A single falling cherry blossom petal drifted softly through the air, landing on the face of the unconscious blonde-haired boy. The faint fragrance of sakura slipped into his nose, the ticklish sensation making him frown slightly. His dizzy mind stirred, and he slowly opened his hazy eyes.
The first thing he saw was a blurred reflection of a pink silhouette hovering above him. His vision was still unfocused, and he couldn't quite tell who the figure was.
"Come on~ Repeat after me: 'Three-two-one, one-two-three, ahhh~' Quick, now."
Along with that outline came a melodious, lilting voice, as bright as a songbird's. The woman sounded as if she were trying to wake him, in her own uniquely whimsical way.
"..."
As his thoughts cleared, his vision gradually sharpened—and he finally saw the woman standing above him.
Long cherry-pink hair, amethyst eyes, an elegant and enchanting face, and that familiar shrine maiden attire.
"Yae... Miko?!"
He muttered her name hoarsely, shock evident in his voice.
"Haa... I told you to repeat after me. Hurry up."
Miko completely ignored his bewilderment, instead continuing to coax him into repeating the strange phrase.
"...One-two-three, three-two-one... ahhh."
Aether grumbled irritably, complying in a perfunctory tone—without realizing he had said the order backward.
"Mhm, not bad, not bad. At least it means your brain's still working properly. Hm~"
Miko brushed a few strands of hair behind her ear, her lips curving into a mischievous smile. Her eyes narrowed slyly.
"!"
Aether tried to sit up immediately, but a sharp pain shot through his lower back, forcing him to clutch his waist with a grimace.
"Wait—Aether, don't move! Your back's all bruised!"
Paimon hurriedly stopped him, waving her tiny hands frantically.
"...Ugh, great."
Aether glanced down at his waist and muttered in frustration.
"Dragging you out of there half-dead wasn't easy, you know. Would've been a waste if something broke—including you, little one."
Miko crossed her arms, her gaze shifting toward Paimon. Earlier, the tiny companion had ended up stuck headfirst into the floor. Fortunately, the flooring hadn't been too hard.
"...Where am I?"
Aether blinked, looking around in confusion. Soon, he recognized his surroundings—they were atop Mt. Yougou, within the Grand Narukami Shrine. The enormous Sacred Sakura tree loomed nearby, its petals drifting gently down like a soft pink carpet. The only difference was... it was nighttime.
—Had an entire day passed? He'd been asleep for a whole day?!
Miko was now standing before the shrine's grand doors, while he and Paimon rested under the eaves, sheltered from the rain. The cool night air carried the faint scent of blossoms.
"Uh, Miko... I've been meaning to ask—your demeanor now is totally different from when we first met."
Paimon, finally recovering her composure, crossed her tiny arms and frowned in curiosity.
It wasn't their first meeting. They'd met before—back when they helped Ayaka fulfill her three wishes, even aiding a certain swordmaster along the way.
"Maybe it's because there aren't any other shrine maidens around this time. Besides... I've always been like this, you know?"
She replied casually.
"This... side of you?" ×2
Both of them exchanged puzzled looks.
"What people show to the world is only the part they want others to see. That much, I know well."
"So, in truth, every side is still the real 'me.' It's just that people love to label things that don't need labeling."
She caught a falling cherry blossom petal, gently pressing it between her fingertips as if savoring its delicate texture.
"In this world that belongs, for now, to humans, I simply act as I please."
Her gaze returned to the two of them.
"I... don't really get it."
Paimon scratched her head with a comically confused look before turning to Aether.
"Do you get it?"
"..."
Aether just gave her a silent, helpless look.
"Yae Miko, did you rescue me from the Balladeer?"
He decided to get straight to the point.
"Of course~! I used the Secret Art of the Grand Narukami Shrine! One move and that 'Balladeer' was begging for mercy. Do you believe that?"
Her sharp mind spun a tale instantly—effortlessly delivered without a hint of hesitation.
"..." ×2
Both of them exchanged a perfectly synchronized look of disdain.
"...What's with that reaction?"
Miko blinked and sighed helplessly.
"I saw the Raiden Shogun before I passed out," Aether recalled, frowning slightly as the memories returned. In those final moments before losing consciousness, he was certain he had seen that familiar silhouette—that unmistakable shade of violet.
