DISCLAIMER: This work is not a sequel to Down With the King. Both stories can be enjoyed separately.
Prologue – The Calm Before the Storm
"Even if the spring thunder leads, slashes me, turns me into ashes, it's for the sake of the world of all."
-Epitaph of an anonymous samurai, Narukami Island, Inazuma.
The Raiden Shogun is the name given by the people to the Electro Archon, For millenia she has led Inazuma through prosperity and strife, striking fear in the hearts of her enemies with the almighty rule of violet thunder. To the Raiden Shogun goes honor, trust, and devotion eternal.
When the Watatsumi Omikami overstepped its boundaries and bared its fangs at the Bakufu, the Shogun led the armies of Narukami to war, thus honoring her age-old promise to always protect her people. In the end, Orobashi was rent asunder by the Musou no Hitotachi, and Yashiori Island was cleaved in half, an eternal scar burned deep in the land to serve as a constant reminder of the Shogun's unrivaled might.
Save for the people of Watatsumi, Inazumans revered their goddess with a burning passion, their faith in her unfaltering even in the face of the Cataclysm five centuries ago. They knew she was all-powerful, and would protect them against any threat.
"By order of the Shogunate, all of Inazuma's borders will be closed. There will be no contact with the outside world, and foreign trade will be submitted to a strict regulation. All ships attempting to leave or enter the archipelago without permission will be sunk by our troops without prior warning."
Until...
"By order of the Shogunate, all the Visions within Inazuma's borders must be seized. If you own a Vision, please hand it over to your nearby Tenryou Commission officer. Refusing to relinquish your Vision or hiding an illegal Vision-bearer will be seen as an act of high treason against the state, and the Almighty Shogun herself."
She oppressed them.
At the Shogun's behest, the two most important decrees in the nation's history had been issued, and Inazuma changed for the worse. It had become a prison, a restricitve nation for unfathomable reasons, and its people cried to the heavens for help. The sight was gut-wrenching, the sons and daughters of an entire nation being used like mere pawns on the giant chessboard that is Eternity.
But not once did Kujou Sara ever lose faith in her Archon.
In order to attain eternity, sacrifices had to be made. If it meant seizing Visions and closing the borders, then so be it. She shall be the first to enforce the Almighty Shogun's will, and let retribution come crashing down like thunder on any who dared to oppose her.
Kujou Sara was the General of the Tenryou Commission, and she would shape Inazuma into the nation that her god desires.
The only thing that prevented the tengu from slamming her desk and chanting "Glory to the Shogun and Her everlasting reign!" was a knock on the door to her office. Of course, she expected a report at this precise hour, but she really needed to keep her patriotic urges in check next time.
The general cleared her throat. "You may come in."
The wooden panel slid, and a burly soldier walked in, offering a light bow. "Madam Kujou." he greeted.
"Take a seat, Motosuke." the tengu sternly replied.
The samurai sat down in front of her, visibly anxious, impressed by her presence, or both. The afternoon's warm rays filtered from the window behind her, casting her imposing shadow over him. Sara did not even need to ask how the mission went – the man had clearly failed. The uncertainty in his eyes and the rising tension in the room spoke louder than a thousand words. She remained silent as he kept fidgeting, and finally struck when the poor man looked like he couldn't take it anymore.
"So, if you are back, it means our fugitive was successfully apprehended, correct?" she inquired.
The soldier did not try to hold her thunderous glare, and immediately prostrated. "W-We tried our best, but this ronin made a masterful use of both his blade and Vision. The chase lasted for several days, but alas, he fled by boat and we lost him. All clues seem to suggest that he has left Inazuma now. It is... it is my fault and my responsibility alone to shoulder, for I was the one who underestimated him and try to rush the capture. Please forgive the Doushin who fought under my command, and-"
"You do not get to decide how I hand out punishment, officer." she cut him off.
Strike one.
A faint whimper emanated from beneath his kabuto, but she did not take pity on him. Honestly, Inazuma's bravest samurai, supposedly fearless warriors, were so terrified of her it was almost saddening. Almost, but her job took priority over being the nice general.
Kujou Sara sighed in repressed annoyance. "Do not worry, this failure will not be held against your men. But you did manage to catch the boatman who ferried the fugitive illegally, no? What kind of useful information could you get out of him?"
Motosuke regretfully gritted his teeth. "I-I am deeply sorry to be the bringer of bad news twice in a row, esteemed general. We did apprehend him, but this bandit refuses to speak, and even has the audacity to laugh in the face of our best interrogators. We couldn't get a single word out of him, but-"
"You did your best. Let him go home, and tell the interrogators to do the same."
