I've posted the first and second chapters simultaneously. Don't forget to check out the first chapter.

ETERNITY SMILES

CHAPTER 2:

GUESTS OF YAE MIKO

It took some time, but the Shogun eventually said, "I have finished preparations for your departure from this plane. You will be under the direct care of Lady Yae Miko, as well as the care of my…puppet, at least until you are able to contact your friends, or vice versa."

"Puppet?" Harry echoed.

"In order to ensure Inazuma is ruled competently, I created a puppet, an automaton in my image centuries ago, so that I may pursue Eternity. The puppet and I maintain regular communication, and her only difference is perhaps in behaviour. When I wish to speak or interact with the material plane, I take control of her, albeit temporarily. However, while she has been ordered to treat you as honoured guests for now, know that she is less tolerant of transgressions than I am."

"Oh joy," Harry said flatly.

"I would point out that more often than not, she does not understand sarcasm either," the Shogun said. "And when she does understand it, she takes it as an affront."

"Don't you get lonely, Miss Shogun?" Delphi asked.

The Shogun, after a moment, looked to Delphi, and gave her a sad smile, before gently ruffling her hair. "My isolation is self-imposed, Delphi. A child cannot grasp what even a god struggles to. But…I thank you for your concern. And…Raiden Shogun is a title. But my true name is irrelevant. If you wish to speak to me, I am Raiden."

"I hate titles," Harry muttered. "I was saddled with one I came to hate. The Boy Who Lived."

"…A most curious title," the Raiden Shogun said. "Perhaps later, I would wish to hear something of your life's story, Harry Potter. I see now, in your eyes…you have seen too much war in your time. May Inazuma bring you some peace, then…"

It was not long afterwards that the Raiden Shogun showed them the door, so to speak, opening a portal in space, a strange eye-like sigil with a three-armed spiral in it appearing. She did shake his hand when he proffered it, albeit after a rather uncomfortable interval. But it appeared that, as aloof and cold as she was, she seemed to be a decent person beneath it, given the way she treated Delphi.

Of course, when they emerged into what seemed like an antechamber in Japanese styling, they heard an argument from behind a pair of sliding doors. A playful and sultry voice was remarking, "…Babysit a couple of foreigners who somehow stumbled across the Plane of Euthymia?"

Then, what was the Raiden Shogun's voice, but colder, terser, and utterly lacking in the subtle signs of humanity that the one they had just met had, spoke. "You dare question my authority, Lady Guuji?"

"Oh, are we becoming all formal now?" And then, the playful voice gained a sharper edge. "After years with no communication, you summon me and then make demands of me without so much as a by your leave?"

"You serve at our pleasure, Lady Guuji, so ensure you do not displease me."

"Oh, be quiet, you. I wish to speak to the organ grinder, not the monkey, as they say in Sumeru. Well, Ei? Aren't you going to say hello?"

"Insolent little kitsune. If it weren't for…mmm? It is not necessary to…very well. Relinquishing control temporarily." Then, what sounded like something closer to the Raiden Shogun's original voice spoke. "Yae, you should know better than to taunt my shadow."

"She was being rude. And to be fair, so are you. So many years, and I don't get so much as a postcard," the playful voice said, pouting.

"…Unfortunately, my duties take up much of my time, Yae. I…apologise. Incidentally, it seems I should congratulate you on your recent literary endeavours. I have heard that your publishing house has become widely successful across all of Teyvat. General Sara sung your praises in particular."

"It has become something of a commercial success, Ei, but unfortunately, isekai seems to be the only genre too many writers will write these days. The ones where people end up accidentally in other worlds, or reincarnated in them. Some are enjoyable, but there's a lot of excremental ones. Besides, what's so appalling about this world that they wish to go to another?"

"…I shall take your word for it, Yae, but it is curious that you mention travels to other worlds," the Raiden Shogun said. "Your new charges are apparently travellers from another world, like that rather uncouth woman Alice. They even claim to be mages, and they do not appear to bear Visions, or the Delusions the Fatui bear. The girl even claims to have a link to Buer, that is, Lord Kusanali, or, as the girl claims she calls herself, Nahida. They will be in your care until their allies are able to come here. They should be waiting beyond these doors."

The doors were slid open, to reveal the Shogun. The woman next to her had pink hair, dressed in white robes. Oddly enough, she seemed to have a pair of animal ears growing from her head. Purple eyes peered at them curiously, and she seemed to be a strange and yet apt mixture of mischief and grace.

After a moment, the pink-haired woman nodded. "I see. Though there is something vaguely…familiar about the man, and I'm not sure why. Hmm, never mind about that. So, would you mind saying hello?"

"…Hello. I am Delphi Potter," Delphi said.

