Jahoda

Birthday: January 5th Region: Nod-Krai Affil­i­a­tions: Curatorium of Secrets, Northern Intelligence Network, Adventurers' Guild, Seahook Gang

Nod-Krai, also known as the borderlands, is an autonomous region located on the edge of Teyvat in the southernmost part of Snezhnaya. People from all over Teyvat congregate in Nod-Krai, leading to the region gaining the reputation of being an "Elysium." Nod-Krai has a deep connection to the Three Moons that once existed above Teyvat, and the Frostmoon Scions, the indigenous people of Nod-Krai, worship the Moon Goddess Kuutar, also known as the former Fatui Harbinger Columbina. The Archon Quest Song of the Welkin Moon takes place in this region.

Teyvat is a world. Teyvat is split into seven primary nations that correspond to an Element, Archon Quest and Archon, along with several regions such as Nod-Krai, Khaenri'ah and Celestia.

Snezhnaya is one of the seven nations of Teyvat and one of the major regions in Genshin Impact. It is the nation that worships the Tsaritsa, the Cryo Archon. The Fatui, a military force under her control, is particularly notorious for their diehard devotion and their unscrupulous methods in enacting her will. The autonomous region Nod-Krai is located at the southernmost part of Snezhnaya. Archon Quest Chapter VI takes place in this region.

The Northern Intelligence Network is an underground organization, currently ran by Nefer. Its primary point of sale is the Curatorium of Secrets in Nod-Krai. The network is made up of volunteers, with many of its members having willingly given up their prior positions, reputations, and sometimes even abandoning their names to join. It is loosely structured with no real rules or regulations. As a forum for intel exchange, it brings together well-connected individuals willing to share information in exchange for payment. The network has spies in every region except in Liyue, as Yelan and her colleagues have prevented it from taking hold there.

Leader:

Cyrus (Mondstadt Branch Master) Lan (Liyue Branch Master) Kamal (Sumeru Branch Master) Mansa (Natlan Branch Master) Sarin (Nasha Town Branch Master)

The Adventurers' Guild, indicated by Icon Adventurers' Guild icon on the map, is an organization that serves as an adventurer-for-hire service for the people and other organizations in the seven nations of Teyvat. The Guild collates all the complex word-of-mouth information it receives and redistributes it in the form of quests and adventures assigned to adventurers. Each adventurer is issued an Adventure Handbook, which is used to record their completed commissions and is part of the system the Guild uses to pay out commission rewards. Details filed by the Guild include commission history, income statement, commission evaluations, commission statistics, and average positive ratings (which imply that commissioners can leave a rating on an adventurer's performance of their work). Once a Handbook is full, the adventurer can get a new one. Each Adventure Handbook has a unique serial number, which is also recorded when issued to an adventurer. It is unknown if old Handbooks are kept by the Guild, but their serial numbers become part of the adventurer's file. It is insinuated that past Handbooks are expected to be available to the adventurer if needed, so perhaps the owner is to keep them for their records. Posting a commission requires paying a processing fee of Mora. A commissioner can choose to leave a designated commission with the Guild, which is only offered to the adventurer/adventurers listed on it by name.

While the identity of the commission submiter is usually learned by the adventurer in the process of carrying out a commission (such as whom to turn it in to, or asking a person involved of the details), if it's not necessary to know their identity, the Guild is obligated to keep that confidential. If, however, the adventurer is able to figure that out from a tidbit of information about the submitter that is not related to the commission itself, that is not any of the Guild's business. Little is known about the origins of the Adventurers' Guild. However, based on Lan's dialogue, the guild's main headquarters is based in Snezhnaya. At some unknown interval, guild branches send information on the adventurers they deal with back to headquarters, which is how Lan was promoted to Branch Master.

