Rereading the Lumiere myth to gather my thoughts on Xavier’s lore. And that kindled scene alone sends me somewhere between giggles and ache. He jokes, flirts, lets MC wipe the ‘dirt’ from his face - but the truth is, he’s just hoping she sees the real him underneath. Not Lumiere. Not the performer. Just Xavier, who’s tired, rain-soaked, charming, and full of trivia. And maybe, just maybe, when he says ‘now both kittens are clean,’ he’s really saying: ‘thank you for looking past the mask.’ He walks that line between confused and flirty, sincere and teasing, flustered and focused, like it’s the only way he knows how to exist. It’s also the only way Xavier knows how to ask: will you love me when I’m not playing anyone at all?
Like, when he asks, “Who else were you expecting to see?” later on. That’s not mere curiosity, not with that vulnerable and soft tone.
It only shows that Xavier cares so much beneath the surface. Even the way he questions MC carries the quiet ache of wanting to be enough. Not as a silent guardian, not as a myth, but simply as himself.
I recently went on a lore deep dive related to the new story update to help my friend gather info for a LaDS lore stream she's doing (It's going to be on Tuesday--Feb 3rd--so come join in the fun if you can!) Anyway I did a lot of work on this so I wanted to share my notes. This is basically a comprehensive list of everything that happens in Xavier's lore in relation to the new update To Our Yesterday (I will also be posting Rafayel's and some other notes soon)
**Warning: SPOILERS for literally every part of the game up to To Our Yesterday**
(Also just want to throw out the reminder that you can find at least one upload of every card in LADS on Youtube, so don’t feel bad if you do not personally have some of the cards talked about here—go check out someone’s recording of them first!)
This is written out in chronological story order
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When Shooting Stars Fall (Anecdote)
-This story is set in year 217 on Philos. It is mentioned that Xavier first transferred to the Academy MC attends in 214. We get the information that this marks 214 years since Philos was created and Earth’s demise.
-It mentions that they substituted Earth’s core with an artificial one. It’s implied that this is the same planet because it talks about the land/tectonic plates being broken apart but held together by the new core.
-MC doesn’t know Xavier is a prince in this story. Canonically, this is their first meeting.
-At the end of the story when Xavier comes back from searching Philos for the protocore to heal MC he has the collar. Earlier in the story he says “to reach for freedom is to give it up”. I think the suppression collar was his punishment for running away. MC also asks him “Did you exchange your freedom for this?”
-The collar was given to him by presumably the royal family, which was confirmed in To Our Yesterday.
-This is also before Xavier discovers that MC is the one being fed to the planet. This might also be before the royal family discovers she has the capability of regenerating.
(I wonder if Xavier still kept that protocore? And if so, is it possible that he used it on her after her death and kick-started her regenerative abilities in this timeline? It’s a thought and if so ouch.)
Shooting Stars
Notes of Interest:
-We are not told how long after Where Shooting Stars Fall this is set, but I’m assuming it is several of MC’s regenerations later.
-Xavier takes part in the Gladius Ceremony (one of the ceremonies leading up to him becoming crown prince). He was supposed to go into Starfall Forest and kill a Wanderer. It’s also a test to see how well he could wield a light blade. Of course, this test was just a disguise so that the heir to the throne would find out the truth about Philos.
-Xavier leaves before he can be made crown prince while MC joins the Order of Lightseekers.
-During this time, the king dies and there is supposed to be a 200 year mourning period before another ruler can take the throne.
(It’s possible that the king died from gradual expending of life force through using his evol since we learned that was a thing in To Our Yesterday.)
-MC becomes leader of a squad of Lightseekers.
-While they’re on a mission in Starfall forest, MC’s power starts to be drained from her as the planet tries to consume her. Xavier, who has returned, comes to her rescue. (MC mentions at the end of this myth that this part is the flashback kindled we see of her and Xavier in the woods)
-This is where Xavier finally explains to MC about Philos’s core (this is the first time we also learn about it) and how it needs to be fed.
-We also find out here that wanderers are a direct result of what happens to people after they are consumed by the core.
-Xavier never specifically says that the girl who can be sacrificed over and over again is MC.
-The final scene in the throne room is related to the divergence point mentioned in Where Stars Scatter
Where Stars Scatter
Notes of Interest:
-The Revenants have an obsession with “returning to Philos. They created the Order of Babel, which is an interesting choice of phrase, indicating a people trying to reach for godhood and being struck down for their hubris.
