Fragmented Testimony

Fragmented Testimony is the first part of .
==Steps==
# Go to the Akademiya
# Look for a matra
# Talk to the matra
# Go to the tavern
# Round up the suspects
# Find a quiet place
# Talk to Alhaitham
==Dialogue==
;(Upon starting the quest)
: Paimon: Y'know, Paimon's heard that Alhaitham's been made Acting Grand Sage, but with that personality of his... hoo boy. Uh, you think things will be okay?
: Paimon: Why don't we go to the Akademiya and ask around?
;(Use Nahida's All Schemes to Know on Rancho, optional)
: Rancho: (I wonder if things are going smoothly with her thesis...)
;(Use Nahida's All Schemes to Know on Piah, optional)
: Piah: (*sigh*)
;(Approach the Akademiya)
: Rancho: How's everything going with your thesis?
: Piah: I should be able to publish it next month. *sigh* A few days ago, I was worried that I'd have to stop my work on it. Thankfully, that didn't come to pass.
: Rancho: Well, Azar was one of your thesis advisers — honestly, I was afraid that you might have gotten dragged down as well. How did things get settled?
: Piah: The newly-appointed Acting Grand Sage reviewed all of our projects and gave us permission to continue our research.
: Rancho: Acting Grand Sage? That sounds like a new thing.
: Piah: Yeah, I heard that selecting new sages has been taking some time, so he's just filling in.
: Piah: But it's all thanks to him that our research results weren't jeopardized...
: Piah: Once my paper is published, I'm definitely giving myself a long vacation and getting some much-needed rest. Mondstadt sounds like a good idea...
:
: Rajkumar: They're really out of their minds, making Alhaitham the Acting Grand Sage...
: Rehan: Take it easy, Professor. I'm puzzled as well. Just going by qualifications, you're one of our most preeminent scholars. I don't know why they picked a stripling like him...
: Rajkumar: Fool! Do you think I'm angry because I wasn't chosen for the position? No, it's because I don't understand why they chose HIM.
: Rajkumar: He was one of my students, but he rarely attended class. When I asked him about it, he retorted that self-study was better use of his time...
: Rajkumar: What brazen arrogance! Misery of miseries... for the Akademiya to have him as the Acting Grand Sage!? *cough* *cough*
: Rehan: Professor, don't get so worked up. I'll go get you some water!
:
: Rezakhani: Psst... Wanna hear a secret? I've heard the new Acting Grand Sage is from Haravatat!
: Fariba: Really? Who is it?
: Rowshan: Someone named Alhaitham. Never met him myself, but he's a real hot topic right now — lots of things being said about him. Hard to tell what's true and what isn't, though.
: Rowshan: There's also a Vahumana scholar who's been in the spotlight recently. They say that he's a likely pick to be one of the next sages.
: Fariba: Oh, is he teaching any courses? Maybe we should drop by...
: Paimon: Wow, news of Alhaitham being the Acting Grand Sage sure spread fast. Some people don't know who he is, though. Guess he's less famous than Paimon thought.
: Paimon: Some people are saying good things, and others bad... especially that old guy just now. He really doesn't like Alhaitham...
:
: Paimon: Hey, are you okay? Uh, you don't look too good...
: ???: The matra...
: Paimon: The matra?
: Ilyas: I'm Ilyas. I have to talk to a matra about something important...
: Paimon: In the state you're in? You shouldn't push yourself.
: Paimon: Why don't you tell us what happened, and we'll pass on your message to a matra.
: Ilyas: No. I have to tell them myself. They are the only ones I can trust...
: Ilyas: Sorry, can you lend me your arm...? This is an important matter. Failure is not an option.
: Paimon: Since you put it that way, fine, we'll take you to a matra!
;(After talking to Ilyas)
: Paimon: We promised to take him to a matra, but we don't know that many, do we...?
: Paimon: Oh wait, Cyno should be back at the Akademiya! Let's go find him!
;(Talk to Rancho or Piah, optional)
: Rancho: Say, an old friend of mine is also in Mondstadt. Why don't we go together? We can even ask him to be our guide and show us around.
: Piah: That sounds great! Thanks a lot.