The Seahook Gang was once a notorious gang of bandits based in Nod-Krai. The original gang disbanded some time ago, allowing imposters to become criminally active under the guise of the Gang's name. The original Seahook Gang was a band of thieves with significant power and influence in Nod-Krai. They took in exiled criminals from across Teyvat[1] and were known as a "hidden power" that once controlled Nasha Town. As part of a certain "business deal," the gang once captured a merchant who was known as a black-hearted swindler. After returning what he owed to his victims, the members divided the spoils amongst themselves and partied all night. The gang eventually fell at the hands of Ratfan, a wealthy man who found the group "troublesome" for his personal interests. He bribed members of the gang to assassinate their own boss, possibly by throwing him overboard, then had the evidence destroyed in a fire. The remaining members quickly devolved into chaos and scattered; some died, some fled to other nations, and some, like Jahoda and Zinaida, remained in Nasha Town and simply buried their past. Sometime after the Seahook Gang disbanded, a different group began using their name in order to take advantage of their intimidating reputation. They are currently active in Nod-Krai. Nefer seems to be keeping tabs on what remains of the original Seahook Gang, as she asks Lestocq to have the Marechaussee Phantom round up some ex-members who recently turned up in Fontaine.

Nasha Town is a subarea and a main city located in Lempo Isle, Nod-Krai. It is a seaside settlement that serves as Nod-Krai's main port and commercial center. It has no official governing body, and is instead under the influence of various factions, including the Voynich Guild, Curatorium of Secrets, Speranza, and Fatui. This makes it both a paradise of freedom and a lawless jungle. Due to Nod-Krai's limited resources, Nasha Town is mostly built out of scrap metal. It also appears to be highly industrialized, with cargo transport rails criss-crossing the sky and kuuvahki-powered machines on every corner.

Lempo Isle is an area located in Nod-Krai. The Clink-Clank Krumkake Craftshop run by Aino is based here.

An employee of the Curatorium of Secrets, a self-proclaimed legendary bounty hunter. A former member of the Seahook Gang, she was taken in by Nefer to be the only front member, to cover up Nefer's informants and activities under the Northern Intelligence Network.

Jahoda is usually a bubbly, cheerful and sassy young woman, who wants nothing more in life than peace and tranquility. She is quite suspicious of others at first sight, often giving them nicknames, but as she gets to know them, she becomes kinder and more open. Due to her past as a Treasure Hoarder and the pressure put on her shoulders by her boss, Nefer, Jahoda can be very anxious when confronted with dire situations; however, she'll still recompose herself in order to accomplish her missions perfectly. She is also very smart and intelligent, as seen when she helped the Traveler, Paimon and Lauma infiltrate in the Kuuvahki Experimental Design Bureau, managing to find her way to guide them through the facility to recover the Moon Marrow.

Kuuvahki Experimental Design Bureau is a subarea located in Paha Isle, Nod-Krai. The lower levels of the Design Bureau contain normal enemies. During the events of World Quest The Shoemaker's Children Go Barefoot in Series East of the Moon, West of the Sun, the player will unlock the upper areas of the bureau. Apart from the area where Raskolnikov is fought, all other areas with enemies will utilize an alarm system in which once combat starts, a 20-second countdown timer will initiate. If this timer is allowed to expire before the current enemies are defeated, additional enemies will respawn. All of these enemies do not reward any experience, Mora or materials.

The Moon Marrow is a divine artifact left behind in the aftermath of a Moon Goddess's death. It is a core of energy formed from the congealed remains of the dead Goddess that also carries an imprint of her divine presence. There are currently two known Moon Marrows in existence: one that coalesced from the remains of Aria, the Goddess of the Eternal Moon, and another that formed from the Abyss-corrupted remains of the Goddess of the Iridescent Moon. There is no Moon Marrow associated with the Frost Moon, as it has a still-living goddess, Columbina, that presides over it.

Jahoda wears black jean shorts with tattered edges, and a white bodysuit laced up on the front and sides. Several belts lie on her lower hip along with a leather hip plate connect to the other belts by a compass. Two pieces of black fabric cover her chest, leading up to a black scarf that dangles in the back in 2 spiky pieces. Her right arm is amputated above the elbow, supplemented with a bionic gold-colored prosthetic metallic arm shaped similarly to the detached black bell sleeve on her other arm. On this other arm, she wears a black fingerless glove and a red handkerchief tied to her upper arm. Her yellow-blonde hair is cut with choppy bangs in the front, and braided into 2 loops in the back. Her eyes are golden – fading to lavender on the bottom with a cyan ring around the outer border – and yellow star-shaped pupils. She wears chunky-round glasses with gold frames and pink lenses raised above her eyes. She has a winter hat with raised bat ear-like pieces and patches of various colors. On her left leg, she wears a very sheer, holed stocking, a warm red sock, and a tattered black leg warmer. Her shoes are black with tall cleats. She also possesses an Anemo Vision placed on a ribbon between her braided hair loops on the back of her head.

