Welcome to a sneak peek of a future story.
I wanted to get a little of this story started as a concept and come back to it when I am done with Fox of Remnant.
So this story will be chilling on the back burner for some time to come.
Still, I wanted to show everyone the concept of it.
And every now and then, when I hit some walls in Remnant, I will work on this to ease the tension.
So please enjoy this and know more will come.
It will just be a while before this story is on top of my list.
Long, long ago.
In a time before the Archons ruled, the world was different from what it is now.
Everyone had the potential to be great and use the powers of the elements like those bestowed with Visions do now.
Most were ordinary like many are today, but a few rose and ascended to heights and were capable of feats like that of the Archons now.
They thrived in their ways of life despite much strife, finally breaking the cycle of pain and suffering that had plagued the world for millenniums.
All because of two brothers bonded through blood and friendship.
And as everything was finally at peace and the world was silent as they continued to evolve and make progress, everything changed.
The Heavenly Principles descended upon the world to restore order as the natural balance had been disrupted in their eyes.
The brothers, older, wiser, and even stronger than before, defended their world with all their might.
The old world was brought to ruins despite their efforts.
And they became cursed.
They wandered aimlessly around this new world while everything changed and humanity rose from the ashes once more.
Slowly eroding until nothing of them remains but a husk of their former selves.
One ruined, decayed, and withered away into dust.
The other pushed forward, cloaked in brilliant golden light.
The power of old had faded.
Visions granted by divine blessings replaced them.
Only a select few were now capable of ascending and being able to change the world.
Not everyone was capable of being special any longer.
"I'm special! Right, sis? I mean Lady Saiguu." A young, chipper voice interrupted the story.
As pink sakura blossoms fluttered in the shady breeze of the tree, a small group gathered and lay beneath. They were sitting on a soft blue blanket as a mystic woman with white hair chuckled at the brevity of the youngster as she told the story. Momentarily frowning at an odd sensation, she flicked a long white-furred fox ear on the top of her head before smiling as a pink blossom was removed from the cavity.
Wearing a traditional white robe and scarlet hakama for a temple priestess, Saiguu softly smiled as her friend bellowed in laughter. All but the one she expected to stay silent.
Chiyo of the red Oni tribe held no such reservations and let her joyous nature take over at the young girl's interruption. She ruffled the young girl's hair and grinned from ear to ear. "Darn right you are! You'll be big and strong just like your big sis, little Yae! You were gifted with that Vision for a reason! You are bound for greatness! And I can show you the ropes!"
"I would prefer that you don't get her into trouble," Saiguu softly sighed as she could see the mischievous grin of the small pink-haired girl with fox ears much like her own. "She's already a handful at the shrine as it is. Learning from you is the last thing she needs right now. She's picked up too much from another prankster fox…"
"They've been away for too long." The other of her friends spoke, becoming restless and shifting in her position and the monotonous tone caused Saiguu to sigh. "Something must have happened. I should…"
"Ei, it's all right. They're on the cliff saying their goodbyes. You should know that." Saiguu earnestly spoke as she looked over into the distance and wistfully smiled.
Ei, the friend in question, had long, flowing violet hair that freely blew in the gentle breeze. Her hair fluttered against the ground as she sat in a meditative position as if she was trying to concentrate and block out all the noise in the world. She wore a lavender kimono with various shades of deepening purple through it and displayed the electro-vision symbol on her left hip. She wore a crimson obi tied around her waist to keep it tight. On the right side of her hair was a yellow ribbon hairpin with pale lavender morning glories. Her sister's favorite, if she recalled correctly.
While she could not see them, she knew it was a tender moment and did not want to disturb it. Then feeling a tug at her left sleeve, Saiguu almost wanted to shed a tear herself. She saw the wide and wistful eyes of Yae filled to the brim with tears, ready to sob. "Why does big brother have to leave? I'm going to miss him. Can't he stay here with us? At least rest here! He belongs here! This is his home!"
"In a sense, it is, but it also isn't." Saiguu sighed with a dejected air as she watched the sakura petals dance in the breeze as she took her eyes off Yae, watching them be carried out to sea towards the northwestern sea, towards Mondstadt, as if the wind was calling.
She frowned as it felt as if a certain Archon was listening in on their conversation and playing with the aesthetics around them like the playful one he was. Saiguu drifted her attention down to the tearful gaze of young Yae and gave a comforting smile. "That place is the last remaining connection to his ancient homeland. Resting there comforts him in ways that would be impossible, despite our homeland having become his new home. It keeps him from eroding, and with his tricks, he can last far longer than any other God or Archon could ever dream of."
