Time stood still for Ei. The moment she heard Ayaka's name leaves Aether's mouth, the familiar pain in her chest returns. Dark thoughts begin to swirl in her mind. A feeling of pure unbridled hate towards the daughter of the Kamisato clan envelops Ei's heart, like a vicious viper wrapping around her. She had never really liked the platinum haired girl, her family had been a thorn on her side, during the The Vision Hunt Decree, and now she's again a thorn on her side, because of her relationship with Aether. Ei hears Aether's voice calling out to her, but she is unable to make out what he has to say. As her current state of mind is in a mess.
'Oh Aether, sweet, sweet Aether. You are far too good for this world. Too many harlots wish to take you away from me.' Ei thought dangerously. Her mind is pooling up in a mix of negative emotions.
The Traveler had been the one thing that had saved Ei from an eternity of pain. He had pulled her away from her delusions and had made her understand why she needed to change. She was so lonely, having her only sister leave her was too much to bare for poor Ei. She locked herself away to escape that pain, but the Traveler saved her, he cared for her. Ei can't remember the last time she laughed and talked so freely with someone. Aether's presence is so calming to her, the thought of someone stealing that calmness makes her blood boil. She will do anything to keep Aether by her side, even if it means to kill. Even if it means she must use force. The Traveler's worrying gaze pulls Ei out of her negative thoughts.
"Did you say Ayaka?" Her voice was cold and her face was completely devoid of emotions.
Aether had a fearful look on his face as he looks completely shocked at the sudden change in tone. For some reason the look of fear on Aether's face made Ei feel extremely happy. Like she's glad at the fact that Aether may fear her.
"Um yeah...I bumped into her today and she handed me some chocolates." Aether said nervously.
Ei can't let Aether get suspicious of her already. She needs to calm down before he realizes her intentions. Taking a moment to calm herself, Ei slowly takes a deep breath. Focusing her mind on happy thoughts and trying to forget that about witch.
It was no use! She can't calm herself down. Ei is feeling unbridled rage pulling towards her, like at any second she could destroy all of Inazuma. A thunderstorm suddenly appears outside, making Aether feel an ominous, foreboding atmosphere.
"If you will excuse me Traveler, I'll be right back." Ei said in her best attempt at seeming normal. However to Aether, her attempt only sent chills up his spine. He was clearly not liking where this was going.
"Sure..take your time." Aether said with slight hesitation.
Ei quickly gets up and makes her way downstairs, all the way down to the first floor. She was absolutely livid! Her steps were thunderous as small electro particles started to appear around her. The electro archon passed by the many hallways with quickness. The guards she passed by all gave her a look of fear, as Ei's face clearly showed that she was angry. As she continues to walk, Ei heads towards the kitchen. Inside were a few chefs and maids. All of them were busy preparing breakfast as each one did their part in the kitchen.
"Out." Ei said in a cold harsh tone.
The chefs and maids all immediately looked at Ei, their faces quickly turned from surprise and shock at the sudden appearance of The Shogun, to a look of fear, as they all noticed her angry face.
"Lady Shogun?! Breakfast is almost ready so..if yo" before one of the chefs could finish his sentence, Ei shot a charge of electro towards his feet.
The man jumped in fear at almost having his feet be disintegrated. Seeing how serious the Shogun was all the chefs begin scurrying out of the kitchen in a panic, not wanting to anger her any further.
Now finally alone, and no one to disturb her, Ei begins unleashing her fury, she summons her sword and begins slashing wildly at everything she sees. Pots and pans were cut in half, stove tops were smashed. The room quickly became a mess as Ei continues to throw a temper tantrum. She slices bags of vegetables, causing them to spill on the floor. Still in her unrelenting fury, Ei shoots out a wave of electro energy causing even more mayhem to the kitchen.
"WHY!WHY!WHY!WHY MUST EVERYTHING BE TAKEN AWAY FROM ME!" Her voice was thunderous and loud, even the chefs outside could hear her loud screams.
Ei's tantrum slowly dies down, as the kitchen is now a complete, unrecognizable mess. Hearing the commotion from outside the kitchen. Ei notices her retainer running towards her.
"Shogun?! What's wrong?!" Kujou Sara asks with a panicked expression.
Ei turns to face towards the retainer, her face a mixed of fury and sadness. Ei never really had an opinion on Sara, she always seemed like another one of her devoted followers. Although ever since Aether had saved her, she's started opening up more towards the blue haired girl.
"Sara. I wish for you to prepare some tea." Ei's voice was flat and cruel.
Sara looked absolutely confused at the sudden request of the Shogun. She wanted to ask her about the state of the kitchen, but refrained from doing so, scared that she might make her more angry.
"Right away Shogun!" Sara said nervously, her voice slightly trembling.
