One There Was, Who Hunted the Moon
Last updated 2026-08-29
One There Was, Who Hunted the Moon is the third part in the Teyvat storyline Archon Quest Song of the Welkin Moon: Act II - Elegy of Dust and Lamplight.
Steps
- Return to see Lauma and share your new intel
- Contact Aino and Ineffa
- Go check on the Lightkeepers
- Enter the crime scene to begin investigating
- Go to where the Wild Hunt has emerged
- Investigate the Wild Hunt phenomenon further
- Defeat the monsters before you
- Proceed deeper within to investigate
- Follow the trail on the ground
- Use the lantern's light to pass through the Phantasmal Zone
- Help Flins
- Return to the crime scene in Nasha Town
- Investigate once again
- Look for Hintsa and ask about the situation
- Bring Flins back to The Flagship to rest
Gameplay Notes
- Completing step 11 of the quest grants the Wonders of the World achievement Every Lantern Casts Its Shadow.
Dialogue
Quest DescriptionWith The Damselette, you not only uncover surprising truths from your memories but also learn the true identity of the phantom masquerading as your sibling. He may well be one of the Five Sinners Dainsleif once mentioned — Rerir, the Rächer of Solnari.
- (Approach Lauma)
- You relate the gist of your conversation with The Damselette to Lauma (without the Moon Goddess joke.)
- Lauma: The Rächer of Solnari... I've never heard that name before.
- Lauma: Let's keep this news confidential for the time being. It would only cause even more panic amongst the people of Nod-Krai.
- Lauma: But if this Rerir is as you describe, he will be a truly formidable opponent if we try to take him on by our strength alone...
- Paimon: Yeah... Things might be okay if everyone was willing to work together, but right now...
If we don't stick together, we'll be picked off one by one.- Paimon: Exactly! Whatever the case, let's start by telling those we can get to join up about the crisis!
- Paimon: As it happens, we have our own reasons to protect Nod-Krai... But even if we didn't, we'd never leave people in the lurch. That ain't our style!
- Lauma: Thank you. The Frostmoon Scions will stand with you to prevent this crisis as best we can.
- Lauma: In addition... I believe that the relationships between the various factions in this land are not cast in stone.
- Lauma: The winds of change are blowing, and we Scions have nowhere to run. Our faith, our sect... all of it is here.
- Lauma: Whether our foe is the Fatui or this Rächer, we must stand our ground and remain true to ourselves, even to the last.
- Thank you.
- Paimon: Let's see... Speaking of allies, the Krumkake Craftshop is the closest by, right? Ineffa's sure to help us!
- (Talk to Lauma, optional)
- Lauma: The wind blows stronger. May your path ahead be smooth.
- (Approach Aino and Ineffa)
- Ineffa: Friendly approach detected. We meet again.
- Paimon: Listen, listen, we've got updates on the Wild Hunt situation!
- (They update Aino and Ineffa on the situation)
- Aino: Mmhmm, mmhmm...
- Ineffa: Threat level... exceeds expectations.
- Aino: Pfftooey! Doesn't matter if he's the Rächer of Solnari, or Solari, or whatever. One volley from my cannon and he'll be blown to smithereens!
- Aino: You were there when we fired it, right? If that isn't the kind of firepower that helps you sleep at night, I don't know what is!
- Paimon: True, but the cannon only works against shambling monsters, right? What if Rerir's super fast?
- Aino: Well... We'll just get Ineffa to go grab him and tie him down.
- Paimon: You're not taking this seriously at all, are you!?
- Aino: Anyways... Firepower's not a concern. See those canisters over there? That's all concentrated kuuvahki, which we'll be shipping to Nasha Town.
- Aino: More than enough ammo in there to blast that Fatui research facility to bits in a single shot!
- Paimon: You... sure have been looking forward to this battle, huh?
- Aino: Of course! This is gonna be the shot that shocks the world! All Nod-Krai — heck, all of Snezhnaya — will know my name once we're through!
- In that case, our firepower needs are in your hands.
- We'll continue to monitor the Wild Hunt's movements.
- Aino: Sure. Travel safe!
- Ineffa: Aino, there remains intel left unshared.
- Aino: Ohhh, right, yeah... Since you're investigating the Wild Hunt, something pretty weird's happened in Nasha Town. Should probably watch out for that once you're back.
- Aino: Remember that Sousi guy, the Ratnik in charge of firing the cannon? He's... been found dead in their organization's offices.
- Paimon: Wait, what!? Didn't we just see him like... half a day ago?
- Aino: Yeah. It's still new news, so not many people are in the know. We were only informed because we'd worked together closely... and even then, only just now.
- Aino: I'll send Ineffa over to Nasha Town with some flowers later... *sigh*
- Paimon: He seemed like a good guy. Didn't put on any airs despite being a superior officer, either.