"And I'm her father, Harry," Harry said. "And you are?"

"Ah, where are my manners," the woman said, bowing. "I am Yae Miko, Guuji or chief shrine maiden of the Grand Narukami Shrine, chief editor of the Yae Publishing House, and, it seems, as of this moment, your babysitter. Chuckles here is the Raiden Shogun, or rather, Lady Ei, the Electro Archon. That's one 'E' and one 'I', if you go by Mondstadt or Fontaine spelling."

Ei shot Yae Miko a look. "Why tell them something like that so casually?"

"I heard you teleporting them in. Did you not realise they overheard our conversation? I was just clarifying a few matters. Besides, of all people, do you not trust my sense of discretion?"

"Do you actually have a sense of discretion?" Ei asked.

Yae swooned, albeit theatrically. "Oh, you wound me, Ei. Well, you two, with that cat out of that bag, I should point out that Ei's real name is not well known. She is simply known as the Raiden Shogun, or the Electro Archon. There's reasons behind that, but she won't appreciate me telling you those reasons."

If those dreams were any indication, Harry suspected he knew why. The dreams claimed that Ei and her twin Makoto were the Raiden Shogun, with Makoto doing the actual governance, while Ei acted both as body double and general. But something must have happened to Makoto.

Before he could say anything, Delphi asked, "Umm, Miss Ei? Are…are you going to help us save Nahida?"

After a moment, Ei gently knelt, and placed her hands on Delphi's shoulders. "Unfortunately, the laws placed on Archons by the Heavenly Principles are quite clear, that we are forbidden to interfere in the affairs of other Archons, save for when we are given permission by the Archon in question. Do not worry, Delphi. Nahida has a good friend in you, and from what you have told me, your father and his friends have travelled to Teyvat to help her. A mortal saving an Archon feels like a perversion of the norm…and yet, to think those ambitious Sages have imprisoned her…she has a splendid advocate in you, child."

"…Sorry, you won't go save her because of some law passed down from on high?" Harry asked.

"You are ignorant of Teyvat's ways, Harry Potter. The Heavenly Principles are absolute, and those who defy them are subjected to cruel punishment," Ei said, shooting him a sharp look. "I witnessed the fall of Khaenri'ah, their people all but slain for their rulers and armies intending to not only lay waste to all lands ruled by the Seven, but to topple Celestia. Celestia's wrath was brutal and cruel, and I will do what I must to avoid such a fate befalling Inazuma. However, there is nothing that prevents me from allowing you succour and rest in Inazuma, until you can contact your friends. Once you have united with them, then I will see if there are warriors willing to fight by your side to free Nahida."

"What will you tell the Tri-Commission about these two?" Yae asked.

"I shall deal with the Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions. Given your close relationships with the Kamisato Clan, I will let you explain them. Simply say that they are travellers who seek the Dendro Archon, and who became stranded here by accident. You may tell Lord Ayato and Lady Ayaka more at your own discretion." Ei turned to Harry. "I would like names and descriptions of your friends who travelled with you, please. The Kanjou and Tenryou Commissions deal with legal and illegal entry into Inazuma respectively, as the former commission deals with trade, commerce, and foreign affairs, while the latter deals with internal and external security. Giving names and descriptions should help prevent any misunderstandings."

"Misunderstandings?" Harry asked.

Yae cleared her throat. "Since Ei took power, Inazuma has been under a limited form of isolation known as the Sakoku Decree. Foreigners are heavily scrutinised and seldom let in unless they represent commercial interest, or are diplomats. This isn't to say tourists are unwelcome, but you have to jump through a number of hoops to be allowed into Inazuma, normally. The storms Ei has surrounded this country with do not help either."

"…Can't you use a fence?" Delphi snarked.

"Inazuma is an archipelago, Delphi, an island chain," Ei said. "I am capable of many things as the Electro Archon, but fencing off an entire archipelago is admittedly beyond me. Now, Harry Potter, the names and descriptions?"

"…I think I can do you one better. I've got a photo here somewhere."

"A photo?"

"It must be his world's equivalent. Here, it's a relatively new invention from Fontaine, the Kamera," Yae said. "They create still images printed onto a physical medium. They even have a type of Kamera that can create recordings of moving images known as films. Fontaine has a small industry around producing recorded plays."

"How peculiar," Ei said, even as Harry took the photo and proffered it to her. It was his last birthday party.

"Oh, fair warning? Wizards back home can cause the images in a photo to move, so…"

"Yes, I can see that," Ei remarked. "So sharp and realistic an image. I must confess to being astonished. Are these your friends?"

"Yes. That bushy-haired woman is Hermione Granger, the blonde with the silvery eyes is Luna Lovegood, that woman is Andromeda Tonks, and that boy next to her is her grandson and my godson Theodore Lupin, though everyone calls him Teddy. They were the ones who travelled with me."

