The sounds echoed in this eerie plain, the air was humid and this barren land that is Plane of Euthymia, is filled with eternal loneliness. But, before long, this place became my second home.
"Oh Aether, you have come. I have read most of the books you gave me before." I am happy that she is as excited as I am to see her. I brought her some dango I made myself.
"You...made this for me?" Ei asked, blushing for something as simple as this. I can feel my ears burning from the embarrassment. This might be the last time I am going to visit her for the time being. I cannot get distracted from finding my sister, not when she is still out there somewhere.
"Oh? Is that so? Well, good luck on your journey then Aether."
Will she not get lonely?
"Lonely? That is a word that I will not miss. Don't worry, be it forever or more, I will still be here, if you have time, you can meet me anytime." She then started to read the books I bought.
I look at her as she flips the books. She read each chapter to the next, turning the page one by one. She kept asking me to bring her more light novels, giving her opinions for every chapter. I more or less knew what the stories were about.
"Hmm. Why doesn't she just tell her his feelings in the first place? What is so hard about it? And why doesn't this girl see that the boy cared about her?"
The girl has yet to realize the feelings of her childhood friend. Volume after volume, but there was no development between them and Ei was confused by it. She kept complaining, and she kept reading.
Elegant and dignified was my first impression of her. Yet, with every meeting, I began to see her in a brand new light. Stubborn, selfish, narrow-minded, and childish, and yet, the honest smile she has from time to time.
I realized that she was just lonely. "Why are you spacing out?" Was I? "Grab me the next volume please." Geez, does she only think of me as her servant?
I brought her the last volume. The book was thin, the word 'last volume' was written on the book.
She read it, but this time, she did not say anything, she did not ask about anything. She was just immersed in the story. I sit next to her in silence, I just read the one she has read before. The only sound is the sound of pages flipping and the echo that goes with it.
After she read it all, I asked her what she thought about the ending of that story.
She raised her head. That look in her face, that cold piercing eyes, just like the first time I fought her. What happened? She did not say anything to me. Instead, she pushed me away from the plane of Euthymia.
Outside of the realm, I now found myself inside the room with the Shogun. She sits with legs folded to the back drinking ryokucha. After all this time, I still cannot see her as a copy of Ei. She is like a whole different entity, fulfilling the mission given to her. No matter how she ruled this land before, I pity her.
I kept shouting hoping that Ei would hear me. The Raiden Shogun stood up, she threw the hot tea on my face, but I evaded it. I raise my sword in retaliation. However, the Raiden Shogun did not show any killing intent, instead she sighed. And then she drew her blade,
"You." She looked me in the eyes.
"Are a threat to eternity." She points her blade at me, This again? I thought we already passed this!
"No, you don't understand. Guards! Take him away." They were scared to apprehend me, but they were more afraid of Shogun than of me.
I did not lay a hand on the shogunate army. I shouted at Ei, she could stop Raiden Shogun anytime if she wanted too. But why? Why was she not doing anything?
"Useless! She is the one to command me to say this to you. She never wanted to see your face again. Leave!"
I clenched my fists. We were laughing earlier and she looked excited to see me. I do not believe in the Shogun.
The guards tried to make me leave but I glared at them, and they all took a step back. I do not need anyone to help me leave. I slammed the door open,
I cannot believe them. I just do not want Ei to be lonely anymore. Turns out, it was meaningless. Threat to eternity... I do not get it.
I was mad, but I knew that this would happen sooner or later.
I kept walking until I saw myself in front of the Yae Publishing House. The clouds up above started to turn gloomy and the wind started to get violent, but I bought the same book Ei had read before.
"Oh my. I did not expect to see you here today." That voice. "Long time no see, Traveler." Yae Miko greets me. "Hmm, is there anything you want to talk to me about?"
"This is not a good place to talk, let's go to the shrine." She smiles wickedly.
As we climbed up the shrine, I noticed that she seemed unaffected by the strong winds.
We reached the peak of Mt. Yougou. And just as we arrived, the water started to fall down to the ground, and at a fast speed The storm had arrived. If we were a minute late, it would have been impossible to go up here.
Does she have clairvoyance or something? She saw the book in my hand that.
"That book... that was the one I recommended to Ei, am I right?" I nodded.
"And... I supposed she says that she does not want to see you anymore after reading the last chapter?"
She blew me away. How did she know?
"Nah, it was just a hunch. Hmm, but it does not have a very happy ending."
I have not read the book yet, and I do not think I will. I told Yae Miko that I will leave Inazuma this very evening. Please send my regards to Ei. With that, I walked away.
"The ending of this story...is not a good one. In the end, the girl realized her feelings and confessed to the childhood friend, but his heart was already set on becoming a soldier in the war. The girl waited for him to come home, but he never did."
I stop walking. I still do not get it. I understand that it is a sad ending, but for Ei to go as far to claim that she will never see me again.
"You still don't get it, do you? For a god who yearns for eternity, could you imagine her being in love?"
What is Yae Miko trying to say?