;(Use Nahida's All Schemes to Know on Rancho, optional)
: Rancho: (I wish I could travel to Mondstadt with her.)
;(Use Nahida's All Schemes to Know on Piah, optional)
: Piah: (My long-awaited time off...)
----
;(Use Nahida's All Schemes to Know on Aarav, optional)
: Aarav: (There is no room for laziness if we wish to uphold order.)
;(Approach Aarav in the Akademiya)
: Paimon: Uh, hey there! Excuse us, but is Cyno at the Akademiya?
: Aarav: You two look familiar. Are you friends of Mahamatra Cyno? Um, I'm afraid he's out on a mission right now.
: Aarav: But if you'd like, I can pass whatever message you might have on to him.
: Paimon: We ran into this guy by the gates, and he seems really eager to speak with a matra. It sounds like something urgent.
: Aarav: Oh? If you don't mind, why don't you tell me about it first?
: Ilyas: ...
: Ilyas: Siraj...
: Aarav: Siraj? That name sounds familiar. Isn't he a Vahumana researcher?
: Paimon: Vahumana researcher?
: Aarav: Yes, one of their most renowned, in fact. I hear he's as daring as he is intelligent.
: Aarav: There are rumors he'll become Vahumana's next sage... Uh, but please continue, good sir. What about Siraj?
: Ilyas: I want to report him... for conducting a dangerous experiment.
: Ilyas: He kidnapped me, tied me up, and took me to that horrible cave... Experimental equipment everywhere...
: Ilyas: I ran as fast as I could... A little slower, and he would've caught me...
: Aarav: There's no rush. Please, take your time.
: Aarav: What kind of experiments was he conducting? Where is this cave?
: Ilyas: I don't remember...
: Paimon: Huh? You can't remember?
: Ilyas: All I remember is Siraj walking towards me, and then my head started feeling... weird.
: Ilyas: It's like a nightmare that I can't recall... I just know that that place is dangerous and that they must be stopped!
: Ilyas: Oh, I heard they conduct business in the tavern. We have to hurry...
: Aarav: Even if what you say is... *sigh* All right, I'll have some of my colleagues look into Siraj.
: Aarav: But before that, I would like to administer the matra lie detector test.
: Ilyas: You think I'm lying?
: Aarav: Please don't take it the wrong way. This is just standard protocol.
: Aarav: Sorry, but can you two wait out here a little while? We'll be back soon.
:
: Paimon: Huh? Alhaitham?
: Aarav: Let me bring you up to speed. First things first, Ilyas passed the lie detector test.
: Aarav: This indicates that what he said is highly credible. As such, we've decided to launch an investigation based on the leads he provided.
: Aarav: Per protocol, this matter was reported to Acting Grand Sage Alhaitham. After hearing about it, he left a message for Mahamatra Cyno and then asked to join the investigation.
: Paimon: It's kinda weird for you to be working with the matra. Is there a special reason?
: Alhaitham: You're overthinking things. My interest was piqued, is all.
: Paimon: Really? Paimon's surprised you have this much free time...
: Paimon: In that case... Let's join in as well, shall we, ?
: Aarav: It's already against protocol for Acting Grand Sage Alhaitham to participate in this investigation. As for you two...
: Aarav: Oh, never mind. After all, you were the ones who brought Ilyas here. I'll allow you to accompany us, but you have to promise to keep everything confidential.
: Paimon: Don't you worry! Our lips are sealed!
: Aarav: All right. In that case, I'll fill you in on what we know so far.
: Aarav: Ilyas claimed that Siraj will be conducting some business with a Kshahrewar researcher at the tavern. This is one of his few clear memories. It seems he stumbled upon this information while escaping.
: Aarav: Incidentally, Siraj isn't at the Akademiya right now. He applied for long-term off-site research one month ago.
: Aarav: It's close to the time that Ilyas had given, so we've decided to head to the tavern and investigate any suspicious persons.
: Alhaitham: That's right. Aarav, prepare to head out. You two, do as you will.
: Paimon: Oh, come on! We already said that we're coming!
----
;(Approach Lambad's Tavern)
: Aarav: We're here, Acting Grand Sage Alhaitham. What's our next course of action?
