter: Act I - Should You Be Trapped in a Windless Land.
Steps
- Head to a certain spot in the Anemo God Statue Plaza
- Check in with Flora
- Go see Timmie
- Drop in on the adults in the tavern
- See how Ellin is doing
- Destroy all the training dummies
- Talk to Ellin
Gameplay Notes
- The section that requires the player to "Destroy all the training dummies" is similar to the commission Ellin, the Wannabe Knight, except there are 3 dummies instead of 5/6 dummies. The commission's voice lines are likely reused from this quest.
Dialogue
Quest DescriptionAt the feet of the Anemo Archon Statue in the plaza in front of Mondstadt Cathedral, you and Paimon discover a little girl playing with her imaginary friend...
- Paimon: Hey, (Traveler)... look over there!
- Paimon: She's... all by herself, right?
- Paimon: Because she's acting as if she's talking and laughing with somebody else... Uhhh! Paimon's creeped out...
I had an imaginary friend too when I was a kid.- Paimon: What? You mean you used to act like that too, (Traveler)?
- Paimon: Uh... so is this... an invisible friend who hangs out with you sometimes? Or... do they just exist in your imagination?
- "Imaginary" means "in your imagination."
- Paimon: Imaginary... imagination...
- "In your imagination" means "imaginary."
- Paimon: Imagination... imaginary...
- Paimon: ...Oh, you must mean "imagined friend," right? Why didn't you just say so!
- Paimon: So, this "imaginary friend" of yours... When does Paimon get to meet them?
- We, uh, don't hang out anymore.
- They're... invisible now.
- Paimon: Seriously? So imaginary friends just... disappear when you grow up?
- Exactly, yes.
- Tragically, yes.
- Paimon: Oh... Paimon was looking forward to meeting yours... Hey, don't suppose your (sister/
brother) has an imaginary friend, too? - Sure they do.
- Paimon: No way! You guys are so lucky...
- Paimon: Because they have this game in Liyue — have you heard of it? It's a four player game, but it seems you guys could play it with just the two of you!
- Venti: Traveler! Fancy meeting you here.
- Paimon: Tone-Deaf Bard! What are you doing here!
- Venti: Haha, I'm here because Lisa has been making some exciting new contraptions.
- Paimon: Why does the thought of Lisa's contraptions make Paimon so nervous...
- Venti: Come now, that's no way to speak about the elegant Miss Lisa!
- Venti: For this particular contraption, Lisa had to import some dangerous materials from Sumeru.
- Paimon: D—Dangerous!?
- A monocle equipped with some sort of... detector?
- Venti: That's right! Looks like a monocle, but actually it's called a nirnama detector.
- Looks like a regular monocle to me.
- Venti: I know, right? Apparently, though, it's called a nirnama detector.
- Venti: Sadly, Lisa isn't able to use it herself, so I'm borrowing it for a while. ...And also, I'm testing it out for her, to see if it actually works.
- Paimon: Huh? Why can't Lisa use it?
- Venti: Hmm... Perhaps it's because she lacks a certain childlike sense of wonder? Or maybe there's some other reason for it.
- Venti: If you want to know for sure, just ask her yourself sometime.
- Paimon: So you can see them? Go on, tell us — what does this imaginary friend look like?
- Venti: Haha... That would be telling.
- Venti: Anyway, it's all yours now, Traveler. Take a look, see if you can see Nora's imaginary friend.
- (While using the monocle you see her imaginary friend)
- Paimon: Do you see 'em? Do you see 'em?
- Wow, it really works!
- Yeah! Seems like they're best friends.
- Venti: So, it does work for you too...
- Paimon: Paimon wants to see~! ...Wait, but this gizmo isn't in Paimon's size.
- Paimon: Alright then, you'll have to be Paimon's eyes on the ground, Traveler! Let's go see what everyone's imaginary friends look like.
- Paimon: Flora from the flower shop always seems kinda... floaty-headed. You know?
- Paimon: Paimon bets she has an imaginary friend.
- (Talk to Nora, optional)
- Nora: It's so big and pretty.
- Nora: I really wanna go up there with my friend...
Visit Flora
- (Upon approaching Flora, you see the imaginary plant through the monocle)
- Venti: There it is. Behold, a floaty imaginary friend for floaty-headed Flora: A Bloatty Floatty!
- Paimon: Wait, imaginary friends can be plants now!?
- Flora: Hehehe, hi Traveler, hi Bard.
- Hi Flora. Can I ask a question?
- Hi. Have you got a minute?
- Flora: Sure. How can I help?
- Who's your... friend?
- Flora: Hmm? Oh, you mean Mr. Floatty? Most people can't see him.
- Flora: Mr. Floatty is my bestest friend. We grew up together!
- Are you two family, or...?
- Flora: Hehehe, you mean me and Mr. Floatty?
- Flora: Mr. Floatty is my bestest friend. We live together.
- Flora: Say hello, Mr. Floatty! They can see you.
- Paimon: (*grumble* No fair! Paimon hates feeling left out...)
- Venti: Flora... Why exactly are you friends with a Bloatty Floatty?