"And he needs rest, little Yae." Chiyo grinned in response as she ruffled the young fox kit's hair again, annoying the young kitsune as she glowered at the boisterous red Oni. "When you go as hard as he does all the time for as long as he has, it has to be rough on you! I can't imagine losing myself like that and doing what he has to do to save himself! Has to be rough, yo! Let him go home and get some rest. We'll see him in a century or two. Well, I hope as long as it's not like last time after the War where he forgot who he was after four hundred years and was found in Liyue by the Morax selling Ramen..."
"But anyways..." Chiyo shook her head from her train of thought and smirked once more. "You'll be all grown up then too! Maybe you can show Big Brother just how much you like him…"
"OW! You wanna go!"
"I would appreciate it if you would not talk about my sister's betrothed in that manner." Ei flatly responded with hardly an emotion in her voice and her eyes closed as if she was ignoring the red oni's threat before deep purple eyes opened and an intense, glowing gaze shot towards Yae, the red eyeliner highlighting the ferocity even further. "As my familiar, I expect you to show the same respect and not intrude on their personal matters, understood?"
"Yes, mam!" Yae swallowed hard and nodded, dread filling her as she stared straight into the deathly gaze of Ei and felt a pressure she had never felt exerted on her before.
"Ei, that's a little uncalled for. She is only a child," Saiguu responded with a deep frown as Yae was petrified at the intent of her Archon. "She may be a bit possessive. She's young and will learn in time. He's one of the most important people in her life, after all. And there is no need to be so intimidating for such an off-handed comment that she had nothing to do with."
Her gaze fixed on the golden eyes of the priestess, Ei showed no sign of emotion as the two locked eyes intently. However, she was the one that broke contact with a huff and closed her eyes once more, focusing back on her meditation. "I did only what I deemed necessary."
"Ei," Saiguu frowned disappointedly as Yae skittered behind the priestess, gently patting her on the head and comforting her before she gazed over the younger Archon sister and sighed deeply. "I know you hear this all the time from Makoto, but there may come a point in time…"
"Enough!" Ei snapped, her eyes opening as a purple electric pulse surged around her as she stood from her meditative stance, storm clouds beginning to gather in what was a beautiful blue sky as thunder crackled overhead. "I will not hear any of this! Makoto is the Archon, and her rule will be eternal! I will not hear this blasphemy otherwise! My thoughts about eternity do not matter! All that matters is my strength with the blade and my ability to protect my sister. For as long as she reigns…"
"Inazuma will be eternally at peace!"
With that, Ei furiously stormed away with elegant strides. Saiguu was left crestfallen, Chiyo grimacing, and her familiar Yae shivering and shaking in terror at the raw aura of intent of the dual Archon. And the head priestess lowered her head as she looked at where her Archon drifted away from them. "So much is happening, Ei, that you don't understand…"
"I just wish you would listen. Our time may be coming to an end whether we like it or not."
"And we just want you to be strong enough to stand on your own if that time ever comes to pass."
Purple eyes snapped open as she let out an unexpected bated breath as that memory vividly played before her.
Strange.
She did not need to breathe.
Almost frowning as she looked upon the rush of red light that consumed the world around her and the multitude of torii that existed in the realm around her, she slowly stood from her meditative stance as she became thoughtful and needed to walk for once.
She would not be able to stretch her legs in this world. It was too constrained.
She needed space.
"Shogun. I'm taking control. I need some air to think about something I remember." Ei commanded the realm around her, although it seemed like she was speaking to nothing.
And the world opened, rifting between realms tore her realm asunder, showing a ceremonial room before her. She knew the room very well. It was the Shogun's chambers of Tenshukaku, despite looking a little changed from the last time she had seen it. It had been years since she had stepped foot in the mortal realm.
This was something she had not done in centuries.
An autonomous voice sounding much like her own echoed around her. "As you wish. I will remain on standby until I am needed to take over. Do heed my warning."
"Though I have done everything you have asked, keeping Inazuma in stasis as you asked has been difficult. Currently, things are not proceeding well." The voice, similar to hers, droned in a robotic tone.
Her violet eyes flashed brilliantly for a moment, Ei nonchalantly responded with a wave of her right hand. "Your programs are functioning nominally. I believe everything will handle itself in due course. They obey my word as writ and law, and yours is the same."
"I think some fresh air every century or two leaving this domain will freshen my perspective and thoughts of eternity, no?"
"It is not my place to disagree." The Shogun replied uncaringly, as it was not in her programming to disagree with her creator's will on subjects of such frivolity. "The body is ready for your use. Do as you want. I will use the time to rest."
"Yes, rest." Ei did frown as she stepped into the portal and took control of the Shogun's body, lifting her hand up for the first time in centuries and had a physical hand attributed to her action. "Rest is imperative. If there was only a way to truly combat the erosion of time."
"Then I would have found the eternity we have been seeking all along."
"Wake up."
"It's been too long. Please, wake up."
"I need you. Ei needs you."
