DON'T MISS THIS in "The Road Not Taken" Animated Short (Genshin Impact) [4.6]

My attempt at explaining the "The Road Not Taken" Animated Short ( • "The Road Not Taken" A... ) I am so happy to see an animation dedicated for the twins of genshin impact! We see a lot of sweet moments as well as some dark parts. Let's try to understand what the animation signifies for the twins and the main story of genshin impact. I hope you enjoy the video :D
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#genshinImpact #animation #genshinlore #lumine #aether #dainsleif #hoyocreators

[@SandwichDoggy]

Funny how the poem also rationalises why you can choose Aether or Lumine at the start and either way ends up the same Edit: HOLY MY FIRST PIN THANK YOU

[@hariettemarionette]

@fossil_eater Yeah there are still some inconsistencies, but we can just chalk it up to "it's a video game and the designers have a set narrative they want to convey"

[@VanishEclipse4867]

@fossil_eater They may have some minor personality differences but the way their journeys went is what ultimately shaped them. Their respective traveling companions and the time they were in shaped them no matter the personality differences they may have.

[@TheGameRuler]

@fossil_eater I mean it's implied the sibblings have been together for a VERY long time and judging by the seer in Sumeru that said that the Traveler would live for thousands of years (and was shocked and assumed something was off in her reading), we can assume they have a VERY long lifespan. So it's likely they've always been together when visiting worlds and as such always shared the same mindset when doing so. Meaning the first time they actually acted by themselves it was when they got split on Arrival to Teyvat, and if what we learned from Fontaine's many quests and lore entries is true then it's because Khaenri'ah used their ritual to force the twins into it. Combining this, it implies the sibblings would pick the exact same options had their places been swapped; meaning it really doesn't matter which twin is the Traveler and which is the Abyss one, they both have the same mindset and when exposed to certain things they would make the same options... and since it's implied one stopped moving while the other continued... we may be being hinted that one of them (Lumine in this case) stopped at one point that may have been too early. Perhaps influenced due to her own grief.

[@VanishEclipse4867]

@@TheGameRuler As said before, the siblings have some minor personality differences but almost the same mindsets and morals that lead to the same outcomes no matter if their roles were reversed.

[@anthonymanggoi1337]

For the Traveler, The Road not Taken was the Road that Paimon suggest we explore later.

[@aeshikajyotshna852]

good one

[@anthonymanggoi1337]

One could say that the Road the Abyss Sibling took was... 'e-roaded' Get it? Like 'eroded'? E-roaded?

[@ZklAlvarez]

Okay Cyno, you can stop now.

[@AustinUkken]

Lmao

[@darkvader125]

[@SailorMusicCat]

Interestingly, it looks like Dain is often looking at Lumine. Like he wants to get close, but due to his grief and mental state *doesn't* except for that single moment in the trailer where it's implied he put his hand on her shoulder....a moment that was likely too late.

[@meonhieunganmo2452]

yeh =(((, he often gets the eyesight to Lumine, but his nation and people are in danger. His mind is deep in depression too.

[@clashcon11]

Meanwhile Paimon is just an emergency food who only care about food and mora and screaming at us "How about we explore the area ahead of us later".

[@SailorMusicCat]

@clashcon11 tell me you haven't paid attention to the story without directly telling me you haven't paid attention to the story. Paimon very obviously cares about us but is much more childlike in mindset, that innocence and wonder in the world alongside less long term planning and emotional regulation skills, than the serious and depressed stoic soldier that was Dain. Multiple times she's thrown herself forward to try and help us even though she's very much not a fighter. And she's been growing throughout our journey just like we have. I kind of hate how much the fandom has reduced her to emergency food and the *gameplay* mechanic to keep us from exploring areas of the world that the devs aren't ready for us to go to yet. Like many characters that the fandom has reduced to a one note caricature she's far more complex than that. Someone only concerned about food and mora wouldn't do things like throw herself forward to try and shake us awake as the Shogun bears down on us with her sword, even physically putting herself between us when it wasn't working. If she didn't care about us, she would have fled when it looked like the Shogun's strike was going to follow through instead she tried in the only way she could to keep us safe.

[@gigimoon1]

@@SailorMusicCat it's a joke-

[@SailorMusicCat]

@MC-Lumine_1 One I'd love to know how you know they're not serious and two I'm sure not laughing. If it's a joke it's not a funny one.

[@impostorsyndrome1350]

So that is why Dainsleif said in the Travail trailer to "rescue her". She's the slave of fate, that no matter what she have done, would ended the same, and we, the traveler who can change that fate, can rescue our sibling from the fate. This also means that Dain still cares about the sibling.

[@Doctor_Apocalypse]

"Slave of fate"... Lum8ne turns into a cat and now goes by the name elio! Case closed

[@strawberrygumpop]

@@Doctor_Apocalypse LOLLL

[@QuangNguyen-vf3nz]

_"That day, if our positions were switched... Would our fates be different? Would I have your life, and you mine?"_

[@boypumpkin105]

Nah man the case has just opened heading to star rail for continuation

[@escapetherace1943]

it could make sense. Fontaine was about overturning fate for a favorable outcome, which didn't work for some but worked with Focalors' plan and sacrifice.

[@celestialarden]

Players: Venti speak tf up Venti: Best I can do is a poem

[@Mushgin]

my theory for this is most likely the fact that venti has hinted to being watched, perhaps by the heavenly principles.

[@celestialarden]

@@Mushgin true it does feel like he's doing his best to give us hints becuz he can't say stuff but who could be watching him?

[@Artiquail]

@@celestialardenCelestia. The heavenly principles most likely.

[@Khann_2102]

​@@celestialardenThe assholes above ofc, Celestia

[@-FoxyLotus-]

Isn't the heavenly principles sleeping or smth?

