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ActionsEntire Work ← Previous Chapter Next Chapter → Chapter Index Bookmark Mark for Later Comments Share DownloadWork HeaderRating:General AudiencesArchive Warning:Creator Chose Not To Use Archive WarningsCategories:F/MGenFandom:原神 | Genshin Impact (Video Game)Relationships:Raiden Ei | Baal/ScaramoucheRaiden Ei | Baal & ScaramoucheKong | Aether & Scaramouche (Genshin Impact)Characters:Scaramouche (Genshin Impact)Raiden Ei | BaalKong | Aether (Genshin Impact)Paimon (Genshin Impact)Yae Miko (Genshin Impact)Nahida (Genshin Impact)Kamisato AyakaArataki IttoKuki ShinobuAdditional Tags:IncestVideo Game MechanicsKindaSlow BurnParent/Child IncestLanguage:EnglishCollections:AnonymousStats:Published:2025-01-19Updated:2025-08-29Words:54,037Chapters:16/?Comments:43Kudos:125Bookmarks:8Hits:4,326Eternity lead to Doom!AnonymousChapter 9Notes:(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter TextYae wondered what made Ei look so happy right now. Even from a distance she radiates such happiness that can be felt from afar.
She wants to talk with Ei after dinner time but yet Ei herself apparently is not in Tenshukaku at all during that time. Yae wonder where she goes during that time and what she does.
" That good Ei enjoy it as it lasts because there are a few things you need to answer for the past few days". Dealing with new gossip and rumors caused by her old friend these past days really overwork her. Nevermind about her original duty, these are all new responsibilities she needs to deal with as long as her friend during holiday too. But a new problem too. Heck no she wants to deal with that any longer.
She just would ask Ei to be much more…careful with her holiday. No need for her friend to cut down her holiday at all.
" Probably asking her regarding that young man too" Yae aware that both mortal and immortal like good rumors to talk about including her too. But a rumor about their own Archon close with someone from the opposite gender, it's definitely caused uproar. She can hear her mikos talking about that during their rest time. Yae snorted hearing such rumor, no way that airhead friend of hers had any romantic bone on her. She even still remembers that time when Ei asked her why mortal lovers kiss each other's lips. She laughed when Ei asked her that.
" But there's nothing wrong with teasing her about this rumor" . After all, she is not a Kitsune if she does not have a playful attitude. True Kitsune plays pranks with both friend and foe alike.
-
" Ah, I can't wait for tomorrow to come," Ei thought as she imagined what Makoto would cook for her tomorrow. While the food Makoto cooked for her was not very luxurious unlike the food in Tenshukaku but there love and warmth followed by a sense of familiarity she always longing that unable to give from the Tenshukaku chef prepared. She wonders how Makoto can make his food have that kind of effect on her.
As she entered Tenshukaku, she was greeted by many lines of servants. She wants to say that they don't need to do this every time she returns to Tenshukaku but she doesn't have the heart to say that, at least without dimming the fire in their eyes. But she can appreciate their spirit to serve her.
Then she hears someone saying something to her. "Enjoy your vacation Ei?".
She turned her attention toward the source.
"Ah Miko" Ei answered, she didn't expect to see Miko here in Tenshukaku in this hour. "It's surprising seeing you here"
"it's wrong for a friend checking her friend?" Miko asked.
Ei shakes her head. "Thank but I doubt you come to meet me at this hour just to check on me, right?"
"This is about your vacation," Miko smiled. She looked at Ei, her face showing little disappointment. She continued with "Nah, just kidding. Ara, afraid me cut your vacation short"
EI shakes before smiling, she understood that Miko was just joking to her as usual. And even if she needed to cut her vacation short then she would just agree because Miko must have her own good reason for doing it.
A pity for her because she cannot fulfill her promise with Makoto and eat his food but without a doubt he can understand, after all he is a smart young man. Fortunately this time Miko was just Joking.
"But this is still related to your vacation, more precisely what you are doing during the vacation. We need to talk privately," Miko said as she gestured to the many Servants.
Ei nodded and understood what Miko meant. She gives orders to the many servants to go back to their own rooms or duty.
"Now with all of them gone, Miko, let's talk in a more comfortable place" Ei then walked followed by Miko behind her.
-
Both of them are right now in the private Chamber of Raiden Shogun. They looked at each other. Ei see Miko still smiling at her like before.
"You want to talk about something regarding my vacation days, right? Miko" Ei break the silence between them.
"Ara, as always straight to the point, Ei" Miko answered. "At least a little chat doesn't hurt too much right".
Ei sighed. "You are the one who wants to talk to me yet somehow at the same time you don't want to talk about what's actually you want to talk about".
Hearing that Miko just giggles. "Sorry about that, I have been a little bored these past few days without teasing you".
"Now, let's talk about what I want to talk about with you" This time Ei knows Miko finally wants to talk about her Vacation. She wondered where this talk led too.