Visions are jeweled amulets which allow their users to directly channel the power of one of the seven Elements. They are bestowed by Celestia and the Seven Archons to allogenes, people of Teyvat with particularly powerful desires who have the potential to ascend to Celestia and become gods themselves. Allogenes who accomplish their goals will cause the gods to receive an "abundant" gift. On the other hand, evidence suggests that a person deprived of their Vision also loses that ambition, which may cause them to undergo a massive change in personality. In the upper left corner of the character menu is an icon that represents a playable character's Vision or equivalent, with their element denoted by the gem and their in-game nation denoted by the decorative design around the gem. This icon is present even for the characters that do not use Visions and characters with non-standard Vision designs.

The seven Elements of Teyvat are at the core of both gameplay. They act as special Status Effects and Damage types that can be applied in specific orders to trigger Elemental Reactions. The seven elements cover seven of the eight damage types, last one is Physical. Each element corresponds to an Archon and their own nation that worships said Archon. The nature of the relationship between an Archon and their element is unknown. Similarly, while regions are heavily affected by its element, the nature of their relationship is also unknown.

Day after day, amidst all the noise and mishaps, the people of Nasha Town have grown thoroughly familiar with the one and only official employee of the Curatorium of Secrets: Miss Jahoda. Sometimes she struts out of the Curatorium with all the self-importance in the world, bounding through the streets just to buy herself an extra-large sugar sculpture. Sometimes she springs furiously across rooftops, chasing down a client who tried to scam her. Other times, she'll slump by the Curatorium's front steps, head bowed, motionless as Ashru plays with her undone braids... Many have posed the same question to Lady Nefer: In a town so full of rare gifts and inquisitive minds, why place your faith in a girl so ordinary — perhaps even a touch clumsy? Nefer's reply never changes: "At any rate, just trust my judgement." However, on especially awful days, even Jahoda will ask feebly, with her head hanging low: "Boss Nef... There's no chance you'll fire me suddenly, right...?" "Why would I do that? If you're gone, who's going to feed Ashru and refill his water?" "Really...? That's the reason? But..." "Ah! Ashru! You little rascal, get off! That braid took me forever!" "Meow-meow, meow–!" Nefer leans her chin against her hand, watching the girl and the cat in their usual tangle of play and fuss. She knows Jahoda will continue to grow. That one day, Jahoda will learn to navigate every rocky patch and treacherous storm, and steer her own life with a steady hand. And when that time comes, the girl who began with nothing but herself will have to face the question: Where does her path truly lead? To Nefer, it's a "question" interesting enough to observe. To Jahoda, it's an "answer" important enough to chase after.

When people from Nasha Town speak of the only official employee of the Curatorium of Secrets, they always acknowledge Jahoda's abilities — well, some of them — before wondering aloud: Why would the boss of the Curatorium of Secrets hire no one else but her? After all, that loose-tongued, ever-stumbling girl is always going on about how she's "the master thief who's plundered every corner of Nod-Krai," "the most street-smart local around," "the one who's got connections everywhere." Such talk might fool a few outsiders, but there's no way it could ever fool the sharp-eyed Lady Nefer, right? "At any rate, just trust my judgement." Whenever a partner shows even the slightest doubt, Nefer always responds with a gentle smile. On some days when Lady Luck seemed to have completely abandoned her, Jahoda, after running into one problem after another during her commissions, would ask her dear boss with anxiety written across her face: "Boss Nef... There's no chance you'll fire me, right...?" "How could I?" her dear boss replied with a gentle smile. "If you were gone, who would brush Ashru's fur, fill his bowl, or make sure your boss here got a good night's sleep?" "W–What? That's the only reason?" "Meow-meow, meow–!" "Ah! Ashru! You little rascal, get off from my head! That braid took me forever!" As always, Jahoda caught the mischievous Ashru and threatened to give him a bath, while the troublemaker wriggled wildly, covering her in a storm of cat fur. Nefer watched from the side, chin propped on one hand, smiling softly. This young girl was one of the few people in Nod-Krai who could pique her curiosity. "Jahoda... what kind of person will you grow into, I wonder?" Her murmured words were lost in the playful clamor of girl and cat — but Nefer knew that, someday, Jahoda would hear them. "...And when that day comes, what great things will you have achieved?"

