Chapter 4 – Her Name Is
When he woke up, the sky above him was tainted red.
A round and massive blood moon hung high amidst the ominous stars, like some mad god's only eye boring down upon the earth. His eyes were bleary, irritated by countless embers and clouds of smoke that flew back and forth into his vision. Still lying down on what felt like hardened dirt, he sucked in a deep breath and immediately regretted it. The pungent smell of scorched wood and burnt flesh assaulted his entire face, searing itself into his nostrils and lingering in his mouth.
"This is not the International Trade Association... at least I hope so."
Aether did not feel any pain in his body, so he attempted to stand up. His limbs responded perfectly for once, and he rose carefully into a crouching position. He scanned the surrounding area, and his golden orbits widened with horror as flames of destruction reflected within them.
An absolute bloodbath.
There were no signs of life anywhere near him. The few patches of grass that hadn't been burned to a crisp were covered in dark, dried blood. Scattered parts of war machines littered the barren battlefield, their conductors' charred remains forever bound to their driving seats. Corpses of armored men piled up on high, pierced with gruesome weapons of various shapes and sizes.
The heavy silence was only broken up by a sudden flapping sound. In the far distance, a banner was flying by its lonesome, torn and bloodstained by what must have been an extremely cruel battle. Once again, war sprung back to clutch his face, to put him in front of unspeakable horrors he never wished to witness. The wretched sight left the same foul taste in his mouth, the same unbearable sting in his heart.
Aether walked amidst the piles of rotting corpses, disgust and pity imprinted on his face. He wanted out, simply existing within that space was too much to bear. It was the one thing he couldn't, wouldn't handle. His hazy train of thought came to a halt when he noticed a looming shadow over him, spanning nearly the entire battlefield. He looked up.
Dark red cubes, twisting like tentacles, unfurling like chains, were streaking across the bloodied sky. Their erratic, monstrous movements mimicked to perfection the only being he knew capable of commanding this tremendous amount of power.
A single second when his world all came crashing down. A narrowly-missed opportunity. A beloved sister he failed to save.
The Sustainer of Heavenly Principles.
It took him a moment to fully grasp what he was looking at. A tumbleweed rolled about in the corner of his vision. His hands were shaking, despite him knowing that the sustainer who plagued his nightmares couldn't possibly be there. These cubes were nothing but discarded weapons, once wielded by an almighty god when she delivered punishment upon mankind. Unless his superhuman senses were betraying him, the wielder in question had long left the battlefield.
But seeing hints of the Unknown God's presence unnerved him for other reasons. Holding his breath, the Traveler walked up to a pile of corpses. He drove away swarming flies, and pulled a rusty piece of armor from a decaying skeleton to inspect it. The putrefied skull within the helmet glared at him from beyond the grave, but he focused on the torso instead, which confirmed exactly what he feared. A massive claw-shaped gash had tore right through the breastplate, exposing its heart to the world. The surrounding desolation was not the product of a war between humans. These men had died fighting monsters.
"Beasts from the Cataclysm, checks out. What I don't understand is how I ended up in the Khaenri'ah from 500 years ago..."
It made no logical sense. Absolutely none. He discarded the disembodied torso into the pile, still hard-pressed by the overwhelming aura the Unknown God had left behind. This situation was crazy, in every sense of the word. No matter how he looked at it, this was in no way-
A pulse of lightning coursed through his body.
He instinctively activated elemental sight, and a violet trail materialized before him. It curved and outstretched deeper into the battlefield, where the number of corpses seemed to diminish. Perhaps the world was giving him a sign to stop bemoaning his fate and just wing it. Even if it was fate's signature sarcasm, it was still better than nothing.
The Electro trail showed no sign of disappearing, leading him through the devastated remains until he caught a glimpse of a clearing. Sparks and ashes covered a wide, circular radius where lightning unceasingly struck in its center. Bolts relentlessly fell from the sky right in front of him, but he took a step forward despite the apparent danger. The crackling thunder roared as he drew closer, but the violet glint in his eyes compelled him to reach out to it. He raised his hand towards it, and the lightning subsided, revealing an ornate blade in its place. A violet tachi, beautiful as a waxing moon, featuring a mitsudomoe on the hilt and glowing with the might of an eternal storm. A divine weapon if he had ever seen one.