"First of all, let's talk about why I hear rumors about you causing some commotion at the Market" Wait a minute, that's something Ei just heard now and she is pretty sure not causing any problem at the market. That was probably just a lie made by a hidden Fatui agent Inazuma , unfortunately for her what Miko said next, proved that she is wrong. "Which of course I don't believe at first because I believe you Ei to not cause a problem but when I investigated and asked many witnesses, oh my let's just say I'm very disappointed, now what your defence about this Ei?".
She asked Ei, but how can she answer her if she isn't aware of her actions? When she even caused commotion at the Market. The only thing she remembers during her time at the Market was when she asked many vendors and shopkeepers about that Limited edition Dango Milk, her meeting with Makoto and a few times they were together to search for the Limited edition Dango Milk and their time together with The Traveller and Paimon.
Ei nodded to herself, finally understanding something. " Yae just playing prank to her right now"
Oh how wrong she is.
-
Yae Miko looked at her old friend like she came to some understanding about her situation.
What Ei say next almost pissed her off.
"ah, i know you are bored Miko so you are just playing pranks with me right Miko, I'm so sorry to not pay attention at all to you during my vacation but this pranks was not funny at all to me". Ei said it like what she just said to her before, sounded like a joke to her.
Before Miko can do something serious, she takes a long breath, Miko already knows how sometimes or more precisely that Ei has an almost ignorant personality. While it's one of her cute aspects, it's also the same aspect she loves and hates about Ei's personality besides her stubbornness. It's cute when she trick and play pranks on her but it's nightmarish when talking about politics and economy with her.
"Ei, I'm serious right now. I even have a few anonymous complaint letters which I easily identified who wrote it and sent it to me through one of my miko." Miko almost laughed when she received the letter, thinking that not someone but a few in Inazuma sent her the complaint letters while trying to be Anonymous. Did they really think their identity was safe from her?. "After a few short and boring investigations by me apparently sent by merchants, candy sellers and shop owners that complained that you scare their customers away, can you explain this to me?, and before you asked about the authenticity this is legit."
Miko then took some letters and gave them to Ei. She takes it and reads all of them one by one.
"Finally, remember what you did, Ei?" Miko asked as Miko could see she didn't move at all after reading it all before she finally talked again.
"I-I thought at the time the customers go when I asked the seller because they already bought something and just go or the seller doesn't sell anything they want to buy or something similar you know, Miko I never think they leave because they are scared of me." Ei tries to give her reason. She looked at Miko and tried to look like she regretted her action, unfortunately it's not working for Miko.
Miko shakes her head hearing her friend's excuses. "And let me guess, you are asking those poor people because the limited flavor of Dango Milk that I mentioned before to you is right." It's more like a statement than a question.
Ei nodded.
Miko internally sighed, so in a part this problem it's also her fault, after all she is the one who played a prank about that Limited flavor of Dango Milk to her in the first place.
In the first place, the reason why she said that to Ei was to her searching the clue about that Dango Milk to make her busy during her vacation but at the same time as advertisement, as when the Raiden Shogun herself searching about the elusive new flavor Dango Milk it's would make people curious and start to investigated and at the end of her vacation, Miko planned to reveal that and selling the new flavor of Dango Milk.
It's supposedly just a small prank and advertisement for the new product.
"Okay, I understand your reasoning but next time when you want to investigate something please remind yourself that many common people of Inazuma are still afraid of you, it's not good to fuel their wariness about you." Miko reminds Ei, hearing what her friend said Ei just nodded understanding but Miko can see sadness in her eyes, She really wants to empathize and comfort her.
While it's true, thanks to The Traveller and the Inazuma people's effort, Ei can finally open her eyes and her heart again, and change her direction of Inazuma for the better. But for awareness and Responsibility of the Ruler for others and herself this is something that, while Miko and The traveller can help, it is best for Ei to learn and understand by herself.
"On your first day back to duty again, please write an apologies letter to those merchants, there is no need for you to write it during your vacation just enjoying it but please don't make any problem during that, please." Miko said to Ei while she took back the letter from Ei's hands, Meanwhile Ei just nodded and looked ashamed of herself.
"To your second rumor, there were a few eyewitnesses that I asked that saw you chasing someone from another country but probably with Inazuma heritage based on the way the eyewitnesses saw him, remember? All of them also said he wears a very ornate kasa". Yae explains and describes the one Ei chased.
"Ah about him," Ei said, looking more awkward than before.
"Ara, it's rare for you to be aware of your own faults". There is no disrespect or something similar in her tone but a playful way she talks to Ei. "So you can explain why you chased this poor young man to begin with?".
Miko then looked as Ei started smiling like she remembered something precious, Miko looked at her just confused, the only time Ei looked at this was before that happened. But now matter how much Miko wants to see her friend happy with her lost in her memories, it's just not productive to let yourself drown in your memories when there is a duty or when someone is talking to you. "eh hem" Miko makes a fake cough sound to make Ei remember about her presence.
