#monoavalogue

[avalonlooper]

Alright guys, gather round. 3.6 preview arrived and it's time we address Dan Heng, because that guy's wilding out there and I need to voice my observations on this lizard and his relationship with the raccoon.

Like... I've been aware this since the 1.X patch cycle. Everyone knows that Dan Heng immensely cherishes his companions and he sees himself primarily as the Astral Express' guard beyond that cool exterior of his. There's nothing out of the ordinary with that.

But when it comes to Stelle specifically, he acts VERY differently. And it's absolutely fascinating to watch.

See, he's a troubled soul with his fair share of problems regarding freedom and redemption. He spent a good part of his life since birth in jail, then the rest in exile. Only recently he began feeling like he had a place to belong, a place that didn't chain him down, and only recently he felt comfortable enough to outwardly admit the Express crew as his loved ones.

And, among his loved ones, he seems to see the Trailblazer specifically as a personification of all those things he gained. Stelle is a free, unbound soul who is confident in seeking the life she wants and doesn't let anything stop her from grasping it, even with a muddy past. I think having her as companion emboldens Dan Heng to finally live as himself and strive for the things he never thought he could have before.

You can see it in their interactions overall. Dan Heng is pretty clearly indulgent with Stelle: he lets her act as silly as she wants, prompts her to explore places, lets her take initiative during interactions with others, checks on her mental well-being, is always ready to shield her from danger, shares his stuff pretty easily, the list goes on. When I noticed these little things, I realized that Dan Heng constantly prioritizes not only her safety but also her happiness.

It's like... For him, she's a star of hope illuminating his path, and he wants her to shine as brightly as she possibly can at all times. We saw in the Penacony storyline that Dan Heng feels immensely fortunate to have his Nameless companions and dreams of journeying with them forever, and that results in his current relationship with the Trailblazer.

Here's the thing, though: he seems really wary of crossing some lines.

It's funny how contradictory he seems at times. He's introverted and gets embarrassed when Stelle acts affectionate. He's so vocal about his affection it hurts, though. He refuses when Stelle wants a hug. It's fine when he takes the initiative to hold hands, though. He's a-okay when talking about his past nowadays. Stelle can't go meet the High-Cloud Quintet with him though, that's a no-no.

So what then, you big salamander. Is it fine when you do it, but not when she does it? What's the hold-up?

It's almost like he's intentionally keeping their relationship in some sort of vague ambivalence. A relationship where Dan Heng can watch from the side as Stelle is as safe and happy as she can possibly be, and where he is actively making her so, but rejects all her attempts of returning the favor. It's some fine shoujo manga shit, I'll tell you. Dannie clearly stands on the shoulders of the giants before him.

Here's where the real hilarity comes in, though: there's one thing about his relationship with Stelle that Dan Heng absolutely won't let go of. Something he's not handing over to anyone in a million years.

It's the right to live by her side.

I mentioned Dan Heng's dream in Penacony before, and the truth that dream presents is: Dan Heng wants to stay beside Stelle forever. It's non-negotiable. He wants to be the person she instinctively relies on, the one she tells everything to, the one who always protects her as she paves the way forward, the one who she comes back to. He wants to have an unshakable, everlasting position in her life.

The shenanigans get so funny. Remember when he instantly shot down Aventurine's poaching attempt in that one anniversary review event? His (not very) implicit dislike of Stelle inheriting the Coreflame of Time and becoming tied to Amphoreus? The constant emphasis on the fact he'll forever remain her companion? He hates the idea of Stelle leaving his side sooooo much. Sure, it's not weird that he's desperate for her safety, but there's some definite entitlement mixed in and it makes me laugh whenever he rejects her affection.

Like, what the hell do you even want, my man? If you're gonna act like that, at least go all the way?? How long do you think she's going to play along with your back-and-forth??? Or what, are you really THAT confident you two are inseparable? That's scary.

As a last, very related note, I urge anyone who reads this to search the meaning of 彼氏面. You'll laugh, I promise.

[avalonlooper]

I've talked a lot about how Phainon views Stelle, but I also think the reverse is extremely interesting in of itself.

Stelle is like a sponge, somewhat. She got her memory wiped and had to decide her future on the fly; she's likely trying to experience the world as much as she can any given time to compensate for what she's lacking. She's extremely curious and friendly in a different way than March's bubbly extrovertness. Even her status as a multi-Path Pathstrider reflects that fact: she can experience multiple walks of life and draw power from them, which happens as she goes on her journey, interacts with others and gains new perspectives.

That is to say: Stelle is a perpetual apprentice, always looking up to others and learning from them. It's probably that earnest behavior that endears her to so many people. They want to grow closer to her because they see an innate potential within her, and she wants to grow closer to them because she has a genuine desire to understand those people and the lives they lead.