When Jahoda was first taken in by the Seahook Gang, or, in her own words, "recruited," she occasionally had trouble sleeping. Sometimes it was the commotion outside. Sometimes, it was a job that hadn't gone smoothly. And sometimes... it was the curiosity she couldn't contain. Noisy crowds were easy enough to handle. The boss had told Jahoda that if she wanted everyone to quiet down, all she had to do was grab whatever was at hand — a cup, a plate, even a chair — and throw it into the crowd while yelling at everyone to be quiet. Jahoda had tried it, and it really worked. She'd leap out of bed, snatch up a stuffed toy, and hurl it out the window, then shout at the top of her lungs. And the thieves outside, staggering around, yelling and drinking, would actually fall silent. After that, Jahoda would mess with her tangled hair, hug her blanket, and flop back into bed. Meanwhile, everyone below would be trying not to laugh as they watched the unlucky one who had been hit by the toy. This time, it was his turn to wash it and sneak it back to Jahoda's bedside, or else their little lady would wake up in a sulk the next morning. A job that didn't go well could leave Jahoda feeling down for a long time. When it got too much, she would slip out of the house and quietly wake Zinaida. Half-asleep, Zinaida would listen as Jahoda mumbled that she'd lost her keys because there were just too many of them in the house, and they all looked the same. Next time, she promised herself, she'd color-code every key... that would solve the problem for sure. "And remember that time I accidentally fell off the roof and landed right in front of the boss? He was in the middle of negotiating with a rival. So... why did I hand him the apple I was holding? Well... because the boss had been talking for so long, he must've been thirsty! And I only had one apple, so of course it had to go to him. What was I supposed to do, give it to the rival? I mean, sorry... I guess I'll bring two next time..."

Jahoda would ramble on until she finally fell asleep, resting her head on Zinaida's shoulder. Zinaida, having seen this countless times, would carry her back to the house, tuck her into bed, and set a glass of water on the nightstand, knowing that after all that talking, she'd be thirsty in the morning. Of course, the hardest to quiet was her occasional bursts of curiosity. And sometimes, to calm that curiosity... she had to take a few risks.

As Jahoda grew a bit older, some Seahook Gang members would occasionally have restless nights. Sometimes it was from drinking too much, sometimes from injuries, and sometimes simply because they didn't feel like sleeping. But there was only one time when the entire gang stayed up all night. After a certain "business deal," the gang held a feast to celebrate their victory. That black-hearted merchant had finally gotten his comeuppance, handing over all the money he'd swindled. After returning the victims' share, everyone in the gang was guaranteed a nice cut. At one point during the chaos, when someone reached for a necklace, the merchant had suddenly lunged, almost possessed, trying to snatch it back. He was too frail, though, and the gang easily subdued him. What followed was the same old cliché they'd seen a thousand times. The swindler started bawling, swearing he'd give up everything if they'd just return the pendant. According to him, it held the only picture left of his wife and daughter. These experienced thieves, of course, weren't fooled. Nine out of ten swindlers they'd tied up would use the same excuse to beg for something back, and that "something" usually hid a clue to some treasure, a way for them to crawl back from rock bottom. After tossing the merchant a bit of money, the gang headed straight back to their base. But just as everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, and it had come time to divvy up the spoils... "Wait... Where's Jahoda? She was just here..." "Boss, that necklace is gone! C—Could it be...?" Jahoda had disappered. And with her went the necklace — neither too expensive nor too cheap, but enough to cause a stir. Silence swept through the hall. The seasoned thieves glanced at one another. None of them believed Jahoda would betray them over some random necklace. Besides, Jahoda probably didn't even know what the word "betrayal" meant. At last, Zinaida spoke up, hesitant and uncertain.