"Ah, Sorry about that i'm kinda lost, can you please repeat what you want to say, Miko" Ei said while trying to focus back on their conversation. "Sorry the last thing I heard you asked me about why I chased after that young man right?".
Miko resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Yes"
"Hahaha, you probably don't believe me but I just want to return the stuff that he left behind because he was scared of me because he accidently bumping into me." Miko doesn't detect any lies from her, so perhaps there is also the possibility that the young man is different from the next rumor that Ei hangs out with a young man these past days. Probably just a coincidence that both rumors share the same characteristic : both wear an ornate kasa. After all, if that young man runs just from accidently bumping from Ei there is no way he wants to get close to Ei.
Yae Miko nodded hearing the answer. Satisfied heard it. "Then for the next question, I promise this will be the last one for tonight".
Ei nodded understandingly, waiting what Miko would say. "You know when I heard this rumor by accidently hear from one of my miko, this made me question if the first people who start to spread this rumor have a bad sight or just a liar who wants a problem with the very Archon herself. But funnily enough there are also credible eyewitnesses to support the authenticity of this rumor."
Miko then continued, there was a very Kitsune-like smile on her face. "So Ei when i asked you this, if this is true just answer it truthfully okay."
"W-wait, Miko you scared me" Ei said panicking, there was nothing good when Miko showed her that face. There is a small part of her mind that reminds her of Saiguu. "Just say what you want to say, there is no need for you to scare me like that."
Then. "Pfft" Miko almost laughed when she saw that panicked face of Ei. She really needs to tease Ei more.
"Wh-wha, Miko you" Ei pouted, she knew ever since she finally put an end to her old way to reach Eternity. The frequency of Miko teasing her became much more than 500 years ago.
"Sorry, sorry I just really miss teasing you." Miko explains as she wipes the small tear on her eye. Before she stopped laughing. "You know Kitsune"
After Ei stopped pouting, Miko continued. "About that rumor I heard that you're together with a young man, care to explain to me why you are close with him? From the rumor he definitely is not The Traveller or someone i know because i also know people you know, so i came to the conclusion it's someone you know during your vacation days right Ei?"
"Like usual you know much from so little information, Miko," Ei answered Miko, impressed by her capabilities at collecting and putting together clues.
"It's easy, Ei. The only thing weird was how he can be so close with you in such close time. After all, it's very rare for you to get close with someone so fast." Miko said to Ei. Now who is this young man the question is.
"So what can you tell me about this, your new friend, Ei?" Miko asked. She is very curious about this new young man in her friend's life.
Ei smiled. Then she say. "You will not believe this Miko, that good you man has the same name as my sister "Makoto" his name is."
Miko narrowed her eyes hearing that, is that his true name or just a fake name he uses?. After all, the name Makoto, while a common and unisex name centuries ago it's very common name to both sex but in recent century, parents mostly name their newly born daughter "Makoto" rather than their son. It's very rare to find that name on a boy these days.
"Yeah, what a coincidence" Miko answered, still suspicious of this so-called "Makoto". "If you don't have a problem Ei can you tell when you two first meet each other?"
"Ah, you won't believe me but he is the one who I chased." She became more suspicious hearing that. There is a chance that a young man might be a member of Fatui?. "Apparently he also a friend of Aether too"
Now that throws the possibility of him being a Fatui out of the window. While she also knows The Traveller has a neutral relationship with one of the Harbinger on Liyue from The Traveller mouth himself.
"Did he perhaps say from where he came from and for what purpose he came to Inazuma". Miko asked again, it's not hurt to ask more about this new 'friend' of Ei after all.
"He apparently came from Sumeru, he was also a student too, I even heard from Aether that Dendro Archon herself praised for how smart he is. For what purpose he looks like want to buy authentic Dango Milk" Ei explained to Miko that start to digest the information carefully.
"Sumeru and The Dendro Archon herself, what if the Traveller said it was true, then I see no problem with you being close to him." Miko decided that this "Makoto" can be trusted with, she needed to ask this to the Traveller for much more confirmation. Probably after she is done with her own job, which needs two weeks more to complete. Yups, she will take vacation for one or two month, she deserves it after working non stop for over 500 years (playing pranks, teasing, eat and sleep during work count as work to her).
"You know what Miko, his food is really delicious so I asked to cook dinner for me tomorrow but I need to prepare the ingredients for him so can I ask you simple help." Oh this so-called "Makoto" is also a cook too. But. "Why did you ask me?"
"You are my friend right, Miko?" Ei innocently asked her. This starts to be uncomfortable. "Friends are always helping each other right?."
Miko nodded. She doesn't like where this is going
"So please collect these ingredients for me, please". Ugh she doesn't want to do this, she also has extra duty tomorrow too. "Let's say this is a punishment from your Archon for playing a prank on her."
Oh no, she has an extra job.
