Phew, I'm finally done with this chart. I wanted to finish it quick since part of it will be useful for the video I'm working on.

There are a lot of explanations on the bottom half, but this is mostly for people who want more details. You can stick to the graph in the middle part for a general idea of what's going on, although I recommend reading everything to get what exactly the signals/entities involved inside go through, including Phainon (although he has his specific charts linked inside anyway).

Have a nice day everyone!

So first I'll say that the trailer doesn't always show things in order. Which is why I show things in a different order.

Second, I'll explain why I think the Trailblazer will use the power of Finality.

In 3.8, constance mentioned that the Terminus' strands, which are Black Cats, allows someone to somehow reach out to Terminus, and with enough force, THEY would listen and change THEIR future, and since they flow backward in time, it means THEY change the Past, which will change destiny.

And in the trailer of 4.2, we see a Terminus' strand, which doesn't appear in the story, but I'm curious if it could play a role there.

Let's suppose Terminus might be at Planarcadia.

Asat Pramad collected misfortune of the whole planet for 15 years, which, I suppose, allows them to change the events that happened drastically.

And it seems he chose something relatively simple to change: he might have chosen to change the past, making sure Himeko never repaired the Express.

This single event will lead to a massive amount of change and misfortune for the universe, by simply changing it. Or maybe things will change except one thing? Himeko may not be here? I believe that things will drastically change tho.

And most importantly, the Trailblazer will lose all their stories and their journey with everyone. I suppose facing such a Grim fate, they will cry out their pain, their wish fueled by the Stellaron and the wish power of the planet, they will reach out to Terminus, but the Stellaron being way too unstable, maybe they could risk something worse.

And it is at this moment that Himeko tries to calm them down, and make sure they keep everything under control.

Maybe the only consequence of this, even if no one really believes it, myself included, is that, the Trailblazer will still somehow launch the express again from the past using Terminus, but this time, Himeko wouldn't be here.

I suppose it's not very likely, but since they introduced the Terminus Strand, I think there isn't a better opponent to use Finality against at the moment than someone who can change the present to his liking.

So for those who don't remember, the entropy loss syndrome is a condition hitting the soldier of the Glamoth iron cavalry. Outside of their mech, their body disappears.

I often saw the fanart of Himeko and Firefly together. Especially after 4.3, as people recognized the bond between them symbolically speaking.

However, a recent video of Ashikai made me wonder about something and I'd like to ask you.

So the weathering curse, something visually similar to the entropy loss syndrome as you can see on the images, came from Graphia who rejected the path of destruction that Asat Pramad made her follow.

And she made the assumption that if our existence is deeply tied to one path, not following it would lead to our existence to fade, and this is not just the weathering curse, but more or less any path.

So we can make the conjecture that the Entropy Loss Syndrome is just the same thing, and the rule about never leaving the Mech is literally for their safety, because they were built to fight, and refusing to use this form would be rejecting their path (propagation). And this condition can hit anyone.

Now... About our Himeko...

According to Ashikai, Himeko has 2 distinct memories of the Astral express: one where she witnessed it crashing, and one where she rebuilt it herself.

And what Ashikai proposes is that Himeko didn't just draw an ideal version of herself, but the embodiment of the Graphia bloodlines identity: their longing for the Trailblaze.

So our Himeko was created to follow the Trailblaze, and ONLY to Trailblaze.

Which could explain why she had memories similar to Graphia (witnessing the crash of the express) but also from later, supposedly hers (when she rebuilt the express).

And finally, we see on the last cg of the path our Himeko with the weathering curse on her leg despite being an Imaginae. We know that the original Himeko was also following the Graphia curse, explaining her death according to Asat Pramad, but our Himeko isn't following the bloodline. So why?

The assumption could be that her "weathering curse" is due to the fact she could not Trailblaze yet.

If we accept the suppositions above about an illness hitting things not following their path they were created for, then Himeko, not having the express yet, was unable to follow the Trailblaze, causing her condition to worsen. Her state is, just like Pom-pom, tightly bonded to the express.

To Trailblaze, even if it's something she enjoys, is probably something she has to do to survive. She MUST Trailblaze, or she will die, like Firefly, who must follow the will of the empress (which can make it interesting to give her the reactor Blade remade, because she would become the empress and dictate her will to the cavalry, no longer suffering from her condition, but that's another topic).

