Is This the End or the Beginning?

Is This the End or the Beginning? is the first episode of Season 1 - Epilogue: Bury Your Tears With the Past (B) in Phaethon's Story.

Parts

You Fading into Dreams
Undercurrent Bonds
Mockingbird Has Not Yet Fallen
Suspicion and Cooperation

Steps

Talk to (‍BelleBelleText for Wise / WiseWiseText for Belle‍)
Rest on the sofa
Talk to Lycaon
Go to the Ballet Twins and talk to Lycaon
Go and look for the dormant Sacrifice

Dialogue

Talk to (‍BelleBelleText for Wise / WiseWiseText for Belle‍)

(‍Belle / Wise‍) seems to want to talk about something. Go ask what happened.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): Vivian sent a message. Seems they've made more progress on the Sacrifice issue.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): I wonder how Vivian's been doing.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): After Hugo passed she's been busy managing Mockingbird. We haven't talked to her in quite a while.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍Wise / Belle‍), do you want to arrange a time to see Vivian?

Let's go meet up with her.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): Alright then. I'll arrange a time with Vivian. (‍You just rest and await my news! / You just rest and I'll tell you when.‍)

Some other time.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): Alright then. (‍Once you're ready, I'll reply to Vivian~ / Once you're rested, I'll contact Vivian.‍)

Rest on the sofa

Rest on the sofa and wait for Vivian.

(Let's rest on the sofa...)

Rest now.

You originally planned to watch some videotapes and rest on the sofa, but you end up falling asleep instead...
Until, you hear something nearby...

You Fading into Dreams

The following is recorded in the Video Archive

"You Fading into Dreams"

Video Summary: "Good morning, Lord Phaethon."

Vivian: Lord Phaethon...

Vivian: This time, let me...

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Vivian? Vivian...

Vivian: I... I didn't disturb your sleep, did I...?

Undercurrent Bonds

The following is recorded in the Video Archive

"Undercurrent Bonds"

Video Summary: Hero of the Dark Night — Hugo Vlad.

Story Description: Hugo's death turns public opinion against Hartman. Vivian wishes to continue investigating the Sacrifice with us, just as Lycaon arrives for a visit...

Vivian: When I got here, the other Lord Phaethon said you were resting on the couch and just let me in...

Vivian: I meant to keep you company while you slept... but then I dozed off myself.

Vivian: Ugh... I was going to sit here, looking super cute, hands cupping my face... you know, like "the No. 1 sleepy face I want to wake up to" pose... I can't believe I ended up falling asleep myself!

The what pose...?

Number one... sleepy face?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍Um, Vivian, are you sure you're awake? That sounded like sleep-talk... I'm sure sleeping in that position couldn't have been comfortable, either. / What sleepy face? What pose? That was a lot of words in one breath... Are you sure you got enough sleep, Vivian?‍)

Vivian: Ahem, n—no, Lord Phaethon, I was just worried that I had disturbed your rest.

Vivian: Just being able to see you sleeping peacefully is already the highlight of my day, no, my entire month!

Vivian: Though it is a bit late, but...

Vivian: Good morning, Lord Phaethon.

Do you need anything from me today?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): You're here super early today, Vivian. Is there something urgent?

Why so formal...?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍G—Good morning? Why so formal all of a sudden? Sounds like you're about to make an announcement. / That was so formal! Feels like you're about to drop some big news after a greeting like that...‍)

Vivian: Mockingbird's death has stirred up quite the storm. I took some time to gather intel.

Vivian: It seems someone deliberately leaked the story that Hugo is an illegitimate child of the Ravenlock family. But I haven't found the source yet.

Could it be Hartman?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Could it be Hugo's uncle, Hartman? Maybe he's trying to turn people against Hugo and Mockingbird by playing the illegitimate child card?

Vivian: I suspected that too. He could be using Hugo's background to make people believe Mockingbird is just another TOPS pawn.

Vivian: To the upper class, Mockingbird may be insignificant, but it has a loyal following among regular folks.

Vivian: But after some digging, I was surprised to find that the public isn't turning on Hugo, they're actually starting to see him in a better light.

Vivian: Some people feel bad for him, some relate to his struggles. And Hartman's the one getting all the heat.

Vivian: Public outcry against Hartman is growing, with many believing he murdered Hugo for his own selfish gain.