Strike two.
The samurai looked up, but all he saw was his superior's inscrutable gaze. "But... he helped a wanted fugitive escape! Shouldn't we try some more? Madam Kujou, you are an expert at pressuring the enemy, I am certain that if you led the interrogation team yourself we could finally yield results."
The tengu general calmly leaned over her desk, both hands entwined under her chin. "Motosuke, I am not mad that you failed – just disappointed. But know that this man will not speak, for unwavering loyalty has been ingrained into him since he was a child. Let him go, and assign two Doushin to monitoring his every move. Maybe we'll learn something from watching him, and even if we don't, at least an attempt will have been made."
He slowly nodded, beginning to fathom why his superior was, well, his superior. "Understood, Madam Kujou. What shall we do about our fugitive, then?"
She picked up a sheet from her desk as a spark ignited between her fingers, consuming the paper and burning her notes away. "If he has indeed fled Inazuma, there is nothing we can do. Notify Mr. Shikanoin and tell him to drop the Kaedehara case – he was dragging his feet to investigate, anyway. As for you, your punishment shall be in the form of doubled drill exercises for a week. Dismissed."
The samurai sprang up and saluted. "I will do my best, General. Glory to the Shogun, and Her everlasting reign!"
Motosuke walked backwards towards the door while bowing, and soon the wooden panel slid shut.
Heh. He missed the final strike by a very narrow margin. As much as Sara would like to complain about the officer's failure, at least her men were loyal. The desertion rate in the military had skyrocketed since the issuing of the two decrees; too many warriors growing disillusioned with their own country being the main cause. As a general, she could not afford to lose more soldiers, so moving on from any failed cases was necessary to keep morale up.
Besides, if her hunch was correct, they would never be able to capture Kaedehara Kazuha alive. As the sole successor to the Isshin forging art, some people could not afford to have him locked behind bars. He was a living bundle of very valuable knowledge, passed down from the Almighty Shogun herself.
She could not completely blame him, seeing his entire clan slowly fall from glory must have been devastating for the young man. But snatching his dying friend's Vision and fleeing the scene after that fateful duel before the throne was unacceptable. Just by closing her eyes she could relive the scene, and it never failed to make her blood boil. Sara had put her own life on the line to punish the irreverent swordsman, after all!
And the man who'd helped him escape was no ordinary boatman either. If he did not break under pressure from their best interrogators, then he had been trained to remain secretive and never betray his master. Even she wouldn't be able to make a difference.
"So Kaedehara Kazuha is under the Shuumatsuban's protection." she guessed. "How sneaky of you, Commissioner Kamisato."
But without proof, she could not possibly incriminate Kamisato Ayato. In fact it would only endanger the Tenryou Commission if she were to act so rashly, given how popular the Kamisato Clan's stable popularity. She had no other choice but to play the long game and set her sights on a more attainable goal for now.
So instead, she would uproot the Watatsumii resistance and seize every single Vision within Inazuma's borders. As preposterous as it sounded, it was still far more feasible than confronting the Yashiro Commission and their many allies head-on. And once the Kujou Clan's high standing with the Shogun will be secured, gathering enough clues to denounce the Kamisatos in one fell swoop would be mere child's play. She did not wish for them to fall, but if they made an enemy of the Shogun, they made an enemy of her – this had been her motto ever since she'd been adopted into the Kujou Clan.
Kujou Sara was the General of the Tenryou Commission, and she would strike down all traitors to the Almighty Shogun on her road to Eternity.
Several months later, Kamisato Estate, Inazuma.
"Gentlemen, would you like some more jasmine tea?"
Not even waiting for their answer, Thoma generously poured some more tea into his guests' cups. It was a simple move, one he had repeated countless times over his time as a retainer. One hand gently holds the kettle, while the other monitors the angle and adjusts it if necessary.
Though he was used to entertaining noblemen, Thoma found himself wearing a fake, strained smile. Heck, the temptation to accidentally spill their beverages on them was great. The ever-friendly blond was concerned about how much he disliked those two, it was truly out of character for him.
In his defense, his guests were the absolute worst.
Takatsukasa Susumu ungratefully grabbed his cup and downed its contents, in a manner worthy of Mondstadt's worst drunkards. The clan head shifted in his seat, grumbling something about the Kamisatos lacking basic etiquette. The sheer audacity on this man.
