[4.4] Istaroth is NOT the God of Time - A Genshin Impact Theory

Although she is called the "Ruler of Time" by the people of Enkanomiya, I've always found it odd that Istaroth only seems to have associations with death...
So I began to wonder - what if she's not "THE" god of time, but simply "A" god of time? This video is an exploration of this idea!
*TIMESTAMPS*
00:00 Introduction
01:12 The Thousandth Wind
07:28 Istaroth
12:24 Tarot
21:47 Time Tampering
32:29 Closing Thoughts (Bonus Theories)
*RELATED VIDEOS*
Time is (not) an illusion: • Time is (NOT) an Illus...
*SPOILER WARNINGS*
(Assumes all viewers have completed all available Archon Quests up to version 4.4)
- Ei's Story Quest 2
- Aranyaka
- Narzissenkreuz (very minor)
- Venti Story Quest 1
- Inversion of Genesis
- Time limited events (Winelesefest, Shadows Amidst Snowstorms)
- Time and Wind
- Genshin Manga (prologue)
*CITATIONS & FURTHER READING*
pastebin.com/rHaCtPv0
*CREDITS & ATTRIBUTIONS*
pastebin.com/7g3q4sxR

[@Ashikai]

**NOTES & CORRECTIONS** - I have once again missed a clip. Around the 6minute mark where we talk about Venti's constellation, the clip of Venti's ACTUAL CONSTELLATION is missing. I'm very sorry about that. Here is a link to the wiki where you can see it: genshin-impact.fandom.com/wiki/Carmen_Dei

[@jerwen9]

Shouldn't that be the 4 minute mark?

[@kerbluffle]

Hi Ashikai in the video you mention linking the Hoyoverse interview, I can just look it up myself but I figured I’d let you know it’s not there

[@cyrosgold7]

Hey, great stuff. i just wanted to mention here, in case you miss it below, that I shared a thing pertaining to the Tarot and it's relation to the events of the game.

[@jolynecujoh9518]

@@kerbluffleIt’s actually in the pastebin link in the desc! It’s the first link in the “citations” part :)

[@gatra1320]

so.... is there not any mention about the rest of god of time anywhere in the game? i really never heard any alluding to other than istaroth or kairos

[@Kalki70581]

Venti is like Hermes. A god of speech, eloquence, thievery and also a psychopomp, a guide to the souls in the afterlife.

[@Wolf-vy7et]

And there a character based off Hermes in Sumeru's lore..

[@Sacration]

​@@Wolf-vy7etThats the sage of all sages Hermanubis. Doesnt really count cause Hermanubis is a god amalgame of Hermes and Anubis We can have both they are not the same god

[@Wolf-vy7et]

@@Sacration True

[@caparashon]

Yup! Hermes is also the inventor of the lyre and the pipe, which he gave away to Apollo to save his own ass and trade for learning divination, respectively, making him a god of music of a sort as well. And what instruments we know Venti can play? The lyre and the dizi (a Chinese type of flute, the one he's played to Xiao), which isn't a pipe but it's also a wind instrument. Also, as a traveler himself he's the patron and protector of travelers. "May the winds bless your travels," like he would say.

[@Relic58]

​​@@Sacration crack theory but somehow I feel like he's going to be a bit inspired by Peter Pan. What a coincidence is that Peter Pan has fully entered public domain this year. Probably because both have inspirations from Pan, they both can fly, wears green, likely has a strained relationship with his mother (he was called a "Prodigal son" somewhere in official media, and Peter Pan was abandoned by his mother in the original story). Wendy and Venti also sounds pretty similar. Peter Pan gathers lost boys, and there's a common theme between all anemo boys. Peter had a pixie named tinker bell accompany him, like how Venti accompanied the Nameless bard. Peter Pan also looks very similar to how Barbatos is depicted in Ars Goetia, except the Barbatos in Ars Goetia is uglier and wields a gun. That's just a crack theory, but somehow I think something important is going to be revealed about him in Natlan, partly because Varka was there and mare Jibari, but on crack theory territory, partly because his name is nearly identical to one of the island countries in the Caribbean, and Neverland was theorized to be located somewhere there too.

[@WarkolakA]

For a game mihoyo didnt really think would hit it off so big, they sure as fuck put a lot of effort into world building

[@qpopuiuzmnmb]

Let’s be frank, even if Genshin isn’t as big a hit, budget cuts would be seen in other places first like update frequency and map expansions. Lore? They’d keep that shit cooking through a firestorm.

[@evilstax]

"Venti's first story quest" Someone is feeling optimistic 😁

[@user-fb8wb9sx9h]

we usually get the archon second story quest when we get the second weekly boss from their region, so Venti will get another one when monstadt is finished

[@evilstax]

@@user-fb8wb9sx9h I'm sure it will come eventually! Venti has been my favorite character since I started playing Genshin 2 years ago and it feels like a very long wait 🥲

[@Leshantra]

@@user-fb8wb9sx9h Mondstadt already has two weekly bosses... Stormterror and the Wolf.

[@fallipops]

@@user-fb8wb9sx9h we have two for mondstadt already though

[@pigurl3.145]

Mondstat already has two weekly bosses tho. I seriously doubt we're getting a third one

[@I_XuMuK_I]

I mean. Venti is closely connected to Istaroth and he has psychopomp vibes to him with all the "wind carries souls" stuff from his story quest

[@Sacration]

Yes

[@Error403HRD]

Venti and Istaroth are two of the most interesting characters in Genshin to me and with all this waiting, Venti's second story quest better be a LORE BOMB

[@prowlingmusic]

32:42 - ah, here it is. I was wondering where Deshret would show up😂

[@Ventis-dead-friend-]

Ashikai always Deshreting

[@zaru317]

there's an interesting parallel in physics with the idea of three time entities and one space entity, because in special and general relativity the way you think of dimentions is 3+1, three spatial axis and one time axis, and that makes space-time (and it is explicitly called 3+1 dimentions, not 4), so considering the importance of time and fate in the game, a reflection of this concept as a three time axis and a one time space makes a lot of sense

[@cloudweaving]

great point!

[@beashemmad.sayson545]

And*

[@captaindanger13]

"(and it is explicitly called 3+1 dimensions, not 4)" This reminds me of the rule of 3 in genshin where it's specifically called the rule of 3 but ends up having us do something 4 times rather than just 3 times like how they were explaining it in the Tsurumi Island quest.