- Ineffa: The data concurs. This gentleman appears to have been one of the most accomplished amongst the Lightkeepers' Sergeant Majors.
- Ineffa: His character has also received commendation. Most would have lacked the motivation to fatally attack him.
- Paimon: That makes it even worse...
- Could it have been the Wild Hunt?
- Is Rerir actually afraid of the cannon?
- Aino: Hey! What do you mean "actually"?
- Aino: Either way, I'm not clued in on the details. Only Ratniki have been allowed on-site to investigate the scene. You'll have to find some way in if you want to check it out for yourselves.
- Paimon: Got it. Let's go, then. You coming along, Ineffa?
- Ineffa: My tasks are incomplete. The last few batches of ammunition must be randomly inspected. You go ahead.
- Paimon: Alright, we'll see you later!
- (Talk to Aino, optional)
- Aino: Hang on. Weren't you supposed to bring me some candy? You said you would!
- Paimon: Err, sorry, but things happened kinda suddenly, so—
- (Talk to Ineffa, optional)
- Ineffa: Batch inspection complete. Approved. Next up...
- (Approach the marked location)
- Paimon: This must be it. Doesn't look like there's any chance of us getting in with that Ratnik guarding the door, though...
- Paimon: Should we go speak to the guard first?
- Nefer: Might as well try squeezing blood from a stone.
- Paimon: Eh!? Nefer! When did you...
- Nefer: I came over to take a look as soon as I received the news just now. Aino told you about this, then?
- Yes, while we were passing by the Krumkake Craftshop.
- Nefer: Before we start, shall we see if we've made the same guess?
- Looks like the Wild Hunt is on the move.
- Nefer: Indeed. Quicker than we thought, as well.
- Nefer: Keep your eyes peeled for any clues once we get in. No need to jump to conclusions.
- Paimon: Uh, but how are we supposed to get in at all?
- Nefer: Just follow me.
- Zvoni: I'm sorry, but we're not open to guests right now.
- (Another Ratnik walks up behind them)
- Sieciech: Sorry about that. They're here to investigate.
- Zvoni: ...All of them?
- Sieciech: The paperwork checks out.
- Zvoni: Alright then, enter.
- (Talk to Zvoni, optional)
- Zvoni: For now, please keep the current situation confidential.
- (Enter the Lightkeeper's office)
- On the way upstairs to the crime scene, you briefly relate the information about the Rächer of Solnari to Nefer...
- Paimon: Whew... Paimon might've said this before, Nefer, but you sure do come prepared.
- Nefer: Sieciech, my old friend — fill us in, if you would.
- Sieciech: Greetings. If you would allow me...
- Sieciech: The murder happened not long ago. The Sergeant Major was killed by a single piercing strike from a polearm. We have performed a preliminary sweep of the crime scene to facilitate investigation.
- Sieciech: No obvious signs of a violent struggle, no damaged doors or windows. The culprit must have used some other means to enter the room unopposed before performing the deed.
- Paimon: Entering unopposed... So, do you think there's a chance that the culprit would usually have right of entry?
- (Traveler): (It could have been Rerir in disguise, like how he turned into (Lumine/
Aether)...) - Sieciech: At the moment, the most valuable lead we have is based on an eyewitness report from a nearby resident.
- Sieciech: Specifically, that Flins was seen entering and leaving this place in the time period when the crime most likely occurred.
- Paimon: Fl—Flins!?
- Sieciech: We have tried to contact him, but he has not replied.
- Nefer: Very odd indeed.
- Paimon: So... He's the prime suspect right now, right?
- Sieciech: To be honest, I'm not particularly inclined to believe that this was an inside job. Flins can come across a bit eccentric, but he does well in missions on the whole.
- Sieciech: He also had no disagreements with the Sergeant Major that we know of, so he lacks a motive to commit such a terrible crime.
- Sieciech: But neither the eyewitness report nor the nature of the fatal wound itself are in his favor... So we are looking for him at present.
- Nefer: Looks like there's not much else to dig up here. Let's go outside and discuss what we've seen.
- (Traveler): ...
- Agreed.
- (They return outside)
- Nefer: So, the evidence points to Flins, and he just so happens to have disappeared without a trace. A sticky situation indeed...
- Nefer: We know that this "Flins" could have been Rerir in disguise, but we lack the evidence to prove this to anyone else.
- Nefer: Furthermore, Flins has left us with many questions, all of which will require a reasonable explanation.
- Paimon: Yeah. He said he would report back to headquarters, but it seems he hasn't gone at all. What could he be doing...
- (Traveler): (The first time I met Flins, I did notice that there was something odd about his lantern... Some power concealed within it.)
- (Traveler): (Now that I think about it, that power was somewhat similar to Abyssal energies I've encountered before...)
- (Traveler): (In the worst case scenario, "Flins" might be an entirely fabricated entity...)