: Alhaitham: ...
: Aarav: Acting Grand Sage Alhaitham?
: Alhaitham: Looks like you haven't read any memos lately.
: Alhaitham: The new Akademiya decree clearly states that even a sage doesn't have the authority to interfere with the matra's actions during an ongoing investigation.
: Alhaitham: If your superior were here, he wouldn't be asking me what to do. Instead, he'd be telling me to stay out of the way.
: Aarav: ...You're right. Understood! Then, please wait here as we lock down the perimeter and search for suspicious persons!
: Aarav: Ilyas, please stay here. Acting Grand Sage Alhaitham, I'll have to trouble you with the protection of our primary witness.
: Alhaitham: Sure, though I'd rather he just protect himself.
: Paimon: He's the same as ever... Casually ignoring people, just like he did back at Aaru Village!
: Alhaitham: Answering a simplistic question only enables the questioner. Besides, I need him to understand my position clearly.
: What do you mean?
: Alhaitham: Aarav has just as many doubts about my coming along as you do.
: Alhaitham: But unlike you two, he's making this matter more complicated than it is, with his considerations like "the Acting Grand Sage is trying to seize the matra's powers."
: Alhaitham: That question was obviously bait. The matra were once under the influence of the sages, and so were often subject to these bureaucratic traps.
: Alhaitham: The test was strictly unnecessary, though. I hope that our exchange will assure him that I won't interfere with their work this time.
: Paimon: ...Grr! Why is this so complicated!?
: Alhaitham: This is why I was against becoming the Acting Grand Sage from the very first. Titles and rank inevitably make a lot of things more troublesome than usual.
: Ilyas: Excuse me, Acting Grand Sage Alhaitham.
: Ilyas: I've had a question on my mind and I need to know the answer, no matter what... Have we met before?
: Alhaitham: No, I have no recollection of ever meeting you.
: Ilyas: Haha, I thought so, too... I probably wouldn't have had anything to do with someone of your caliber.
: Alhaitham: Then why did you ask?
: Ilyas: Well, for some reason, I felt a sense of familiarity when I met you for the first time.
: Alhaitham: Really?
: Alhaitham: A misperception perhaps, or...
: Aarav: Acting Grand Sage Alhaitham, we've apprehended a suspect!
: Alhaitham: Siraj?
: Aarav: No, it's the Kshahrewar researcher who has dealings with him. His name is Narendra.
: Narendra: S—Acting Sage Alhaitham...?
: Narendra: Wait, uh, can someone please explain what's going on? I admit that I did steal some mechanical components from the lab and sell them, but does something like that really warrant the personal interest of the Acting Grand Sage?
: Narendra: What... What have I gotten myself into? I—I know I let greed get the best of me, but please, I promise that this won't ever happen again...
: Alhaitham: I would like to ask him a few questions.
: Aarav: Of course.
: Alhaitham: Do you know Siraj?
: Narendra: Yeah, that's the name of my buyer. He asked to make the transaction at the tavern, but he never showed up...
: Alhaitham: What were the details of this transaction?
: Narendra: He's doing some kind of experiment that seems to require many power generators and electrical components that can only be found in our project.
: Narendra: He contacted me in private and said that he'd pay a large sum of Mora if I was willing to put some aside for him, under the pretense of them being defective parts.
: Narendra: We had originally agreed to meet at the tavern earlier today to do the trade. I sure didn't expect to get stood up or run into you all...
: Aarav: Perhaps Siraj was aware that Ilyas might leak information, so he intentionally didn't show up. Whatever the case, it seems that this lead ends here.
: Aarav: The good news is regardless of what Siraj was planning, his progress will now be severely hindered by a lack of power generators and electrical components. We still have time to conduct our investigation.
: Aarav: Do you have any more questions for the suspect?
: Alhaitham: No, he's all yours, but I'd like to borrow Ilyas for a while.
: Aarav: Oh, that's fine.
: Aarav: We conducted a comprehensive lie detection exam, which showed that he has a genuine case of amnesia. We're not planning to pursue any further breakthroughs on that front.
: Aarav: However, I am curious... What do you need him for, exactly?
