The grasslands were spanning far and wide, not what she'd expected from such a place, where there seemed to be more water than land.
She was running, taking uneven, excited gulps of air whenever her body felt possible. Tall trees and the insects that clung to their bark were off in the distance, close to the sprawling mountains and atop treacherous peaks.
Behind her, there was someone else. Their presence was like an imposing thunderstorm, cold and sudden, yet leaving a lasting impact. Their actions spoke otherwise, walking with a stature of regality, their garments swaying gently in the wind.
They were in a one-sided chase, but she was too energetic too notice. That carelessness would also be her downfall, a well hidden tree root catching an unsteady foot and tripping her.
Before she could even make sense of what had happened, they were already kneeling next to her, their much greater size like a shield against the world and checking her body for any injuries, asking one simple question out of concern.
"Are you alright?"
…
Sunlight slithered through a tiny hole in the wood, showering Asmodeus' eyes with an unpleasant brightness that wasn't bearable even with her eyes shut. She pushed herself up, wondering what in Teyvat she'd just seen.
A horrid headache was all that answered the Goddess.
When Aether first left Inazuma to chase its Archon to Khaenri'ah, he'd expected to be back by next month, considering the Teleport Waypoints set up at the time.
The Traveller wasn't expecting to make his return five hundred years later.
Once his dream had finished, he'd woken up to the Crux Fleet breaking through the thunderstorm barricading Inazuma. The battle-hardened yet soft voice of Captain Beidou tore through the morning air, followed by the cheers of the crew once seeing the clear sky guaranteed their successful journey.
The commotion also awakened others who were resting. On the way to the upper deck, Aether met the first of them, and she was far from pleased.
"What's with the racket?" Asmodeus groaned, brushing away what disheveled hair she could manage as the Goddess carefully rubbed her temples. The alcohol certainly did a number on her.
"We made it through the storm," Aether briskly answered, "Though it seems you were too drunk to notice."
The mere mention of losing to wine damaged the Goddess' pride significantly, the events of last night slowly processing in her head so thoroughly the Traveller could almost see the gears turning. If she was lucky enough, then the sailors she tossed through a separate dimension should be too blackout drunk to remember.
Seeing her like this made Aether sigh, "For what it's worth, at least you didn't throw up." He pinched his nose before the smell of drunken vomit could assault his senses, and Asmodeus did the same before they reached the upper deck.
The spills were almost gone by the time the two got there, and the atmosphere on the ship was slowly returning to normal. A white-haired man slipped effortlessly between the bustling crowd of sailors, waving at them once they made eye contact.
"Greetings again, Aether," Kazuha gave a slight nod of respect, "It is a pleasure to meet you again."
"Likewise," Aether gave the same nod in return, "I hadn't been expecting you to be here, though."
"My exile from my homeland has enlightened me greatly," The Inazuman admitted, chuckling, "My friend was not as fortunate. I mustn't stain his honor by running."
Try as the exile might, their voice had grown somber. If Aether's memory didn't lie to him, then Kazuha's features closely resembled the Kaedahara clan. The possibility perplexed him. As far as he knew, the clans of Inazuma bore immunity to the Vision Hunt Decree.
What happened?
The conversation was cut short by Beidou calling for Kazuha, giving him time to dwell on the information and Asmodeus time to shake off the rest of her headache.
The Alcor made it to the docks shortly after, with the rest of the Crux Fleet going in an alternate route. A thumbs-up signaled that it was their cue to disembark. With a quick wave, Aether bid the Alcor farewell and noticed a suspiciously clean spot on the docks where a Teleport Waypoint once stood.
The Traveller elected to ignore it, keeping his eyes peeled for the person supposed to pick them up. Asmodeus sat near the water's edge, absently gazing at the water, lost in thought.
A man caught Aether's eye, primarily because of how out of place they were amongst the people of Inazuma. It was like a Knight of Favonius had somehow reverse-engineered Makoto's Teleport Waypoints and ended up in a foreign land.
The impossibility of such a situation aside, the man was almost indistinguishable from the natives if the Traveller were to imagine them as simply another citizen.
The Traveller decided to take the initiative, bowing politely, "Greetings."
The man's eyes sparkled once they saw him, their legs quickly carrying them to him to do the same, "Greetings to you as well. You must be Captain Beidou's esteemed guests?"
Aether raised an eyebrow, "More like stowaways…" Beidou mentioned having a contact in Inazuma, but going so far as to call them 'esteemed guests' was concerning, seeing as she had a penchant for being a bit loud-mouthed in a casual setting.
They laughed, "I'm Thoma."