Sara begin heating up some water, trying to make do in the broken kitchen, she starts opening the destroyed cupboards looking for tea leaves. As Sara continues her best to make some tea, Ei simply stands there watching her scurry about in the kitchen. Her face was now blank but her eyes showed nothing but anger and thunder.
"I want you to add a special ingredient to this tea." Ei said her voice sounding cold and calculating.
Sara stops midway as she was about to drop the tea leaves in the boiling water. She looks up towards Ei with nervous eyes. "A special ingredient?" Sara asks as her hands stared shaking.
"Yes." Ei simply said, before her face morphed into a sadistic grin.
Back With Aether...
Aether continues to sit down where Ei had left him. His thoughts drifting to their previous interaction. The Traveler remembers the cold look on Ei's face, looking at him as if he just did something unspeakable and horrid. Aether suddenly hears a thunderous bang coming from somewhere in the building.
BANG!
"What was that?!" Aether said suddenly standing up.
It sounded like something had happen downstairs, Aether wonders if he should come investigate, but after a minute of no new noises, Aether decides to slowly sit back down. He can hear the thunderstorm raging outside of Tenshukaku, as heavy raindrops pours down.
'How did it go rainy? It was so sunny this morning..' Aether thought ominously.
Time continued to trickle by as Aether sat in Ei's throne room. With nothing to do Aether begins observing the room he's in. Ei's throne room contained many traditional Inazuman designs on the walls, all with intricate swirls and patterns. The room was mostly empty except for a small table in the middle. The ground was made from brown tatami flooring that felt sturdy and strong. A bunch of small lanterns circled the room by the walls, each having an electro symbol on it. The most noticeable thing was a large shrine that had small steps leading to it. Electro symbols could be seen at the top of the shrine, it was all located in the very back of the room.
While observing the room, Aether notices the piece of chocolate Ei dropped earlier. He slowly picks it up with a worrying look on his face.
"Why did Ei react that way? I mean she even wasted chocolate, something she would never do..." Aether mumbled to himself.
Ei's behavior really perplexed the Traveler, he's never felt such a cold shiver before as he did earlier. It was almost as if his instinct was telling him to get out of there. But Aether decided to push these feelings down as irrational.
The blond Traveler quietly sat by the table, listening in to the loud raindrops outside. He wonders when Ei will be back, it must've been at least 15 minutes since she got up and left. Anymore waiting and the Traveler swears he'll die of boredom.
Aether was not the kind of person to stay in one place for too long. Him and Lumine shared this trait, always choosing to be on the move rather then staying down in one place forever. So it comes to no surprise that the Travler is getting very impatient.
"What's taking her so long?" Aether grumbled quietly.
Before he could complain anymore, Aether suddenly hears the doors open. He sees Ei walking towards him with a trey in her hands, there appeared to be two cups on it. Aether can see Ei slowly walk towards him.
"Sorry for the wait my dear Aether, but I decided to bring you some tea." Ei said with a soft smile.
Aether looked slightly surprised. Ei seemed completely normal now. 'Did she really leave just to get tea?' Aether thought suspiciously.
Ei places the trey on top of the table, Aether can see two different cups, one was yellow and the other was purple. Deciding to satisfy his curiosity Aether asked Ei about what happened earlier.
"Hey Ei, is everything alright? You didn't seem yourself earlier." Aether asks with a worrying look on his face.
Ei simply smiles at his question. Her eyes indicating that nothing was wrong. Ei hands him the yellow cup before responding.
"Ah that, I apologize if I seemed different earlier. When you mentioned Ayaka's name I had remembered how she taught you how to make that tea, and so I decided to give you my special blend." Ei said while taking a sip of her tea.
Aether squints his eyes slightly as if he's still a little suspicious at Ei's explanation. 'Was that really what she was doing?' Aether thought to himself. Deciding to give her the benefit of the doubt, he drops his suspicions.
"I see. Well I appreciate the tea Ei." Aether said with a weak smile.
The blond Traveler looked down at the yellow cup. He could see the steam rising out of the tea, it had an odd greenish texture to it that sorta seemed unnatural. Aether slowly brings the the tea to his lips before taking a sip.
"Ei this tastes really good!" Aether said before taking another sip.
The tea had an earthy feel to it, the blend made the tea taste so sweet, Aether wonders what kinda of leaves were used. Although the tea did have an odd aftertaste to it. Overall it was really good tea.
"Oh I'm glad you liked it." Ei said her voice sounding very satisfied.
Aether wonders if Ei was the one who made it. The last time the electro archon made something she nearly destroyed a kitchen. The traveler gives a smile at the memory.
"So I'm assuming you didn't make this tea right?" Aether ask curiously.
Ei gives a subtle pout towards him. Aether found the sight oddly cute.
"I'll have you know, that I was the one who told my retainer how to make it." Ei said with an oddly proud face.