[@Whenpigfly666]

I see a lack of Fontaine in this animation. Most likely because the turning point of Lumine's downfall happens in Sumeru (the part where Lumine stops walking and Aether goes on happens in Sumeru, judging by the NPCs). Otherwise the twins walking into the desert could either mean they're going to Fontaine... Or to Natlan, now that we know for sure it's past the desert

[@Infelious]

If you notice though even our Twin is getting tired, they aren't angry like Lumine was but they are sick of helping. I wonder how far "we" are from getting to this point.

[@metronome9182]

Add to the fact that Neuvilette hasn't met the abyss twins even though he's older than 500 years

[@mohmedabdo4681]

​@@metronome9182actually it makes sense

[@rajveergohil841]

Because the khaenriah door is below sumeru

[@naturalhorn]

Caribert happened in Sumeru

[@StrikeFreedom72]

I never realized that the "The Road Not Taken" is actually a real poem. Written by Robert Frost. I suggest that everyone check it out because in the poem it explains about a person will stand in a fork in the road will have to make a permanent decision. If we are to take the title at face value. I think that the Traveler will have to make a huge decision at the end of their journey that will affect both themselves and Teyvat as a whole since Traveler is a Descender who will most likely to became a powerful individual

[@zennaonthez]

I read that poem in my 11th year of high school. It was amazing and is favorite of many people.

[@leg0-ee]

I swear if its Save Lumine or Save Paimon...

[@krischoi3267]

​@@zennaonthez same, it was in my 5th grade if I remember correctly

[@ziephel-6780]

It is possibly either save Teyvat or save Abyss Twin

[@xOrionNebula2708]

yea we are a descender and descenders are beings that are said to have the power to rival the entirety of teyvat itself

[@AlRud_GI]

1:59 and still, lots of people still hating paimon just because she talk much, if not because of paimon that always be there with us as the traveler, the traveler could be ended up just like the sibling I feel that "lonely" without paimon around when doing carribert quest Edit: noooo, not that "not happy ending" at the end 😭, i hope they can reunite happily 🥲

[@Ricardo_Rick]

she is a bit annoying, mostly because we want to see more of the traveler but usually we are stuck with Paimon doing all the talking

[@JohnCivor]

​@@Ricardo_Rick Its more of a devs/game problem than the story/lore.. if you ignore the thing about mihoyo didnt want the mc to talk.. and just see it on story perspective paimon having there is a very good sign for the travelers psyched.. she make traveler journey at least not sad and boring.

[@Ricardo_Rick]

@@JohnCivor perhaps, but it makes the traveler a blank slate since most of his personality is shadowed by paimon

[@Kaeyamain-nf1ub]

@@Ricardo_Rick Well they've trying to change that in the new stories and also trying to make the traveler now be more of their character as well

[@Ricardo_Rick]

@@Kaeyamain-nf1ub just a little tho, i mean, they did a bit in the start of Inazuma with the traveler refusing to help, but then he returned to being the one who needs to help everyone

[@vyrde.]

"i hope they are still together at the end journey" Hoyo: Ok guys let us introduce shaoji as the lead writer for genshin impact

[@viens7]

letss goo if they include shaoji in now we talk

[@maximilianbima2265]

If shaoji enters the story team… I can say we bout to shed some tears 😭

[@viens7]

@@maximilianbima2265 didnt always has been? even before shaoji come

[@maximilianbima2265]

@@viens7 I mean in a way of “I didn’t expect it THAT much of a plot” type of we bout to shed some tears

[@kupi524]

This, maybe in Natlan he somehow cooking

[@why4139]

Moral of the story don't choose a depressed person as your companion cuz you'll end up depressed and become a villain

[@shanedoesyoutube8001]

By Honkai logic, that's exactly what happens when you get doomer enough to be a Herrscher If not, what happens instead is you get the Elysia type of Herrscher

[@ayonahmmed5757]

"met by a blade"... dainsleif the twilight sword

[@alifeinpurpose]

I think that's why he says at the end of the Teyvat Chapter Storyline "defeat me, command me to step aside, show me you are worthy of rescuing her". And that's also why I think he says in the 4.7 Livestream trailer "I will have my revenge"

[@dexexmachinatu4151]

"met by a blade" but it's very literal because Abyss twin kept their sword while Traveler lost it during the confrontation at the opening scene.

[@thejamfishh]

I was gonna say this xD Nice catch

[@thejamfishh]

@@alifeinpurpose this line is also said with Lumine’s sword on-screen

[@cuteflame1549]

how long is this blade .... 🙂

[@luvfromnilla]

There's a really good point taken here. Since the twins had such different traveling partners, they also ended with different mental states as well. No matter how much some people may dislike Paimon, you can't write off how her traveling with the Traveler is extremely beneficial for their mental state. Then, as opposed to their sibling, the "Abyss twin" had Dainsleif, which is unfortunate because neither of them could really console the other. They did just go through a tragic point in their life, mental state only goes down from there. Glad you covered this. ♡

[@PaulonTheBrave]

Yeah people may hate her but Paimon from a narrative prospective is the kind of person the traveler needed when they woke up, while her usefulness as a guide is debatable she did still give the traveler the base information they need to traveler at there own leisure while also being the one to taught the traveler the common language of tayvalt so they can interact with the locals. She's also the one to essentially kick off the overarching plot by telling the traveler to seek the archon s.

[@Minjoie]

I know, its just a game but I hope if ever we got to choose either paimon or sibling. We choose paimon. Yes she is annoying but see, with her our h Journey was JOUNREY Wherever for lumine, she was desperate to reach the end But with paimon, we are enjoying whats going on. I hope she is some kind of demi god which will wip everything out for us and time by time the hope is getting real lol

[@SupaRush]

Being a Lumine main its weird seeing everything flip flopped

[@xOrionNebula2708]

yea same

[@AYouTubeLady]

I was thinking that the whole time.