I kinda like this theory, even if I dislike a bit the idea to "reduce" the "Himeko" in our Himeko. But I suppose this barely matters. It's this Himeko we met, and she is real.

I liked to make parallels between Cyrene and Himeko because both of them seemed to be copies or other versions of themselves but ultimately they were both the exact same (at least in Cyrene's case), but for Himeko, it seems to not be the case.

What about you?

&gt;! Void Archives? !<

Hey all!

Long-time lurker who's played through both all the main story of HSR and Hi3. I love coming up with theories which connect both universes, but have yet to see much about this one in particular, so I figured I'd write something out to see everyone's thoughts before the next update.

Disclaimer: My knowledge is mostly based around my own progress in game, and there's a ton of stuff I haven't read in the simulated universe and both games' readables yet. I did a few searches in the wiki about specific questions, but if I'm misunderstanding / misrepresenting I hope you'll smack me down exactly like our Ravager-of-the-Patch would.

1. Re-watching the "Death of Elation" trailer today, I had to stop for a screen-cap of the following scene because I noticed there's a HoodedLittleBitch lurking behind the bar where that (step)Dad joke-of-a-robot stands for us in the present day.

2-3) That's when my brain just started Theoros-ing and remembered that we first saw that particularly horrendous purple-yellow color combo all the way back in the Hi3 manga when we were introduced to the previous era's Herrscher of Reason, aka Void Archives.

4-7) In the in-game cutscene, we get these two sequences back-to-back (see appropriately numbered images of symbols and robots) where Asat Pramad confronts the HSR heros. At one point after beginning his assault (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3LbTotxM04&t=2m05s) he says "its been a while, old friend." During this, a pink shield (which looks similar to a copy of Void's mask imo) and robot (likely Himeko's, though it doesn't seem 1:1 with the model from her Nova flare [again, imooo]) appears before him, but as soon as he finishes saying that the cut is to a scene of him fighting Welt.

Old FrieeeeeenDDd here could be Welt?

8-11) You know, the guy he's conveniently referred to as "Old Friend" when he was setting up the whole situation that would cause him to leave Earth before the start of HSR. Wouldn't THAT make it make sense why gramps is looking a little more 'ornery than usual and busting out his 3rd impact aura farming pose??

12+) How does that account for him fighting in multiple places at once? Void archives is shown doing that after fully taking over Otto's Soulium bodies (which, being nanoteech, can morph into whatever appearance he likes). He's also shown the ability to utilize (nerfed versions of the) powers of all the Hi3 Divine Keys -- that could contribute to his ability to so accurately counter all his opponents.

Add that to those small little elements like Ryusuke thinking Shush's jokes are hilarious, the fact that Welt left his original Hi3 Universe shortly killing his universe version of Ryusuke (also Himeko's Dad -- check me on that Hi3 friends?) and the fact the Void Archives showed up very recently in that OST with no current story relevance makes me veryyyy suspicious!

The biggest problems with this idea so far are:

a) the timeline: since Welt came into the HSR universe at the same time as Voids, some serious shenanigans must have occurred for this to work with all the other world destroying Asat's been up to: ie, the void archives Himeko picked up with welt must have been only one of many soulium bodies possessed by VA, AND some crazy time dilation stuff must have been going on while they were on Salsotto. Reading the descriptions from the wiki (along with other in game anecdotes), that doesn't seem totally out of the realm of possibility.

b) The probability specific powers. Not something explicitly spelled out in Hi3. Encyclopedic knowledge of the previous era and all the powers of the divine key might be able to help him feign something like what we've seen so far? Dicians and further lore would seem to strongly contradict this, though.

c) the young child and the Golden Rose: the video suggests this is Enroute's childhood before he becomes Isee -> Asat. The implied story telling is that this was "recent" in his near childhood before growing up. Is there any chance that the childhood depicted here is also from the Earth's previous era, before he became the previous era's herrscher of reason? The Hi3 lore is completely blank of the old HoR before the modern era. A child being able to turn something into gold seems in line with the HoR powerset.