Seated to his right, Takatsukasa Tetsuno attempted to imitate his father, only to burn his tongue on the scalding water. He promptly admitted defeat, and his cup would remain untouched for the rest of their visit.
Perhaps someone had overheated their tea on purpose. A shame, truly.
Old man Susumu's fist suddenly slammed on the table, making the cups and kettle jump in terror. His own son flinched, but the housekeeper remained unperturbed.
"This is unacceptable!" he barked. "Does the Lady of this house think she is too dignified to welcome us in person? Sending her housekeeper to entertain prestigious guests of our caliber, like we're commoners unworthy of her time?"
"Father, please calm down." his son soothed. "We did arrive unannounced, after all."
Thoma's eyebrow twitched, but his smile hung on bravely. "I'm sure milady has her reasons. I shall go fetch her in her room at once, gentlemen."
His plastered beam disappeared as he left the front room, but his annoyment flew through the roof. He always tried to be accommodating and never thought ill of others, but these two were just taking it too far. These rude nobodies have the audacity to barge in uninvited, and start ordering the servants around all because they're nobles? Had Lord Ayato been here, they probably would've mysteriously vanished a few days later.
No matter. They wanted an audience with Lady Ayaka? They were going to get it.
The retainer walked down the opulent corridor, all the way to the Frostflake Heron's room. He ceremoniously spun on his heel and knocked.
"Milady, our guests are really eager to speak with you." he whispered. "I believe it would be best to humor them, at least for a few minutes."
The Shirasagi Himegi's soothing voice slipped through the intricately-carved door, and she unknowingly calmed her retainer's nerves. "Ah, I'm truly sorry, but I'm extremely busy at the moment. Could they perhaps come back later?"
Thoma shot a glance down the hall to make sure nobody was eavesdropping on them. "We both know driving away aristocrats is no easy task, milady. Besides, both the father and son are present. I trust you already know what that means."
"Not this again." sighed the Lady of Snow. "The other clans at least had the decency to speak to Ayato beforehand – even though he promptly turned them all down. But unlike them, it seems the Takatsukasas really want to seal the deal badly, huh? Rest assured, I shall handle this."
The door to her personal quarters slid open, and out walked Kamisato Ayaka, cunning as a hare and graceful as a heron. The young lady of the clan elegantly flipped her light-blue hair, her lips curving up into a cute yet crafty smile. "Very well. I'll show them that marrying their way into power is absolutely inconceivable within the Kamisato Clan. If it can ease my brother's burden even a little, then expect the young lady to take matters in her own hands."
She spoke with a lot of confidence, but her retainer noticed that she looked tired. Mentally tired.
"Right behind you, milady. Please show them what you're made of." He smiled as he offered a light bow, preferring not to pay much mind to it for now.
The guests' gloomy faces immediately lit up when they beheld the long-awaited princess prancing her way to them. Her gaze met Susumu's as she sat down, and the repressed hostility immediately made itself known, akin to two swordsmen dueling for honor on a foggy morning. Two of Inazuma's most powerful clans, coming face to face under the front of polite smiles and courtesies.
Ayaka drew her blade first.
"Ah, gentlemen, please accept my most sincere apologies for this unseemly tardiness. I was so engrossed in some flower arrangements that I did not pay much mind to your arrival." she apologized, or at least appeared to. "But my interest was certainly piqued when I heard that the head and heir of the Takatsukasa Clan were so avid for an audience with me. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Susumu leaned back, but was still not relaxed. "Oh well, I simply took the liberty of dropping by your exquisite estate on this fine day for a bit of idle chatter around some tea, no more, no less. I brought along my pride and joy – my eldest son, Tetsuno. I believe you two have met before, yes?"
Ayaka quickly eyed the son in question, who in turn courteously bowed. "I believe I have caught a glimpse of your son at a few official gatherings, yes, but we are not personally acquainted with eachother. Which is quite a shame, he seems to take a lot after his distinguished father."
The clan head's chest swelled with pride as he subtly nudged his son, inciting him to make himself look good.
"Ah, yes." the young man snapped out of his daze. "Lady Kamisato, it is my honor to behold your unparalleled elegance on this blessed day. Truly, your face looks as fair as the finest pearls of Watatsumi, beautiful and oh-so brilliant. And your eyes... um... your eyes..."
Seeing as he was still fumbling with his words, the Shirasagi Himegimi allowed herself to cut in. "Watatsumi pearls? Surely nothing good can come from this breeding ground of rebels to the Almighty Shogun. And what is this about my eyes?"