His fingers trailed along the keen edge, but he immediately pulled back. Something felt wrong. Very, very wrong.
"Why did you lure me here?"
He swivelled around and sure enough, he was not alone. A strikingly beautiful woman walked up to him, a cryptic smile upon her lips. Her deep purple hair flowed along her opulent kimono, and her appearance felt like a sakura petal suddenly flying past him. Her bearing exuded divinity, but not of the overwhelmingly powerful kind. She was a gentle instant, a transient moment of bliss that contrasted hard with the desolation around them.
Though he was on his guard, she smiled in earnest. "That's... not exactly the question I was expecting, to be perfectly honest. Something along the lines of Where am I? or Who are you? would have been a bit more convenient for me. Well, things don't always go our way, and that's quite alright."
"…"
"You're glaring at me, but I won't take offense. You're badly wounded, aren't you? More emotionally than physically, I'll bet." She took a step forward, and he took one back. "Even though your sword won't respond to your summons, you haven't fallen for a trap of any kind. During your journey, you've used your strength to solve most of your problems, which in itself is not a bad thing. But I'm sure you're beginning to catch a glimpse of your own limits."
Aether frowned, still unable to discern her intentions. "Thank you for the analysis, I guess... I'm not as strong as I would like to be, but I'm more concerned about how you even know that."
The woman's finger pointed skywards, to the churning cubes hanging high above them. "This godly power is what took your true strength away, is it not? I've had the... misfortune of witnessing its wielder at work firsthand. She is a bit destructive in nature, and rightfully cautious of strenghts that are far beyond this world's grasp. But don't worry, she has no control over this space."
"This is not making any sense..." He ran a confused hand through his hair. "If this is not Khaenri'ah, then where – or when – are we? And who are you to know these things?"
"You're finally asking the right questions. The God of Wisdom would be proud of you." She smiled again, as her finger wrapped around the sword's hilt. She pulled it out of the ground effortlessly, as if it had always belonged in her hand. "Where we are right now merely looks like Khaenri'ah, but it is safe, far from the various dangers you were facing not so long ago. Musou Isshin here was not meant as bait for you, you have my word. It's simply something I left behind – my mistake, Traveler." She gazed longingly at the blade, and he saw her face reflect into it for the briefest of moments. "You want to know who I am? I am a very unwise and neglectful girl who failed to make things right when it mattered the most. A being who couldn't defy fate and ended up leaving someone else to pick up the pieces. A traitor to Teyvat, if you will."
The deject in her voice upon saying 'traitor' sounded way too familiar to him. He didn't know squat about this woman, but he knew that feeling of regret very well. Aether stopped regarding her with suspicion in this very moment. Rather, he took an intrigued step forward.
She noticed that he'd let his guard down, which elicited a sad chuckle from her. "There is nothing you can do for me, Traveler. My fate has been sealed for well over five centuries now." She brushed past him, and he couldn't help but keep his eyes on her. "I'm far from being all-knowing. All I know is that you were struggling to obtain a power I'm familiar with, and this struggle was strong enough to reach me – so I brought you here. Maybe I'm the one who should be asking you the important questions after all."
"But you seemed like you'd be aware of these things. If you know about my struggle, then surely you know about what the Electro Archon is doing by sealing off her country and seizing her people's Visions, no?"
The woman's eyes widened in shock, and then realization. "So she... the Raiden Shogun did that. I see. That's the way she's chosen of pursuing eternity."
"You call that eternity? Unchanging, unfettered stasis?"
"Why, yes. Like the God of Contracts or the God of Freedom, she pursues her ideal and rules her people the way she deems fit. If she believes that stripping her own people of their ambitions is the correct way of attaining said ideal, then no one in this world can cross her."
No one in this world. Aether took note of that. "And what do you think? Is the Vision Hunt Decree the kind of eternity you would want for a nation?"