- Nefer: Let's approach the issue this way. First, we must determine our culprit. Was it Flins? Or Rerir in disguise?
- It's got to be the latter...
- Paimon: Yeah. What reason would Flins have to murder Sousi anyway?
- Nefer: None, as far as I know. And even if he had a motive, it would have been easier to do so out in the wild, rather than in Nasha Town.
- Paimon: Yeah, they would have often gone out on missions together — plenty of chances there.
- Even if it were Rerir, though...
- His motives would be just as unclear.
- Nefer: Yes, but there's one thing worth noting here. Remember the intel we got back at the tavern? No one has ever seen a phantom that can take the form of other humans within the Wild Hunt.
- Nefer: This means that he has been hesitant to abuse this ability, or allow it to become common knowledge... Likely so that he could act in secret under other guises.
- Paimon: But no matter what, borrowing identities comes with risks, right? What if you bump into the person you're imitating along the way?
- Nefer: Precisely. In other words, his goal must have been worth the risk — similar to how he came in disguise to obtain the Moon Marrow.
- Nefer: He likely knew, then, that the real Flins would not appear and get in his way during this time.
- And why was he able to determine that?
- Nefer: We'd have to ask Flins ourselves, I'm afraid. But we shouldn't jump to any conclusions here. We can't discount the possibility that he might actually be the murderer himself — not yet, at least.
- Nefer: And there are other, less likely scenarios — for instance, Rerir may have already killed Flins long ago, and been living as him for some time now...
- Regardless...
- We have to find him.
- Nefer: Yes. That is our ticket to a breakthrough.
- Paimon: Then we've got to find him before the Lightkeepers do, or we might never see him again...!
- Nefer: Steady now. Our friend should be back soon.
- Sieciech: We've tracked him down — to a beach north of Nasha Town. The Wild Hunt is present too, so we're putting a force together.
- Sieciech: ...I'll have you know that this is top-secret information I'm leaking here.
- Nefer: Don't worry. You'll receive a top-class reward in return.
- Nefer: The beach is all yours. I'll stay and slow the Lightkeepers down — things might go south if you bump into one another.
- Paimon: Oh right, before we go! Should we reveal Rerir's secret?
- Paimon: Since he's trying to keep it all hush-hush, why don't we just pull the curtains on his little trick? That'll teach him to sneak around pretending to be other people!
- Nefer: Hehe...
- Paimon: Hey! Why are you laughing?
- Nefer: Oh, I was just imagining how satisfying that would feel... But I'm afraid this revelation would only stir up more chaos.
- Nefer: Setting aside the matter of evidence, some may trust Flins on our account, whereas others would suspect him on account of his behavior.
- Nefer: Tossing him into a swirling tumult of public opinion like that might just give Rerir more opportunities to capitalize on.
- Nefer: And think about it — once people learn that he can masquerade as those they trust, would they continue to welcome friends into their homes with such open hearts?
- Nefer: Unease grips the hearts of those in Nasha Town already. We should avoid throwing more fuel onto the fire.
- Paimon: ...Yeah, you're right. You've really thought of everything, huh? Nothing for it, then. We've just gotta find Flins!
- Nefer: Indeed. But just in case, let me stress once more — we should neither be excessively afraid of "Rerir," nor trust in "Flins" too lightly.
- Nefer: This light source is of special Lightkeeper design. It provides illumination within Wild Hunt anomalies, and can briefly dispel the Abyssal fog within.
- Paimon: Oh, right, we'll have to deal with that mess too... Yeah, this'll be important. Thanks a bunch, Nefer!
- Nefer: You're welcome. I've charged it to your account, by the way.
- Paimon: Hey, you—
- (Approach the area past the first marked location)
- Paimon: Whoa, the fog's really rolling in. Quick, grab the light source!
- (Approach the next marked location)
- Paimon: Is that... a Lightkeeper's lantern? Is there someone up ahead? C'mon, let's go see!
- (Approach the lantern)
-
- (Two Wilderness Exiles appear)
- Voice From the Abyss: Will at last... part ways...
- Paimon: Monsters!?
- (After defeating the enemies)
- Paimon: This monster was lurking near the lamp... that must've been a planned ambush. We're not falling for that again!
- Paimon: Hmm? There's something inside it, some small device...
- Paimon: Eh? Why isn't it giving off light anymore? Is it broken? We'd better take it with us.
- (Approach the nearby glowing purple burn marks, optional)
- Paimon: A fight took place here... Did Flins leave these marks?
- (Approach the next marked location)
- Flins: Is someone there? Please... help me...
- Paimon: Isn't that Flins's voice? Did you hear that?
- Paimon: But... is that really him?
- (Approach the lantern, optional)
- Voice From the Abyss: How shall the savior... save themselves...
- Paimon: Gah! More baddies!