''Yes your eyes..." Tetsuno continued. "are like blooming sakura, forever beautiful even in the most troubled of times."
"Dear me, my eyes are blooming." she blinked, unimpressed. "Perhaps I should tell my physician about this. It sounds like a very serious disease."
The eldest son slowly realized that he was digging his own grave. "I, uh... nevermind."
Susumu's smile strained. "I should have come alone for this. You have absolutely no talent for poetry..." he whispered behind his gritted teeth.
"I'll do better next time, I promise!" Tetsuno replied in the same tone.
"There will be no next time, idiot! We only get one shot, one opportunity! So please, don't ruin everything now and just follow my lead."
"Ahem!" Ayaka suddenly cleared her throat, earning a flinch from the scheming father and son alike. "Gentlemen, Mister Tetsuno's rather... enthusiastic attempt at poetry aside, I fail to fully grasp the purpose of your visit. Of course, idle chatter around a pot of fine tea is a most wonderful way to spend one's time, but aren't the two of you very busy men? Surely there is something on your mind, did you perhaps come to seek advice?"
Susumu took the lead, lest more strange verses fly out of his offspring's mouth. "Well you see, both the Kamisato and Takatsukasa clans have Inazuma's best interests at heart. After all, we both wish to use all that is in our power to serve the Raiden Shogun. And I- no, we came here today to suggest our two families coming together in order to reach that noble goal."
The Lady of Snow kindly smiled. "Oh, I'm afraid you came at an unfortunate time then. Brother is very busy at the moment, and is unable to accept business collaboration requests for the time being. If you reach out to him personally, perhaps he will be able to spare a few minutes for you two in, let's see...'' She struck a thinking pose. "Two months from now."
"No, you misunderstand!" the young heir interrupted.
No, she understood everything perfectly. But if he kept digging, he might find Jade Steel down there.
The clan head resisted the urge to facepalm at his own son. "What we mean is that... we would like to discuss a potential arranged wedding between Tetsuno here and your dignified self. If that is alright with you, of course. We would naturally start with the usual courting sessions, where you two could get to know eachother better, and perhaps-"
"Oh my," the Shirasagi Himegimi feigned surprise, but it was vital that she stopped his rambling. "This is quite the important matter, then. Perhaps we really ought to discuss it with Ayato after all. The Takatsukasa Clan is already affiliated with the Tenryou Commission and Kujou family, so having your eldest son marry the Kamisato Clan's lady..." She slightly tilted her head, but her polite smile was now nowhere to be found. "Having a foot in two Commissions at once is a lot of power for just one family, don't you think? Rumors could spark about your clan being a little too ambitious for their own good, Lord Susumu."
Both the father and son gulped with great difficulty.
Ayaka decided it was time to finish them off. "I am very flattered that Mister Tetsuno feels this way about me, but I do not plan on getting married anytime soon. If romance does find its way to me, I hope it will be in the form of a man who can truly speak to my heart. Until then, please let everyone know that this estate's gates will not be open to opportunists any longer."
"But we-"
"Do not take offense at my refusal," she continued. "I sincerely wish you the best in your future endeavors, and hope that you may find someone who can make you happy. Or give you power, depending on your wishes. But know that I will not be that person."
Takatsukasa Susumu clenched his teeth. "Why would she not even consider it? Why did she shut us down so quickly?"
"Isn't the Shirasagi Himegimi just a sentimental fool?"
The clan head held his breath as a bead of sweat ran down his temple. "I would beg of you to reconsider, at least just a slight amount of courting-"
He should have stayed down.
"Besides, Lord Takatsukasa," Ayaka cut him off. "Didn't your daughter reject the family name to run away with a commoner? It may be a mere coincidence, but the fact that your eldest son asks for my hand now of all times is quite convenient for your bloodline, wouldn't you say?"
Tetsuno drew a sharp breath. "Th-these are just baseless rumors! Kimiyo has never left our family, she feels more at home with us than ever!"
"Is that so? That's not what she said when she came to me directly, begging to get married as soon as possible. It seems she was really desperate to escape your grasp; just what did you put her through? Did you perhaps forget that the Yashiro Commission oversees all weddings that take place on this island?"
Innerly, Thoma was jubilating, thanking Celestia for allowing him to witness such a glorious moment.