She raised a hand to avoid the question. "I shall refrain from commenting. As things currently stand, just know that Inazuma will not be able to move forward as long as this... Vision Hunt Decree is being enforced. And the Raiden Shogun needs to realize that, preferably through someone who can actually cross her."
"Too cryptic, or maybe not enough." He shook his head. "Are you saying I should be the one to step in again?"
"Well, it's not like you've had the most pleasant experience with the Shogun thus far." She coyly motioned at his neck. "Technically speaking, you wouldn't be making an enemy of her by opposing the decree – you already are a criminal in the eyes of the Shogunate."
He had just met this woman, and he already knew her wit would be a problem.
"I cannot force you to become my ally, Traveler. In fact, you would not be wrong to distrust me: I already told you how unreliable I am. I don't have a moving speech to motivate you, I cannot promise you bountiful rewards should you succeed, I can't even guarantee your safety when you'll be up against her. I simply want you to follow your heart and do what you think is right."
What he thinks is right... yeah.
If only he could get rid of that stupid hero complex. At least that's what his sister used to call it.
He let out a long-winded sigh, and his golden eyes drowned into her purple ones. "Who are you, really?"
He knew answering with another question was rude, but she didn't seem to mind. "I am the... no, these titles have long been passed on to somebody else. They're not mine to use anymore. And now that I think about it, neither is this blade." Musou Isshin vanished in her hand. A smile graced this enigmatic goddess' lips.
"So for simplicity's sake, I'll allow you to just call me Makoto."
When he truly woke up, there was a lone tear at the corner of his eye.
A ray of sunlight fell from a slight opening in the heavy curtains, illuminating the water droplet and blinding his vision. Aether remained immobile, staring at the wooden ceiling for what felt like an eternity, unable to muster the courage to get up – how could he? His mind was assaulted by a whirlwind of emotions, still trying to fully process what had just transpired. An itch on his side informed him that the mark on his neck was pulsating eerily, periodically emitting a violet glow. That strange dream and that equally strange woman... what was her name again?
Oh, right.
Her name was...
"So for simplicity's sake, I'll allow you to just call me ."
He couldn't even remember her name. The last thing she told him before the dream ended. And why not... he was seriously beginning to question his own sanity. The blond slowly banged his fist against his forehead. He couldn't allow himself to forget, but his mind wouldn't let him remember. ''She'' was still out there, living freely within his dreamscape, and what she asked of him was very real. What he chose to do now was all up to him, and he would-
"Rise and shine, Aether!" Yoimiya's cheery voice rang from the hallway. "Paimon's already up, and I'm afraid you were right about her being a food vacuum..." She was cut off by the sound of breaking glass and a high-pitched shriek. "Uh, I suggest you come down now if you want to eat something before she does!"
He would... Aether ran a hand across his face.
He would figure things out later.
…
"...like I said, it's no big deal, really. So please, don't be too harsh on the poor girl."
Kurisu joined both hands as if to beg for mercy on the floating child's behalf, when he really should be the one doing a number on her. Paimon clutched the top of her head while bawling her eyes out, inching away from the Traveler's arm swing radius. Her wailing resounded around the president's comfortable office, earning a sympathetic smile from Yoimiya.
"Just calm down and apologize. I didn't even hit you."
"The way you're glaring at Paimon is already a fate worse than death!"
A faint sigh blew through his teeth. "I'm sorry. I didn't even hit you yet."
"WAAAAAAH!"
"I had a difficult night." He stared at the fountain of tears that was Paimon for a brief moment, before turning to Kurisu. "Fine, I'll turn a blind eye to everything that happened earlier this morning. And since our presence here has nothing to do with Paimon, I take it you wanted to speak to me personally?"
The International Trade Association's president seemed to be a wise but generally overwhelmed man. Unlike other important decision-makers he'd encountered before, this one was by far evolving in the harshest environment of all. Inazuma's border was the epicenter of outlander prejudice, and he was the one in charge of making sure the minority had a bare minimum of rights to sustain their livelihood.