Objections aside, his entire ethos of "causing mankind to suffer to bring out the only noble things in them," just feels like something that Void Archives would do, considering that their motivation at the end of APHO was STILL about eliminating Honkai (inadvertently protecting people, even at the cost of their lives). It fits with all the internet posts he does, where he's unable to see any contradiction between loving his neighbors and causing them to lose their lives.

Anyway, this took way longer than I anticipated to write, and I think I'm kinda giving up 3/4 through. Maybe I'll put together something slightly more coherent if this is fun at all for anyone?

Thanks for skimming / reading!

PS other question for Hi3 lore masters: can void archives emulate the herrscher of corruption since that divine key was never finished until the new era (if ever, canonically)? Google was not particularly helpful with that timeline, and I didn't remember anything beyond the sealing that happened in Sakura Samsara.

From the Loading Screen regarding Elio,

>The leader of the Stellaron Hunters who is referred to as "Destiny's Slave."
Possesses the ability/curse to foresee future possibilities.

I) Destiny's Slave

In the book The Gods of Pegāna (Pegana is the world where Akivili is from), it can be inferred that Elio was inspired by both the Destiny God + one of the Destiny God's slaves.

Regarding the chapter Of Dorozhand (Whose Eyes Regard the End),

>Sitting above the lives of the people, and looking, doth Dorozhand see that which is to be.
The god of Destiny is Dorozhand. Upon whom have looked the eyes of Dorozhand he goeth forward to an end that naught may stay; he becometh the arrow from the bow of Dorozhand hurled forward at a mark he may not see — to the goal of Dorozhand. Beyond the thinking of men, beyond the sight of all the other gods regard the eyes of Dorozhand.
He hath chosen his slaves. And them doth the destiny-god drive onward where he will, who, knowing not whither nor even knowing why, feel only his scourge behind them or hear his cry before.
There is something that Dorozhand would fain achieve, and, therefore, hath he set the people striving, with none to cease or rest in all the Worlds. But the gods in Pegana speaking to the gods, say: "What is it that Dorozhand would fain achieve?"
It hath been written and said that not only the destinies of men are the care of Dorozhand but that even the gods of Pegana be not unconcerned by his will.
All the gods of Pegana have felt a fear, for they have seen a look in the eyes of Dorozhand that regardeth beyond the gods.
The reason and purpose of the Worlds is that there should be Life upon the Worlds, and Life is the instrument of Dorozhand wherewith he would achieve his end.

and in another chapter,

>"And as I uttered the last of certain secret words I fell asleep in the temple, for I was weary, with my head against the altar of Dorozhand. Then in the stillness, as I slept, there entered Dorozhand by the temple door in the guise of a man, and touched me on the shoulder, and I awoke.
"But when I saw that his eyes shone blue and lit the whole of the temple I knew that he was a god though he came in mortal guise. And Dorozhand said: 'Prophet of Dorozhand, behold! that the people may know.' And he showed me the paths of Sish stretching far down into the future time.
"Then he bade me arise and follow whither he pointed, speaking no words but commanding with his eyes.
"Therefore upon the twentieth night of the nine hundredth moon I walked with Dorozhand adown the paths of Sish into the future time.

This actually matches up pretty closely with the readable Glimpses into the Beyond regarding Idrila the Wondergazer,

>Lord of the Path of Beauty. Known as Idrila, god of beauty by the Knights of Beauty and the Mirror Holders. Known on some worlds as Anne Duray.
So far, the Knights of Beauty have been disbanded, leaving the Mirror Holders to wander the stars, searching for THEIR holy relics. All of this serves as proof that THEY have fallen. But my documents exchanged with the Intelligentsia Guild mention: If the relics of the Wondergazer can be found intact, THEIR beautiful countenance will be able to reappear.
According to ancient myth, Idrila once attributed the beauty of all the starzones to THEMSELF, showing heroes, villains, and mortals the meaning and aesthetics contained within the cosmic landscape, and driving them to complete astonishing (but often devastating) achievements for Idrila's own pleasure. This myth may reveal the true meaning behind the Path of Beauty: The integration of consciousness, insight, and values.

So Elio is therefore part Destiny God (via Idrila's eyes) yet also Destiny's Slave (following Idrila's will?).