The two of them both fell back in comfortable silence. Aether forgetting at Ei's previous reaction. 'Maybe she was just getting tea at the mention of Ayaka.' Aether convinces himself. After about a couple minutes of quiet, Ei decided to speak up.
"Aether how long do you plan on staying in Inazuma for?" Ei asks softly.
It seems like many people are starting to ask him this, Aether wonders if his presence will really be missed this much.
"Two days, and I'll be leaving towards Sumeru." Aether said quietly, as if not to hurt Ei.
For a split second Aether thought he saw fury in Ei's face, but just as it came it was gone. 'Am I imagining things?' Aether thinks quietly to himself. Ei gently places her tea on the table.
"Aether why don't you stay here with me? At least for a little longer?" Ei said directly looking at him in the eyes.
Aether gave a face of both surprise and sadness. He really doesn't want to hurt Ei, or anyone else in Inazuma for leaving, but finding his sister takes priority. He needs to finish his journey as quickly as possible. Aether gives Ei a sympathetic look.
"You know I can't Ei...I have my sister to find." Aether said weakly, his voice sounding raspy.
Ei gives Aether a blank stare, as if whatever he said didn't even register to her. He feels bad for hurting her like this, but he can't stay in Inazuma, he just hopes Ei will understand and not get too angry or sad at him. After a moment passes, Ei looks at Aether with a cold stare.
"No." She simply says, her voice sounding robotic and monotone as if the Shogun was the one speaking.
Did Aether hear her correctly? Did she just say say no? His ears must be playing tricks on him. The blond Traveler gave Ei an odd stare, indicating what she said was weird.
"Um did I hear you correctly Ei?" Aether asks equal mix concern and confusion.
The electro archon gives him another dead stare, as she takes another sip of her tea before continuing.
"I will not let you leave Inazuma. You shall stay here with me." Ei said flatly as if there is no room for argument.
'The nerve of this woman!' Aether was now starting to get frustrated. 'How can she decide what I can't or can do!' He thought with quiet fury. Now the Traveler is not an angry person, far from it, but when the person who was once enslaving Inazuma is now demanding for him to stay without any hesitation. He sorta feels justified of his anger.
"Ei, I Can't stay here, I have to find my sister, my next lead is in Sumeru." Aether said trying to sound calm, hoping Ei was just joking around.
Ei's blank face morphs into fury. Her eyes glowed a dangerous purple, as electro particles started to swirl around her. Aether is slightly scared at the sight.
"NO! YOU SHALL STAY HERE IN INAZUMA WITH ME!" Ei bellowed out, her mask now falling apart as her pent up anger rages once more.
Aether's fear gave away to steel, as he refuses to back down from this. He won't be bossed around to stay just cause she said so.
"No Ei, I will not stay, you can't control me." Aether said confidently.
The Traveler sees Ei's face turn red with anger. This is definitely the most angry he's ever seen her. The electro archon stood up before stomping her foot in a fit of rage.
"NO NO NO NO! I WONT LET YOU GO! YOU'ER MINE!" Ei said while throwing a tantrum.
This whole scene is completely ridiculous to Aether. 'How can she act like a child, just cause she can't get what she wants!' Aether thought furiously. Realizing he's not going to get through her, Aether sets down his tea before trying to leave. Ei quickly notices and immediately stops her fit.
"Where are you going!" Ei asks loudly with nervousness in her eyes.
Aether merely rolled his eyes at her question. "I'm just leaving." Aether said flatly, turning his head around to walk away.
Although Aether couldn't see it, Ei was staring at him with a wicked grin on her face. Her smile reaching from ear to ear.
"I wouldn't take another step if I were you...It should be kicking in by now." Ei said eerily.
The Traveler ignored her threat as he takes another step towards the door. As he's about to reach the exit, Aether feels a sudden weakness in his legs.
"What.." Aether said dazedly before falling to the ground.
His body feels extremely heavy, as his mind becomes more foggy, he sees Ei slowly approaching him. Her smile had a evil smirk to it. Though her eyes were completely dead.
"I wouldn't move very much if I were you, the medicine should be kicking in by now." Ei said her smile never leaving her face.
'Medicine? Did she drug me with the tea?' Aether thought weakly.
His mind was having a hard time focusing as his breaths become more shallow. The Traveler tries to move his body away from this dangerous situation but alas he can't even feel his limbs anymore.
"what...did...you...do.." Aether said struggling to get his words out.
Ei crouches down towards Aether, before softly petting his hair. He can barely make out her figure as his vision is now getting more blurry.
"Shhh my love, your safe now, I'll take good care of you." Ei said while gently stroking Aether's hair.
The last thing Aether saw before fading into unconsciousness was the sadistic smile and predatory eyes of Ei.
His vision finally went black.