[@starlight_913]

And its reversed caz teyvat is upside down

[@F1ll1nTh3Blanks]

​@@captaindanger13 3 time axis and one space time. 🤔

[@bear-tan6011]

4:44 this reminded me of the fact that many english words stem from the latin word "to breathe" spirare, stuff like conspire, inspire, expire, for them breathing wasnt just the act of in end exhaling air but breathing was equivalent to thinking and living, and anemo itself doesnt only mean wind but also soul

[@mythito5120]

31:21 As you said earlier in the video, Venti is a Fragment of the Thousand Winds, which likely means that Istaroth is dead and has split into many fragments, just like how it is impossible to fully destroy matter because it just keeps splitting into smaller and smaller pieces

[@surreabel]

Yeah like Goddess of Flowers and Khvarena..

[@surreabel]

In fact, I had a theory based on desert lore that Deshret, Nabu Malikata, Rukkhadevata and Egeria represent the four shades like they are a sort of samsara incarnate of these higher beings.. Deshret being Sun, the other three being the three moon sisters (as Nahida also calls herself moon).. Nabu being Death (very much referred to in her weapon ascension mats).. Egeria associated with Life and Nahida Time.. (the artifact theory basically).. because she is the Irminsul incarnate.. and looks like Paimon (small expending too much energy, they even talk to each other about it) and well Paimon is Istaroth's ghost in a way, because her strings are attached to the sky as one melusine mentioned..

[@surreabel]

The main issue here is.. I thought Istaroth is Time, and Life and Death are the other 'Fates'.. who died and is in Spiral Abyss as husks that provide blessings and benevolence.. while Time has become fragments just like Nabu (but now it seems like a contradiction as Nabu represents Death not Time)..

[@surreabel]

There's also the Enkanomiya achievement called Kairos and Chronos which once made me wonder if there was a primordial god of Time, Chronos which died during the first cataclysm and then Kairos was born as replacement.. chronological time and opportune time. But Ashikai here says there may be four Times.. which topples my earlier theories..

[@surreabel]

Basically the idea was born from the story that the moon sisters all killed each other, so technically Life Death Time all should be dead. So how was Istaroth alive because well, she was the next one after Chronos.. not the original one.. since the world of Genshin is a recurring cycle of Samsara (Khraun Arya, Remurian, Natlantean, etc) ..(in fact Tokoyo Ookami plants a branch to grow a new Irminsul just like Rukkha).. and for some reason the writer of that text don't mention them as them but as someone who might have represented said entity..

[@Aronnax-]

(Sorry if you mentioned it in the video - had it playing in the background as I was doing something else and might have missed it) The moment you talked about time represented as an hourglass with finite amount of time - a timespan, or even a lifespan - it reminded me of Mona's dialogue about Lisa. "To stop the unrelenting flow of sand, one would have to turn the hourglass on its side". In any case - amazing video as always, thank you very much!

[@ytruiewopq]

Maybe the fact that you can turn the hourglass/restart it refers to the samsara of the world or some sort of reincarnation.

[@RyuRyoka13]

One could also toss in Lisa's constellation, an actual hourglass whose constellation is Tempus Fugit or "Time Flies", whose owner seemingly knows the secrets of the world, and is possibly trying to avoid the weight or cost of obtaining that knowledge.

[@rajaryan-fe1oy]

FINALLY A THEORY ABOUT VENTI, YAAYYYYY, I'M, SO, HAPPY

[@TheDhanaMC]

Not really about Venti though. Still waiting for Venti detailed analysis from Ashikai.

[@katarinakurko9209]

I mean,it is kinda also about him,she talked about him for almost 10 min lol @@TheDhanaMC

[@tartnouveau3652]

Death comes for us all because of time. So it wouldn’t surprise me that a god of death would also have an aspect of time or visa versa and the wind blows just as time flows

[@DrakeWurrum]

As you go over how the artifacts connect to the different tarot suits, I'm thinking of that note from Narzissenkreuz questline that describes the four "functions" of a Descender as being able to protect the world, sustain the world, create the world, and destroy the world. If we follow how you connected the artifacts to the tarot suits, it could be said that the Flower of Life (being wands and fire) is tied to "create the world" and the Plume of Death (being swords and air) is tied to "destroy the world" Then there's the Sands of Time (being pentacles/coins and earth) to "protect the world" and the Goblet of Space (being cups and water) to "sustain the world" And ooooh my god... that does actually fit the Sustainer being the shade of space. And it might also tie the Goddess of Flowers to being the shade of life, not just a Seelie.

[@captaindanger13]

all i could think of while reading this is ZA WARUDO. it seems descenders are based on the World tarot card however I don't know enough about tarot cards to know for sure if that would make sense.

[@einsame_Maria]

"a thousand winds" reminds me of this poem, written by Clare Harner and titled "Immortality". "Do not stand By my grave, and weep. I am not there, I do not sleep- I am the thousand winds that blow I am the diamond glints in snow I am the sunlight on ripened grain, I am the gentle, autumn rain. As you awake with morning’s hush, I am the swift, up-flinging rush Of quiet birds in circling flight, I am the day transcending night. Do not stand By my grave, and cry- I am not there, I did not die."

[@normal6483]

A theory I've been having about the Four Shades is that they might represent the Four Living Creatures from Revelation, aka the highest order of heavenly being that live amongst the throne of G-d and uphold the firmament, aka the four angels Raphael, Uriel, Michael, and Gabriel. (According to Maimonides, aka Rambam.) • If Istaroth is the Shade of Death, this would make her a perfect fit for Raphael the Angel of Death. (aka "the human-headed" one, since each living creature is supposed to have a different type of head.) Raphael is associated with not just Death but also medicine, "killing" the disease inside you to heal you. Raphael is Death As The Natural Order, which fits really well with your version of Istaroth's role. (As opposed to Azrael, who rides the serpent from the Garden of Eden and was the 10th plague in Egypt, who is more like Death As A Tragedy.) Raphael is also considered an Angel of Air and is associated with Tifaret, the same Sephirah that Venti is assigned in the Genshin Sephirot theory you've mentioned. • Continuing the Genshin Sephirot theory, Gabriel is an Angel of Water assosciated with Din, or Judgement, the Furina Sephira. Gabriel is also the divine messenger, meaning this shade might have been the one to deliver the prophecy of doom to Furina's predecessor. • Michael is an Angel of Fire and is associated with Chesed, or Kind Love. Interestingly, this isn't the one associated with Natlan, but with the Tsaritsa. Michael is also the leader of the Heavenly Host, a military angel. This Fire & Ice symbolosm and focus on warfare might have something to do with why the Tsaritsa wants to rebel against the Heavenly Principles. • Lastly, this leaves Uriel as the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles. While I couldn't find an associated Sephira, I *could* find an interesting tidbit; Uriel guards the entrance of the Garden of Eden with a flaming sword, preventing Adam and Even from re-entering. That sounds pretty fitting for the one act we've seen from the Sustainer so far, doesn't it? (Originally I was considering the Four Auspicious Beasts as the Four Shades, but I think those are actually four of the Dragon Sovereigns. Specifically the Electro, Dendro, Cryo, and Pyro ones, Partially because Apep is already a Wood Element serpentine dragon and Natlan works great for a phoenix style Fire Dragon. But also because The Anemo, Geo, and Hydro dragons are perfect fits for Ziz, Behemoth, and Leviathan, and that coincidentally leaves four dragons who all fit the Four Auspicious Beasts really well.)