[@kiuya7285]

Yeah i can agree

[@_Zekken]

Yeah same, that said the story ingame fits just as perfect with Lumime as the traveller. There is not a single character interaction I have run into in the game that has felt like its weird because it was supposed to be written for Aether, they did really well with that.

[@randomdude6900]

Even in some quests the VA still says "he" 😭

[@viktorijasun3082]

It's even sadder when you remember that at the end of the teyvat chapter, Aether is all alone, in the same flower field where he stood with Lumine. Edit: if anyone will be confused I mean the Teyvat Chapter Storyline preview trailer

[@kevingame3198]

Most likely he killed his sister aka the alpha abyss after shooting it not her I refer to the alpha abyss as a thing bc it's a large snake like creature that is twice the size of beisht and this is how the final fight with aether and the alpha abyss be like kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5vUeYGheZuHsMksi=4P99NhNCnWOW0qpl

[@eddgaart1371]

I notcied it too but I also want to lie to myself that everything is gonna be ok at the end.

[@kevingame3198]

​@eddgaart1371 since he made his friends along the way bc there a video on characters voice lines about the traveler

[@justlikethis6084]

that might just mean how he feels alone but you do you

[@WhiteKoneko]

We're with increasing odds looking at a likelihood of us clashing blades with our sibling. I want to cry...

[@stamppppp]

nobody: cat's brain: oh this video related to that random poem from 1.0 4 years ago

[@Aozora210]

Probably the only thing slightly missed (or kinda being vague about in this video) is that Abyss Sibling started their travel with Dain right after the events in Vourukasha Oasis during cataclysm (as told by Zurvan at the end of the WQ). I had a little suspicion the abyss sibling's travel were not in order, but it's just animated that way to match Traveler sibling's journey for the sake of animation continuity.

[@demogladawar]

That is the good part. Remember the lost Oceanid who fell in love with a kid? Venti mentioned he always guide those who is lost to Monstadt. That means both of them start in Monstadt because they were lost or recuperating before deciding to start adventuring. All hail Barsibatos, Barbatos I mean!

[@MidoriGa95]

No wonder I felt like something was not right. Yeah Lumine met Dain wayyy later

[@earlydawnx9788]

​@@demogladawar No wonder Venti's voiceline tittled "Hello" he said that he had met the Traveler before. He literally met the twin years ago and years later the others met the other one...

[@DKris10]

Dain keep a distance from lumine because he know who is she. Lumine and Aether like a respected person for Khaenriah, and Dain, who is a soldier, of course only acts as a guard.

[@nandaselole223]

So Lumine and Aether come to Khaenri'ah as a 'holy' presence, thus making them a special figures in Khaenri'ah. That's why they coincidencely have to face the mysterious goddess.

[@DKris10]

@@nandaselole223 Dain is not like Paimon. Paimon is travel companion, while Dain is more like a guard. One is friendly, while the other is stiff.

[@thejamfishh]

Like Link and Zelda sort of

[@scrappy_horns8139]

Didnt Scaramouche said before that the twins were “summoned”?

[@Super-Godzilla99]

no the distance is there too just show of, that lumine and dain never ever where close not even a bit, they where two strangers just happend too walk the same path. dain never understood lumine and lumine never understood dain, they are just two strangers nothing more. lumines journey was an lonley one from start too finish, even if dain is there that made no difference. thats the point of it.

[@rivan660]

I hope they reunited

[@feisaljauharitufail]

​@hebislay after the world burns.

[@viens7]

yes, they will but eventually the other one will die

[@Strykerx31]

​@Alyaecu ...Nah, even if you all are sadists for thinking someone HAS to die in video games, killing the Twin will be Bad Marketing, they won't be able to use the Twins for promotions, merchandising and Fan Projects.

[@SkoiVv]

​@Alyaecutwo xiaos in his teaser Two fischl (golden Apple archipelago) Makoto and Ei Rukkhadevata and Nahida Focalors and Furina Venti and unknown bard (smth) And other stuff, I'm just adding

[@benni2974]

Shaoji: You wanna get a POSITIVE and WHOLESOME ending?

[@ioannishussein8038]

It’s a long patience. Although Paimon told us to explore later, she actually meant we must wait for new regions every year.

[@xOrionNebula2708]

she broke the fourth wall :O

[@milktea4465]

I always thought the part of both of them enjoying themselves is a real memories. In the video there is a scene where Traveler placing Inteyvat flowers to Lumine, when they're stopped by the unknown god the flower was still there and both of them were separated. The reason why they were stopped still a mystery to me.

[@SeraYagami]

Yes, it's not their wish. It was their reality as confirmed in-game. Those were their memories together and not wishes.

[@enarum8785]

@@SeraYagami Can you specify where?

[@ucmanhle9601]

Yeah, I think "the road not taken" here is referring to how Aether's road is different from Lumine's one.

[@annoymust]

They were about to trail a blaze, and if they were present, then HSR wouldn't exist

[@secretive_plotter49]

I belive so too. Because how would both the travellers be imagining the same memories. And even the same povs. like lumine looking at aether from above and aether seeing that lumine is looking at him from above in his memories. How would they imagine the povs that completed each others imagination. It has be to memories,... they are remembering what actually happened

[@mintaroum.9096]

0:01 i believe this part is not about the "what if" situation, since we know that they did spend some times together before they got seperate. The inteyvat flower that aether put on lumine in this video is real, as well as the braid that lumine tied for aether. which bring us to the question: which part of the world did the siblings traveled before they got seperated? Since the start of the game is when the traveler woke up, does this means there still lands "before" the start of the game that we havent seen? Since they already visit the khaenriah, does this means contradict to people's believe, khaenriah is actually to the west of the starting line?

