Tri-Commission meetings were always a challenge for Ayato. To always find himself cornered, however, made it easier to make up for countermeasures. After all, he only had one direction to aim at.
Nowadays, the Tri-Commission existed only on paper. The Tenryou Commission was headless, literally, with the Kujou clan scrambling to get a successor. The Kanjou Commission had let the situation in Ritou get so out of control that riots had secluded the commissioner inside his estate.
And now, the only one remaining was him. When he was called into Tenshukaku in the middle of the night, he knew that his life was on the line.
The castle itself was deadly quiet as he walked through the main entrance. The guards were solemn. The walls seemed to contract with every step he took. Once he got into the throne room, he was greeted by the oppressive aura of the Shogun. Behind him, Kujou Sara's staidness was almost unpalpable as she closed the throne's entrance herself.
"Why is it that, the moment the slightest crisis arose, everything crashed down like a house of cards, Yashiro Commissioner?" The Shogun started talking before Ayato had a chance to bow. "Not only has the Tri-Commission failed to stop the Watatsumi uprising from ever happening, but now we've got the people of Ritou taking justice into their own hands. So tell me, Kamisato Ayato. You're the only one remaining. Tell me why that is."
There was but a brief moment for Ayato to understand the situation. He narrowed it down to two options. Either the Shogun believed him to be the only loyal subject of the Tri-Commission. Or she believed that he too was a traitor.
"Out of the three factions, the Yashiro Commission has always been the weakest one. Our responsibilities are restricted to cultural and religious ceremonies, making us share power with Guuji and—"
"I didn't ask for an explanation of your duties." The Shogun waved away his explanation.
"I intended to explain that our unique situation makes our Commission quite fragile. Even then, we've always tried to oppose such corrupt moves from the Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions. From my position, and on the ground as well. All in the hopes that you, one day, would take notice of those actions."
The Shogun glanced at Kujou Sara, and she unexpectedly moved out of the throne room.
"I have been aware of your opposition. You have also expressed your reluctance to the Vision Hunt decree, to which I applaud your honesty. I do not like liars, like that Clown God of Mondstadt. And honesty such as yours is rewarded." The Shogun approached Ayato, who immediately averted his eyes and kneeled. "However, Kamisato Ayato, I need proof of your loyalty."
The Shogun started to circle Ayato and continued. "As you know, a masked woman has been wreaking havoc on our precious island. White Lady, Masked Woman, call her however you wish. This agent of Mondstadt is spreading dissent wherever she goes."
Ayato saw no reason to not talk about it. He had been juggling contacts from Watatsumi to Narukami, but Mondstadt's only possible involvement lay in that odd woman. He found no shipments, no diplomats, no lingering influence. It was only her.
"A cryo user, I've read the reports. I was under the impression that Kujou Sara had been severely injured fighting her." Ayato added, noticing the silence of the Shogun.
"As you can see, she's fine. A mere re-evaluation of her wounds was all that was needed. However, this Masked Woman has allies. An Oni, an electro Ronin and an anemo swordsman. Only more evidence to enforce the Vision Hunt decree." The Shogun stopped in front of Ayato. "May I know why the anemo swordsman, Kaedahara Kazuha, has been disrupting the lives of Inazuma City?"
"I do not know."
"The Kaedahara clan was subservient to the Kamisato. And you know nothing?" Though Ayato's eyes were glued to the ground as he kneeled, he didn't need to look up to feel the Shogun's piercing glare.
"The Kaedahara clan fell into disgrace. Kazuha may be the head of the clan, but that's ceremonial only. He forfeited anything tying him to the Kaedahara clan, as well as the Isshin technique. The only one remaining is him."
"Forfeiting his ancestors' will? That explains why he's turned against me. Willingly ignoring the Raiden Gokaden… Horrible." The Shogun moved her arms, but Ayato couldn't see what for. "How fortunate for you, isn't it? General Kujou captured him as he tried to escape Inazuma… No doubt to contact with his new masters of Mondstadt. As his superior, then, you will not try to defend a known traitor, right?"
