Act 3, Scene 21
1st of the 8th Cycle
The Lord of Storms looked down upon her realm with the cold, unfeeling gaze expected of a god.
Thousands packed the throne room of Inchiki Castle. Nobles from every corner of the vast Land of Eternity, from Narukami to Watatsumi to Seirai. All have responded to the Shogun's call, to witness the death of an old order, and the birth of a new empire.
The smell of ozone lingered in the expansive hall, electricity crackled in the air. The violet flames of braziers poorly lit up the room, yet no one dared comment on it. For the Shogun sat still as a statue, and no one wanted to catch her attention.
On her right was the Shogun's kagemusha, a perfect copy of her illustrious form. For centuries, the kagemusha has ruled in the Shogun's place, and no one noticed. Face blank and naginata clenched firmly in her hand, the nameless kagemusha was the Shogun's power manifest.
On her left was the chief priestess of the Narukami Religion, Guuji Yae. Blood of the Hakushin, the kitsune remained silent by her god's side, her usual tendencies nowhere to be seen.
"Sangonomiya Kokomi, Yuna Yoriyuki. Approach."
The two greatest lords of Watatsumi gingerly approached the indiscernible god, and they fell to the floor before her. Kneeling, arms in front and foreheads pressed to the floor, they made an oath to last.
"I, Kokomi of the Sangonomiya, swear upon the holy Sacred Sakura and by the trust you have extended to me I give you my fealty and pledge you my loyalty. Should me and mine ever dare raise our hands in rebellion against you again, then I ask that your dreadful rage scorch my impudent soul."
"I, Yoriyuki of the Yuna, swear upon the holy Sacred Sakura and by the trust you have extended to me I give you my fealty and pledge you my loyalty. Should me and mine ever dare raise our hands in rebellion against you again, then I ask that your dreadful rage scorch my impudent soul."
"And I, by my authority bestowed unto me by the heavens above, swear to always provide thee roof and hearth. I swear to raise my sword in thy defence should thou be in need. By the oath I swore to thy god many centuries ago, thou are me and mine, and shall be forevermore.
A crack of thunder was heard, loud and booming. It reverberates throughout the hall to announce a pact signed in blood. The civil war has ended.
Kujou Sara prostrated herself before her god, begging forgiveness for a crime she did not commit.
"So I beg of you, great god, to judge me rightly. For I have betrayed your trust, as by the authorities you have bestowed unto me, to keep Inazuma safe from in and out, I have failed you.
The Almighty Shogun was still and silent. All in the hall held their breath as the tengu dared not move. As the god opened her mouth to speak-
Kujou Kamaji ripped himself from his jailor's grip, running forwards and falling to the floor next to his sister, before his god.
"Please! Show mercy, for my sister has done nothing but serve you! Punish me instead, for while my sister was fighting in your name, I have done nothing but shame it as my father betrayed you!"
No one dared to speak. To interrupt the Shogun, the man must have a death wish. Was that not their thoughts?
"Bring Kujou Takayuki forward."
The head of the Kujou was dragged in front of the god by his guards, and forced to kneel. Even so, he kept his head held high, defiant even in the face of death. A stark contrast, to his sobbing son and prostrating daughter.
All three living members of the main branch of the Kujou were before their god, waiting for their fate to be decided.
"Takayuki of the Kujou, you are accused of high treason, abuse of power for personal gain, and conspiring with foreign agents. How do you plead?"
"Guilty to all, Your Excellency."
"For your crimes, I sentence you to death."
The Shogun reached out her right arm, and snapped her fingers. Violet lines drew across the Kujou's skin, crackling and burning, then-
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGHHHHHHH."
The audience could only watch silently as the traitor's were cooked from the inside. His screams of agony echoed throughout the hall, a cacophony of pain. By the end, not even ashes remained.
Kujou Kamaji had a front row seat to the most horrific execution he had ever witnessed. There was no dignity, no honour, that the Shogun had allowed his father to keep in death. There was no ashes left to preserve, let alone a body to bury.
To the side, Hiiragi Shinsuke fell to his knees, shaking and sobbing. For he was to share the Kujou's fate.
"Sara of the Kujou, for your unyielding loyalty to your god, I hereby name you Lord of Tenryou, Lord of Karasu, and Lord of Fujitou."
"This one is undeservi-"
"For your tireless servitude to your nation, I hereby name you Daimyo of Kannazuka, and Tenryou Commissioner. You are now head of the Kujou, all future heirs shall be of your blood, may you continue to serve this land well."