- (Continue in the direction of the shadows)
- Paimon: Gah, we'll be in trouble if these spooky shadows touch us. Quick, (Traveler), use the lantern!
- (A tutorial is shown)
Ghostly shadows haunt this area of the Wild Hunt. If you come into contact with too many of them, you will be lost to the black mist forever, so be careful.
Continuously shine the light from Nefer's lamp on the ghostly shadows to dispel them before they get too close.
- (Approach the marked location)
- (A cinematic plays)
-
- Cutscene's Travel Log summary:
- Wild Hunt: You, who are superfluous... (fae language)
- Wild Hunt: You, who are lonely... (fae language)
- Wild Hunt: The complacent invite in catastrophe... (fae language)
- Wild Hunt: It's too late to make up for your folly now... (fae language)
- Flins: Lies and falsehoods! (fae language)
- (Abyssal power bursts from Flins's lantern, corrupting it and wounding Flins as a result)
- Rerir: Hand it over.
- Rerir: That was mine from the first
- Flins: It is hereby permanently requisitioned (fae language)
- Rerir: You are a fool!
- (Rerir goes to attack Flins, but the Traveler blocks the attack just in time)
- Rerir: You again
- (Traveler): What the... It's stronger than before...
- (The Traveler turns around to see Flins's lantern corrupted with the Abyss)
- (Traveler): Lantern, now!
- (Flins tosses the lantern at the Traveler, drawing the attention of Rerir)
- (Rerir attacks the Traveler and leaps towards the lantern, but the Traveler snatches it just before Rerir can grab it)
- (Flins distracts Rerir as the Traveler purifies the lantern)
- Rerir: What...
- (After returning the lantern to Flins, they work together to fight Rerir, but it manages to escape)
- Flins: Tch, it escaped again
- Flins: This situation... speaks for itself, I presume?
- (Cinematic ends)
- Paimon: So you were tangling with Rerir out here, all by yourself.
- Flins: So... That vile phantom hiding inside the Wild Hunt has a name of his own— Argh...
- Let's find a spot to rest first.
- Paimon: Yeah, you don't look so good...
- Flins: ...Sorry you had to see me like this. All the same, you have my sincere thanks for your aid.
- Flins: To think you had the power to so easily cleanse the filth staining the lantern, which tormented me so...
- Flins: Might I ask what magic that was, or whose pupil you are? I believe I might have saved some face had I mastered just a fraction of such abilities.
- I don't understand it either. Just my constitution, I think.
- Flins: And an enviable constitution it is. A pity that such abilities cannot be acquired.
- Paimon: Why did Abyssal power just burst out of your lantern, anyway...?
- Flins: That is a long story. Many moons ago, when on Wild Hunt clearance duty, I shattered one of its cores, only for a special crystalline object to fall out.
- Flins: I sensed a power surging within it that was at once familiar yet strangely illusory...
- Flins: I freely confess to being an avid collector of ancient gems, coins, and other curios. And curiosity it was that had me store this crystal inside my lantern.
- Flins: Afterwards, I wound up collecting a few more such crystals quite by accident, and discovered that they could merge into a single piece without my prompting... Though my understanding ends there.
- Flins: It was only recently that they began slowly emitting Abyssal energy, which could neither be dispelled nor weakened.
- Paimon: Is that what Rerir claimed belonged to him? That must be what he's after, then.
- Flins: I concur. And here's the kicker... Before, he was exceedingly weak. In fact, I've already beaten him several times, though I could not destroy him completely.
- Flins: But I noticed while engaging him that the crystal fragment would restrict my powers. As such, it occurred to me that I should hide it rather than tangle with him any longer.
- Flins: Alas, he has proved most fixated upon this fragment, and for some reason, his strength has grown by leaps and bounds since I last encountered him.
- If this object is contaminated by the Abyss...
- ...Why carry it on your person?
- Flins: And where, might I ask, would it be safe? Or do you think it wiser I threw it away?
- Flins: Were our places switched, would you discard it, knowing that its perilous might was beyond your ability to counteract, yet capable of causing greater harm should it lie beyond your grasp?
- ...
- Probably not.
- Paimon: Yeah! Throwing it away would mean giving the bad guy what he wants! But exposing yourself to its corrosion and growing weaker by the day... That sounds super dangerous, too...
- Flins: Only those who shoulder risks are qualified to welcome in the turning of the tide. Those who flee when troubles come are nothing more than deserters...
- Flins: Though I shan't deny that I have your fortuitous arrival, and most outstanding assistance, to thank for my continued ability to speak such platitudes.
- Flins: Either way, it seems this fragment is now utterly still. That must have made it useless to Rerir — I doubt he would have retreated so readily otherwise.
- Flins: I imagine this wasn't the only reason you came looking for me, though...?
- Paimon: Uh, well, no, but...
