Daiyan (GFL2)/Profile

Daiyan (GFL2)

Story

Profile

Quotes

"I can't sleep yet, I still have work to do..."

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Journals

Record 1

After Griffin's restructuring, Type 95 decided to leave her life of combat after losing her Commander. She then changed her name back to the one she used as a performer Doll—Daiyan. Once she left Griffin, Daiyan picked up her old dream again, which was to play the guzheng. With the guzheng as her companion, she set out on a journey of travel and creation. Deep down, she hoped that the Commander would reappear and reunite with her when she reached the next leg of her journey.
Alas, reality was often different from one's hopes and dreams. Daiyan was unable to make enough to support herself through performing, and her introverted nature did not help her fit into society. Just as she started to really feel lost, Jiangyu, Daiyan's little sister, returned to her side. The pair then met Zhaohui by pure coincidence, which caused the three to start traveling together and form Monsoon Squad. Faye was added as a new member later on.
Daiyan was gentle and even-tempered inside and out, so it was extremely rare to see her arguing with anyone. However, she insisted on her perspective when it came to music and culture. Daiyan believed that music was a purely spiritual expression that carried the weight of the people's most profound emotions and feelings. Time waited for no one, and it passed quickly no matter what. Not only did Daiyan want to spread the treasures of music, but she also wanted to create music that was truly heartfelt, to awaken the people who had been increasingly numbed to the passing years, to awaken precious emotions and sentimentalities that had been long forgotten.

Record 2

"I have decided to leave Griffin."
Type 95 finally made a decision under Type 97's urging after Griffin's restructuring.
"B-Big Sis, you submitted your request that fast?"
"Yes... There's not much meaning in staying here since I've already made my decision. I want to see the world, not just run around on the battlefield. I'm sorry, 97. I'm afraid you'll really have to stay at Griffin by yourself this time."
Type 95's detail-oriented personality was definitely more suited for housekeeping work and not the battlefield, but her decision did not stem from a desire to avoid combat, nor did she feel weary of battle. She just didn't want to fight solely for survival.
The Commander, who had guided her all along, the one who was her "muse" and the person who gave meaning to all the fights and struggles she went through, was gone.
If there was no common goal to fight for, she would lose her confidence and conviction in working numbly at Griffin.
"Other than your sudden apology, I'm more surprised that you are not regretting this already..."
"Regret? I've already packed my luggage."
"Oh... Eh? You're joking, right? I didn't see you packing anything at all, Big Sis..."
"I'm fine with just this guzheng." Type 95 smiled, caressing Type 97's head. "I do not plan to settle anywhere, so it is better to travel light if I plan to roam the world."
Losing the one who directed her, Type 95 decided to pick up her old dream again—to play the guzheng, which had become her solace.
And she believed that, if she just roamed through city after city, then one day...
"Big Sis, you... you're not really going to try to find the Commander by traversing the entire world, are you? Even if we find the Commander, we..."
Type 95 understood. Even if she found the Commander, their reunion may be limited. Yet, she wished to feel the Commander's presence again, even if it was just for a few minutes, even if they could only look at each other from afar.
She smiled like she always did and did not answer 97's question.
She then took out a book with over three hundred pages named "Emergency Handbook" and presented it to Type 97 in a ceremonious manner.
"How about letting this help you in my place from now on?"

Record 3

"Other genres...?"
The reality was that Monsoon Squad's income was not ideal, which caused the members to seriously consider the idea of doing other genres of music.
"Um... For example...?" Daiyan asked her squadmates for suggestions while she tried to quell the unease in her as much as possible.
She involuntarily recalled that there were some Dolls back in Griffin who liked to listen to...
"Heavy metal! How about that? Maybe it will actually suit me pretty well? Wanna try, Big Sis?"
Jiangyu just happened to say the one thing that Daiyan was most worried to hear.
Daiyan was hesitant.
"With our current instruments...? I'm not so sure that we can pull it off even if we follow the sheet music."
"Hehe, then you have underestimated my guzheng, Big Sis!"
Jiangyu held her guzheng like she was holding an electronic guitar. The obvious signs of modification on it made it clear that she had long been preparing for this to happen.
"Hmm... I'll try being the lead vocal then. I don't have to hold back my emotions in this case, do I?" Even Faye's tone conveyed a sense of optimism, different from her usual aloof and distant attitude.
"I have no qualms about it." Zhaohui twirls a dagger around, then sheathes it back on her arm as if to show her preparedness. "I am ready to begin training at any time. If a suona won't cut it, I'm happy to try a drum set."
Jiangyu picks up Zhaohui's suona with confidence. "No need, keep using the suona, that feels way more special! Still, I can help you modify it a little!"
Daiyan looked at her guzheng with heartache in her eyes, then at Jiangyu's excited face.
"Um... I know Big Sis is a traditionalist, so if you really don't want to try it out, we..." Jiangyu noticed Daiyan's facial expression change, then remembered her views on music and prepared to discard her new idea.
"No, I'll try it out." Unexpectedly, Daiyan agreed with a determined look in her eyes, her hands already on the strings before anyone noticed.
"Eh?"
Daiyan understood better than anyone how difficult it was for others to "hear" her perspective on music. Since she had decided to pass on cultures and traditions, the most important thing was to let people understand and start liking such music first.
Having made up her mind, she picked a heavy metal song and plucked the strings hard—
Faye roars with a deep voice while Jiangyu plucks the strings on her guzheng rapidly, playing out a chaotic, urgent tune. As for Zhaohui's suona, the sound it made was like that of a swung weapon madly rampaging in battle, sharp and conflicted, but nevertheless full of overflowing destructive force.
The instruments were screaming in pain—
If it hadn't been for the broken strings being the outcome of that rehearsal, Daiyan might not have become so averse to that style of music later on.

