Capítulo 26: Raiden Makoto's Primordial Fragment—Her Return
A streak of violet light, resembling a comet, shot out from the Sumeru Desert, cutting across half of Teyvat. It passed over Sumeru's rainforests and Liyue's mountains, leaving a radiant trail in the sky.
Ordinary people might see it as a rare celestial phenomenon—perhaps a legendary comet streaking through the heavens. Many gazed upon it with awe, some making wishes in hopeful reverence.
But beings at the level of Archons and gods knew exactly what this phenomenon represented.
Liyue Harbor, Third-Round Knockout
Zhongli was seated at a table, sipping tea and listening to Tian Tiezui enthusiastically embellish his latest retelling of The Tale of Guizhong's Departure. His moment of calm was disrupted as a certain hyperactive young lady grabbed his shoulder, shaking him so vigorously that the tea in his hand nearly spilled.
"Zhongli, Zhongli! Look! It's a shooting star! And it's purple! Quick, make a wish—maybe it'll come true!"
Hu Tao stood on tiptoe, bouncing excitedly as she pointed at the violet streak that illuminated the Liyue skies.
Zhongli raised his head to gaze at the stunning sight that had captured the hearts of Teyvat's inhabitants.
"A shooting star… Hmm, indeed. Wishing upon a shooting star has been humanity's timeless way of expressing their deepest hopes."
But that wasn't merely a shooting star—it was the Primordial Fragment of a god.
A flicker of expectation danced in his golden eyes.
'This aura feels so familiar… That fragment belongs to an old friend.'
Freed from the gnawing constraints of erosion, Zhongli's mind drifted back to a thousand years ago. The Archon War had just ended, and the victors of the Seven Nations had gathered for a rare moment of camaraderie in Jueyun Karst. There, they had sipped tea and composed verses, relishing a fleeting peace.
"She's returning, is she?" Zhongli murmured, a faint smile curling his lips. "This… is an unexpected but welcome development."
The new Heavenly Principle were not only vastly stronger than their predecessor, Phanes, but also kinder. Unlike the cold indifference of Phanes, this Heavenly Principle seemed to value the bonds and efforts of the Archons.
"If he has allowed a departed god to return… then perhaps…"
For the first time in centuries, Zhongli allowed himself a smile—not the serene, mask-like expression he often wore, but a genuine, warm smile that reached his eyes.
As Liyue's Archon, he understood what this meant. It was not just a gift for Inazuma but a reward for their flawless completion of the mission.
Perhaps, if the opportunity arose, those old friends might gather again someday.
While Zhongli was lost in thought, a mischievous voice chimed in, breaking the quietude.
"Oh my, oh my! Is that a smile I see? The ever-so-stoic and serious Zhongli is smiling? Someone mark the calendar—the sun must be rising in the west today!"
Hu Tao's teasing brought laughter from the other patrons at the teahouse.
"Haha! There goes Hu Tao again, teasing Mr. Zhongli!"
"She's right, though. I've never seen Mr. Zhongli so cheerful before."
"Same here. When I first met him, I thought he was an Adeptus from Jueyun Karst!"
Hu Tao nodded vigorously in agreement. "Exactly! Zhongli always acts like some ancient immortal, all proper and composed. Hey, Zhongli, be honest with me—are you secretly an Adeptus?"
She jabbed her elbow playfully at his back, trying to coax a reaction.
Zhongli sighed, shaking his head in exasperation. "If I were an Adeptus, I doubt I'd have accepted Old Master Hu's invitation to work as a consultant at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."
"Hmm, fair point!" Hu Tao said, nodding thoughtfully.
"So, what's got you smiling today?"
Zhongli shook his head again, his tone calm and steady. "It's nothing. I merely thought Tian Tiezui's retelling of the story today was a touch more elegant than usual."
Tian Tiezui, delighted by the rare praise, exclaimed, "Well then! I'll have to tell a few more stories for Mr. Zhongli!"
In Teyvat's Liyue Harbor, a rare compliment from the scholarly, almost immortal-like Mr. Zhongli was indeed a great honor. For Tian Tiezui, who'd just received this praise, it felt like his path to becoming the greatest storyteller in Liyue was well within reach, validated by none other than the esteemed Wangsheng Funeral Parlor consultant, Mr. Zhongli.
Meanwhile, at Grand Narukami Shrine, Yae Miko and Raiden Ei stood before Noah, awaiting the Heavenly Principle's next words. But just as they were about to ask what he meant by his cryptic statement, he calmly said:
"It's here."
Yae Miko blinked, her fox-like ears twitching. "It's here? What's here?"
Raiden Ei's sharp gaze suddenly turned toward the distant horizon, where the unmistakable sensation of a kindred yet distinct presence began to ripple toward her. A sensation so familiar that it shook her to her very core. Her violet eyes trembled as overwhelming emotion overtook her.
"It's my sister's aura! This… this is my sister's presence!"
Without hesitation, she turned into a bolt of lightning, rocketing into the sky in pursuit of the sensation.
In the distance, a violet comet streaked toward their location—not directly toward her but toward the shrine, to where Noah stood.