"Ugh…" A garbled voice groaned in an altar-like room with various elaborate black markings coating the walls, floors, and even the stone pedestal where a youthful man lay on top of it.
The room itself looked like it had seen better times. Various parts of the walls crumbled and caved in. It seemed that parts of the ceiling had collapsed and nearly fell into the altar itself, judging by the rocky debris on the man. But he looked no worse for the wear if it had, so it wasn't possible as if it had, it should have crushed him.
Moss grew in the corners of the room as various tiny bugs flitted about in the low light setting, and the lights had burned out long ago. There were streaks of light coming in from the cracks above, showing that it was nighttime and extraordinarily dark in this room. The only light that shone was a purple glowing orb floating gently before the youthful man as he groaned.
"There you go. Come back to the waking world. It needs you. She needs you."
"That voice…" The man with trimmed, blonde spikes with still quite a few wild ones remaining as he slowly and groggily rose from the altar, gripping his temple painfully and wincing as if he was attempting to recall. "I remember it. But why can't I put a name to it?"
"It's erosion, my love. It's why you came back to store your memories. So you don't lose yourself, unlike your brother."
"Store, my memories?" The blonde man wondered aloud as he looked, not even sure who he was, and he found the orange yoroi he was wearing with red trimmings relatively bright and blinding to his eyes, even in this dark setting. "To keep from losing myself? Like my brother? Erosion?"
"You have slept longer than anticipated. You have lost a lot of yourself in your sleep, it seems. Try grabbing one of those scrolls. I believe what's next will come naturally to you."
Frowning as he slid his legs off the altar, seeing the purple orb wisping around the air above him and gently leading him to a scroll where an elaborate array of black marks led, the man questioned what was occurring. "And why should I trust you? You're a floating orb of energy?"
"I'm glad to see that your reasoning is intact. It would be wise if you remained wary in any circumstances, but in this case, I am looking out for you. I always have since we met, Naruto."
"Naruto?" The man in the orange yoroi with blonde hair pondered as he looked at the floating ball of purple energy. "Is that my name?"
"Yes, it is, my love."
"My love? Why do you keep calling me that?" Naruto questioned as he decided he felt this orb was trustworthy enough, for now anyways, and walked over to where it was leading him, squatted down to brush off the rubble away from the scroll, and picked it up. "It's kind of creeping me out a little."
"You have to understand. To me, you and my sister are the most precious things in my world, and I left this safeguard in case everything turned out as I predicted it might have. You are the man I love, and this is my last testament to you, I fear."
"Predicted? Fear?" Naruto looked over worryingly at the floating orb of condensed energy and then sulkily looked down and away, her cerulean eyes dulling in a downcast expression. "You love me? That makes me feel awful. I don't even know who you are. I don't even know who I am."
"You will. Open it. Your body will remember. Trust me."
"If you say so…" Naruto pursed his lips as he took a moment and found the opening of the scroll, and once he opened it, a massive black array of ink was displayed before him that left him utterly bewildered. "Um, I don't think I…"
"Wait, hold on for a minute…"
"There it is. You may forget, but some things are so natural that your body will never unlearn."
Keeping the scroll open with his right hand and placing his hand upon the array, Naruto's eyes burned as the black array expanded onto his arm and started to meld with his very body, traveling every inch and every direction. Becoming one with him. Yet he held no fear as it felt like it was something that was part of him before as images came to his mind. Flashes of the past he had forgotten. Everything was there. It was all contained in this scroll!
This scroll was his life! It was his memories!
Removing his hand from the scroll as it fell to the ground, clacking against it and displaying it was now blank, Naruto fell to his knees. Gripping both of his temples as images flooded his mind furiously as he recalled many of them, he placed his hand back onto the scroll, and a new seal array formed as he breathed a sigh of relief. "Too much at once…"
"As old as you are, I'm not surprised, my love."
His eyes moistened as everything that had been said up until now dawned on him. His head snapped up, and he looked upon the purple orb of energy, and droplets of tears split down his whiskered cheeks as he knew it to be true. "Makoto! I would have woken up! I would have sensed something had happened! I would have been there!"
"I can't lose you too! I've already lost enough! My home! My first wife! My son! My daughter! My brother! The Heavenly Principles have taken it all from me! I can't lose you too!" Naruto tearfully mourned as he looked upon the celestial orb before him, shivering and begging for what he knew to be true and somehow false.
"Naruto, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to leave you behind too. Things happened too fast, and that place, Khaenri'ah, had become too unnatural in your sleep, and the Heavenly Principles acted upon them. I objected to their actions but in the end…"
"I did not make it. I left you and Ei all alone, and both of you are suffering for my actions. But unlike Ei, I know you. You can and will push on."