The clan head sprang up in a hurry, his tailor-made kimono already drenched in sweat. "I suddenly remembered that we have some very important matters to attend to, don't we, son? We took up so much of your time, Miss Kamisato, we really ought to get going. Come on, now, there's no time to waste!"
His son did the same. "Why yes, look at the time. Thank you once again for your hospitality!"
"Oh, leaving so soon?" she asked in faux surprise. "How regrettable. Thoma will see you off to the gate, then."
"N-No need, we know the way out!" they shouted in unison. "Farewell, Lady Kamisato!"
Ayaka elegantly waved as the two men ran away without a shred of dignity. Once they were out of sight, she sighed and turned to her retainer. "Did I... overdo it? Maybe bringing up Miss Kimiyo's wedding was a bit too harsh on Master Takatsukasa. As much as he may like to scheme, no father would ever want to be reminded of that. Finding the right balance of pressure is quite difficult."
"Nothing to worry about, milady." laughed Thoma. "If anything, you did him great service by helping him face the truth."
"Facing the truth, huh?" she whispered.
The Shirasagi Himegimi tiredly got up and dragged her feet back to her quarters. A slight wave of her hand beckoned Thoma to follow suit. In true gentleman fashion, he slid the panel for her, but was not quite ready for the sight that was the state of her room's interior.
It was incredibly messy. Like, Ritou's fish market on a calm sea day levels of messy. The golden-lined wardrobe's contents had been spilled on the floor, and countless paper sheets littered beneath their feet. Her desk was crumbling under books, notes, and records of all kinds, most of them seeming to not even originate from her room. If he didn't know any better, Thoma would mistake this for a Sumeru Akademiya researcher's study after a tornado had passed through.
"Milady," he tried, making sure to articulate well.. "will you allow me to formulate a harsh yet well-meaning comment?"
"Speak." she shrugged.
"The state of your room offends me as a housekeeper. What in Teyvat happened here?"
She ignored his harsh yet well-meaning comment, or rather did not pick up on it. Almost lifelessly, Ayaka skipped through the piles of documents with ease. Upon closer inspection, he noticed that most of it was just several notes eroded by time. He wanted to ask about it and find out what exactly was the cause of her strange behavior, but she spoke first.
"Thoma, have you ever heard of someone by the name of Tsubaki before?"
The retainer racked his brain for an answer, but all the results his drew a complete blank. "Sorry, no one comes to mind. I don't think I've even heard this name mentioned once before."
The Lady of Snow pensively mulled over his words, and her face was suddenly masked by a deep frown. She pursed her lips hard in frustration, and Thoma noticed that her fists were firmly clenched. Whatever could possibly be going on behind her fair figure, he only wished he knew how to grasp it better. Like ice polished to perfection, Kamisato Ayaka was a mirror; always showing the reflection you'd normally expect, and never allowing anyone to see through her.
Not even him.
"Is everything alright?" he tried. "If you're looking for someone in particular, I can ask around-"
"That won't be necessary, Thoma. I'm just..." She drew a sharp, irritated breath, and for the first time in his many years of service did Thoma see her look utterly distraught. "I'm just a bit of a fool, I guess. I really am a far cry from what this clan needs... Go fetch me a broom – I'll clean up this mess myself."
Thoma humbly shook his head. "Milady, it's my duty to-"
"I believe I can do it by myself!" she snapped.
Her own eyes widened when she noticed her friend's shocked expression, before realizing how abrasive her own tone was. "I'm... so sorry. Please pardon my rudeness, there's just an awful lot on my mind at the moment. Why... why don't you go bring the laundry in while I do that? I think it's about to rain."
He lacked the words to comfort her. He lacked context, information, in fact he could never boast of knowing what dark thoughts plagued Kamisato Ayaka's mind. It was not initially part of his work as a retainer, but he'd naturally learned to look out for her over the years. And because he knew the answer lied elsewhere, he excused himself.
"Understood, milady..." Thoma bowed on final time. "Take your time, and please go easy on yourself."
As he shut the door behind him, a sudden gust of wind sent her notes flying across the room, and she snatched one mid-flight. It was just a bunch of rough scribbles about Tsubaki's potential identity, likes and whereabouts. She was a master of calligraphy, yet she failed to recognize her own handwriting – the words looked unrefined and erratic, so unlike her. So unlike the Shirasagi Himegimi.
And because it was not good enough, she ripped the paper in two.
"What am I even doing? My nation is in the midst of an unprecedented crisis, and I'm gripping at shadows!"