Ayato was certain that Sayu was not caught or seen by the Shogunate. If that was the case, perhaps he could try to convince the Shogun to be lenient on him. But if she somehow knew that he was the one who aided his escape…
He decided to risk it. The first time he had been summoned by the Shogun, he had already been warned to not oppose the Vision Hunt decree. But now, neither Kujou nor Hiiragi were here to disrupt him. This was his only chance to truly become an aid to the Shogun.
"If Kazuha has willingly thrown himself with a foreign invader, then I will not vouch for him. In any other case, I will."
"So you will defend him for breaking the Vision Hunt decree?" The Shogun's voice didn't waver in the slightest, but Ayato could feel something sinister behind it. "I will remind you that it is my will. Opposing it is no different from aiding the vile from Mondstadt."
"I do know. But it is my responsibility to aid you, Your Excellency. The Vision Hunt decree, while well-meaning, has only pushed vision users to their limits. As such, I do not believe that showing my opposition means that I am betraying your will. For I am your loyal servant, and I know that you are my graceful Liege."
A cold silence enveloped the throne room. Ayato wondered if it was a mere appetiser of his doom. But he didn't hold those thoughts for long. He trusted the Shogun.
"Very well. Rise." Holding his breath, Ayato stood up. The Shogun was almost on his face, her eyes shining with electro. And then she turned away, moving a few steps back. "You stand steadfast to your beliefs while still maintaining your loyalty. Seeing how most of this government was made of yes-men and flatterers, I appreciate that." The Shogun then turned, Ayato's eyes drifting to the legendary sword in her hand. "Had you wavered, I would have killed you as well. After the liars of Hiiragi and Kujou, I hope you do not hold that against me."
"I… will not, Your Excellency." Ayato maintained his calm expression, not fully realising how close he had come to dying.
"Now then, I trust your judgement." The Shogun continued as if nothing happened. "As it stands now, we lack the manpower of allogenes to deal with such issues. General Kujou could be overwhelmed if the enemy is hiding more tricks up their sleeves."
Still reeling from the sudden revelation, Ayato answered without much thought. "If you wish me to take up arms, so I will."
"No, you are too valuable. I am surrounded by incompetence, and you are a loyal and competent subject. However, due to Kanjou Commissioner's indisposition, I have taken their responsibilities upon myself. As such, I am in control of foreign relations again. Snezhnaya has proved to be a slightly too convenient ally. But an ally nonetheless. Due to their background, I want you to keep track of them."
"With all due respect, Snezhnaya…"
"Yes, I do not believe they have Inazuma's wellbeing in their interest. The Fatui have been running amock for too long due to the Kanjou and Tenryou Commissions' loose hand. However, I believe that by formalising this temporal relationship, I will be able to reign them in. Like that, I will have enough time to reorganise the government while protecting the people of Inazuma."
Ayato, again, shook his head. "Your Excellency, the Fatui have constantly undermined your authority. As you have said, they do not care about Inazuma. To formalise this alliance could mean more trouble than it is worth."
"You are correct. These are times of war, however. And their relationship with Mondstadt is tepid at best. So far, the City of Freedom has shown little gratitude for their continuous attempts at diplomacy. Pressuring Mondstadt's northern border with Snezhnaya might be enough to make them pull out of Inazuma."
The Shogun's explanation held water. If Mondstadt was indeed supporting the rebels, making them focus on their homefront would alleviate pressure on Inazuma. But Ayato wasn't convinced.
"And what will they ask in exchange?" Ayato asked. "This cannot come cheap."
The doors to the throne room opened revealing two figures. One of them was Kujou Sara, who looked anything but comfortable being flanked by a tall man with short orange hair. He was wearing a grey suit, making him stand out even more. The mask on the side of his face gave away his true allegiance.
"My Shogun, I'm sorry for the tardiness." Sara immediately bowed.
"My, my! The Almighty Shogun in the flesh." The man to her right immediately strode forward, only to be stopped by the Tengu. "Oh, of course. Where are my manners? I informed your fair bodyguard of the whereabouts of this… Masked Woman. You can refer to me as Childe."