: Alhaitham: I've read some papers regarding amnesia, and I'd like to try restoring his memories.
: Aarav: I see... We'll be returning to the Akademiya, then. I'll leave Ilyas in your care.
: Alhaitham: Follow me.
----
;(Approach Alhaitham)
: Paimon: Siraj didn't show up at the tavern, and Narendra didn't give us any leads... That means we're stuck!
: Paimon: Alhaitham, are you serious about seeing things through? Paimon's pretty surprised that you're this interested in the case...
: Alhaitham: I thought you would've guessed the reason by now.
: Paimon: Huh? Paimon has no clue. Hey, do you know?
: Do you know Siraj?
: Alhaitham: Yes. We were classmates.
: Paimon: Ohh, so that's why you asked to come along when Aarav briefed you on the situation!
: Paimon: So you're not here because you're interested in the case itself, but because you know the suspect?
: Alhaitham: You couldn't be further from the truth, but I wasn't expecting much from you to begin with.
: Alhaitham: For the time being, all you need to know is that we were once classmates. I became the scribe afterwards, while he continued his academic endeavors.
: Alhaitham: He submitted a thesis one year ago, and the Grand Sage at the time asked for my opinion. I did not approve of it because it committed one of the six cardinal sins by touching upon human evolution.
: Alhaitham: From violating matters regarding human evolution to attempting the forbidden and fearing none, the six cardinal sins are the origin of all evil in this world. They are also what the sages use as a reference when formulating or amending the rules of the Akademiya.
: Alhaitham: My opinion was that Siraj's research was both overly naive and in violation of various core principles. The Grand Sage took some of my suggestions on board and ultimately decided to reject the application.
: Paimon: So that's why he's buying energy sources and electrical components...
: Alhaitham: He's most likely trying to circumvent the rules and conduct his experiment in secret.
: Paimon: That sounds super suspicious... We gotta stop him!
: Paimon: Ilyas, can you try to remember things again? Maybe something new will pop up.
: Ilyas: I'm sorry, but I've already tried many times. And no matter how hard I try, it feels like everything in my mind is shrouded in a thick mist.
: Alhaitham: It is possible for a person to subconsciously forget some of their memories as a defense mechanism against extreme stress.
: Alhaitham: However, these memories aren't truly lost, but merely sealed away. They can be restored with the appropriate stimulus.
: Alhaitham: Now, try to recall things you care about. They don't need to be related to this case.
: Ilyas: Actually... I feel like I've forgotten more than just the memories of the time I was kidnapped and experimented on.
: Ilyas: The kind of person I am, the things I've done... I can remember some things, but I can't recall some others no matter how hard I try.
: Ilyas: But, I do vaguely remember that there are two things that I have to do, no matter what.
: Alhaitham: Do tell.
: Ilyas: The first is to get my paycheck from the Akademiya and give it to my younger sister in Gandharva Ville.
: Ilyas: I'm not sure about the details... but it seems that I would send money to my younger sister every month to pay for family expenses.
: Paimon: And the second thing? What's the second thing?
: Ilyas: ...I can't remember. Sorry, there's just so much I can't recall...
: Alhaitham: Not unexpected.
: Alhaitham: However, you're the only one who has seen Siraj and knows the exact location of his cave at present. As such, we'll do everything we can to help you regain your memories.
: Paimon: Losing your memories must be really painful, but don't you worry! We'll help you get them all back!
: Ilyas: Thank you so much. This feeling... It's more than just pain, but I don't know how to describe it...
: Ilyas: I have so few memories that I don't even have a clear idea of who I am... And my head's always ringing — it feels like I could faint at any moment.
: Ilyas: But amidst all that... It also feels like I've been set free, somehow...
: Ilyas: Nevertheless, I have you all to thank for bringing me what clarity I do have right now.
: Ilyas: Now, I do remember that I worked part-time at a place in the Akademiya called the Research Preparation Center. That's also where I got my monthly paycheck.
: Alhaitham: I see. In that case, let's go and find whoever's in charge there.
==Soundtracks==
==Other Languages==
==Change History==
es:Testimonio fragmentado
pt-br:Testemunho Fragmentado
vi:Bằng Chứng Vụn Vỡ