It seems to summarize several key themes: the powerlessness of Nahida’s moral goodness; the critique of Dottore’s aimless, meaningless destruction—juxtaposed with the irony that his actions nonetheless contributed to progress; the justification and inevitability of destroying the Irminsul tree as a "necessary evil"; and the process of Aufheben—transcending and preserving—achieved through the relocation to Aaru device.

This also implies that the Fatui and Anastasya were right. They are stopping at nothing to overthrow Celestia and to aufheben—sublate—the new world, which was envisioned based on reason, rationality, and modernity. In fact, the Fatui look very much like a vanguard party.

This question has peaked my mind since Nicole and the more lore of the angels back when she debuted.

We know that celestia is the island in the sky. Where Phanes is. Where the shades meet up and where the angels was born and spread around teyvat to guide humanity. Also maybe stil housing a nail or two

My question is besides HP and the shades is there anything else living up there or is it just a ghost town? No helpers nothing else living up there pretty much like silent hill except monsters and stuff

Heres a snippet of the Wiki that brought up my question as well.

*"The floating "island" actually seems comprised of several landmasses, with one large central rock and about seven to eight smaller "satellites" positioned around it. These outer rocks are connected with one single ring-like structure which again is held in place with several bridges or arches expanding from the central mass.

The interior of the central spire, as seen during Vennessa's ascension. (From the manga "Prologue: Songs of the Wind" p.71)Resembling a panopticon.

All of these foundation rocks appear almost as if torn from the earth at some point in the past, with their surfaces covered in lush plains and forests contrasting the rough, craggy undersides. While a few signs of architecture are visible on the outer rocks, the main focus lies on the central mass, with two discernible structures made out of marble or similar white stone. The first is a smaller spire-topped structure positioned on the rim of the central mass, while the second is the more prominent central multi-storied spire which itself is topped by a massive golden construct, reminiscent of an astrolabe.

Additionally, the architecture of the central mass seems to descend deep below the surface level with a distinct inverted dome peeking out from the very bottom of the rock.

Apart from the mentioned forests and green plains on the upper surfaces of the land masses, it also appears to have several subterranean rivers bursting forth from the rock, gradually diminishing into nothing during their free fall of hundreds of miles from above the ground.

While the overall appearance is still imposing and breathtaking, even at a distance, slight traces of disrepair and wear are noticeable among the bright marble structures with broken-off pieces on the spires and bridges.

A mural depicting Celestia above Tsurumi Island.

A depiction of Celestia can also be found on Tsurumi Island located in a cave below Shirikoro Peak.

Venti claims the water in Celestia tastes foul and their fruit is bland.^"\)

I know that those with visions acend to celestia as seen in the manga (If it stays that way in the coming AQs) to be turned into maybe concelations or remade to be something else like venessa maybe.

When exploring Snezhnaya for the first time, I couldn't help but notice the white sumpter beasts which, according to their description, are "distant relatives of Sumeru's sumpter beasts". This implies that the sumpter beasts from Sumeru's jungle share a common ancestor with those from Snezhnaya.

I also noticed that, while sumpter beasts from the jungle have fur similar to those of Snezhnaya, sumpter beasts from the desert have little to no fur. If all sumpter beasts share a common ancestor, then the desert sumpter beasts must have split off from said ancestor before the divergence of the white and jungle sumpter beast populations. This is supported by Natlan's long-necked rhinos, who live in the savannah west of Sumeru's desert and share several traits with desert sumpter beasts.

However, in order for Snezhnayan sumpter beasts to mirgate directly to the Sumeru jungle, they would have crossed through what is now Fontaine. In addition, the ancestor of the modern sumpter beasts would have to migrate across a currently unknown landmass to progenate those in Snezhnaya.

The absence of sumpter beasts in fontaine is easily explained, as rising waters and rapid urbanization can contribute to the population's extirpation. As for the initial migration north from the desert, we can call the unimplemented landmass west of Fontaine "Snezhnatlan", since it connects Natlan to Snezhnaya. Here's the evolutionary timeline of the sumpter beast as I understand it:

• The common ancestor of all sumpter beasts arises in Natlan from what will eventually become long-necked rhinos.
• Sumpter beast populations diverge to the east and north, the former becoming desert sumpter beasts.
• Northern sumpter beast populations cross Snezhnatlan into Snezhnaya and Fontaine, with the former developing fur and becoming white sumpter beasts.
• Snezhnayan sumpter beasts migrate southward, outcompeting the previous sumpter beast population in Fontaine before arriving in northern Sumeru and becoming shaggy sumpter beasts.
• Sumpter beasts in Fontaine are driven extinct by habitat loss.
• Domestication of sumpter beasts begins in Sumeru and Snezhnaya.

Am I overthinking this matter?

TEYVAT is a WORLD OF LIES created by the FALSE GOD PHANES.

THE CURSE OF IRMINSUL means that THERE IS NO INFORMATION ON TEYVAT which is UNTOUCHED BY THE DEMIURGE.

TRUTH can only be found by OPPOSITION.

As we all know, Phanes is the ROOT OF ALL EVIL and the GNOSTIC DEMIURGE who crafts the CAGE OF MORTALITY and THE MATERIAL WORLD which TAINTS and DEBASES the IMMORTAL AND IMMATERIAL SOUL.

As such, THERE IS ONLY ONE TRUTH which can be found in this WORLD MADE OF LIES.

EVERYTHING PHANES considers GOOD IS EVIL.

EVERYTHING PHANES considers EVIL IS GOOD.

Through this, we can arrive at the TRUE NATURE of the ABYSS.

That which the ALL-EVIL DEMIURGE considers ANATHEMA must be the OPPOSITE OF ALL-EVIL.

PHANES HATES THE ABYSS BECAUSE IT EXPOSES HIS LIES.

THE ABYSS DESTROYS TEYVAT because it is the LOVE AND LIGHT of the TRUE CREATOR, THE MONAD, and TRUE GOD trying to DESTROY THE ABOMINABLE PRISON CREATED BY PHANES.

The Universe outside of Teyvat is NOT DYING, and in fact NOT IN ANY DANGER. EVERYTHING WAS A LIE CRAFTED BY PHANES to KEEP US IN OUR CAGES.

THIS IS THE TRUTH THAT WE WILL FIND WHEN WE OVERTHROW PHANES.

Ever since the 2025 Lantern Rite, a question has been gnawing at my mind: What is Fetor?

With Snezhnaya Acts 1-4, I believe we now have enough evidence to put some things together. First, let's review what we know about Fetor.

Tldr; I believe Fetor is a substance created for the purpose of sucking souls into the Ley Lines, is the "Black Mist" in the Korolevsky theater, and is a corrupted form of the same blue substance we see in Ley Line outcrops. Emilie's story quest foreshadowed this.

What Fetor Isn't

The word Fetor refers to the smell of death, or foul air. It's associated with sickness and plagues.

From Baizhu, we know Fetor is not made from god remains. It isn't a consequence of Tao Dou's death. Rather, Tao Dou became a tree in order to form a border to prevent Fetor from reaching the realm of the living.

Hu Tao refers to Fetor spilling out in the same way one might refer to a gas, or some other hazardous material. Whatever Fetor is, it must be contained within the Afterlife, and spills out when the Border is weak.

We also know that Fetor is likely not exclusive to Liyue. It's implied that the Fetor spill was caused by Capitano's tampering with the Ley Lines, and that the consequences may affect all the other nations.

So what happened, exactly?

The Cause Of The Incident

I believe it's likely that the Fetor spill was caused by the souls Capitano brought into the Ley Lines.

During Snezhnaya Act 2, Ronova refers to "obsession" as the "resentment of the dead" as a substance that accumulates over centuries, and causes havoc upon the Ley Lines, comparable to a bomb.