- You briefly tell Flins about Rerir's murder of Sousi, and about the subsequent attempt to frame him.
- Flins: Ah... I see.
- Can you think of a reason why Rerir would try to frame you?
- Flins: To use the Lightkeepers to find me, I suspect. I did not inform anyone of my true whereabouts, so he should have had more difficulty tracking me down.
- Flins: They alone have the ability to quickly pinpoint my position. Our Sergeant Major has a kuuvahki-powered device that can be used to detect others who bear a lantern.
- Flins: They usually don't pay my whereabouts much mind, unless they absolutely must find me.
- Paimon: Uh, you mean this thing?
- Flins: Yes. Where did you pick this up?
- Paimon: We found it inside a lantern when we first charged into the Wild Hunt anomaly.
- Flins: It must belong to a Ratnik dispatched to investigate the area... who, it seems, dropped everything and fled the moment they saw the Wild Hunt massing to strike. Well, at least they're not dead.
- Paimon: Guess it's not surprising how they found you so fast, then. But... If Rerir could've shapeshifted into Sousi, why didn't he just use that kuuvahki device to find you himself?
- Flins: Were he to use it, that device would likely fail to act as it should — owing to Abyssal interference.
- Paimon: Ahhh, guess that explains it...
- Flins: So... Not only is this Rerir ruthless, but a purveyor of dirty tricks too.
- Flins: You might not be familiar with Sergeant Major Sousi, but he put his heart and soul into every mission.
- Flins: Our deployments are subject to orders from headquarters, and his orders were to be stationed long-term in Nasha Town. As such, he was very seldom able to go back and visit his family.
- Flins: He worked so, so hard, seeking to produce excellent results that might convince them to transfer him out.
- Paimon: Oh...
- Flins: But every year, they would say, "Wait a little longer." "Wait a little longer." He often wondered if it was because he was lacking somehow.
- Flins: In truth, everyone had nothing but the highest praise for him. But good work does not always lead to good outcomes.
- Flins: The higher-ups would think, "He's doing great where he is. Let him stay there forever." A most convenient choice, for them at least.
- Flins: Whereas his subordinates would think, "Wouldn't it be a shame if we were to lose such a talented, easygoing boss?"
- Flins: So he waited, and he waited. Until the world closed its eyes in the depths of the night, and a lantern was slowly lit for him alone, that no one could see.
- Flins: ...
- It's a tragic story.
- Flins: One that has played out many times throughout history.
- Flins: ...Another reason to take this Rerir's head.
- Paimon: *sigh* At least we now know that he's looking for these fragments inside Wild Hunt anomalies...
- Flins: And yet, what did the Sergeant Major have to do with any of this? Why did he have to die?
- Paimon: Could Rerir be angry that the cannon Sousi set up to fire destroyed the fragments he wanted to collect?
- Flins: Hmm... Could you take me to the scene of the crime?
- Probably...
- ...But you are a suspect in this case.
- Flins: We shall just have to exercise some discretion, then. Come on, let us be on our way.
- (Approach the marked area in Nasha Town)
- Flins: I understand the situation, more or less. Much has happened, I see.
- Flins: Either way, I suppose we were lucky not to receive a "warm welcome" on the way over here. It seems my fellow Lightkeepers do not wish to make this case public just yet.
- Paimon: Yeah... Guess Nasha Town's already been enough of a mess lately.
- Flins: Let's stop here. Any further, and the Ratniki might detect us.
- Flins: Since you two can enter, I'll have to request that you kindly "pick me up" once you're inside...
- Paimon: Oh? And how are we supposed to do that...?
- Flins: You'll know when the time comes. See you later.
- Paimon: Ugh, still acting all mysterious... But he seemed pretty confident, so guess we gotta trust him.
- (The Traveler and Paimon approach Zvoni)
- Paimon: H—Hello...
- Zvoni: Ah, you're the special assistants for this investigation, right?
- Paimon: Yup, that's us.
- Sorry, I know it's a bit late...
- But there's a couple of things we'd like to take a look at.
- Zvoni: Well, you're just in time. We're basically done investigating the crime scene. All that's left is to finish writing up some records, then properly dispose of Sergeant Major Sousi's remains.
- Zvoni: If there's anything else you'd like to look into, this is your last chance to do so.
- Find anything new?
- Zvoni: Sadly, no. The motive behind the killing remains a mystery, and while we somehow managed to get news of Flins, an unexpected accident caused us to miss him.
- Zvoni: But considering that Nefer from the Curatorium of Secrets came forward to help investigate, I have no doubt that a breakthrough's not far off.
- (Traveler): (Expert use of delaying tactics on her part. Excellent work...)
- Paimon: We'll do our part too! Alright, we're going in. Seeya later!
- (Enter the office)
- Paimon: Phew, we're in — thanks to Nefer's reputation, once again.