"She wouldn't... really have gone to return that necklace, would she...?" Before she even finished, a small door at the back of the hall creaked open. Jahoda slowly poked her head out. But instead of sneaking back into the noisy, crowded room she'd imagined, she froze at the heavy silence that greeted her. "S—Sorry... I... I was just in the bathroom..." The first weary sigh came from the boss, his face buried in his hands. The second came from Zinaida, now certain she'd guessed right. One sigh after another followed, filling the hall, while Jahoda lingered at the doorway, still peeking in, unsure whether she should step inside. "Jahoda, dear, come here." The boss beckoned to the girl, who was fresh off finishing a secret little adventure. "We're deducting the cost of that necklace from your share, so you'll get nothing this time." "B—But that necklace... Huh? Wh—What necklace? I have no idea what you're talking about! I..." "Jahoda." "Yes, Boss!" "Quiet. Eat your meal." "Yes, Boss..."

By the time Jahoda's childhood came to an end, her enemies were the ones losing sleep. In the past, Ratfan had always trusted in the power of money. It could hire members of the Seahook Gang to take out their own boss, throwing the troublesome gang into disarray. It could buy barrels of oil to burn away all the evidence and scare off the faint-hearted. And most importantly, it could be used to buy valuable intelligence from that mysterious businesswoman. The hidden powers that once controlled Nasha Town were gone, leaving only money as the path to power. But the hunter who had set his sights on him didn't need it. "Enough! Show yourself! What do you want from me!?" The burly man bellowed into the silent forest. His camp had just been raided again. Somehow, the small, wiry assassin had slipped inside, effortlessly taking down one guard after another. She had pierced three warning drums with her arrows and even reached the very center of the camp. If she hadn't stumbled from the roof in her weakened state, Ratfan's head would already have been separated from his body. Yet even after taking two arrows and a hammer blow, she had still dashed back into the forest, disappearing without a trace. And just like countless nights before, she would return the next night, always managing to track Ratfan no matter where he fled. Exhaustion and fear had everyone on edge. Some said the girl had long since died, and that what kept returning was merely her spirit, driven by obsession. Others said she had devolved into a member of the Wild Hunt, and that only the Ratniki could stop her now. But Ratfan knew the truth: she was just a little girl. He had seen Jahoda when he scouted the Seahook Gang before, and even the gang's boss had praised her highly.

Back then, Jahoda was a slight and ingenuous kid. When she stood below with the others, she would secretly tug at her companion's hand, swaying back and forth, only calming down after a gentle tap on the head. She had looked nothing like a thief. By any measure, she still had a long way to grow, or perhaps, she didn't even know what form she wanted to shape herself into. Now Ratfan knew he had been wrong. Jahoda didn't need time to grow — she just needed a reason. And he had given her that reason with his own hands. —So be it, then. They would settle this in the way thieves knew best. Another night, Ratfan had torches planted all around the camp, and he stood alone in the center, weapon in hand. He couldn't even remember the last time he had held a weapon himself. The sword felt impossibly heavy, heavier than a bag stuffed full of Mora. As expected, his opponent appeared, calmly stepping into the obvious trap. The torches lit up Jahoda's face, gaunt from hunger. A lingering fever had drained all color from her skin, and her hair clung to her cheeks like withered grass. Her lips were cracked like parched earth, yet her eyes still shone, bright, sharp, and unyielding. It was as if she had struck a bargain with death itself, her soul burning with a fierce vitality that would last until her vengeance was complete. Jahoda was a lone gambler, and her life was her final chip. Since she had nothing to lose, why not go all in? "Kid... let's talk, alright? Whatever you want, I can give it to you, just name it." Ratfan swallowed hard, the bravery he'd scraped together already slipping away. He knew those eyes too well. They belonged to a desperate soul. "I—I know you're a good person, Jahoda..." Jahoda had nothing. But he had so much — money, jewels, gold, wealth, luxury, all waiting for him. "L—Listen to me, don't do anything reckless... we can..." But Jahoda didn't need any of it. She had already sunk her teeth into her prey.