-There was a belief that if they found the “Chosen One” and the Tree of Life they would be saved and led back into the light.
-In this myth we are told that Philos fell during a catastrophic war and a dark void shadowed the land, turning it into Sindersfell.
-Xavier ascends the throne and this results in eventual civil war leaving people to hate him.
-Philos was given a prophesy about its creation “at the world’s end the Chosen One would lead countless souls to be reborn, taking on a vessel of flesh and blood.” (Does this have significance outside of this myth?)
-This myth confirms that Philos is a manufactured planet
-The royal family originally discovered an area containing a ‘chaotic protofield’ in Starfall Forest with a cave leading to the heart of the planet. They began to sacrifice people there before disguising the murders as “pilgrimages”. This was a secret that the royal family was meant to keep and what ultimately made Xavier turn against his family and start the Backtrackers as we see in Shooting Stars.
-In a flashback when Xavier is talking to the Bishop, the man says “Both you and her(MC) are suitable for the role of sacrifice”. (This could just be because everyone else on the planet are currently undead revenants, but could this also mean that because of Xavier’s evol he would be able to feed the core? This would lead into the reasoning behind what is said in To Our Yesterday about why Xavier’s family put the collar on him to keep his evol from consuming his lifeforce. Xavier also doesn’t use his evol through this whole myth—at least not in the way we usually see it—which could be because he refuses to feed Philos.)
-The river Sinders that runs through the land has some connection to MC’s memories or memories as the whole (I kind of felt like it’s sort of the opposite deal as the Lethe), whenever she interacts with the water, she begins to remember her past in Philos.
-The vision MC has during her mushroom induced stupor is the scene from the beginning of the Shooting Stars myth where she met Xavier at the clock tower.
-It’s mentioned that the Queen supposedly disappeared, and this was likely when she went to sacrifice herself for Philos.
-We are told the Aether core in MC shares the same origins as Philos.
Timeline and where Where Stars Scatter fits into the Chronology:
(Disclaimer that this is only my interpretation at this point, but I’ll break down my thought process)
-Shooting Stars and Where Stars Scatter are directly related chronologically. When Xavier leaves with the Backtrackers in SS, MC takes the throne. But Philos is dying out before Xavier returns and she is forced to sacrifice herself for the sake of the planet’s survival. (This is her choice)
-In this timeline, Xavier returned to Philos but is too late to save her. With her dead yet again, he takes the throne but refuses to feed Philo’s core ever again.
-This is what sparks the war mentioned in WSS and the people’s hatred of Xavier. The planet dies, its people left to fade into nothing but revenants and Xavier lives on alone until the events of WSS pick up.
-When MC goes to the Tree and learns about the divergence point we find out that Xavier created a divergence point (the day of him leaving Philos) likely because of the Backtracking.
-The Tree entity lady says that Sindersfell is a failed possibility that continues to expand. It’s a “Failed branch”. Philos’s destruction cannot be stopped. The only way to end everyone’s suffering is to “return to the correct divergence point and create new possibilities.” (Both Zayne’s God of Annihilation Myth and Sylus’s Archfiend Sovereign Myth confirm the existence of failed branches.)
-When MC choses to go back to the divergence point, this obviously causes the collapse of the WSS timeline which now does not exist. She ends up back at the scene in SS before Xavier leaves. The scene we see at the end of WSS with Xavier and the Backtrackers is our current timeline (Main Story Timeline).
-This leads into MC’s vision in To Our Yesterday when we discover that the Backtrackers end up on earth 200 years earlier than intended. It is to be presumed that in the WSS timeline, they made it to earth at the intended time, came back to Philos, but Xavier was still too late to keep MC from sacrificing herself. After MC changed the diversion point, I think this directly caused the fluctuation in the Deepspace tunnel that led the Traceback II so far off course and spit them out 200 years before their intended date. Narratively, I assume the intent is that this was the best option for being able to change the future for the better.
Passing By (Anecdote)
-Xavier worked for the Bloomshore District Special Task Force. We’re not given a year for when he started, but we know he “died” in 2033, so this was definitely before the Chronorift Catastrophe.