"Nice to meet you, Thoma." The name made it as clear as day that they weren't a native, "My name is Aether." It was for the best, he supposed. What better person to help foreigners enter Inazuma than one who had already gone through the process?
Thoma peered behind him at the silent Goddess, "And you must be Kaslana." Asmodeus perked up at the mention of her alias, simply nodding.
"Before we move forward, there are several things you must know." Thoma pulled out a few papers, "The Sakoku Decree has made foreign entry into Inazuma quite tedious. You'll need these."
Once Aether had the documents needed for entry in his hands, he took the liberty of reading through it. Captain Beidou certainly took no shortcuts in giving their information. The little information the Qixing had on him, and Asmodeus was likely given to the Captain so she could forge the documents.
The curious stares from the locals as they passed the border checkpoint and continued through Ritou hurt the Traveller more than he had thought. Not hostile at all, but the people were giving them the cold shoulder, a far cry from the last time he'd been here.
Much to Aether's relief, one thing that hadn't changed was the universal law of trying to scam outlanders who didn't know better. Asmodeus' eyes bulged out of her head when the person at the desk first mentioned the processing fee of two million Mora, while Thoma stayed silent.
Fortunately, the Traveller saw through the ruse and, with some careful wording, brought the price down to today's standard of six hundred. It was still quite steep compared to five hundred years ago, but that was just how it was anywhere.
"Impressive, Aether." Thoma gave a light round of applause, "If I didn't know any better, I'd have thought you'd have been here before."
"Just experience." Aether half-lied, taking in the sights. Thoma had been watching them to see how they'd react. He shrugged that underlying suspicion off, noting to ask about it when they got to Narukami island.
It wasn't like he was lying. It was experience.
This place gave Asmodeus the creeps.
The locals weren't as nosy as those of Liyue or Mondstadt, but they felt a lot more judgemental, whispering to each other as the presence of outlanders garnered small crowds wherever they went.
Even worse was the fact that it felt like the Goddess was just residing on the tip of the iceberg. There was something out there, like a beacon of light calling for her, and despite her inexperience in reading people, both Aether and Thoma were quite obviously unaffected.
How unnerving.
Their journey took them to a sector of Ritou that served as the stronghold of the International Trade Association. These outlanders formed their group to muster power against the oppressive restrictions of the Sakoku Decree.
It was a tale as old as time, with the weak gathering together to try and stand up to the mighty. However, those tales and ideals of a brighter future were nothing more than dreams. Reality slowly but surely shatters their hope, as was already ongoing.
The oppressors speeding up the process themselves certainly helped. The foreign traders were in disarray; an unknown thief stole something from them, and their suspicions could only land on the commissions that governed this part of Inazuma.
Well, Asmodeus wasn't here to fight a nation's governing body, nor was she planning on picking a fight with the Raiden Shogun. While Aether and Thoma set off on their little fetch quest for any evidence– and hopefully, what the thief stole– the Goddess sat on a bench.
The townsfolk continued with their inquisitive stares, likely coming down to her status as a foreigner and how badly she stood out, but she didn't care.
So this was Inazuma. From what little Asmodeus knew from both Aether and the various scrolls and books she'd read back at both the Dark Sea and Mondstadt's libraries, there was quite a contrast between both sources and the land she now found herself in.
The Traveller seemed to hold the island nation to the highest of regards, reminiscing towards a past that was obscured from her by five hundred years of being trapped in Celestia's seal,
The information she'd procured from the literature on Teyvat's history mentioned the great calamity that befell the continent spreading here despite its isolation from other nations. Interestingly enough, no crucial events that occurred during that calamity were listed.
The Inazuma before Asmodeus' own two eyes was a land on edge. Neither Mondstadt and its Stormterror incident nor Liyue Harbor with Rex Lapis' death and Osial's reawakening radiated this much hostility.
That hostility came rearing its fangs quickly, with a group that didn't look very friendly racing to the Goddess' location. Not wanting to get implicated in this nation's civil disputes, she quickly got up and left.
That alone wasn't enough to shake them off, so she stayed on the move, trying to put as many people between her and them as possible. Much to her dismay, it was to little effect.
Distracted by the people behind her, Asmodeus bumped into a person. Mild caution set in, and she instantly readied herself for a fight, expecting another one of those delinquents to be in her face.
"As– Kaslana." What the Goddess got instead was the other group of people she was trying to avoid, great.
"Still haven't found whatever you're looking for?"
Thoma shook his head, "No, but we could use some help."
Ha. So that's what this was about. These two were not going to make the Goddess their errand lady.