Phainon is a little special, though, because most of the time it seems he's the one learning from her.

...Well, it doesn't SEEM, it IS exactly that because the game tells you that. Multiple times. But it's funny how the full implications of it kind of go over your head sometimes.

It really is kind of funny to see Stelle being the one being looked up to and not the opposite. As far as my memory goes, the only characters who openly express a desire to learn from the Trailblazer's way of life are Yanqing (decided Stelle would be his teacher) and Sunday (Astral Express newbie). As for characters that don't demonstrate it openly, you have people who seem to long for the kind of life Stelle has, such as Jing Yuan, Dan Heng (who really deserves a whole post of his own), Firefly, Castorice... Whatever the hell Aventurine has going on.... I digress.

Phainon is special, if we compare him to others. In the beginning, he was presented as this ideal, charming hero people rallied behind. Someone to be beholded in awe. If you pair it up with his Honkai Impact 3rd expy status and the way he was promoted, you were pretty much led to think that the Trailblazer would be learning from him as he led them through this new adventure.

That didn't happen, though???????

It's almost disarming how adoring of Stelle Phainon is. He wants to know more about her. He wants her to align herself with his cause. He wants her to rely on him. He wants to be friends. He wants to convey his thoughts and feelings to her. He doesn't want to let go of her. He wants to be by Stelle's side, really badly.

And Stelle is... Kinda not used to it? Even if you round up all the characters who are said to be closer to her, no one in the game pursues Stelle that earnestly. As an example, Firefly—the game's most notorious example of "waifu bait"—doesn't really do anything outside the "Will They Won't They". In fact, her whole character has basis on tropes of several animanga genres BUT I DIGRESS! I DIGRESS! LET'S NOT YAP ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW!

What I was trying to say is: it's the first time Stelle has to deal with someone being so openly affectionate to her and it's really funny how it affects her behavior around Phainon.

Like, if their relationship were a competition she'd lowkey be eating dust right now. Ooooh, look at me, I'm Phainon of Aedes Elysiae and I am the Deliver of Amphoreus and I constantly make casual displays of my charisma and strength but when I'm around the girl I like I call her "partner" and joke around and let her make fun of my cringy side and smother her with aggressive verbal affection and dream of her as my hero. Fuck you, hoe.

Genuinely, what should Stelle even do with this man. She canonically can't handle his cheesiness. That one dialogue exchange in the Fate/Stay Night event is the first time she felt genuinely embarrassed since Aventurine's present bombing back in Penacony. Aventurine. It takes that level of pushy to get her flustered and Phainon does it like it's nothing. You can't just do that, dude.

3.5 has plenty of the Trailblazer introspecting about the burden Phainon entrusted to them, but what I really liked to see were the tiny moments where it's clear Phainon left a deep impression in them. I loved seeing Stelle refusing to see Phainon's sacrifice as anything but noble, angry at Lygus misconstruing Khaslana's ideals, reminiscing about his silly side and just longing to have that again.

I talked about the deep impact Stelle has on Phainon as the hero in his heart, but it really must be said that it's a very mutual thing. He really did lit a flame in her heart that never goes out, a constant presence in her mind. She admires him and wants to offer him comfort and doesn't want to let him down and wants him to be happy and wants to be by his side.

Phainon loves Stelle unabashedly and she wants to return that love in earnest. It simple, but we all need some more of that simplicity in our lives, don't we?

[avalonlooper]

A really funny aspect of PhaiStelle to me is how it fills me with an almost morbid fascination. Like, I want to extract samples of Phainon's behavior concerning Stelle and analyze it.

Phainon's a very multifaceted man, for starters. He changes a lot depending on time, place, occasion and person. It is a deliberate writing decision to have him like that.

Amphoreus' Phainon is the Deliverer dedicated to save all. Okhema's Phainon is a charming celebrity. Aglaea and Tribios' Phainon is a deeply scarred kid who's trying his best everyday. Anaxa's Phainon is a cheeky, brilliant student. Mydei's Phainon is a hilariously mean and competitive guy. Castorice's Phainon is a friend who can be casual with her.

Stelle's Phainon is an... Interesting individual.

He's clingy. Embarrassingly clingy. "Puppy love" feels like an understatement. I don't think he's conscious of how clingy he is. It's always "partner" this, "let's become heroes together" that, he does NOT want to be separated from her at all. Seeing him all anxious about the Nameless leaving after Aglaea's interrogation (and the fact she factored that reaction in, lmao) was quite the show, really.