[@mackenziegemz2302]

Ohhh i didn't see that, that make me😢

[@aria_i.p]

Again, again and again, those drunkard bard knows everything with his poem but still keep pretending in the dark knows nothing. This is why there will be no venti story quest part 2 untill we enter chapter celestia/khaenriah.

[@saif-gv6gl]

He signed an NDA with Celestia lol

[@silverhawkscape2677]

​The god of freedom...not so free...maybe that's why he didn't choose to sit on Monstadt. Not just his ideals but because he know he would be a phony if he was this caged by Celestia. ​@@saif-gv6gl

[@AmokS07]

What if we get it in 5.X. I mean, we gotta have a Mondstadt expansion before Snezhnaya so imagine getting his sq too

[@zaimmm1006]

​@@AmokS07i think we gonna finish snezhnaya first and then return to monstdadt cause there's still so much lore relating to monstadt

[@kizaragiren]

Bro's the only archon who hadn't the second story quest yet, we are definitely going back to him later

[@bulesimo6510]

Hoyoverse workers are too smart and cultured I feel sorry for breathing the same air as them

[@miyeoncebiased1802]

I feel like Genshin will slowly dive into the serious depth in main quests soon, it's true that paimon changes your perception a lot. Everything seems cheery, bright and wonderful and gives a hope to never give up. I still remember that first lantern rite cutscene

[@kevinbosco5876]

hahah as honkai impact player sure be ready they don’t give AF killing ur favorite or influential people even their logo character dead hahaha

[@larajamila005]

It's really interesting to me how we're having similar conversations to the interpretation of this video to the (highly likely) reference of this video's title: the poem "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost

[@raineblackstar3522]

The fact that the twins did get reunited in the recent Archon Quest but neither remembers it...agh it got me crying when i played it. 😢

[@orangygbernafas2968]

make sense why we see genshin MAIN STORY / archon quest as a happy go bullshit comparing to games like honkai (no characters death etc, no we don't talk about the ash lady), we see genshin from the perspective of aether/light anyway, if we see it from the perspective of lumine/shade, it'll be a whole different case

[@beomkaslana]

If that's the case then it's just Kiana vs Sirin all over again

[@wifi961]

Or maybe the Genshin writers are too lazy to actually write anything remotely interesting.

[@kotarouinugami1745]

Genshin. Happy go lucky. Lol. Just because the Traveler has the strength to overcome most difficulties on their path, doesn't mean our story is a happy one. We might heal a few metaphorical wounds here and there, but we can't save everyone. Even when we are present, people still die. And not just old people dying of old age like in the recent quest. Old, young, mortal, immortal, dying for what they believe in or getting killed by psycho killers - there is quite a lot of death where the Traveler goes.

[@orangygbernafas2968]

@@kotarouinugami1745 and there's where i put brackets there stating the happy go lucky one is for the "playable character" or any character that doesn't have that npc models. the one who died so far are the npcs with low effort design (except for the ash lady) that the community won't grieve so much upon the death of, comparing to honkai himeko. i know someone would say that so that's why i put the brackets there

[@kotarouinugami1745]

@@orangygbernafas2968 Having all the main characters survive does not make a work inherently positive and upbeat. Killing main characters left and right like it's some Akame Ga Kill is bad writing.

[@bubbag02]

I agree with everything except the suggestion that the memories of each other while they were together are a "what if". We already know that they spent a period of time in Teyvat before running into The Sustainer and I believe those memories are a reflection of that.

[@legendaxicad._]

Apart from a hypothetical, we can say a part of this did happen, as the flower in Lumine's hair (Inteyvat) was remembered by both of them in one of the quests where they meet and the Traveler remembers Aether putting it in her hair. More so, certain memories at the end are truthful, and that montage is possibly speculated to be when they were both awake before the fall of Khanriah / the battle with the Heavenly Principles. Same with the whole short really. I believe it will be explored in 4.7

[@legendaxicad._]

Also, a theory on the dawn and dusk at the beginning for Lumine and Aether respectively and the inverse at the end is foreshadowing their character development. Lumine falling into a darker path, and Aether becoming the savior somewhat, or else possibly Lumine's death.

[@tanmayprakash2195]

I'm really curious about the Aether's location at the time of Lumine searching for her brother . If she didn't able to find him during her journey then that means Aether is totally a non-existence entity at that time..!?

[@sebastianbugmann7058]

time traveler theory

[@whyyoumadbro2370]

It could be aether was in stasis and sent 500 years ahead in the future where he wakes up while Lumine awakes almost immediately

[@Afazha]

Probably still sleeping inside a meteorite (as both were fallen stars). Lumine did wake Aether up to leave Teyvat only to be stopped by the Unknown God. After she trapped both of the siblings and separated them again. Lumine woke up first, again.

[@lavanyasingh5863]

@@bisayafascist5725 idk if i am correct but the cataclysm was going on at the time they were leaving source: traveler's story thing in character screen

[@raihanrusli2720]

Aether is fine because he has an emergency food whenever he needs it

[@etozy7065]

Oh God, imagine at the end, something terrible happens and paimon has to sacrifice herself for him, making her become "emergency food".

[@unending-dream]

I pray that this won't come true.

[@bhuvanasathish5015]

i am in tears whenever i see this animation. i couldn't control my tears, this is the hardest I ever cried. i just want them both to get reunited and be happy as they was in the past

[@Conterez]

As someone with Lumine as The Traveler (and likes her a lot), that line you gave about the two switching places and ending up the same means a lot. Every trailer and especially this animation feels like a gut punch: like my decision to go with Lumine was somehow the "wrong" choice; At the very least that the Lumine path is being ignored. Any reminder that both options are viable is a comfort.

