บท 64: There's Still Time
At night, at a tavern in Ritou, a woman entered the tavern. She wore a cape that covered all her body with a hood hiding her head, making it difficult to take any characteristic of her.
The woman crossed over the numerous clients, ignoring the thunderous sounds and drunken tales, reaching a private room at the second floor. There, another hooded person was already waiting for her with some beer prepared.
The woman sat down and took out her hood, revealing her long dark brown hair and her deep ruby right eye, her left eye being kept covered by a red eyepatch.
She took the jug and drank it all the beer in one go "Hah!" Then she turned over the other person "So what would be the work this time?"
"It's simple escort work. One week from now, I want you to pick up one person and bring him to Liyue." The hooded man requested.
"Only that? No illegal trading? No fighting? Only a package? You already know my prices, wouldn't it be better to have someone cheaper for that." The woman stated.
"Let's say that I like to prepare for any unplanned difficulty." The man said. "In the best and worst situation, your services would be unneeded and in the most probable one it would be a simple delivery."
"I see that you don't know what will happen" The woman deducted "And what of other situations?"
"That's why I choose you for this. In those cases, your strength and experience would be needed to survive."
"This smells bad. My instinct is telling me to n-" *PAF*
Silencing the woman, the hooded man put a heavy bag on the table "This is the payment. All in advance."
The woman's eye shined brightly as she opened the bag, seeing it all full of Mora "What's life without risk!" The woman grinned "We have a deal."
...
Allen was walking around Chinju Forest, the eternal night forest that for some unknow reason the sun never rises.
'Only one week until my leave' Allen thought as he walked. All his plans had gone quite well, the Vision Hunt Decree was mostly approved and if nothing strange happened it was bound to become official 'At a minimum, it should take 3 months and at maximum a year.' Moreover, Watatsumi Island was already prepared, Kokomi having enough information to fight effectively.
In all, Fatui's forces were already prepared on both sides and their influence was bound to increase, giving Allen quite the achievements for being the mastermind.
'All it went quite well. The Vision Hunt Decree was really a good decision' Inazuma was too controlled by the Shogun and there was little place to infiltrate, that's why Allen thought of trying to create a Civil War.
Allen thought about lot of ways to make them fight, controlling the market, increasing poverty, revealing the noble's secret, forging illegal trades... There were a lot of options, but why he decided on the Vision Hunt?
It was simply for his previous life memories and the knowledge of the game. In the game, Inazuma was a closed nation with the Vision Hunt active, which meant that the possibility of it to happen was quite high. He didn't know how it started in the game, but this time he would take that achievement.
Finally, Allen stopped his thoughts at the sight of a young girl waiting near the stream.
"Hello, Ayaka."
Ayaka quickly turned towards Allen, showing a bright smile "Hello, Allen" She avoided her gaze a little and started clenching her kimono.
Allen smiled at her antic "A new Kimono? It goes well with you, it highlights your eyes. You are really beautiful today."
Yes, today Ayaka was wearing a new kimono. It has a royal blue pleated knee-length skirt embroidered with an assortment of patterns, bearing gold accents and a small white flower print with a pair of white shorts with lace trim at the base underneath, and black geta sandals with ankle-length white socks decorated by pink cloverleaf knots at the back.
"Thanks" Ayaka blushed shily, but nevertheless she bloomed a beautiful smile.
"How it comes that you wanted to meet here?" Allen asked "It's a strange place for a meeting."
Ayaka was one of the first people that Allen had told about his departure from Inazuma, considering her his best friend. She has been quite sad about the departure, but could understand his decision and she was well aware that with Allen's character, he was bound to leave someday. However, she didn't expect to be it so soon.
"I wanted to show you something in private" Ayaka answered "And I think this is the best place." Ayaka took his hand, guiding him near the stream.
"I have always been untalented" Ayaka revealed "Since childhood, I needed to practice 100 times what other people learned on the first try. I have always been compared with my brother the genius or my perfect mother."
"Ayaka" Allen called her worried.
"You don't need to worry about it" Ayaka shook her head and smiled "I had overcome it long ago and I always loved my brother and mother that always took care of me."
"If I'm not talented. If I can't learn it on the first try. It doesn't matter, I'll try hundreds, thousands... the necessary times until I am able to achieve. My hard work will become my talent" Ayaka turned over Allen smiling "Thanks for always accompanying me during it."
Ayaka released Allen's hand, leaving him near the stream and she stepped over the water, wetting her feet.
"Please. Keep your eyes on me" Ayaka said with a strong gaze focused on Allen. Then she closed her eyes to concentrate herself and started humming a sweet song.
Ayaka took out a fan and started dancing with it while keeping humming. It was a slow dance full of nobility, elegance and graceful movements, that together with her image, new dress and the natural environment of Chinju Forest, created an incredibly beautiful picture.
Allen could recognize the dance. It was one of the main dances of the Kamisato Clan that used the fan. Allen had seen Ayaka practicing it dozens of times, but never he had been her making it so perfect.
{Insert Ayaka Fan Dance Cutscene}
*Paf* In the end, Ayaka finished the dance unleashing her elemental skill with her fan, the cryo crystal reflecting the natural blue color of the forest, creating an spectacular ending, a fusion of the dance with the use of a Vision.
*Clap* *Clap* "It was awesome. Truly beautiful" Allen congratulated.
"Thanks" Ayaka smiled making a courtesy as an ending "I finally was able to perform it perfectly, I didn't show it to anyone" Ayaka looked at Allen and blushed, avoiding her gaze a little "I wanted you to be the first one to see it." She said leaving the stream and approaching Allen.
"Thanks, I will never forget it" Allen smiled.
"Allen, I-" Ayaka took Allen's hands and looked at his eyes.
"Ayaka" Allen called her name as he was aware that she has something important to say, something difficult for her.
"No" Ayaka shook her head "It's nothing" She smiled and turned around Allen, pushing his back and guiding him towards the Kamisato state "Sayu is waiting for us, let's not make her worry!"
"Aya-" Allen was about to retort to the obvious change of theme, but seeing Ayaka trying to hide her face and blushing, he smiled warmly and continued walking "Yes, let's go" 'There still one week, I'm sure that she would tell me by that time.'
Seeing his back while walking, Ayaka couldn't stop thinking 'I would like you to stay here with me, but I know that I can stop you. I'm not ready yet as my brother still need my help as the clan just has stabilized, but the next time we meet... Maybe at that time, I can follow you' Ayaka blushed at her thoughts, quickly shaking her head and chasing over Allen "Wait for me!"
'I will wait to tell until the party the day before' She thought as she reached Allen, taking his hand and smiling 'There's still time.'
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