Kujou Sara stopped him from walking toward the Shogun.
"Know your place, Fatui. You will treat the Shogun with the same formality as your own Archon." The Tengu didn't hold back her animosity.
"You arrived in Inazuma shortly before the Sakoku decree, did you not?" Ayato asked though it was more of a statement. "A replacement for a top diplomat of Snezhnaya who passed away in office."
"I wasn't aware I was so famous! You must be Kamisato Ayato…" Again, Sara stopped Childe from heading further into the throne room. "Is something the matter, little bird?"
"You will stay beside me. And kneel." She commanded, physically forcing Childe to his knees. He didn't attempt to resist.
"So who are we hunting, Almighty Shogun?" Childe asked with a controlled smile. "That… entity that appeared on Ritou Island? Someone able to control anemo and electro sounds like quite the challenge."
"I also believe that should be our priority." Sara joined his request, albeit reluctantly. "To hear that they act in your name… That is treachery of the highest degree."
"No." The Shogun immediately stated. "Your priority is to capture the Masked Woman. I will deal with Ritou and that Kazemaru."
"Does the Almighty Shogun want the Kazemaru all for herself? I understand that affairs are quite the toll on the mind. Especially after a rough break-up." Childe's question was coldly received by the rest of the room.
Sara immediately rose to her feet, hand on the hilt of her sword. "Watch your tongue, Fatui."
As if that was the reaction he was longing for, he got up as well. "Or what are you going to do, little bird? I've heard you put quite the show against three vision users no less. I'm quite curious to see how you managed that."
Ayato quickly intervened, placing himself between the two and separating them. "That's enough. Tenshukaku will not be the witness of a duel without the Shogun's approval."
"As I have said." Everyone focused on the Shogun, who wasn't bothered by the sudden tension. "Focus on capturing the Masked Woman. She must be hiding in Byakko plains. Yashiro Commissioner, I intend to centralise the army, so I will take control of your little retinue of soldiers. Only the guards on your estate will remain, their pay will come from Tenshukaku."
"If that is what it takes to win the war, so be it." Ayato merely answered.
The Shogun nodded and looked at her bodyguard. "General Kujou, I expect you to capture the masked woman and the remaining two saboteurs. Take the Fatui with you."
"As you wish." Sara bowed.
"The weak of Inazuma are safe in our hands, I assure you," Childe answered, his bow being slightly more rigid. "But what if, let's say, we run into this Kazemaru?"
"You will not run into him."
"And what if we do? It might be quite the troublesome individual, you see?"
The Shogun's eyes slowly widened. "That's inconsequential. He is mine. Focus on the Mondstadt woman. Capture her alive."
"Aye-aye, Almighty Shogun." Childe bowed again, observed the Shogun for a long few moments and walked away.
"I will not get him out of my sight, My Shogun." Sara shifted in place, her body still sore, and bowed deeply in front of the Shogun. Then, she followed after the Fatui Harbinger.
A few moments after they left the room, she turned to Ayato.
"Investigate all Fatui activity. After we win this war, their deeds will not go unpunished."
And then, after a deep bow, Ayato left the throne room as well.
The Shogun blinked and looked at the ground, expecting new orders. They never came, and the Puppet was replaced with Ei's consciousness. She moved her arms, stretched her back and cracked her knuckles.
"I can capture him. You need to focus on Eternity." The Puppet's voice rang out in her ears.
"You do not talk back to me." Ei retorted out loud.
"It is your meddling that got Inazuma into this situation. Had you stayed quiet, the Tenryou commission would have handled this. But you disrupted the chain of command, and now everyone is suffering. And all because you couldn't focus on your task." The Puppet didn't hold back on her words. "Makoto would have never let the situation, her emotions, get out of hand."
"Shut. Up." Ei rubbed her temple, trying to lessen the pain of her headache. "You are not programmed to override my orders. I will deal with Barbatos and I will return to my eternal duty."
The Puppet stayed silent, and Ei took the opportunity to walk towards the entrance of the throne room. Then, the doors unexpectedly opened to reveal a visibly frightened messenger with a loaded envelope in hand.