"It seems you won't be able to afford the outstanding sum, little girl." Nefer looked over the weakened Jahoda. She was covered in wounds, but at least she'd survived. "I'll pay you." "I don't see what else you have left to offer me." "I can work for you." Jahoda brushed her hand over her empty right sleeve, then added: "Anything you need." The ever-resourceful Lady Nefer shrugged, unfazed by Jahoda's desperate tone. Money meant nothing to her. The only reason she'd told Jahoda where to find Ratfan in the first place was to let someone else take care of a puppet that had started tugging at its strings. Even if it failed, it would still serve as a warning. But to her surprise, that scrawny little hyena had actually torn out the wolf's throat. It seemed the girl she had planted as a hidden pawn was no longer of any use. "What's your next plan? Continue with your old trade as a thief? I can introduce you to a few... somewhat more reliable Treasure Hoarders." "..." "Oh, that doesn't appeal to you? Then how about the Adventurers' Guild? You might just get lucky and strike it rich in some ruins." "..." "Still refusing? Fine. Perhaps you want to leave Nod-Krai to heal the scars in your heart..." "I don't need those scars healed." Jahoda broke her silence, giving her final answer. She had once loathed those ugly, aching scars, like rotting fruit sinking in a swamp or the remains left by a beast's meal. Yet when fever nearly caused her to miss the ambush from her perch in the tree, it was the pain from a scar on her back that jolted her awake. And when an enemy's trap nearly caught her, the freshly healed scar on her hand reminded her not to repeat the same mistake... For some lucky souls living a comfortable life, scars are nothing more than unfortunate blemishes. But for Jahoda, scars bore witness to the choices she had made and the path she had forged for herself.

She had endured the scars, so she would endure life, just as she always had. Nefer suddenly clapped her hands, cutting the conversation just as before. She had heard enough. "Alright, that's enough for today. Any longer, and you'll pass out again." She narrowed her eyes and smiled. "The rest doesn't matter, but since you said you'd work for me and could do anything... I believe we have a deal." The contract has suddenly been sealed. Still unsure of what had just happened, Jahoda hesitated, then nodded. At least she now had a place to stay. "...Yes, Miss Nefer." "Call me Boss." "Huh?" "From now on, call me Boss Nefer." "Yes. Boss... Nefer."

After officially joining the Curatorium of Secrets, Jahoda never expected to run into the swindler who had once been cleaned out by the Seahook Gang. She had just finished a commission and was leaping across rooftops with her payment, taking the fastest route back. Just as she prepared to jump to the next roof, a window swung open, and a voice bellowed: "Hey! Miss Jahoda! Miss Jahoda!" Jahoda turned around in a daze, shadows from the past flashing through her mind. "You're... that swindler..." "Ahem! Not a swindler anymore, I swear. I've long since turned over a new leaf." The merchant waved his hands wildly, repeatedly urging Jahoda inside before hurrying to lay out sweet biscuits and tea. Jahoda glanced around; not much had changed since her last "visit." "sigh I must thank you for what you did back then, Miss Jahoda. You were so kind to return the necklace. If I had really lost it, I don't know how I would've gotten by." As he spoke, the merchant kept patting his chest and sighing, babbling on about how he'd cleaned up his act over the years, how he'd made a comeback, and was now doing good deeds to make up for his past. Memories Jahoda had long tried to bury began to resurface. The merchant's voice faded, replaced by voices far more familiar. "B—Besides, the money's already been returned to the victims. Giving back a necklace to that swindler won't hurt! One thing at a time..." "Boss! Ow, ow! That hurtsssow! Stop pulling my ear!" "J—Just because we're thieves doesn't mean we always have to do bad things. You've all taken care of me for so long, haven't you...?" "If it really doesn't work out, how about bad deeds on odd days, good deeds on even days? That way, neither side gets neglected. And on Sundays... I'll just... ah! Ouch, ouch, ouch!" "Please, no! Boss, take me with you to the negotiation! I don't want to eat Zinaida's cooking — it tastes awful!"