Raiden Shogun thinks and collects the information as she replays the memories recorded containing "Makoto".
She calculates what she can gather about this "Makoto".
She doesn't understand why every single time she sees him she feels something wrong with her. That is something she cannot understand or grasp at all.
She is not supposed to understand or feel any of this.
The unit with the name Raiden Shogun doesn't understand.
There is no info on her programming regarding this.
She never felt this before. She just she. She never changes ever since her Creation and yet.
She can feel herself changed every single time she looks at him.
Raiden Ei is still not aware of this. There is no need to make her aware.
That man called himself "Makoto" stirs something inside her. She is still not telling Ei about this thing to Ei.
The 2213 search :
Searching…
Searching…
Searching…
Nothing found.
Program is safe.
She doesn't understand, this is not an error on her programing, she already checked more than a thousand times already but still she found nothing.
She already checked if there was an unknown program inside her but still nothing.
Not even an error, broken program or something similar.
She looked at the memories again.
She wants him, she wants to be close to him, she wants to keep him. She wants him for herself.
He is beautiful, he is perfect.
He is her Eternity . Her alone.
"Second, please," His mother asked for her fifth second serving. Makoto looked at her mother's stomach wondering where all of that food he cooked had gone, there was no explanation why she was still not full enough.
"Okay, here be careful that it's still hot." He warned his mother before giving her another portion. Though not gonna lie, he wants to see her face contorted in pain because she is not patient enough to let the food cool down first.
Makoto wondered if this perhaps is one of her powers. Makoto knows that her mother is a very powerful warrior, so perhaps with such power demand such a huge demand of energy burned?. He is honestly just speculating right now. This matter was never his strong suit to begin with, it's one of Nahida's specialties.
Or perhaps her body just needs more fuel from external sources. Whatever, he doesn't care. It's not important for now.
He also doesn't pay much attention to listening when Nahida lectures him about the importance of food to human daily life. It always ends up with him answering that she and him are not human, so no need for them to understand that and Nahida just smiles sincerely toward him.
He also wondered if his message had already arrived to her or not. He is aware that travel time to Liyue from Inazuma can reach a full week at least if there is no problem at all and another week to reach Sumeru from Liyue. When he asked the Captain why before travelling back to Inazuma to the ship captain, he just said it's too dangerous and nothing more.
Luckily it's Makoto The Wanderer not "Scaramouche" that the captain talks with.
"Thank you, Makoto" She thanked him, smiling at him. Makoto nodded. "Your food is really delicious."
Congratulation !
1+ affection point
(Raiden Ei (40/300)
Makoto ignored that.
She takes a spoonful to her mouth. He can see how her eyes closed trying to "savor" the taste, how her body relaxed, along with the "Mmm" sound she made.
"What are you a child?". Makoto thought as he looked at her , taking another spoonful and making the same reaction again.
With just a few scoops of spoon the food reduces to nothing left in the bowl. Looks like she doesn't need another serving as she put down the bowl. Before look at him.
"Thank you, so much it's just" She fell silent looking down at her empty bowl, before she continued"…I don't remember when dinner time makes me happy, it's just a very long time ago, so again Thank you."
Makoto only reacted when he heard that from the electro archon herself. "I see, I guess you like it"
If the Chef, cook and others who work in Tenshukaku see all of these right now, they would be angry at him and start to mock him as ungrateful, idiot or something along those lines for not recognizing the Electro Archon and Shogun of Inazuma herself to recognize his skill.
"Like it?" She repeated, then without hesitation she said." Yes, I really like your food"
"This was the first time I've eaten this so-called "shimi chazuke". His mother admitted. "I wonder why the cook at my place never made this before?."
Then without wasting too much time, Wanderer answered his mother's question.
"Simple, it's a humble food." Ei looked at him, not quite understanding what he meant by that. "Need an explanation ?."
His mother nodded. Wanderer wondered how all the millennia she lived did she even learn anything about Inazuma itself, outside her small view about everything.
"Simple, it's just how human like me" Makoto almost snorted when he said that, he, as a human? Laughable at best, an insult at worst. "Humans try to make something from whatever they can get like leftovers, scrap or anything so that they can make something they can eat. It's what humans call 'humble food' or so from what I understand. So I doubt that this so-called 'humble food' is fitting to an Archon like you are probably what your cook thinks."
"I see." She nodded in understanding.
"Perhaps that is one of many reasons my sister really loves the people of Inazuma." His mother muttered softly, but it's something that Makoto can easily hear without a problem.
"What you just said?." Makoto tries to pretend to not hear what she just said. She already knows that he knew the supposedly original Electro Archon was already long gone, thanks to the shenanigans involved with The Traveller before. But Makoto is curious about her mother's relationship with his late aunt. He knows he is entering a dangerous zone but it's worth the reward.
"Nothing." His mother pretended as if nothing happened. After all, this secret only knows about certain people. If this secret is discovered by the Inazuma people, it will put her in a hard position and Makoto was already aware of this sensitive information.