"You make it sound so easy! I've had enough, Makoto! This world is too damn much to live with this curse!" Naruto wept openly, gazing at the omniscient orb floating before him as his tears streamed. "I have already done so much. I was ready to try and relax one more time and live my life at your side, reigning with you! And upon waking up, the first thing I hear, directly from your emergency projection, is that you aren't there anymore! How long did I sleep?! Did something mess with my seals and keep me asleep longer than I anticipated?!"
"I fear that is the case, but I am unable to imagine what or who could have done so."
"I have more than an idea what it was and who it was! And I'm tired of their interventions!" Naruto viciously snarled before curating his tone, seeing the orb recoil in the air and turning away dejectedly. "I'm so tired of all this. If it's not one thing, it's another. So much has been lost due to their actions, and so much more will be lost."
"Look at what it was already doing to you and the other Archons. Look how much you were losing yourself to their divine will. I want this all to end…"
"No, I want you to live your life happily, just as we planned. I couldn't let you erode into a husk. That would be too painful to bear, so I made sure the gifts I gave you had an emergency projection of myself. Just in case."
"The gifts…" Naruto looked down at his yoroi, and there was pinned on his right chest a yellow ribbon with two pale lavender morning glories, and on his left shoulder, there was a pauldron bearing the crest of the Electro Archon herself. "So you sealed a part of yourself in one of these just in case I didn't wake up. You were always a step ahead of everyone, Makoto. Almost like you could see the future…"
"I wish I could have. Then maybe things would have been different. Instead, this is how things must be done. And I must use you to save my sister from herself."
"Oh dear, we're in trouble if I have to reach through to Ei. She's more hard-headed than I am." Naruto gave a dreadful chuckle as he hung his head and looked down and away from the floating orb that was his bride. "You know I don't want to. I want this all to end. I can't even count the years anymore. I make the Morax look young by comparison. I gave this all one more chance just because of you…"
"Then give Ei that chance. You know what she means to me."
"You ask something that might be impossible of me." Naruto grimaced as he bit his lip, his body trembling but with a deep inhale of breath, he exhaled and nodded. "I'll do it. If only for you. Whatever it takes, I'll save her."
"Thank you. And for what it's worth, my love, I'll be waiting for you when it's all done…"
"For all eternity, I love you."
"And I love you, Makoto." Naruto wistfully whispered back, his cerulean eyes building tears once more as the purple orb faded into sakura petals, blowing gently through the wind around him before he put his hands together in a triangle prayer-like manner as the sakura petals danced around him.
"I perform this rite to be a guiding light. Your unrivaled power will be honored eternally."
"Go and be at peace, Makoto. For now, I cannot…" Naruto whispered as the sakura petals left the room and fluttered out what he knew to be the exit.
And all that was left within him was a bubbling rage deep within his stomach.
And an unearthly, hollow scream bellowed through the room as golden light illuminated and erupted through the room.
Standing tall on an island within the marshlands connecting to the mainland there was an immensely tall building like no other. It stood out from any other place in the region as the building was a part of the massive tree and could be seen from miles away. The site was an unmistakable landmark to all that came upon it and was used by weary travelers and merchants alike. You were never truly lost in these lands for as long as you could see it.
It was the Wangshu Inn.
And at the very top of the towering building, a lone youthful man sat on the edge of the balcony as he looked at the beautiful night sky. His relatively long, dark-teal hair gently fluttered in the wind as it was quite gusty at this altitude. It was fairly calm tonight, all things considered.
It was a peaceful night. He didn't get those too often. He liked them. A tranquil, calming, and relaxing evening was what he needed. He would take it for what it was worth.
It wouldn't be long before he was called into action again. There was always more karmic debt he had to pay, and it would be something only he could take care of. Or, at the very least, someone as skilled as him could take care of it. It's why he stayed here at this place, even though the immense weight of his presence could harm the humans that remained in his company for too long.
Well, those who stayed close to him anyway. Without a Vision.
Those with a Vision could filter his Adepti energy along with his Karma. At least for a while. Even in his presence they couldn't last forever.
The owners were part of the Liyue Qixing, and if anything strange came around, he would know about it. When the humans in charge of the country, whom the Morax himself still oversaw, wanted to stay in the good graces of the Adepti. They went out of their way to keep one of the last living Yahksha informed of any threats beyond their mortal capabilities.
He felt things were moving in the right direction.
Attempting to take care of themselves was overall a wise decision. The number of Adepti was fading, and he knew it. Whether the others wanted to admit it or not, the time of the Adeptus was coming to an end. Liyue's people were trying to respectfully keep them involved in their hearts and lives through worship and reverence. He knew his time would eventually come to an end soon, but he had expected it to fade long ago…
His life had been saved several times, and he was grateful each time. The first time was by the Geo Archon himself, who he still deeply supported to this day. The second was by his masters in the Archon War, where he and his siblings were taught how to hone their skills and become the Yakshas of lore. And finally, he was spared by a simple bard and his soothing tunes that soothed his soul and kept him from succumbing to his Karma.