Vivian: TOPS is hosting an industry summit this week, a responsibility usually handled by the Ravenlocks. But my sources tell me another family has taken over this year at the last minute.

Vivian: If I'm not mistaken, TOPS is intentionally keeping its distance from the Ravenlock family due to the current public sentiment.

Hartman won't just give up like that.

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍Based on our past experience with Hartman, he's not the type to sit back and let anyone mess with his power or interests. / Sounds like Hartman's in a pretty bad spot right now... but we know he's not the type to go down easily.‍)

Vivian: And that's what worries me. Hartman, in all likelihood, must have taken the Sacrifice Core, and now that he has this bargaining chip, who knows what kind of deal he'll strike with the Exaltists?

Could it be that someone's trying to get rid of Hartman?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Is someone trying to take advantage of this to get rid of both Hartman and the Ravenlocks?

Vivian: I think Hartman knows this too, which is why he's completely vanished. No matter how hard I search, I can't find a single trace of him.

Vivian: Hartman must have taken the Sacrifice Core. Now that he holds this bargaining chip, he is definitely going to negotiate his way out of this with the Exaltists.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍Um... sorry for interrupting... Can I borrow Wise for a minute? / Sorry for interrupting, Vivian, but I need a quick word with Belle.‍)

Vivian: Oh, no problem at all. I'm sure you have important Phaethon matters to discuss.

Vivian: Take your time! I'll just be waiting outside~

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍Ah... wait! Don't go outside. Uhhh... / Uh... we can't make our guest wait outside. Belle and I will step out instead.‍)

Vivian: Oh, don't mind me, Lord Phaethon. I wanted to browse the videotapes anyway.

Vivian: I'll be right here, just let me know when you're done.

(Black screen cut)

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍Phew! Thank goodness Vivian didn't walk out the main door... Lycaon's been pacing around outside for like half an hour and scared off at least five customers! / Belle, Lycaon's outside the video store. He knows Vivian is with us, so he's hesitant about coming in.‍)

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): He's stressing over what he did to Hugo in front of Vivian, but he really needs to talk to us. Maybe you should go speak with him first?

I'll go talk to him.

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍Sure, I'll go talk to him. At the end of the day, we're all after the same enemy. As Proxies, we should become the bridge between them. / I'll go talk to Lycaon. Honestly, neither he nor Vivian is at fault. As Proxies, it's our job to be the bridge between them!‍)

Talk to Lycaon

Lycaon is right outside the video store. Go talk to him.

(Talk to Young Man On the Streets): Young Man On the Streets: Mockingbird are the true heroes!; Rebellious Young Man: It's so messed up... They stood up to those so-called elites and still ended up getting silenced.; Graffiti Girl: This is definitely a conspiracy.; Young Man On the Streets: We gotta follow his example and stand up to these bastards!; Rebellious Young Man: But what can we do? We have no power...; Graffiti Girl: But Mockingbird's Hugo is just an ordinary person — if he can do it, so can we.; Young Man On the Streets: Right. He proved that even a single person, so long as you have resolve, can be the change you want to see!

(Idle): Passionately Debating Young Person: That Hartman is definitely the one who murdered Mockingbird!; Neutral Middle-Aged Person: The Ravenlocks are a big, prestigious family, aren't they? ...Why would they stoop so low?

(Talk to Passionately Debating Young Person): Passionately Debating Young Person: Hartman must've murdered him to protect his own position of power!; Neutral Middle-Aged Person: But Mockingbird isn't exactly a righteous, upstanding group either...; Passionately Debating Young Person: Mockingbird steals from the rich and gives to the poor! Hartman was just afraid Hugo would gain traction and he'd lose his power, that's why he did what he did.; Neutral Middle-Aged Person: I still think there's more to this...

(Idle): Lycaon: Hmph. He's got it easy now. Hopefully, no one else notices...

(Talk to Lycaon)

Mockingbird Has Not Yet Fallen

The following is recorded in the Video Archive

"Mockingbird Has Not Yet Fallen"

Video Summary: Am I the one being kept in the dark?

Story Description: Sent by the Mayor, Lycaon is here seeking cooperation. He apologizes to Vivian for what happened with Hugo and asks if we're willing to continue investigating the Sacrifice together...