The relationship between Idrila and Elio can therefore be observed in the character of Aglaea (who went blind in order to better weave destiny (Idrila giving up THEIR eyes so that destiny can be woven after THEIR fall) + created and manipulated Garmentmakers (Destiny's Slaves))

Also although Elio is known as "Destiny's Slave" the meaning in some cases doesn't seem to be exclusive to him since in the Myriad Celestia "Scene 999: GAME NOT OVER" when Kafka says the Stellaron Hunters will hold onto Silver Wolf's cartridge until she can control it she responds with "Who do you take me for...? I won't become destiny's slave". Also Kafka (who is symbolic of Stellaron Hunters in general) is shown with similar clear eyes like Aglaea (although she isn't blind) and also manipulates threads + her ability Spirit Whisper can be used to manipulate people.

Aglaea's Characters Stories could also give insight into Idrila's/Elio's motives (other than simply rewriting Finality),

>In the most visible spot, a simple, unadorned priest's robe hangs. She frequently takes it out to clean and dust, always reminding herself of the vow she made to the deity.
"Please forgive me, for the sake of the most beautiful creation in the world..."
Long ago, at the moment she took hold of the Coreflame, she suddenly "saw" in the darkness a breathtaking vista she had never before encountered —
In that golden future, there is no more strife, no more death.

and also

>Legend holds that every disciple of Mnestia devotes their entire life to crafting what they deem to be the Ultimate Beauty to present to their deity.
It's been a long time since she crafted beautiful garments.
Yet, she has never ceased weaving the threads of destiny.

II) Mirrored Finality

Beauty (like Enigmata) has the power to weave human forms. In the Moonlit Tale Do Aeons Weep for Nostalgia?

>Divergent Universe: "My body etched with wounds, I savored the taste of my prey. The instinctive thrill of it... that was my first memory."
Divergent Universe: "Then, one day, a light of impossible beauty split the dark. I was drawn to it. I left behind the primal hunger, the old instincts... and I left my homeland."
Divergent Universe: "I came here. To the world of 'humans.'"

In the Myriad Celestia Fables About the Stars Part 1, when it comes to the section about Finality, The Finality is written twice with one of them being mirrored (even the Equilibrium isn't written twice even though HooH split THEMSELVES in two so this double Finality has a deeper meaning). Also in the section about Beauty it says "Listen to the infant (End of All Things) in the mirror" and before it even reaches the Propagation part there are two frames of The Fin (meaning The End) which are in some birdcage and then a frame of The Finality (written once) that is also mirrored (since its between Beauty and Propagation (both of which are represented by Romance) it seems to imply that Beauty has something to do with the mirrored Finality).

In the Data Bank Entry for the Mirror Holders it says,

>The legend of the Mirror Holders had it that the downfall of the God of Beauty was an ancient metaphor symbolizing the shattering of peoples' views on beauty, crumbling like a collapsed tower into rubble and bricks. Therefore, the goal of the Mirror Holders takes on another significance: when conceptions of beauty are reunified, all disputes and strife will disappear. They believe the Aeon they worship will be perfect and complete again, and the universe will become whole.
This may not be a mere delusion, as the Mirror Holders possess a series of items named Mirrors of Transcendence. These mirrors do not reflect the material world, but instead reflect what is considered by the beholder as "beauty" and project that into reality.
As the Mirror Holders recounted themselves, these mirrors were fragments of Idrila's divine form. When the God of Beauty died, THEIR fragments were scattered to the cosmos. The wandering Mirror Holders tried their best to find clues and recapture these fragments, hoping to one day piece everything back together and let Beauty return to the world.

Also one of the definitions of Eidolon is an idealized person or thing (I think the characters' Eidolons are reflections from the Mirrors of Transcendence (fragments of Idrila's Divine Form)) so imagine if Terminus was reflected in the mirror (Idrila's complete Divine Corpus) it would be an idealized version of Finality (so probably someone with Finality's powers that is still trying to bring about the Ultimate Beauty (the golden future)).

