Night slowly descended.
Back at Tenshukaku, Raiden Ei sat restlessly, waiting.
She had been expecting the scene where she would enter the sealed consciousness space left behind by Raiden Makoto.
But today's Future Weaving projection had already ended.
From what she could tell, Aerin was preparing to leave Inazuma for Liyue.
"…I still wanted to see why he ordered me to enter Makoto's consciousness space."
She had planned to go immediately—but Yae Miko stopped her.
This was not something to do without Aerin's approval.
Right now, the most urgent matter was preparing for Aerin's arrival.
Miko had already contacted Sangonomiya Kokomi, gathering everyone to discuss how to face what was coming.
Orders were issued throughout Inazuma:
The moment Aerin is sighted, report it immediately through the light-screen system.
As for Raiden Ei, her only task was to wait.
"…Did the future projection skip that scene entirely?"
She sat alone in Tenshukaku, anxiety gnawing at her.
Inside the Imaginary Space
Fresh from a bath, Aerin stepped out of the bathroom.
He had deliberately avoided showing anything related to his newly acquired Authorities in the Future Weaving.
The sight of Spiral Power alone would have stunned all of Teyvat into silence—but there was no urgency.
Spiral Power was a purely will-based omnipotent force.
One could grow stronger through unyielding resolve, but true awakening?
That was nearly impossible.
Not just for Teyvat—
Across the entire cosmos, finding even one being who could truly awaken it would be a miracle.
Fear alone would prevent most from ever reaching that shore.
Those who sought power by submission had no chance at all.
Such people were normal.
Someone who could awaken Spiral Power through pure will?
That wasn't normal.
That was a monster.
Aerin actually hoped such a person might exist—
After all, he held absolute authority over Spiral Power itself.
"…What a pity."
That muttered line made Skirk shiver.
She had no idea what he was thinking anymore.
Quickly, she changed the subject.
"You… haven't told me where I'm sleeping tonight."
Aerin casually tossed her a silky garment.
"Go take a bath. Then put this on."
He pointed at the bed.
"I'll wait here."
Skirk froze.
"…We're sleeping together?"
She unfolded the garment—
And went completely blank.
It was barely a strip of fabric.
That's… clothing?
As someone obsessed only with combat, Skirk's mind crashed.
"This… this is part of my duties?" she asked stiffly.
Aerin nodded calmly.
Her face turned pale.
"This isn't what I imagined at all!"
"Wait—why would someone like you even have human desires?"
She had been taught since childhood by Surtalogi that they were not on the same level as humans.
She had always scoffed at human behavior.
Aerin blinked.
"I am human. Is that strange?"
"…You're human?!"
"That's impossible."
"Humans don't become monsters like you."
Aerin rolled his eyes.
"Having power you don't understand doesn't make me non-human."
"That way of thinking is shallow."
Skirk immediately backed down.
"Even so… this kind of thing should be between people with feelings…"
Aerin cut her off.
"That's another misconception."
"When a master orders a servant, the servant doesn't get to refuse."
Skirk's breathing hitched.
Only now did she realize—
Obtaining a Stigma Elixir was far more terrifying than she had imagined.
"…Do I have any other choice?"
She asked softly.
But Aerin had already lain down, clearly done with the conversation.
Skirk clenched her fists.
If the power gap weren't so absolute, she would have fought to the death.
"…Fine. But don't blame me if I'm clumsy."
The Next Morning
Aerin stretched under the sunlight.
"Pick up the pace."
"If we weren't long-lived, we'd be buried in dirt before you reached Tenshukaku."
Several meters behind him, Skirk limped forward, glaring.
Just rolling her eyes made memories from last night come flooding back.
She couldn't believe the one screaming in panic had been her.
A warrior of the Abyss—terrified of falling from a height shorter than his legs, clinging to his neck in fear?
She wanted to die.
"I must've been mind-controlled…"
She tapped her head anxiously.
What if she lost her mind before even getting the Stigma Elixir?
Liyue — Rising Tension
In Liyue, emotions were spiraling.
Keqing paced her room, staring at the light screen.
"Why isn't the future playing yet?!"
"What is Rex Lapis going to choose?"
She was the most afraid of all.
She had always believed—
Humans must shoulder their own fate.
But after Mondstadt and Inazuma…
She understood now.
Some burdens cannot be carried.
Not by humans.
Not even by gods.
"The Fifth Descender… he isn't wrong."
"Human hearts are fickle."
"They need constant guidance."
The saying "The gods watch from above" alone suppressed countless evils.
Suddenly—
The screen lit up.
Liyue — Yujing Terrace
The Rite of Descension began as usual.
But there was no excitement.
Only fear.
Whispers spread through the crowd.
"Mondstadt wasn't a rumor…"
"Inazuma was attacked too…"
"But the Raiden Shogun won…"
"Then why did the Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions fall?"
As Ningguang, presiding over the ceremony, listened calmly—
She knew far more than they did.
Beidou had nearly died from the aftermath of that golden light.
And after it—
The thunderstorms around Inazuma vanished completely.
Something was very wrong.
Yet uncontrolled information would only cause panic.
So she sealed everything.
The Moment
"The auspicious hour has arrived!"
Golden light erupted.
Clouds gathered—
Then darkened.
And instead of the familiar stone dragon descending—
A lifeless body fell from the sky.
Silence.
Ningguang rushed forward—
No elemental response.
"…No resonance?"
Her pupils shook violently.
"…The Geo Archon…"
"…has been killed?"
Suppressing panic, she made a snap decision.
"The Geo Archon is unwell!"
"The Rite is postponed!"
"Please disperse calmly!"
But Liyue's people already understood.
Rex Lapis had chosen to fake his death.
He had abandoned them.
High Above the Sky
Morax bowed.
"I've done as you instructed."
Aerin glanced at Ningguang and laughed lightly.
"Tianquan Ningguang…"
"She's a very capable woman."
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