-Jeremiah is mentioned in this one as “Miah” in Xavier’s texts and Isaiah shows up to confront Xavier. He is mentioned here again, as sharing Xavier’s looks but being younger (again, leading to the theory that he is related to Xavier—my bet is still on half brother specifically)
-It’s not specified whether Isaiah is working with Ever at this point or not, but it could be either during the time he was working with them, or before. He has obviously been hunting Xavier down though.
Sealed in Dust (World Underneath)
-This story opens with a meeting between an Ever “Raincoat” and one of the Backtrackers (this could potentially be Soren, or just one of the others working with Ever)
-The Backtracker is handing over a briefcase that is described to have the smell of explosives. This indicates that it was taken from the explosion at MC’s grandmother’s house (confirmed in Main Story Chapter: Galactic Sunset) The papers contain Josephine’s journal notes on the experiments performed on MC at Gaia Research Facility
-They talk about MC coming into her power: (Backtracker)“It’s not just Ever that wants her. Strike first to gain an advantage.” (Raincoat) “The one who strikes first is helping her cultivation.”
-The Raincoat asks “How long can you survive in this era?” This Backtracker at least seems to need a drug Ever is providing to stay alive. (I’m curious if we will see more about this because it doesn’t seem to be something all the Philosians need. Does this mean there was something Ever did to the Backtrackers working for them that makes this drug a necessity, are they suffering from protocore syndrome, or is it like the drug Xavier takes when he over exerts himself?)
-Ever wants MC to absorb Xavier’s power and for him to become “the strongest weapon in her hands” via her resonance evol, thus potentially draining him. (I think this is why they wanted the collar off of him-Mentioned in To Our Yesterday and World Underneath story: With Light)
With Light (World Underneath)
-This story about Nero’s obsession with Lumiere (running a fansite) mentions the time when Xavier was captured by Ever (as Lumiere?) where Soren modifies his collar when they can’t get it off of him. (Mentioned in To Our Yesterday) This is why there is an Ever logo on Xavier’s collar because they added modifications.(Not because they originally put it on him. We know from both Where Shooting Stars Fall and now To Our Yesterday that it was put on him by his family)
-This also confirms that Ever knows Xavier is Lumiere (which was also confirmed in the Lumiere myth, I believe)
Quotes:
“Any attempt to probe it’s (Xavier’s evol) limit triggers a special neck suppressor, which prevents the Evolver from using their full power. The techies can’t explain it. No physical form detected, no scars, and the energy suppression field acts like a protocore anomaly.”
“After conducting a series of experiments in the lab the techies finally unraveled the suppressor’s mechanism. They boosted its threshold and got a basic understanding of its mechanisms.”
Main story Chapter: Galactic Sunset
-Mention of Philos (Alpha P0159) being discovered and confirmed to be a dead planet by the Farespace Fleet
-The Backtrackers who work for Ever confront Xavier, mentioning their assumption that Isaiah is dead. (We know now that he was in hiding at the mental hospital)
-This Backtracker says: “That thing is with her”—obviously this is in reference to the Aether Core, and needing it to save Philos
-When Xavier kills this Backtracker he crumbles like a Wanderer—is this a result of being on Earth for so long, or is it the result of some Ever experimentation (potentially making them into an Alterum like Benedict) In World Underneath: Sealed in Dust, we see Ever handing over a drug to one of the backtrackers. Perhaps if they are not taking it they will eventually crumble like this? (It reminds me of how Philos’s transferred parts crumble in To Our Yesterday)
-At the end of this chapter when Jeremiah asks Xavier if he’s stopped paying attention to their ‘non-intervention rule’ Xavier says that some of the Backtrackers already have and implies that the explosion at MC’s grandma’s was a result of that. (The Backtrackers working for Ever) (This is confirmed in World Underneath story Sealed in Dust)
(Chronology Note: Xavier’s Lumiere myth Twilight’s Dawn occurs between this main story chapter and the story branch.)
I’m not going into detail on this myth because it really just introduces a lot of the things that are reiterated and explained more elsewhere.
A couple things of note:
-We see Backtrackers working with Ever going after Xavier, to the point that they are orchestrating Wanderer attacks.
-We’ve also concluded from With Light (World Underneath) that Ever almost certainly knows that Xavier is Lumiere.