"T-This one is undeserving, but yours is the most right judgment in the land. This one accepts this appointment with a thousand gratitudes."
The new Tenryou Commissioner rose from the floor. After bowing once more, she grabbed her brother and frogmarched him to the side.
Slowly, whispering started across the hall. This appointment alone will make Kujou Sara the single most powerful lord in Inazuma, to rival even the Sangonomiya. There were six islands in the Shogunate - Narukami, Kannazuka, Tatarasuna, Yashiori, Watatsumi, and Seirai. Thus there were six possible Daimyos as well, the Sangonomiya have always been Daimyo of Watatsumi, but no Daimyo have been appointed for all the other islands for centuries.
Until now.
"Bring Hiiragi Shinsuke forward."
The guards dragged the Hiiragi clan head across the floor, for his legs were too weak to stand. He sat limply on the floor before the Shogun, whimpering and begging.
"P-Please… Your Excellency, I-"
"Shinsuke of the Hiiragi, you are accused of high treason, abuse of power for personal gain and conspiring with foreign agents. How do you plead?"
"Please, Your Excellency! This one has learnt the error of his ways, this one pleads for your mercy. I shall serve you loyally and competently, I swear!"
Onlookers diverted their gaze, for they could not bear to watch the once proud Lord of Ritou fall so low. The Shogun sat still, like an unmoving boulder in a torrent of words.
"For your crimes, I sentence you to death."
And once again, the screams of a man dominated the hall. His piercing cries of torment invaded the minds of all who stood and watched.
"Hiiragi Hiyori, approach."
The general entered the line of sight of his god, and knelt where his uncle's body once existed, now nothing more than dust.
"For your tireless servitude to your nation, I hereby name you Lord of Suzume, Lord of Ritou, and Kanjou Commissioner. You are now head of the Hiiragi, all future heirs shall be of your blood, may you continue to serve this land well."
Hiiragi Hiyori stared at the ground and spoke with a smile, "This one is undeserving, but yours is the most right judgement in the land. This one accepts this appointment with a thousand gratitudes."
Hiiragi Hiyori was a bastard, born from a courtesan's womb. His trueborn brothers mocked him, his family shunned him. Now he could laugh in their faces, look at him now. He left for the army as a disgrace to the family, and returned as their lord.
He showed none of his feelings on his face, for the Shogun was watching. Hiyori was not stupid, he knows that the Shogun must know of his ploy, but if she did not mention it, then perhaps he has her blessings. All he knows now is that he must not fail the chance he'd been given.
"Bring Kamisato Ayato and Kamisato Ayaka forward."
The two Kamisatos walked forwards on their own. Many whispered behind their backs, for the mere thought that they could be traitors was absurd. Kamisato Ayato was the prodigy Yashiro Commissioner, who saved the Yashiro Commission from ruin. Kamisato Ayaka was the beloved Shirasagi Himegimi, a down-to-earth, caring woman who takes care of the people.
They knelt in front of their god together, and bowed their heads low.
"Ayato of the Kamisato, Ayaka of the Kamisato, you are accused of high treason for having ties to known rebels. How do you plead?"
The Lord of Hasu spoke with a clear and firm voice, "Not guilty, Your Excellency."
His sister followed his lead, "Not guilty, Your Excellency."
"Plead."
Kamisato Ayato hastily grasped the opportunity he had been given,
"Your Excellency, it is a misunderstanding. We do not have any ties to the Sangonomiya, Lady Sangonomiya can attest to this. What we do have, is ties to the Crux Fleet, a group of Liyuean mercenaries."
"You are accused of attempting to hire a mercenary to fight for the rebellion."
"That is not true, Your Excellency!" Kamisato Ayaka burst out, "I had only attempted to meet the Traveller - Sir Aether. I had only wished to learn his bladework."
"Do you harbour sympathy for the rebellion?"
"..."
The Shirasagi Himegimi fell quiet, that was all that was needed for the Shogun to make her decision.
"For disloyalty to your nation, I hereby revoke the Lordship of Araumi, and the vassalage of the Amakane from the Kamisato."
"We thank you for your mercy, Your Excellency."
The Kamisato survived, some lands were taken, but nothing they couldn't survive without.
"Bring Amakane Eijiro forward…"
The day continued as the traitors were judged. Dozens of clans were judged guilty, dozens of lordships were revoked and or replaced. It was noon when justice was fully served, and after luncheon would be the award ceremony.
"Akikazu of the Kamisato, for your unyielding loyalty to your god, I hereby name you Lord of Araumi."