By the time the merchant finished his rambling and saw Jahoda off with endless thanks, evening had already fallen. Pushing open the door of the Curatorium of Secrets, Jahoda stepped inside, only to have Ashru rush up first, eager to play. Even after he messed up her hair, he didn't get the usual head rubs in return. "Looks like you ran into an old friend," Nefer said, setting down her teacup. "Boss... you knew everything?" "Heh, let's just say our paths happened to cross. And I happened to learn about both the good and the bad things you've done." "Boss, I..." "If you're going to ask me whether your 'good' or 'bad' deeds are truly 'right' or 'wrong,' I won't answer." Nefer stood up and closed the door of the Curatorium of Secrets. The day's work was over. "You'll have to find the answers to such questions yourself." Jahoda slumped as if deflated. Ashru hopped onto her head, letting out a disgruntled grumble, clearly still annoyed that Jahoda hadn't played with him. Nefer turned back, her gaze falling on her little employee, lying there with downcast eyes and a heavy heart. Perhaps, in all of Nod-Krai, Jahoda was the one who resembled her the most. Both had crossed treacherous waters alone, both had hunted foes who needed removal alone, and both had their own "problems" to resolve. Perhaps, once each of them had found their answers... The owner of the Curatorium of Secrets shook her head, cutting those thoughts off. "...Heh, leaving a little suspense for the future isn't so bad, I suppose."

Jahoda's "metal arm" was personally built, fitted, and even cosmetically refined by Aino. During the crafting process, Aino suggested several modifications, including but not limited to installing a sweeping device like Ineffa's, turning the fingertips into retractable "rocket fingers," embedding high-intensity lights or thrusters in the palm... In the end, constrained both by Jahoda's firm stance and a limited budget, Aino's creation, dubbed the "Clanky-Clanky Arm," retained only the most basic mobility and minor transformative functions. To quickly adapt to the new arm, Jahoda followed Ineffa's advice and began a rigorous "paper-star-folding training regimen." By the time she had folded thirty jars of paper stars, she could deftly use cutlery with the new arm. At fifty jars, she could braid her hair. At seventy jars, she could skillfully sew cloth dolls. Upon reaching one hundred jars, she finally mustered the courage to write with the new arm. Under Ineffa's guidance, she penned her first test phrase: "Hello, Jahoda."

The news that Jahoda possessed a Vision was spread by Nefer. As Nefer put it, if the boss had a treasure, the employee ought to have one too. Otherwise, Jahoda might be at a disadvantage in future dealings. "Boss, but I don't have a Vision..." "No matter. I'll get you a glass bead to wear." "People will see through it immediately!" "Not necessarily. Besides Vision holders themselves, who can truly verify its authenticity?" "Ah? Well... I suppose you're right..." And so, adorned with a cyan glass sphere out of nowhere provided by her Boss, Jahoda continued her busy life as usual. Just as Nefer predicted, people's attitudes improved noticeably once they learned Jahoda had a Vision. Not only were remunerations given to her slightly higher, but she was also entrusted with more challenging commissions... Of course, the high pay, difficulty, and expectations weighed heavily on Jahoda, who knew full well she had no real Vision. This pressure made her work even harder, spinning like a little top all day long. But overall, she found genuine joy in being more useful, earning more, and finally earning some trust. Even in her dreams, she often found herself aiding others or achieving great feats. "Don't... don't worry, I have... a Vision..." She mumbled, flailing her fists as if she'd just defeated some formidable foe in her sleep. In reality, having just returned from a nighttime outing, Nefer sat beside Jahoda. The "Curatorium of Secrets' sole full-time employee's" backpack lay open, the green glass bead within wrapped in layers of cloth to both prevent breakage and deter prying eyes. Jahoda swung her arm unconsciously and slurred: "I'll help you... I have... a Vision..." "With a Vision... you can do good deeds..." "With a Vision... you can..." As Nefer rose to leave, a fleeting glimmer of aquamarine light caught her eye. The owner of the Curatorium of Secrets paused in surprise, then chuckled softly. A lie repeated a thousand times had somehow willed itself into truth.

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