[@amandaslough125]

This is a very good write up. Though the copium in me is trying to find connections from that fire/ice and love motif for a certain Rosalyne. But my best friend wants her back too. I wonder if this set up you've noticed could extend towards other groups in any way. Like the witches.

[@timiolasanya225]

Raphael isn't angel of death he deals in miracle and healing Azrael is the angel of death

[@normal6483]

@@timiolasanya225 Raphael and Azrael have both been associated with death in different contexts by different people. Azrael is generally considered an "evil angel," and in Christianity he's specifically assumed to be a fallen angel, so often interpretations will pass the idea of death onto Raphael who already handles medicine. (Granted, this isn't the *most* popular interpretation, because the role of "positive psychopomp" was given to Saint Paul in Catholocism and Judaism pretty strictly regards death as Always Bad. But the desire for a positive psychopomp is still a common one, and it's been a notable enough interpretation of Raphael to come up multiple times in my research.)

[@timiolasanya225]

@@normal6483 sorry it took a while to reply I'm curious where u get Ur information from I tried to research but it seemed pretty inconsistent on whether he fell or not and a lot of it was talking either about Azazel or not and I only saw mentions of Raphael being the angel of death everything else relates him being a healer a guide for pilgrims etc

[@rirililili]

They are actually based on Greek Mythology.And Istaroth is the God of Time(confirmed in the game)And hence she is omnipresent.

[@idyotako]

Leaving a comment again since the vid premieres at midnight JP time. Still, any day is a good day when we get an Ashikai video! Can't wait to watch it when I wake up that morning.

[@snapedu9166]

No literally same 😂😂😂

[@blitzer12x]

PH Time is no different 😂

[@deangraves7462]

24:30 explains how Dottore copied himself. This explains why the traveler is unaffected by the Irmansol manipulation. I also have a theory about Ei's life operates similar to the single electron theory. I wouldn't be surprise if Ei and Makoto are the same person in two separate points in time. This also explains the time gap between the twin's arrival.

[@haamta]

VENTI LORE CRUMBS THANK YOU ASHIKAI💚

[@Ventis-dead-friend-]

YESYESYES

[@Titanic_Tuna]

Lore crumbs for the Lorespores.

[@Dubu_Mandu]

this totally goes with a theory I had when it was revealed that Neuvi gives out visions. I had a theory that the reason Ei and Neuvi had conflicting reasonings in how visions were given it was because nevi is right. Each vision is given by the current archon, this also matching with their ideals. Ei only stopped giving out visions since the vision hunt decree, because at that time no one would have agreed with not having visons but during the outside time when 500 years ago she gave the gnosis to Miko visions were still being given out even when ei was in her plane. She has the misconception that she never gave out visions because her in that moment didn't agree with her understanding of eternity. But her future self did. SO visions were still given out that is why people like Shinobu, dori, basically any electro character had visions because TIME was never taken into account when she planted the seed in makotos consciousness TIME didn't matter, the tree was planted 500 years ago and when Ei planted that tree that solidified her ideals of eternity, so her ideals were always the same no matter what time it was whether it was 500 years ago or now, the only thing that mattered was the tree. So Ei WAS giving out visions she just wasn't aware that her future self was giving the visions not her current. ( lol I had a heated debate with someone about this but they couldn't understand what I was talking about when I meant that TIME never mattered I'm glad someone else got a feeling in what I meant)

[@defiantmars9910]

“They’re ALL time gods!” This theory reminds me of a point I’ve been trying to articulate for a while about each Element’s association with Memories. Anemo is associated with stories and death, the memory of a life. Geo is a bit harder to talk about, but the stories involving Zhongli and Azhdaha talk about stone being able to hold memories and we have the Yaksha crystals I cannot recall the name for. I feel like there’s an overarching theme I’m missing with Liyue. With Electro, we see the interplay of Transience and Eternity. I like to think of memories in this context as “the repetition of fleeting moments into perpetuity”. Thus creating eternity from transience. Dendro feels much more direct with how it handled memories. To me, Sumeru sort of reiterated and expanded on the ideas seen before such as Life, Growth, Death, and Rebirth. Hydro was neat in that it focused on memories as it pertains to emotions. I think Furina’s and Neuvillette’s arcs cover that quite well. So it will be interesting to see what Hoyo does with Pyro and Cyro. I feel like I’m on board with the notion that Pyro will likely focus on the “inheritance of will”. Great theory, Ashikai. It will be cool to see where things with the Shades end up going.

[@lrp71]

Geo is actually simpler than it might seem. The connection is this: stone is history. After all, what is history but the record of past memories transmitted into the present? Geo works well in this metaphor because rock often does preserve history. Across Teyvat, we encounter ancient stone ruins and old stone monuments and tablets engraved with the words of those who died long ago. Fossils are the imprint of the long dead set in earth and serving as a record. As the oldest archon, Zhongli is the physical embodiment of Liyue's history and memories. His story quest chapters are not named after his constellation, but are instead "Historia Antiqua" or "Ancient History." His first story quest involves talking with several archaeologists (a field that directly connects earth with history) and learning the story of Havria. The final act is "A Record of All Things." I definitely recommend watching that act again, especially starting at the line, "History records, but history may be changed." Even back in 1.1, long before we knew anything about Irminsul, Zhongli explicitly told Traveler that even the stone carvings of history are unreliable. He says we are to record and remember the real history of Teyvat and take it with us when we leave the world. The second story quest doubles down on these themes. Kun Jun, the fragment of Azhdaha, can literally perceive the memories in ores. We learn rocks have memories, though when it comes to the distant past, only the strongest emotions tend to dominate. Azhdaha says, "Erosion is the world's greatest destroyer of memories." I think the connection between geo and memory is actually incredibly strong when you revisit these stories. Geo represents the permanence of rock and history, as well as the inevitability of erosion and lost memory.