Lycaon: Good morning, Master Proxy.

Good morning!

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍Good morning. Belle just let me know you wanted to talk to us and Vivian about something? / Good morning, Lycaon! Wise mentioned you wanted to talk to us and Vivian about something?‍)

Lycaon: Yes, it's an urgent request from the mayor, one that directly affects New Eridu's safety.

Lycaon: However, before we get into the details, as a former member of Mockingbird... I'm concerned about Miss Vivian.

Lycaon: Hugo made many mistakes and betrayed the principles of Mockingbird, but... I'm certain he didn't intend to put Miss Vivian or you in danger.

Lycaon: I don't know Miss Vivian very well, and I was the one who took her companion's life...

Lycaon: I might not be the right person to comfort her, but I hope she doesn't regret the choices she made or lose faith in the path she chose.

Vivian looks perfectly normal today.

Vivian isn't upset.

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍Vivian doesn't seem down at all. In fact, she's been actively gathering intel. I think she's handling this with even greater calm than I am. / Vivian's doing just fine. She's actually been gathering intel and has a clear understanding of where things are headed. She might be tougher than you think.‍)

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍If you're feeling bad about what happened with Hugo, it might be a good idea to talk to Vivian directly. From what I've seen, she's not as fragile as you might think. / If you're really concerned, why not just talk to her directly? If you'd like to apologize, it should be face to face, right?‍)

Lycaon: That's reassuring to hear.

Lycaon: I trust your judgment. You've always had a sharp eye for people.

Lycaon: Would you mind coming in with me? I'd like to apologize to Miss Vivian in person.

Okay!

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍Sure, but just to be clear: I'm staying neutral and not picking sides. / No problem, but I'll be staying neutral. Everyone has their own stance on this, and I get where both of you are coming from.‍)

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍You both have your own stance on this. As a Proxy, I'll do my best to help facilitate honest communication. / As a Proxy, I'm just here to make sure you have an open conversation. I'm not taking sides.‍)

Lycaon: I respect that. Thank you.

You return to the video store with Lycaon. Vivian doesn't seem to have much of a reaction to Lycaon's arrival...

Lycaon: Miss Vivian, I'm very sorry about Hugo, I...

Vivian: You don't have to explain anything. I'm also part of Mockingbird.

Vivian: Mockingbird stands on more than just gain, so it won't fall when fortunes shift.

Vivian: Hugo had his fixations and ambitions, I also have things I must see through.

Vivian: I'm determined to get to the bottom of the Exaltists and the Sacrifices.

Lycaon: Miss Vivian... as a former member of Mockingbird, you have my deepest respect.

Lycaon: You have my word, whatever comes next, I would never harm you or Master Proxy.

Lycaon: As for Hugo... please accept my condolences.

Vivian: Condolences? That's not necessary... Mockingbird has plenty of tricks up its sleeves. This isn't the kind of act that ends so easily, wouldn't you agree?

Lycaon: ...You're right.

Huh?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍Uh... I'm glad you guys are on the same page. But why do I feel like I'm being left in the dark... / Huh? That's it? You two just... figured it out? That was fast...‍)

Lycaon: Master Proxy, I believe we all share the same goal — uncover the truth of the Exaltists and the Sacrifices.

Lycaon: The mayor has tasked me with inviting you to take on this mission and hopes we can work together moving forward.

Vivian: If the mayor wants to work with us, I trust he will demonstrate his sincerity in kind.

Vivian: Mockingbird will not serve as a pawn for the powerful. That will never change.

Lycaon: Of course. While the mayor cannot handle this personally, he will make sure we have all the intel and support we need.

Lycaon: Miss Vivian, I know you have your own intelligence network, but for some high profile shady dealings, perhaps the mayor can provide you a different perspective.

Lycaon: Please, take your time to discuss. If you're open to collaborating, I'll set up a call with the mayor so he can speak with you both directly.

We'll think about it.

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍Belle, Vivian, and I need to think this through carefully with everything at stake. It's not a decision we can make lightly. / I need to discuss this with Wise and Vivian. With so many people involved in this, we need to be very careful.‍)

Lycaon: Of course, I completely understand. When you've made up your minds, you can find me at the Ballet Twins.

