Chapter 1: Rōdoku
"Compared to the dream of Eternity Her Excellency pursues, such things were but fleeting interludes"
"And no, these are not stories of the ancient past
but of a future full of hope."
"Is it not the wish of those who have passed on that we who live now should do so without pain?"
"In his long life, he has met countless people, and shall meet countless more still."
"As they say: waters change course, but mountains move not."
Concluded the Raiden Shogun
It was a summer afternoon in the courtyard of Tenshukaku the Okuzumeshuu guarding the premises having been sent home, The Kitsune was sitting with the God beside the stone path, underneath the sakura tree at the edges of Narukami near the fence overlooking the sea
indulging in various tales that were being told while expanding knowledge,
the yokai was a fan of stories, after all, withal spoken in the poetic eloquence of her god.
"I met him once when I was visiting the gathering of the gods, I was not an archon, just a kagemusha then"
Just a kagemusha Miko thought, wondering how is this god so humble
Ah but wasn't it the same for Miko
She called herself eternity's servant despite her intelligence and capabilities
Like master, like servant
"Well tomorrow let us discuss the history of the nation of Mondstadt"
"What about the Anemo Archon? Have you met him?"
The Anemo god remembered Ei, she had met him before once, when he had come to visit Inazuma for a poetry festival
At that time poets from various lands had come to compete with Inazuma's famous 5 Kasens
After being the judge for the afternoon session of poetic recitals, the Kagemusha was strolling through Inazuma City,
Appearing remarkably good-looking; tall, strikingly well-proportioned, strong
and stoic— yet with distinguishable grace and softness in her movements, a proud light in those dark thunderous eyes, yet sometimes a look of exceptional kindness in the same pair
At the bridge near Tenshukaku, suddenly the Anemo Archon had descended with a gust of wind, a bottle of wine in hand, approaching her
"Ah so there you are! , the wind told me I could find you— good Barbatos!" he exclaimed, crossing his eyes to better see the spear pointed at his face
"Keep your distance while addressing the Almighty Shogun, and maintain decorum outlander" came the gruff voice of an Okuzumeshuu.
"Ah hehe didn't see you guys there"
The Kagemusha, recognising the Gnosis energy that came from him, and from Makoto's description(of him), merely said
"It's alright, as a guest from afar it's natural to be lost, he looks like a bard looking to join Inazuma's festivities"
The Okuzumeshuu lowered his spear "Then you should have asked us so gentleman"
"Ehe I will take my leave then, enjoy the festival, everyone! let the wind greet you some other time" He added in Ei's direction
She gave a brief nod in acknowledgment, though from this very brief first meeting, she could somehow sense that they would not get along very well
"What a comical fellow, who did he mistake Her Excellency for?" Said a samurai
"Coming down like a Tengu warrior, reminded me when Haruko almost crashed the other day trying to fly with that heavy contraption" he playfully teased the Tengu okuzumeshuu, as the Kagemusha continued the stroll, lightly smiling at the little banter that flowed, how pretty that smile looked on her face!
Later that night at Tenshukaku's top-most balcony, a wind blew and she was greeted by the bard once again with a bottle in hand
"O mighty kagemusha greetings, I have met lady Makoto but not you ere this meeting"
he said in a loud drunkenly jovial voice, his face pink as a Valberry
"Greetings, I have not had the opportunity to visit the gathering of the gods as yet"
"Ah the gathering of the gods, if you wish I can recount tales of the gods"
"Let's see how about I start with Morax, ah do you know what that dunce did the other day? He just needs an excuse to fight I daresay!
But no enough about that blockhead! Ah no I will not mention him tonight!"
He exclaimed continuing the monologue
"Suffice it to say the Geo Archon is a brutish, blundering buffoon!"
"And the Pyro Archon is a wayward, warmongering wretch" he added
"They are only good for twirling that spear!"
She smiled a little
"I have a passion for the art of polearm. The drive to advance and evolve in the martial arts is truly unstoppable" She finished a zealous light in those thunderous eyes
"Ah but tonight it will be a battle of words, for I Mondstadt's greatest bard, challenge you to a friendly round of poetry!"
"Then agree to spar
And get your wish o bard
Fair terms I think"
"Using such reasonings to spar, give me a break
I even brought some deserts and fine sake to partake
surely the feast you see
Is the reason for more glee?"
A gleam came in Ei's eyes as she looked at the hamper of deserts
"Haha looks like I found the stoic kagemusha's weakness" He said mirth and mischievousness dancing in his eyes
"It would be inappropriate to deny a guest's gifts" said Ei with a stoic expression back
In the end, there was no competition, the anemo archon was indeed quite incapacitated to do so, they had talked a lot and he had drunk a lot
downing half a bottle for each sip from the sakazuki in Ei's hand
and just like he came he left free as the wind perhaps, that collector and reciter of stories, both old and the untold
Though she couldn't say she was particularly partial to his company, he was nevertheless amusing
"You may find his stories to your enjoyment" said Ei
As the two watched the sun disappear together, the guuji stood up, with the pink sky as the backdrop addressed the god
"I should get going then, to the shrine, what about you? Back to the workshop with those ingenious maverick inventions?"
"Ah, I sense discontentment. No words of encouragement I see, I assume you do not agree?"
"Oh but how can I agree, knowing what will happen"
"You compare me to fate
Then would you not listen to me?"
"You who are wise and mighty and have roamed this world far longer than I, I beseech thee, to look past your stubbornness, instead of spending time cooped in that workshop where you challenge the laws of nature,
Come with me let us see this imperfect world together and enjoy its obsessions with greetings and partings with love and hate, so that I may yet change fate"
"You are quite the romantic, but sometimes that is not enough, it is because of that, for my duty and promise to my people, and for the dream in my own heart, that I ask you let me proceed
you need not follow me, your servant of eternity is but one of the myriads of titles you wear in this world, though our ideologies and paths may differ, you will always be my dear friend"
With another stalemate, the two parted the Guuji heading to Mt Yougou, the god remaining out a little watching the constellations fill the sky
, contemplating the immensity of space, eternity, and the dream-like nature of this illusory universe, before heading to the task at hand