[@hirulioo1543]

you know istaroth reminds me of a memokeeper from honkai starrail- and how aranaga mentioned "remembrance" which is the path the garden of recollection follows. even how black swan resembles the welkin moon lady. besides that, it is the duty of the garden of recollection to find and preserve memories so aeon fuli can use it to recreate the universe after its destruction. this matches how istaroth might be the shade associated with death and how she is collecting memories so she could help in cultivating new life with the shade associated with life. fun stuff.

[@YukiZero]

It would be so funny.... if the nameless bard is named ORPHEUS

[@toridomiart7092]

I haven't heard anyone mention it but this theory does have me doubling down on the idea that every player's game is like, a different, tangible, canon manifestation of any one possible moment in the travelers journey that exists in-universe. It fits this block time model because everyone is experiencing the same story and story moments and world, even if we're all choosing to do different things in whatever order, or spending our time differently, we're all experiencing moments on the way to the same ending, which like, as players of a video game, we know is coming, and - to get really meta- 'has happened', bc it's already written by the devs lol.

[@marfaleon7025]

What do you think about Hoyo possibly putting Shade of Death reference in Natlan since part of it's culture supposedly will be Latin America which also includes Mexico with it's "Appreciation of Death", festivals and so on. Seems like a great nation for Shade of Death lore drop, especially due to "Incandescent Ode of Resurrection"

[@clover.8147]

Indeed, "Día de Muertos" o "Día de todos los Santos".

[@lahie16]

There is sure to be some lore drops withe the Mare Jevari, the only place where "even the wind does not blow". I wonder why Venti/Istaroth can't collect souls there? I mean, I know it's dry and hot, but still. Seems op

[@nicolas._.2294]

.....and I heard Columbina is there👀 (I am sorry but I still think she is connected to death, who sings over a coffin at a funeral......)

[@marionettebunny]

I SEE VENTI ON ASHIKAI VIDEO AND MY HEART SKIP A BEAT OMG OMG OMG

[@theAllmightyCabbage]

Barbatos is the god of freedom and someone somewhere once said that death is the ultimate freedom from life. idk who it was, credit to that person, but it stuck with me.

[@andylinmax2065]

I feel like another point for the sustainer of heavenly principles being the shade of space/void is that she uses cubes and squares, which are the shapes used to measure 2d and 3d space. She also comes out of a portal(which I know a lot of other gods can do, but still), and traps people in small cubes, bassically shrinking them.

[@gatex33d74]

It WOULD be funny if istaroth is the god of "finality", because her name was written backwards on the book lol

[@JB_Yu]

"No proof, just vibes 😌" - Ashikai 2024 lol Overall, great vid as always! Would like to hear your opinion on the translation of scripts from summoning circles all around Elynas

[@Romashka_Sov]

28:25. That's probably not the case. You see, by creating something, you remove something else that was in its place before, and by removing something you create something else to fill the void. So creation and removal kind of interchangeable here, for example by creating sakura Ei changed part of ecosystem there was before, and by doing this could create a time paradox. Who knows how many fates altered if she didn't plant that seed, changing future by this decision I think the reason why Ei succeeded where Nahida and Scaramouche didn't comes down to instruments they used. Irminsul is just not capable of changing future in any way, as it works with information only. If it could work with reality, i think they could successfully change the past, but Irminsul always works only with the present.

[@mimamo]

When you said Orpheus' lyre was taken up into the sky, a light bulb went on, because the German words in Holy Lyre der Himmel mean nothing else but "of the skies/heavens". Himmel can mean both the literal sky or heaven.

[@cyrosgold7]

I'm really glad you brought up the Tarot and it's connections to Genshin again, though at 14:32 when you show the Major Arcana you showed the Trump cards only, and not the Fool. The Fool is the un-numbered card but is still a part of the Major Arcana, and a very important part, because the Fool is the main character of the story as told by the Major Arcana. A story that has characters and situations reflected in the Traveler's story in Genshin. If we look at the story of the Major Arcana with the Traveler being the Fool(And us being the Traveler): The Fool first meets the Magician and the Priestess which are the Fool's Masculine and Feminine sides represented by Aether and Lumine. Next the Fool encounters the Empress, the earthly representation of the Priestess, acting as the mother figure to the Fool, represented by Venti. Next is the Emperor, the earthly representation of the Magician, acting as the Father figure to the Fool, represented by Zhongli. Both instilling their knowledge to the Fool defining his ideas. Next up is the Hierophant, rigid structure and Dogma, Divine knowledge passed down to the world and the religious zeal of adherence and hierarchy, represented by the Raiden and the Sakoku Decree, and the Vision hunt Decree. Next is the Lovers, this represents the power of choice and the realization that the power to shape one's own future is in their own hands, represented by Miko and learning to harness the power to defeat the Shogun(and some of the other events of this part of the story). Next is the Chariot, Representing the newfound power and knowledge to move forward on his journey, represented by the events from Raiden's defeat to the journey to Sumeru. Next is Strength, the first major challenge the Fool faces in his journey, only through overcoming his base qualities and learning the power of the mind can he succeed, Represented by saving Nahida and defeating Scaramouche. Next the Fool enters a time of introspection as the hermit, a time to learn the harsher of life's lessons and that in some ways life plays cruel games with you, Represented by the fate of Rukkhadevata, the Aranara, and the darker events of the Sumeru dessert(Poor Jeht). Next the wheel of Fate appears, representing Life as a series of riddles, twists, and turns, a mix of fate and choice with highs and lows. Represented by the Events involving Apep and the Pari. Next is Justice, through which the Fool comes to terms with turbulent waves of life, learning to carefully measure his choices and enact them fairly, but the Fool also learns that life is not merely black and white and struggles with himself, Represented by most of the Fontaine arc thus far. Next is the Hanged Man, representing the Fool seeking new perspective while trapped between two worlds, here and without comfort, he learns that all he had learned so far to be truth was just that which was believed by his teachers till now, represented by the events of Narzissenkreuz. Next is Death, who will free the Fool from the falsehoods he learned from the Emperor, Empress, Hierophant, and his once innocent self, forever changing him, Not yet represented in game, or partially represented by Furina's Story and Focalor's Death. Next is Temperance, representing a new deeper and spiritual understanding, and learning to regulate his emotions by forging a middle path between the extremes, but realizing there has been hidden blind spots within himself, Not yet representing in game but perhaps hinted at. Next from within the hidden areas the Fool meets the Devil, The Devil will draw on the Fool's own Psyche to bring forth subconscious urges of attachment, and Obsession, Not yet represented in game. Next the Fool discovers the Tower, representing Ambition and built on a foundation of false Premises, the home of the Devil that will be struck down by lightning from the heavens, this frees the Fool from the Devil's Influence and allows the Fool to move forward to Renewal, new found growth, and fundamental change. Next is the Star, representing Hope in the form of new ideas that light the path forward and granting the fool assistance from the heavens itself, Not yet in game but sounds like quite the twist. Next is the moon, Representing the remaining mysteries of the world and things outside on one's control, it's light shows the fool a narrow path between a dog and a wolf, between the world of civilization and the world of wild chaos, order and nature, The fool must walk this fine line to move forward, in game the moon has appeared many times and so has the duality theme especially the theme of Wolf and Dog as seen in the events of "Book of Esoteric Revelations". Next is the sun, a new dawn, and the final stretch of the Fool's journey, it's a homecoming and a return to his ancestral home where he will utilize the knowledge gained along the way, endgame stuff from the sounds of it. Next is Judgment, represented by the knowledge the fool has accrued, it is the Fool who wields Judgement, it is a revelation, anything left unsaid will be revealed, and the final work will be completed, the climax of the final arc in game most likely. Last is the world, representing the completion of a cycle and the start of a new one, the new cycle looks to the past as it moves forward. The card itself has a figure that is both male and female, wrapped in a wreath or sometimes Ouroboros, The corners each with a figure or with the 4 symbols of the lesser Arcana, The primordial one and the 4 shades in game, perhaps with the Traveler being the new primordial one. This really is a thing that should be looked into and covered much more.