"Let's not fool ourselves, we both know your feelings for her are not mere sympathy, and neither is it as simple as friends, but, it is not something wicked like using her for her powers as well."
"Traveler, you are fond of her, don't you?" As expected, there is no point in hiding anything from this fox.
Yes I am in love with Raiden Ei, with her aloof look, with her eyes shining at sweets, with her genuine curiosity for present day culture, with her long braided violet hair, with her stunning beauty.
Yae smiles.
However, I never expected Ei to return my feelings. I will soon leave Inazuma even without her telling me to. My sister, she is still out there, I still need to find her. I just hated to leave with a sour mood between us.
"What if it's returned?"
Huh?
"Your feelings. Even if you didn't expect it, what if Ei is not as stoic as you think? Can you really prove your worth?" I raise my eyebrows.
"You can come out now."
From the back of the Sacred Sakura, she walks out. That death glare of the shogun, the rain poured hard on her, but...
"Insolent humans. How dare you have feelings for my creator, was all of what you said true?" She pointed her polearm at my neck.
I nodded without hesitation.
"You, who don't have the experience of losing. What do you know about her?"
"If you really do love her, I shall kill you with this blade, so your soul can be stuck with her for all eternity. Just to let you know, eternity is a nightmare."
She swung her polearm. The wind that followed after it deflected the wind and even the rain changed direction. but I did not deflect it nor did I move an inch from where I was standing, for I have no problem if she has to kill me now, if that means I can be with Ei forever. She stopped just right before my head would separate from my body.
But I still have to save my sister. She is still out there somewhere, she needed me. I guess at least, Ei understands that as well.
I pushed her weapon aside and held her hand. "I love you, Ei, If it is eternity that you want then, I may not be able to give it to you. But my eternity is forever yours."
"W-what do you mean? How audacious. I-I am the Raiden Shogun!"
Raiden Shogun does not have the ability to blush like she does. I giggled. Her face was red and her voice was stuttering.
"H-how could you know?"
How could I not. Have I not told her before? I love her.
"Fine, I admit my loss. But, I have no intention to bound you with the eternity that I am in. I have lost the ability to love, or so I thought. The fear of losing people I loved."
"But it's still beautiful isn't it? The thought of loving someone? The thought of treasuring someone? I'm sure that Makoto would be thrilled to see the side of you I'd never imagined you to have." Yae calmed her down.
"Traveler, In my whole life, For someone who yearns for eternity, too late are words I can never give or accept. I could not bear the thought of losing someone again. So hear my answer!" She sheaths her blade.
"In the end, as an Archon and as the God who yearns for Eternity, the word I love you, is something unspokable." The thunder claps loud as soon as she finishes her sentence.
Our clothes are wet, the rains are hiding my tears,
I smiled at her. I was prepared to hear that. I bit my lips, from the very beginning I never raised my hope.
I am glad that she answered my feelings properly. I excuse myself, the storm has reached its peak and soon, the ship will be leaving.
But just before I left the shrine, she continued.
"But as Ei, is it okay if I love you Aether? Your kindness and honesty. You taught me a lot of things, you are not afraid to tell me what is wrong and what is right. You are not only changing me, you are changing Inazuma as well. The change that the old me and the shogun is really afraid of, is actually very lovely." I could not look
She embraced me from behind. Is this another illusion? but the warmth of her body. Felt so real. "Perhaps my pursuit of eternity is nothing more than a form of escapism, like the turtle who hides in its shell."
The fragrance and softness in her hair. "Aether, I have been betrayed, by peoples and by fate, is it okay if this time I put my trust in you?" I nodded.
She kissed me on the forehead, "don't die." With a firm stare from her I resolved myself.
But now, I must leave, my sister, she still needs me. But, I will return one day.
"I have lived for hundreds of years. Even if it takes me hundreds more, I will stay here, waiting for you. I can only hope that you will be able to bring your sister back and return here."
Thank you, I kiss her hands,
That day I returned to Liyue. Ei and Yae wave goodbye from the shore, the people were shocked that the shogun herself waved goodbye to them. She leaves with a smile on her face.
And in more ways than one, she cleared the path, not letting a single cloud blocking the light of the sun.
**Author's note**
Eh I forgot to tell you guys. Sorry for the slow update. Ei is just to anticipated I am afraid that the standard just went up the roof. I also have college right now, so even tho I want to make one for Raiden Shogun as well, I fear that I won't have enough time. Thank you for the understanding, for now I will be focusing on making one for Aether x Sara. Once again, every stars and comments you give me means a lot to me, so keep em coming.
**Author's note.**
Hi guys, how is everybody? Sorry that the update come out slow, (^~^). Actually I want to make one for Aether and Raiden shogun as well, but, considering I have college now. I will be focus making one for Sara. Too be honest, Ei has become the most anticipated character and I am afraid that I can't do her justice. I hope you guys are satisfied. And Andres, your words, no jokes are one of my biggest motivation for me to keep writing this.
P.S.S: Thank you for reminding me of the name of the world where Ei stays ^^.