- Flora: What's wrong with it? I always wanted to be friends with a plant who could fly.
- Paimon: Friends with a flying plant? Why?
- Flora: Hehehe, because then when it's windy you and your friend can fly off into the sky together! You gotta admit that's pretty cool.
- Paimon: ...Isn't that called being blown away?
- Flora: Hehehe, that's what some people like to call it.
- Flora: I only found out this plant existed from an explorer who told me stories of his adventures.
- Flora: I think his name was... Stanley!
- Oh, I know Stanley.
- Not someone I know.
- Flora: Stanley's an adventurer.
- Flora: And you can tell he's an expert at it from the stories he tells! Hehehe.
- Flora: "The amazing adventures of Stanley" are super famous in Mondstadt!
- Flora: He's in the city at the moment. You should go ask him to tell you some of his stories.
- Venti: That sounds like a fun idea for next time! But right now we have other things to attend to...
- Paimon: Flora's a pretty mysterious kid.
- Venti: Which child shall we interrogate next?
- Paimon: Paimon's thinking... Ooh, how about that little guy on the bridge?
- (Talk to Flora again, optional)
- Flora: Come on Mr. Floatty, let's water the flowers!
Visit Timmie
- (Upon approaching Timmie, you see an imaginary Ruin Guard through the monocle)
- Paimon: N—no way!
- Venti: Well. That... is unexpected.
- Paimon: Timmie's imaginary friend is a R—Ruin Guard!?
- Am I... seeing things...?
- I've heard of "guardian angels," but come on...
- Paimon: Paimon's freaking out right now... That thing is sure to attack us!
- Venti: Haha... What say you we postpone our conversation with Timmie for the time being?
- Paimon, it's time to say the line.
- That line you love to say so much.
- Paimon: Huh? Paimon has a favorite line?
- The one about exploring the area ahead of us later.
- Paimon: Seriously? Oh, alright then...
- Paimon: How about we explore the area ahead of us later?
- (After the cutscene ends)
- Paimon: Children are more open-minded... is that why they can think up all kinds of imaginary friends?
- Venti: Fitting, isn't it? That the City of Freedom should be home to children with such boundless powers of imagination.
- Paimon: What about adults' imagination? Let's ask some adults at the tavern!
- (Talk to Timmie, optional)
- Timmie: If anyone tries to shoot my pigeons, I'll get my friend on 'em! Piew-piew! Boom-boom! Bang!
- (Behind Angel's Share, you find Diluc, Kaeya, Hardworking Silio, and Reckless Pallad sitting together)
- Kaeya: The thing about wine is, you have to drink it at the tavern or you miss out on half the fun.
- Diluc: Seems to me you'd find some way of keeping yourself amused even if you drank alone.
- Kaeya: Haha, if I didn't know any better, I would say you're being deliberately uncivil.
- Diluc: Just... drink responsibly on my premises, okay?
- Kaeya: Oh? And if I did have one too many, what then? You'd throw me out along with the trash, is that it?
- Diluc: "Throw you out"?
- Kaeya: You know... the same way you threw out Father's legacy? You sold off his mansion — or maybe you've forgotten?
- Diluc: I see no reason to cling to things that have outlived their purpose.
- Kaeya: Is that so? Then I trust you were most swift indeed to part with a certain vase?
- Diluc: Sorry, I have no recollection.
- Reckless Pallad: That's odd. Master Diluc, I'm sure I saw such a vase in your home — a beautiful one, unmistakable, in fact...
- (While using the monocle, you don't see any imaginary friends)
- Paimon: Seems our suspicions were right... Grown-ups don't appear to have imaginary friends.
- Venti: Like I said — a lack of childlike wonder.
- Seems adults are the same everywhere.
- Paimon: So people just stop dreaming when they grow up? Okay, well, Paimon for one never wants to grow up!
- Venti: Hmm... This raises an interesting question: At what age, exactly, do people's imaginary friends disappear?
- Venti: Let's... go and check.
- (After cutscene ends)
- Venti: Hmm... How about Ellin? Someone of her age surely must have some imagination left, don't you think?
- Paimon: Uh-oh... Somehow, Paimon finds the idea of not being able to see Ellin's imaginary friend kinda scary...
- (Talk to Diluc, optional)
- Diluc: So, let me get this straight. You have a device with which you were trying to see if I have an imaginary friend?
- Diluc: You're wasting your time. And to be clear, fifteen years earlier you still would have been wasting your time.
- (Talk to Kaeya, optional)
- Kaeya: Imaginary friends? Wow. What a fascinating thing to investigate!
- Kaeya: I would love to join you, really... but I'm already several drinks in. Hahaha...
- (Talk to Hardworking Silio, optional)
- Hardworking Silio: One more, please. Ah, I'm feeling better already.
- Hardworking Silio: Hmm... If I could have an imaginary friend, it'd probably be a beer mug.
- (Talk to Reckless Pallad, optional)
- Reckless Pallad: Me? No, I don't imagine any friends. Too busy imagining epic adventures!