[@inyu00]

@Raggedy_Aniimator right? hoyo: both twins are canon, puts Aether in every video as the main. Either lumine isn't the main character, hoyo is cheap, thinks we are stupid or they let their own bias out pretending both are canon when they aren't

[@WhiteKoneko]

It's unfortunate and tragic but stay in the darkness too long changes a person. While the twin you pick like the sun walks in the light and that too has molded us. We're at a crossroads for the twins, it's pretty clear and sad. 😢

[@Bogchamp]

The scene which shows the reflection of lumine stopping while Aether continues to move on might hint to a very crucial part of the story which we do not know yet.

[@Drago-I-guess]

The end scene could also symbolize how they are still always moving towards each other. Aether woke during dusk at the beginning of the animation, Lumine at dawn, so maybe they switched the times of day in the end to allude to the other twin.

[@raashimodawal938]

you just made my anxiety rise like a 100 fold. im so hoping for a happy ending. im too invested

[@sirthomasevangelion1258]

Ofc venti knows something that lil rascal

[@venti2569]

FINALLY OMG VENTI IS GETTING MORE RECOGNITION FOR BEING ACTUALLY SMART IM SO TIRED OF PPL SAYING HE IS THE WORST ARCHON AND STUFF

[@eipampam857]

My take, y'all invated to cook with me: Teyvat is like the plane of Euthimya/ Raiden's domain and Celestia is looking from outside. When the twins fall in this world, Celestia choose Lumine and sent her back to when they needed to build the Archon's Thrones. Lumine was killed to become the Gnosis and 3000 years later Khaenria try to recreate a Gnosis and end up creating a clone of Lumine. This clone believed to be the actual Lumine and even tried to run away with Aether but Celestia stoped them both (Smt like True Lumine was with Aether, Celestia pick her, sent her through time, False Lumine already there met Aether at the doors of Celestia and the Sustainer recognize the attempt of Khaenria, dropping off the creature to testemony the fall of her creators). While False Lumine journey to find "her brother" she stop at Sumero and discover the truth about herself by the Irminsul, or maybe even something around Caribert quest made she realize it and she went to the Irminsul to confirm. The sinner may even be a descender too and the first attempt of Celestia to do the Gnosis, he may be the one to point out to Lumine she was a clone, and the scene of her looking in the mirror is she realizing it and having a terrible feeling, which scare Aether later on. We see them sad in this teaser and memories from the past, maybe those are from Lumine realizing she never actually lived those memories. Aether wasn't chosen to become the Gnosis and the Sustainer traped him within her powers. My take on this is that Aether's power of elemental absorption also worked to absorb the Sustainer thought those 500 years, since she is just the shade of Phases and not an actual being, making her fall to become Paimon and Aether was released (or maybe more of Celestia fallen with the Sustainer and Paimon is just one of those things). False Lumine moved on from Aether, that's when Dain started to try be at her side, like with the tap shoulder at the end, because she was also from Khaenria somehow, but she already changed. The Tsaritsa plan of reviving a god is about Lumine but because they believe it is the second who came or someone like him and not a child of the stars (since she isn't catalogued as a descender). The Lumine's betrail they talk about in the trailer must be because she doesn't see him as brother, just kinda pity him. And now she will get rid of that feeling for him too in order to recreate the only home she believes to own (and also, she didn't spoke about it prior to keep him around Teyvat and wait for the actual Lumine revival if it works). "Prove to me you are worthier than I to rescue her." Lumine's revival don't work, Aether discover the truth but embraces the idea False Lumine is the actual one. Dainsleif threatens him since this Lumine is Khaenria's problem and so is his since he failed her before.

[@Minjoie]

OKAY FK this is actually a good take since, i have been saying something like this But i couldnt figure out WHY THE 2ND LUMINE DOESNR CARE??!!! OKAYY Wait ima send u smth i wrote 3 months ago

[@Minjoie]

My theory is that our sibling is dead :( And the one we see is a puppet! Why?! Remember, sameru Quest suggested she is from this world, and as well it is revealed that kaneriah is used to attract decenders. What if the puppet is made in kaneriah, which is why she is registered as this world's. As well, lumine said, at the end of the journey, we will have reason to fight against this world ( heavenly principles ) In my opinion, we will somehow unite with futui and will go against the heavenly principle and for right now, the only thing that can make this happen is, heavenly Principle has to do smth which is bad for the other sibling. And it is said, the gnosis were made out of the 3rd decender, and imo the 3rd decender is lumine. Lumine means light. And in a name card it is suggested that light can reflect 7 elements. Does that mean lumine is killed and gnosis were made out of her. ( As you know, genshin animations alwaus have male mc as the mc, and lumine as abyss sibling ) This is what my theory was And im happy that it kinda connects with you but yours connect other dots i was misssingg

[@eipampam857]