- Paimon: But we still know nothing about how Flins is gonna enter, or how we'll pick him up... never mind how we'll leave later on.
- (Traveler): ...
- Paimon: Is something the matter, (Traveler)?
- There's a strange light by the window.
- Paimon: Huh, that looks like Flins's lantern... But where is he, exactly?
- (Traveler): ...
- (The Traveler uses Anemo to pull the lantern in through the window)
- Paimon: Well, we've got the lantern. What now?
- Paimon: Waa— Ergh, Paimon almost screamed out loud! You never said you could do magic like that!
- Now that's what I call going incognito.
- Flins: This lantern may have a rather peculiar shape, but so long as it doesn't glow, it won't stand out in the dark.
- Flins: I calculated that you would have already entered, so I chose a spot visible from the window before using light to send you a signal.
- Flins: As I thought, you're both sharp-eyed and on the ball.
- Paimon: Hehe, the perks of being veteran adventurers, huh?
- What you just did... Surely that can't be accomplished through elemental power alone?
- Flins: Your composure is more impressive still. You're right. That required a little... trick of my own.
- Flins: But let us leave such trivial topics for a more relaxed moment. Our time is limited, after all.
- (Flins inspects Sousi's body)
- Flins: Hmm. Just as I thought... Come, try sensing it yourself.
- (Traveler): (It's very faint, but there is some residual power near the wound that feels identical to the Abyssal energy that surged from Flins's lantern.)
- Flins: Identical powers must flow from the same source. It was the Wild Hunt, then, that took my form and killed the Sergeant Major... but why do this?
- Paimon: To sow chaos by depriving the Lightkeepers of one of their commanders?
- Flins: If the Wild Hunt's true form is powerful enough to stand against the world as you claim, I fear not even the full force of Lightkeepers could stand against him, let alone the handful of us stationed in Nasha Town.
- Flins: He would have no reason whatsoever to pick quarrels with individual "ants."
- Flins: Let's look again more closely. We must leave no stone unturned.
- They said that the crime scene investigation is already complete.
- There should no longer be a need to keep this place exactly as-is.
- Flins: Well, that makes things simpler. In that case, allow me to disturb the fallen. May the ghost-flame guide your spirit, may you rest in peace...
- However, despite a very thorough search, few new clues emerge.
- Flins: When we fought, he seemed like quite a reckless foe — certainly not the meticulous mastermind type. Yet here we are, grappling with this enigma he has left us...
- Paimon: If we can't get any leads, we might have to go back and find Nefer...
- Paimon: Ugh, the longer we're stuck here, the likelier he is to achieve his goal... This is so frustrating.
- (Traveler): (Is that all? Have we really tried every angle, found every clue?)
- (Traveler): (Hmm...)
- (Traveler): (...!)
- Paimon, look at the flashing light on his arm.
- Paimon: You mean this...?
- Flins: I'm not well-versed in machinery... but that means his mechanical arm is malfunctioning, right? It might have been broken in combat...
- Paimon: No, that's not right. Paimon remembers this signal. We saw it before while repairing the cannon.
- Paimon: It doesn't mean that the components are damaged. It just means that they're due for regular maintenance, so the device has stopped operating...
- Paimon: But the real problem is that—
- When we were fixing the cannon...
- ...His arm was working just fine.
- Paimon: Yeah... He even helped us find the maintenance port!
- Paimon: It could still be a coincidence, but considering it hasn't been long at all since we were repairing that cannon...
- Flins: ...The Sousi you met could have been Rerir in disguise. In other words, he played the Sergeant Major before disguising himself as me.
- Paimon: That's right! If only there was some way to prove it...
- If something needed maintenance...
- You'd go register it with Nasha Town's repairman.
- Flins: You mean Hintsa?
- Paimon: We had a short chat with him once at the tavern, but it's so late... Guess it'll have to wait till tomorrow.
- Flins: I know where he lives. The situation is critical, so let us now take up the role of uninvited guests ourselves.
- Flins: Ah, yes, and one more thing...
- Flins: Remember to "pick me up" by the window.
- You leave the room without any trouble, and start heading toward Hintsa's residence.
- (Approach Hintsa's house)
- Hintsa: *yawn* ...Ah, it's you two... and Flins. Given the hour, I guess it must be an emergency?
- Flins: It is indeed. Our sincerest apologies for interrupting your rest.
- Flins: We're investigating a certain matter in connection with Sergeant Major Sousi. We'd like to know if he has sent you a request for maintenance to be performed on his mechanical arm.
- Hintsa: Sousi... Oh. So the rumors I heard... are they true?
- Hintsa: *sigh*... You know what? Forget it... I'm sure it's complicated. No further questions from me. Just a moment — I need to check my records.
- Flins: Thank you for your understanding.