"Reports from Kannazuka, Almighty Shogun! The Rebels have broken through Nazuchi beach!"
Ei took the report. Opened it. And crushed it after reading it.
"Everybody is useless."
The hunt for the Kazemaru… for Barbatos, was delayed once again.
It had been a full day since Kazemaru appeared in Ritou, and Venti was already exhausted from walking. Konda village was supposed to be relatively near Ritou, but he was still half a day away. He usually didn't need to sleep to replenish energy, but the wounds from the fight with Scaramouche made it impossible to not do so.
"I should have just blown away that idiot," Venti complained to nobody in particular. "You have to act all cool, Barbatos! What's the worst that could happen?"
The road to Konda village was unpaved, which made using his crutch even a more energy-consuming task. Whatsmore, using the crutch meant having to use his only healthy hand. All in all, it wasn't working out.
"Alright, enough of this."
Venti threw away the crutch, placing his hand on his chest. He breathed in and out, letting the air of Inazuma pass through him. But this air was not what he was expecting. It was heavy, humid and full of residue. He looked at Mt. Yougou and the deplorable state it was in. He didn't remember it being like that at all.
Regardless, he tried to use his powers and fly. Wind rushed towards him, his clothes and bandages rustling with force. But there was no lift-off. His powers then weakened, and the wound in his stomach started to hurt even more. The gnosis inside his body started to act up as if it desired to heal his body right there. But he wouldn't let it. And with a solemn expression, he stopped and sat on the dirt path without much agitation.
"Hey! Are you okay?!" A voice cried out somewhere away from the path. A blond man rushed towards him.
"Ah, yeah! I just lost my balance." Venti scrambled towards his crutch, but the man quickly helped him up. "Oh, thank you very much."
Venti immediately noticed a familiar smell on the young man. The smell of home.
"It's not safe to travel alone on this road, especially in your state." The man cleaned Venti's clothes of any dirt. "Here, use me as support."
"O-Oh! It's fine, really!"
"You might be injured from the fall, let's use that fallen tree."
The man carefully moved away from the road towards what looked like a usual resting spot for travellers. The moment Venti sat down on the fallen tree, the man used his pyro vision to lit the almost empty campfire.
"It looks to me like you're more in danger than I am," Venti said after noticing the vision on his belt.
"Hm? Oh, totally. Not only that but I was born in Mondstadt. You don't look like you're from around these parts either, mister…?" The man kneeled in front of Venti and took a look at his bandaged leg.
"Venti. And you are?" He already knew the answer.
"Ah, you can call me Thoma." He answered with a wide smile. "Now, these bandages are quite dirty. Do you have a replacement?"
"I don't think so." Without any delay, Thoma removed his jacket and was about to tear his own shirt before Venti stopped him. "Woah, woah! It's fine! My leg healed months ago, I just don't like looking at a stump. Same with my hand!"
"Are you sure? I don't mind at all." Thoma bought Venti's lie and took a moment to decide his next move. "You don't need to answer, but how come you're travelling all alone in such a state?"
"Don't worry about it. I'm here to visit a friend and fix up her mess." Venti removed the bag from his back and rummaged through it.
"Must be quite the friend for you to do that. Not many people are willing to cross into Inazuma nowadays. Between the Shogun and the war, I don't blame them."
As he listened to his new companion, Venti pulled out Xiangling's gift, the Adepti Seeker's stove. He gave it a good look before handing it to Thoma.
"Do you mind placing this above the fire? I'll invite you to dinner for your troubles."
Thoma quickly accepted, unsure of how the portable stove worked until it suddenly appeared over the campfire.
"You sure are ready! I've never seen one of these. It has to be a must-have for adventurers, huh?"
"Maybe for foodie adventurers! I'm not a food connoisseur, so I eat pretty much everything… unless it's cheese. Eugh."
"Oho! A prime candidate for my famed Mondstadt-Inazuma fusion cooking? Don't hold back on the criticism, I can take it!"