Visit Ellin
- (Upon approaching Ellin, you see an imaginary Jean through the monocle)
- Paimon: Jean! What is Jean doing here?
- Paimon: Is Master Jean Ellin's imaginary friend?
- Ellin is a conscientious child.
- Paimon: So she's so determined to become a knight that she... Okay, that's kinda weird.
- Ellin is really determined to become a knight.
- Paimon: Yeah, she's so conscientious it's... terrifying!
- Ellin: Hmm? Oh, hello. What are you guys doing?
- Paimon: Are you always training here?
- Ellin: You bet. Today, I heard Stanley talking about his adventures. It was incredible! It got me really pumped up.
- Ellin: I hope I can be as outstanding as him one day.
- Venti: So that you can fight shoulder to shoulder with Master Jean?
- Ellin: I—I mean, obviously I want to become a knight! ...And if I got to go on an adventure with Jean herself... Well, even better!
- Paimon: Seems Ellin reeeally looks up to Jean.
- There's nothing wrong with that.
- I believe you'll succeed, Ellin.
- Ellin: Thanks!
- Ellin: I was thinking, it's not every day I get to hang out with the Honorary Knight... Would you join me for some sword training?
- (Help Ellin with training)
- Ellin: How can I smash all these training dummies at once?
- (If all dummies destroyed within the time limit)
-
- Ellin: Huh, so THAT's how you do it. I'm impressed!
- (If not)
-
- Ellin: Shame, didn't manage to smash them all in time. Well, if at first you don't succeed...
- (The dummies respawn)
- (After the training)
- Ellin: Whew! Thank you. It's clear I still have a long way to go in my training.
- Venti: So modest! I for one think you're quite the pro at this already.
- Ellin: Well, I'm exhausted from training, so clearly my fitness needs some work. One day, though... I'll smash all the training dummies in Mondstadt...
- Paimon: Ellin, Ellin, she's our girl! If she can't do it... um, hilichurl!
- Ellin: Thanks... Shoot, I got so caught up here I forgot there's something I was supposed to do today!
- Ellin: Ugh... But I'm so sore from training, I can hardly move...
- Ellin: Honorary Knight, could you deliver a message to Jack for me?
- Who's Jack?
- Ellin: He's a friend of mine. Recently started as an adventurer.
- Ellin: We were gonna meet up tonight and discuss adventure plans... Could you let him know it'll have to be another day?
- Ellin: If I'm not mistaken, you should find him at the Temple of the Lion. He's adventuring with Stanley today.
- Ellin: Stanley's a truly legendary adventurer, renowned in all of Mondstadt. He once set foot in the Mare Jivari.
- Sure. Where can I find him?
- Ellin: He's gone adventuring at the Temple of the Lion with Stanley today.
- Ellin: Stanley's a truly legendary adventurer, renowned in all of Mondstadt. He once set foot in the Mare Jivari.
- Ellin: We were gonna meet up tonight and discuss adventure plans... Could you let him know it'll have to be another day?
- Temple of the Lion? Sure, I miss that place!
- Ellin: Great! Thank you so much.
- (Quest ends)
- (Talk to Ellin again, optional)
- Ellin: Thanks for agreeing to help me out.
- Ellin: Jack's at the Temple of the Lion. Don't forget...
Trivia
- "Nirnama" (Sanskrit: निर्नाम) is a term with several different definitions, including "joint of a wing" or "turning and winding."[1] It is impossible to determine the intended usage of this term, however, as the equivalent original Chinese text simply calls it "a detector" (Chinese: 一台探测仪) with no special description.
- Differences between voice lines and their official transcription:
- When Reckless Pallad says "That's odd, because Master Diluc definitely has a vase at home — a beautiful one, unmistakable, in fact..." his voice line says "That's odd. Mister Diluc, I'm sure I saw such a vase in your home — a beautiful one, unmistakable, in fact..."
Other Languages
| Language | Official Name | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| English | A Child's Secret | — |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 童心的隐秘 Tóngxīn de Yǐnmì | Hidden Secret of a Childlike Heart |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 童心的隱秘 Tóngxīn de Yǐnmì | |
| Japanese | 子供心の秘密 Kodomogokoro no Himitsu | Secret of a Childlike Mind |
| Korean | 동심의 비밀 Dongsim-ui Bimil | Secret of Childlike |
| Spanish | Secreto de la infancia | Childhood Secret |
| French | Innocence cachée | Hidden Innocence |
| Russian | Потаённая невиновность Potayonnaya nevinovnost' | Hidden Innocence |
| Thai | ความลับของความไร้เดียงสา Khwam-lap khong Khwam-rai-diang-sa | Secrets of Innocence |
| Vietnamese | Bí Mật Trẻ Thơ | |
| German | Geheimnisse eines Kindes | A Child's Secrets |
| Indonesian | Kepolosan yang Tersembunyi | Hidden Innocence |
| Portuguese | O Segredo de Uma Criança | A Child's Secret |
| Turkish | Bir Çocuğun Sırrı | A Child's Secret |
| Italian | Segreto d'infanzia | Childhood Secret |
Change History
Released in Version 1.0