- Hintsa: Got it. Eight days ago, he came to request a round of regular maintenance, but as it happened, I had run out of the required components.
- Hintsa: His mechanical arm is especially sophisticated, having been designed by Aino personally. The parts, too, could only be made by her.
- Hintsa: As such, they usually take several days to arrive. In fact, this time, he even asked me if we could push his request forward.
- Hintsa: And I understood, completely. Not being able to use your hand... That's rough for anyone, but even more so if your job involves fighting out in the wild. So I did my best to convince Aino to rush the job...
- Hintsa: And eventually, the parts arrived — three days ago, if I remember correctly. I sent word to the Lightkeepers immediately, but he never showed up. I assumed he was just out on some mission or other...
- Hintsa: Uh... What's with those faces? Everything alright?
- Flins: You've provided us with some very crucial information, Hintsa. You have our thanks.
- Flins: We can't make everything public yet, but once our investigation is complete, I will return to thank you and provide an explanation on behalf of all the Lightkeepers.
- Hintsa: No worries. Just glad I could help.
- Paimon: Thanks. Good night!
- Hintsa: Good night. Hope the investigation goes well.
- (Hintsa returns to his house and the Traveler, Paimon, and Flins step aside)
- Flins: It seems that it is as we guessed. The "Sergeant Major Sousi" you encountered while repairing the cannon was actually Rerir in disguise.
- Flins: Eight days ago, he had yet to act, but at some point after that, he attacked and imprisoned the Sergeant Major.
- Flins: With the immense gap in strength between them, the job was finished in a single blow — and thus, Rerir had no opportunity to discover the malfunctioning mechanical arm.
- Flins: Perhaps his mastery of shapeshifting extends only to outward form — and not, therefore, to complex internal mechanisms. Hence his oversight of the uniquely mechanical traits of the Sergeant Major's arm, and in turn, this flaw in his disguise.
- Paimon: You're saying he thought no one would realize his mechanical arm was actually made of some kinda black muck on the inside, so long as it worked, right?
- Paimon: Hmm. Still seems like there's a lot of guesswork involved here, but it mostly makes sense...
- That means that the only thing he did as Sousi...
- ...Was fire the cannon.
- Flins: This also has me stumped for the moment. The cannon has always been used to destroy the Wild Hunt, and it works as intended.
- Flins: But how would that help Rerir, exactly...?
- Flins: Assuming he plans to collect the fragments within Wild Hunt anomalies, firing the cannon works against him, since it would blast those fragments to smithereens.
- Paimon: Ugh, so we solved one mystery only to dig up another...
- Paimon: This is getting Paimon kinda down... *yawn* and sleepy, too...
- We've been on edge for too long, it seems.
- Flins: Yes, I'd say it is high time we took a break. Seems like there's a lot left to investigate.
- Flins: We'll have to fight Rerir eventually — and we'll do a poor job if we're not well-rested.
- Paimon: Yeah, we should totally get some sleep first...
- Want to rest a day in Nasha Town?
- Your residence is quite far away.
- Flins: A reasonable suggestion. I have no doubt that my quarters have been turned inside out by now, at any rate.
- Flins: My colleagues have never failed to live up to my expectations of their discourtesy.
- Paimon: W—Well, guess we'll just have to "pick you up" as usual...
- Flins: That would be good, yes. Feel free to put the room costs on my tab.
- (They reach the rooms at The Flagship)
- Paimon: Whew, back inside! We can finally take a breather! Okay, Paimon, in and out!
- Flins: Haha, I suppose we could all take a moment to unwind. Hmm, as I recall, our first meeting took place not far from here. Ah, the nostalgia.
- Flins: Had you already sensed the unique power within my lantern at that time?
- Yes, which is why I asked you to give it to me.
- Flins: I see. Ah, words truly do fail to capture your superlative insight.
- Flins: Fortunate, then, that Abyssal energy was only leaking from the fragment in miniscule amounts when we first met, or I might have been in for a real interrogation.
- Paimon: Yeah... Hard to say how that would've played out. We've had a whole bunch of unpleasant run-ins with the Abyss...
- Rerir seems fixated on you...
- ...And you, on him.
- Flins: You mean to ask why I'm going this far to oppose him? Well, as a Lightkeeper, I'd say I'm simply doing my job.
- Come on, don't play games with me.
- Paimon: Yeah! You're covered in more mysteries than Paimon could shake a skewer at. You can't just get out of explaining yourself by making lame excuses!
- Flins: Hmm, alright. I suppose I do owe you some honesty, whether out of gratitude or the need to build trust.
- Flins: Your deductions have been quite correct. Should one wish to conceal oneself within a lantern, elemental power alone is not enough.
- Flins: You know humans well, and naturally, you understand their limits.
- Flins: But some things that humans would consider difficult are quite normal in the eyes of non-humans.
- Paimon: So you mean you're one of the latter?