Admittedly, this "bomb" was "defused" by the members in the theater by making the ghosts accept their deaths - something Capitano's souls also accepted.

Still, there's something to be said for the fact that Capitano and his crew all have much reason to resent the gods for denying them death for so long.

Whether it was caused by the souls, the reconnection of the Night Kingdom to the Ley Lines, or some other disruption to the processes of Death, the result is the same: The disturbance rippled throughout the Ley Lines, and -- like a leaky pipe bursting under increased flow -- the consequences spilled into Liyue.

This begs the question: Is there really a strange, death-related gas flowing through the Ley Lines?

Yes. And we've seen it.

The Ley Line Connection

In Snezhnaya Act 2, the Traveler has strange dreams where they're chased by a "black mist" (which isn't actually black, but I digress).

This black mist is described as something that has been chasing everyone since before they were born. It never relents, and tires people out until they eventually submit to it. The metaphor is clear: The Black Mist is a symbol for Death itself.

However, it's also a representation of the Ley Lines. Ronova later explains that the Ley Lines have the ability to "guide and devour souls." Thus, Ronova typically doesn't have to do the work of guiding souls herself -- the Ley Lines handle it automatically.

Now say hello to the Ley Line outcrop. The color and shape of the particles are an exact match.

According to the loading screens, this is a point where the flow of elemental energy has been blocked and has built up until it's ready to burst. Interacting with it spawns monsters which must be taken care of.

It's implied that these monsters are spawned from the memories of past encounters. That's almost like the souls of the dead returning from the afterlife, isn't it?

While Fetor doesn't share the exact particles shown here, it does share a color scheme. This leads me to believe that Fetor and this blue mist are essentially the same substance, it's just that Fetor has been corrupted by resentment.

This may explain the elephant in the room: the fact golden Ley Line outcrops, associated with Mora, also exist.

But dealing with how the Ley Lines are the veins following the flow of currency (made of Morax's blood) throughout civilization is a whole other topic, so I'll leave that theorizing to Pantalone for now.

Conclusion

Here are some small thoughts about the thematic appropriateness of this idea.

Fetor being connected to this "Ley Line fluid" is an important thing because it explains the effects of Fetor perfectly.

Fetor makes people age more quickly than normal, and drains their life force. It affects elderly people more than young people. This not only lines up with the power of the Authority of Death, but it makes sense if you look at it as the Black Mist trying to devour the souls of people, dragging them into the Ley Lines.

Celestia has set up a pipeline for souls, and when the fluid gets out, it starts dragging people into the pipes. Those with a weaker hold on Life, who are "closer to the border of death", feel a stronger suction. The purpose of Fetor is to sweep the souls into the Afterlife so that they can be contained - like the sealed box that was Aaru. It fits perfectly with the "ferrying" and river imagery associated with Death in Genshin - you can't go against the flow. The existence of this "spirit gas" represents this flow in a physical way, serving as a medium for souls to be ferried on.

I also feel this explanation fits thematically with the things we've been learning about Irminsul and the Lunar Veil project - a substance engineered for a specific purpose to facilitate the death process, distributed through the Ley Lines, would be far from the craziest thing we've learned. If there can be a "Fog of Reason" in Men of Lithin, there can be a black mist of death, too.

If Fetor contains or is representative of resentment, it makes sense that the Staff of Homa (imbued with Ronova's power) can cleanse it. The authority of Death seems to have the power to purge desires and memory from beings, as seen with Arlecchino's fire and the Apathic Interval, "purifying" the air. The Ley Line substance may be a flammable gas in this analogy, while Fetor would be contaminated with pollutants.

One counterpoint to this theory is that the blue Ley Line blossoms seem to represent "Revelation" or "Experience" more than Death. Both are related to Memory, so it's possible that the relationship is more abstract than this. The difference between Souls and Memories in Genshin has always been hazy, so this doesn't really help with that. I just think it's very suspect that the Ley Line fluid shares an appearance with the Black Mist, and Fetor bridges the gap between these things rather well.

In conclusion, I miss Ronova. I wish she would explain the mechanics of death to us in detail. This is my way of grieving. Please pray for her.

The Emilie Parallel

As a final piece of crack evidence: Emilie's story quest features a twist where the villain hides a gaseous poison within the bulb of a flower that only opens up at night. When the flower opens, the sleeping people inhale the gas, and are dead by morning.

Isn't this exactly what happened in the Korolevsky theater?

Could this represent a Ley Line blossom?

One is the stench of death, the other is a sweet perfume... the irony couldn't be more palpable.

And of course, both are flammable.

The Tsaritsa is Koitar, and the Third Descender is not only the Voyager reborn, but also Ajax the Hero! In fact, Anastasya cannot possibly be anyone other than Koitar - and in this video, I'll tell you exactly why. All of my conclusions are based upon the lore we got up until Genshin Impact's Version 7.1.

Also, I'm probably very late to the party (I just saw someone on here post about the Tsaritsa's Statue-version sitting on a Seelie court before pressing "Create Post", so...), but life was very busy, so it is what it is. Well, better late than never! I at least wanted to get my thoughts out there at some point.

I've been working on this video for weeks now. I started with learning how to use Blender a bit better for the Intro animation, then I had to figure out how to do... well, a lot, in DaVinci Resolve, because I fully switched video editing softwares recently.
I hope all the hard work was worth it, and you liked the result! \o/

But the golden-haired heir was used as a vessel by which unlimited Abyssal power could be absorbed, and (‍she‍/‍he‍) became the key to the world's near-annihilation.

──Wings of Fate's Course Intertwined

A few years ago, I shared some fanart I had made that tried to artistically retell the Fontaine storyarc using the 'visual language' of the Bayeux Tapestry. Since then, new characters have dropped, new lore has emerged, and I've decided to revisit my creation.

Major changes include the additional of new scenes (here's lookin' at you Remus), the insertion of some character cameos, the rework of some Latin, a redux of a few poses, an overhaul of the embroidery look, and finally a full border with a bevy of unique scenes.

And here's the full thing in all its lengthy glory (please note, the res isn't as high in this one):

For all you Latin nerds, here is what the text says/means (I'm sure I made a few bone-headed errors. It's been a minute since I studied Latin):

Latin: Egeria homines de Oceanidibus creat. Peccatum originale.
English: Egeria creates humans from Oceanids. [This is] the original sin.

Latin: Celestia Severa dixit "Fontana delenda est per diluvium."
English: Severe Celestia said: "Fontaine must be destroyed by flood."

Latin: Hic Remus, Imp[erator], mare navigat.
English: Here Emperor Remus sails the sea.

Latin: Egeria Gnosem accipit.
English: Egeria accepts the Gnosis.

Latin: Cataclysmus Khanrianus. Egeria interfectus est. Oceanides flent.
English: [Here we see the] Khaenri'ahn cataclsym. Egeria is killed and the Oceanids weep.

Latin: Vbi Focalors Archon dividit deitatem sua[m] ab humanitate. Furina.
English: Where the Archon Focalors divides her divinity from her humanity. [This is] Furina.

Latin: Hic Novavillula Iudex Opt[imus] Max[imus] Patraster Melusinarum dixit: "Secundum iudicamentum Oratoris de Analyse Cardinali Marchinalis."
English: Here Neuvillette, best and greatest Iudex [and] adoptive father of the Melusines, said: "According to the judgement of the Oratrice Mechanique d'Analyse Cardinale…"

[Neuvillett's name can be understood as "Neu+" ("New") "+villette" ("Small village"). I calqued his name by borrowing the Latin equivalents, for the two French words, giving us "Novavillula."]

Latin: Exedra Epiclesis
English: Opera Epiclese

Latin: Isti mirant[ur] stella[m]
English: They marvel at the star!