"Oh yeah! I remember too! I was scared she was going to chop you in half, so I flew in front of you! But then... she just ignored me and walked right past."
Paimon nodded as the memory clicked back into place.
"Haa... so you both saw her, huh."
Miko exhaled in disappointment. She'd hoped to use the moment to show off a bit—but apparently, the Shogun had stolen her thunder. Oh well.
"But... why did she come here?"
Aether wondered aloud.
"Alright~ Instead of pondering that, shouldn't you be thinking about how to repay me?"
Miko's tone turned sly, clearly steering the conversation toward what she really wanted to talk about.
"Repay you...?"
Aether blinked in confusion.
"Or has your brain gone soft after that beating?"
She teased, her sharp tongue back in full force.
"..." ×2
Aether and Paimon exchanged a look, then nodded in perfect unison before both bowing politely.
"Thank you very much, Lady Yae Miko."
Aether said earnestly.
"No need for formalities. Spare me the niceties—I don't care for those. What I want... is action."
Miko shrugged lightly, cutting straight to the point.
"Sounds suspicious..."
Paimon muttered under her breath, half-squinting at her.
"You're still worried about the Delusions, aren't you?"
Miko ignored the comment entirely. Her violet eyes gleamed, effortlessly seeing through the young man's thoughts and unease.
"Yeah... What happened after that?"
Aether rubbed his temple, still feeling a bit dazed but concerned.
"Don't worry. The leader of Watatsumi Island has already led her forces to clear them out. She's issued strict orders banning the use of Delusions."
"And the Balladeer?!"
Aether's voice rose slightly, his tone tight with unease at the mention of the Fatui Harbinger.
"He escaped," Miko answered simply.
"Are you sure?"
He pressed, still unconvinced.
"Relax... He's not foolish enough to stick around after his base has been exposed. He won't waste his time fighting for his comrades when he can barely save himself."
She scoffed quietly to herself. And yet this boy still worries for others? How naive.
"Haa... I would've loved to see the look on those Fatui faces when they realized their end was near."
She spread her hands lazily, her tone laced with amusement.
"Still, I'll admit—the Resistance acted fast. Efficient, too. That woman, Sangonomiya Kokomi... I'd quite like to meet her in person. A shame our faith divides us."
Maybe the Shogun could introduce us someday~? she mused inwardly, a sly grin touching her lips. Those two seem to get along rather well, despite being on opposing sides. Ah, youth—how amusing. Then again... I'm not much older than the Shogun myself, am I? She chuckled inwardly.
"Divides you? You're the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine!"
Paimon exclaimed in disbelief.
"Anyway... I'm only telling you this so you can stop worrying—and focus on the task I'm entrusting to you."
Miko smoothly pulled the wandering conversation back on track.
"...So that's the real reason you saved me, huh?"
Aether looked at her suspiciously, still uncertain.
"Hehe... Smart boy. But it's nothing too serious."
Miko waved her delicate hand dismissively, a sly smile still curving her lips.
"...What is it?"
Aether sighed. Despite himself, he asked—the least he could do after she'd saved his life.
"You've met her, haven't you?"
Miko asked suddenly.
"Her?"
Aether blinked, caught off guard. Her who? Of course, it was typical of Miko to start with cryptic nonsense.
"You mean... the Raiden Shogun? Of course I have—didn't we just talk about—"
He stopped himself mid-sentence. Not only had he met her, he'd fought her—and lost miserably.
"I'm not talking about the 'Shogun.' I'm talking about her. Have you met her?"
Miko corrected calmly, her gaze unwavering.
"...Her?"
Aether was completely baffled now. Wait, there's someone else? He couldn't tell if this was another one of her games.
"Mhm~ It seems you haven't met her yet."
Miko nodded slightly, as if confirming her own suspicion.
"Who are you talking about?"
He asked, his tone confused but curious.
"I'm talking about the true Raiden Shogun—the one who maintains her existence through endless meditation within the Plane of Euthymia."
Her eyes turned serious for a fleeting moment, and her lips curved into a faint, solemn smile.
"—Her name... is Ei."
Hearing those words, both Paimon and Aether froze, their faces filled with utter shock—as if their minds couldn't quite process what they had just heard.
"Eh—?! Wait a second! You mean... there are two Raiden Shoguns?!"