"Conqueror of Demons," A young woman's voice called out to him, and he almost winced at the title upon hearing it. "My master humbly requests your presence and has sent me to retrieve you. Says you have ignored her summons for the dinner invite for quite some time."
"Have I?" The Conqueror of Demons stated in a flat tone as he looked towards the person that brought him out of his thoughts. "Shenhe, it's been some time. Are the red ropes holding up sufficiently to contain the evil within?"
The woman, Shenhe, frowned. Her long silvery-white gradient hair was parted off center, with her right eye being covered by her hair as it flowed down into a low, loose braid. In her hair, she had a white and black curved headpiece with a red tassel. Tassels were a heavy feature of her entire outfit, as she really liked them.
Liked to curl her fingers into them…
The red ropes he spoke of tied to the white and gray sleeveless qipao she wore on top of the black backless bodysuit that covered the majority of her body that even extended down her arms and onto her hands. And from behind, she seemed to have a white and gray cloth like a coattail. Bringing her hand to her chest, Shenhe nodded her head for a moment. "Yes, my more malicious intentions have been quelled since the addition of the rope. The evil seems to have warned off for now. I still feel it within. Perhaps I should do more meditation and reflect upon this, master Xiao?
"Perhaps meditation is always helpful to clear one's mind when you aren't sure what to do," Xiao said as he turned from Shenhe, looked back at the peaceful night sky, and enjoyed the gentle breeze blowing by. "Inform Cloud Retainer that I will be there soon enough. She need not have sent you. I had business to take care of, that was all."
"If you would, I'd rather you come with," Shenhe replied plainly with her opaline eyes never leaving the Adeptus. "She has been rather long-winded as of late, and I don't wish to be lectured for returning without you in my presence. It has become quite unbearable."
"Ah, in one of those moods, I take it." Xiao almost smirked at Shenhe's response but showed no outward emotions as he closed his eyes momentarily before turning to the tall swan. "Not selling me on heading to Mt. Aocang. Think I might pass. Something urgent has…"
Xiao's eyes darted to the north and towards Mondstadt. A presence unlike anything he had felt since the Archon War made its presence known. Standing on the balcony, he felt the tension of the air as he watched a golden beam of light rip through the sky and tear through the heavens, a cracking roar being heard from this distance. He was sure it was deafening to those in Mondstadt.
His skin crawled as he felt his Karma debt boil within. So many demons he had slain wanted their vengeance against that burning golden aura piercing through the night sky and tearing it apart. He felt his hands tremble as he could feel the power's pressure from here. It was almost like it was a declaration…
No, he couldn't be…
Was he that desperate?
"Master…" Xiao whispered as the wind had significantly picked up and was blistering through, whipping his hair back from the sheer velocity as he put his arm to shield his eyes.
No doubt a result of what he was witnessing before him.
"Master Xiao, what is that?" Shenhe watched in utter awestruck and slight fear as she saw the golden pillar of light burning through the night sky and turning Mondstadt's night into day.
"Urgent business," Xiao responded before his eyes widened as he looked upon the western sea and saw something he never thought he would see.
Even if the distance was incredible, with his acute sight and due to the height of Washu Inn, he could see past Mingyun Village and Yaoguang Shoal. His vision was sharp due to his Adeptus nature, and he could see clear past the Guyun Stone Forest and into the ocean on clear days or nights like this.
In the distance, he felt another presence much like that of the Morax, and he could see the thunderstorms building much more rapidly than they had on the ocean.
Something was building around Inazuma.
That wasn't a promising sign.
But no one needed his sight to see what happened next. A flash of Electro energy ripped open the night sky, tearing through the night and leaving a wake visible to anyone. His eyes narrowed as even Shenhe was able to notice it and was thrown off by it. "A declaration of war?! What is going on?!"
"I need to investigate now! Go home and tell Cloud Retainer I'm not accepting the invite!" Xiao ordered as he was ready to leap off the balcony and make his way to the dimming pillar of light.
Then something unexpected occurred and caught his attention in the night sky. A celestial response as what seemed to be a star from above fell from the heavens and crashed into what he assumed was the ocean if his geography of Mondstadt was accurate.
This caught Xiao's attention. His eyes darted straight to where the star came from, and his eyes narrowed as he followed the light trail.
It had come from Celestia…
What game were they playing here?
"Wait, master Xiao!" Shenhe ran to his side before he could jump from the hotel's ledge and sighed as the falling star's momentary distraction cost him a moment. "Let me come with you. If this is urgent, I am more than adequately prepared to take care of demons and anything of that ilk. I want to know what that beam of light was. Please take me with you!"
Xiao sighed as he turned to see the determined face of Shenhe sternly gazing at him. He wanted to tell her off. But if his master was involved, he thought bringing her along wouldn't hurt.