"It's my sister's Primordial Fragment!" Raiden Ei shouted, reaching out in desperation to grasp the comet. But her hands passed right through it. The violet comet ignored her entirely, blazing directly toward the Heavenly Principle.
She turned back, staring in disbelief as the fragment shrank the closer it approached Narukami Shrine, eventually becoming no larger than an egg as it fell gently into Noah's palm.
Noah casually inspected the glowing violet fragment in his hand.
"A Primordial Fragment? For a god, it's indeed their essence. After all, it forms the foundation of their very existence."
He toyed with the fragment, flipping it over as if it were a mere trinket, and continued:
"Gods, or 'Archons,' in Teyvat are nothing more than the embodiment of specific laws brought to life. And like any manifestation, they have a core—a nucleus, if you will."
Yae Miko's eyes widened in realization. "That's… Makoto's essence?"
She looked at the fragment with trembling excitement, her mind racing. If even a god could be brought back, then…
'If even a god can return, then surely… Kitsune Saiguu can too!'
Her heart swelled with hope.
Meanwhile, Noah continued his explanation, a playful smile tugging at his lips:
"Makoto's consciousness still resides within the Dreamscape of Musou Isshin. As long as this fragment is merged with that, she can return."
He then glanced at Raiden Ei, whose longing and anticipation were written all over her face, to the point where it seemed she might draw her Musou no Hitotachi and charge at him in desperation.
'Hmm… If I tease her now, would she really draw her blade? That might be fun…'
Ultimately, he decided against it, tossing the fragment toward her without further delay.
Raiden Ei instinctively caught the glowing Primordial Fragment and, with trembling hands, unsheathed Musou Isshin from her chest. The fragment pulsed in her grip, emanating light that matched the glow of her weapon.
With a deep breath, she gently pressed the fragment into the Dreamscape embedded within Musou Isshin, inserting it into her sister's consciousness.
The moment the fragment was absorbed, the air itself seemed to hum with power.
A new god was born in Teyvat, triggering a resonance with the world's fundamental laws.
Thunder roared across the skies above Narukami Island, and lightning crackled with an intensity that dwarfed any storm seen before. Beneath the earth, the Ley Lines surged to life as if a dam had been broken. Energy flowed uncontrollably from the land toward Mount Yougou, converging on the shrine.
Streams of Ley Line energy, tinged with violet lightning, cascaded like rivers, threatening to overwhelm Narukami Shrine with their sheer force.
Raiden Ei's violet eyes sparkled with joy as she clutched Musou Isshin close to her chest, her voice trembling:
"Makoto… Sister… You're coming back…"
Yae Miko stood beside her, her heart pounding in her chest. Though outwardly calm, her mind raced with elation.
'If Makoto can return, then Saiguu… Saiguu can too.'
Turning her gaze toward Noah, her voice carried a rare note of reverence and gratitude:
"Thank you, Noah-sama."
Noah waved dismissively, a playful smirk on his face.
"Save your thanks for later. The resurrection isn't complete yet."
Under the overwhelming torrent of Ley Line energy, Raiden Ei felt no threat. To her, the flow felt more like a comforting massage. But for Yae Miko, Kamisato Ayaka, and the shrine maidens of the Grand Narukami Shrine, it was a calamity.
Raiden Ei's full attention was consumed by the imminent resurrection of her sister. The chaos around her was completely outside her notice.
The Kamisato siblings—Kamisato Ayaka and Kamisato Ayato—were pale with fright. Though they were nobles of Inazuma, often tasked with handling the island's beasts and crises, they had never experienced such an overwhelming force before.
Only Yae Miko remained composed. She knew that Noah-sama, this divine figure, would not allow such destruction to go unchecked. To let it happen would tarnish his divine reputation.
Snap!
Noah casually snapped his fingers. The once-surging Ley Line energy instantly calmed, its overwhelming force dissipating. The torrent slowed until it trickled like a gentle stream, quietly flowing toward the peak of Mount Yougou.
Turning their attention back to Raiden Ei, they noticed that Musou Isshin was now gone from her chest. In its place, a glowing sphere of violet energy hovered momentarily in her hands before vanishing into a spatial void.
Only the Ley Line's energy continued to pour into the hidden space, the mysterious location where the rebirth of a god was underway.
The entire Grand Narukami Shrine shimmered with radiant light as an unfamiliar consciousness slowly began to awaken.
At the same time, Raiden Ei and Yae Miko felt a resonance ripple through their minds. This consciousness touched theirs briefly, drawing them into its awakening.
Noah, curious, stroked his chin and voluntarily entered this shared resonance.
Inside this conscious realm—a vast, boundless expanse of violet light—a figure identical to Raiden Ei appeared. However, this figure radiated a softer and gentler aura.
The woman looked around, puzzled, as she tried to understand her situation.
"Am I… being reborn? But I clearly remember that I died…"
She recalled the events vividly. The Heavenly Principle had summoned the Seven Archons to Khaenri'ah to repel the Abyssal forces. She had fought valiantly but was ultimately overpowered. She barely held on until the Abyss's gate was sealed. Before she succumbed, she had only enough time to see her sister, Ei, one last time.