[@lrp71]

This is really interesting! Do you have any suggestions on sources I could read to learn more?

[@cyrosgold7]

​@@lrp71 Well the best sources are to google each card's meaning in order and from different search results. It's kinda vague as there is no canonical telling of the Fool's Journey by design, it's all about interpreting the various aspects of the cards in order. Don't forget that the cards also have inverse meanings as well which could indicate a path on the journey. You can also look up "The Fool's Journey" itself and read some of the different interpretive stories. They all follow many of the same points but some might have the fool not meet the Magician and instead believes he is the Magician as he is a royal heir and thus believes he is both powerful and well educated. The Magician possesses all of the tools of the lesser arcana after all.

[@jakubbarczyk4310]

All the talk of wind, arcana, memories, tarot...My headcannon now is that Istaroth looks like black swan from HSR

[@usubenidango]

And yknow who else looks like Black Swan from HSR? The chibi girl in that thing people use to buy primos monthly (forgot the name because i never buy it) I think it was Welking Moon?

[@thelostyaksha]

I'm kinda surprised. All the reasons you mentioned for Venti being associated with death are actually his own abilities. We know that Barbatos knows the past, present and the future. That's why he can do all the things you mentioned in first part of the video

[@TheDhanaMC]

Everything about Venti is only relevant when it's associated with Istaroth lately. Sad. "Venti did something? Credit to Istaroth". I hope Hoyo gives us more Venti in the future so lore folks talk about him as he is not just Istaroth's something.

[@thatmifi]

okay not to take away from venti, whom i love, but have you considered that it's venti's ability to do these things because he is a part of istaroth? it's completely logical to theorize on istaroth's abilities and her domain based on a character who is "a thread of the thousand winds"

[@Tsuki6772]

@@thatmifi Exactly lol. I like Venti and rate him as one of my favorite Archons but the entire being of Venti's overall larger character background is there *because* of his connections to the Thousand Winds, which would also indicate his importance for the eventual endgame. If that's not what you like then you're setting yourself up for disappointment.

[@Hyomiria]

That was an interesting take on the sands of time and how it’s earth related. It made me think of Morax, by this I specifically mean how the archaic Petra sands, talks about him once using the glittering stars of the earth to create a device for telling the time. To teach ancient humans the value of every moment. Edit: forgot to add that the sands of eon, solar relic states that Morax was young when the solar chariot raced across the sky and when the moon sisters turned on each other.

[@sharedrawing7034]

this makes so much and little sense at the same time and i just love it

[@Hi_I_am_Ed]

You did amazing pronouncing "Weinlesefest". Good job! Very interesting theory indeed, too. I wonder if we'll get more into that aspect of venti at some point.

[@EricDiomedes]

How are you able to make everything make sense??? Often I start your videos thinking " there's no way she's gonna connect all of this" and then you DO! Hat's off to you, Ashikai, really 👏👏👏

[@dtmuffinman]

Some interesting things this video made me think of that kind of connect to these theories. 1 - Thinking about the Mare Jivari, which Stanley constantly describes as a place where the winds don't blow. When thinking about the new context given in these theories, that makes that more interesting. A place where the dead cannot pass on? That idea is supported with how that quest plays out (or maybe how that quest plays out supports the theory, anyway...I guess they support each other) in which the fake Stanley says the real Stanley's memory is lost because he died in that windless land. At the very least, Venti's story quest is a LOT more interesting now. 2 - This part may have actually been mentioned in that video about time you referenced, as I admit I didn't watch that one yet but rather just went off your breakdown in this video, but the block time idea and how you portrayed it with the cube and being at different places at different times made me think of Dottore and how he described the clones of himself. As always, amazing video.