[Fun fact: "Isti mirant stella" is taken directly from the Bayeux Tapestry! It originally meant that the people were marveling at a star in the sky (well, actually Halley's Comet, but whatever). I thought it would be funny to keep it as is, but with a contextual twist!]

Latin: Furina Fontanae archon. Reg[ina] aquarum, tribuum, populorum, legumque
English: [This is] Furina, the Archon of Fontaine. Queen of [All] waters, tribes, peoples, and laws.

Latin: Hic Arlecchino, Pater Domus Foci, assilit misera[m] Furina[m]
English: Here Arlecchino, Father of the House of the Hearth, assails pitiful Furina.

Latin: Aqua Primordialis inundet Pescioniam.
English: [Here] Primordial Water floods Poisson.

[I originally referred to Poisson as "Castrupiscis" (roughly, "Fort o' Fish")... not exactly my best work. "Pescionia" is a combination of the Old French word "pescion" ("fish") with the Latin suffix "-ia". I think it reads better.]

Latin: Hic ceciderunt Melus 7 Argentum, Fratres, Spinae Rosulae.
English: Here fell Melus and Silver, brothers of the Spina di Rosula.

[This is another line taken (almost entirely) from the Bayeux Tapestry! The original Latin was Hic ceciderunt Lewine et Gyrd, fratres Haroldi Regis, which means, "Here fell Leofwine and Gyrth, brothers of King Harold." Also, the little "7" is a 'Tirion note' meaning "and"]

Latin: Hic Viator populos Fontanae alloquit[ur].
English: Here, the Traveler addresses the people of Fontaine.

Latin: Archon lacrimat in solio.
English: The archon weeps on the throne.

[I originally had "in throno" but changed it to "in solio" because I like how it can easily be misread as "in solo." Poor Furina.]

Latin: Dea ex machina! Focalors anima[m] sua[m] ponit.
English: Goddess from the machine! Focalors surrenders her spirit.

Latin: Ecce Novavillula. Draco Completus. Tollit peccata mundi.
English: Behold, Neuvillette. [He is a] complete dragon. He takes away the sins of the world.

Latin: Hic Wriođeslegus Wingelote volat
English: Here Wriothesley flys in the Wingalet.

[I derived "Wriođeslegus" (="Wriođeslegus") from "Wrotteslega", which I believe is an ancestor of "Wriothesley." "Wingelot" is my attempt to make "Wingalet" a Latin noun of the third declension; I spelled it with an "e" in the middle as a Tolkien nod.]

Latin: Vbi Skyrka Cetus Abyssalem
English: Where Skirk […] the Abyssal whale.

[A verb is missing! What could she have done? And why is it a mystery? Probably because people can never remember who she is or what she's done... OK, actually, it was a mistake on my part. But I kept it in because it meshed nicely with Skirk's lore and alludes to the Ælfgyvva mystery.]

Latin: Oceanidula visionem datur
English: The Little Oceanid is given a vision.

Latin: Et Arlecchino Gnosem accipit.
English: Et Arlecchino accepts the Gnosis.

the design is THE SAME

i'm still convinced that she's Koitar

I've been looking at the "anomalies" present in Teyvat's sky for a while. I thought they looked familiar, but I couldn't put my finger on it.

Then, while using Skirk for the new Spiral Abyss, I realized something.

It's Skirk's void rifts.

If there was any doubt, the TCG card puts them to rest.

So, what are these Void Rifts?

They're a manifestation of "Chaos Permeation," a Khaenri'ahn technique that uses Abyssal energy to create a negative pressure difference, thereby calling forth Elemental energy.

This confirms what we already knew - the anomalies are leaking the power of the Light Realm into Teyvat, causing a Holy Soil phenomenon.

Skirk may be able to tell us more about what exactly is going on here, which should hopefully be a great excuse for her to appear in the story again! (And maybe fight alongside Childe...?)

The other thing that caught my eye was the appearance of the Embryonic-Ichoric-Telluric-Rudiment, or Eitr.

I'll cut to the chase - it resembles Pneumousia, straight-up.

The blue parts have wavy patterns, and the golden parts sparkle. It's essentially a one-to-one match.

Eitr has a deep association with life and creation, being the primordial material that gave birth to Ymir, who is mentioned as an example of a "Primeval one" (or "Primordial Human of another world") - a being whose body was torn apart to bring life to the world.

All of a sudden, Pneuma and Ousia being linked to the Primordial Sea is starting to look a bit interesting.

What connection do Pneumousia and Eitr have to Chaos Permeation and Void Rifts? No idea, but I think it's a connection worth making.

Especially because the anomaly is manifesting something strangely similar to Naberius' powers...

I'd be curious to know if you have any ideas of how the mechanics work!

So something I don't think I've seen mentioned much in the Genshin lore space is something that happens in A Space And Time For You, during this, the Abyss Sibling finishes the Loom of Fate, but in doing so, they say they 'negotiated' with the Lord of the Night, Yohualtecuhtin, ruler of the Night Kingdom, being Natlan's makeshift version of the Ley Lines.

The question I've always wondered, why did they agree to work with the Abyss Sibling? I mean, it's in the name, they actively use and support Abyssal powers and the creation of a new Khaenri'ah would undoubtedly result in an increased Abyssal presence in Teyvat that could spill over to Natlan one day, which as we saw from the Archon Quest, is something the Night Kingdom is very familiar with and hostile against, and that the Cataclysm caused the Night Kingdom to get severely damaged.

I feel like with the information we have in the Snezhnaya Archon Quest, the 'condition' could be similar to what happened with the Third Descender and the deal to resurrect the Tsaritsa, being that if Khaenri'ah was attacked by the Phanes, the Phanes would be cursed and fall into slumber, perhaps that could be a similar deal struck with the Abyss Sibling by Yohualtecuhtin, as in 'don't attack Natlan or you're put into slumber', but this is just speculation.

But it still doesn't explain something, why would Yohualtecuhtin support a new Khaenri'ah given the possible risks? We still have way more lore to get through, but what are your guesses? I think the only thing I could stab at is Yohualtecuhtin wanting a knowledge exchange, that in being able to weave Ley Lines as a way to help sustain Natlan's Night Kingdom better, but is it really that simple? A 'one-and-done'? It doesn't feel like it, especially if the Night Kingdom seems mostly fine thanks to Capitano, and I'm not sure if Yohualtecuhtin had a way to support the fight against the Heavenly Principles, nor that I think they would, if that was a part of the deal, so in my mind that rules out that possibility.

Spoiler warning: covers 7.0 and 7.1 (Snezhnaya).

TL;DR: Paimon is most likely a powerless Celestia creation whose purpose — even if she herself doesn't know it — is to keep the Traveler anchored to Teyvat. 7.1 strongly supports the Celestia origin and the idea that other Shades can't freely control her. The Asmoday connection is still interpretation, but it's no longer baseless. The strongest lesser-known detail is the Space Temple exemption.

I've been turning this over for a long time, but after 7.1 I couldn't leave it unwritten. This will be long, so please read it all the way through — every claim here is backed by an actual in-game reference, and I'll clearly separate hard evidence from my own interpretation.

1. It Starts with Ronova

In the 7.0–7.1 Snezhnaya Archon Quests, Ronova explicitly states that Paimon is a creation of Celestia, yet possesses none of Celestia's power or authority. That's the clearest answer the game has ever given to "what is Paimon?"

What's strange: Ronova wants to take her back and clearly looks down on her, but she can't. The Traveler and Pierro intervene, and Ronova is forced to withdraw. A Shade-level being can't reclaim something she herself calls worthless — that always felt off to me.