And she might learn a few things despite the severity of what he had just seen. The only way she wouldn't was if he had eroded and if that were the case…
May the Archons help them all.
"Fine, but do as I say," Xiao stated with a hint of annoyance as he glared at the graceful swan, who seemed gleeful despite showing no outward emotion to his response. "And if I tell you to retreat at any time, you run back to Liyue as fast as you can, understood? You inform Cloud Retainer what has happened so she can inform the Morax of the potential danger if he isn't already aware. I doubt it, but it is wise to be prepared for the possibility."
"Yes, master." Shenhe nodded in understanding, her eyes glistening with determination as she joined Xiao on the balcony, ready to take the plunge. "I'm ready when you are."
"Good, let's go," Xiao responded as he dispersed in the wind using the Anemo element, leaping off the hotel.
Shenhe almost looked startled at his sudden disappearance before quickly locating the Conqueror of Demons in the distance, having safely landed at the bottom of the hotel. In spite of her inability to withstand a fall, she jumped off the balcony, free-falling in the air without a second thought of chasing him behind.
Letting the air rush by her as she descended the hotel rapidly, her eyes glowed suddenly as two feathery, black wings emerged from her back. Her descent slowed as she glided to the ground, gently touching down in a sprint on the bridge beside Xiao on the bridge as he continued sprinting ahead.
Their direction was clear. Cross the rest of the Dihua Marsh and into the connection of Mondstadt and Liyue through Stone Gate.
And then investigate the mysterious golden pillar of light that tore through the night sky. And that shooting star that crashed into the ocean.
Standing on top of Tenshukaku as the storm clouds densely gathered and blotted out the majority of the night sky. The thunderstorms surrounding Inazuma kept intruders from invading her lands. Ei breathed the air deeply as she looked upon Inazuma City. Again, she had no need to breathe even in this body. It was merely a machination, but something about it calmed her and felt right.
No one questioned why she stood on top of her building in the dead of night. No one would dare question her. She was the almighty Shogun. Her authority was without question. If she dared to look at her city from the very top, she would do so.
And Ei had to admit the Shogun had not informed her about the physical changes to her city and the layout. Of course, she expected it. Years of progress, she expected more buildings to be built. That was natural. But the structure of the buildings seemed to have improved ever so slightly. It was modest but a dramatic improvement in quality of life. Things like these should have been shared. They were significant. Technological advancements meant she could better the lives of her people as long as they didn't stray too far from the path.
Why must only Miko be the one to tell her of such changes even if her interruption was unwelcomed? Only she was permitted to enter her realm and learn how her beloved Inazuma was doing. It had been far too long since she last spoke to her familiar, even if she dared not admit it to her.
She did not want to bloat her already inflated ego.
Was that why she had those memories come to her? That she hadn't seen Miko in ages.
No, she wasn't the sentimental type. She had made peace with that decision long ago.
Gazing upon the western sea, she could see the construction of the Omnipresent God was near completion. Small glints of light still sparkled in it occasionally for brief moments.
Visions.
They were Visions she had procured from her people. To protect them.
She could not allow what happened five hundred years ago to happen here. Everyone would have to submit their Visions to avoid a catastrophe wrought by the Heavenly Principles. It was for their benefit, whether they knew it or not.
The fate they brought upon a nation was worse than death.
So this was a necessary evil. One she would hope her people would understand. She knew there would be some resistance. She expected it. Visions were seen as gifts and blessings from the Archons or Gods themselves, even though she was aware that was the furthest thing from the truth. No, that was not what they were. If only the people knew what Visions really were…
"Hm?" Ei felt a gentle breeze tug at her braid of violet hair, and her eyes gazed upon a scene familiar to the memory she had witnessed.
Sakura petals blissfully scattered through the wind and danced around her, gently brushing up against her. Holding out the palm of her right hand, Ei watched as a single petal fell into her grasp as the rest danced around her. Closing her hand, she felt a familiar warmth spread through her entire being as she closed her eyes and brought her hand to her chest. "Makoto…"
Softly sighing, she opened her eyes and released the petal she grasped. Watching the petals dance a moment longer, she turned away and looked upon Inazuma. "That time has passed. I cannot look upon what I do not understand and hope to gain wisdom from it. I must move forward with my path to eternity."
"Even if our ideas are starkly opposed, dear sister."
"Ei…"
"Makoto?!" Ei spun, hearing her sister's voice clearly as had happened half a century ago, and she was visibly shaken.
Looking upon the rooftops of Tenshukaku, she saw nothing but floating sakura blossoms carried away in the breeze. She couldn't help but shiver as she remembered that voice. She was sure who it belonged to. Why did she hear her so suddenly?
Was it because of the memory?
And then she felt an intent she had only once before during the Archon War.
"Naruto?!" Ei turned immediately and looked to the north.