[@ChalkEChelcee]

Not this theory with death, time and seeds being made in relation to wind, Venti and the primordial one right after I had ideas for my genshin oc having a seed in their brain that stores knowledge of the world locked inside a mortals brain without them knowing they have it to keep this knowledge safe. Absolutely love this theory, it is a really fun thing to think about and it adds something new :D

[@antivenom68]

Havent heard the theory yet (but something similar) Ashikai bouta cook

[@user-fb8wb9sx9h]

Ashikai is the only genshin theorist that could say the most absurd thing like "Teyvat sky is actually red and everyone is colorblind so we see it as blue" and i would totally believe that

[@surreabel]

"Butterflies represent the soul of the dead " - Hu Tao is Istaroth confirmed xD Must be why Zhongli works under her and she can visit the afterlife realm and even Venti befriended her, and they perform poetry together ;)

[@FentFanta]

Age literally immeasurable, still can't rap 💀💀💀

[@surreabel]

@@FentFanta She's also friends with Xiao and has those Flower eyes very similar to Nahida who is supposed to be the Teyvat version of Istaroth.. (according to my theory of how Deshret Nabu Rukkha Egeria represent the four shades based on Desert lore)

[@sandrakiss8711]

ah yes, Kairos talk always makes me excited! Especially seeing how many of your theories and symbols you picked up on align with what I deducted :D For the block time theory, something worth mentioning imo to help a bit about how Ei's planting worked but changing things with Irminsul didn't work as well with Scaramouche - Nicole's talk at the broken vase that Paimon doesn't remember breaking "unfortunately the fate of Teyvat cannot easily be changed, perhaps a god may have a slim chance, but for anyone else... who can say. when a small animal runs into a tree trunk, though the tree may sway, it is not displaced. the same is true of fate. like a vase that falls to the ground, whether it is broken by a cat or a bird, the result is still a broken vase, is it not? history does not change easily, but human hearts can. believe your own eyes. only that which you see is true, what is unseen is but an illusion." so imo the part to dive into is, well... quantum physics. just as with block time theory - anything can be anywhere until there's an observer, as experiments many times have proven so with quantum particles. you kinda pointed this out too though, Traveller is the observer in any instance to make things be true. Paimon not remembering the broken vase due to being part of the particles in Teyvat, Traveller not, just as Irminsul cannot remember them through itself, only by others' memories of them. The fact that Kairos is for opportune time matters a lot too I think. The planting of the tree had to be done at the right time, with all things coming together to make it slip by the Heavenly Principles. Pretty sure that Kairos/Istaroth is mad at whatever power is forcing things on Teyvat and is/was on Traveller's side (I do hope she is alive though, I want to see her!!!)

[@theysisossenthime]

I really enjoyed this theory. There have been many attempts at a theory on this topic over the years, but this one was the most coherent I've heard to date.

[@GuyWithAnAmazingHat]

I just want to dive into the most important themes of Hoyoverse that's also being expressed by the artifacts in Genshin. By the end of Honkai 3rd part 1, there are 4 "ultimate" Herrschers for the 4 most important characters of Hoyoverse. Kiana Kaslana - Herrscher of Finality, Raiden Mei - Herrscher of Origin, Bronya Zachik - Herrscher of Truth, Seele Vollerei - Herrscher of Rebirth(CN Life and Death). I'll explain these recurring themes for the shades and artifacts. Flower of Life and Feather of Death and the Herrscher of Rebirth are based on the Buddhist Karmic cycle, Samsara of Life, Death and Rebirth. It's pretty easy to understand this theme from a glance, but it is the basis of all of Hoyoverse. Buddhism believes that all of existence is a cycle, a Samsara, day and night, a year, rise and fall of civilisations, all these are the "common sense" of life, just like life and death. When you die, you become nourishment for the earth, decompose and rebirth as new life in the form of plants and animals. Samara/cycles are as fundamental to existence as Space-Time and Truth which I'll elaborate much more on. Finality, The End or simply Destiny, sounds ominous but in actual fact as Raiden Mei herself said: "Origin is an End and Finality is a Beginning", it simply means that when one thing ends, another one starts, Finality and Origin are both sides of the same coin. Raiden Mei is the equal and opposite counterpart to Kiana Kaslana, the most important character of Hoyoverse, Kiana represents Finality and Mei represents Origin, they are inseparable partners even across space and time. But Finality and Origin is not just a 2 sided coin, there's actually something in between the 2 faces, Truth. Bronya is the 3rd most important, representing Truth, together they are the Hoyoverse's most important Trio. Kiana who represents Hope became the Herrscher of Finality, a point in the Future. Raiden who represents Destiny becomes the Herrscher of Origin, a point in the Past. At the same time Bronya became the Herrscher of Truth, the Eternal search for Truth lies in the Present. Bronya is the one who keeps Kiana and Raiden in balance. And how is this represented in Genshin? We've already seen Kiana as the Unknown God, Sustainer of Heavenly Principles, in short Destiny itself. And we have Raiden as the God of Eternity, which is said to be the one thing closest to the Heavenly Principles, they are the closest enemies now instead of partners. Kiana also has the power to control Space while Raiden has the power to control Time, they reflect the same themes as the Goblet of Space and Sands of Time. Ishtaroth(Kiana) gave Raiden(Mei) the seed of the Sacred Sakura which allowed it to bloom throughout time, again Eternity is the one thing closes to the Heavenly Principles. And Bronya is almost 100% going to be the Cryo Archon, who is rebelling against the Heavenly Principles. You can see that the Trio now seems to be thematically related again in Genshin as they always were in Honkai. To summarise and make sense of the themes: Hope/ Finality/ Future Destiny/ Origin/ Past Eternity/ Truth/ Present You need Hope to overcome Finality in the Future, your Destiny has been decided since your Origin in the Past, but you must overcome the Eternal Present to find the Truth. This is basically the most important set of themes across all of Hoyoverse and is shifted around to fit the stories of each game. These themes are visually displayed and then spoken in dialogue in HI3rd chapter 35, the final chapter of HI3rd Part 1. The characters were in a dreamlike space with a train station, the current platform is Eternity, the lines to the left and right are Hope and Destiny. If Sustainer of Heavenly Principles is Destiny, Raiden is Eternity, then Tsaritsa is Hope. Truth can be found across Space and Time and the endless Samsara of Life and Death.

[@wanwan-zs9ep]

Yes! I live for your theory! I can't wait to see it! 😳😳😳

[@efrensalisijr.1303]

Yay a new theory to chew on~ This should last quite a while

[@efrensalisijr.1303]

Also also I like that this video expands on how Ei talks about her "self" in the moment a photo was taken in her first story quest. I've heard your explanation about Ei being more philosophical in other languages but iirc it was on a livestream video

[@willrof]

Your videos are so well thought! When I was ready to jump from my seat to say "but nahida...." you go and mention it, just shows your attention to detail. congratz!! Loving your videos!

[@sadik._.farhan]

Thank you Ashikai ❤ for making such great videos. Keep it up!

[@Amethyst.i]

I can’t wait for this, this has me so curious

[@user-hs9in1wi7e]

This is quite clever...! I always love you video 'cause I keep launching while I do something else, only to stop what I'm doing to actively listen and focus on your theories: you are a main monitor youtuber for sure!

[@amouramarie]

I've never heard of "block time" before, but you explained it really well, especially for a concept of time shenanigans which can be hard to grasp. So thanks!