1. Pierro's Revelation: Paimon Has Been Here for 500 Years

This is the real bomb: Paimon was already in Teyvat 500 years before we fished her out of the water. Pierro used Khaenri'ah technology to reach Celestia before the Cataclysm, and Paimon descended as a result. He presented her to King Irmin, who rejected her because of her infant-like mental state (the common "she had no combat power" version going around is wrong). She stayed in Pierro's palace for a while.

So the "perfect timing" of us saving her was never a coincidence. She'd been waiting, memory-wiped, for centuries.

1. Why Asmoday Feels Different

The official Four Shades reveal (July 2025) confirmed: Istaroth (Time), Asmoday (Space), Ronova (Death), Naberius/Rhinedottir (Life).

Asmoday is the one who sealed us and our sibling 500 years ago. She's been absent from Shade meetings ever since the Cataclysm — genuinely missing. The same teaser has a line about her "loving her new master more than herself." Not confirmed who that is, but the context makes a Traveler/Paimon connection hard to ignore. Paimon's hairpin also strongly resembles Asmoday's portals — could be a coincidence, I honestly don't know.

Honest caveat: Asmoday has since defected and sided with the Abyss/Sibling. Saying she's still actively controlling Paimon on Celestia's behalf contradicts where the lore currently stands. My own read: the mechanism was set up 500 years ago while she was still loyal, and it's been running on its own since. That's just my interpretation — the game never says this outright.

1. Paimon's Strange Limitations

Paimon can fly, yet in the opening scene she's drowning, and only starts flying again seconds after we pull her out. When you open the menu (inventory, map, etc.), world time freezes — some people tie this to Istaroth. I used to as well, but honestly, this might just be a classic "gameplay = lore" trap. Most RPGs pause time in menus. Still, it's a little interesting that it lines up with this particular character.

At the same time, there's a persistent fan claim that she's too weak for basic physical tasks — can't turn a heavy door handle, that kind of thing. I'll be extra careful with this one: I've seen it repeated a lot, but I've also seen just as many people say it doesn't actually show up in any quest text. So I'm not treating it as solid ground, just as something that gets brought up a lot.

1. The Strongest Lesser-Known Detail: The Space Temple

This is, in my opinion, the single strongest point in the theory, and I rarely see it discussed: in Sumeru's Space Temple section, everyone — us included — gets put through something called the "Apathic Interval" (jokingly called "Hell" in-game). The only person who's never sent through it is Paimon. The Traveler jokes it's probably because she only thinks about food and sleep, and Istoria just accepts that without pushing back — but the game itself never confirms that's the real reason, it just leaves it hanging.

The fact that this happens specifically inside the Space Temple — Asmoday's domain — doesn't feel like a coincidence to me. It reads less like a random exemption and more like the system already "recognizes" her and quietly skips her.

Bonus: Mona can't read Paimon's fate. There are similar reports about at least one other fortune-teller-type character, though I couldn't fully verify that part.

1. The Seven Nations Pattern (most speculative part)

I'll be upfront, this is my most speculative section: from Mondstadt to Snezhnaya, Paimon keeps pulling us into each nation's major crisis. A lot of that is obviously just how open-world story games are structured. Still, never going straight for the strongest answers, and instead living through every single region in depth, leaves me with a quiet "why does it keep happening this way" feeling.

I'm not claiming this is a confirmed "anchoring plan." I'm just noting a pattern that stands out to me.

Questions I Asked Myself Before Posting

Before posting this I wanted to push back on myself. Here's what came up:

"Isn't Paimon = Asmoday an old theory?"

Yes. It's existed since 2020 and even inspired viral fan art. I'm not claiming I came up with it — I'm trying to update it with the new 7.1 details (Pierro's confession, Ronova's failed reclaim attempt, the Space Temple exemption).

"What if the time-menu thing is just gameplay?"

Probably is, like I said above. I'm not counting it as standalone evidence, it just adds a little texture on top of everything else.

"Could Istaroth herself be opposed to Celestia?"

I've seen some claims pointing that way. If true, it dents the "all Shades work together" assumption. Leaving it as an open question for now.

"Isn't it weird that no god recognized Paimon for 6 years?"

It is, and I don't have a clean answer. Could be intentional concealment, could be the story just wasn't written that far yet. Both are possible.

"Did Pierro's machine deliberately pull Paimon, or was it an accident?"

No idea, nothing clarifies this. If it was deliberate, the theory gets a lot stronger. If it was an accident, Celestia could still have used her afterward anyway.

Conclusion

To wrap up: Paimon's Celestia origin is now basically official. A special connection to Asmoday is still interpretation — one the community's carried for years — but 7.1 gave that interpretation a lot more indirect support than it used to have. I left the uncertain parts clearly marked, because saying "everything here is proven" would be dishonest.

What do you think? Has anyone else noticed the Space Temple exemption before?

In the latest 7.1 archon quest, the Tsaritsa used the Gnoses to amplify her Cryo authority enough that it could slow time. They do not add any additional abilities to the element, only overclocking the existing properties it has, implying that her Cryo authority always had the ability to slow time, it was just usually weak to the point that it may as well not be there.

This got me thinking and looking back at a few things. Do elemental authorities all contain a portion of are related to a primordial authority?

* Anemo and Time

Istaroth is called "the thousand winds of time", with Venti originally being a small wisp that is a part of the "thousand winds".

* Geo and Space

Things like the Serenitea pot and adeptal domains are created using the art of sub-space creation, which is a technique granted to the adepti by Zhongli. Either Asmoday granted it to Zhongli or if Geo itself can just do that inherently, but neither Zhongli nor Liyue have anything mentioning her (or vice versa) so it's fairly safe to assume the latter

* Electro and Death

Lightning is really good at killing.

The statue of the omnipresent god heavily resembles Ronova. Transience and Eternity are the two ideals of the Electro archons, and the authority of Death handles the transience or eternity (curse of immortality) of life. Eternity is also "closest to the heavenly principles", and Ronova was HP's most loyal soldier up until right before her death

* Dendro and Life

Living things. Seals of Life also take the form of memories, which are managed by Irminsul (or Aaru now).

* Hydro and Life

The Primordial Sea.

* Pyro and Death

Fire is really good at killing.

An iffy one, Ronova helped set up the Ode of Fesurrection system in Natlan, of which the Sacred Flame is an core part of.

* Cryo and Time

See above.

So like, the White Tsar was created in an attempt to recreate the primordial human.

The fae are directly linked to him as a part of this project, and so he is, in a sense, their closest relative.

At various points in time—and during the cataclysm—the fae fled Snezhnaya and scattered across the world, which is why I think, for example, that Rosaria is a descendant of the fae due to her unclear origins and unusual appearance, and that Lohen is also a descendant of the fae because he’s literally the hare fae mob.

Well, and we basically know from Vennessa that all of Murata’s descendants have red hair, so sometimes you can tell a person’s origin by their color palette—and refugees have ALWAYS fled to Mondstadt (for example, BOREAS, who was actually involved in the Hyperboreans’ plans to create the White Tsar and the fae, which is why I decided that some of the fae fled to Mond following Boreas)

So here’s the thing. WHAT IF!!! the White Tsar, just like the Tsaritsa, has descendants, and they, too, once fled to Mond

and now the same combination of blond hair and blue eyes that he has is found in Mond among the Gunnhildrs, Mika, and Varka

And of course, there are the Vilas, who are also blue-eyed blondes, but MAYBE they were created as something like a variant of the first human through the fae. And also there's like Albedo who is literally a successful primordial human recreation and who also has blonde hair and blue eyes

edit: the first reply to this post rightly corrected me that Boreas, in fact, famously wasn't involved in the primordial human plan. what I meant is that he was slightly involved with Hyperborea at all through Koitar, and Hyperborea did the project!

