Just as Lori had anticipated, everyone present used the mirror artifact to preserve this moment exactly as he arranged.
Each person's individual pose was recorded separately—
and the mirror lingered especially long on the little fox.
The tiny creature didn't understand what was happening; she only thought it was fun and obediently allowed herself to be posed, even making silly gestures without resistance.
Who knew what expression she would show five hundred years later when she viewed these memories again.
After sealing the recordings with spellwork so no outsider could accidentally witness or erase them, Lori strengthened several layers of barriers around the mirror for good measure.
By the time he finished, the exhausted little fox had curled up on Makoto's lap and fallen asleep.
"Only children can live with such carefree innocence… no worries except eating and sleeping."
Makoto gently straightened the fox's fur and sighed.
"I hope Inazuma's future can grow peacefully the same way."
Hearing this, Ei immediately spoke with confidence:
"If an enemy threatens Inazuma's eternity, I will cut them down with my naginata."
Makoto neither agreed nor disagreed.
Compared to her sister, who sought an unchanging eternity, Makoto cherished fleeting moments.
To see the people of Inazuma living peacefully in the present—that alone was her greatest fulfillment.
No unchanging landscape existed.
She understood this even more deeply after Lori arrived.
If nothing changed, this land could never birth dreams or ambition.
Its people would forever remain ignorant, living primitive lives.
Ei still could not understand this idea.
"But there's still time," Makoto whispered optimistically.
"Enough time to change her way of thinking, little by little."
Ei, unaware she was still seen as immature, continued dreaming of an eternal and immutable future.
Perhaps only Lori truly resonated with Makoto's heart.
Days passed in the blink of an eye.
As the gathering of the Seven Archons drew near—
Back in Inazuma City, Lori was trapped by Chiyo's clinging enthusiasm and unable to return to the Grand Shrine.
He could only ask someone to remind Asase Hibiki not to slack off in her archery and spell training.
Fortunately, the little girl was obedient and exceptionally diligent.
With Mitsuyo guiding her, Lori had nothing to worry about.
During this time, he was dragged into serving again as the "reader" for Ei and Chiyo's rematch in karuta.
According to Chiyo, she only lost last time because she got distracted—otherwise, who knew who would've won?
Ei naturally refused to accept that, and since Chiyo's reasoning wasn't wrong, she agreed to a fair and decisive rematch.
Thanks to her persistent secret training, Ei won again.
Chiyo had no choice but to concede:
"For now… you're stronger."
After the match ended, Makoto—who had been quietly watching—smiled gently and rounded off the moment.
"All right. It's time. We should depart."
Only then did Chiyo reluctantly peel herself away from Lori's side.
Lori nodded.
"Judging by the time, most of them should already be there."
From his knowledge of the Seven Archons, Barbatos would have arrived long ago.
That guy lived to join festivities.
Besides, Mondstadt hardly needed his attention. Ever since its founding, he'd mostly left humans to govern themselves.
Only when mortals faced danger they truly couldn't overcome would he act personally.
As for human conflicts, Barbatos preferred to guide gently rather than interfere.
Hundreds of years ago, he had guided Vennessa to overthrow the corrupt aristocracy—yet he remained on the sidelines the entire time.
Lori remembered well Barbatos' oft-repeated phrase:
"No matter how this young sapling called Mond grows, I must not interfere too much.
Trimming the dead branches occasionally—that is my duty as its gardener."
And right after delivering that profound, impressive wisdom—
he would immediately smile ingratiatingly and ask Lori for wine.
Putting aside his terrible drinking habits, Barbatos' philosophy was not wrong. Lori appreciated it greatly.
For only fledglings deprived of shelter would learn to grow.
Even if they crashed, bled, suffered, they would lick their wounds—
and rise again to spread their wings.
For two thousand years, ever since the Gunnhildr clan led their ancestors across ice fields to found ancient Mondstadt, the spirit of defiance, exploration, and adventure had seeped into their blood.
No matter how many setbacks came, Mondstadters chose to solve their own problems rather than rely on divine pity.
Compared to him, Rex Lapis—who had guided Liyue for millennia—was more like a loving father who overprotected his children.
With the unyielding power of Geo, he shielded them from all disasters, eliminated all mistakes, and ensured they always walked the correct path.
But even he, after thousands of years, must have grown tired.
How much longer could he continue?
Aside from those two old friends, there were others:
The fierce and boisterous Pyro Archon,
the wise and radiant Dendro Archon,
the aloof and absolute Cryo Archon,
and the Hydro Archon who upheld laws yet embraced compassion.
"Thinking about seeing them again… even my heart can't help but stir."
He laughed at himself, meeting the gaze of the Raiden twins.
Makoto smiled warmly.
"Then let us depart."
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