He's also exceedingly sappy. Nauseatingly sweet. The Fate/Stay Night event actually proved he's so sappy he managed to embarrass the Trailblazer. Do you know what a monumental feat that is? It would be one thing if it was just him fucking around like he does sometimes with his other friends, but looking at his behavior in the story, I fear it's genuine. Don't even get me started with that "hero of my heart" shit, it's a whole separated conversation.

Also, the admiration. It hurts. It hurts to watch. Even leaving Phainon's (or Khaslana's, damn this man and his identity crisis) massive lack of self-worth aside, I can barely handle the way this man speaks about Stelle. It's the kleptomaniac raccoon I've been watching since game launch, stop talking about her like she parted the seas to let your people pass. That was Dan Heng, anyway.

And if this all wasn't already enough, he wants to be Yearnatron 3000 too. When I did the 3.4 Mission I was like, "Oh, the hero of his heart, what a cute quip" and then someone in that writing team decided to bash that sentence against my head repeatedly until I understood that no, it wasn't just a random cute quip, he meant that shit. And "he" refers to the guy who's been reliving the same tragedy for thirty million or so cycles. What do you mean Stelle is Khaslana's image of what a real human being should be. That's not something you can just tell me in the fucking backlogs, Lygus. Elaborate.

Also, while I can still get the whole thing with Khaslana, Phainon already considered her his hero even before he inherited the memories. What Does That Mean. I Do Not Understand. Please Tell Me How That Works.

This kinda devolved into an insane rant, but the point is: I kinda get Lygus a little. Just a little. Really just a little.

[avalonlooper]

The Amphoreus storyline just concluded and I can't spend too much time thinking about it, it makes me sick.

Like, what do you mean it's an actual book. What do you mean it's an actual story. What do you mean Stelle is the owner of the book. What do you mean it's a story co-authored by her, written for her.

What do you mean she emotionally connected to a story on a level no one else can. What do you mean she actually lived through the narrative. What do you mean she actually met the characters. What do you mean it's a world she lived in, loved and strived to save.

What do you mean she met this guy named Phainon and instantly connected to him. What do you mean they fought side by side. What do you mean they shared sorrows and hopes. What do you mean they saw the world crumbling around them and stuck together until the very end.

What do you mean Phainon adores her with his heart and soul. What do you mean he sees her as an ideal to be followed. What do you mean he wants to stay by her side. What do you mean he shared all of himself with her. What do you mean he entrusted her with the wishes he didn't even know he had at some point.

What do you mean she adores him just as much. What do you mean she wants to be there for him every step of the way. What do you mean she accepted everything about him. What do you mean she took on all his hopes and wishes. What do you mean she wants to make him happy.

What do you mean that, at the end of everything, it's all in a story. What do you mean that all of this, all that she experienced, lived and loved can be contained in a book. What do you mean the proof of the world and the people she grew to love fit in those pages. What do you mean she has to forge ahead with only a faint hope for the future cradled in her arms. What do you mean that even if it's faint, it was all undoubtedly real and she will never forget it.

I am not well, I am not safe and I am most certainly not sound. Send help.

[avalonlooper]

Me, one Tumblr post ago, going off tinfoil hat chemicals and nothing else: "Wow, it really feels like Dan Heng sees Stelle as the embodiment of the Trailblaze and the interstellar journey he dreams of!"

Me, going through the 3.6 Mission, hearing the words "I am you [Trailblaze]" come out of Dan Heng's mouth as he pulls Stelle closer in a cutscene:

[avalonlooper]

I've been wanting to talk about Planacardia lore for a while, so I'll just begin by rambling about basic stuff.

One of the most important concepts relating to Elation is, in my opinion, the mask. It's the namesake and the most prized possession of a Masked Fool, the source of their power. We learn more about it in 4.0 through Sparkle.

A mask is, in essence, a second identity. As the Planacardia story develops, we met plenty of characters, each of them with their own "mask", and they all presented a different view on what a mask represents.

Yao Guang refers to her title of Arbiter-General as her mask. She always has that casual, unbothered air about her, but when push comes to shove, she must act as the cold strategist of the Yuque, even if others see her as the Slaughtering General. For Yao Guang, a mask is a duty to be upheld.

Sparkle has had many masks during her lifetime, Sparxie being only one of them. She sees herself as an actress, and for an actress, there is no greater mistake than being stuck in a single role. Deep down, she craves adoration from others and fears being ignored, so over the years, she donned many identities to achieve her goal. Sparxie managed to gain independence and become even more famous and adored than Sparkle herself, to the point Sparkle thought she was fake compared to her. To Sparkle, a mask is a performance to captivate others.