Ei peered at the photo, before nodding, and handing it back. "Thank you. I will do what I can to prevent any misunderstandings. I will relinquish control back to my shadow soon. May your stay in Inazuma be a pleasant taste of Eternity." She closed her eyes, and then, when she opened them again, the expression changed, became hardened, stoic, more so than Ei.

"So…may we go?" Harry asked.

The Puppet nodded. "I have been watching on while Ei has been conversing with you. The favour she shows you is…puzzling, but your mission to rescue the Dendro Archon is a worthy one. No god should be caged by their followers. But mind that you follow the laws of this land. Lady Guuji, they are your responsibility now."

"Yes, yes, I know," Yae said, waving a hand lazily. "Believe it or not, I do take my responsibilities seriously, even if it may appear otherwise."

"See that you do," the Puppet said, before looking to Harry and Delphi. "May your quest to save the Dendro Archon bear fruit," she said, before turning and leaving for another room.

"Well, best we go while she's in a somewhat good mood," Yae said with a sigh. "Come along, you two, if you're with me, less questions will be asked."

As they left through an ornately-decorated pair of large wooden doors, passing by guards who looked like they had stepped out of a samurai film, Harry kept Delphi close. Even so, he stared out at the massive complex they had entered, of which the building they exited was just one of many, even if it was the largest. "What is this place?" he asked as Yae led them through.

"Tenshukaku Palace. I believe that in the common tongue of Teyvat, it translates to Keep of the Heavenly Protector," Yae said(1). "Consider yourself lucky. Few outsiders get to see the inside of the palace, let alone wander its grounds. Aside from other Archons, the only ones who do are usually diplomats, and more often than not, that means the Fatui from Snezhnaya."

"Do other Archons come here that often, Miss Yae?" Delphi asked.

"Miss Yae? Oh my, I'm not often called that. And no, I'm not offended by it either, it's something of a novelty. And once upon a time, members of the Seven did use to come here, particularly Rex Lapis, the Geo Archon, or Morax or whatever name he goes by at any given moment." Her face fell. "But the Cataclysm…it drove the Raiden Shogun into seclusion, what she saw that day. And many of the other Archons, the ones that survived, were affected as badly."

"When did this take place?" Harry asked.

"Five centuries ago, more or less."

"And just out of interest…when did King Deshret fall?"

"Hmm? Oh, about seven hundred years ago. Actually, though that took place in a far-off land, it still coincided with the disappearance of one dear to myself and the Raiden Shogun," Yae said, her tone morose. "If you don't mind, I would rather not speak of it to a relative stranger."

"Got it."

"Ooh, we have someone who knows better than to poke the fox too much," Yae said with an impish smirk, a complete 180 from her previous expression.

"Poking a dragon, actually. It's in the school motto. Don't tickle a sleeping dragon."

"Ooh, that sounds interesting. Perhaps while you wait for your friends, you could tell me about it? Perhaps you could even write a book about your life."

"Ugh, who'd want to read that?" Harry muttered.

Across the multiverse, countless people sneezed.

"Well, it can't be any worse than some of the insipid garbage I have had to wade through on occasion," Yae remarked. "My publishing house is open to any and all submissions. Unfortunately, that means spelling and grammatical errors, overused tropes and clichés, and…well, I shouldn't say it explicitly in front of little Delphi, but the next person who comes to me with a dull and overly-described…boudoir scene, as they would put it in Fontaine, I will subject him or her or them to electroshock therapy. Over an extended period."

Harry understood what she meant, though thankfully, given her puzzled expression, Delphi did not. "Is that…a bit, I dunno, disproportionate?"

"As chief editor, you cannot believe the excremental rubbish I have had to read. It's a form of mental torture at times. In any case, we're nearly out of Tenshukaku. We'll take the scenic route out of Inazuma, there's a Teleport Monument just outside Tenshukaku, but there's also one outside Inazuma City."

As they emerged from the palace, they saw a city, like out of an old Japanese film, lying before them, built on a hill whose peak bore Tenshukaku. It was actually quite magnificent, with cheery blossoms adorning part of the area, pink petals drifting in the breeze. In the distance was a mountain, with a massive cherry blossom tree, visible even from here, on its peak.

And it was so disturbingly familiar to Harry.

"Welcome to Inazuma City," Yae declared, spreading her arms wide. "The City of Eternity…"

CHAPTER 2 ANNOTATIONS:

So, here we are. Harry and Delphi are being babysat by Yae Miko. But have they left a good impression on Ei?

1. A Tenshukaku is a keep in Japanese castles, and 'Tenshu' means 'protector of heaven' or 'heavenly protector', amongst other things.