"Ei, Can I ask you something? I swear I will not tell other people about this, I swear to my very own name gifted by the Traveller himself." Makoto tries to persuade his mother and it looks like it's a success.
"Huh." She lets out a very tired sigh. "I know you will ask that in the end."
"Sorry, Scholar curiosity." Wanderer gives his reason which is a very convincing lie to someone who came from Academia. "Then again Cat was already out of the box when the Traveller told us before."
"You're right, but please keep this to ourselves, I have only known you for more than a few days, but somehow I can trust you with many of my secrets. But…" Makoto can feel how his spine feels 'cold' as his mother looks at him so intensely before it's gone like it's never existed, replaced by those kind eyes. "You understand without me needing to complete that sentence right?."
"I understand."
"Good." His mother looked at the fake sky above. Before looking back at him. "You already know about my late sister's existence, but are you aware that she is also the original Electro Archon?"
Makoto shaked his head. Simple body language movement is enough. Though he already knows about this information.
"She is kind, good hearted, and patient. But it's not something that can make you survive a war or even win it." She has those eyes of a soldier that already sees the cruelty of war. "So I willingly dirty my own hands, so her hands can stay clean."
"You know Makoto, I see many of my sister's self in you. Perhaps that is the reason why I grew to like you in our first meeting." She laughs and Makoto laughs too, it's very funny and embarrassing at the same time when he remembers that.
"And the 'war' is happening, then…" She stopped, then she took a deep breath."You already know what happened to the previous Archon, if there is a different Archon in her old position."
"I see…but why the public never knew about this" he knows, any educated or sensible person can make the conclusion from this conversation alone. But he wants to hear it from her own mouth. No matter how insensitive it sounds.
"Huh, it's during war time, Inazu-No the entire Teyvat was under attack, chaos everywhere, it's not the time to mourn, grief or show any weakness. Even after that it's just better for the public not knowing this, it can cause rifts and many problems to arise." She looks so old, so tired. It's perhaps the reason or one of the reasons she never wanted the position of Archon. Perhaps Nahida was really honest when informing him about his mother, without trying to paint her in a much brighter color. She just tells him as it's.
"And I doubt she wants to see our beloved Inazuma suffer. She truly loved Inazuma from the bottom of her heart." Ei looked at the fake sky again, before turning to Makoto with a small laugh. "Sorry, you need to hear all that."
Makoto snorted. "Where do you learn to talk like?".
"Like what?".
"Forget it. But can I ask you a question?".
"Just ask it, as long as you keep it a secret."
"Do you really love Inazuma too? Or it's just something because something your sister loves." Makoto asked, his mother just smiled softly toward him.
Without any hesitation or doubt. She answered with pride and warmth.
"Yes, I love Inazuma from my own heart, they like gifts and something my late sister dearly loves so I need to love and protect them." Her smile was so beautiful after she said that. "They are like very precious 'children' to me, so I do what a good parent does."
Makoto doesn't know where the sound is coming from but he can hear something shatter. But somehow he felt intense pain in the empty part of his chest.
He is supposedly already over such things.
"Huh, never in my life have I imagined hearing the word "love" out from the mouth of Electro Archon herself, I guess about your rumor during the Vision Hunt decree." Makoto looked straight into her eyes. He doesn't care, he just wants to make this disappear right now. And the fastest way to get rid of this pain he knows is to inflict pain on others, and the closest person around him unfortunately is Ei, his Creator "It's just a mere bad rumor that was spread by The Fatui then."
Impudent is what can be called Makoto right now, and he is aware as the one of many that lulled the strings behind that dark time. But the Electro Archon showed no reaction at all besides closing her eyes.
"No" His mothe-... No, The Electro Archon opened her eyes, It showed pain and regret in her eyes. Shit, he hates it only makes the pain in his chest become worse. "Hate to admit it but admitting it is one of the steps to be a better Archon and Shogun to Inazuma itself. Yes, many of those rumors are indeed right."
He needs to take another method.
"Huh, You surprised me, Shogun," Wanderer said as he looked toward her empty bowl. "Well at least the rumor about you being a glutton is right at the spot."
A joke, even if it's not that funny to him but if it can also mocked his Mother then it's good, proved how the pain lessened.
His Mother's eyes softened as both of them laughed. "huh yes i admit i need a lot of food, after all i am a warrior too."
"Sorry" Wanderer said, as his pain finally became bearable, it made his mother look at him curiously. "About things I asked you before, I am really sorry."
Ei look at him for a moment. "There's nothing to forgive for you doing nothing wrong, you're just curious right? It's normal for a student to want to learn something."
"Yeah, but it's just very insensitive of me." He just be polite to her for the sake of just being polite, nothing more. Making himself modest perhaps brings some advantages in the future perhaps, he considered it for a moment before abandoning the idea.