And in the distance, she saw the sky split open as a brilliant golden pillar of light roared and was seen through even the fierce storms of Inazuma. The beam pierced through the seas and the heavens in a brilliant display of unadulterated power that few ever could match.
She was one of those few.
At least in her prime.
Now that erosion has started to take its course…
Yet he still maintained that much strength?!
Purple electricity crackled around her as the electro element rippled around her in a mighty display. All of Tenshukaku was enveloped by her aura, shattering the rooftops as she slowly strode forward step by step. The storm wildly began to blow around Narukami Island as bolts of lightning struck around Inazuma City, and ominous air filled the streets. She could even hear one peculiar and boisterous voice near the gates screaming in annoyance, awe, and fear.
"Yo, what the hell is going on here?! This ain't right! Boys, let's get out of here! Ain't got time for this! We'll steal it back another day of the week! Man, I wish Shinobu was here to tell me what is going on?!"
Having no time for insignificant whelps, her eyes glowed as she infuriatingly glared at the pillar of light in the distance as it pierced the night sky. Her breathing was steady. Her vision focused as she reached the edge of the rooftop she stood upon, she tilted her head back as a sword handle began spark and emerge from her bosom. Gripping the handle, she drew the blade and in a display of raw Electro might, she sliced the sword majestically. A scar of purple lightning split the thunderclouds and the night sky in a flash as it aimed toward the beam of light.
Purple electricity stained the night sky, staying well after the flash of Electro whipped through and tore the night sky asunder. But it was meant to. She knew it didn't have the range to hit from such a distance. If he was waking up, it would be silly to try. He was in Mondstadt.
No, it was a simple, clear message as the thunderstorm was parted and cleared for the foreseeable future due to her Electro flash. She opened the path. She wanted him to come.
Where had he been when his sister needed him? When she needed him?! When Inazuma needed him?! She wanted answers! She needed answers! He would come and give her those!
And then he would die at her blade… No, her sister's blade!
It was what was demanded of him!
In front of a giant sakura tree with a curious fox head shape and glowing blue eyes stood a red torii gate with two fox statues and several shrines built around it. Sakura trees blossomed throughout the shrines and their leaves scattered through the breeze as a lone woman with muted pink hair flowed down in a loose ponytail. And a peculiar set of dropped appendages twitched as the sakura petals breezed by, keeping them from lodging themselves within.
They were nasty when they found themselves in her ear canal.
She was a priestess at the shrine, but she wore garb that was anything but traditional. While she understood its importance and necessity, she hated tradition and did not find it worthwhile to impose, which was why she wore her unique style. There was no mistaking her for anything other than a priestess because her attire was similar enough, but she had her own style.
She often wondered how Saiguu would have reacted if she could have seen her now. The fox girl sighed.
Guuji Yae missed her dear departed sister.
Admiring the scenery before her, the pink-haired fox hummed a tune only known to herself as she looked into the night sky. Despite seeing the turbulent storm clouds begin to build, she always felt more alive and closer to the spirits at this time.
Yae Miko sighed as she slowly meandered toward the southern border of the shrine's mountaintop and looked down. There stood Inazuma City in the distance, storm clouds gathering and stretching far past the slight stretch of ocean that separated Narukami Island. It was even extending into Chinjiu Forest and slowly built toward the shrine.
Ei was in a foul mood. No telling what set her off this time.
It could be many things, honestly. She never talked anymore. She never stepped outside that realm of hers.
She hid herself away in fear of erosion. To hide away from the pain of losing anyone else. In reality, all she had left was her and a sleeping prince who no one knew would ever wake up again.
His sleep may as well have been eternal.
"Poor thing. Why won't you come talk to me? I'm right here waiting for you. Ready to listen." Miko longingly glanced over at Inazuma with her ears on the side of her head dropping further. "Don't make me come to you. Even if you hid behind your displeasure, I know deep down you miss companionship."
"Why else would you have always joined everyone during those times?" Yae smiled softly as she tried reasoning with nothing more than the air, knowing her Almighty Goddess couldn't hear her from here.
But it was worth a try. Small miracles often happen when wished upon.
Exhaling in a depressed manner, Miko pouted and gazed downwards at Inazuma City as she looked at Tenshukaku, although she could hardly see it from this distance. Still, she could feel the presence of her Shogun, and she frowned as something didn't quite feel right. "Is that actually you, Ei? Are you in control, not the puppet? How peculiar? I thought you were never going to step foot into this world again. What changed your mind?"
Pursing her lips as she brought her hand to her chin to think about what might have drawn her Shogun from her realm, Miko's ears twitched. Despite the sound, she refused to acknowledge the intruder's footsteps, knowing it was one of her fellow shrine maidens. Anyone else would have been quieter, not that sneaking up on her was ever an option.
Her hearing was exceptional.