[@purepotassium]

This is a VERY cool theory. You always take the research just a bit further than I expect and I always learn something. I think there might be a connection here with the artifact representations and some other of the honkaiverse Authorities. You mentioned specifically Reason and Void but there's a few more that could have the 'time' associations you're looking for. My gut is telling me that there's correlation between genshin's moons sisters and the authorities of Origin, Binding, and Finality. Origin/Finality being the beginning/end of life, and Binding being the one that is shown in Hi3's story being used to connect different points in time, and freeze moments in time, and I just think there's really something there that could help crack this moon sister thing.

[@v.v365]

In the scenes of Makoto talking to Ei you showed, I realized the misty stuff over the bright spot in Makoto’s center reminded me of the pet seelies, which I’ve always thought look like a little picture of a cloudy sky and a full moon, and electro seelies have that purple color but they move too fast to be properly studied, but we know Seelies in the past used to be linked to the Moon Sisters before the calamity and the seelies becoming ghostly husks that guide us to treasures

[@Something-ln8pi]

I’ve been waiting for this one, I’m ready to be convinced!

[@aish6597]

holy moly as i was watching 11:55 i realized i had an exact dream where you talk about this a year ago god dam

[@sigit2u]

As always you blow my socks off with your inquisitive hypothesis and I love it! Hopefully we will get more hints about Venti, the relevance of Monstadt region and the whole Archon war and khaenriah.

[@miza1205]

When you mentioned about echoes in time, it reminds me of the "Nighttime Whispers in the Echoing Woods" artifact set. I am always amazed by your theories and how you all connect them

[@Xelluse]

Thank you for one more mind-blowing video 🥰

[@randomchannel1519]

This is really interesting; Kinda throws a wrench in my whole "connection to the Matrix of Prescience" theory though lol, that was operating off of a special relation between life and death, with time and space as a separate duality; Might still be able to adapt an alternate version of that theory to fit better with yours here, since this theory of yours is really compelling; And then I'll write down both versions when I finally stop procrastinating and start to write that theory down (the fact I have to write it specifically on Wednesday because of the Star Rail connection is causing me issues lmao)

[@BB-se7cx]

Oh I love this video this is absolutely amazing

[@MarkYu23]

Wahhh this reminds me that we still don't have Venti Story Quest II and it is rumored that we'll get Furina Story Quest II in the patch after next..

[@finnishanimefan1034]

Great video, especially since FInland was mentioned 😁

[@Soubhagyasharma9]

@Ashikai man!! Your voice is just too perfect. I can only imagine if you speak this way normally as well, because one can just absolutely listen to you all the damn time!!!❤

[@nekryone4366]

I love finishing work on a Monday afternoon too a Ashikai notification:3

[@KurisuMikaRisu]

Oh boy! So I know a leak for the Natlan story and it relates to a part of this theory and I won't elaborate anymore then that but it just makes me so excited for when we eventually get there and I can react and see others including ashikai react to it

[@ar19158]

Three of my favourites in one video : Genshin, Tarot and Ashikai! Was waiting for a video from you for long, love this♥️ . Was wondering, wow Ashikai didn't mention Deshret.. boy was I wrong 😂

[@Niiko666]

i find it odd that a song in the dragonspine ost is called 'Ad Oblivione', which might make sense since dragonspine is in mondstadt, but also because enkanomiya and mondstadt share the same tragedy, i dunno. just something to think about.

[@yarikkoshmarik1196]

for some reason ashikai's mandatory deshret mentions remind of the "oh yes. me, my gf & her giant plushie" memes

[@jsreeshanth3]

Just when i want to start preparing for my exam she drops a new video

[@Rainbow_drawings]

This is such an interesting video. I love hearing your theories and takes on the lore. Have you ever done a video where you thoroughly explore the twins? I have a theory that traveller might be a reference to Lucifer. That theory is also based off of the demon named paimon that follows Lucifer around.

[@Ilwenray85]

Maybe I am misremembering but I think she mentions it briefly in her "Starkeeper Paimon" theory... because by defining the origins of Paimon makes the correlation: the travelers being the Morning Star/Evening Star = Lucifer.

[@ljunson]

i will always appreciate your consistent mentioning of deshret 😂

[@kenp3727]

In Star Rail when you go to the Echo of War for the weekly Cocolia fight, in the bottom left corner there's an Introduction textbox and it uses the exact phrasing from The Parable of Tree. "The last battle with Cocolia on the Everwinter Hill shall echo through eternity." I'm not sure it adds very much to the conversation lol, but it's just something that's stuck with me since reading it.

[@chimmychungusmaximus]

Finally some good heckin genshin content

[@yixo]

In Sumeru's glider it's at least implied that Venti is the "breath of life."

[@sthezh]

the sinshades of enka were created by istaroth to help preserve the memories of the enka inhabitants, and we know she helped preserve makoto’s consciousness 500 years after she passed. the only other time in inazuma that we see other sinshade like projections is the inhabitants of tsurumi and the boatman who ferries the souls to the nearby irminsul tree. if these are all istaroth’s doing, it totally seems like she would be the moon sister to determine when a soul leaves teyvat, able to prolong it or assist it in rejoining with irminsul. i think that fits under a god of death? i’m not sure if these points will be mentioned in the vid, but it totally seems plausible as far as a theory goes!

[@yixo]

I always thought wind pushes time and guides souls to oblivion. From dust it comes to dust it returns. The soul of Stanley couldn't pass on as Mare Jivari is a land where wind does not blow, presumably until Venti specifically sent it there to pick his soul.

[@reveriesend4668]

Time to throw the next ball: how was the world before Istaroth "was made"? It really puts the underline on Hyperborea as "a land of the undying" or "the Garden of Eden" or "Shangri-La" or whatever the terminology they want to use.

[@kotarouinugami1745]

It was ruled by dragons. And presumably full of intelligent vishaps. And while they did not die of old age, they probably still died of violence. And so, somebody must have been in charge of death.

[@reveriesend4668]

@@kotarouinugami1745 I doubt. for... reasons about "moon sisters" and "shades" that might not be as straightforward (or well, it is straightforward, from another pov) to explain.

[@thecuriousquaggan490]

awesome video!

[@sailormoon3167]

lets go as someone who does tarot im so excited they included that in the lore

[@yannischupin7787]

Fun thought if the moon sisters are the 3 shades of time, but two of them are no more. Could it be that the missing moons are the one of the beginning and the end ? Hence why we got to buy the welkin moon... the implications of this would be wild and explain many things going circle in the game. Because if all the moments are like the sand in a time piece, but there is no more birth or death, then we are only left with the sand, the moments repeating endlessly.