The president leaned over the desk. "Traveler, I have no reason for making your trip through Ritou more difficult than it should be. Miss Naganohara here already shared a few details about the troubles you've encountered with the Crux, and I must sadly concur: The Kanjou Commission is a far cry from what it was intended to be, the Hiiragi Clan's obnoxious taxes and reluctancy to look into various cases of stolen goods are only the tip of the iceberg." He wetted his lips as the ambient sound of sobbing gradually died down. "The way things currently stand, this nation and its inhabitants will not be making any progress. We're unable to move forward."
The mirroring between his words and the ones heard in his dream deeply troubled Aether, but he managed not to show it. He furtively straddled his scarf to better cover his neck, however.
"Things have been difficult for outlanders in Ritou for a long time now, but the Sakoku Decree has only worsened the situation." the pyrotechnician chimed in. "And even though its not directly related, the Vision Hunt Decree is not helping either. The few outlanders who are also Vision bearers always end up cornered by the soldiers and detained – those brave enough to try and hide them suffer the same fate. Ritou's already pretty small, and some people are always ready to spill some names to Kanjou soldiers whenever they get the chance. Everyone distrusts eachother because of it."
The Traveler placed his fist under his chin. "The Raiden Shogun is a god who actively governs her people. Nothing good can come out of Inazumans being in constant strife. Is she really unaware of how these two decrees are actually doing more harm than good, or does she just wish to ignore it?"
Kurisu sneered. "I shouldn't be saying this, but sometimes it doesn't feel like we're under an Archon's rule at all. We – the powerless outlanders – are mere prey to the Commissioners' fangs, I wouldn't be surprised if they're all in cahoots to drive us out of the land as soon as poss-"
He cut himself off mid-sentence.
Yoimiya, who was standing by the wall, had become oddly serious. She brought an index up to her lips and slowly shook her head, before jamming a thumb at the window.
Shit.
"Well, none of this really matters." Aether's voice was slightly louder than usual. "There's nothing you can do to change the Raiden Shogun's mind if she's already set on her decision. I do hope the Association's troubles can be resolved peacefully, but do not expect any help on my part. I'm only here for an audience with your god, and I can't just slow down to fix every little problem on the way." He sank into his seat, feeling mildly uncomfortable. Being spied on by a human was nothing compared to literally bearing a god's vengeful eye, but the surrounding oppressive aura was beginning to get to his nerves.
Kurisu nodded and played along, a bead of sweat running down his temple. "Oh, I know it would be wrong to rely on an outlander who deals with as many if not more problems than us. The only course of action we could possibly take now is pray to the Narukami for the Almighty Shogun to look down upon us favorably."
The wooden floor creaked under a young woman's footsteps as she entered the office. She leaned forward and whispered something into the president's ear, and his expression noticeably changed.
"I-Indeed, our worries are not yours to shoulder." He brought his two hands together in front of him. "Well, having the Traveler as our guest for this short-lived time was already an honor – I shan't delay your inevitable departure any longer. I was told someone is waiting for you three in front of the building, you should make haste now."
The man was obviously being evasive, but knowing that he was under even closer scrutiny than before would make anyone wary. Aether could not speak freely, but he hoped that his eyes and expressions still managed to get the point across. These people had suffered unreasonably, because of circumstances that were out of their control. Perhaps it was all as "she" had anticipated, but he would not stand for this.
Kurisu's assistant motioned for the party to follow her, and they complied silently, not without taking one last glance through the window.
"The Kanjou Commission is already onto us, it seems." he whispered to Yoimiya. "We might have made a bit of the scene on the docks, but I didn't think we'd be identified as threats so early on. This complicates things."
"It's normal for them to be wary, but we won't let them get the jump on us. We're going to leave Ritou as fast as possible, and try to stay under their radar while we travel towards the capital." she replied in a similar hushed tone.
Inside the association's courtyard were the same carriages as before, save for a very specific one that caught Aether's attention. While at first glance it looked like a typical horse-drawn coach, it was definitely sturdier, and crafted by expert hands. He could tell that it was only affordable by someone well-off enough, but it was of the modest, diplomatic kind. It probably belonged to some wealthy individual who didn't want to draw attention. None of his business.