"It's fine, but…" Makoto looked curiously at her, wondering what she was thinking, and she gave him an innocent smile before saying. "You need to cook something good for breakfast tomorrow."
Congratulation !
1+ affection point
(Raiden Ei (41/300)
"Breakfast? Ei, I doubt I can make something for you tomorrow after all there is no available ingredient right now, there nothing remain from the ingredient you bring before and it's just not worth it to search wilderness during dark, even when considering that both of us can deal with the threat of wildlife and monsters, it's just very hard to see things in dark for food and ingredient." Makoto pointed, ignoring the fact that he was already accustomed to a dark environment, thanks to abyss daily exploration during his Harbinger days. His mother probably also has no problem in the dark with just Moonlight to search for ingredients. "It's better for you to just go home, those poor servants of yours probably waiting for their boss to order them."
He said that playfully, not hiding the jab. Ei hearing that looked very unimpressed.
"Makoto, it's not good to badmouth my attendance like that, I can take offense in their place you know." Ei looked more deeply to him before chuckling. "But really you are not that far from the truth, almost everyday I just hope they don't get too tense around me, it's just very…awkward."
Congratulation !
1+ affection point
(Raiden Ei (42/300)
Makoto chuckled. He understands how annoying the feeling of too tense underling was.
"I can understand that." He answered. "I have a similar experience. Sometimes it's just something someone in a position of power needs to deal with after all."
"Hmm, happy to hear that I'm not alone dealing with that."
"Good for you then."
A few moments of silence between the two of them. Makoto looked at her mother who just looked at the bonfire silently, the flame of the bonfire reflected in her eyes, her stunning face tranquil like these past centuries' problems, just merely an illusion or perhaps more appropriately to her was like Transience .
He would not lie that he is jealous that she shows no worry about the future after all her wrongdoing whatsoever or she just likes him hiding it all deep inside but still remembers all of it.
What is it that Nahida once said to him again?. Right, the apple does not fall far from the tree.
Makoto wants to know how she can still step into the future after all that. He remembers talking about this with Nahida a few times but it's just… Nahida's solution is just too hopeful to his taste. He understands Hope no matter how childish it's sound is, it's still important to step towards a better future. But still…
"Huh, it's nice talking to her" Makoto didn't know what he was supposed to do about that. He still has disdain toward her though, but right now he is just a mere student of Vahumana and freaking Plaything of whatever this twisted window.
"Makoto…" She called his name suddenly. He turned his attention from his thoughts back to her, waiting for what she wanted to say.
"What?". He asked.
"Where are you staying during your time in Inazuma?." That was surprising, for hearing his mother so curious about where he was staying in Inazuma.
"And why did you ask me that?" He then thought for a moment before changing his answer. " You know what, forget what i said before, I will answer your question, I sleep in the wilderness of Inazuma, it's enough as an answer for you right?."
Huh, he is apparently still sensitive enough to not share information about himself to her, good for him then.
Fortunately it's enough for her with how she nodded hearing his answer. Then for a few moments that somehow weirded him out is the fact that her eyes suddenly became dull and unresponsive. Its difference is very clear to him, if before her eyes there is a glimpse of light or perhaps a lightning glow, but now it's just dull like the eyes of a puppet. To an ordinary human nothing changes–but fortunately he is far from ordinary nor a human.
" I see " He realizes she is right now talking with his replacement, apparently, his little sister . There is a very familiar bitter feeling in his empty chest again right now. " Talking about what?" .
In the past few days, there was never any indication about her existence. Apparently his mother understands and is smart enough to know that if her existence is known to the public she would–no, Ei definitely will get back lash from the Public. Inazuma people already put their faith in her, if this is made known to the public, the public's faith in the Electro Archon herself will crumble. For they put their faith and belief in her only to discover that the one they prayed to and commanded them these past centuries was just her puppet. That definitely will put the final nail to the coffin.
She is definitely talking with her right now because she believes it's safe around him. How pitiful and funny, for he already knew a long time ago about this one of her many secrets hiding from the public.
Makoto already knows of her existence. He was after all just a prototype, so it's just a matter of time to create the "perfect product" and added the fact few of his personal information gathering during his time as Scaramouche, Fatui spies, and Nahida information searching using Irminsul.
He watched his mother for a few moments before the dullness in her eyes was replaced by the usual glow before turning her head toward him. She gave him a confused look.
"Hmm? Is there something wrong ?". She asked, unaware about the fact that he knew one of her guarded secrets.
"Nothing." He answered while trying to suppress the bitterness in his empty chest that caused him inward conflict. "except just wondering what the Shogun was thinking so seriously and why she still has not returned to her castle. Nothing more."
He tried to speak without any hint of wickedness or something along those lines and was successful. As he said those words his tone stayed calm and neutral, not showing any indignation of what he feels like now. It must be weird for someone to suddenly be bitter toward you after having a nice chat a moment before without clear reason.