-This is the first time we see a mention of Xavier having to use the drug after overexerting himself
-And this is also the first time MC sees the Trackback II in the No Hunt Zone
Voyage of the Outcast (Story Branch)
-This is Soren’s first appearance in the story. We do learn that Soren has an evol, which isn’t specified but seems to by a psychic power with connection to memory or perception manipulation. (Hence why Xavier didn’t recognize him to begin with)
-We also meet Dr. Ulysses for the first time in the main story. (He also made an appearance in the Anecdote “A Special Vacation” where Xavier babysat his son.) Ulysses was most likely a friend Xavier met when he attended university on earth (for fun) when Ulysses was younger. (He’s not a Backtracker)
-We see a mention of the Morris-Thorne Wormhole concept which is pretty much confirmed to be what the Deepspace tunnel is—a wormhole capable of time travel.
-This is the first mention of the RMFMA (Reflective Metaflux Field Monitor and Analyzer) It’s supposed to detect fluctuations in the Deepspace tunnel, but can also create a plane of existence overlapping reality. As Xavier explains, this function was only known by a few— presumably, the Backtrackers who originally made it. It says Soren did something to modify it so that it would trap people in a place they fear most (Obviously for Xavier, it ends up being Starfall Forest.
(I actually wonder if this trap was an attempt to drain Xavier’s evol?)
-We learn in this story that the Traceback II can run off of evol (mentioned in To Our Yesterday as having something to do with the Echo unit they pull from the wreckage to use as blasting power to get into the rift Soren creates)
-This story is also where MC finds out Xavier is from Philos and about the Backtrackers.
-This story also confirms that Soren got help from Ever to modify the RMFMA for his future plans (To Our Yesterday)
Feverish Attempts
-Isaiah makes his first appearance to MC in the story. Jeremiah and Xavier move him from the mental hospital to the cabin to keep Ever from tracking him down
-This story solidifies the issue with Xavier’s collar. We confirm that it is suppressing his evol and whenever he overexerts himself it makes him sick. (This was basically confirmation for all the events we saw in the Lumiere Myth)
To Our Yesterday (Main Story)
Things we find out:
-Soren is working with Ever to attempt transplanting Philos onto Earth, using the Flux Nexuses that the Backtrackers planted on earth with the intent of them collecting the power upon its destruction to make an Aether core that they would then collect and bring back to Philos to keep it running.
-Soren is using technology adjacent to his RMFMA machine (which we saw in Voyage of the Outcast where he used that as sort of a test run for this). This is what is causing all of the magnetic fluctuations around Linkon City
-Isaiah has information that Soren wants which is why Ever sends their men out to grab him and leads to the chaotic roadtrip.
Xavier’s Collar:
-We find out here that Xavier’s collar was made by the royal family to protect him (but likely also as a way to control him as it was pretty obvious in When Shooting Stars Fall that it was a punishment.) On Philos Evol energy and life force are connected. On Earth that force cannot be regenerated so basically if Xavier used up his evol he would be burning his life away. The collar is currently keeping that from happening.
-Soren helped Ever modify the collar when Xavier was captured (See World Underneath Story With Light). Gaia wanted Xavier’s Evol genes but the suppressor kept them from obtaining them. They asked Soren to modify it but he limited Xavier’s power even more and, as we find out later, planted an explosive device on it.
-It’s to be assumed that no one outside the royal family (likely only Xavier’s father) knows how to remove the collar.
MC’s Vision:
-This scene reminds me of what happened in Sylus’s part of Death and Rebirth. MC has found herself out of time and space again (I think this is like MC resetting, her body remembering that she’s isn’t actually human whenever she suffers huge mental or psysical trauma).
-The image of “The Hollow Planet” (Earth). I think this is showing the original timeline before MC reset the divergence point in Where Stars Scatter (see above). In this timeline, they made it to Earth when intended, during its destruction to collect the Aether core. (The original intent of the Backtrackers’ Mission)
-It’s mentioned that Xavier received a “cosmic transmission” during their mission that lead to their change in course. I think this has something to do with MC’s choice to change the timeline.
-When MC “sees” herself during the vision she sees herself as the eye we see early in the Main Story (Not sure what to think about this yet, but it’s worth remembering)
-During the warp MC’s evol went out of control. I think this is due to her aether core being overloaded, which is what led to her having the vision since she basically almost exploded again.