"You were being chased, right?" Asmodeus' eyebrow twitched. How did Aether know that? "The sooner we find it, the sooner we can get out of here. Your choice."
Whatever. The Goddess sighed and joined in on the search, explicitly mentioning that she was doing it for herself. It wasn't like she could find whatever they were looking for with a snap of her fingers. It would be a cinch to get something if she had the item's exact location. The best the Goddess could contribute here was her ability to get a bird's eye view.
Trying to hide it from Thoma also kept the search tedious. The amount of close calls that had occurred in the first minute since she'd started using her ability already exceeded the amount of fingers she had.
In the end, Aether had found it anyway, further telling Asmodeus that things could have played out in the same way had she refused to assist. What a waste of time.
Ultimately, the International Trade Association brought up the issue, and the Inazuman Commission quickly cleaned up to save face, and they could finally move on. Or so she thought.
Thoma gave them directions to someone who could help them get out of Ritou and went ahead to Narukami Island, saying that they'd meet him at Komore Teahouse. And what do you know, they were running errands again.
"I should just bring this to whoever they are and get this over with," Asmodeus grumbled, trying her best not to tear the letter in her hands out of pure spite.
Another one of these? Did these fancy clans and their tea ceremonies not have dedicated messengers? Messenger birds?
"Chisato asked us to give Kamajou this letter, and so we will." Aether affirmed, "Your method attracts too much attention."
Then, the Traveler insisted on staying away from the spotlight. Not that Asmodeus herself liked to be the center point of attention, but his commitment to it was downright puzzling. What made it worse was that she had barely a clue about what he planned to do here, aside from having to do with the Vision Hunt Decree.
She chose to ponder on the subject at a different time. To get past the border, they'd have to go under the guise of escorting goods, with the Hiiragi girl silencing any suspicions the others had towards them.
Much to her relief, the journey to cross Ritou's borders wasn't as dull as she'd thought. Sure, the only problem had been a single Abyss Mage and the Hilichurls it had under its control, but it still made for something to alleviate her boredom.
It seemed to affect Aether, too, as the Traveller showed absolutely no mercy towards the scheming gremlin of the Abyss Order, breaking through its barriers swiftly and ending the monster's life with a single stab.
So that's that.
The two of them made a beeline for Komore Teahouse, with Aether leading the way. A dog greeted them at the entrance, clad in custom-made attire to match the entire theme of the location. She had to fight the urge to touch its fur.
The person they were here to meet was nowhere to be found, "If we have to go looking for a person this time, I'll leave it to you."
Aether gave the dog a gentle pat on the head, "Inazuma isn't the land of Contracts, but honor is important to them. Even something as simple as this would stain their image."
"Precisely!"
Asmodeus jumped when the dog barked, with the voice of Thoma booming throughout the teahouse shortly after. Aether gave the counter a light knock, and lo and behold, a wild man came from underneath the furniture.
Thoma cowered under her glare, chuckling, "I apologize if my actions have ruined the livelihoods of all dogs in the world. Consider this as a test."
"A test?" The question left the lips of both Traveller and Goddess. Both chose to ignore it.
"To see if you are fit with a meeting with the Shirasagi Himegimi," Thoma smiled, "You passed with flying colors."
"Before we meet her, though," Thoma continued, "I'd like for you two to see something."
To say Asmodeus was surprised at what she saw was an understatement. They called it the Statue of the Omnipresent God. If she hadn't come to this land to see it with her own two eyes, the existence of this monument alone would make Inazuma comparable to Celestia in their beliefs.
Thoma looked on solemnly, "All Visions confiscated under the Vision Hunt Decree are taken and integrated into this statue, under the Shogun's wish to keep Inazuma in stasis. Their eternity, if you will."
These Archons are just full of surprises. The Electro Archon of today was quite different from how Asmodeus remembered them during her time as the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles. Was the calamity that she'd read about the reason?
To the mortals down below, defiling the gifts of the Gods and using them for such a stale purpose might appear to draw the ire of those very Gods, but the former Sustainer knew better. Visions are gifted should an individual draw the attention of the heavens for a moment, whatever the bearer does with it is entirely up to them.
Aether put a hand on the base of the statue, closing his eyes, "They're screaming."
"Screaming?" Thoma questioned, their gaze locked on one particular Vision of Electro.
"Their hopes, their ambitions…" The Traveller opened his eyes, "...They're crying for freedom."
"..." The trio left shortly afterward.
Thoma led them to the path leading towards the Kamisato Estate, where one of Inazuma's major clans resided, and brought them straight to a relatively simple room with a translucent screen dividing the space into two.
