Thus she chose to give up her bodily form, helping her sister to ascend to the "heavenly citadel" and obtain dominion over Inazuma.

"So the Ei of the present planted the Sacred Sakura in the realm of consciousness, and it took root in the Inazuma of the past..."

"You want me to teach you how to place your consciousness in objects?"

"That is so. I can create endless domains from the consciousness ,from both my own and others, you understand the principles behind such creations.

While my consciousness dwells in my plane, the plane of Euthymia, I will also anchor it in this material realm, serving as a conduit."

"And how will you perform when you need to roam this, material realm as you put it ?"

"I will possess the Puppet body, like how a Yōkai's consciousness will sometimes possess a mortal vessel, that are foolish enough to fall prey to their tricks, I think I understand the principle behind it after studying the leyline phenomenas and the scrolls you provided."

"Those cases certainly are dreary to exorcise, very well.

Should we begin now?"

"That will be good. Although-" added Ei in a playful tone , "-You do not approve of my plan yet such readiness to help?"

Miko put on a sagacious expression and in a light tone replied.

"You are childlike and completely egoistic; you feel intensely and you strive ruthlessly to satisfy your dreams. Dreams are often most profound when they seem the most crazy , and yours is certainly one of the craziest this yōkai has heard,

me refusing you will do nothing more than delay the inevitable.

I might as well teach you myself, and fulfill my duty as your servant"

Ei chuckled on hearing this frisky haranguing.

Within Tenshukaku, The Shogun yet again sat in front of the glowing device, trying to temper with the Gnosis, but no matter what she did her techniques had no effect on it.She had initially intended to have it modified into a energy supply device, but it seemed to be in vain.

She stared at the Gnosis, this thing was gifted to Makoto at the end of Archon War, though she had not been there to witness it.

Later Makoto had extended it towards her,

Makoto had a disliking for the thing, specifically for the sacrifice that thing's acquiring had demanded.

Though once the turmoil has ceased and she had taken office as the electro archon and celestia had calmed down, she had brought Ei back.

They both knew it had to be done, but Ei had jumped to the most extreme action before Makoto could say anything about it.

Though not one to worry about future, Makoto had learned that if, in the future another such choice had to be made, Ei can not know about it, her stubbornness was not something that could be controlled, she will defy her elder sister yet again, and the next time things may not turn out well in the end…

And so her meetings with Istaroth had taken place in secret.

"So thou dread that what may come to pass in Khaenri'ah will not bode well for Inazuma, and thou seek my assistance in safeguarding Inazuma? And thy scheme call for a seed sown in the past, a condensed energy, a tree from thine own form, that if things take a turn for the worse in Khaenri'ah, it will fend off the attack of the abyss upon thy realm?" Istaroth questioned Makoto who nodded.

"Whilst thou art correct, and it is within my power, even my powers hast their bounds. I can create a focus of energy that shall pierce the arrow of time," she continued. "But a power, would be required to plant it, a will strong enough to transcend time itself."

"I know elder. I wouldn't have come with an ill thought out plan, trust me."

"Very well,

I hope things go well for thy nation, and the younger god "

"I know her journey won't be easy" Makoto said with a melancholic expression, "and I regret not being able to walk this path with her

but," she added, eyes shining with love and pride "This is Ei, she will manage it."

"Haha thou always were an optimistic one" , then "thou will be missed friend. " said Istaroth. "Curse celestia!"

regardless of her displeasure, Makoto had thought about offering the Gnosis to the kagemusha, to share its power.

"I am no Moral leader, nor the ruling Shogun, as such it's not fitting for me to hold it." Came the kagemusha's easy reply.

The person who does not desire power is fit to hold it, The Shogun had thought smiling at her little sister, acquiescing nonetheless.

"Plus my pursuit of martial arts would give me far more pleasure than this trinket's power." Ei had joked.

That Gnosis had gone unused then, the only one of the 7 to do so, until that eccentric puppet had sought its power, in hopes of acquiring something that thing wasn't capable of giving, in the end its purpose was relegated to a barter item…

As she tempered with it again, element of electro burst forth from the Gnosis exploding the device forged for modifying it.

"Very well, time for plan B" muttered Ei, thinking of that cunning kitsune.

"Aren't you afraid that I might just sell this off?" Joked the Yokai.

"And will you allow yourself to loose out on such a transaction? You are no longer the same one who would be swayed by a piece of fried tofu after all."

"Well this is your idea, not mine, don't go regretting it now."

Said Miko gaily, then, added with a more serious tone.

"So, I assume your work is nearly finished if you came with this request?"

Ei nodded. "Trying to modify the gnosis took some time, with no results but the final model is all but done, I just need to incorporate a test in the function list."

"A test?"

"Devised against myself, as the one with supreme power over the realm, it's my duty to keep myself in check, after all,

If you want to overcome the whole world, overcome yourself first."

"Hmm sounds like a perfect headache."

Their banter continued for a while.

"Well, I will go then." Said Ei getting up to head out of the Yumemiru shrine.

She looked at Miko, and, something about the God's expression gave the kitsune a premonition that this might be their last meeting.

"Take care, Miko." said Ei as she turned around to leave.

"You are a coward."

Ei stopped.

Calling Narukami Ogosho, the warrior who fell monsters and gods alike to protect this land, Inazuma's beloved hero, the one whose name itself was the source of courage for human and youkai warriors alike of this land a coward…

Who but the daring and charming Yae Miko would daresay such a thing.

"If that's how you view it so be— it" , she finished slowly as the kitsune hugged her from behind.

"Don't worry about Inazuma inside your head, you big child, leave it to the wise and cunning Yae Miko.

And don't be surprised if you find yourself facing me once again and defeated by me!

And even if the wait for you to come around stretches out to infinity, I know that time is on our side, if you are the god of eternity, then I'm your eternal servant!"

The kitsune's words only stoked Ei's conviction further, to protect this land so that yokai can cavort about, so a disaster like that never ever touches her nation again, so that her martial prowess won't be in vain yet again…

Ei said - "then let your divinity shine over me and this mundane Eternity. "

Goodbye, said Ei in her mind.