Record 4

"Big Sis, are you really okay?" Jiangyu knocked on the door. Daiyan put away her notebook calmly.
"Jiangyu? Oh dear, did you have trouble sleeping? Would you like me to read you a bedtime story?"
"Big Sis!" Jiangyu could no longer keep her calm. "You looked so disappointed, so I was really worried about you..."
Disappointment...
Daiyan remembered that she came to this city to perform due to the high number of former Griffin Dolls in it, so she had anticipated that she would be able to gather more news and information about that person.
The results did not match her expectations. Although she managed to visit a number of former coworkers, she was unable to gather any useful information.
"It was to be expected. I don't think the Commander... gets to contact us freely." Daiyan let out a sigh, which was unexpectedly heard by Jiangyu outside the door.
"Big Sis?"
"Ah, Jiangyu, I'm about to sleep soon. Maybe you should do the same?"
Daiyan quickly settled Jiangyu's worries, then took out her notebook again. She flipped to an open page, then wrote a few musical notes on it.
She would do this every time she thought of that person, conveying the overwhelming number of thoughts, words, and feelings she could not say to anyone else in the form of music.
"I'll play these for the Commander once we reunite..." Daiyan would think, which encouraged her to keep on creating and traveling. Although one would not be disappointed if they had no hope in the first place, sometimes the only thing that sustained her and kept her going... was hope.

Record 5

"Stop treating me like a kid, Big Sis! Didn't I come back safe and sound last time?"
Daiyan was unable to shake off her habit of looking after Jiangyu even after their arrival aboard the Elmo. And now, under Daiyan's repeated exhortations, Jiangyu finally got annoyed. She shook Daiyan's arm in an attempt to escape from this barrage of advice that had already lasted for twenty minutes.
"You said things like that too, back when we were still traveling around. Do you remember that time you sustained a number of injuries after haphazardly chasing after a mission target..."
"Come on, don't keep bringing that up, Big Sis!..." Just as Jiangyu was wondering what excuse she should use to escape the lecture this time, a scheduled notification sound gave her an opening.
"Oh, right! I-I need to be going on a mission today, so see you later!" Jiangyu smiled awkwardly at Daiyan and slipped away as if she was saved by the notification. Daiyan swallowed the words of advice and concern she had in her throat.
Perhaps she really was going overboard with her concern?
Or do Dolls have a rebellious phase too?
Those were Daiyan's thoughts as she mulled over them to think about which was more likely.
"Maybe I should indeed let Jiangyu have more freedom?" She recalled Jiangyu's expression in her mind. "I'll have to be careful to not say too much next time she goes on a mission."
Jiangyu was not expecting such a change at all.
"Hmm. Is Big Sis... angry?" Jiangyu was about to set off on another mission soon, yet Daiyan did not come to find her at all.
Rather than feeling delighted, Jiangyu was at a loss on what to do.
Did her big sis truly become capable of holding back her excessive concern? Or did she get angry at her?
"Sorry, Jiangyu, I'm late. I took too long to prepare this emergency supply pack for you. Want to bring it on the mission?"
Daiyan arrived with a compact backpack just as Jiangyu was ruminating. She broke into a smile upon seeing Daiyan.
"Something made you happy, Jiangyu?"
"N-not really. Aw, Big Sis, you're always doing things like this." was what Jiangyu said, yet she readily took the pack from Daiyan, strapping it to her waist. "I'll be off then, Big Sis."
"Good luck and have a safe trip!"
As Daiyan waved to her, she realized that it was impossible for her to stop being concerned about Jiangyu, nor was it possible for her to not mind Jiangyu's affairs. She sincerely hoped that the supplies she packed would be of use to Jiangyu.
The backpack also included Daiyan's handwritten deluxe edition of "Precautions for the Outdoors" as a surprise for Jiangyu.