Aether bowed towards the screen, much to her confusion, the surprise of Thoma, and the voice that quietly squeaked from behind.
Thoma quickly explained it as being a custom for the Yashiro commission, which the Kamisato Clan governs over, to greet visitors this way. The Goddess decided that it was entirely pointless, the image of an Electro Archon being behind one of these screens as the Archons gathered for tea being somewhat humorous for a nonexistent possibility.
The Traveller and the woman behind the screen, Kamisato Ayaka, delved into a conversation, and Asmodeus did not like where this was going. The Alcor's Captain had gotten too eager to share the details of the battle with Osial with Thoma, so the information naturally got to Ayaka, too.
"–Thus, we cannot remain indifferent to this situation without also remaining indifferent to our own fate." Oh no.
"Travellers, lend us your power, and together, we can change the tides of Inazuma." The Kamisato's voice was firm but noticeably shaky. They were betting a lot on this.
Too bad–
"Very well." What?
Aether nodded, a fire in his eyes that she hadn't seen before, "I will fight for the abolishment of the Vision Hunt Decree."
"You have my deepest gratitude." Going off of Thoma's face and Ayaka's tone, both were just as surprised as the Goddess that the Traveller would accept so easily.
"Hang on," Asmodeus interrupted, "I didn't come here for this."
"P– Pardon me," Even from behind the screen, she could see the Kamisato visibly shrink, "I'd assumed you were travelling companions. Was I incorrect?"
"In the loosest sense of the word."
"Then what reasons do you have for coming here?"
"I'm just here to ask the Raiden Shogun a few questions," Asmodeus said, mixing the truth with a bit of the lies. So long as she encounters the Shogun and her theory on the Archons being a trigger for her memories was denied or confirmed, she'd be okay with ignoring everything else. Engaging the Electro Archon in combat was not what came to mind.
"Then," Ayaka sighed, "I will find you an audience with the Raiden Shogun, so long as you fulfill three of my wishes."
Not this again. The Goddess was so close to audibly groaning, but the intense stare Aether was giving her stopped it in its tracks.
Asmodeus heard the Kamisato out, trying to hide the frown creeping into her features. A warrior who stood guard over a village for years, a samurai who carried out the same decree that took their Vision, and a swords master determined to be the greatest in the world.
The Goddess understood the assignment immediately. They were trying to make her sympathize with people she'd just met in the hopes that it was enough to convince her to fight a God.
They would be very displeased when it would all be for naught. Asmodeus would get to test her theory and then be on her merry way. There was zero chance of them convincing her to go on this futile attempt at a war.
Aether looked like someone who knew precisely what the Goddess was thinking, and she didn't like it, not one bit.
The crowd cheered as a performer adorning a mask that resembled that of a Blue Oni clashed swords with another, this one being a Red Oni. From behind the crowd, Aether made sure to cement the place in his memory.
"Dont do this!" The Blue Oni cried out as their sword snapped in half, tears pouring through the eye holes in their mask. The Traveller could barely make out tiny capsules inside, half-empty now that the actor discretely drained the water within.
While it was nothing more than crocodile tears, a depressing mood wormed its way into the crowd, making way for real tears to come from the watchers. Aether was glad he was at the very back. Getting soaked in bodily fluids was not how he wanted his afternoon to go.
"I have to." The Red Oni's voice was soft-spoken but resolute. They sheathed their sword and began to walk away, only for Blue Oni to grab onto their foot.
"I…" A strained voice was all the azure warrior could manage, "...Won't let go!"
With a quick nudge, the Red Oni broke free of their opponent's hand, "I don't need you to."
As the Red Oni was about to leave, they gave one last glance towards their red counterpart, "Hate me, curse my name for all you want, but this is what's best for you."
"If saving you is a sin, then I will gladly become a sinner."
"..." The crowd was silent after that exchange.
Then one clap came, followed by a second, soon breaking out into an unharmonic chorus of cheers and applause. The actors all gathered on stage and gave their audience a bow before the curtains closed.
Aether decided to join in, too– the collapse of friendships and the impact they may have on those who had broken off. A bit dramatic for his tastes, but it was great nonetheless. The sign posted showed that this was the third chapter of this story. If he had ever seen the previous two and stuck around to see the end, his opinion of it might have changed.
The Traveller made sure to leave earlier than the rest of the audience, silently slipping through the city and heading to other locations of note. He'd gone through several street vendors, carefully picking out food and trying his best to remember. He'd need those memories soon enough.
After going through the last one, Aether took out a specific slip of paper, his eyes softening as gloved fingers slowly brushed over the fragile object.
No time like the present. The Traveller might as well seek out a particular family while he still could.
