In this mental space, bolstered by countless wishes, the Traveler's strength surged dramatically, and the stamina previously expended was restored to its peak state.
Yet Raiden Ei did not look at the now vastly empowered Traveler. Instead, she raised her head, gazing up at the 'sky' illuminated by these 'wishes.'
An illustration depicted Ei turning her gaze toward the Traveler. Her expression was no longer indifferent; a smile even graced her lips, and the ring of willpower behind her glowed brightly.
The Oneiric Euthymia was illuminated. Having witnessed the wishes of her people firsthand, Ei was, at this moment, beginning to waver.
But such was her temperament—even if shaken, she would not change immediately. She still wished to test things once more with the blade in her hand.
On one hand, she sought to confirm the 'wishes' of the Traveler and her people; on the other, she wanted to ensure she was not being swayed by 'erosion.'
Raiden Ei drew her Musou no Hitotachi! This signified that she was starting to take things seriously.
At this critical moment of 'deciding the victor,' not only were they serious, but the readers were equally engrossed, reading the unfolding events with rapt attention.
In this clash, the Traveler finally managed to hold their own against Ei. What had been a one-sided battle turned into a fierce exchange of blows between Lumine and Ei, with only their afterimages visible on the battlefield.
It was, quite literally, 'Lumine-Ei-Ei' (the silhouettes of Lumine and Ei).
To exaggerate a bit, this grueling battle surpassed all the physical exertion Ei had experienced in the past few centuries. Fortunately, this was a mental space, so even the sedentary Shogun Ei wouldn't suffer physical deterioration.
In the end, this battle concluded with Ei's 'defeat.'
[Yae Miko: "Ei, you've lost."]
[Raiden Ei sighed, her tone calm: "Yes, I've lost."]
In this battle, Raiden Ei was gradually 'refuted' by the Traveler. The moment Ei began to waver, she had already lost.
This was her mental world, and the 'wishes' illuminated here were, in essence, constantly whispering their desires within her heart.
Ei was not a god who did not love her people, so her defeat was inevitable.
[The Traveler said: "When people give their all, they can even take on the work of gods."]
The Traveler was referring to Venti, using his deeds to tell Ei that humans were not as frail as she thought. In a 'godless' nation, people could still live well on their own.
[Yae Miko: "A nation where humans race forward, leaving gods behind...?"]
Venti wasn't entirely pleased with this statement. What did she mean by 'leaving gods behind'?!
Ever since waking up, I've been diligently keeping up with the times! I've already tasted all the latest wines, ehe!
My next plan is to sample all the newest foreign wines. I won't be left behind—I'm the world's greatest sommelier!
Venti's mentality was strong; he knew how to regulate his emotions. But Ei did not.
[Ei, with a trace of grievance in her tone: "The losses brought by progress—you've witnessed them alongside me."]
[Ei lowered her eyes, as if trying to convince herself, her voice heavy: "Only eternity... only eternity can..."]
Turning the page, this page was an illustration. Ei, dressed in a white kimono, stood on a bridge, gripping her sword, her face obscured.
[Ei: "Where lightning flashes, a shadow is cast."]
["I am that shadow."]
The scene shifted, and in the reflection on the water's surface, a figure wielding a naginata appeared—she was the true Ei.
Only then did everyone realize that the figure in the previous illustration wasn't the Shogun. But if so, why did that person look identical to the Shogun? Who was she?
On the next page, Ei swung her naginata, leading her forces into battle.
["With 'thoughtlessness,' I shall clear all obstacles to Inazuma's progress."]
The people of Inazuma nodded—this was the Shogun they knew. But who was the woman from the first page?
Their doubts remained unresolved.
The next page depicted the great serpent Orobashi, and the page after that showed the Thunderbird Kapatcir—both were 'obstacles' that Ei had 'cut down.'
["However... with every step forward, something is lost."]
Behind Ei emerged a hundred ghosts! Eerie, monstrous creatures followed her as she waged war across the land, forming the Hyakki Yagyou—the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons!
Yet, as Ei had said, every step forward came with loss. The hundred ghosts that once followed her were now few in number, leaving her truly a lone 'shadow.'
[Ei: "In the end, even 'she' was lost."]
In this illustration, Ei shed a single tear of blood.
Ei had never shown such emotion when facing trials or obstacles, making people all the more curious about 'her' identity. For whom did the mighty, stoic Electro Archon weep?
And it wasn't just tears—she shed tears of blood, proof of her profound grief.
Beneath a cherry blossom tree, two figures resembling the Electro Archon appeared in the scene. One knelt in front, holding up a paper umbrella, while the other stood behind, raising one hand with an open palm, as if waiting for a falling cherry blossom to land in it.
Unlike the previous illustrations dominated by cold purple tones, this one had warm hues, giving the scene a much cozier feel.
Turning the page again, the 'Raiden Ei' in the image looked gentle, wearing a faint smile.
She held up a purple paper umbrella and cradled a pink fox in her arms.
The readers were stunned. They were all 'Raiden Ei,' so why did the Electro Archon in this illustration seem so gentle?
Combined with Ei's earlier words, people began to form a bold hypothesis: could the Electro Archon have a split personality!?
[Ei: "'Go pursue it, even if it's but a fleeting light.'"]
["'At the very least, we have this moment.'"]
["She once said that."]
Turning the page once more, amidst the burning ruins, Ei held another 'Ei' in her arms.
This finally cleared up the misunderstanding—the Electro Archon didn't have a split personality. The other person truly existed.
So, was the Electro Archon a twin!?
The readers were utterly shocked. This was a massive secret, one even the people of Inazuma didn't know!
Kujou Sara's eyes widened, her fists clenched unconsciously, tears streaming down her cheeks. One of the Shoguns... was dead.
[Ei: "But I witnessed a nation that ran with all its might lose everything before Celestia... Perhaps only by freezing time can the lightning endure."]
Now people understood why Ei had become so reclusive. It wasn't just because her emotions had been deeply wounded—it was also because she feared Inazuma would follow in Khaenri'ah's footsteps.
In truth, Ei knew nothing at all. Khaenri'ah's destruction wasn't because it 'ran with all its might,' but because it became a 'traitor to Teyvat.'
It had served as a 'guide' for the Abyss, so it would've been strange if Celestia didn't destroy Khaenri'ah.
If anything, if it weren't for Celestia's favoritism toward humans, Khaenri'ah might not have lasted until the Abyss fully invaded before being annihilated.
Try swapping Khaenri'ah's people with 'dragons.' Forget communicating with the Abyss—Celestia would've uprooted their entire lineage the moment they brought outsiders into Teyvat.
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Character Voice · Raiden Ei: About Herself
"Sigh, over these centuries, I've made too many mistakes. I, too, will mend my own Yae."