He did do a double take, however, when he realized that it was their cargo that was being loaded into the coach.
A tall man who was giving instructions spotted the two from afar. He swivelled around as his face lit up with a friendly smile, and energetically walked up to them. A metal headband wrapped around his blond head, which contrasted with his emerald green eyes. His crimson outfit seemed to incorporate samurai armor plates, but he did not look like a fearsome warrior.
"Yoimiya, it's so good to see you!"
Before the Traveler could utter a single word, his hand had been taken hostage in a firm handshake.
"And you must be the renowned Traveler. Honored to make your acquaintance, I'm Thoma." he affably smiled. "I've heard a great many things about you, it will be my pleasure to serve and make sure you two get out of Ritou safe and sound."
The firework-maker gave the young man a fist bump. "Hey, Thoma! Sorry in advance, but it looks like you're gonna have to bail me out of a tight spot again." She knocked on her forehead in a motion that spelt all but apology before turning to the outlander. "Thoma is the most resourceful and well-connected guy I know. If someone can sneak us out of here, it's definitely him!"
Thoma scratched his cheek. "Well, having a few good connections here and there can't really be considered a skill... I just try to help out whenever I can, and some people repay these favors to me when I need it."
"This carriage is yours, Thoma?" Aether glanced at the coach and its two horses.
"Good eye. It's my lord's actually." he snapped two fingers, before realizing something. "Oh, but where are my manners? That was no proper way to introduce myself." The man took a step back and courteously bowed. "Housekeeper of the Yashiro Commission's Kamisato Clan and personal retainer to the Honored Lord of Rain and Esteemed Lady of Snow, I am Thoma. Pleasure to make your acquaintance." He took a well-rehearsed step back and opened the door, gesturing at the two to make their way inside the comfy carriage. "If my guests could go to the trouble of stepping inside their carriage, we shall head out to Konda at once."
Aether gave the firework-maker a questioning look, to which she nodded enthusiastically. Paimon and himself were quickly pushed onto their seats, with a jubilant Yoimiya in tow. Thoma bent his tall frame, and sat opposite to them, still grinning. He tapped lightly on the wall behind him and the coach suddenly rocked, its wooden wheels slowly carrying it out of the courtyard.
"Thoma, was it?" The Traveler glanced out the window. "If you're working for the Kamisato Clan, what are you doing all the way out here in Ritou? From what I gathered, it's not exactly within the Yashiro Commission's scope of action."
Thoma's hands rested on his knees, still maintaining his flawless posture. "Well, aside from my many official titles, I am also a fixer in the harbor. My special status allows me to settle disputes between merchants and the Kanjou Commission, so it's not that unusual to see me around these parts." he lightly chuckled. "And besides, the Kamisato Clan has had its eye on you for quite some time now. Taking this opportunity to establish contact with you was also part of the assignment my lady gave me. Having one of our close collaborators in Yoimiya around also makes things much easier for what we have planned."
He had barely finished speaking when the coach violently rocked, indicating that they'd left main Ritou's smooth paved streets. They stopped to a halt, and the sound of soldiers walking around on the crunchy gravel emanated from behind the doors. Which soon flipped open, as a kabuto-covered head appeared in the frame.
"The road that leads to Konda is closed off to unauthorized convoys. I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to ask for everyone's travel permits." the man sternly ordered.
A tinge of nervousness stung the Traveler's temple, but he remained silent while waiting for... whatever was supposed to happen in this situation. The soldier's gaze swept across the four passengers for an awkward moment, until Thoma took the initiative.
"Oh, of course. They're right here, for your kind perusal."
The retainer handed him three sealed paper documents, which he broke open and inspected one by one. He looked once more at the not-suspicious party, his stare lingering on Aether for an extra second. The soldier briefly discussed something in a hushed voice with his colleague, before giving back the three permits.
"All seem to be in order. Move along the road, and keep your wits about you." Once again, his stare was directed at the blond. "Especially you, outlander."