Ashveil isn't just a broke detective. His current occupation is a disguise, a way of lying low and away from his past. He's actually the Lead Hunter of the Galaxy Rangers, La Mancha, a man ten Amber Eras old with too much history and an unbelievable baggage to carry. He's currently being pursued by his fellow Lead Hunters, his name being dragged through the mud, and instead of trying to defend himself, he chose to hide and mitigate the damage caused by past tragedies as best as he can. For Ashveil, a mask is something to hide behind.

Silver Wolf was born weak, and has spent her entire life terrified of staying weak. She accumulated power, climbing higher and higher, until she was confronted with the ceiling of her potential. She refuses to bow down to fate and plans to keep attaining power, but she's not quite there yet. So, when she needs more power than what she currently has, she uses her cartridge and borrows power from a potential future version of hers, one that stood at the peak of Elatiom itself. That form in itself is a "mask". And for Silver Wolf, a mask is her better self.

Evanescia hasn't always been the bubbly otaku girl she is now. In the distant past, she was a powerful Elixir Seeker, a terrifying Emanator of Abundance that was granted eternal life in Yaoshi's garden. Due to Aha's interference, she was transplanted in Planacardia, becoming an overseer to the Phantasmoon Games and the fate of the planet as a whole. She daw disaster strike countless times, and when it interfered in the Aeonic Game, she unleashed her devastating power, to costly consequences. Afraid of her own power, she shackled herself and donned the mask named "Evanescia". To her, a mask is a limiter imposed on the self.

The Trailblazer has been learning a lot about Planacardia and the Elation since they arrived. They've been witnessing as this world births countless possibilities, as the masses quite literally give power with their feelings, as greater and lesser forces collide and shape life in both good and bad ways. In particular, they've come to learn the weight of their own image and how to manage it. And upon treading the Path of Elation, they decided to gather all the wishes of the people and strive to give them an answer. For the Trailblazer, a mask is a light to illuminate people's lives.

Fulwish's life has been nothing short of a tragicomedy, the epitome of a mean-spirited joke. She suffered at the hands of a serial killer while still just a teenager, and Planacardia reached out to her only to milk her suffering for all its worth. She came to despise the nature of her world, to see the masses as nothing more than fools blind to anything that doesn't amuse them, to loathe Aha themselves for nurturing such a lifestyle with their game. She sought to end it all and plotted for more than a decade for it. For Fulwish, a mask is the life that was imposed on her.

Those are just the main examples, but in so far, pretty much every character has their own way of elaborating on the theme of identity: the Blade-Yingxing dichotomy, Nihilux and the process of adapting real life into fiction, Pearl and her discovery of the self through art, Kuchiba's hidden depths, the Daybreak Squadron and the meaning of heroism... Even Planacardia itself and the dangers lurking deep play a part in it. It's all so interesting.

[avalonlooper]

That scene in the 3.6 Trailblaze Mission where Phainon blasts a hole through the Grove of Epiphany to help Dan Heng find the Trailblazer is so interesting to me, mainly because of Path shenanigans.

Because it was the Destruction at work there. Phainon is pretty much halfway through becoming a Lord Ravager and it was said that only the Destruction held enough power to perform the feat needed to open up the way, but... The way he applied it was so un-Destruction. It was a spectacular show of force, sure, but it didn't really feel the same as Zephyro blasting through planets, or Celenova leading the Antimatter Legion troops, or Luxbane swallowing stars. It felt nothing like the absolute havoc we see Khaslana wreak in his gameplay animations. It felt nothing like what we usually see from Destruction.

Instead, it felt like seeing the Trailblaze forge a new path.

You know how in The Last Airbender, it's said that studying other bending forms helps you achieve new heights with your own bending? I wonder if that's the same concept at play here, but with Paths instead of bending. We know how highly Phainon thinks of the Trailblaze, even using it to repurpose his role as Worldbearer, and we also know how much he despises the Destruction. It makes me think he truly adopted the Trailblaze and is actively using it to mold his powers as a Destruction Pathstrider in order to become something different from Nanook & Friends.

It has been pointed out that many of Phainon's sun symbols were also used to illustrate the Trailblaze (like the symbol of the Trailblaze, also the mark in the Trailblaze Power image), and that's incredibly interesting to me. The Nameless are often compared to stars, and, well... the Sun is too a star.

Maybe that's what being "the blazing Sun destined to rise" will mean to Phainon in the end. Not as a failed hero, not as Destruction's lackey, but as an unstoppable, invincible power that burns everything that obstructs the road of the Nameless to ash.

[avalonlooper]

Now that I think about it, Fugue was kind of an introduction to the Amphoreus storyline and specifically to Phainon's character. Both are characters who were used as pawns for Destruction, reborn by it and bearing its golden mark, who have a wish to rebel against it due to the suffering they were made to go through. Also, identity issues.

Damn, they should meet one day.