"Nagamasa of the Kuroda, for your tireless servitude to your nation, I hereby name you Lord of Amakane."
"Noriko of the Kagawa, for your tireless servitude to your nation, I hereby name you Lord of Setsuzoku."
…
"Traveller Aether, for your competent service to this land, I hereby pronounce you a citizen of Inazuma. I bestow upon you the name Kogane."
"I gratefully accept, Your Excellency. But that is not why I served, we had a deal."
"So we did. I regret to inform you, but what you seek is not in this land. But I do know where, the last I had seen of what you seek was five centuries ago, on the battlements of Khaenri'ah."
"I understand, Your Excellency. I am afraid I will not be able to make good use of citizenship, for I must continue my travels."
"Aether of the Kogane, know that Inazuma shall always have a hearth for you."
…
"Yoimiya of the Naganohara, for your tireless servitude to your nation, I hereby name you Lord of Jakotsu."
"I cannot accept, Your Excellency."
Thousands of eyes stared at her back. Because who does she think she is to deny the Shogun? Yoimiya swallowed.
"Your Excellency, I am a Vision Holder without an ambition. I intend to go on a journey to find the reason for my Vision, which is why I cannot hold the responsibility of nobility."
"..."
Yoimiya held her breath. Strangely calm, she realised she might die here.
"Then you shall be exiled, only to return when you have found your purpose."
"Thank you, Your Excellency."
The girl rose and walked away, head held high.
Act 3, Scene 22
1st of the 8th Cycle
Night was upon them. Lords and merchants were mingling in the hall under the gaze of the God of Eternity. The official ceremony has long ended, and now people could celebrate their victory.
The new lords talked to each other, discussing how to manage their new fiefs. Congratulations were heaped upon the new Daimyo, who waved her new vassals away with a hard smile. There were commoners too, who distinguished themselves in the war and now had a name to bring home, they were drinking and laughing together, despite annoyed glances shot their way.
Music was being played as well, sake was flowing, food was constantly being brought in and empty plates out by attendants.
A herald stumbled in, clearing his throat with practised ease. The hall fell silent.
"La Signora of Zapolyarny Palace wishes for an audience, Your Excellency!"
Murmuring quickly started, gossiping nobles and ladies falling upon a new interesting circumstance like cats.
"Zapolyarny Palace…? Isn't that in Snezhnaya?"
"La Signora… where have I heard that before?"
"The Fatui! Isn't La Signora a Fatui Harbinger!?"
"They dare show themselves here!?"
Word that their new visitor was a Fatui Harbinger spread like wildfire. In the intervening days, the Fatui were deported from the Inazuman isles. After an official decree, any Snezhnayan agents still in Inazuma were hunted down and locked up in prison ships.
There shouldn't be any Fatui left in Inazuma, much less such a blatant existence.
"I will entertain her."
The Shogun's booming voice reverberated through the hall, silencing any who may agree or disagree with her. With the fluid motion to be expected of those who lived their entire lives in nobility, the lords and ladies of Inazuma swept to the sides of the hall.
The great doors to the throne room yawned open, and stepped through was the Fair Lady. Draped in a modest red dress, her usual atmosphere of pride and exuberance was nowhere to be seen. Four Fatui agents flanked her sides behind her, following the Harbinger with the attitude of servants.
The Fair Lady strode with confidence until she stood right before the god of this land, and gave a perfect curtsy.
And yet the nobles whispered and sneered, for this was not Teyvat, this was not Mondstadt or Fontaine or Snezhnaya. In the land of the Raiden Shogun, the correct expression of respect is to prostrate themselves before their god, or at the very least kneel. They did not know what a curtsy is, but a strange bobbing motion.
"I greet Your Excellency."
The Shogun remained silent, but the Fair Lady continued without missing a beat, well versed in these kinds of power plays.
"I have come seeking answers, almighty god."
"And who are you to demand I amuse you?"
"No one, Your Excellency, but a mere girl brimming with curiosity."
"And you were curious? When you came to this land with smiles and knives behind your backs?."
"You are mistaken, almighty god, for I come with no knives. I have only just arrived, the Harbinger in charge of operations in Inazuma was another!" The blonde-haired woman swallowed, "If you so wish, I could inform you all about their plans, in exchange for what I seek."
The Fatui agents behind the Harbinger suddenly jolted.
"My lady…?" They whispered. The lady bore them no mind.
"I find it hard to believe you would betray your comrade."
"Then it is a good thing they are not my comrade. For I come here not as La Signora of Zapolyarny Palace, but as Rosalyne-Kruzchka of the Lohefalter."