Elio is said to be a special existence,

>The Dahlia: Then, Terminus turned into a pack of black cats, distributing every ounce of THEIR divine power between those creatures. The cats shall depart from the end of the world, going against the river of time, till the moment of the universe's birth.
The Dahlia: What you see is one of those cats. As for Elio, he is an even more special existence. Only the Stellaron Hunters know his true identity.

even more special than a fragment of Terminus (so he has to be more special than simply possessing Idrila's eyes, hence why I believe he was also born from Idrila's mirror as an idealized version of Finality (it would explain why there are two The Finality's in the Myriad Celestia Fables About the Stars Part 1)).

The association with Beauty and mirrors reminds me of Snow White and in the section about Finality in Fables Part 1 it says "the shapeless prince (Against the Current)" which is most likely a reference to Terminus (since Terminus travels back in time while Elio moves forward (otherwise his ability would be called hindsight instead of foresight)) and Snow White and the Prince do end up together in the story (union of Beauty and Finality).

Last time I wrote about how Elio could be the infant in the mirror a lot of people were saying it could be Fuli and although I think Fuli (and/or Mythus) could have helped in the process I don't think it's Fuli THEMSELVES (why would Fuli take center stage in the section about Idrila?)

In the only other reference to this infant that I'm aware of (in Cyrene's Messages, when she lists flowers she is putting in a bouquet),

>A prismatic crystal rose, grown from a single seed, carefully nurtured by my own hands~
Hehe, and the Antila flowers from Castorice's garden, each petal shimmering with dewdrops
Sunflowers and canterbury bells from Hyacine's courtyard, like gentle sunlight~
And there are blue moonlight lilies, baby's breath, white bellflowers...

Bellflowers are one of three flowers that appear in the section about Beauty in Fables Part 1 (other than roses and some other white flower (both these two flowers appear in Stelle's coffin when Aha is crying over Akivili and accusing Nanook in Improv Tour Trailer: "Binge it All! The Truth After the Battle of Irontomb!")) so that corresponds to Beauty.

Blue moonlight is for sure a reference to Remembrance (Fuli has a blue moon behind them (you can see the moon craters in the Myriad Celestia when Evernight talks about how March 7th was born from Fuli's shattered Divine Corpus)) so since its mentioned on the same line there is definitely a connection (tbh blue moonlight could also be used to describe the light from Elio's eyes).

Also In the Voice of Constellation about Mnestia,

>The Coreflame of "Romance" has already been returned.
Mnestia is the Titan that symbolizes beauty and love. Their appearance is often illustrated as a beautiful and elusive butterfly with golden patterns carved into their wings. They and their Titankin pursue beauty in the world, weave it into the golden thread, spin the romances of humankind and grant everyone in Amphoreus love and affection.
Legend states that Mnestia fell in love with the Reason Titan, Cerces. They sat under the giant tree for a long time, endlessly confessing their love to the Titan — but Cerces never responded. Mnestia passed away crying tears of blood, and arose reborn from their golden cocoon as a humanoid figure. Covering themselves with their broken cocoon, they set out on a journey around Amphoreus with the blessing of their kin. Finally, Mnestia returned from their adventures with the love of family, friends, and true love gathered from the world, wove them into their golden chrysalis alongside their body and heart, and gifted them to Cerces. In the arms of their lover, they were reborn in the Chrysalis of Gold. Ever since this moment, the butterfly and the tree have been inseparable and dependent on each other for survival.
Today, shadows of the past are cast across ancient ruins. These shadows that drift like scattered veils carry memories of the past. They are legacies that must not be lost. The divine powers of Mnestia gather these threads and weave them together one by one to reveal destiny and prophecies.

In my other theory on how the Self Annihilator with twisted ankles was actually Tayzzyronth I went over how all the symbolism applies to Propagation and I think this is also true for Beauty (after all, when we look back on the Mnestia lore we should see parallels in Idrila's story along with Tayzzyronth's).