Record 6

This isn't the first time I went with Daiyan to help her gather inspiration. However, there seems to be a problem with the place or the time we arrived, because the place we picked is very different from our expectations. Not only is it full of debris, there isn't a soul to be found. Even Collapse storms would probably avoid this place.
Simply put, this place has been abandoned.
As expected, after checking repeatedly to make sure we aren't in the wrong place, Daiyan reveals a vexed expression on her face.
"Sorry, Commander, this place seems to be a little different from what we saw in the materials."
I don't think this is just "a little" different. Daiyan highly values the expression of feelings and emotions in the creative process, so she often goes to crowded areas in order to gather inspiration. With that in mind, there isn't much to "gather" from there.
If I have to say something good about this place though, it is that it's more than quiet. Silent, even, as if it's at the edge of the world. The environment is so spacious and empty, the sky looks like it's gotten closer by a few degrees.
"Hmm... On the bright side, it's a rare opportunity to find a place like this."
It also suits Daiyan's quiet, collected nature.
"Then, how about we take a short break here, Commander?" Daiyan takes out a thick picnic cloth, laying it over a flat area, then retrieves a few lunchboxes carved with intricate patterns. "Good thing I've prepared for a picnic lunch this time, so we can still eat as planned."
Even though we don't find what we expected, she still smiles as gently as she always does. Accompanied with the delicious food she carefully prepared, the silence of this place offers an interesting overall experience. No matter where we are, Daiyan is able to elevate it to a more positive experience, and I believe this to be a unique ability of hers.
"Commander, I can provide a pillow if you are tired. No need to hold back, okay?"
"I'm not tired yet."
Looking at Daiyan quietly immersing herself in gathering inspiration, I think to myself that perhaps this trip isn't much of a failure after all.

Record 7

Daiyan always liked making music more than fighting. With this in mind, I rarely assigned her combat-related tasks so that she would have more time for music. Instead, I assigned her to take care of housekeeping matters.
Which led to the current situation—
When I walked into the lounge, I happened to see Daiyan talking to a medal.
"...You must be longing for the past, hoping to go back to those days. After all, the Commander only obtained you after going through such a perilous battle."
I had already walked in front of her before she noticed my presence.
"Ah, welcome back, Commander. The food is ready, would you like me to bring it for you?"
"Just now..." I was thinking of a tactful way to ask her what she was doing.
Daiyan understood my gaze and realized what I was thinking about.
"Ah, I found this while organizing the storeroom in the afternoon, Commander... I felt nostalgic, so I sorted the other items of this type together." Daiyan then immediately showed me the translucent cabinet next to her, like she was worried about any misunderstandings. And indeed, it was filled with memorabilia that I had tossed into the storeroom.
"...But I still don't really understand what you were doing just now."
"Ah!" She seemed to have realized what I was talking about and let out a quiet exclamation before slightly hiding her face with her fan. "Sorry... I was just thinking that these objects carry the feelings, emotions, and experiences of people which passed through the passage of time, so... I would sometimes start talking to them without realizing it..."
Daiyan was a nostalgic person, so she would often remember and think about these objects of the past, like the guzheng that had been her companion for many years now. I had almost forgotten this quality of hers.
"It's okay, there's no need to apologize, Daiyan." I reached out and slowly pushed her fan aside. "You can do whatever you like; there is nothing to be ashamed about."

Record 8

The number of combat tasks assigned to Daiyan had slowly been increasing ever since Daiyan expressed her wish to follow me into battle.
Her gentle and collected nature made it easy for people to overlook her combat capabilities. In fact, she wasn't in any way inferior to any other Tactical Doll in combat.
It wasn't until I found her fixing her frame that I realized that she was not perfect either.
"Daiyan, you will have to take a rest rather than go on tomorrow's mission."
"Commander..." She seemed to be surprised by my arrival.
"My apologies. It was my poor planning that caused you to overload."
"No, it's not a problem on your part, Commander." Daiyan stopped me. "It was due to me being too greedy, wanting to accompany you on every mission. I did not notice my frame overloading, which resulted in this."
"I missed this, Commander. This nostalgic feeling of fighting alongside you each and every day." Daiyan spoke sentimentally. "Looks like it's true that I can only find meaning in my actions when I'm by your side, Commander..."
"...I prefer for all of you to be safe. Anyway, as compensation, I'll put you on holiday for the coming week."
"Commander, if you really do wish to provide compensation, why not do something better than a holiday?"
I had no idea whether this was due to her being overworked on combat missions, but it was rare for a gentle and introverted Doll like Daiyan to take the initiative and ask for something she wanted.
"You can let me know your suggestion, and I will do my best to fulfill it."
"Then, Commander..." She slowly approached me, as if wanting to observe my expression. I couldn't help but feel excited over what kind of difficult request she was about to ask me.
"For the next week, come to my room for a meal every day, okay?"
...
Okay. Daiyan was still being Daiyan indeed. She never really changed.