"Huh, you call me Shogun again, Makoto, I already told you before to call me Ei, understand." She then moved from the fallen tree trunk she used to sit on to beside him, which feels very cramped that the one he used as chair is just a decent size but quite comfortable rock for he use.
Unfortunately his mother doesn't understand the concept of personal space as how without second thought she invaded his personal space without any shame. "Just say it, E-i. Ei, just two letters, it's easy."
"You don't understand why I call you Shogun, do you." Makoto asked with a blank expression.
"What, it's not you just have a sudden moment of being polite right?." Her answer only confused him. "I mean Miko pointed out that sometimes humans are being polite just because they want to be polite."
That damn Pink fox. What kind of weird knowledge that she taught to his mother.
"And when did this miko tell you this?" Makoto feigns ignorance when she said the word "Miko", he knew she referred to it as the name of person not the position even though he was aware of that. But better to play his cards carefully when dealing with that Fox.
And for now he needs to play dumb and pretend to not know anything about that damn fix besides general public knowledge.
Before a good idea comes to him. " This is perfect to get dirt on that damn fox."
"Ah…" And just like that she has been deceived easily. What a gullible woman she was, he would consider her somewhat cute right now if not for still lingering bitter feelings inside him. "I think you misunderstand something, Makoto. When I say Miko I mean it as someone's name, not the profession, sorry that I didn't specify it at first."
"Nothing to forgive, it's just a small mistake that doesn't need to bat an eye at all."
"But that small mistake is very unbearable and annoying to a Sumeru student, right?"
"I am merely an ordinary student, not a good-for-nothing so-called person that calls themselves a Scholar or Sage just because they have someone backing them up. I asked not for research, just pure curiosity." He remembers many of those sages that work alongside Dottore and their leader that disillusioned old man only have one way of looking at the world around them and making conclusions based only on their limited knowledge, never bothered to look at different angles.
He in the past was undeniably arrogant, egoist and self-serving. But those so called Scholar and Sage were on different levels out of touch with reality. Makoto at least learned his mistake but them ?. Not at all, it's better to just make them disappear for good.
Makoto doesn't understand why bother to only exile them. Executing them was a much better idea, even that guard dog agreed with him on that matter. No matter how that dog doesn't even remember why he hates Makoto in the first place.
"A few weeks ago, she told me when talking about a study paper in Sumeru, you must have heard it before, that it became controversial regarding my capabilities with ruling Inazuma." His mother Cleary talked about the one he wrote. "I know I'm failing at my duty but still…."
" You know you deserve that right?" He mocked.
"Now, Ei, when I call you Shogun, I just want to tease you nothing more. There is no need to look too deep to what everyone says, especially the one you just know for a few days." Makoto explained. Suddenly not in the mood to search for that Fox dirty secret. Sometimes he wonders if she truly understands humans and their problems. "Now back to my question, what are you thinking? And before you asked I knew it because of how your eyes became dull and unresponsive."
Telling half truth is enough, It's better than to make her suspicious.
"Oh, you're very observant, then again you're a very promising future Scholar to me." His mother praised his observation about her. He can feel the bitterness start to dissipate from his chest.
"Nothing, it's just basic observation." Girls, women or humans in general would find observation without their awareness or permission of them would feel weird, especially by someone they barely know. His mother is just different, she is strong and above such Petty things. Makoto doesn't know what to make about that.
"So, I ask again, what are you thinking?."
"Ah, about that…" She sounded doubtful or perhaps it's more like she was embarrassed. "Hmm, Do you want to stay at my place tonight?.
Makoto already forgot about the bitterness in his chest.
" Ei." Ei hears someone calling her name straight to her mind.
" What Shogun?." Ei asked Curious what her puppet was talking about. She feels kind of happy that her creation is more lively and chatty than usual. Unfortunately, her creation can only talk to a certain number of people, for the sake of keeping her existence a secret. Ei don't want to think the damage would be caused if her puppet's existence was discovered by the public. Her position will be questioned definitely.
" Ei, can I make a request regarding Makoto?" The Shogun asked, Ei don't know what her puppet requests about Makoto, perhaps about the last thing they talked about. Perhaps she has a new idea regarding him.
" Can we talk about your request later? As you are aware, there is a Makoto near us, I don't want him to suspect something." Ei doesn't know but her puppet somehow just feels more alive and chatty than usual.
" Ei, as your 'shadow' it's my duty to help you regarding Inazuma, and Makoto can help you about that. I just communicated with you right now just based on my calculation of data accumulated for the individual : Makoto, within my rights." Shogun stated her reason, perhaps it's just her feeling about Shogun being more alive but definitely much chatty, she still sounded like herself as usual though.
"Talk and make it as short as possible." Let's just hope she doesn't make it long like Miko did. Her explaining things about political tension and relationship of Inazuma both internal and external was something she never truly understood about the charms of politics, but still she needed to learn all of that if she wanted to take care of Inazuma much better in the future.