Propagation:

• Mnestia is a butterfly (Tayzzyronth living THEIR best life), passes away crying tears of blood (Tayzzyronth's "death" as well as end of Swarm Disaster), reborn as a humanoid figure (Tayzzyronth dreaming while being preserved in amber and Mythus causing this dream to intertwine with the past), and then finally with love (the Primum Mobile of Trailblaze) Mnestia wove everything including her body and heart into her golden chrysalis and was reborn in the Chrysalis of Gold (Tayzzyronth's transmutation by Qlipoth is complete (most likely with our help))

Beauty

• Mnestia is a butterfly (Idrila living THEIR best life), passes away crying tears of blood (more emphasis on eyes (Idrila is the Wondergazer so THEIR eyes are special) + Idrila's fall), reborn as a humanoid figure (Elio as human form of idealized Finality + Idrila's eyes), and then finally with love (the Primum Mobile of Trailblaze) Mnestia wove everything including her body and heart into her golden chrysalis and was reborn in the Chrysalis of Gold (Idrila (via Elio) finally weaving the Ultime Beauty (the golden future) with our help + Idrila's reappearance)

Love (Trailblaze) is necessary for Beauty's plans,

>Ripples of Past Reverie: A story about "love," no? I've been looking forward to that.
Cyrene: Then you must also remember the first story I wrote for you. The one about the crystal flower and the little fairy.
Cyrene: So now, I want to add something more to this story and us.
Cyrene: On that day that the flower shattered, gazing at the empty ground, I thought... the little fairy would finally see the light.
Cyrene: But that light wouldn't be found in the "flawless" flower, nor in the fairy's eyes.
Cyrene: Rather, in the world mirrored within every fragment of the shattered crystal.
Cyrene: All the Flame-Chasers walk in your thirty million retellings of their story. At this moment, all the memories are tangled with each other, and all the previous cycles have gained meaning.
Cyrene: People will come to understand that, time and time again, when they stood at the crossroads of fate, they would never have chosen otherwise.
Cyrene: In the experiments of Erudition, and in the breeding ground of Destruction, it is entropy increasing, a merciless truth, an evil instinct...
Cyrene: But under the pen of the Remembrance and the Trailblaze...
Cyrene: The Flame-Chase is a journey that changes from constant losses to an unwavering act of release.
Cyrene: It's about knowing how fate is shattered, yet still embracing fate's brokenness. It's a journey that longs to receive love, but longs even more to offer its love to others.
Ripples of Past Reverie: That's so heartwarming!
Ripples of Past Reverie: But I'll add a small bit to suit my tastes.
Ripples of Past Reverie: I'll write that "love" is an innocent flower. It grows up silently, creating longing in every passerby.
Ripples of Past Reverie: But the flower itself cannot walk into the world...
Cyrene: Unless someone plants that "love" into their heart and brings it with them (Trailblaze) into tomorrow, right?

III) Integration of Consciousness, Insight, and Values

In my theory On Idrila (I also analyzed the 4 Beauties of Ancient China here :D) I explained how the "integration of consciousness, insight, and values" mentioned as the true meaning behind the Path of Beauty

1. Integration = Harmony
2. Consciousness = Enigmata
3. Insight = Remembrance
4. Values = Order

connects with Ruan Mei's thoughts in the Myriad Celestia "Transcendent Ruan Tunes, Blushing Mei Blooms"

>Mother, your letters are always welcome. The plum blossoms bloom and wither, and I occasionally catch a scent of loneliness. I once again am thinking back to the research in my childhood, together with you in "No Man's Land." That comfy cabin, teeming with boundlessly joyous forms of life. Those days are unforgettable. I understood the vastness of the universe too early. I was different than every other kid around me. Birth, growth, death… Lamenting the process of life is the origin of my thinking. I began to realize that I… longed for something "pure." "Attachment" involves the insular cortex, which controls anxiety and pain. The laws of "emotion" can be easily broken down. Children will become more well-behaved when they receive "random" rewards. When I discovered how easy it was to cultivate a "planet," I began to feel empty. I increasingly understand that I… long for more "fundamental" research. Recently, I've had some different thoughts. At first, I was terrified of its appearance. It is born of wonder, does not resist, and does not grieve. It is the closest thing to the feeling I had when I was a child. "It asked me... where does the research end...? "Life is so colorful, but… it has nothing to do with me. I explore the mysteries of the universe and seek deeper answers. I have nothing to lose and nothing to gain. If life is "cultivated" and "reproduced”, you can dissect Remembrance, control Equilibrium, deconstruct Beauty, and reproduce Permanence. I will understand "life"and touch on these "conceptions". And perhaps I, too, can become an Aeon. Worry not, my dear "assistant." I will "reward" you.