Paimon shouted, floating in midair with wide eyes.
"That's impossible," Aether shook his head. "That sounds ridiculous."
"Oh, it's very possible~ Because it's true," Miko replied casually with a shrug, completely unfazed.
"..." ×2
The two exchanged a dumbfounded look.
"If that 'Ei' you mentioned is the real Raiden Shogun, then... who exactly is the one we met?"
Paimon asked, her head spinning.
"What I said earlier wasn't entirely accurate," Miko corrected herself after a moment's thought. "To be precise, both of them are the real Raiden Shogun."
"?" ×2
Now they were even more confused.
"What do you mean?" Aether asked.
"The one you met was a puppet."
"...A puppet?!" ×2
Their jaws dropped wide open, as if she had just told them the most outrageous thing imaginable. The sudden twist left them reeling.
"That's right—a puppet. Her name is 'Shogun.'"
Miko's tone turned firm as she confirmed it.
"..."
Aether was speechless.
"Wait—what do you mean by 'puppet'? What kind of puppet are we talking about here?"
Paimon's tiny voice rose again, clearly struggling to follow.
"Don't get it? Hm~ Let me put it in terms you might understand... The 'Shogun' is a fully autonomous, high-intelligence AI."
Miko tapped her ear thoughtfully, using the most modern term she could think of.
"Ha?!" ×2
Both of them froze completely.
"H-High-intelligence AI? Wh—why does this suddenly sound like a sci-fi story?!"
Paimon flailed her arms in panic.
"Hehe... But it's the truth."
Miko smiled, clearly entertained by the whiplash of expressions flashing across their faces every second. She was thoroughly enjoying the moment.
"But even so... she—uh, it—feels way too human! You can't even tell the difference!"
Paimon's voice was full of disbelief, her little body spinning around in agitation.
"She's just like a real person!"
If Miko hadn't said anything, neither of them would have ever guessed. The idea of a "high-intelligence AI" existing here in Teyvat sounded absurd.
"That's why she's called high-intelligence. Besides, the Shogun isn't some cheap, mechanical toy."
Miko tilted her head slightly, her gaze drifting up toward the towering Sacred Sakura tree. A faint look of nostalgia flickered in her eyes.
"The Shogun is the pinnacle of technological achievement in all of Teyvat—one of Inazuma's greatest treasures. A creation that could be called a miracle of its age."
Not only that... Within her resided Ei's essence—and the soul of the first Electro Archon, Raiden Makoto. She was, in every sense, a perfect being.
"Wow... this suddenly got so deep. Are we sure this is still Inazuma?"
Paimon muttered in disbelief.
If only she knew... this wasn't Inazuman technology at all, but a relic of Khaenri'ah's lost science. Miko, of course, didn't say that out loud.
"You said that 'Ei'—could it be—"
"That's right. Ei is the one who created the Shogun. You could call her... the Shogun's 'mother.' She's also the true Raiden Shogun who now dwells behind the puppet."
"So you're saying... Inazuma has two Electro Archons? One being the 'Shogun,' and the other being 'Ei'?"
"Technically, the real Archon is Ei. But in a way... both can be considered the Raiden Shogun."
After all, they shared one body. In time, Ei would either pass her title to the puppet—or perhaps, the two would share it together. Personally, Miko preferred the latter. After all, in eternity, companionship was what mattered most.
Aether fell silent. His mind drifted back to their battle. Even when he was drawn into the Plane of Euthymia, the one he faced had still been the puppet—the same tone, the same presence. Yes... from beginning to end, it had always been that puppet. He had yet to meet the true Ei.
"Why did she do all this?" he finally asked, his tone heavy with curiosity.
"Because this is her version of 'Eternity.'"
Miko spread her hands lightly.
"Eternity..."
'You are an anomaly. And anomalies are the enemy of Eternity.'
'You... are the one furthest from Eternity.'
Those words echoed again in his mind.
What exactly did she mean by 'Eternity'?*
"Before one can pursue the Eternity of this nation, one must first touch Eternity themselves."
Miko gazed up at the Sacred Sakura before her. The ethereal petals danced in the air, some brushing lightly against her cheek like playful spirits.
"The mortal body will one day return to dust. So she entrusted that role to a 'puppet.'"