[@surreabel]

Deshret in this pyramid, tried to create a sort of dream space of his own called Aaru (the white hole we close).. which is basically what Narzissenkreuz and Remus tried to do as well, become a sort of Phanes like entity that can rival the world and make everyone into one (similar to the Golden Slumber).. for which he had to recreate the life-time-death hourglass form.. and that's probably what caused a breach in the borders of Phanes' dream (Teyvat/reality) and abyss invaded in.. I also believe Traveller taking the place of Phanes is what creates this block time thing and that's why we are in a way Phanes while not actually being him, because well, we will replace him by killing him probably.. and that will echo throughout eternity.. which is why we barely ever hear of or see Phanes.. or maybe he's just beyond the samsara just like we are.. whoever is dreaming and whatever Irminsul is..

[@Kay1110-eb1sj]

1. Every time I watch one of your theories I get both excited and scared. Excited because it’s wild and complex and very fitting. Scared because what if Hoyo did not go that deep into the lore? How disappointing would that be? 2. I’m sure many have told you how much you sound like Anne Hathaway. Girl, you really need to make an audiobook because I swear I will listen to it even if it was gibberish!

[@JoshuaB1194]

One interpretation of the artifact set logos is hoyos interpretation of reason through hi3. In that game reason is associated with creating objects, bronya, and welt showcase this clearly. The connections isn't clear, what genshin does have is the SoHP, whose main method is creating her red cubes that serves different purposes, not space/void like in HI3.

[@hizoriko2922]

Oh my god, time and place. And you did it at my birthday dinner🫢

[@Crusader050]

Super unrelated, but I was amused by your pronunciation of simultaneously.

[@orangemage9522]

The image on the Welkin Moon looks just like black Swan from HSR. Do you think there is a connection to the Garden of Recollection?

[@amandaslough125]

I think a cross check between her, the garden, and the initial Honkai Impact 3rd lady who looks the closets to Welkin would be needed for a proper thorough research.

[@ongseungwu4311]

the thing is this theory make my theory jiggle af. my theory is that the inro scene that we witness as the players were the twins were stopped by the Heavenly Principles isn't the beginning but the future.

[@griponreality254]

When I commented a long time ago about watching a specific PBS Spacetime video for lore reasons, I wonder if either this is the result, or more likely you just got there via the scenic route. Also- Light Cones. If you’ve not encountered them in the physics sense, there’s probably something to mine there.

[@caparashon]

Mmmm, a fresh Istaroth and Venti theory to start the week. Delicious! The Moirai also are quite similar in concept to the Norns or goddesses of destiny in Norse mythology, which I find relevant because as we know, Mondstadt and Khaenri'ah are huge on Norse references. The most recent myths have the three main norns as three sisters (Urd, Verdandi, Skuld) who live by the roots of Yggdrasil next to a well, being the keepers of the world tree and the ones who water it. Some lore gives each sister the power over past/present/future as well, but we don't know if it's actual canon or people mixing it up with Greek mythology. Regardless, the well is named after Urd, who should be the eldest sister/the one who weaves/the one in charge of the past. In your theory that would be more or less the Shade of Life who's associated to water as Egeria's creator. So, it would be interesting if the Four Shades, and the ones in charge of time specifically, are also deeply linked to Irminsul. At least with Istaroth it makes sense, as memories and moments of the deceased also make their way to Irminsul through the ley lines. Perhaps she's the one who makes sure the records she collects get there as part of her role?

[@Rashmi-7]

i love this side of this game so much can't wait to see faces for deshret, alice, rhine, primordial one, king irmin, istaroth and everyone else.

[@Deseroshi]

I don't get notified when you upload for some reason even tho I have notifs on, its really annoying that I have to check your channel manually but its still always worth it.

[@kallistiravenhurst5232]

thoughts... with the book analogy where the three time gods put together the book representing a persons' life... when one decides to add a page to a book it can be done in such a way that you don't realize the page wasn't supposed to be there [adding the tree in inazuma] and potentially having that page 'separate' in a way [irl cases would be pages attached to the inside of the cover, i've seen some fantasy books use that to include a map of the world] [analogy wise would be how the tree is outside the jurisdiction of the heavenly principles] where as if you were to remove a page from a book it's far too easy to leave signs that there's something missing such as tears or weaker bindings or even just the story suddenly skipping forward for 'no reason' [so much had to be re-written to make people not question the sudden absence of rukhadevata] potential extra thought that just came to mind when writing this; would the god of space [physical time/counter time/anti time] be the one entrusted to store and catalogue the 'books of a life' in the analogy? and now my brain is going over-time with the book analogy because paper can end up with mold that if left unchecked could spread and ruin an entire library worth of books so it's possible the hillichurls 'pages' got infected with this mold and so the god of space decided to intervene to make it so those books never got brought to the library and now they're stuck living endlessly which means the god of death can't write down their moments which means those moments never get immortalized and will inevitably fade, resulting in books where all you will find is the rot of the abyss rather then ink [after all, the 'ghosts' we see, especially the ones that are echoes of people remembered by irminsul, can be viewed as a snap-shot of who that person was. a representation of who they knew themself to be filtered through the lens of who those around them remember them to have been. a single moment of their time] sorry about text wall >.> and also sorry if i misspelled things i'm not up to looking up wiki for spell-check

[@PlumpyLyndy]

32:43 If I'm playing Bingo every time I watch your recent vids, at some point Deshret being mentioned is a very staple thing I have in my bingo card lmao 🤣

[@dndmtg299]

With all the talk about artifacts it made me think that Mabey each artifact piece is part of the identity of the originator. The flower representing their birth, the sands representing their timespan, the flower representing their death, the goblet their soul or aether and the crown their will or memories.

[@cal8569]

every time i have someone explain the concept of block time to me my entire brain goes to mush. CRYING. 😭😭😭

[@rail5695]

28:30 it could also be that in block time, since everything exists in every point of time, removing something at a certain point in time does not completely remove it, as the other point in time can still "echo" it back into existance. this explanation would also explain why nahida's parable was actually able to exist in the first place. if there were no story for her to base the parable on, the parable shouldnt exist, but because of how block time works, it does exist, and that allows her parable to exist

[@tatlxtael2303]

This is really interesting. I haven’t caught up since sumeru so I have no idea who istiroth is in general but very interesting video