@@Minjoie Thank you! Thanks for sharing your idea too! Yeah I have a lot of trouble trying to puzzle why wouldn't she just tell us. The only explanation I could grasp about is either she pitied us and believed Tsaritsa would bring True Lumine back (I think it was Sneshnaya Gnosis that created Lumine, so Tsaritsa and the abyss are related) so she lied to him to keep him around Teyvat. Or False Lumine actually need Aether too she just couldn't risk him around her enough time for him to realize she is not the True one. Btw, another paragraph, forgive my adhd, 1% battery: My major point of why is she a clone is the fact she only remembers Aether from the Sustainer encounter (one of the first trailers that revealed Lumine as the Abyss side). And know she seems to have memories she shared with Aether. And one of them is he setting the flowers in her hair. It becomes a problem in my idea bc it had to have happened before Khaenria was engulfed in flames and once you leave Khaenria the flowers stop in time/petrify. Lumine had them in her hair the whole time even when she returned to Khaenria (from Celestia). On the other side, she owning memories of them could also be from her "seeing" what Aether saw with true Lumine (like how he did in the chasm and when he feels Lumine in that flower 1° Dain quest). For that she must have had some sort of contact with Aether or something from him. So, if you check Lumine's sword she is actually using Aether's. For Lumine to be using Aether's sword, it's also an indication she is not the owner of Lumine's sword. And also, if their connection were the flowers, she would have always had those memories, but looking at the teaser, especially in the Inazuma lake, Lumine looks like she's lost or very confused. It's different from Aether that is either contemplative or sad. I'm aware the twins have different personalities, I just mean Lumine acts like a doll, freshly born type of innocent creature, contrasting with the end, when she understands and moves on from Aether.

[@koudami]

I thank Paimon for not leaving Aether alone from the beginning of this path.

[@rylanbean]

This is a gorgeous analysis of the video, and it pointed out many details that I missed when I watched through it.

[@Quiet_Jay_C]

"I just hope the twins are reunited as they were when they first arrived in Teyvat." Something tells me that once they reunite the world will collapse, unless Aether explores all 7 regions at 100%

[@Kizakoe]

You talking about how Lumine must have felt during her journey makes me like her more I chose Aether and when I first met her during that Dain quest, her turning her back on her brother made me feel betrayed, as if she didnt care about him in the end and I still felt a bit of resentment But now I understand better what happened to her as I had never thought abt it, and can empathize with her at last

[@yoki391]

There is also a detail that I've read somewhere. The sibling stops in Sumeru while the traveler goes on (the puddle reflection). Probably because of the Caribert situation, who knows.

[@sakuoha8474]

It makes you appreciate Furina more, she endured the same 500 years of solitude without even a single companion. Maybe Traveler can learn something from there.

[@miyeoncebiased1802]

The thing is, you cannot compare Furina and Traveler in the sense that, Furina was born alone, while Traveler was always with their twin, of course their desperation and feeling of separation will be different from Furina, who endured everything while being alone, while being very patient for the sake of saving Fontaine and its people.

[@Trebord_]

It's even worse when you think about how Lumine's journey was right after the Cataclysm first happened, so most of Teyvat would have still been recovering and rebuilding from the major crisis, whereas Aether came 500 years after the event and was met with a (relatively) well put together world that's all but forgotten about what had happened 500 years ago. Lumine's entire journey would have been tainted with the pains and regrets of the Cataclysm, but Aether has to struggle to even learn about it because most people have already long since moved on from the disaster.

[@L37exa_ym79]

0:30 at this part I think Lumine saw which path Aether would go 0:43 while Aether saw which path Lumine goes

[@imprfctgoose]

Even though this is probably the most obvious thing about these two, their names foreshadow the thigns they go through, Luminiferous aether or ether was literally theorized to be the thing that transmitted light back when photons werent discovered yet, he is destined to happiness, while lumine is pretty obvious, illuminate which means, make (something) visible or bright by shining light on it; light up. I think in this scenario it means live in the dark while casting light onto something, her brother, i guess it also explains her being ignored😂

[@demogladawar]

Now remember guys, always appreciate your Paimon!

[@Sakuyamon]

Well it is a tragic story, but I dont think the anime will touch upon the real end of Genshin. It is supposed be about what went on 500 years ago. So yea the anime might "end" sadly, but that is our "beginning" in the game. And we will try to make it end happily, even if it will be bittersweet.

[@silverhawkscape2677]

Given the state of teyvat at the start. It will end in Bitter sweet. The Avyss surprised but massive loses etc.

[@viens7]

probably anime will tell about Archon war, or even more ancient lore

[@olyabutorina6869]

We don't know what anime will about, everything that you saw on the internet regarding anime plot was fake leaks

[@Sakuyamon]

@@olyabutorina6869 no, when they initially showed the anime, they stated it was about what happened 500 years ago and each region was a season.

[@icraveaffection]

4:49 he's so suspicious and once you take your time to dig his lore there's always something mysterious going on. this is why i strongly believe we'll be returning to mondstadt near the end Also leak warning? take it with a grain of salt i saw some leaks that venti's gonna guide us to celestia. but im not sure if it's true since celestia arc is very far from now

[@LeBeau_42]

This gives so much context on WHY Lumine/ the Abyss sibling hates Dainsleif so much! She saw how much he hurt due to his friends and family turning to Hilicurls and why he was so distant, probably even fell for him because he gave her company, and so she goes to such lengths to restore his people only for him to turn on her! She must be wondering why he doesn't approve of her methods, and what they can do to make him understand she just wanted him to be happy- which is why Dansleif feels responsible for stopping her.

[@Relic58]

One thing to note that There's another instance where the twins are paralleled like this before, and it's on the launcher update, but it's reversed from the short: Aether sitting on the fountain in Mondstadt at day while Lumine sitting on the fountain in Mondstadt at night. The splash art for the 4.7 patch is reversed from the short as well, with Aether having his eyes open on the left with Lumine sleeping on the right in the splash art while in the short, Aether is sleeping on the left while Lumine's eyes are open on the right.

[@vinny8589]

Also the Tree By the staircase scene is ALIVE and WHOLE with Lumine while In Aether's it's a Truck that looks like it was damaged severly.

[@viens7]

trust me, the abyss twin will die, also paimon will sacrifice herself, remember if she is emergency food.

