Leakssss mentioneddd. Vaguely. Moreso vague character speculation/rambling based on scattered leaks lol.
Okay its looking alot like Asmoday’s ‘new master’ is the Traveler (omggg what a surpriseee). Also Asmoday seemingly ‘cannot feel empathy’.
And theres just.. something about
Someone who was made specifically to watch over the world and its people, unable to truly care for it, and someone who has no ties nor obligations to the world and its people, yet cares for it anyways
Traveler doesnt have any ties to Teyvat beyond their sibling to begin with. They have no true obligation to help people, help the nations they pass through. Its said multiple times over the game. The Knights did not wish to ask the Traveler’s aid to start, as they arent Mondstadtian. They have no reason to help. They save Dvalin and Mondstadt anyways. The help Liyue for answers, yes, but even when seemingly Morax is dead, and cannot aid them, they still stick around and help out. In Inazuma, they are fresh off of their sibling abandoning them without answers. They are angry. They only want answers from Raiden, they want no part in this war. But they are too kind a person to turn a blind eye to the peoples strife, to not aid their friend. In Sumeru, they have a grudge, yes, but also they wish to aid Nahida and her people. Fontaine, much of their efforts are for the sake of the people they’ve grown attached to. In Natlan, they are explicitly told ‘This is not your fight’. The Traveler acknowledges this. They fight anyways. They are Natlan’s beloved hero not only because they saved Natlan, but because they did not have to, because it was not their fight by birth, but by choice. In Nod-Krai, it is their fight. The events of Nod-Krai are ones tied far more to the Traveler than any of the rest of the events. The empathy and compassion is not shown in their willingness to fight, but moreso in how they treat the other characters. The only people they are in anyway aggressive to in Nod-Krai are Rerir and Dottore- but even then, the Traveler is able to empathize with them, without forgiving nor condoning, or even losing any of the hatred they carry. Zhongli even said it blatantly during Lantern Rite/ they are a traveler, a passerby. There is no need for them to become so engrossed in this world.
But they still do. Not out of any true obligation- there is at this point nothing beyond their own feelings tying them to Teyvat. Their twin has made their choice. The choice the Traveler has to make is still their own. It is their empathy and compassion and love for the people and world that ties them to Teyvat.
But then, Asmoday is the exact opposite..? Asmoday was made specifically to care for the world. She is meant to be one of its sustainers. The other Shades care for it, even at their own expense at times. The other Shades empathize with the plight of humans. Asmoday doesnt. She doesnt empathize with the humans she is meant to care for. She is different than them, a creation of a different kind. How, and not even in a sense of superiority but genuine confusion, are her ‘sisters’ able to empathize with Teyvat’s people as much as they are? How is Istaroth able to care for a wind sprite enough to grant him some of her power? How is she able to care for a mere lunar envoy enough to save her soul when she sins against Celestia? How is Ronova able to take a punishment in the stead of Xbalanque? What causes them to care that much? Asmoday will carry out her duties as instructed, but unlike her fellow shades.. there is no empathy guiding her actions. It is her job to maintain Teyvat, and she does her job, regardless of the fact she finds herself incapable of caring for the world she was created for.
Asmoday carries her job out without the ability to truly care for Teyvat. It doesnt impede her. In fact, it makes her more efficient that she cant empathize with humanity, doesnt it? She hasnt broken the laws of celestia out of empathy like her sisters. Albeit, that empathy has often led to scenarios more favorable for Teyvat.. but nonetheless. She simply carries out her job.
She carries out her duty.. up until she is required to stop the Fourth Descender and the being claiming to be their twin from leaving Teyvat. And she does.
But.. how is this being, able to empathize with Teyvat more than her? This being, who has no ties to Teyvat, is able to care for it where she cannot.
Where.. Phanes.. cannot. Or at least, choses not to. Phanes does not seem to love its creation.
This Traveler does. This Traveler cares where she cannot, where Phanes doesnt, despite having no obligation to.
What surprise is there, that Asmoday’s allegiances would shift. If her job is to maintain Teyvat, sustain the Heavenly Principles.. is it truly a sin, to serve the one destined to ascend to the seat of God? If this Traveler.. when this Traveler becomes the Heavenly Principles.. would it not wash her of her sin of betrayal? (As she was the one who stripped them of their power, was it not a betrayal then? Whether it be Phanes or her new master, she betrayed them all the same. Let her sins be washed away, only by their hand.)
What need is there, for the Shades to know? What use is there for her new master to know..? Phanes slumbers, and the Fourth Descender is still fighting to reclaim the strength she herself stripped from them. It is of more use for her to remain hidden, till her new master has use of her.
A being with no obligation to love teyvat, who does anyways, and a creation made for teyvat itself, unable to care for it. What a duo.