Idrila is known as the Wondergazer and Ruan Mei upon observation of Nous says it is born of wonder.

In Amphoreus the three Titans of Fate were Janus, Talanton, and Oronoyx (corresponding to Harmony, Order, and Remembrance (also Enigmata)) while Mnestia was a Titan of Creation. It would make sense then for Aglaea to represent the creating of one who weaves destiny.

In the book The Gods of Pegāna, "The reason and purpose of the Worlds is that there should be Life upon the Worlds, and Life is the instrument of Dorozhand wherewith he would achieve his end." and from the Flawed Recollection description,

>"That genuine shiver when crystal flowers fall... That's the 'mover of life.'"

which all indicate the fall of Beauty led to the creation of life (I personally think this life would be Elio) in order to better weave destiny.

Today we saw quite an interesting trailer in my opinion, it entailed Asat Pramad telling us about his life, from the start in the tavern to his current “occupations”. Aside from being a “backstory” reveal (which it wasn’t, it was already revealed in 4.3) I think what is much more interesting is his apparent ultimate motivation for doing what he’s been up to the last patch, but also for everything he did 15 years ago and maybe even as far back as the cindearth era.

To start this little theory I first want to take stipulate what exactly we saw that is so interesting in my opinion. The line of dialogue I want to centre around is: “So, look forward to these seeds I’ve sown for a wonderful show of true elation. Just imagine, the nameless setting off again yet they push the Trailblaze to it’s demise… What a splendid joke!”

We can gleam a few things from this: a) Asat Pramad is not simply a lord ravager against the elation but is a lord ravager who inflicts destruction through the act of elation as a rule he does not deviate from. b) Asat wants to destroy the path of the trailblaze. c) He plans on doing this by making the nameless destroy themselves in a sense a la Phantylia.

Aside from this I also want to use another piece of promotional material to lay the foundation of my theory, namely the text on the second image.

It’s vague and cryptic but here is what makes most sense based on the existing context: the crash site refers to the initial crash site of the express in Graphia’s era. A stellaron heard someone’s wish for the express to be reignited, which did happen. All this did happen on the condition of the trailblaze meeting with another path eventually and that meeting resulting in the fall of someone or something.

This paints a pretty clear picture to me, which I find excitingly satisfying. Himeko was the one who made the wish to the stellaron, consciously or unconsciously (maybe manipulated by Asat), for the express to take flight again. We were confused for a while how Himeko got the express working again, the assumption held for a while that she used the power of winning the phantasmoon games for it but last version we learned she used up all her wishpower to defeat the herald of death, leaving every supplicant either dead or without any wishpower, so no winner was selected that year.

She didn’t use the phantasmoon’s power to get the express working again, but the stellaron’s. And which path is linked to the stellarons? Yes, the harmony. But more importantly the destruction! The wish to get the express working again came with a price, namely that the trailblaze will meet with the destruction again and that leading to the demise of the path and / or Himeko herself. The one speaking “personally bring your journey… its end” is likely Asat I think. This foreshadows our imminent showdown against him next patch.

So, what was that all about watching the astral express take flight once again only for it to push the trailblaze to its demise? Well, exactly this. Asat learned from Graphia that the Murata bloodline is closely linked to the trailblaze. the members of the family have an inseparable bond to the path. He used that information to take Ryusuke’s place and basically “groom” Himeko into wanting to become the navigator one day. It was all planned that the bloodstained games would end in no winner that year, so Himeko would be forced to wish upon the stellaron in her hour of need.

That resulted in the express taking flight again, but on a condition. Namely the one that they would one day meet with the destruction and go up in flames when doing so. Power lent needs to be give back someday after all.

This is what I think is the current predicament were in and what gives Asat such a major advantage. As he said in his final speech of 4.3: “For fifteen years, it was I – Asat Pramad – who delivered every promise of beauty to this arcadia in advance. Now, please indulge in these long overdue surprises” This does not simply refer to the peace he granted Planarcadia, but the prosperity of the express too. All this “positive” karma is his to cash back in now. And he does not plan on playing nice.