Footsteps approached from behind, "E–excuse me…"
Aether remembered that voice, and he turned around to meet the voice behind the screen face to face.
"Miss Kamisato." The Traveller bowed, a habit that Makoto and Ei drilled into him since he'd first entered the city of Inazuma and left the premises of the Tenshukaku.
"Please, call me Ayaka." She was quick to raise a hand, "I should be the one bowing. Sir Aether."
"Just Aether," This time, it was his turn to correct her, "I have no social standing here."
"Very well, Aether," The Kamisato let the name roll off her tongue slowly, "I have a favor to ask of you."
Aether was about to explain why he couldn't, but something caught his eye.
Elemental Sight activated, and he could see Ayaka's Cryo Vision leaking out the frigid energy, she was nervous, hugely so for something like a Vision to do such a phenomenon.
He supposed slowing down was fine for now.
"You're taking this quite seriously," Thoma said for what must be the tenth time as they moved towards the last of the people Ayaka wanted them to look into.
"I just want to get this over with." And for the tenth time, Asmodeus would say the same thing back at the caretaker.
The Goddess had surprised herself with how quickly they'd helped the three victims of the Vision Hunt Decree get over their literal and metaphorical lack of vision. It helped that it didn't need any real effort on her part. Getting something that could help them was just as effective, if not more.
If she was being completely honest, watching the three whom had their Vision taken was like looking at a zombie. Completely devoid of emotion, lacking any drive to do anything, content to leave their duties behind and rot in the world.
The lack of expression, in particular, struck Asmodeus the most. The first person the Goddess could call a proper friend had a similar problem, though she wasn't about to say that to anyone, especially to this nosy gossiper of a caretaker.
"If you say so." They were passing through Narukami Island's Chinju Forest, the azure bioluminescence surrounding them on all fronts, submerging them in a soothing light.
After fulfilling Kamisato Ayaka's three wishes, their next destination was supposed to be the Kamisato Estate. They must've taken a wrong turn at some point, as they were instead faced with a peculiar statue of a chubby creature, likely something of Inazuman folklore and superstition.
"So," Thoma broke the silence, "Have you still considered our offer?"
Offer? It was more like a contract where the person signing had nothing to gain besides a pat on the back. She sighed.
"You were lying about having an audience with the Raiden Shogun if I did those, right?"
The Kamisato's caretaker chuckled, "In truth, it–"
"I don't care about your side of things," Asmodeus interrupted his half-baked excuses, "I just want to know if there's any other way to get to the Raiden Shogun."
"...There isn't." Thoma reluctantly admitted.
Of course. "If I ever find out you're lying, then–"
Her empty threat was interrupted by a voice that she'd only heard from behind a screen, "–Meant a lot to me, and the memories will always have a special place in my heart."
"Milady?" Thoma's ears perked up at the familiar voice, his feet slowly crept towards the source, and Asmodeus decided to follow.
"If I ever get the chance…" Ayaka giggled, a stark contrast from her composed self back at the estate, "I would like to go again."
Asmodeus' brain shut down when she heard the voice of the person the Kamisato had been talking to, "I'd like to do that as well."
"Aether?" Thoma's interest grew insatiable, and he began to go even closer, which she begrudgingly took after.
"I feel like I can relate to the determination you must have," The Kamisato's voice grew louder the closer they got, "To get your sister back."
Right. That night, at the Alcor, Aether had told her that his companion, Lumine, was more than that. Of course, she got drunk not even a few minutes later, but only the critical details mattered at the moment. She'd taken his sister away.
"She means the world to me." The Traveller's voice became soft, a gesture growing increasingly common the longer they spent at Inazuma.
Ayaka hummed in agreement, "Family bonds are inseparable. They are the most important roots we have in this world."
Their advance ended at a lake, the surrounding trees unable to reach the near-perfect circle with their branches, resulting in what must be a breathtaking view of the stars revealed through the forest canopy.
"You have a brother, if I remember correctly," Aether said, his eyes on the stars above.
"I do," Ayaka replied, "After the passing of our parents, he had to step in and shoulder the entire clan's burdens."
"It must've been hard." The eavesdroppers were well-hidden by the forest, intently watching the unsuspecting duo conversing at the water's edge.
"It was, but my brother never let it show," The Kamisato replied, smiling as she was lost in her thoughts, "I'm unsure if I could ever repay him."
"From what I've heard of him, he sounds like the type not to care about himself so long as those he cares for are alright," Aether said, "So long as you're happy, I'm sure he has no qualms on what you do."
"A man who does the most selfish things for his own selfless goals, if you will."