The sun began to set as the smell of vegetables and oil filled the campsite. To see a fellow Mondstadt-born citizen around was quite the surprise. A social butterfly, Thoma didn't seem to mind Venti's odd appearance or continuous questions about the current situation on Inazuma.
"So the Shogun says we all gotta go. And I disappeared from the household." Thoma finished his explanation on the issue of Mondstadt. "The Clan head believed it had something to do with Barbatos. But I don't think I'll know if he's right."
"Sounds like a smart guy. I'd say he is. But to think that the Shogun has secluded herself in Tenshukaku for over five hundred years… That just fills me with sadness." Venti sighed and scratched his missing hand. Unable to satiate the itch, he continued. "Say, do you know the Ballad of Thunder and Wind? A couple of stories regarding Barbatos and Baal. Someone like you might find the culture shock of the two Gods quite amusing."
"Oho, colour me surprised. I've never heard of it. The Guardian of Eternity against a Force of Change… It must be quite a recent development. What is it about? Let me guess. I'm not the most avid worshipper of either God, but revolution and tradition clashing seems inevitable."
"Ah, my first listener told me the same. I've always wondered how they spent so many millennia without any incident. So, let's start from the beginning."
Venti was about to summon his lyre when the stench of something putrid entered his nose. He glanced at the cooking pot before looking around their position. Thoma noticed his sudden silence and worry, and joined his overwatch.
A figure slowly emerged from the shadows. It wasn't a soldier of the Shogunate. It was more similar to a bandit, but with a more malleable stance. The ronin approached the campfire, slowly untying his hat.
"Excuse my intrusion. Have you seen a masked woman… Thoma?"
Thoma immediately shot up from the tree seat. "Holy…! Tomo?!"
Though they weren't close friends, both of them had been on the run for quite a while now. After so much time, the fact that they had met at all was a miracle of its own. But the happiness wasn't shared by everyone around the campfire.
"Don't move any closer." Venti slowly stood up, balancing himself on his only good foot.
"It's fine, Venti. He's-"
"No. He will not come any closer."
There was a moment of silence and confusion. Thoma stood perplexed at the sudden seriousness of the bard, while Tomo's stance became much tenser.
"This man reeks of abyss magic." Venti glanced at his bag, where his costume was safely stashed at. "One might wonder how he keeps moving while having frostbite on both his feet, with a deep wound on his right arm."
Tomo's eyes widened. He was ready to be referred to as a bandit, but not that. He felt no pain either in any of those places either. He recalled being bound by ice the first time they faced the Masked Woman, so perhaps he was actually suffering from frostbite. But abyss magic?
"I gather by your reaction that you don't know yourself." The bard continued. "Alright, it's fine. Just think about your situation a little. Something must be amiss."
"Hold on." Tomo opened his coat and rummaged through his kimono. Then, he pulled out the wrapped seal Kazuha found on the dead man's body. "Could this be it?"
Venti covered his nose in disgust. "Ew, yep. Totally. Burn it before it takes you whole."
Tomo shook his head. "I cannot. This is an important clue that Kazuha…"
"I don't like that tone. Is he…?" Thoma asked with growing pessimism.
"I'm afraid so. It was my fault… The Masked Woman, the attacks on Inazuma city, this could be the answer to everything." Tomo explained, slowly unwrapping the clothing around the seal.
"Don't show it. Wrap it again, I will completely seal it." Venti's eyes shone for a moment as the wrapped seal suddenly glowed green. "Alright, that's better. Come sit with us."
"How… who are you?" Though Tomo asked the question, Thoma himself was wondering the same.
"Who knows~" Venti playfully cooed, sitting back down on the tree trunk. "I'm just a travelling troubadour. What's this about a Masked Woman?"
There was a brief pause as Tomo analysed the crippled bard in front of him. Regardless, he sat down on the other side of the campfire.
"She's behind the attacks on Inazuma City. A woman from Mondstadt that utilises Cryo. From what I've been told, it seems she was a ghost until recently, creeping on drunkards. Rumours aside, Kazuha and I have been attacked twice by her because of this seal. The last time she showed up, she would have killed me if it wasn't for the Boss… I don't know what happened to him. But I thought that if I unlocked the mysteries of that seal, I'd be able to rescue both of them."
