"Kamisato Ayato? What's your relationship with Kamisato Ayaka?"
Abby pondered for a moment. He hadn't heard Thoma mention anyone named Kamisato Ayato before.
"Kamisato Ayaka is my younger sister. She usually represents the Kamisato family in public affairs, so naturally, when people think of the Kamisato family, they recall the Shirasagi Himegimi."
Kamisato Ayato explained, while Yae Miko added to the group:
"However, all important matters are decided by this family head. That's why having him here to assist you is the best option."
Hearing Yae Miko's words, Rover couldn't help but scrutinize the family head before him. He shared Zhongli's speculations and the experiences of their journey with the two of them.
The expressions of Yae Miko and Kamisato Ayato grew increasingly grave. Once they had processed the information, Ayato realized the severity of the situation. He turned and whispered a few words to someone outside the door. Rover could hear some commotion around them, which soon settled into silence.
"This matter is of utmost importance. Can we still contact the Shogun?"
Yae, shedding her usual languid demeanor, shook her head and briefly described the current situation to Rover's group.
"Based on the intelligence Ayato has gathered, both the Tenryou Commission and the Kanjou Commission have already made contact with the Fatui. This means any petitions to the Shogun through the Yashiro Commission will be intercepted by the Tenryou Commission. As for Ei, she has been secluded in her Plane of Euthymia all these years. Without her permission, even I, as her familiar, cannot enter."
After listening, Dainsleif understood what Yae Miko was implying.
"So, for this journey into the Abyss, the local deity will not be offering assistance. Is that correct?"
Yae shook her head and provided an answer.
"Yes, and no. If the commotion is too great, not only Ei but the Raiden Shogun herself will sense it and take action first."
As soon as she finished speaking, Yae Miko glanced at Ayato, who nodded and continued.
"I've already recalled the Shuumatsuban members who were monitoring the Fatui. These agents are highly perceptive and can conduct investigations around Narukami Island. If the Abyss Order exposes itself, we'll be able to track their movements at any time."
Abby, hearing this, grew somewhat concerned.
"What about the Fatui? What will we do about them?"
Kamisato Ayato smiled and polished the sharp blade in his hand.
"I believe my sister will handle it."
Yae turned to Changli, who was smiling back at her.
"You must have already devised a strategy, haven't you?"
Yae probed, and Changli, who had somehow produced a Weiqi board, placed it before them. Kamisato Ayato leaned in closer, staring at the intense battle between the black and white stones, momentarily lost in thought.
"A strategy? Not quite... It's more about... adapting to the changes with constancy. After all, the enemy will inevitably slip up. Once they start tampering with the ley lines, the Sacred Sakura will surely react."
Rover understood Changli's implication. He stepped forward and placed a black stone into the white stones' trap. The white stones launched an attack, seemingly intent on devouring the black stones completely.
"Set a trap—find an opportunity to expose a critical ley line node of the Sacred Sakura to them, luring them into taking the bait..."
The corner of Changli's lips curled up as a black stone slipped from between her fingers and landed on the board. With this move, the black stones formed a counter-encirclement, swallowing the white stones trapped in the center, leaving only a few scattered survivors at the edges.
"Now that the trap is set, we'll see how our opponent responds."
...
"I understand your request, and I can certainly arrange an introduction to the Raiden Shogun for you."
Kamisato Ayaka's words calmed Aether. The foundation of any transaction was fairness, and the conditions she would ask for were unlikely to be simple.
"I have three friends who, after losing their Visions, have each been troubled in their own ways. Helping them is the content of our transaction."
Aether thought deeply for a moment before confirming again:
"I'll do my best to help them, but I can't guarantee that I'll resolve their troubles."
The voice behind the screen didn't seem surprised. Without pause, Ayaka continued:
"That's fine. As long as you put in your best effort, that will be enough."
After Thoma handed Aether the information about the three individuals, Aether left the Kamisato Estate.
"Let's see... where are they now...?"
In Konda Village, Aether and Paimon followed Thoma's directions and arrived at the village entrance, only to find a noisy crowd gathered in a circle.
"Mr. Tejima, what's going on? After all these years, why are you suddenly leaving us?"
"That's right. This decision is too sudden. We haven't even had time to prepare anything."
Hearing the name of their target, Aether immediately focused on the elderly man at the center of the crowd. His expression was despondent as he repeatedly refused the villagers' pleas to stay.
"Can you tell me what's happening?"
Aether asked a villager, who sighed and explained the situation.
It turned out that Tejima had recently had his Vision confiscated and subsequently announced his intention to leave the village. The villagers, upon hearing this, had all rushed to persuade him otherwise.
After all, Tejima had protected Konda Village for thirty years. To the villagers, he was a revered elder.
Once the crowd dispersed, Aether followed Tejima to his home and asked him again about his reasons.
"Leaving... I suppose it's more that I don't know why I should stay anymore..."
The white-haired Tejima seemed utterly lost. He scratched his head and pondered for a while but couldn't find a reason to remain.
"Thirty years ago... why did I come here? And why did I stay for all these years? After losing my Vision, it feels like I've lost something... like there's a void in my heart..."
Tejima continued murmuring to himself. Unwilling to interrupt his soliloquy, Aether took the opportunity to look around the house after receiving Tejima's permission.
It was clean and simple. After a brief search, Aether found a journal covered in a thin layer of dust, as if it hadn't been opened in quite some time.
[Today, I made grilled fish with everyone in the village. I accidentally burned the pan, haha. Had to pretend I was making grilled black fish instead. You saw right through me and bonked me on the head.]
[Today, I flew a kite, but the string snapped. I chased after it but couldn't catch it, watching it drift farther and farther away. Then, you came running up to me, panting, with my kite in your hands.]
[Today, I prayed at the shrine again. The omamori you gave me has faded, but it's still my most treasured possession.]
[The omamori is gone. I sat there for a long, long time. Only when it grew dark did I realize—without you by my side, it's so very cold.]
Aether's heart ached. He carefully flipped through the journal, and the fragments of Tejima's life seemed to unfold before him in those sparse words.
With a heavy sigh, he placed the journal back where he found it. Following the entries about the shrine, he searched carefully until he found a box tucked away in a corner.
Inside the box were an omamori and a letter.
"If... we lose this war, wait for me in Konda Village. There, we'll surely have a peaceful home."
Paimon's lips trembled, and her voice shook as she spoke.
"So... Mr. Tejima has been waiting here for thirty years... for the person he loved..."
Aether lowered his gaze and handed the box to Tejima. After reading its contents, Tejima sounded utterly bewildered.
"Why... why do I feel nothing at all? Love, regret—everything about her... why has it all vanished...?"
Aether froze. Clenching his teeth, he asked Tejima a question from the depths of his heart.
"Do you... feel sad?"
Tejima shook his head.
"I've forgotten what she looked like. It's like a hazy dream... When I wake up, everything is gone... Still, I thank you for helping me remember why I stayed. Though, it seems that reason isn't so important anymore...
If I were to meet her again and couldn't even recall her name... wouldn't that make her sad?"
Aether listened in silence, his head bowed, overwhelmed by a sense of powerlessness.
Night fell. Aether didn't know what emotions weighed on his heart as he left Konda Village. Turning back, he saw the lone candlelight still burning in the village and asked himself:
When a wish strong enough to draw the gaze of the gods is stripped away, does the person's entire life vanish along with it?