A few days had passed since the Shogun's completion of the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual and her return to Inazuma City. The city itself remained much the same as before—clear skies, a gentle breeze, and the ever-bustling streets of Hanamizaka, filled with life and chatter.
Petals like shards of glass fell like rain from the cherry trees, carried by the wind, swirling through the air like pink dust that wrapped the town in a dreamlike haze.
At the center of Inazuma City stood the colossal Statue of the Omnipresent God—towering tens of meters high, motionless and divine. The statue of the woman spread her wings wide, each feather embedded with countless crystalline 'eyes,' gleaming with shifting colors under the sunlight.
Even amid this peaceful scene, the statue commanded awe and reverence—holy and intimidating, as if the gaze of a god had fallen upon the land.
Ordinary citizens rarely approached it. Some feared offending Narukami herself; others simply could not bear the oppressive aura that seemed to radiate from it. But most of all—it was those eyes. Those countless eyes that, when one drew too near, seemed to turn and stare back, alive with silent judgment.
"This statue's surroundings feel so tense… I doubt ordinary people come here often."
A young, childlike voice broke the silence around the monument. It came from a small, floating figure resembling a doll—dressed in curious clothing, complete with a tiny cape. Hovering beside her was a golden-haired boy in fitted dark-brown attire.
"Mm… You're right, Paimon," the boy replied, his expression somber as he, too, felt the heavy, oppressive aura emanating from the statue.
"Eh? Wait—look closely… those shiny things embedded in the wings, aren't they—?!"
Paimon's eyes widened as realization struck her. She recognized them immediately.
"Yes. They're all Visions."
Standing beside them, Thoma spoke in his calm, steady tone, answering her unspoken question.
Today, he had intended to bring the traveler—named Aether—to meet Lady Kamisato Ayaka. The traveler had successfully passed the trial she had set for him, with only a few subtle hints of help from Thoma along the way. It could be said that Aether had earned his freedom from Ritou through his own strength.
Passing through Inazuma City, they had stopped here briefly, after Thoma spoke with the nearby Tenryou Commission guards, allowing them to observe the statue up close. After all, the Statue of the Omnipresent God was one of Inazuma's most iconic landmarks—and also a symbol of the nation's current state.
"!" ×2
Both Paimon and Aether gasped in shock simultaneously. Thoma couldn't help but think to himself that their synchronization was oddly perfect.
"Visions?! So all the Visions confiscated through the Vision Hunt Decree… are embedded in this statue?!"
Paimon's voice rose to an indignant shout.
"Shh—! Paimon, keep your voice down!" Aether quickly covered her mouth, scolding her in a hushed tone. This little companion of his was always too loud for her own good.
"…So, you've already heard about the Vision Hunt Decree," Thoma said with a faint, knowing smile, clearly unsurprised.
"Why would the Shogun issue such a decree?" Aether asked, his eyes fixed on the towering statue.
"Before explaining that," Thoma began, "you should first understand this—just as Mondstadt is the land of 'Freedom,' and Liyue is the land of 'Contracts,' Inazuma… is the nation of 'Eternity.'"
He looked up toward the statue, his expression solemn as he continued to explain his homeland's current state to the traveler.
"The Raiden Shogun is not only the supreme ruler of Inazuma—but also its god."
He then turned his gaze back to Aether and Paimon, both of whom had grown serious at his words.
"An unchanging eternity through a thousand generations—that is the will of the one who governs this nation. To that end, she relies on the Tri-Commission to stabilize governance, and the Sakoku Decree to cut off the nation from outside influence."
"S-so that means—" Paimon tilted her head, trying to follow.
"Yes," Thoma nodded, "the Shogun seeks to keep Inazuma in a state of stillness—to let the river of time flow around her untouched. Only then, she believes, can true Eternity be realized."
"Every Archon has their own way of thinking…" Paimon murmured.