The Traveler slowly nodded in response like a good law-abiding citizen as the door slammed. The brand on his neck was still safely covered by his scarf, but the soldier's spiteful behavior made him question what would happen should anyone know about his heresy. The Raiden Shogun herself had afflicted him with the Eye of Stormy Judgement. He did plan to meet her eventually, but she probably wouldn't remain idle upon registering his presence.
And there was no way he'd grovel and beg for her mercy.
"Hey, do the guards- does the Tenryou Commission fully agree with the way things are?"
His face was turned away, but Thoma understood that the question was directed at him. "Believe it or not, we partially owe our current stasis to them. The Tenryou Commissioner has gone to great lengths to make sure these decrees are enforced to the fullest extent, officially to further the reverence Inazumans should hold for Her Excellency."
"Officially, of course." the blond shrugged. "They're not affected by the decree, I presume?"
The retainer shook his head. "The decree stipulates that law-enforcers shall only relinquish their Visions once all others have been claimed by the Shogunate. So technically, all soldiers within the Commission are allowed to keep their Visions as long as there is at least one wielder out and about." Thoma gestured at the Pyro Vision hanging from his belt. "I'm a special case, because I'm affiliated with one of the Commissions as well. Theoretically, at least."
"When the decree was first announced, I gave the soldiers a fake so they'd leave me and my pops alone." Yoimiya winked. "My actual Vision is hidden under a ton of layers of sarashi, but they're none the wiser about it."
The blond alternately looked at the two Pyro Vision bearers, still dumbfounded at what these people had to go through for what was perceived as a basic right in other nations. That just didn't sit right with him.
"If the decree is so strict, then maybe you should-"
The carriage shook violently. The look in Thoma's eyes shifted, and the conductor frantically knocked on the wooden panel. They were a single isolated carriage, the Tenryou checkpoint was quite a ways behind them, and the flat plains surrounding them banned all attempts at sneaking away. He didn't need much time to figure out what was going on. They were under attack.
Aether conjured his sword. "Monsters?"
The retainer glanced out the window. "No, bandits. They've been running amok ever since the Vision Hunt began, since our soldiers are now too busy arresting bearers to patrol the countryside. Scarcely-populated places like Konda are left completely defenseless."
Figures. An unstable country quickly becomes a breeding ground for all sorts of vermin. "At this rate, your conductor might end up in grave danger." He swung the blade over his shoulder. "You three stay inside while I clean up the road. If your horses begin to panic, just brute-force your way out of here."
Thoma shook his head. "Traveler, these men are ruthless killers. At least let me-"
"No worries. I sparred with a ronin. Once." He kicked the door open, and leaped into the fray.
Saying it was a mere attack would be a fatal understatement. It was an all-out planned ambush, and the perpetrators didn't seem willing to stop at taking their money. Dozens of vagrants surrounded the coach with their blades drawn, led by a tall samurai clad in fiendish crimson armor. When the pack noticed an outlander descending from the carriage to confront them, they gave no warning. They attacked on sight.
"Right..." Aether closed his eyes, feeling the midday wind on his face, ignoring the fierce battlecries that drew inevitably closer.
"Let's hope that little incident didn't make me too rusty."
...
Thoma was no warrior, but he had seen a few battles as a defender of the Kamisato Clan. This was arguably as one-sided as witnessing an opening match between a man who'd never wielded a blade in his life and Lord Ayato. Despite being outnumbered, the chasm in their capabilities was showing. He knew the rumors concerning the Traveler all hailed him as a man of great strength, but this was...
Beyond everything he'd imagined?
Another defeated bandit fell to the ground with a loud thud, and Aether immediately twirled around to dodge a searing blade. The Kairagi followed up with an upwards slash that sang through the heated air, but found no target. A golden flash ignited behind him, and all the bandit saw was a hint of blond hair before being taken into a furious assault. He tried to counter with his own series of slashes but they were all countered perfectly, the blond not leaving him a single opportunity to even nick his blade. It was obvious as to who would reach his limits first.
Flames drew beautiful blazing arcs into the air, weaving and slithering like a red ribbon in the wind. Hard and fast slashes hacked at the ribbon, dancing and avoiding the fire's transient and deadly glow. Two warriors spun on a battlefield made of lush grass, neither side relenting though they were both fully aware that victory was already in one's grasp.