Just gonna liven up this sub with an idea I've been itching to get out. (Art by Azuriel)

Herta extrapolates in the Swarm Disaster SU that the divine warfare between Tazzyronth and Oroboros destroyed two thirds of the universe. Two thirds... I've always thought that figure was a bit... well, convenient? We know how the history fictionologists like to operate, with their masterful half-truths and "good enough" explanations.

Could Mythus and THEIR followers be obfuscating a mind-shattering truth about the nature of the HSR universe? That Oroboros actually didn't stop at two thirds and, true to THEIR name as the Unsatisfied Devourer of Worlds, swallowed the entire universe into their gaping maw? In this light, both the lie the history fictionologists spread (that Oroboros vanished 'to the edge of the cosmos") and Ruan Mei's belief that Oroboros just died are both technically correct at the same time.

If the HSR universe is simply Oroboros' stomach, then they have "died" as an Aeon because they are no longer able to influence what is going on inside their stomach. They are simply digesting. And they have also technically disappeared to the edge of the cosmos, just with the vital omission that their stomach lining IS now this edge of the cosmos

And there are two things in that paragraph I just wrore that link us directly to Asat's plot in Planarcadia.

1. Oroboros cannot influence what's going on in their stomach.
2. They are digesting something within this universe

Let's deal with 2 first. I think we all know at this point that this 'something' is none other than Wishpower, right? Many are the theories that the Elation is keeping the Voracity at bay by drip feeding THEM with endless wishpower with the aid of the abundance. This duty seems to be changing Aha, with stories of THEM becoming infatuated with Oroboros' blood and greedily sucking at it until THEIR head is chomped off. This balance is clearly teetering on a knife's edge and Asat knows well how to exploit it for his own goal: the death of the Elation.

One of the stories of Enroute basically spoils Asat's plot. We have bunch of fools who were devoured by a Leviathan, and fell to their deaths. Just kidding, they didnt die. What they found within the Leviathan was an "entirely new world itself". They basically toured around inside the Leviathan like it was some kind of theme park, only for them to eventually reach its heart. With one kick to it the Leviathan vomits them all out. We can pause this fable here because that is Asat's plot to "revive" the "dead" Aeon of Voracity, collapsing Elation as a path.

To force them to vomit out the universe THEY devoured, thereby returning "from the edge of the cosmos" to once again influence this world. Perhaps the IPC wants that too, on behalf of Qlipoth. I'm not sure how useful THEIR wall really is with Oroboros' gastric lining serving as the true World's End.

Now that I think about it, Asat Pramad may still be the Trailblazer Isee at heart. If the world's end is Oroboros stomach, what lies beyond it? Should we except THEM as the boundary, or do whatever it takes to find out for ourselves? Maybe that's why Asat was so disappointed in Graphia, she who chose Sanctuary over Discovery.

P.S. Talking about universes getting secretly consumed, we still have that scene in the Deliverance trailer of Evernight devouring Amphoreus that never came to pass. I think that canonically did in fact happen and we're missing memories again Penacony-style (either thanks to her or the Head of the Garden).

Hear Me Out!

Nihilux is clearly guiding the trailblazer path from the very first moment we step on planarcadia.

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Some coincidence that definitely didn't connect her to the Elation.

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- On the very first cutscene, we are likened to a "comic strip"

- The very first "villain" we encounter is a furbobo (definitely a coincidence)

- Us "coincidentally" inheriting the furbobo news (another coincidence definitely)

- Our first meeting with Nihilux just happened as she introduced a "mecha alloy pompom souvenir" (definitely not a foreshadowing)

- Nihilux just happened to "give" us a light stick that is definitely not related to any elation (another coincidence)

- Nihilux just happened to first saw Asat Pramad wispae disguise (definitely another coincidence)

- Foreshadowing fake and real himeko as she just happened to went outside and just happened to bypass IPC guards to warn us

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**From this clues and her mourning motifs, and her title in her promotional post "**Origin Aha, Strictest Mother of Aeon" — I can proudly say that SHE is the crying baby that made Aha ascend. Because what do you mean you won't even grant Emanator status to the one who made you ascend? What do you mean you are "Aha's Mother", the origin of elation? Have you heard of Zandar not having Emanator Status? Of course not...

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