"That sounds like my brother." Ayaka smiled sheepishly. Taking a deep breath, the young lady stood up and removed her footwear, taking a step into the shallow lake.
"Then, just as my big brother has," The Kamisato declared, unfurling her paper fan, "Come what may, you must never give up."
Much to the surprise of everyone, including Kamisato Ayaka herself, she began to dance under the moon's gaze, basking in the silver light it exuded as she fluidly moved her body with the grace of a white heron in flight.
At the climax of her performance, she called upon her Cryo Vision, forming the imprint of the Kamisato Clan as she raised her fan high in the air.
Asmodeus quickly clasped her hand over Thoma's gaping mouth, the caretaker looking like he was about to scream out in every emotion known to life at any moment.
Ayaka stepped out of the lake, and whatever trance she had been in seemed to leave, her face gaining an unnatural shade of red as Aether helped her get back to dry land.
The Kamisato was so flustered she could barely form a sentence, "H– How was it?"
"It was wonderful," Aether responded, "In all my travels, I haven't seen anything like it."
That further sent Ayaka into deliriousness, steam pouring out of her ears.
It took an absurd amount of head-shaking for the Kamisato to snap back to her usual self, "Could you tell me about those of other lands?"
"I've never danced before myself, but I'll try my best." Aether spent the next ten minutes on just that. To Kamisato Ayaka, it probably felt too short. To Asmodeus, it was way too long.
The Goddess pulled out the item she'd taken from the hole dug by the brat with the explosives. The temptation of figuring out how it worked and tossing it into the lake grew by the second until her reason overrode it when the Traveller finished talking.
The time came for them to go on their separate paths, and Ayaka did so reluctantly. With a triumphant wave, she was off to the Kamisato Estate. Aether started to return to the city, muttering something about fireworks.
That only meant Thoma could finally explode in pure glee, "Magnificent! As expected of Milady, she–"
As for Asmodeus, she was exploding in the opposite direction, "Go on."
The caretaker gulped, "...I'd prefer not to."
"There will always be those who dare to brave the lightning's glow."
Kazuha's friend had told him that. His hand tightened around the dull Vision that once belonged to that very friend. The Alcor docked at Watatsumi Island, where Captain Beidou and the crew took refuge at the very headquarters of the resistance.
The Kaedehara was considered a refugee by all accounts and thus wasn't strictly required to fight in the resistance against the Vision Hunt Decree. Beidou knew what he would do, though.
Their enemies outmatched the forces of Watatsumi in almost every conceivable aspect of this war. It was only thanks to the brilliant mind of their Priestess, one Sanganomiya Kokomi, that they could hold on. Vision bearers were rare to come across. Thanks to the decree, the resistance would need his gifts soon enough.
Kazuha sighed. That didn't mean he wanted to partake in a war. All the Kaedehara wanted to fulfill his friend's final wish, yet he was unsure how to do so.
His sword made a weak noise as it collided with the dirt he sat down on.
Right.
Kazuha was here to properly look into the downfall of the Kaedehara family, too. His father had tried his best to revive their old smithing ways, but his grandfather had done everything in their power to stop it.
The young man could still remember it clearly. His father drilled the motions of blacksmithing into him so well he could still make a sword even now.
Why? There have been too many mysteries shrouding Inazuma lately. Why enact the Vision Hunt Decree? What happened to the Kaedeharas in the past to cause their steady decline?
With only the winds of Kazuha's Vision to keep him on his feet and a sword to carve a path, he could only hope that the truth may come to light soon.
"Yoimiya, dear…" The young lady's father started up again, but his attempts at swaying the girl's determination fizzled quickly like a faulty firecracker.
"Just another minute, pops!"
"I understand your interest, but our food is getting cold."
Yoimiya pouted, waving her arms like an exuberant child, "And I can't calm down until I get to the bottom of this!"
…
A jingle coming from a bell they had tied to the door signaled the arrival of someone. Yoimiya nervously looked toward the backside of the building that doubled as their household and their little shop passed down between generations of Naganoharas.
Were they here for the man taking refuge inside?
The new arrival was someone the newest of the Naganohara family didn't recognize, and that was saying something. It was strange to brag, but Yoimiya prided herself on getting along with just about anybody, whether they were a stern Tengu, a brash Oni, or even a Fatui Harbinger!
One question, and whoever she was talking to would answer. The young girl was well-known by everyone in town, and the opposite was also true. To see an entirely new face, especially with both the Sakoku and Vision Hunt Decree in play, was as likely as one of their signature fireworks malfunctioning.