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍Wise, should we talk to the mayor? / Belle, what do you think about Lycaon's suggestion to work with the mayor?‍)

The Sacrifices are still a threat...

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): True... At the moment, our only intel on the Sacrifices is what Bringer left behind. We don't know much else...

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍Though we can get someone to help investigate, it'll take a significant amount of time. And time is something we can't afford to waste, so working with the mayor is a good option... / We can get someone to help investigate, but it'll take a significant amount of time. And time is something we can't afford to waste, so working with the mayor is a good option...‍)

Our teacher...

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍You mean, if we work with the mayor, we might be able to get more info on our teacher, Wise? / Belle... You mean to say... the mayor may not have told us everything he knows about our teacher? True... The only way to gain more information is to work with him...‍)

Yeah...

What do you think, Vivian?

(SiblingSiblingWise / Belle): (‍As a member of Mockingbird... would it be against your values to work with the mayor? / Mockingbird has always gone against authority... Would it be against your values to work with the mayor?‍)

Vivian: Mockingbird isn't just about going against authority.

Vivian: Mockingbird hopes that all people can be given equal opportunities and treatment.

Vivian: I don't exactly trust the mayor, but I believe he's someone we can work with... at the moment at least.

: Then let's go see Lycaon.

: Let's talk with the mayor first.

Go to the Ballet Twins and talk to Lycaon

Since we've decided to work with the mayor, let's head to Ballet Twins Road and tell Lycaon.

Lycaon: It seems you and Miss Vivian have made your decision.

Let's talk to the mayor.

Working together requires sincerity on both sides.

Lycaon: Of course. Please rest assured. When it comes to Sacrifices, the mayor's interests align with yours.

Lycaon: Or rather, we both want to protect the people of New Eridu.

Suspicion and Cooperation

The following is recorded in the Video Archive

"Suspicion and Cooperation"

Video Summary: It's just a deal.

Story Description: The mayor commissions you to clean up Sacrifice test subjects left by the Exaltist and expose Hartman's scheme to rally his remaining forces in an attempt to create panic and help TOPS seize power. A temporary three-way alliance has been formed.

Lycaon: I'll connect the call to the mayor now.

Mayor: My dear friends, I'm glad you're willing to keep working with me.

Mayor: I'm truly sorry about what happened to Mr. Hugo Vlad. I didn't anticipate things would turn out this way.

Mayor: As mayor, I can't fully condone Mockingbird's actions. But personally, I had a lot of respect for Mr. Hugo Vlad.

Vivian: Hmph...

Mayor: I looked further into Bringer's map.

Mayor: The Sacrifices were created by an Exaltist named Landon, who was active in Janus Quarter.

Mayor: Mr. Landon passed away in an accident a few years ago.

Mayor: Before he died, he was researching Sacrifices and was said to have created a batch of serum that could turn living people into Sacrifices.

Mayor: The problem was, the serum wasn't stable, and after his death, the recipe was lost.

Mayor: No one knows what happened to the Exaltists in Janus Quarter back then.

Mayor: But it's clear that after the leader died, there haven't been major Exaltist activities in the area.

Mayor: Bringer's map marks the locations where the Exaltists' most successful attempts at creating Sacrifices were.

Already passed away...

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍The leader of the Exaltists in Janus Quarter died a few years back, and they haven't been active since... / Since this person has already passed away, and the Exaltists haven't been active around here for a while...‍)

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍Could it be that Hartman was just acting on his own? / Then... could it be that this is just Hartman acting on his own?‍)

Mayor: Unfortunately, that's not the case.

Mayor: My sources confirmed that Hartman had been secretly in contact with someone, and they only meet inside the Hollow.

Someone from TOPS?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Is it possible it's someone from TOPS?

Mayor: TOPS is a huge alliance of corporations. They wouldn't bother getting their hands dirty. Instead, they'd just sit back and reap the rewards.

Mayor: Everything Hartman is doing is to secure his place in TOPS and strengthen his power within the Ravenlock family.

Mayor: If my guess is correct, Hartman has gotten in touch with the remaining members of the Exaltists that used to follow Landon, helping them create new Sacrifices.

But what's in it for TOPS?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): But what's in it for TOPS?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): There's no way the Exaltists would just hand over their secrets about Sacrifices to Hartman, right?

