The Starward Sword Chapter 1
Liyue Harbour / Keqing
All she could see was the vast expanse of the dimension around her. Twinkling stars above her head and shimmering water beneath her feet. Keqing was familiar with this environment. It was a dream she had many times before, one that would come back once in a while. It was a vision of her past, the meeting that had changed her life no less than 2 months ago.
A woman was standing before her. She wore a long kimono with the most intricate of designs. Her long purple hair was styled into a braid which ran all the way down to her feet. The woman's eyes were a striking shade of violet; they shimmered every time she blinked. She kept her hands cloaked inside her extravagantly wide sleeves. She was beautiful in every sense of the word.
Keqing thought this woman may have been the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. She even surpassed the Tianquan, Ningguang, herself.
"Who are you..?" Keqing asked the woman, sounding almost intimidated.
"I am Raiden Makoto, but you may refer to me as just Makoto, my dear Keqing," she answered.
"You know who I am?"
"Why, yes. I know exactly who you are." Makoto smiled as she said this, leaving Keqing unnerved.
"Let's just say I've been watching you for a long time. I've seen you grow, overcome adversity, and even see you flourish into the beautiful and powerful lady you are today," she said, all the while keeping her gaze strictly on Keqing.
"Raiden…," Keqing whispered; she knew of that title. She read about it once before, in the same vain as Morax, the God of Contracts, and Barbatos, the God of Freedom.
"You…you're an archon, aren't you?" She asked Makoto, gaining her composure.
The woman just smiled and started to walk toward Keqing. Keqing, however, didn't back down, standing her ground and holding the God's gaze. Once they were face to face, Makoto ran her index finger on the edge of Keqing's jawline, tracing it down to her chin, and lifting it ever so slightly.
"You're always so perceptive, among your other fantastic abilities," she says, "You're an amazing individual, Keqing. This is what makes you worthy of the vision I gave you all those years ago"
Keqing didn't know what to say. She couldn't look at Makoto after had she said this. She was stunned to meet the being that gave her the electro vision that hung just below her nape. However, even the mighty Yuheng couldn't help but also feel a little embarrassed. After all, it was that very same vision Keqing tried to get rid of upon first receiving it.
"I tried to destroy it though…I thought you were undermining me and giving me power out of sympathy…" She said looking down at her feet.
Raiden Makoto was unfazed by Yuheng's sudden confession. Instead, she was pleased, happy even.
"That's not why I gave you the vision, my dear Keqing, I gave you the vision because I saw something in you that I believed made you worthy of my power."
"And, what's that…?" Keqing asked sheepishly.
"Your ambition. Your unwavering drive to see your dreams realized. How you see your nation and how you embrace it. Now look at you, I feel now my decision was the right one in the end. You are part of a rare few in this world, and believe me when I say that. " Makoto then turned away and looked over her shoulder at the purple-haired girl. "Now, however, I wish to give you something else."
A bright flash of purple lightning descends mere feet between Keqing and Makoto. Keqing raised her forearm to block out the blinding light.
"You have made me proud with your accomplishments thus far. You represent what it means to be a vision holder. Consider this a gift, for how far you've come." she said, smiling.
The light soon dissipated, revealing a sword underneath. It was an almost ethereal purple colour, with the blade shaped in the symbol of the electro element near the hilt.. Keqing could feel the energy of the blade just mere inches away. It emanated power in the purest form, glowing faintly of a violet hue.
"What is this…?", Keqing asked in astonishment.
Makoto spoke, "This…is one of the blades the Electro Archon bestowed upon her Hatamoto long ago, Samurai, as you may know them as. Inazuman legend refers to it as the Mistplitter Reforged. Although, this blade has yet to be reforged, and still withholds all of its original power. The power to call upon lightning itself, anyone who wields it will become the personification of the element of electro. I am now entrusting you with this blade, use it as you…" Makoto's voice faded into obscurity.
It was then Keqing woke up with a startled gasp, breathing heavily. She waved away all the light purple strands of her hair and buried her face in her hands, wiping her face of her slumber. When she looked up, her room was filled with the morning glow of Liyue Harbour. The golden light seeped through her windows and illuminated every inch of space.
It was then Keqing set her sights on her wardrobe, specifically the bottom, where a large box lay underneath.. She got out of bed and walked over to it. Kneeling down, she pulled the box from under the wardrobe and opened it. The box contained the very same blade from her encounter with the archon, the Mistplitter. She gazed down at the dormant edge, and pondered.
The Yuheng hadn't once wielded the blade. She even hadn't fully processed that she spoke with an actual archon either. With everything Makoto had told her about the sword, Keqing remained hesitant and wary. What would happen if she used it? Would the power change her? She already knew of her ability to use her Vision and her mastery of the element of electro. After all, she helped defend Liyue from an ancient God of the Sea, among other very powerful individuals. She didn't need the Mistsplitter, she thought. Liyue wouldn't face a threat like that again to warrant its use.
However, that would soon change.