Venti and Thoma slowly absorbed the information.
"The Shogun believes Mondstadt to be behind the war of Watatsumi. I suppose she was right…" Thoma muttered, his eyes watering up slightly.
"Were you going to Grand Narukami Shrine?" Venti asked. "That seal is inhibiting your ability to feel pain. They will probably be able to remove the abyss magic lingering within you. And Lady Saiguu will more than likely know how that seal works."
"Lady Saiguu?" Thoma and Tomo asked simultaneously, sparking a brief giggle.
"Huh? You know, the Guuji?"
"I don't recall anyone with that name. The current Guuji is… Lady Miko… I can only shiver when saying that name." Thoma answered.
"Huh." Venti thought up a few reasons why she wasn't there anymore, but he didn't know enough about Kitsune to be certain. "Well, Miko… I'm sure she knows her stuff. Unless she kept skipping classes."
"…Regardless, the Sakura Tree will help purify you, Tomo." Thoma moved towards his friend and sat next to him. "Let me check if what Venti said is true, and you're full of wounds."
"Sorry, a tree?" Venti leaned in, his face lit up by the campfire. "Like the one in Windrise?"
"You could say so? I believe the Sakura tree is way more powerful though." Thoma explained as he helped Tomo remove his heavy boots.
"It protects Inazuma by purifying the land," Tomo added.
His expression didn't change, but Venti's mind was racing to find anything like that in his memories. Finding no clear answer, his eyes wandered towards his missing foot and hand. If it acted anything like Windrise, then he would be healed instantly.
"This doesn't look good."
Venti snapped out of his thoughts, noticing Tomo's almost completely black feet. Anymore walking and they looked ready to fall off.
"You don't mind taking me to Grand Narukami Shrine, right, Tomo?" The bard rummaged through his bag and took out a spherical device. "This thing is from Fontaine. I call it Sucky-Explody, but Mona says it's a stupid name. Use your electro to fill it up until it begins to weigh."
He threw it to Tomo, who managed to react in time.
"And Thoma, would you mind going to Ritou? I'm sure you have heard of all the Mondstadt residents being forced there. Someone who knows both worlds like you is needed to mend the wounds of this war. Find the Witch of the Seas, she'll tell you what to do."
Without letting the two men absorb the information, Venti continued.
"I'm going to heal your wounds, Ronin. I will more than likely pass out for a few hours, so I hope you defend me in the meantime. You seek to stop Shogun and to save Kaedahara Kazuha and Arataki Itto. The winds speak of your feats. And so, the Kazemaru will help you."
Venti prayed with only one hand, his power accumulating inside him. Muttering a blessing, Tomo's feet glowed with anemo, slowly regaining his normal colouring. The bard clutched his stomach as the last drop of power left his body to heal the wandering warrior.
Tomo and Thoma stared in shock at Venti who coughed blood and collapsed to the ground unconscious.
"Did… Did the Kazemaru just show up, heal you and pass out?" Thoma rapidly rushed towards Venti, who had almost dropped into the campfire.
Tomo stared at his healed feet and then at the unconscious figure of the bard. "I suppose only a divine being would wear frilly stockings below a kimono."
Scaramouche woke up from the dream, trying to take a deep breath of air. He found himself underwater, with water rushing through his lungs in a way that he had never felt before. It burned, yet, he couldn't find himself breathless. As the memories of his dreams, Scaramouche noticed he was in suspension somewhere on Watatsumi island.
Confused yet alive, he regained control of his body and emerged from the body of water he was submersed into. Only when he felt the cold air, did his lungs realise that water shouldn't be inside them. Half-vomiting, half-coughing, anxiety and fear took over his whole being as if death was about to take hold of him most stupidly.
He felt someone patting his back. It was gentle, soft. His coughing suddenly stopped, only the soreness of his throat remaining.
"I was beginning to believe you would never wake up."