[@Loulou_MusicIIIX]

i think the traveler will going to die

[@koro-kun]

In Bestime Story Archon Quest we saw that Lumine was using her Signature sword and also the Omni/Light Element to fight against Dainsleif, after when she met Aether in Caribert’s consciousness she told herself that if Dainsleif didn’t hesitated she would be no match to the Twilight Sword. It tells that if Aether and Dain were to fight in future then simply Dain would have overpowered Aether even if he had his Light Element and Signature sword 💀

[@ivjavy]

Haven’t played genshin for 2 years now cause I’ve been caught up with work and life yet I still watch ur videos to sorta understand what’s going on in the game so thank u 🙏

[@nrk9820]

Probably the reason why abyss twin has records in ley lines....maybe they thought if they imprint some records in ley lines their twin will notice

[@IroiRo_owo-_P]

Theory: What if Dainslef is trying to convince us that our sibiling is doing the wrong thing so that we help him get revenge on our twin without us knowing he is just using us?

[@pigeonpiupiu]

So based on how I understand the twins journey: they have travelled teyvat together, and then lumine ask aether to leave teyvat together when cataclysm happened. They were stopped by unknown god and sealed away. Lumine wake up first and went traveling to find his brother. She met dainsleif and they travelled together. Things happen in sumeru and lumine and dainsleif go their separate ways. Lumine is now an abyss princess. 500 years later, aether wakes up. Travels for a while and fished out paimon. Continuing their journey and we know the rest. But some of it is confusing. If they have travelled together in teyvat how come they've never met archon? Also aether seems not familiar with the seven regions. Heck, he's not even familiar with the concept of elemental energy. Then where did they travelled to before cataclysm? It doesn't make sense. If they travelled teyvat before, how come it seems like it's his first time travelling teyvat after he woke up 500 years later? Surely the seven region doesn't change too much right? Some people said aether is asleep when they first arrived in teyvat but that also doesn't make sense. If that's so then when did they travelled together then? Can someone explain to me? Maybe I got something wrong.

[@Teri_Pazoutova]

I still wonder why the Abyss sibling cares so much about the fate of Teyvat. They both surely traveled a lot of places and got caught in a lot of cases, no? Is it because they got caught in Teyvat for longer than they planned? Even to the point that when they finally meet their other sibling, they just refuse to be with them only to carry on with their mission?

[@saix_unicorn]

PAIMON IS THE GOAT, IDC ABOUT THE HATERS, SHE'S THE TRAVELER BEST FRIEND AND I LOVE HER SM

[@Flowy672]

The stairs that are broken are where Lumine was standing

[@Marinatte]

The stairs scene the part where lumine is standing is the broken part in Aether scene...does that also symbolizes lumine turing point?

[@justinbailey1669]

Dainsleif in the travail trailer: "At the end of your journey, one final doorway remains. Step forth if you have understood the meaning of your journey .... Then, all threads of fate will be yours to reweave." A note in the Narsissenkreuz Ordo: "...To excise the self is not to die, but rather to die before death. That way, there is no life to be ended. Thus may one achieve eternity. This step is vital, for by this, may one avoid receiving a Vision by some error. To receive a Vision is to sell oneself to the "fate" of this world - to Heimarmene, and to evermore lose the chance to walk the correct path" Idk what dots I'm connecting here per se but there are dots.

[@DanielCastillo-df1dd]

What aether saw is the good things about Teyvat while Lumine saw the opposite. That's why she changed

[@DrakeWurrum]

When Khaen'riah fell, Lumine was there... and then afterwards, the Sustainer just curb-stomped both her and her newly-awakened brother... And THEN she ended up traveling Teyvat with Dain. So originally she and Dain didn't stand against each other... Which means something happened during her journey to turn her against him. Perhaps like meeting with a certain Sinner in Sumeru. Just before Lumine's reflection stops walking, Aether walks by someone in Akademiya attire. So the Five Sinners did something to her or convinced her. I'm beginning to think, based on the end of the Travail trailer and this new animation... that we will not be reunited in the end.

[@johnmarkgadon2843]

It is really amazing that Hoyo put importance in small details. ❤

[@SonicUnleasher1]

I'm calling it. One of them is gonna die. Maybe our chosen sibling and the other will resurrect us OR we have to kill the other because of a certain choice in the future. Either way, its gonna make the fandom cry

[@astr0washere1312]

i got an ad of the road not taken before watching this 💀

[@kakami7]

Do you remember that trailer with all of the future chapters in the game? in the end our character stands alone in the field of flowers. I really don't think there is a happy ending regarding our reunion.

[@harryharper5358]

Fun fact: People discovered Aether fished Paimon out somewhere in Liyue

[@saif-gv6gl]

Didn't we fish her out at the beach near Stormbearer Point? I know that he spent a few weeks/months to learn the language with Paimon, but Liyue is really far from there, and he should have visited Mondstadt already if he's doing that

[@marismoments39]

no..? wait am I dumb, is this a joke? we literally SEE her get fished out at the beach we start in

[@pottop880]

@@saif-gv6gl they are just recounting what happened while being at the starting point of the game.

[@Afazha]

What "people discovered" is just some technical things on the game's part. The place where they showed Aether fishing out Paimon is using Liyue's landscape. In reality, we don't really know where did he fished Paimon out (probably in northern Mondstadt near Dornmann Port). We only know that the two at least travelled in the wilderness for 2 months before arriving on the beach near Starfell Lake where Aether saw the Statue of the Seven with Paimon.

