Night had fallen.
Koji sat atop the fox-shaped head of the Sacred Sakura, with the Raiden sisters flanking him on his left and right, each cradling a little fox in her arms.
"From here you can look down over all of Inazuma City. This spot at the Sacred Sakura should count as the highest point on Narukami Island, right?" Kitsune Saiguu said.
"It can indeed be considered the highest point on Narukami Island, but it's not the highest point in all of Inazuma."
Raiden Ei looked off toward Tatarasuna. The place where the Thunder Manifestation roamed was the true highest point of Inazuma.
Back then, she had shot down a thunderbird with a single arrow—what was now the Thunder Manifestation, a strange life-form of Electro. Living lightning and thunder drove its movements, its hatred spurred on by pure remorse, a monster of elemental power.
"There was an incident on Tsurumi Island. Do you know about it?" Koji suddenly thought of something and asked.
"What incident?"
Neither Raiden Ei nor Yae Miko knew what he was referring to. After all, none of them had gone running around over there.
Koji spoke slowly. "The people of Tsurumi believed the thunderbird to be their guardian deity. Every year they offered up living human sacrifices, begging their god to bestow blessings upon them."
"So it's that one…"
Of course Raiden Ei knew the thunderbird. Back then she had stopped the berserk thunderbird. She had no idea why it had gone mad, but it was clearly endangering Inazuma, so she had to step in.
"Human sacrifice, huh. How familiar."
Raiden Makoto let out a quiet sigh. During the Archon War, quite a few tribes had offered up living humans to the gods as sacrifice.
Although such things never happened among those under her command, she knew of them.
The gods would not spare so much as a glance for such offerings.
Many gods were actually fond of humans. To use a living human life as a sacrifice—if they didn't get angry over it, that was already merciful.
"The thunderbird had no interest in the people of Tsurumi at all—until it met a boy. The boy's singing deeply moved and captivated the thunderbird. They became very good friends and forged a bond of friendship."
When Yae Miko heard this, she understood at once and let out a snort. "And then, something happened to that boy, right? That's why back then so many people disappeared from Tsurumi, and even the survivors fled."
She understood humans. Human stupidity was something even the gods had to admit defeat before.
"Yeah. The foolish people of Tsurumi thought the boy had won the thunderbird's favor, so they decided to offer the boy up as a sacrifice, in exchange for the thunderbird's protection over their tribe."
"The boy died, offered up as a sacrifice. The thunderbird grew enraged and brought down divine punishment. That one-of-a-kind singing voice was never heard again." Raiden Ei sighed softly.
When Koji finished, Raiden Ei and the others didn't know what to say.
"He didn't die unjustly. It was their own stupidity that buried their lives," Raiden Makoto sighed again.
The thunderbird was proud and aloof. For the boy's song to move it and win its recognition—that made the boy one of the few friends it had, an irreplaceable existence.
They never understood that if the boy had lived, the thunderbird might really have protected Tsurumi.
The world was fickle. When you bring disaster on yourself, you've no one to blame.
…
At the same time, on Tsurumi Island.
Lumine and Paimon had arrived there. Since they had never explored this place before, they naturally had to come take a look.
"The fog is so thick," Paimon squinted. Visibility was way too low.
"Ayaka said hardly anyone ever comes here. Aside from being remote, there's just no reason for people to live here," Lumine muttered to herself.
Not only that, adventurers wouldn't bother coming to a place this dangerous either.
Which meant the treasure chests here were basically all unopened.
Wait…
Lumine suddenly thought of something and opened a communication channel to Aether.
[Lumine, what is it?]
"Aether, come over here for a moment," Lumine said directly.
[...]
Aether could only sigh helplessly and open an Abyss portal to come to Tsurumi.
"What's the matter?" Aether asked softly. It was a tone he used only when speaking to his little sister.
"Have you been here before?"
Lumine pointed into the mist-shrouded domain.
Adventurers rarely came here, but this guy Aether might have. She had to confirm first—she really didn't want to open chests just to find a bunch of junk.
"Tsurumi Island in Inazuma, huh?"
Aether looked around and recognized the place.
"I haven't been here. There's nothing I need in this place." He shook his head.
He knew there were Rifthounds here, as well as the Golden Wolflord.
The Golden Wolflord was a twisted monster from another world, the king that ruled over the Rifthound packs, possessing the authority to command the pack to erode space itself.
"Aether, that's not what I'm asking. These treasure chests here—have you opened them before?" Lumine narrowed her eyes at him.
Aether: "..."
Hearing Lumine's question, Aether fell silent.
He had thought it was something serious, but it turned out she'd called him over just for this.
Phew…
Deep breath. She's my little sister. I can't get mad.
"No. This place is too out of the way. I've opened quite a lot of treasure chests, but it's not like I've opened every last chest in every corner of the world," Aether said with a wry smile.
He didn't travel specifically to open treasure chests. Otherwise, how much time would that waste?
"Got it. Aether, you're not busy right now, are you?" Lumine looked at her brother.
"Walk around with me?"
"…I'm not busy."
Aether blinked in surprise, then looked at his little sister with gentle eyes. No matter how busy he was, he would always make time to keep his sister company.
"A long-overdue adventure—let's go."
Paimon headed back to Inazuma City, leaving the siblings to their time together.
"Aether, is there some grudge between you and Dainsleif?"
The question caught Aether off guard.
"That's between me and Dain. You don't need to worry about it, Lumine." Aether smiled and shook his head.
Not long ago, Dainsleif had sought him out. The two had exchanged a few blows. Dain's strength was nothing to scoff at, but he wasn't exactly the brightest, and Aether had shaken him off with ease.
"Our bodies can absorb the power of the Abyss, Aether—how much do you know about that?" Lumine stared unblinkingly at him.
Aether couldn't help but be startled, then sighed helplessly. "Didn't think you'd notice. Abyssal power is harmful to other people, it corrodes them—but we can contain a certain amount of it."
"You were able to deal with the tainted blood in Dvalin's body that carried the aura of the Abyss. That wasn't purification—it was absorption. It's just that the amount was too small for you to notice."
He didn't mention what happened in the past. The sinners who had carved up the Abyss' power… he would settle that score himself.
"I see. So… Aether, you're really strong now, aren't you?" Lumine continued asking.
"It's… okay." Aether smiled faintly and didn't say more.
"Forget it. Since you're not talking, I'll stop asking. If you ever can't hold on anymore, my husband will save you," Lumine said, and she really didn't sound like she was joking.
Aether couldn't help but break into a sweat. He didn't know whether to be moved or to laugh.
This sister of his had a bit of a screw loose, but she still cared about him.
And she called that "husband" so naturally—clearly, her brother-in-law was already set in her heart.
He had no objections. His little sister liked him, and Aether had observed the man as well: flirtatious, yes, but capable of protecting her.
(End of Chapter)
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