It took him a moment to realise who was talking. He expected his mother but found a young woman with pale hair and dark blue eyes. Her attire was as odd. A bodysuit hid below a long navy-blue coat.
"You seem confused. This is Sangonomiya Shrine, on Watatsumi island. You were gravely wounded, we were all surprised that you were still alive. I tried my best to heal you, but I can't assure you it will last if you move."
Scaramouche looked at his chest, finding an odd blue-like substance covering his wound. As he noticed that, he also realised that he was in some sort of stone water bed. Looking around, the room he was being kept in was open to the environment, with a roof held up by long columns.
"…Where are my clothes?" He immediately asked, not expecting his full nudity.
"Ah, they were tattered and ragged. I made you a new set of clothes." The woman hid her embarrassment, taking a few steps back. "I'm the Divine Priestess of Watatsumi island, Sangonomiya Kokomi. I would never have guessed a divine being would lend his help to our cause."
"Your cause?" Scaramouche stood up from the waterbed, prompting Kokomi to cover her now flushed face and turn around. "I have no interest in petty mortal disputes. Don't misunderstand my actions with graceful charity."
"You have broken the status quo in Narukami beach, so for that, you have our gratitude. You've saved countless lives by disrupting the Shogunate's defences."
He scratched his head, remembering that Barbatos had placed some cursed feather on his head.
"Tsk… Bring me my clothes already."
As Kokomi rushed out of the odd temple, Scaramouche checked his powers. The moment he used his inherent electro energy, the remedy on his chest seemed to break down. With another click of his tongue, he noticed his anemo vision on the water below him. He took it in hand, observing the anemo symbol inside it.
"Become better than you, was that it, Barbatos? You made the mistake of leaving me alive. And now I'm…" He stopped talking, unsure of what he was actually doing.
The only thing driving him these past few days was the will to not succumb to his wounds. And now, he was unsure of his next move. He wasn't even supposed to be in Inazuma, so the Fatui must have taken notice of that. So far, he knew two Harbingers were in the archipelago Two possible would-be murderers. So what should he do?
"Freedom to choose, is it?" He muttered, grasping his vision.
"H-Here you go!" Kokomi rushed into the room, left the clothes on a stone stool and ran out of the temple.
At the very least, the Divine Priestess herself was acting subservient to him. She knew her place, he believed. A priestess's job was to revere Gods, wasn't it? And he was a God. The God of… The God of what? At the moment he wasn't the God of anything. So he wasn't exactly too fond of the priestess's act. She had healed him, and that was all he wanted. In fact, he could say that he felt somewhat guilty about this unneeded kindness.
"Guilt? Remorse? Mortal weaknesses." He moved out of the water bed, stomping his way towards his new clothes. "It's normal to receive offerings when you are not so different from Godhood." He growled, realising that he was just trying to convince himself.
The clothes he had received were not so different from a samurai's attire. There was no armour to speak about, so the attire was composed of a long haori coat and a kimono. He wondered if the light green and purple that decorated both the kimono and the coat had been a coincidence or chosen for him.
Kokomi peeked inside the room and sighed relieved as she saw Scaramouche dressing up.
"I brought you some sandals. And let me help you with the belt."
"I don't need any help." His aggressive tone immediately stopped the priestess from approaching him. "I am not a God yet. Stop treating me like I am."
"I am not helping you because of your divinity," Kokomi steeled her resolve and fixed his collar.
"If you believe you owe me anything for what I did to that checkpoint, then stop it. You healed me, that's enough." He spat back but found no retort. "Likewise, I will not owe you anything after this, so don't ask for a favour."
"I think you're misunderstanding the situation." She stepped back, admiring Scaramouche's clothes. "You were in need and I helped you. If I was ever in your same situation, I would want somebody to do the same thing."
"Solidarity? What idiocy." Scaramouche removed his left arm from the coat, leaving it bare to the elements. The coat was secured with the belt, so it didn't fall. His eyes narrowed as he observed Kokomi, who kept analysing his clothes to the smallest detail.
"You're a jerk." She said with a straight face.