[@_dragonflies_]

Not really? At least I don't think they ever visited any settlements in Liyue before going to Mondstadt's beach. Because when we first visit Liyue ingame, the dialogue with the NPC strongly implies the Traveler hasn't talked to any locals before. The devs probably just used it in the image. Similar to how the Khaenri'ah shown in flashback seems to be Stormterror's lair

[@cottoncandyUwU420]

2:01 if you meet a child during your unknown journey, it's natural that the child will be clingy to you and you can't even leave the child alone or aside but if it's a fully grown up man and most importantly, a different gender, you will keep distance. It also shows that dainslief is not characterless. He knows to respect boundaries ❤

[@GiantWhiteOrbHangingInTheSky]

Yes

[@Hy-BridAbroad]

Very well interpreted. I've seen a lot of people misunderstand the scenes of the two of them together.

[@Alice.Morningstar]

Everyone that doesnt know Genshin: Ooh look.. a bright childish game Everyone that knows: this is dark as hell

[@smeebsmob3468]

3:20 and then she just leaves 10 seconds after finally finding him

[@mohmedabdo4681]

Atp, I think she is determined to complete her goal. Whatever it is, we'll probably find out

[@L16htW4rr10r]

Based on different trailer, she already saw Aether before that scene, but chose not to approach him

[@Minjoie]

I think, she wants to punish the heavely principle and want her sibling to join her but NOT FORCE HIM let him go on his journey?!

[@koalapoi1]

Whoever the traveler we choose doesn't matter, I just want them to be together again and be happy along with our emergency food of course

[@dwierwancakranegara4102]

Thank you for the explanation , it means a lot 😢

[@erushi5503]

As someone who reads every line of dialogue, this video made the sadness im keeping under my bed creep out

[@arilside7451]

Its always best of the BEST, when you post something about genshin and not other games. THE BEST I SAID

[@ndk0191]

With Hoyo using illusions every now and then in events, I don't want to have high hopes of them reuniting.

[@ChimeraLotietheBunny]

This hits deep emotionally for more lore drops as always

[@Ichi.Capeta]

damn, the animated MV hits me. This breakdown hits me even harder (T^T)

[@SoulessTwo]

How many more times will this animation make me teary eyed... And Paimon.. Thank you.🥲

[@AashishPrajapati-nr2ox]

Great video. I was waiting for this one for so long. I knew i missed some but damn i missed a lot of

[@senialweife]

I legit cried when I saw them together in the video, what could have been.

[@alix3621]

Thank you for the video :)

[@thechrischaosX]

Lumine's earrings are the biggest plot twist for me because i thought it was a hair accessory 🤔

[@AurA_XT]

I feel like venti is a big part of story just overlooked for drinking and having not a big impression as a character good thing they made events like that poem one and featured venti in it hopefully qe come across more of those

[@Plamen0619]

Quite well explained. Admirations. I think this adds to the lore in a very good way. Even if it's "If"

[@angelheart440]

Thanks for another amazing theoric lore video!! One thing; you say that the siblings sharing happy moments at first is a “how it would be if” scene but, it wouldnt be more accurate say that those are real moments when both of them enjoyed a little time on Teyvat, and after that it’s when they wanted to leave?

[@aminogamerph1750]

I can feel the pain of Lumine while watching this,... 500years...500

[@umi_karumi2669]

aether is the sun and lumine is the moon and this made me cry

[@TheBilayer]

They will never reunite 💔 😔 Unless eclipse 😢 that will be very long.

[@simpayshenaides]

If people is going to hate Dainsleif. Im here hating The Heavenly Principle. Why would she sent this innocent sibling and seperate them apart for 500 years from the battle they are not part of LOL.

[@Drago-I-guess]

It's so weird to me that people hate Dainsleif, as mentioned in the video he is probably still shell-shocked. I want to see those people lose everything they've ever known and then getting blamed for... not being okay? (Plus Dain used to be a royal guard, a position where you can't exactly get chummy with everyone around you. Most likely, protecting someone from a respectable distance IS his way of taking care of people) The Heavenly Principles on the other hand really seem cruel to me, in a kind of apathetic way. Like they couldn't care less about individuals as long as Teyvat as a whole is okay...

[@kizaragiren]

​@@Drago-I-guessthen wait till we know what's celestia motive is I can tell there's will be another guilt trip in this one, they aint making cheap enemies as far i remembered

[@Ellie-o1i]

@@Drago-I-guess The twins are outlanders...why would the unknown god care about aliens in Teyvat? The cutscene with the unknown god at the beginning supposedly takes place after the destruction of Khaen'riah.

[@ViralwingX]

​@@Ellie-o1iSupposedly the Abyss twin had been a part of something that destabilized Teyvat. They(Khaenriah) took something that didn't belong to them. Based off of what she( Unknown God) says in the cutscene. "The Arrogation of mankind ends now." It was a statement that implies that Humans have crossed a line. Taking something that isn't rightfully thiers.

[@Normalaatsra]

I've always figured that we're tracing our missing sibling's footsteps. What I never understood was why were things conveniently reset for us to explore, like the Vanarana WQ, if the abyss twin is supposed to have helped them years ago? A reset occurred after the cataclysm? Or is the twin using the abyss to reverse the changes after completing the initial journey?

[@PaulonTheBrave]

Well, keep in mind it was literally around 500 years since then and as in the story the aranara were reaching the limits of what they could do alone with the issues with sumaru by the time the traveler shows up.

[@ElfinHawkDGamer]

The way this video describes how Lumine's life went 500 years before Aether wakes up made me tear up 😢

[@febiardianto5605]

i love how you explain it alll

[@fierytigergaming8112]

A bit of an emotional one, but If you pause at the right time when Lumine's in Alberich's hut, you can see her actually tearing up, whereas for Aether, it was mostly mental anguish at the fact that even though he was on the right track, he didn't know what to do anymore. The only difference is that Paimon was there to give him the courage to continue the journey

[@WhatTheFox24]

It makes me cry... It was really amazing ❤