"The mind, too, is not immune to wear. Thus, she placed her consciousness within her blade, meditating to shut out all worldly distractions. You were pulled into that space once, weren't you?"
"You mean that place she opened with her sword?"
Aether asked.
"Yes... that was the Plane of Euthymia. What was it like?"
Miko asked curiously.
"What was it like? It was... blue everywhere. There were cherry blossoms and the sea."
Aether recalled slowly.
"Hehe... I see. That was the puppet's Plane of Euthymia, not Ei's."
Miko smiled knowingly at his answer.
"No way, even a puppet has something like that?"
Paimon gasped in disbelief.
"Have you already forgotten what I said earlier? The Shogun may be a puppet, but she inherited a god's will—and a god's power. In her current form, she's a god with a 'heart.'"
"The Shogun can wield Musou Isshin, and that blade in turn responds to her emotions. That is the will she inherited."
"Ohh... so that's how it is."
Paimon finally understood.
"The Plane of Euthymia is much like one's inner world—but there are differences."
Miko continued her explanation.
"You mean... Ei's Plane of Euthymia and the Shogun's are different?"
"Exactly. The difference lies in the fact that each is a manifestation of their hearts. The Shogun's Plane of Euthymia is pure in color, filled with cherry blossoms and seas that symbolize beauty. That's because, in a sense, she's still a child—her heart retains innocence and a longing for beauty. But Ei... has lost too much, and what remains of her inner world is cracked and desolate."
The Shogun's 'heart' was a true soul, so her Plane of Euthymia retained traces of the original one's form. That was why she could perfectly synchronize with Ei's domain. And that... was the greatest difference between them.
"Wow... this is really starting to sound like a fantasy story."
Paimon rubbed her tiny head, overwhelmed.
"She sealed herself within her own world, leaving all the burdens of the outside to the Shogun. She made that newborn child carry all of Inazuma's weight."
Miko sighed softly. "And the amazing part? That child is so obedient—so gentle it hurts to watch. Honestly, it's almost endearing... mother and daughter, huh? What a pair of fools."
"She's kind of selfish, isn't she..."
Paimon murmured.
"Hehe... That's just Ei's way of seeking her own form of 'Eternity.'"
Miko tilted her head with a helpless smile, as though long accustomed to her old friend's stubbornness.
"Zhongli once mentioned something similar about wear and erosion."
Aether noted thoughtfully.
"Morax? Ah, so the rumors were true—you and the Geo Archon are rather close, aren't you?"
Miko teased with a sly grin.
"Uh... something like that."
Aether rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"But... this method does seem to avoid the same issue Zhongli faced."
Paimon nodded in understanding.
Miko sighed softly and shook her head.
"Little one, that's wrong~ This approach is flawed. Isn't it like a child throwing a tantrum and locking herself in her room?"
She smirked faintly. "Honestly, sometimes the Shogun acts more mature than she does."
"The 'Eternity' she speaks of now is nothing but a twisted version of the real thing. In truth, all she's doing is running away from loss."
"..." ×2
Aether and Paimon fell silent. After a moment, Aether looked into Miko's eyes thoughtfully.
"So... what do you want me to do?"
They understood the situation now—the connection between the two Raiden Shoguns. But Miko's true motive was still unclear.
"Actually... our goals align."
Miko replied smoothly, as if she'd anticipated his question all along.
"You wish to free Inazuma's people from the Vision Hunt Decree. I do as well. Only, I also want to save this nation... and save them."
"Them?"
Paimon blinked.
"Ei is bound by her idea of Eternity... and the Shogun is bound by Ei herself. Do you understand what I mean?"
Miko asked.
"No, I—"
"I get it."
Aether cut Paimon off deliberately.
"Hey! Don't ignore me!"
Paimon protested loudly.
"The key lies in you entering Ei's Plane of Euthymia—her inner world. Remember, Ei's, not the Shogun's. There, if you can defeat her, you might just change her mind."
"The Plane of Euthymia only allows the self to exist. Outsiders can't enter. But the Shogun already drew you in once. That means both she and Ei are curious about you. If she can bring you in once, she can do it again. That's your chance."
"Come on."
With that, Miko turned and began walking down the mountain without looking back.
"Hey—where are we going?"
Paimon and Aether hurried after her.
"Anti-Raiden Shogun training."