"Of course... that's just my own understanding," Thoma continued, his tone calm yet thoughtful. "I'm not Raiden Shogun, so I can't claim to understand what she truly desires. But as for the Vision Hunt Decree, perhaps the reason lies in this: the Shogun believes that Visions grant people the power of 'change'—and 'change' is the obstacle that disrupts Eternity. It is instability itself."
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in.
"Ah? That's just... too much!" Paimon huffed in protest, floating with arms crossed, clearly dissatisfied.
Thoma ignored her complaints and went on, explaining the origins of the statue.
"And so, the Raiden Shogun ordered the Tenryou Commission to confiscate all Visions across Inazuma—embedding them one by one into this monument. That is how the Statue of the Omnipresent God came to be. It can be seen as the very symbol of Inazuma's 'Eternity'—an unshakable existence."
"..." ×2
Both Paimon and Aether fell silent again, lost in thought.
"So basically... that makes Raiden Shogun kind of selfish, doesn't it?" Paimon said bluntly, voicing her thoughts without hesitation. Aether could only sigh at her directness.
"...Haha!" Thoma blinked, then burst into a small, helpless laugh. "Ah… only outsiders like you would dare criticize the Shogun so openly."
"No—those are her words, not mine," Aether muttered, rubbing his temples.
"Hey~!" Paimon shot him a look of mock indignation.
"Haha! You two are quite the pair," Thoma chuckled. "Still… I agree. The Vision Hunt Decree never should have existed. Lady Kamisato has resolved to oppose it from the very day it was announced, but… sigh…"
At that, Thoma's expression grew distant, his gaze lowering in melancholy.
He thought of his lady—the way she often sighed softly, her brows furrowed with constant worry. Though she had chosen to resist, she could never bring herself to truly defy the Shogun's will.
After all, even he, her retainer, knew well that the Kamisato Clan owed its survival to the Shogun's personal intervention in their time of crisis. And ever since the passing of her mother, Lady Ayaka had been almost alone—aside from her brother, the current clan head. In those years, it had been the Shogun herself who visited her often, watching over her as she grew.
No wonder her heart was so heavy, torn between gratitude and sorrow. Lately, she had looked more weary than ever, as though sleepless nights had worn her spirit thin.
"Hey~ Thoma! You're spacing out again!" Paimon's sudden voice snapped him back to reality.
"Ah? Oh, hehe… my apologies. Where was I?" he asked awkwardly, scratching his head.
"You were saying Lady Kamisato had made up her mind to resist!"
"Ah, right… Lady Kamisato—"
As Thoma continued his explanation, Paimon listened intently, while Aether's focus drifted elsewhere. His golden eyes fixed on the great statue before them. The countless Visions embedded within seemed to call to him—faint voices whispering in his mind.
He hesitated, then slowly reached out to touch the statue's surface.
In that instant—
Vmm—!
"Ugh!!"
A chorus of indistinct whispers flooded his thoughts, forcing their way into his consciousness like an overwhelming tide. The pain made him stumble, clutching his head as he groaned in agony.
"Aether! Are you all right? You don't look so good!" Paimon cried, darting toward him in alarm.
"Th-there are voices... so many voices…" he managed to say through gritted teeth, forcing himself upright as the dizziness hit him.
"Voices? What voices? I don't hear anything," Thoma said, reaching out to touch the statue himself—but all he felt was its cold, unyielding surface.
"Yeah! You touched the statue, and then what happened?" Paimon asked frantically.
"I think… I heard people's wishes. So many of them… I couldn't make them out clearly." Aether's brow furrowed as he tried to recall. "But it felt like... fragments of countless prayers."
"Wishes?" Thoma murmured, resting his chin in thought. "It's said that when a person's desire burns bright enough, the gaze of the gods falls upon them—and that is how a Vision is granted."
He glanced back up at the statue, his tone turning somber.
"It seems the people's wishes were far more intense than I imagined."
"Wh-what's that supposed to mean?" Paimon asked, clearly baffled. Aether only cast her a tired glance.