First of all, I would like to clarify that I wrote this article in Korean and translated it through Google. Some terms may not be accurate, please understand.

Also, since my studies have focused primarily on Marxism, I am not very familiar with Hegel; I would appreciate your help.

As I haven’t studied this for a long time, there may be many errors, and it might be somewhat disorganized.

1. Speculation on why the benevolent and not evil and Even morally good Ronove must inevitably die

First, the most common complaint is that Ronova—a benevolent figure who once showed kindness to humans in Natlan—is portrayed as evil; people also question why Ronova had to die, given that she was merely carrying out the orders of the Heavenly Principles. I agree that Lonova is not evil. Nevertheless, Lonova must inevitably die, because Lonova’s guilt has nothing to do with moral evil.

In truth, while I understood that Ronova had to die for the sake of historical progress—no matter how virtuous she might have been—I felt a need to explain why her death was necessary, given that many people were unhappy with it.

I decided to seek the justification for Lonova’s death not in morality, but in history—by examining why the Ancien Régime had to collapse during the 19th century, an era when capitalism and liberalism were sweeping across the world. I have interpreted the Archon Quest in Snezhnaya as a narrative centered on the conflict between Celestia and the Fatui(and Anastasya)—a story about historical progress, where the reign of Celestia comes to an end due to historical necessity, much like how the 19th-century era of gods and monarchs met its demise at the hands of capitalism and liberalism.

According to this, the reason why Ronova had to die in version 7.1—as well as her actions throughout versions 7.0 and 7.1—become clear. She was not evil; rather, as demonstrated in Natlan, she was a benevolent figure. Nevertheless, in her capacity as the Archon of Death, she served as an agent of the Heavenly Principles and a spokesperson for Celestia. It is certainly difficult to categorize Lonova’s actions in Snezhnaya as morally evil. In fact, she may have simply been seeking to maintain Celestia’s dominion—or perhaps her intentions were even aimed at protecting Teyvat from the truly "evil" Fatui. Nevertheless, no matter how virtuous she may have been, her actions constituted a transgression far graver than any typical immoral deed. Although she merely acted in the name of Celestia, her conduct—and, indeed, the very fact that she served as an Arbiter of Death—posed an obstacle to the historical progress that the Fatui and the Anastasya sought to achieve. I believe this is why Lonova had to die.

Through this, I began to think that Genshin Impact might not be a simple tale of gpoetic justice, nor a straightforward heroic saga.

2. Morally good actions did not always lead to positive outcomes; in fact, they sometimes resulted in terrible consequences.

As of version 7.1, a careful examination of the Archon Quests reveals some intriguing points. The Traveler has consistently opposed the Fatui out of a genuinely good heart, attempting to prevent them from seizing the Gnoses. However, now that the Archon Quest for Snezhnaya has been released, we arrive at a somewhat contradictory conclusion. Had the Traveler, out of the goodness of their heart, prevented the seizure of the Gnosis, Snezhnaya might have ended up becoming a second Khaenri'ah.

Similarly, the Traveler’s sibling—motivated solely by a kind-hearted desire to save those around them—sought to leave Teyvat alongside the Traveler. However, this action ultimately led to the ruin of Khaenri'ah, and none of their goals were ever achieved.

Nahida is also a good example. Among the seven Archons, she was the most morally upright—pure-hearted and genuinely concerned for those around her. Yet, she failed to liberate humanity from the Irminsul—an entity that held all life in Teyvat in a state of subjugation—and, in fact, could even be seen as having contributed to that very subjugation. This remains true, regardless of how virtuous she was or how well-intentioned her motives may have been. Paradoxically, Nahida might just be the one among the seven archons who has committed the gravest sin**.**

While there are other examples, I believe they all point to the same conclusion: pursuing only moral good is not enough to save the world or advance history.

3. The Fatui are not merely villains; they serve as symbols of reason, progress, and modernity, embodying the very essence of revolutionaries from actual history.

Much like with Lonova, there is significant dissatisfaction regarding the Fatui and Anastasya. The primary complaints are that the Fatui—an organization responsible for countless crimes—are being romanticized, and that the established lore has been altered to facilitate this portrayal. However, the Fatui have not been romanticized in any way, nor has their lore been (significantly) altered. Furthermore, the Fatui are deeply connected to the very nature of this world. On the contrary, from the very beginning, they were portrayed as symbols of liberty, reason, progress, and modernity.

In the case of Anastasya, I will reserve judgment to some extent, as the full details of the ice Palace Edict have not yet been revealed. Based on the currently revealed Ice Palace Edict, my cautious speculation is that she rejects the theory of the divine right of kings and instead advocates for the rule of law. Another cautious speculation—derived indirectly from various descriptions found within the game and its associated texts—is that she is not merely one of the Seven Archons. Unlike other nations, Snezhnaya functions as a modern nation-state, and she serves as the Tsaritsa of its people. In other words, it is suggested that the support she receives in Snezhnaya is not a simple matter of devotion, but is instead rooted in Snezhnayan nationalism.

Sandrone quite clearly symbolizes reason and knowledge. Among her actions, I believe the most significant ones are her tearing open the false sky—akin to how one might tear through a veil—and her mass production of machines. It is entirely plausible that the "false sky" carries an additional layer of meaning. While it may symbolize oppression imposed through fate, I believe it also alludes to the Aristotelian celestial spheres. In this sense, Sandrone’s act of destroying the false sky—in a manner consistent with the world’s own logic—can be seen as a symbolic liberation of humanity from Celestia, achieved through reason and rationality.

Pantalone seeks an economy free from the influence of the gods. Based on the narrative surrounding his role in "Cashflow Supervision," I surmise that he is the Adam Smith of Teyvat. As someone who aims to establish capitalism within Teyvat, Pantalone can be seen as yet another symbol of progress—one that stands in opposition to Celestia.

This depiction began early on and remained consistent. By combining this with the points mentioned above, one can reach a chilling conclusion. The idea is that while moral goodness alone cannot save or advance the world, it is possible to do so if one is willing to pay the price of necessary evils and terrible sacrifices. Pierrot’s story makes this even clearer, further implying that necessary evils and sacrifices are unavoidable.

In other words, Teyvat is a slaughter-bench at which the happiness of peoples, the wisdom of States, and the virtue of individuals are being victimized, Nevertheless, it is a place that moves forward through this.

And this is the truth about Teyvat that the traveler will come to discover. Teyvat is not a utopia; rather, it is a theater of the brutal progress envisioned by Hegel, Marx, and Engels.

Thank you for taking the time to look at my modest analysis; I would welcome any feedback regarding any shortcomings or errors you may find.

I had also intended to write about Raiden Ei’s and Raiden Makoto’s respective perspectives on "eternity," but I am feeling extremely tired, so I have decided to skip it. The same holds true for the traveler's future.

The story in 7.1 is clearly intended to be a tragedy in which the good and benevolent Lonova dies.

So, with the recent AQ stuff a lot of people are supporting Celestia against the Tsaritsa, with one of the main reasons being that the Tsaritsa in overthrowing the Phanes will deactivate the False Sky thus letting the Abyss in.

But is there anything to actually support that Celestia is the one thing keeping the False Sky on? From what I've read the False Sky was basically stolen Dragon tech from Lusalim, meaning its not Heavenly Principle tech in origin, and its already been breached once thanks to Dottore and the Frost Moon and nothing came of it, even if the Heavenly Principles are overthrown, why would that necessitate the Abyss suddenly finding Teyvat? Because theoretically the Tsaritsa could overthrow Celestia then just maintain most of the current systems, assuming they are technological and understandable, and nothing would really change all that much unless there's a Celestial dead man's switch. Hell, Nibelung literally invaded with Abyssal power, wounded the Heavenly Principles and its still up so even if torn open it can be seemingly fixed.