Finding out about Tsubaki wouldn't bring her mother back. Finding out about Tsubaki wouldn't solve a single thing. What she really needed to do, was repressing the normal girl within her to fulfill her duties. Ayaka is weak and helpless, but the Shirasagi Himegimi, the wise and strong woman within, can truly make a difference.
But for how long could she keep her true self hidden? How long until the mask inevitably breaks, and the real Ayaka bursts out? For now, she could only apply this frozen seal to her heart, in the hope that it would see her through the many perils that still lied ahead. It was incredibly unnecessary to know who her mother talked to, or what she used to do. It all belonged in the past. The present needed her now. Her people needed her now.
The rain was already drizzling on the metallic roof, singing a little song of tip-tap as the sound of crystal drops reached her ears. Soon after, the distant roar of thunder boomed across the land. She did not try to decipher its meaning this time. She did not want to.
The Lady of Snow looked out the window, and immediately saw a violet flash tear through the cloudy skies, briefly illuminating her lonely self. She upheld its steely gaze, defied it to come any further, as her ambition burned bright in spite of her own god's decree. Her hand tried to bring the celestial heavens down, a whirlwind of hail blew away everything around her, flinging all her hard work to the far corners of her room. She did not have the heart to destroy these documents, but she warned herself: if her curiosity ever gets the better of her, she will have no right to be sad about what she might find.
She will have to stand the way she does today, alone in a torrent of ice and snow.
"The people of Inazuma are loyal to the Raiden Shogun, but they shall not bend the knee and endure this injustice forever."
The Shirasagi Himegimi will make sure of it.
Hey, you're finally here. Welcome to my new rewriting of an Archon Quest.
I've been meaning to give Inazuma, its beautiful landscape, breathtaking history and colorful characters some love for a while now. The Immovable God and Eternal Euthymia could've been fleshed out a little more ingame, so I'd like to try my own spin on it and see what it turns into. As you've already seen, it will diverge a fair bit from the original plot, mostly to give characters an opportunity to shine more than the tight screentime they'd usually get (for example, Ayaka being more mature and conflicted between her duty and herself).
It's going to be quite the ride, so get comfortable, put your feet up, and let's dive into this story together. I'm really, really looking forward to it.
Silence.
Suddenly, a flash of lightning.
"..."
"..."
"Where am I?"
"..."
"In fact, what am I?"
There was no answer to her questions. Perhaps nothing and nobody heard her, for sound did not exist. And yet, movement was here. Her ethereal presence wandered aimlessly around the empty plane, until a second or a millenium later, another spirit made its way towards her. And as if it could hear her since the dawn of time, it answered. At least it seemed to answer.
"That I do not know. I have neither eyes nor physical form. But strangely enough I sense your presence, and it reminds me of my own."
Silence. That other being did not even greet her.
"I feel power, crackling within me. It feels endless, it comes and goes in a flash and yet... I feel complete mastery over it."
"..."
The other being remained silent and contemplative, so she felt compelled to speak. To push forward this train of ideas.
Was this... a "conversation"?
"Can you feel it too?"
"...Indeed. It seems this power evokes the same feeling within me, and yet it is not of my own creation."
"Then this begs the question: How did we come into being?"
The very similar yet different "her" seemed to think. Actually, how could she even tell that she was thinking when there were no facial expressions to describe it?
"Does it really matter?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"Our origins, I mean." the foreign being emitted a warm glow. "You are alive, and I am alive, and we appear to be similar to one another. Does this not mean that my existence is deeply linked to yours, and yours intertwined with mine?"
Confusing. The thought seemed beautiful and terrifying at the same time
"Are you perhaps saying... that I am your half?"
"Not necessarily. You are your very own being and so am I, we simply happen to be related by an unfathomable bond is all."
Silence.
Suddenly, the roar of thunder.
"So looking for a creator is unnecessary?"
"Looking for a creator would be redundant. Is there not the vast infinity of ever-changing creation to explore instead?"
Ever-changing?
"The absence of a creator is concerning. Are you saying that all things cannot remain the same until we are ready to experience them?"
"All things shall eventually pass away, and there is no value in sustaining them to no foreseeable end. Now, come. Let us forge bodies for ourselves using the power at our disposal, and then we shall witness this new world together."
She had no reason to do so. To follow this strange, inviting lifeform that felt similar to her, but had very different views on reality.
And yet she wanted to. If she could experience the world with "her"
That would be most wonderful.
Silence.
Suddenly two souls, shining in unison amidst the void.