However, before her end, she had one last conversation with the Ruler of Time. At that moment, she entrusted a fragment of her consciousness into a seed—a safeguard to assist Inazuma in times of dire need.
As she tried to piece together her thoughts, a trembling voice shattered the silence.
"Makoto…"
Makoto turned toward the source of the voice, recognizing it instantly. Her expression softened, tinged with both relief and complexity.
"Ei…"
Raiden Ei stood frozen, staring at her sister's form. Her voice quivered with emotion, thick with sorrow, longing, and joy.
"Makoto!"
In that moment, all the suppressed emotions—years of yearning, regret, bitterness, and grief—came flooding out in the form of tears.
Makoto opened her arms, and Raiden Ei rushed forward, embracing her tightly.
"Ei, it's been a long time. I'm back."
Yae Miko stood off to the side, observing the heartfelt reunion. Her mind wandered back to a time long ago when she was still a small fox, always lounging on Saiguu's shoulders.
Back then, both Makoto and Ei would fight over who got to hold her as a hand-warmer.
But everything had changed five hundred years ago.
Within the mental space, Yae Miko cast a sideways glance at the seemingly pensive "God of Time" and, with an air of mock grievance, remarked, "Oh, great and mighty god from Celestia, it really isn't a good habit to spy on people's heartfelt reunions, you know."
Noah sighed dramatically. "Ah, it's such a pity that Fontaine's filming devices don't work in this mental space. What a shame."
He had hoped to record such a touching and iconic reunion scene for his collection. But alas, not even the Heavenly Principle could accomplish certain things.
Yae Miko's expression turned amused, and she playfully scolded him, "You truly are a god with a mischievous streak, my lord."
Noah gave a wicked grin and directed his gaze toward Yae Miko's fox ears. "Oh? And what if I told you I have an even naughtier idea? Care to take a guess, little fox?"
Sensing impending doom for her beloved ears, Yae Miko immediately straightened up, her demeanor becoming elegant and composed. "Ah, I am but a poor, helpless, and weak little fox. How could I ever dare to guess your divine intentions?"
Yet inwardly, she felt like crying. It was clear that this god wasn't planning to let her off the hook anytime soon.
Still, he had brought back Makoto. And if he also resurrected Kitsune Saiguu, then… enduring a little teasing to indulge his mischievous whims wouldn't be such a bad trade, right?
Comforting herself with that thought, Yae Miko resolved to endure whatever was coming.
Meanwhile, the twin Archons—Raiden Ei and Raiden Makoto—shared a mental resonance. Makoto quickly came to understand everything her younger sister had endured over the past five hundred years, the dramatic changes that had shaken Teyvat, and the circumstances surrounding her resurrection.
Makoto's emotions shifted rapidly, from guilt to shock, from amazement to relief. At last, she spoke with deep affection, "Ei, you've been through so much. You've carried such a heavy burden all these years."
She turned her gaze toward Noah, who had been toying with Yae Miko a moment ago, and gracefully stepped forward. With a calm and respectful demeanor, she bowed deeply.
"Lord Noah…"
Makoto wanted to express her gratitude, but Noah casually waved a hand, cutting her off. His golden eyes appraised her, his lips curving into a smile.
"No matter how you thank me, it won't be enough. So once you're fully reborn, make sure you work hard for me. Managing Inazuma is clearly beyond your sister's capabilities."
Makoto was taken aback, but she quickly nodded with determination. "Yes, Lord Noah. I will ensure Inazuma is well-governed."
She cast an apologetic look toward her younger sister, understanding that this arrangement meant Ei would relinquish her position as one of the Seven Archons.
To Makoto's surprise, Ei seemed completely unconcerned. In fact, she looked relieved. "I never liked governing anyway. Honestly, I'm glad to be free of it."
Noah interjected with a playful tone, "Managing Inazuma alone won't be enough."
Makoto straightened her posture and replied firmly, "Whatever you need us sisters to do, we will do it."
Her tone was resolute, fully aware that this god's plans were likely far beyond anything she could imagine. If that was the case, she would simply follow his commands to the letter.
Noah rubbed his chin, his gaze turning amused as he studied Makoto's gentle, almost maternal demeanor—a stark contrast to her younger sister's straightforward nature. "Anything, you say? I'll be sure to remember those words."
Off to the side, Yae Miko rolled her eyes discreetly. At least this great cosmic prankster had shifted his attention away from her.
Makoto, on the other hand, caught the subtle meaning behind Noah's playful smirk. Compared to her sister, she had a deeper understanding of Inazuman customs and desires.
"So, even this new Heavenly Principle harbors human-like desires," Makoto mused to herself. Her thoughts turned to some of the more… peculiar traditions among Inazuma's people, and a mischievous glint flickered in her eyes. She glanced at her sister, wondering if… perhaps…
Unaware of Makoto's internal scheming, Noah casually asked, "By the way, before the Khaenri'ah cataclysm, you met Istaroth, didn't you?"
Makoto blinked in surprise at the unexpected question. "Yes, I did…"
And so, the conversation began anew.
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