"That's the best you can do?" His lips curved into a smile that he quickly erased away. As Kokomi seemed to be losing the staredown with Scaramouche, he suddenly averted his eyes. "The Fatui are making mass-produced delusions by using the bones of Orabashi. Crystal Marrow by the thousands, supplied by the Kanjou Commission. I don't know the location, but it's under your own noses."
Kokomi paused, unsure of how to receive the news. "…That explains the accelerated extraction rate in the past few months. Did you come here to deliver this message?"
"I came here because I just needed a clueless priestess to heal me. And now I'll resume my travels."
"Why did you inform me, then?"
Scaramouche's lips twisted. "Because I'm an asshole. I want to destroy the Fatui's plans because I feel like it." He put on the wooden sandals and jumped a few times with them.
"Your words and your actions show quite the dissonance. A great turmoil boils inside you, it may be wise for you to stay here to settle your mind."
"Blah-blah-blah," Scaramouche turned away and started to walk out of the temple.
He didn't need to waste any more time. As long as his wound wasn't completely healed, he had to act carefully. At the moment, the only thing he could do was hide from the Fatui. But that was in bad taste; he wasn't a rat hiding from a fox. Regardless, Watatsumi was not safe even if the priestess…
"…How did you know about my divinity?" He completely turned toward Kokomi. "No mere mortal could tell. In fact, what areyou? There's something odd about you. A presence below that innocent mask."
"Are these questions a sign that you will stay?" She deftly avoided the question. "You are directionless, without a cause pushing you. Stay in Watatsumi for a while, it might do good for you."
Scaramouche took a long few seconds to think clearly. At the moment, he wouldn't be able to defeat Barbatos. Baal was also out of the question. There was no Dottore to experiment on him anymore. That slimy rat would never use him ever again. He had found a new way to get stronger, and that meant fully controlling his vision.
The words of Barbatos suddenly appeared in his mind.
"Reflect on your wrongs and your rights, freedom is taking responsibility for your actions. Once you begin to understand yourself and the world, you'll see that nobody can control you. And that you can control nobody."
"I'm not joining your pitiful resistance." Scaramouche cracked his fingers and then his wrists. "But I do plan on using your bland charity, Divine priestess. I want a new sword. And I don't mean the shit you give your soldiers, I mean a good sword. I'll make it myself if I have to. I will need a hat as well. A kasa if you have one. And you are going to tell me all about your powers. I plan on moulding hydro to my own uses. Are we clear?"
"Our troops are currently launching an offensive towards Kannazuka. I cannot use our resources on you without any purpose." Kokomi calmly explained with a slight smile.
"Are you seriously trying to roleplay a General now?"
"If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself, you are certain to be in peril," Kokomi said while placing her hands on her hips. "I do know that one: You are lost. And two: You seek to fight someone. I could give you what you ask for and let you die, but I wouldn't be able to bear that weight. But if you stay and help the Resistance as a mercenary, I foresee three scenarios. One You'll heal up with my help and untangle the thoughts of your mind. Two: You'll heal up but refuse to face your inner turmoil, causing you to die a pointless death. Or three: You will turn against the Resistance and more than likely die as well."
In face of her careful analysis and defiance, Scaramouche could only clap and laugh.
"Finally somebody who acts on facts rather than fate or stupid ideology. You got your shit together and used my pitiful state against me. I like your guts, Priestess." Scaramouche stopped his laugh, crossing his arms. "I don't mind playing along. I accept your deal on one condition. I will go to Narukami Island whenever I recover, regardless of your opinion."
"Very well. Seeing how my objectives are focused on the short term, this condition is acceptable. I'm thankful you were so understanding."
Kokomi's smile paled in comparison to Scaramouche's, who found the situation new and refreshing. He was fairly sure of his chances at completely beheading the Resistance if he wished to do so. But he heeded the advice of Barbatos and took responsibility for his own actions. Because of that, a new opportunity to get stronger appeared.
By treating the Priestess as an equal, by respecting her freedom, he only enhanced his opportunities to be better. Was this the power of freedom, that which truly fueled Barbatos?