"My lady!?" The agents were more vigorous now, clearly not expecting their boss' words. One of them pulled a knife and-
Snap!
The Fair Lady snapped her fingers, and the agents cried out in pain. Boils bubbled on their skin, molten flame poured from their eyes and nose, geysers of fire erupted from their flesh. Their blood turned to magma and their organs to stone.
They fell to the ground, lifeless and inhuman.
"...Does your god know of this?"
"My god has failed me. She promised me revenge and knowledge, but fed me lies and deceit. I will do whatever it takes, Your Excellency, command me and I will obey."
"And what is it you seek?"
"Truth. Five hundred years ago the most devastating war to damn this land raged, I want to know the truth of it."
"The truth has killed gods before."
"Then it is fortunate I am not a god, Your Excellency."
"Bring me Kunikuzushi in chains, and I will give you everything you seek."
Rosalyne was stumped, she did not know who Kunikuzushi was. Perhaps he was a notorious bandit, or a rebellious lord. Away from her usual supply of information and in a foreign land, she would be hard pressed to figure out who was her target, let alone find them.
Someone must have noticed her demeanour, for they coughed into their fist.
"You already know who Kunikuzushi is, dear." They were a pink-haired woman with the ears of a fox.
A kitsune, she realised, then she recognised who they were. Yae Miko, Chief Priestess of the Narukami Religion. Rosalyne thought back to the briefing she had on Inazuma. Miko was one of the most important political figures in the country. She was the founder and only member of the Yae Clan, a cadet branch of the Hakushin Clan.
Not even Zapolyarny Palace knew how old she was.
"I would appreciate it if you weren't so vague, Guuji." Rosalyne responded.
"He is a homunculus, and would have been the Raiden Shogun if it weren't for certain… defects."
Gasps rang out across the room. It seemed not even Inazumans knew who this Kunikuzushi was. Rosalyne noticed a figure standing next to the god. Tall, with dark purple hair in a single braid. Stiff and unmoving, she was a carbon copy of the God of Eternity.
Rosalyne realised what the 'Shogun' really was, a mere puppet to be controlled by the true god of this land. As she discreetly looked around, she saw many more people come to the same realisation as she.
"I… assume he has gone rogue. Where can I find him?"
Guuji Yae gave a laugh, one hand covering her mouth. It sounded mocking to Rosalyne's ears.
"Why, I thought you said you knew where their plans!"
Rosalyne's burning blood froze.
"I believe you know Kunikuzushi better as the Balladeer. 6th of the Eleven Fatui Harbingers, or I suppose, Ten Fatui Harbingers now. Hehe."
The Balladeer was a puppet gone rogue? One created by a god? The witch looked up at the other puppet standing besides the god. Does that mean that puppet is his sister?
She could work with this.
"Of course, Your Excellency. But the Balladeer is the most hated of the Harbingers for a reason, even among our own ranks. He is slimy, and hard to catch."
The Shogun stared down at her with all the imperious might of a god. She felt like a mouse before a lion.
"I do not care. If you cannot bring him to me in chains, then you can bring me his head."
Rosalyne offered a wicked smile, "That, I can do, Your Excellency."
"May I also interest you with his machinations? The Balladeer has created a hidden Delusion factory on the southwestern slopes of Yashiori."
Hearing this, a young woman with piercing yellow eyes stepped forwards. Rosalyne knew who she was as well, Kujou Sara, also one of the most renowned figures in Inazuma.
"Your Excellency, with your permission I will take my personal retinue to clear out this factory, and aid Lady Lohefalter capture Kunikuzushi."
"Acceptable."
Right after the god spoke, the ringing of a great bell could be heard. Kujou Sara turned to face her.
"That is the midnight bell. Come, Lady Lohefalter, we have much to discuss."
As Rosalyne followed the general out, she turned to look at the god once more. The Shogun sat peacefully, eyes closed, still and unmoving. Behind her, the other people in the hall were filing out as well.
This was a very productive day, Rosalyne thought. Indeed, she gets to strike down two birds with one stone. Not only does she get to rid herself of the hated Balladeer, but also put herself in the good graces of a deity.
Yes, Rosalyne will discover the truth that the Tsaritsa attempted to hide so desperately. For what truth could a god fear so much? The Crimson Witch intends to find out.
Author's Note:
Act 3 is now complete. We have had little changes here and there in Acts 1 and 2, but now we have officially gone off the deep end. Isn't this what you call the butterfly effect? Or is it the moth effect now?