- Flins: Have you heard of how Snezhnaya was once the realm of the fae?
- Flins: This race is no longer of any importance, but they still exist — as evidenced by the fact that I am standing before you.
- Paimon: We've heard some scattered legends, but... that's all Paimon thought there was to it.
- Flins: I once turned my heart toward humanity, and thus did I experience loss. I once labored and did much, and put an end to my tale with my own hands.
- Flins: When you realize you are floating in the middle of a vast ocean, you cannot help but feel that swimming in any direction would be equally meaningless.
- Flins: Would it not be better, then, to simply sink?
- Flins: But before I could sink to truly lightless depths, chance had it that I should be awakened by a band of Ratniki.
- Flins: They were facing a horde of Abyssal monsters, and could not last against such a disparity in strength, yet none fled.
- Flins: Those who dwell in darkness for long enough become exceedingly sensitive to all light — and the first light I saw upon awakening was that which shone from their eyes.
- Paimon: Is that why you chose to help them?
- Flins: Perhaps I was moved by their valor. Perhaps I simply saw my past self in them, and was moved to action for the first time in a long, long while.
- Flins: But I was freshly awoken, and my powers were limited. I could not prevent casualties altogether.
- Flins: The survivors and I buried the fallen heroes... That was the origin of the "Final Night Cemetery."
- And that's why you chose to become a Lightkeeper...
- Flins: Well, not exactly. I was just more familiar with them, so joining up seemed the most convenient way to experience human life.
- Paimon: Doesn't sound too believable...
- Flins: Well, I believe it. Besides, I'm well past the age when one might believe in "things that must be done."
- Flins: Nonetheless, there are still some things I will not allow to happen. The chaos that Rerir has been stirring up is one of them.
- Flins: Tomorrow, I shall go and check our records to see if I can find any connection between the Wild Hunt, Rerir, and the cannon.
- Paimon: Will you need us to get you where you need to be?
- Flins: Oh, I'll be fine. I keep a backup copy at my residence in case of emergencies.
- Paimon: Can... you even go back there right now? Won't there be Ratniki watching it?
- Flins: Thanks for the reminder. I believe they'll have checked my place, but they won't have stayed. All things are ranked according to their priority, and we lack the manpower for such an open-ended stakeout.
- Flins: And even if someone is waiting, I have ways around that. I am the master of my own house, after all.
- Paimon: Alright then, we'll trust you. *yawn* We sure ended up chatting for a while, huh? Paimon's super tired now, but... Y'know, feels like we can breathe easier, now that we know you better.
- Flins: Haha. I didn't take you for the cautious sort.
- Flins: Anyway, I hope you'll help me keep this a secret. I'd prefer others not to know about my past unless strictly necessary, nor do I want to attract more trouble on account of being a fae.
- Don't worry, I won't say a thing.
- Paimon: Paimon's lips are sealed too!
- Flins: Alright. Thanks again for your help. Good night, you two.
- (Quest ends)
- (Talk to Flins, optional)
- Flins: It's getting late. The situation is urgent, but rest is vital. Good night, both of you.
Gallery
Cutscene Animation- "A Beacon in the Fog" - Genshin Impact
Other Languages
| Language | Official Name | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| English | One There Was, Who Hunted the Moon | — |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 曾有人追猎月亮 Céng Yǒu Rén Zhuīliè Yuèliàng | There Was One Who Hunted the Moon |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 曾有人追獵月亮 Céng Yǒu Rén Zhuīliè Yuèliàng | |
| Japanese | かつて月を狩る者あり Katsute Tsuki wo Karu Mono Ari | There Was One Who Hunted the Moon |
| Korean | 달을 사냥하는 자 Dareul Sanyanghaneun Ja | |
| Spanish | Érase una vez alguien que cazó la luna | Once upon a time, there was someone who hunted the moon |
| French | Il était une fois... celui qui chassait la lune | Once Upon a Time... The One Who Hunted the Moon |
| Russian | Однажды кто- Odnazhdy kto-to okhotilsya na Lunu | Once Upon a Time Someone Was Hunting the Moon |
| Thai | ครั้งหนึ่งเคยมีผู้ล่าจันทรา | |
| Vietnamese | Đã Từng Có Kẻ Săn Đuổi Mặt Trăng | |
| German | Es war einmal einer, der den Mond jagte | Once upon a time, there was someone who hunted the moon |
| Indonesian | Ia yang Dahulu Memburu Bulan | He who Once Hunted the Moon |
| Portuguese | Uma Vez, Alguém Caçou a Lua | Once upon a time, Someone Hunted the Moon |
| Turkish | Bir Zamanların Ay Avcısı | Moon Hunter of Once |
| Italian | C'era una volta colui che cacciò la luna | Once upon a time, there was someone who hunted the moon |
Change History
Released in Version "Luna I"
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