Further Notes:
-Astria’s Flux Nexus was in the Holy Sword of the Goddess which is why they had to destroy it.
-Xavier is able to get his suppressor off with brute force in order to contain the force of the blast from destroying the Sword.
-We have a mention of the 3rd Protocol. “Make sure Philos returns to a time before its core was extinguished”
-The Traceback II is now completely irreparable after they took Echo out of it so all the Backtrackers are officially stuck on earth in this timeline.
-The sword at the end seems to be a remaining piece of Philos that is not deteriorating. What does this mean? Will it come back later? It feels like it’s probably important. It is also referenced as “the King’s Sword”
The Morris-Thorne wormhole comes up in Xavier’s story - and I rather wonder if the Deepspace Tunnel isn’t something like this that he used to reach MC’s timeline? ALSO string theory comes up in recent main story (Death and Rebirth), and that is touched on in this video as well! Who knew that an otome would manage what my college couldn’t: getting me to pay attention and learn about physics!
Ok I was brainstorming a lot today about the KoD myth and the divergence point and now I have this HC that when MC chooses to reset the timeline, her world goes back to when Xavier first leaves Philos with the Backtrackers, and that's how she ends up being reborn at the Gaia Research Institute.
Additional thoughts to my earlier post on Xavier’s Lumiere myth and also on the quiet contrast in those lines about luck vs. blessing after he has saved MC.
MC calls it luck. She says, “Lumiere saved me again. I must be the luckiest person alive.”
And maybe, at first, he smiles. Maybe he lets her say it. Lets her believe the myth still matters more than the man beneath it. Because that’s the MC from 14 years ago talking, in a way. (And even though she knows that it’s him now.)
But when he reaches out to wipe the dirt from her face, he’s not correcting her.
He’s thanking her. Quietly. Softly. Almost too gently to notice.
“You might just feel lucky… But for me, it’s a wonderful blessing.”
Because for Xavier - not Lumiere, not the symbol, not the mask - this isn’t about theatrics. It’s about knowing and feeling how close he came to losing her. How tightly he has to hold back his panic just to speak without breaking. How desperately he clings to presence when words would only ruin it.
He tells her, “I only know that if I had been even a second later, I would’ve lost you. Forever.”
The weight of that confession reveals everything he’s been holding back. Because Xavier has been terrified, is terrified, and yet he doesn’t make that moment about himself. Of course not. He puts that existential fear aside, for later, and only wants to make sure MC is alright. He is there, giving her space but also not leaving. In that moment he’s still the strong Lumiere who has saved the day and - like always - he’s Xavier. With everything there is to him.
He’s there.
That’s also part of his love language: showing up in silence. Caring through action. Staying, even when he’s still unsure if he’s allowed to be himself.
When MC asks him to put on the Lumiere mask in the dressing room, he tells her “No thanks” which shows that, with her, he wants to be himself, not Lumiere.
He then asks her, “Are you hoping he’ll show up?” (he’s jealous, yes, but it’s rooted deeper than that) and goes impossibly silent when she doesn’t say “no”. Because what he has wanted to hear was something like, “No, I’d rather stay here with you.” He sighs, shakes his head, his expression sad and maybe a little frustrated.
Then, when he fake-muses about Lumiere and if he wants to let go of his identity, Xavier is naturally talking about himself. He, half-mockingly, half-self-deprecatingly, says, “Even if he does exist, he might have given up on that identity. Maybe he’d rather be a normal citizen who goes for a walk under the sun every day.”
He’s telling her what he actually wants. “Sun” should not just be taken literally here - because he wants to be out in the open, in his own light. So of course Xavier wonders.
If she’d still choose him. Not just as Lumiere. Not as the prince. Not as the performer or protector or the ruthless man he can be. Him as a whole.
Xavier - the man who would do anything for her and for his home. Philos but also Earth since she is there. Even if it might cost him the chance to simply be loved. Because he knows what the future will look like if he fails. No light left.
In this moment, Xavier doesn’t ask for recognition or validation although he craves it. He doesn’t correct MC when she still thanks Lumiere. But that’s what aches most - because the only thing he wants is to be seen as Xavier. With his resilience and strength but also with his fears and trauma. And still be chosen.
And maybe that’s why her calling it “luck” stings - because luck is random, but his love is a choice he makes every day, even when it terrifies him.