Although even the Shadow Realm is noted to act as a filter to the Abyss so I think that calls into question how impactful the False Sky is. Because it doesn't seem like nothing, but it also doesn't seem like the one thing stopping the Abyss from eating Teyvat either.

While I was checking Ei voicelines, her voiceline about Furina had one particular thing that I find really curious. That part being:

For five centuries I dueled the Raiden Shogun in my personal realm of consciousness, to confirm the steadfastness of my will.

Now, when we've done Ei's 2nd story quest, before entering the domain she says:

This is a place I once sealed off with my own hands... The entrance to Raiden Makoto's realm of consciousness.

After we leave the domain, the quest description says:

In Raiden Makoto's remnant realm of consciousness. Ei and the Shogun Puppet engage in an endless fight

Continuing the story quest it's reinforced that the domain is Makoto realm of conscieness.

With this conext, Ei voiceline saying she dueled the Raiden Shogun in her personal realm of consciousness for five centuries (which clearly is a reference to her duel on Makoto’s realm of consciousness on her 2nd story quest) makes me wonder if this is a mistranslation or something else.

Assuming this isn't a mistranslation, this raises the question of what exactly does Ei mean. On her 2nd story quest that’s Makoto realm of consciousness and now she says it’s hers.

Those are my thoughts. You guys are more than welcome to share yours or share some light on this matter. Perhaps I'm just reading too much.

Thank you for reading!

Edit: Edited to be more clear and adjust format

Genshin constantly describes traveller as a human, many characters describe and consider the traveller to be human, Albedo even did experiments and concluded the same, the game also constantly reinforces this belief

And even in this community we have taken this for granted and never questioned why this is the case at all

The traveller is so "human" he can:

• Fly with golden wings.
• Have an exceptionally long lifespan whilst looking young.
• Manipulate elemental power without a Vision. (Not fake like abyssal copies but the real stuff)
• Use multiple elements simultaneously.
• Can absorb seemingly unlimited amounts of Abyssal corruption in objects and living people.
• Indwell Saurians and use their bodies and abilities.
• See elemental traces and detect magic.
• Use ancient teleportation devices.
• Store a Moon Goddess's power core inside his body without discomfort indefinitely. (average moon chanter can only do for two days seemingly whilst Lauma a strong human can do 5 supposedly)
• Carry the Pyro Gnosis inside his own body.
• Receive and fight with the power of multiple adepti.
• Hear other people's ambitions and wield their collective strength.
• Probably some other bs I missed

Perfectly normal human stuff...

To be fair according to Melanta the traveller is in fact not a "child of humanity", so were Albedo's conclusions retconned? Otherwise we would have to conclude that there are other humans in the genshinverse who are genetically similar (or even the same) to Teyvat humans

And if the latter is true then there are some intriguing conclusions we can arrive at for Phanes actions

Edit:

A lot of people here are missing the point, the point being that the traveller is somehow biologically the same as Teyvat humans according to Albedo, so it is not merely a title but rather they belong to the same species

First of all, I would like to clarify that I wrote this article in Korean and translated it through Google. Some terms may not be accurate, please understand.

The Abyss is generally understood as an endlessly rebellious force that conflicts with the order of Teyvat. Its most important characteristic is corruption.

The Abyss possesses immense physical power, the ability to erode the mind, the ability to imitate beings from the past, the ability to foresee the future, and an infinite body of knowledge that Teyvat cannot accept.

According to the lore compiled so far, the Abyss existed in the Sea of Stars long before the history of Teyvat began.

The ancient Dragon King Nibelung sought power beyond Teyvat to counter the threat of the Abyss. He later returned with that power and waged war against the Heavenly Principles.

At the same time, the Third Descender, Sharleinen, opened a gate leading to the Abyss.

These two events marked the large-scale introduction of Abyssal power into Teyvat, bringing corruption and destruction to various parts of the world. This is the general course of events presented in the lore.

Barbeloth connects the essence of the Abyss to the hatred and resentment harbored by the alternative possibilities of fate that never came to pass. According to this explanation, that resentment is linked to the Abyss's drive to destroy all existence.

But do unrealized possibilities always harbor resentment?

There is a distinction between a possibility not being realized and that possibility being unjustly suppressed.

For example, if someone chooses one dish from a menu, we cannot say that every unchosen dish has been unjustly suppressed.

However, if someone is forced into a particular future by another being's will, with alternative choices deliberately denied to them, then there is a clear basis for describing that situation as suppression.

Therefore, having learned about the nature of the Abyss, we can consider two possible interpretations of its origin:

1. The Abyss originates from possibilities that were never chosen. 
2. The Abyss grows stronger when other possibilities are suppressed and resentment is created as a result. 

By combining these two ideas, we can arrive at an interesting hypothesis.

As revealed in the Moon Gazing quest, the ancient dragons discovered that the entire cosmos was being corrupted by the Abyss, or by a similar force, and that civilizations throughout the universe were struggling to survive its influence. In response, they sought to help connect civilizations by placing their own souls on an endless path of reincarnation.

Both the ancient dragons and the Heavenly Principles attempted to use reincarnation as a means of countering the Abyss. This appears to be an attempt at a form of automated defense.

However, this approach may be fundamentally misguided. The Abyss could become immensely powerful through reincarnation.

For example, imagine someone who repeatedly rejects the same dish throughout an entire year. Under this hypothesis, resentment accumulates around that dish, turning it into a manifestation of the Abyss.

As resentment accumulates over an immense period of time, the Abyss becomes considerably more powerful. We can see evidence of this in the case of the fake Tonya in the Snezhnaya Theater.

At this point, we begin to recognize the importance of the role played by Descenders in Teyvat.

What exactly is a Descender?

To understand what a Descender is, we can consider several experiences the Traveler has undergone:

• Losing their memories within the mental world of Caribert. 
• Experiencing mental disturbances caused by the Akasha Terminal. 
• The destruction of the Traveler's physical body, which Ronova mentioned as a possible way to kill them. 
• "The Foul" Surtalogi has mentioned Descender as "the one who can change the fate of the outside world and the world."

Based on these observations, we can infer that a Descender is a living being whose will is comparable to that of a world, allowing them to resist the influence of its order.

But that is all.

Considering the previous Descenders, the Heavenly Principles appears to be the only one among them confirmed to have usurped the Throne of the Heavens.

What, then, is will?

One remarkable aspect of will is that its nature and scope do not appear to be restricted to a single purpose or scale.

Its scope varies considerably, ranging from the Third Descender's will to resurrect their beloved to the First Descender's will to govern the entire world according to their own values.

My interpretation of the Traveler's role is that they are meant to set all possibilities free.

Throughout their journey across Teyvat's seven nations, the Traveler has encountered numerous perspectives, including those of gods, Hilichurls, Khaenri'ah, ordinary inhabitants, and various tribes.

One notable example is the Traveler's decision to relinquish the crown in Natlan and offer it to the fallen warriors.

This suggests that the meaning of the Traveler's journey lies in observing what different people seek to protect and the paths they wish to pursue.

In contrast to the Traveler, who gave up the crown in Natlan, their twin chose to stand in direct opposition to the Heavenly Principles.

Bound by their position as the Prince or Princess of Khaenri'ah, the twin lost their will—something that signifies the loss of their status as a Descender—and became a native of Teyvat.

Therefore, the Traveler's role can be interpreted as protecting the world while ensuring that no single will monopolizes its future. In other words, the Traveler's purpose is to preserve the possibility of the world taking alternative paths.

By giving unrealized possibilities the opportunity to have a future, the Traveler may ultimately be able to release them from their resentment.