"All right, all right—tourists of Narukami Island," Thoma said suddenly, straightening up with a light smile. "It's time for our next stop—the Kamisato Estate."
Without further explanation, he turned and began walking down the path ahead, leaving the two travelers momentarily stunned.
They had only just arrived from Ritou, but meeting Lady Kamisato was their next goal—her judgment awaited them.
"Hey~! Wait for us!" Paimon called, puffing her cheeks as she floated after him.
Aether sighed quietly and followed, his thoughts still lingering on the whispers that echoed faintly within his mind.
...
Shff!
The sharp, dazzling gleam of a blade swept through the wide tatami room, each strike carrying lethal precision.
"Haa… haa…"
The soft, rhythmic breaths of a young woman intertwined with the ringing of steel, echoing through the center of the chamber. The slender figure, clad in pale blue, moved with grace as she swung a beautifully crafted katana that gleamed even in shadow.
Tap, tap…
Her light steps danced across the tatami, the hem of her kimono fluttering like petals in the wind. Anyone watching would have been captivated by her movements—and by the faint, sweet fragrance that drifted through the air around her.
Swish!
The blade flashed forward in a swift arc, the edge slicing through the air with chilling brilliance. Her stance shifted—graceful yet firm—as she drew the katana back and thrust again in one fluid motion.
Vmm—!
The steel sang, the hum of its vibration resonating through the chamber. With a flick of her wrist, she spun the weapon in her fingers like a dancer twirling a ribbon. Her skirt swayed, her movements turning to a flawless spin before she slashed backward in a reverse cut.
Shff!
The attack carved a cold, shimmering line through the air, frost-like mist coiling along the blade's edge, sharp enough to wound the wind itself.
"Haa…"
Breathing softly, she ignored the beads of sweat trickling behind her ear and once again brought her blade to bear, slicing several unseen strikes so fast they blurred into streaks of light.
Then, with practiced precision, she sheathed her katana, her hand resting on the hilt as she lowered her stance, legs slightly bent. In the next heartbeat—
Crack!
Her form blurred forward, leaving only an afterimage in her wake. The shadow lingered for a moment before dissolving, as a brilliant arc of icy light exploded into a burst of frost.
"Haa… mm!"
She exhaled sharply, then, without hesitation, turned on her heel. Her hand tightened around the hilt, and in less than a breath—
Shing! ×N
Multiple blade flashes cut through the air in rapid succession, so swift they merged into a single blinding storm of steel.
When the last streak faded, silence filled the room.
Drip…
A single drop of sweat fell onto the tatami beneath her feet, darkening the woven straw. The girl's delicate face was set in a rare expression of focus—cold, sharp, and utterly composed. Her pale-blue eyes glimmered like frozen crystal, beautiful and deadly.
"Haa…"
She slowly straightened from her crouch, lifting her gaze to the crimson-hued blade in her hand.
Its hilt was wrapped in pink silk, and the elegant, dark-gold guard bore engraved cherry blossom patterns. The slender blade shimmered faintly with a mix of silver-gray and soft cherry-red, reflecting the sunlight with an icy gleam. The color scheme matched perfectly with the red accents of her kimono.
This katana, Snowswept Sakura, had been specially forged for her by the Shogun herself. The day she received it, she had been so overjoyed she couldn't sleep all night.
Now, Kamisato Ayaka had set aside her usual armored skirt in favor of a light blue kimono—its design nearly identical to the Shogun's own. Pale blue fabric patterned with white herons and camellias, with a black family crest embroidered upon the back.
The wide sleeves of her divine attire brushed elegantly against her legs, the hem reaching mid-thigh. Her feet were no longer clad in the usual tabi but in white over-knee stockings that traced the graceful lines of her exquisite legs. A pink ribbon tied around her left ankle added a touch of charm, while her delicate white feet pressed lightly against the sunlit tatami, pristine and ethereal.