"Lady Guuji, is something the matter?" Hotomi, Yae believed, spoke as she watched the developing storm cloud develop over Narukami Island. "A storm seems to be brewing, my lady. It's safer if you get inside."
"I'm quite capable of taking care of myself, don't you worry," Yae commented as she curiously analyzed the storm clouds, and her purple eyes glowed with fascination. "After all, I did survive the calamity five hundred years ago. A mild storm is a drop in the bucket compared to what happened back then."
Hotomi instantly regretted her choice of words and bowed in forgiveness. "I apologize, Lady Guuji! I forgot my place and should not have questioned you."
Softly chuckling at the strong reaction she might otherwise be offended by on another day, Miko kept her concentration on Inazuma City. "All is forgiven. But for your own safety, you may want to go inside. I do feel this storm may be rough. It seems she has quite the temper today, and something has set her off. And I am all too curious to know…"
"What is that feeling?" Yae turned from the city and, in a hurried sprint, began rushing to the northwestern end of the shrine as she gazed out into the distance, expecting to see something. "Why does this feel so familiar? Like I've been around it before?"
"Lady Guuji!" Hotomi trailed far behind, worried about seeing the head priestess from one end of the shrine to the other so quickly. "What's going…"
"What is that?!" She cried at that moment as a golden pillar of light tore through the skies in the distance and nearly stumbled over her feet as she stopped, watching something alter the fabric of the world with sheer force and power.
Yae Miko was silent as she watched amazement at the golden pillar of aura tear open the sky even through the thunderclouds that blotted out most of the world from Inazuma. For something of that magnitude to be observed was nearly unheard of and rivaled that of the Archons' feats during the Great War. She had seen the scar that Ei had left from slaying Orobashi. She had cleaved an island in two with her power! She had seen the Guyun Stone Forest. Those were stone spears thrown by the Morax to pin an ancient god beneath the seas!
If this was anything to go by, that was on par with those feats, and it felt like she knew this presence…
"Naruto?" Miko's eyes teared in both joy and sorrow as she watched the brilliant display of raw energy rupture the sky in the Mondstadt skies. "You are finally awake…"
"And you know. Oh no. I'm so sorry."
"Ei?!" Yae snapped her head back to Inazuma City as she could see it clear as day as Electro sparks began to course over the city, bolts of lightning starting to rain from the sky, and all of Narukami island was besieged by the thunderstorm that was building, gale force winds sweeping across the land and catching her and Hotomi by surprise. "So you really are in control! The puppet wouldn't react this way!"
Grasping onto Hotomi and pulling her close as the winds continued to pick up speed, Miko snarled as she watched the Electro Archon's current build around Inazuma city. Lightning struck all around the island, and with the velocity of the wind, she cursed as she knew the damage would be catastrophic. She was doing immeasurable damage to her people simply by expressing her rage. "Dammit, Ei! Do you not understand, after all these years, why he left?!"
Then she felt a surge, and to her horror, she knew what was coming next.
"Wait, Ei, no!" Yae bellowed, her eyes visibly shaking as she realized what was about to happen, and at the last second, she covered Hotomi using her body as a shield.
A flash of Electro seared through the night's sky, sizzling and burning everything around it. Buildings and trees too high up caught fire from the superconductive heat. As she lifted her head to look up, her eyes narrowed as she saw that the storm clouds that had covered the night sky for all of Inazuma had been cleaved by the arch of Electro her Shogun had unleashed upon the world.
And a radiant trail of Electroactive particles was left in its wake.
Yae was disconcerted as she looked upon the damage left by her Archon as she held upon her priestess. This was inexcusable behavior. With all that is happening in the country, this was an absolute travesty. And it was all because Ei happened to take a step out into the real world for the first time in centuries!
To think she wanted her Archon to come out of her seclusion, and this was the result! Maybe another few centuries would do her some good!
No. No, it wouldn't. It was what caused this pain and amplified it to this point. If she had just come out of her realm and talked to her about it! Then just maybe…
"Hotomi, go inside!" Miko ordered as she slowly stood up, picking up her priestess as the winds howled around them, for Ei's rage had yet to subside. "Soon as the storm clears, we're going down to help with what we can. Until then, all we can do is pray for the Archon to calm down so we can get to work!"
While in shock and still being thrown around by the battering winds, Hotomi didn't hesitate. Running toward the shrine, she fought for every step. Yae turned back. Her hair and gown whipped around in the turbulent winds, and her purple eyes glowed as she looked down at Inazuma City. Then she looked at the still-parted sky, frowned, and saw the fading golden light in the distance. "So that's what this is…"
"I'm not playing your game, Ei. He's my brother, and he needs his time to grieve." Miko snapped as she turned back to the city. "So if you are inviting him to come to his demise…"
"I'm going to send a messenger to safely keep him away!"