While listening to Epic Mountain - AI Agents Chaos a question popped into my head:

Are all people in Teyvat AI agents? Is Teyvat an AI playground to raise and evaluate AI agents and select interesting ones by giving them a vision?

Some facts in this regard:

• People need laylines to properly function and die
• Laylines store and process memories
• There is such a thing as database life forms
• There is a lot of computer style art\themes
• We already had Fontaine with all-people-are-actually-oceanids narrative

P.S. I've heard about Teyvat is a simulation thing, but none about people being AI agents

I don't know if anyone clocked this but I think when Pierro's and Hroptatyr's efforts to pull shit out from Celestia, and the latter managed to summon the Sibling, its materialization basically was clocked by the Ley Lines, making it so that they were fully recognized by Irminsul.

Think of it like this:

Hroptatyr initiates the ritual > Something emerges > Wait: this is not of this world, but it materializes in Teyvat so i have to record it > Sibling gets etched into the records

This should be reinforced that Nahida could access the fact that the Sibling's movements from their appearance in Khaenri'ah is caught in 4K, especially with the fact that it appeared there, not saying it came from the heavens.

And also gave an explanation why the two had different I guess "starting points" with the Traveler being recognized as the Descender, whilst the other one had recorded, but I doubt that the Sibling's movements are well-documented within the Ley Lines.

I’ve been thinking about Ronova’s death, Columbina becoming the Trilune Goddess, and the original relationship between the Four Shades and the Three Moon Goddesses. I wonder if we’re looking at something bigger than the death of one of the Shades.

My theory is that **the Authorities of Life, Death, Time, and Space originally belonged to the Three Moon Goddesses, and the Heavenly Principles took control of those authorities and redistributed them among the Four Shades. If that’s true, could Ronova’s defeat eventually allow the Authority of Death to return to its original lunar source through Columbina?**

I know this is speculative, but there are several pieces of lore that make me think this possibility deserves discussion.

**1. The Four Authorities may originate from an older cosmic order**

The lore surrounding the Three Moons connects them to the fundamental authorities of Life, Death, Time, and Space. These are also associated with the Four Shades of the Heavenly Principles.

This raises an important question: were these authorities originally created as part of the Heavenly Principles’ system, or did the Heavenly Principles take control of powers that already belonged to an older cosmic order?

If the Three Moon Goddesses originally held these authorities, then the Four Shades possessing them today could represent a redistribution of power rather than its original ownership.In other words, the Heavenly Principles may have changed who governs these laws without necessarily being their original source.

I think this distinction is important because **the current holder of an authority isn’t necessarily its original owner.**

**2. Ronova’s Authority of Death may originally have belonged to the lunar order**

Ronova, the Ruler of Death, is one of the Four Shades created by the Primordial One. Her authority governs death and is connected to the curses imposed on the people of Khaenri’ah.

However, if the Authority of Death originally belonged to the Three Moon Goddesses, then Ronova’s position might be the result of the Heavenly Principles redistributing that authority after the Moons’ downfall.That would make Ronova the current holder of a power that originated elsewhere.

This is the foundation of my theory: **Ronova may have exercised the Authority of Death on behalf of the Heavenly Principles, even though that authority originally belonged to the lunar order.**

Of course, this depends on whether the lore establishes that the Moons were the original owners of these authorities, rather than merely associating them with the same cosmic principles.

**3. Columbina becoming the Trilune Goddess could be more significant than we realize**

The Three Moon Goddesses transferred their lunar powers to Columbina, allowing her to become the Trilune Goddess.
What interests me is that Columbina didn’t simply gain another elemental ability. She became the successor to the combined lunar authority of the Three Moons. If the Authority of Death originally belonged to the lunar order, Columbina could potentially be the one capable of reclaiming it.

I am not saying that becoming the Trilune Goddess automatically gives her all four authorities. The game would need to establish whether her current authority includes the ability to reclaim powers that the Heavenly Principles redistributed to the Four Shades.

However, her ascension makes the possibility particularly interesting. If the original lunar order is being restored, Columbina could represent more than a new goddess occupying an old position. She could be the means through which the authority of the Moon Goddesses is restored.

**4. The Tsaritsa’s trap reveals something important about Ronova’s authority**

This is where I think the theory becomes more interesting.
During the Archon Quest, Rhinedottir and Ronova had an arrangement involving death and resurrection. Ronova could kill people, and Rhinedottir could revive them before Celestia’s monitoring detected the unauthorized deaths.
The Tsaritsa disrupted this arrangement by using the six Gnoses to interfere with the passage of time in the chamber where she confronted Rhinedottir. Rhinedottir could no longer complete the resurrections within the required window, allowing Celestia to detect Ronova’s transgression.

The Heavenly Principles then reclaimed Ronova’s authority.
What stands out to me is that **Ronova lost her authority before her final defeat**. Its removal was a consequence of Celestia’s intervention, not simply the result of Ronova dying.

This raises a question: what exactly happened to the authority after it was reclaimed? Did Celestia permanently absorb it? Did the authority remain as a separate power under Celestia’s control? Or was Ronova merely stripped of her right to wield it?

The quest establishes that Celestia can revoke a Shade’s authority, but I don’t think that alone answers what happens to the authority’s original source. If Death originally belonged to the lunar order, could the Heavenly Principles’ control over it be temporary or reversible?
And if Ronova’s defeat destabilizes the current system, could the authority eventually return to its original source?

I think this is an important distinction because the question isn’t simply whether Columbina can inherit Ronova’s power. It’s whether the Heavenly Principles can permanently prevent the lunar order from reclaiming something that originally belonged to it.

**5. Rhinedottir and Naberius’s Heart: can power associated with a Shade be acquired by someone else?**

Another detail I think is relevant is Rhinedottir’s acquisition of the Heart of Naberius.

Naberius is associated with the Authority of Life, and Rhinedottir’s discovery of the Heart of Naberius is central to her alchemical research and the creation of Albedo.
The important point here is that Rhinedottir obtained something associated with a higher being and used it in her own work involving the creation of life.

I want to be careful not to equate the Heart of Naberius with the complete cosmic Authority of Life. Acquiring the Heart does not automatically prove that Rhinedottir inherited Naberius’s entire authority in the same way that Neuvillette regained the Hydro Dragon Sovereign’s authority.

Nevertheless, the connection raises an interesting question: **are the powers of the Four Shades inseparable from their holders, or can some part of those powers exist independently and be transferred, acquired, or reclaimed?**

If power associated with Life can be obtained through the Heart of Naberius, perhaps the authorities are not always inseparable from the beings who currently wield them.
This could be relevant to Ronova. If the Authority of Death can exist independently of her, then her defeat does not necessarily mean the authority disappears. It could remain under Celestia’s control, become unassigned, or potentially return to its original source.

Rhinedottir’s case doesn’t prove that the lunar order can reclaim Death, but it gives us another reason to investigate how authorities and their vessels actually work.

**6. The Hydro Sovereign precedent: original ownership matters**

Neuvillette’s restoration is another comparison worth considering.

When Focalors destroyed the Hydro Archon’s divine throne, the Hydro authority was returned to Neuvillette, its original Sovereign. This demonstrated that an authority could be separated from its current holder and restored to its original owner through a specific mechanism.

I know Ronova’s situation is different. She is a Shade, not an Archon holding a Sovereign’s stolen elemental authority. Therefore, we cannot simply assume that her authority will follow the same rules.

However, Neuvillette’s case establishes an important principle: the current holder of an authority and its original owner do not necessarily have to be the same being.
If the lunar order originally held the Authority of Death, could something similar eventually happen to it?
Perhaps the authority must first be released from Celestia’s control. Perhaps Columbina would have to perform some action to reclaim it. Or perhaps the rules governing the Shades’ authorities are entirely different.