Embers flickered before the Traveler's eyes as he performed a more powerful thrust that broke through his opponent's guard. His blade kept going straight for the face, but he pulled back as it merely cut through the demon mask. The Kairagi fell to his knees, and his sword dug into the earth a second later.
The defeated bandit stared at the scorched grass beneath him bitterly. "You fought with great strength and honor, outlander – claim your victory. But before you take my life, please tell me your name and who your master is."
"Aether of no house nor master." The blond spun his sword around in his hand before stowing it away. "And I have no interest in killing you. I'd be very grateful if you could tell me your name as well as who hired you and your men to ambush us, though. Our coach looks way too unassuming to just be a gang of bandit's random target."
The man looked up at him. "A clear mind, I see. You prevailed against me in battle, so I shall tell you all that I know. I have discarded my clan's name and my brothers know me as Chimon, ex-practitioner of the Meikyou Shisui Art. Lone blades like us aren't usually ones to take orders, but we were offered a substantial amount of Mora to make this particular carriage disappear. We were approached by a man named Tasuyake, who described our target in vivid detail, and promised a generous reward if we could take care of it. He refused to tell us who he worked for, however."
"How generous are we talking?"
"Enough to be set for a lifetime." The bandit's dull eyes faintly glimmered. "Most of us were planning to send the money to their families back home – I discarded my name so mine wouldn't get in trouble. Men of our kind don't usually become vagrants by choice, you know."
"I see." Aether met his empty gaze for the briefest of moments, before gesturing at the retainer to come over. "Thoma, you might find this interesting. Can you think of anyone who would want you gone or abducted? Hiring mercenaries to take out a lowly housekeeper seems like a pretty big deal for the Yashiro Commission, no?"
Thoma scratched the back of his head, his breathing slightly ragged. "To be brutally honest, I don't know anyone who goes by the name of Tasuyake. The Kamisato Clan certainly has no shortage of enemies, but I've never been the target of an assassination attempt myself. That's... a bit unsettling for me, sorry."
The Traveler moved behind the bandit and locked his arms behind his back. "Don't apologize for someone wanting you dead, it's not exactly meant as a pleasant experience. If anything, this proves to me that some people do benefit a lot from the Vision Hunt Decree – you have a strong desire to see it abolished, and that makes you an obstacle in their way. Of course, you could just step aside and leave them to their own devices."
"Ah..." he scratched his cheek. "I'm afraid I am not as brave as you. I would like things to just resolve themselves peacefully if possible."
"There's nothing wrong with not wanting to be assassinated, Thoma." Aether stated as he finished binding Chimon's wrists. "Anyway, where are we taking this fellow? I don't think these broad shoulders of his will fit inside our already cramped carriage, and his men won't just wait for us here."
"Oh, we don't have to go very far." In lieu of a full response, the retainer nodded towards the east. A small town sprawled out into their field of view, its quaint houses withstanding the years as if frozen in time. A single road cut through the village, twisting and turning before reaching Inazuma City in the far distance.
"Say hello to Konda Village." Thoma wiped the sweat off his forehead. "Once the bandits have been dealt with, there's someone I want you to meet."
In today's episode: Aether dreams about the dead and Thoma almost gets killed. Fun times.
Making Makoto's consciousness a central piece of this rewriting is a new challenge for me, mostly because we know next to nothing about the way she speaks or acts. A few lines of dialogue at the end of Ei's second story quest and various tidbits from books, NPCs, and furniture sets can only tell you so much about a character. She's a fun puzzle to put together, though. Let me know how I did on her speech and actions.
In case you couldn't tell, I am trying extremely hard to avoid the refusal scene with Ayaka. It just felt flat-out awkward, when they could have just familiarized the Traveler with the effects of Vision loss beforehand to build up sympathy. But hey, I don't do this for a living. As I said before, Inazuma is humanity's stage where characters must be exploited to their full potential to truly shine. And I plan to do just that.
So I guess I'll see you all in the next chapter!