Vivian: A Sacrifice outbreak would throw the city into chaos, and that's when TOPS steps in, taking control of the situation on their terms.

Vivian: The public will see the mayor as incompetent, while TOPS comes off as the real protectors of the city.

Vivian: And when that happens, public trust will shift towards TOPS, and Mr. Mayor, you might find yourself in an unfavorable situation.

Mayor: Still sharp as ever, Miss Vivian.

Vivian: So, what exactly do we stand to gain from partnering with you?

Vivian: Please don't tell me you're doing this out of some noble concern for your citizens.

Vivian: I'm not some hero of justice, and I don't believe in lofty ideals or empty promises.

Mayor: We have a common enemy. While our ideologies may differ, we can work together on this.

Mayor: And as proof of good faith... I may not know exactly where Hartman is, but I can fan the flames over Mockingbird's death and escalate conflicts within the Ravenlock family.

Vivian: So it was you behind the rumors. No wonder I couldn't trace the source of the public outcry.

Mayor: I'm not the one who started the rumors, I just helped them spread faster after they leaked.

Mayor: And I pulled a few strings to make sure the story painted Mr. Hugo Vlad as a heroic figure who was unfairly persecuted.

Mayor: As I said before, I had a lot of respect for him.

Mayor: And I'd be happy to clear his name.

Vivian: ...

Mayor: Now, let me lay out my terms for collaboration.

Mayor: After looking into it, I found that the dormant Sacrifice you discovered wasn't the only one. There are more places where Sacrifices might be lying dormant.

Mayor: Too many eyes are on me right now, so I can't send my own men to deal with it.

Mayor: I'd like to ask you to retrieve the Sacrifices from those locations.

Mayor: I'll make sure to dispose of them once you do so no one will be able to use them again.

Mayor: On top of that, I've asked a friend to help monitor your physical condition... and maybe even uncover more of your potential. Her research overlaps with your teacher's work.

Mayor: You don't need to worry about her capabilities. She's a Void Hunter-rank special investigator.

Our teacher's research?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍Really? ...A Void Hunter-rank special investigator is assisting us? And she's involved in our teacher's research? / Really? ...A Void Hunter-rank special investigator is going to be assisting us? And she's involved in our teacher's research?‍)

Mayor: That's right. She's heading to Janus Quarter for some business. I wanted to set up a formal meeting, but she declined.

Mayor: She prefers to assess things on her own and will reach out when the time is right. She'll let you know the details then.

Mayor: So, it looks like you both are on board with this commission and ready to help recover the Sacrifices?

Vivian: ...Okay.

Mhm.

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍This affects a lot of ordinary people in New Eridu. We'll do our best. / We don't want New Eridu falling into chaos either. We'll do what we can.‍)

Mayor: I know you won't let me down.

Mayor: Given our positions, we might not be friends, but we're definitely not enemies.

Mayor: I'll leave the rest to you then. I've got to go. Goodbye.

Lycaon: I am glad the two of you have decided to continue working with us.

Lycaon: With your help, we are sure to successfully recover the Sacrifice.

Lycaon: I have other business to deal with, so please excuse me.

Lycaon: If you require anything, please feel free to contact me anytime.

Lycaon leaves thereafter...

Go and look for the dormant Sacrifice

Head to the location the mayor provided for the Sacrifice.

Vivian: Lord Phaethon, shall we head out now?

Let's head into the Hollow.

Vivian: Alright, let's go!

Just a second.

Vivian: I'll wait for you here.
(Repeats dialogue after interacting with Vivian again)

Other Languages

Language	Official Name
English	Is This the End or the Beginning?
Chinese (Simplified)	是落幕还是开场
Chinese (Traditional)	是落幕還是開場
Japanese	終幕か、それとも開演か
Korean	끝일까, 시작일까 Kkeuchilkka, Sijagilkka
Spanish	¿Es el final o solo el comienzo?
French	Est-ce la fin ou le commencement ?
Russian	Финальный занавес или начало представления? Final'nyy zanaves ili nachalo predstavleniya?
Thai	นี่คือจุดจบหรือจุดเริ่มต้น
Vietnamese	Là Hạ Màn Hay Mở Màn?
German	Anfang oder Ende?
Indonesian	Ini Penutupan atau Pembukaan?
Portuguese	Será o fim ou o começo?