The newcomer didn't look like a local, either. If Yoimiya had to guess, they would be comparable to those tales of golden knights in shining armor arriving at the perfect time to save the princess. There wasn't any princess, but there were many things in need of saving.
"Excuse me," His voice threw the girl for a loop. He certainly didn't sound like a foreigner! "Might this place be Naganohara Fireworks?"
Yoimiya shook all her doubts away and flashed a smile at the new customer, "You've got just the place!"
"I haven't seen you around here before," She started to probe, "Where're you from?"
He brushed his golden locks away from his eyes– no, eye, and sighed, "I didn't think I'd be found out so quickly."
Too many curveballs were hitting the Naganohara at once. This man was a foreigner who held the mannerisms of an Inazuman native, the looks of a shining knight in armor, and the attitude of someone done with everyone and everything. There was nothing she could compare him to.
"Hello?" His hand waving across Yoimiya's face broke her daydream fantasies.
"Sorry," The young pyrotechnician giggled, "I'm Yoimiya Naganohara, nice to meet you!"
"Aether." He gave a small smile, "If I'm not mistaken, you work with fireworks?"
"Not just that, we work on so much more!" Yoimiya went on about all the toys they would make on the side, the candies, and much more.
By the time she finished, Aether was thoroughly impressed. It was great to know he was a man of great taste. Whenever she started talking, the people around her would doze off or try to interrupt her subtly, yet he stayed listening to the end.
If she was being honest, seeing someone so focused on her was a bit embarrassing, "...But yes, fireworks are our specialty."
"Then…." Aether reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper everyone in the family was familiar with.
But that would mean he'd have already gone here before. Going off of looks alone, the guy was around her age, and she'd have definitely remembered if someone like him came knocking at their door.
"...Can you make this?" Aether handed the parchment over with all the care in the world, his eyes holding a sense of longing.
Seeing him like that struck a cord in her. She gently received the item and treated it as if it were as fragile as a butterfly as her eyes took a look at its contents.
Yoimiya gasped, "This–"
…
Seriously, the oldest paper slips that Yoimiya Naganohara had seen were just a little under a century old, and the one Aether gave her used a firework that nobody's ever used since five! How'd he get his hands on such an old thing, and why is it in such fantastic condition?
Not to mention the ingredients listed, the mysterious Traveller from afar had pointed out one troublesome one to acquire. Where exactly was he going to get a Pyro Congregate? What even was a Pyro Congregate?
One would assume that someone who specialized in pyrotechnics and had their own Pyro Vision would know everything related to the element, yet Yoimiya saw that as faulty thinking.
There was still so much beyond Inazuma to see, so much that foreigners like Aether probably knew of! Once the Vision Hunt Decree blows over, she'd have to consider going abroad for a bit, as long as her father approved of it, of course.
She shook those thoughts out of her head. He'd given her the challenge of recreating a that had only lit up the night sky one. If Yoimiya's ancestors could do it, then so could she.
The young Naganohara grinned as she looked towards the night sky. It didn't matter how great of a challenge it was. That was never the point. They could tell her to make any firework, and she would still give it her all.
The fleeting glow of her family's creations was the opposite of the Raiden Shogun's ideal eternity. It drew the ire of many clans that held complete loyalty towards their Archon.
But at the end of the day, these transient sparks of creation brought happiness, and Yoimiya was determined to get that happiness to Aether, too.
"There it is," Aether muttered as his eye found its target.
Surrounded by morphing shapes of dormant Pyro energy, the Pyro Hypostasis roamed within its tiny circle of freedom.
The Traveller never wanted to go here, and Makoto's theories of a Hypostasis taking form here someday because of the intense elemental energy did little to sway him. He just didn't want to look at another sign of his many failures again.
The core, or what was the actual main body of the elemental Hypostasis, displayed a basic degree of sentience, much like other creatures of similar structure. What set it apart, though, was the element it tapped into. Pyro was not the dominant energy here, and the Hypostasis manifesting here was only because of his inelegant crash landing on the world of Teyvat.
That limited its range of motion to the blast radius of the destruction Aether's descent caused. He breathed a sigh of relief at this discovery.
The Pyro Hypostasis had to go down. Even if it wasn't for the Traveller's selfish agenda, it was as unpredictable as any wildfire that could blossom.
Calling upon the still waters that surrounded the Island, the torrents obeyed Aether, coalescing into a tidal wave twice the size of the Hypostasis.
Aether sent the wall of water careening into the unsuspecting Pyro entity. The water doused the flames it spouted instantly, and it released its hold on the dormant shapes of Pyro in a panic, attempting to flee with just the fragile core.