" We can learn much more about him up close if we let him close with us tonight." Good, now she dont understand what Shogun means by that.
" Explain." She is not too prideful to admit that she doesn't understand what Shogun means by that.
" Simple, we invite her to stay just for one night in Tenshukaku." That idea didn't sound that bad. She even thought about that idea before, but still…
Shogun continued her explanation.
" It's also for the sake of making a better image of yourself, as Electro Archon you have gained a considerable number of bad rumors, baseless or not. So it's time to make a much better view of yourself, especially the view of foreign nations. After the Dendro Archon, Kusanali takes her place back and makes Sumeru a much better place, if Makoto, who is even praised by Kusanali herself, tells her about the hospitality he received from you, it can help us to tighten relation with her. " It's not a bad explanation, Kusanali herself hears from the Traveler that she forgot all her memories before 500 years ago but she still feels hesitant about this idea. "It's also the chance that we can observe the character of an individual : Makoto closer."
" That is a very convincing argument." Now she agrees with Shogun. But she still needs to ask this first if he wants to stay in her place.
Ei turned her head toward Makoto, only to find that he already looked at her. She can see emotion mixed in his eyes. It reminds her of her sister's eyes when she is sad. A mere coincidence, she reminds herself.
"Where are you staying during your time in Inazuma?." She asked, quite curious, if he stayed at some place at night or just made a camp outside the city.
"And why did you ask me that?" He stopped. " You know what, forget what I said before, I will answer your question, I sleep in the wilderness of Inazuma, it's enough as an answer for you right?."
" I see, it's quite fitting for his Wanderer title."
" This proves my hypothesis". Hearing the Shogun statement made her curious.
"What Hypothesis?".
Shogun then explained. " Just a mere data based on the condition of his body, clothes and hat, since the first time we meet him, while it's shown that he indeed cleans it, there is a residual raw elemental energy that still does not dissipate on his body, clothes and hat.
Ei hearing her explanation doesn't know what to feel. On the other hand she is happy that Shogun cares for Makoto, but on the other hand she also feels jealous of her creation because she was not aware of that. Unaware of the fact that what Shogun does would make other people find that to be disturbing or creepy.
"Good work, Shogun." She praised her creation. Before she came back to find Makoto look at her with. " hurt ?". In his eyes.
"Hmm? Is there something wrong ?".
"Nothing." He answered. "except just wondering what the Shogun was thinking so seriously and why she still has not returned to her castle. Nothing more."
" Why did he call me Shogun again?" Ei doesn't understand why Makoto called her that again, she already told him to stop calling her that, because she wants him to be closer to her.
"Huh, you call me Shogun again, Makoto, I already told you before to call me Ei, understand." She then sits beside him, ignoring the weird reaction he gives. She remembers Miko once telling her that " You need to become closer to someone to know them better " and she does that right now. "Just say it, E-i. Ei, just two letters, it's easy."
"You don't understand why I call you Shogun, do you." Makoto asked.
"What, it's not you just have a sudden moment of being polite right?." She can see how confused he is hearing that. "I mean Miko pointed out that sometimes humans are being polite just because they want to be polite."
"And when did this miko tell you this?" He emphasized on the word "miko". Ah, look like he misunderstood something.
"Ah…"She thought for a moment. "I think you misunderstand something, Makoto. When I say Miko I mean it as someone's name, not the profession, sorry that I didn't specify it at first."
"Nothing to forgive, it's just a small mistake that doesn't need to bat an eye at all."
"But that small mistake is very unbearable and annoying to a Sumeru student, right?." She doesn't know much about Akademiya students in general but she has looked at many both young and old scholars, businessmen, swordsmen and blacksmith of Inazuma annoyed by a mere small mistake, so probably they don't differ much from Akademiya students.
"I am merely an ordinary student, not a good-for-nothing so-called person that calls themselves a Scholar just because they have someone backing them up. I asked not for research, just pure curiosity." What a curious young man.
"A few weeks ago, she told me when talking about a study paper in Sumeru, you must have heard it before, that it became controversial regarding my capabilities with ruling Inazuma." She really needs to meet whoever writes those, they can grant her many different views and what needs to be fixed and improved on her duty as Electro Archon. "I know I'm failing at my duty but still…."
"Now, Ei, when I call you Shogun, I just want to tease you nothing more. There is no need to look too deep to what everyone says, especially the one you just know for a few days." Makoto explained. So, it's just a mere teasing from him. "Now back to my question, what are you thinking? And before you asked I knew it because of how your eyes became dull and unresponsive."
"Oh, you're very observant, then again you're a very promising future Scholar to me." She praised him. He was just proud of himself because there were two Archons who praised him.
"Nothing, it's just basic observation." How humble and cute.
"So, I ask again, what are you thinking?."
"Ah, about that…" She stopped, her heart beating fast. "Hmm, Do you want to stay at my place tonight?.
For a moment there was only silence, then…