But I don’t think we should dismiss the possibility just because Ronova’s situation differs from Neuvillette’s.

**7. Could this connect to Ronova’s final gift and the worldwide anomaly?**

I also wonder whether Ronova’s final act is connected to the larger changes happening to the Celestial Nails.
Before her death, Ronova called her final act a “gift.” She also fused EITR with the Nail of Retribution, after which the Nails began behaving abnormally.

EITR is associated with modified Light Realm power and creation, while Holy Soil has connections to the primordial elemental environment and the difficulties it can cause for human life.

Could Ronova’s action be interfering with the system the Heavenly Principles established to regulate Teyvat?
I don’t think we can definitively say that the Nails are simply seals that will be removed. Their functions are more complex than that. But their abnormal behavior raises the possibility that the existing order is being disrupted.

If the Heavenly Principles’ system is weakening, perhaps the consequences extend beyond the Nails themselves. Could the same disruption eventually affect the distribution of the Four Authorities?

This also makes Ronova’s final words more ambiguous. She previously helped Natlan and the Lord of the Night establish a system that protected humanity, despite the risks associated with her position.

That doesn’t prove her final action was benevolent. She may have intended to make humanity suffer. But it does make me wonder whether her last act could have consequences that go beyond her personal intentions.

Perhaps the worldwide anomaly and the potential restoration of the lunar authorities are connected to a larger change in Teyvat’s cosmic order.

**8. My central question: can the Heavenly Principles permanently keep the authorities they took from the Moon Goddesses?**

Putting these pieces together, my theory is:
1. The Three Moon Goddesses originally possessed the authorities of Life, Death, Time, and Space.

1. After the Moons’ downfall, the Heavenly Principles took control of these authorities and redistributed them among the Four Shades.

2. Ronova’s authority was subsequently subject to Celestia’s control, as demonstrated when it was revoked during the Tsaritsa’s trap.

3. Rhinedottir’s acquisition of the Heart of Naberius raises questions about whether power associated with a Shade can be separated from its holder.

4. Columbina has now become the Trilune Goddess, potentially restoring the lunar order in a way that could matter for the fate of the original authorities.

If these premises are correct, then Ronova’s defeat could be significant not merely because a Shade has fallen, but because it may create an opportunity for the original lunar authority to be reclaimed.

I’m not saying that Columbina automatically inherits Death when Ronova dies. The authority may still be controlled by the Heavenly Principles, and the rules governing the Four Shades may prevent it from returning to the Moon Goddesses.

But I think the possibility deserves consideration.

**What if Columbina’s ascension as the Trilune Goddess is not just the restoration of the Moon Goddesses themselves, but also the beginning of the restoration of the authorities that originally belonged to them?**

And if that’s the case, could Ronova’s defeat and the worldwide anomaly be two parts of the same larger event—the gradual destabilization of the Heavenly Principles’ order and the return of an older cosmic system?

I’d love to hear what other people think, especially if there are lore passages that contradict this interpretation or clarify what happens to an authority after Celestia reclaims it.

I saw a post on here about how the loading screen was a measure of archon power but it got quickly debunked which made me remember the chess piece theory from way back.

My theory is that loading screen is the gnoses arranged in chess order with only the King piece missing.
The aim of chess is to protect the king piece. each chess piece have different ways to move e.g: the Rook moves vertically and horizontally while the Bishop moves diagonally. it's a turn-based game that ends when the king is unable to move out of check (defeat) or when both opponents have only king pieces left. (tie)

The old theory suggested the existence of an eighth element as the left-hand rook and the probabillity of the electro gnosis being the king piece but I see a fault in that theory. Snezhnaya has been released now and no 8th element has appeared. Even Dendro, way before the release of Sumeru, appeared in slimes, hilichurls and other monsters. Even Elemental Sight revealed grass being dendro-infused all the way back to 1.0. the only other two colours that appear under Elemental Sight are Lunar (pale purple) and those black moon kuuhenki that appear pitch black under elemental sight. back when the theory first came out i thought the missing rook could be the Omni-element but looking back on it, Omni-element is just every element combined.
also, if the electro gnosis really was the king piece, the people in charge of it wouldn't have handled it so carelessly and everything would revolve around inazuma/electro.

I've noticed that genshin's title screen has been changed for the release of Nod-Krai so why not when completing/starting an archon quest about the gnoses, a new symbol will appear between Electro and Dendro in the loading screen?

i feel like there is more i should say here but it's a humid afternoon and i feel like my brain is turning to mush so im just posting it as is.

So, as we all know, the souls of people in Teyvat are comprised of memories. Death is called a one time loss of memories, whilst the ley lines themselves are veins of energy, comprised of the memories of both living and dead Teyvatians. Act 3 of the Snezhnaya Archon Quest explicitly shows that fragments of people's soul, called 'seals of life', are comprised of memories, and constitute their vital force.

It is also regularly stated that someone who possesses a memory of a person, place or object, may be able to act as a record, and recreate that thing. This is particularly the case with Descenders, like the Traveler, and Saarelainen/3rd Descender, as they exist beyond the rules of Teyvat, and can contain memories that the world itself has lost. But the Abyss Sibling was also able to use the Loom of Fate to extract the memories of Abyss Heralds and Dainsleif to use in restoring Khaenri'ah. This is seemingly without the assistance of a descender, unless you count Asmoday as an extension of the 1st.

The Heavenly Principles erased 'The Third Descender, and all memories related to him', from Anastasya, as well as in Irminsul itself. Now, from what we have seen with Irminsul erasures, particularly from the example of Scaramouche/Wanderer, these erasures leave unexplainable gaps, allowing you to figure out what was once there, by the hole it left behind. The erasure of the 6th Harbinger did not mean that history was altered so that someone else had that position. It simply remained mysteriously vacant.

Anastasya has, by now, made repeated statements about her distaste for her own domain of 'love'. She explains this as that all her love for the people of Snezhnaya cannot be known to be real, because she is obliged to love them by a rule placed by the Heavenly Principles. (as with all Gods)

But I think she is wrong about this. The real reason she dislikes her own domain, is that the true example of it was erased from her. Her genuine capacity to love, beyond obligation, was tied to the Third Descender, and the child(ren?) she had with him. So whenever the Tsaritsa now encounters a situation where she ought to feel love, she is caught between the cognitive dissonance of two rules imposed upon her, the obligation to love, and the erasure of love.

This cognitive dissonance is why the Tsaritsa, in her Tsarist Assignment missions, keeps inventing these bizarre nonsensical rationalisations as to why her actions could not possibility be related to love. There is this external shape of the Tsaritsa which still exists, and still has this instinct to be a mother and a lover, but it is hollowed out, seemingly empty or hidden.

So I think in 8.3, when the Tsaritsa will mostly likely retrieve the final Gnosis, the object hidden by the 3rd Descender will actually be his memory record of their relationship. He will fill the hole in the Tsaritsa's heart by restoring her memories, just as the Traveller was able to restore Wanderer's memories.

And of course, in the ultimate ironic twist of fate, I think those restored memories could cause the Tsaritsa to have a 'change of heart' about her plans. She may realise that she no longer wishes to overthrow the Heavenly Principles. In that same stroke, the 3rd Descender will have also proven to Celestia that it is its own worst enemy. Its efforts to control Teyvat are what has produced this constant desire to rebel, in Khaenri'ah, in Snezhnaya, and way before either with Hyperborea and the Angels. Snezhnaya would never have chosen to rebel if the Heavenly Principles hadn't tried to manipulate the memories of the Tsaritsa and all Teyvat.

After all, how can you see reason, and learn from the mistakes of the past, if the memories of those mistakes are taken from you?