Aether's sword quickly stopped that attempt dead in its tracks.
Now comes the main problem. Carrying the remnants of the Hypostasis, the closest thing modern Inazuma has to the Pyro Congregate, and bringing it back to Naganohara Fireworks.
Aether inspected his wing glider. All his spares were likely burnt to ashes by the Abyss Order alongside the Teleport Waypoints, and the one he was using couldn't handle such weight.
The Traveller sighed. This was one of the few times he'd admit that Asmodeus' ability would be helpful. In fact, it didn't have a specific limit other than the user.
If the Goddess were to adjust it appropriately, then wouldn't a perfect imitation of the Musou No Hitotachi be possible? The idea scared him.
Aether shook his head. Focus.
An idea came to mind. The Traveller searched the islands shores, coming across a structure similar to a Teleport Waypoint, though not quite. Much like the latter, though, the Abyss Order had made sure to leave it in pieces.
Aether laid a hand on the blue gem at the center, he hadn't given much information of Waveriders to the Abyss Order, as they weren't very commonplace in other parts of Teyvat.
Maybe… The azure crystal gave one last burst of light before shattering into innumerable pieces. Sunken underneath the water, entangled in seaweed, the disabled Waverider came to life, the engines roaring and tearing through the plants that had it trapped, going dormant afterward.
The Traveller sighed, commanding the tides to carry the boat to dry land. Once it had dried off enough, he blew a gust of air to rid the insides of any clogs and opened the old machine up.
…
"…Well, it could have been worse." Aether stumbled around as he walked away from the collision, a worried Raiden Makoto inspecting him from top to bottom from injuries.
Makoto breathed a sigh of relief once it was clear he wasn't hurt, "Could have been much better too."
Once again, the Traveller was the test pilot for yet another of the Electro Archon's whimsical creations. This time, it was a one-man boat for him to explore the various islands of Inazuma, summoned by a contraption similar to the Teleport Waypoints that Makoto perfected. A Waverider, Ei had called it.
He'd asked where the boats came from, she chose not to answer.
The Archon got to work right away, checking the machine for damages while he took the time to rest on the shore, content with watching her work.
"Hey, Aether…" She started, the sounds of her tinkering with the boat dying down.
He turned to her, still seated, "Yeah?'
"You're not forcing yourself to go along with me, right?" Makoto's voice strained itself, her eyes glued to the Waverider.
The Traveller stood up and started to walk towards her, "What brought this on?"
"What I mean is," She hesitated, "Don't all these accidents hurt you?"
"I don't want that."
Aether abruptly settled down next to the Archon, kicking up sand and drawing an indignant look from her as some got on her clothes. "Hey!"
"Just wanted to lighten the mood." He chuckled, taking a look at the Waverider's interior. It was a lot simpler than he'd expected, then again, she was basing it off of a traditional fisherman's boat.
The Traveller brushed off grains of sand Makoto, getting her attention, "If I didn't want to help you with these, then I'll tell you outright."
"If you think I'm doing this out of some obligation, then get rid of those thoughts right now." Aether smiled when the Archon's facial expression softened.
"It can be as simple as I want it to be, didn't you say that?"
She gave a playful punch to his shoulder, "Not in that context, but you get a point for cheekiness."
"I learned from the best." He shot back with a grin as Makoto returned to her work.
Even in their interstellar voyage spanning his entire lifetime, he and Lumine hadn't found a place they could call home. Looking back at it now, reaching perfection was impossible like Makoto was doing now, but the attempt at striving to achieve it was something he could admire.
Aether took a deep breath, "You know, back then, I never did find the perfect home I wanted."
She stopped again, rarely ever did he talk about his past with Lumine, "...Can you consider Inazuma as one?"
"Being stranded here was a happy accident," He admitted, " But I think I can."
"I'm glad, then." Makoto smiled, lighting up his day like a thunderstorm at night.
…
So am I. The Traveller's face shifted at the memory. Before he knew it, his hands moved according to how he remembered the late Electro Archon repaired the Waverider, getting the boat up and running again.
Determined, Aether shoved the Pyro Hypostasis' remains into the back compartment and climbed into the driver's seat, speeding off to the city. His skills in commandeering the ancient transport hadn't dulled at all.
Since the five hundred years Aether had last been here, the place he called home had changed so much, but deep down, his heart knew it was still the place he had grown to love in such a short period.
Wait for me, Ei. Makoto.
Back to the time, when I used to feel your hand in mine…
AN:
An entire chapter so soon? I'm surprised myself.
Inazuma's going to be a bit of a long one, the longest one so far. If you had the patience to stick with this story up until now, you have my thanks.