Her fingers brushed along the surface of Snowswept Sakura's blade with tender affection, almost like one caressing a lover's cheek. That lover—her true beloved—perhaps still remained unaware of her heart.
"Shogun-sama… when will you come to see Ayaka?"
Her voice was soft, crystalline, tinged with melancholy. With a gentle sigh, she flicked her sleeve, shifting her stance. Her legs aligned gracefully—right foot forward, left slightly behind, toes poised delicately. Her upper body turned to the side as she slid Snowswept Sakura smoothly into its sheath.
The rasp of steel echoed faintly as she guided the blade home—fast at first, then slow, until the hilt clicked perfectly into place.
Clink!
A clear, musical sound of metal meeting metal rang through the quiet room. The katana was sheathed flawlessly.
Ayaka adjusted her breathing, steadying her heart.
Rustle…
At that moment, the doors of the Kamisato Estate slid open, followed by the sound of brisk footsteps.
She knew exactly who it was. At this hour, only her retainers would enter the estate. Hearing those familiar steps, she felt no alarm and instead walked calmly toward the wall rack, taking up a plain white towel to dab at the sweat along her neck.
"My lady," Thoma greeted respectfully, bowing as he approached.
"Thoma… how is the traveler?" Ayaka asked softly, placing her katana carefully upon the weapon stand at the center of the room, aligning it neatly with the others before turning toward him.
"Reporting to you, my lady—the traveler has left Ritou. After waiting a short while at Komore Teahouse, I met with him as planned."
"…Did he handle everything on his own?" she asked as she gently wiped the back of her neck, her tone calm and composed.
"Not entirely. He encountered some difficulties along the way, so I followed your instructions and provided… minimal assistance."
As he spoke, Thoma presented the folded fan she had entrusted to him earlier, holding it respectfully in both hands.
"Well done. And where is he now?" Ayaka took the towel and hung it back upon the rack, then accepted the fan. With an elegant motion, she flicked it open, hiding half her face behind its delicate frame.
"He's already arrived at the estate, waiting just outside," Thoma replied.
"In that case, bring them in."
Click…
She snapped the fan shut gracefully, her tone light but commanding.
"As you wish."
Thoma bowed and turned to leave swiftly, his movements crisp and disciplined.
Once he was gone, Ayaka stepped forward but hesitated briefly. Her hand brushed against her collar, smoothing the fabric of her kimono.
"...So be it. There's no time to change now. It will be a meeting through the screen, after all."
With that quiet murmur, she crossed the polished floor to the center of the sitting room, positioning herself behind the tall folding screen used for formal meetings. Her sleeve fluttered as she knelt gracefully upon the tatami, arranging her kimono as she settled into seiza. One hand held the folded fan lightly, resting it upon her lap, the other resting softly atop it as she composed herself to receive her guests.
Step, step…
Several footsteps approached.
Swish…
The door slid open—two pairs of feet entered.
"Eh?! So this is what a noble's mansion in Inazuma looks like? It's… not as fancy as I imagined! Kind of plain, actually!"
The voice was unmistakably Paimon's—high-pitched, unfiltered, and echoing through the air even through the screen.
Ayaka heard every word clearly, yet her expression did not waver. She remained seated in silence, serene and composed.
"It doesn't really look that luxurious~" Paimon went on, floating beside Aether.
"Well… we've seen the Jade Chamber and the Dawn Winery. It's understandable," Aether replied with a quiet sigh, glancing around at the refined yet modest interior of the Kamisato reception hall.
Wooden walls, deep-blue folding screens, and pale tatami flooring—sunlight streamed through the shoji screens, scattering golden beams across the room. A hanging scroll depicting white herons returning to their nest adorned the wall, its calm brushwork lending the space a serene, understated elegance.
It was certainly refined—but nothing like the grand splendor of Liyue's Jade Chamber or Mondstadt's Dawn Winery. Paimon looked a little disappointed. Truthfully, Aether shared her sentiment. To the two travelers, it seemed every great family ought to live amid exaggerated luxury.