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Wish You Back (3.1 vs 3.4 Analysis)

(Ugh... My long awaited analysis of this patch)

There are some scenes in 3.4 that parallel that of 3.1, almost to the point of being mirror scenes to one another. In this analysis, I'll be going through some of the most important scenes in 3.4 that have a mirror version in 3.1. Most of these happen in the "Immersive Theater" that spans Phainon's life, up until he ushers Era Nova and sends us back to the beginning of Eternal Recurrence 33,550,337.

1. The iconic "You'll be the kind of friends who think nothing of sitting shoulder-to-shoulder in a hot bath."

Hoyo knew what they were doing when they inserted *that* dialogue option. It's a throwback to the signature scene - the bathhouse incident. This is the funniest of the bunch, so take this in first, because we're about to get angsty in the next few scenes.

Need I say more? Truly, the moment of all time.

It gets even better - Phainon's daily schedule includes him taking a bath with Mydei. TWICE. In the same day. Presumably because the Black Tide interrupted them.

2. The Destruction of Aedes Elysiae

We all know that Phainon's hometown is Aedes Elysiae, and the village fell to the Black Tide.

The only survivors were Phainon and Cyrene, making Cyrene the only remaining semblance of family Phainon has left by the time he enters Okhema. (Note: this happened before Cyrene removed herself from the equation, giving birth to the loops we know as the Eternal Recurrences)

When does Phainon see Aedes Elysiae? (1) During his childhood, and (2) during Strife's Trial.

During Strife's Trial, Phainon sees his village get destroyed AGAIN, killing his friends and family. Cyrene, the closest thing Phainon has to a sibling and his last semblance of a family (people are gonna jump me at this but their bond is really like actual siblings) was killed by the Flame Reaver right in front of him. This causes Phainon to almost lose himself and accidentally stab / lunge at Mydei, requiring Mydei to save him.

Through the vulnerability of Phainon and Mydei's conversation right after the bathhouse incident (which we conveniently third-wheel btw) we learn that Phainon doesn't take loss very well. Yet he's prophesied to witness Era Nova alone.

3. All I Want Is to Witness Era Nova With You

"Please Mydei, let me be selfish this one time..."

Reinforcing the previous point, Phainon is supposed to witness Era Nova ALONE. But here he makes it with Mydei. For everyone else, Phainon is saddened but understanding, only thanking the other Chrysos Heirs for making it this far with him. But in front of Mydei, he allows himself to make a selfish request.

When Phainon bids farewell to Mydei at the end of 3.1, Phainon attempts to deflect and hide his sadness at Mydei leaving (sure enough, this is the last time we see them together). Phainon is in denial, knowing this is the last time he'll see his "rival." Mydei... easily reads through this facade "even without the power of mind-reading."

In essence, Phainon's request here, even though he doesn't state it explicitly, is to stay with Mydei a little longer. He gets that wish, as their farewell takes the longest, and unless you decide to hit that fresh, juicy skip button, it's longer than five minutes vs everyone else's (who clocks in at only 1-2 each person).

Knowing there was once an Eternal Recurrence where they made it together (and Phainon even invites Mydei to do it with him), their farewell becomes much more tragic.

4. The Truth about Flame Reaver

We first meet the Flame Reaver in the Grove of Epiphany, where he overpowers the Trailblazer, Castorice, AND Cerces (a literal titan, mind you). It's only because of Trianne everyone managed to survive.

So how is he that powerful? Because he has millions upon millions of Coreflames.

As 3.4 shows, the Flame Reaver is in fact Phainon of a previous cycle. At the end of every cycle, the Flame Reaver passes his memories AND the millions of Coreflames to the next Phainon (the Phainon of the current cycle).

Once you defeat the Flame Reaver with Mydei's help, you witness the epic cutscene of Mydei defeating him. During that cutscene, if you pay close attention -

The Flame Reaver is aiming for Mydei's back.

This will only make sense if the Flame Reaver is in fact Phainon. Because only Phainon knows Mydei's weakness - a small spot in the middle of his back.

Had Phainon not been present / aware of this, Mydei would have been permanently killed - and we would have very well witnessed a Phainon crash-out like in his trailer.

Big props for Phainon to apply that knowledge of Mydei's weakness, saving him in the nick of time.

5. 108,642, Yes I Hate You

Khaslana and Mydei's exchange before their duel to the death, especially with regards to Mydei's prophecy:

"Dawnmaker shall stab you through your 10th thoracic vertebra. That's your weak spot and the only way to kill you." (Khaslana, 3.4)

"Remember to stab your sword into my back through my 10th thoracic vertebra. That's my weak spot, and the only way to kill me." (Mydei, 3.1)

Notice the parallel between these two quotes.

Yep. They're doomed.

And this tragic piece of information we get from Eternal Recurrence #108,642.

"But, if there's a chance in the next life, you should come visit my library."

Khaslana: burns the whole library down

The tragedy of Eternal Recurrence 108,642 is clear when you play through the entirety of 3.1 and witness (and third-wheel) Phainon and Mydei's intimate bond.

Concluding Thoughts

3.1 and 3.4 draw more parallels than you think - and it paints 3.1 in a much more tragic light.

Witnessing Phainon's story firsthand shows how his experiences shape him to be the man he is now.

Mydei plays a major role in Phainon's story. If Phainon was a movie, Mydei would surely be one of its leading characters. And as we know, Mydei tells Phainon his one weakness over 33 million cycles.

The game uses flowery text to tell us Phainon and Mydei fall in love over 33 million cycles.

And despite that number of cycles:

They will always choose each other.

#honkai star rail #hsr 3.4 spoilers #phainon #mydei #phaidei #amphoreus #flame reaver #khaslana #hsr 3.1 #hsr spoilers #Youtube #myphai #phainon x mydei

phaidei in 3.1. i’ll never recover from the way mydei is looking at phainon.

#phaidei #mydei #phainon #honkai star rail #hsr 3.1 #myphai