Note: In the previous chapter, the author wrote that Lumine met Dehya, but he changed it here. He was afraid the story was moving too fast, so this is the episode where they meet.
"Shogun, you have never been anyone's shadow. You are my Shogun, and mine alone," Akira said softly. "We will walk this path together, forever inseparable."
With those words, Akira slid the ring onto the Shogun's finger. The stunning, dazzling band seemed to flash with localized lightning against her jade-like hand, as if celebrating a beauty that would defy time itself.
The Shogun leaned in, pressing a gentle, lingering kiss onto Akira's cheek. She sat back down, lightly tracing the ring—the eternal symbol of a lifelong vow between a hero and his heroine.
Akira then turned his head, his gaze landing on Raiden Makoto, who had been watching them in serene silence. He extended his open hand toward her.
"My love, why don't you place your hand in your husband's?"
"Alright~" Makoto replied with a tender smile, resting her small hand in his palm. It was warm, soft, and incredibly comforting to hold.
As Akira squeezed her hand, Makoto looked up at him. Her eyes held an intensity of affection and anticipation that he had never seen before.
"Husband, I am forever grateful to you. Thank you for pulling me from the realm of the dead," Makoto murmured gently. "Because of you, I can witness the beauty of the living world again, see the enduring splendor of Inazuma, and reunite with Ei."
"What I used to pursue was merely transient beauty. But your presence in my life is the true eternity. Together, we can create our most beautiful moments to last forever—making every fleeting second an eternity in itself."
"After all, a single moment and eternity are not mutually exclusive, are they?" Makoto placed Akira's hand over her heart.
"Yes. Our story is far from over," Akira replied, leaning in to place a soft kiss on her forehead as he slipped a ring onto her hand. "From this moment on, I look forward to your guidance."
No matter how agitated or restless he might feel, being by Makoto's side always brought him an absolute sense of peace. She had a way of enveloping him in a warmth and tenderness that was uniquely her own.
Next, Akira walked over to Kujou Sara. The General was currently a blushing mess; her head was bowed low, her fingers were nervously intertwined, and the small crow wings on her back fluttered erratically, completely betraying her intense nervousness.
"Sara," Akira's gentle voice brushed past her ears.
Kujou Sara snapped her head up, meeting Akira's gaze, which was as calm and clear as still water.
"Y-Yes, my love~"
Her voice had completely lost its usual military sternness, replaced by a sweet, docile cadence. Only in Akira's presence would she ever show such a girlish, vulnerable side.
In the eyes of the Inazuma authorities, General Kujou Sara was a strictly disciplined, highly responsible commander—a cold, distant beauty who tolerated no nonsense.
"Sara, let me tell you a secret. From the very beginning, I was scheming on how to pull you into my arms," Akira confessed with a mischievous grin. "I've had ulterior motives for a very long time."
"That time I touched your wings? Entirely premeditated. I simply love you too much, my little tengu," he added, his eyes locked onto hers.
"So that's how it was...?" Sara murmured, her face burning hotter as she recalled the sheer embarrassment of the day he had touched her wings.
"To be honest... My Lord, I think I felt a spark the moment I first laid eyes on you, too," she admitted in a soft whisper. "It's just that, back then, I didn't truly understand what it meant to love someone..."
"I was never truly angry about what happened that day, My Lord. The truth is, I can never bring myself to deny any of your desires." Sara stepped forward, gently wrapping her arms around Akira's waist. "As long as it brings you happiness, I will do anything."
Deeply moved by the tengu girl's devotion, Akira naturally had to reciprocate. He leaned down, capturing her lips in a deep kiss, before sliding a custom, tengu-themed ring onto her left hand.
"Master~" Feeling the weight of the ring, Kujou Sara held him even tighter, as if wishing she could melt directly into his chest.
Meanwhile, in Sumeru City, Lumine and Paimon stepped out of their lodgings, only to find Katheryne standing near the entrance with her signature polite smile.
"Huh? Katheryne, what are you doing here so early?" Paimon waved, floating over to her. "Aren't you supposed to be on duty at the Adventurers' Guild today?"
"There is no need today..." Katheryne shook her head. For a brief fraction of a second, a faint green light flickered in her eyes. "I came here today in the hopes that you two might show me around Sumeru City."
"Eh? Katheryne, you mean you haven't explored the city yet?" Paimon asked, tilting her head in confusion.
"Yes. I spend almost all of my time stationed at the Adventurers' Guild counter, so I rarely get the opportunity to see the sights," Katheryne explained with a nod.
"Ah, makes sense! Well, you're in luck! Lumine and I were actually planning to do some sightseeing today anyway," Paimon said, puffing out her chest.
"Mm." Lumine nodded, though she cast a subtle, discerning look at Katheryne.
"Is something the matter?" Katheryne asked, noticing the traveler's lingering gaze.
"It's nothing," Lumine replied, shaking her head. "Let's go. Let's explore Sumeru City."
"Very well." Katheryne nodded, falling into step beside them.
As they walked aimlessly through the vibrant streets, Katheryne looked at them curiously. "By the way, Lumine, Paimon... where are your Akasha Terminals?"
Lumine shook her head. "We're just passing travelers, we don't really have a use for them." Ever since Akira had warned her about the severe drawbacks and hidden dangers of the Akasha system, she wouldn't dare touch that piece of junk.
"As expected of renowned travelers. You rely on your own wisdom," Katheryne remarked, nodding understandingly.
As the trio continued their casual stroll, a panicked voice suddenly cut through the bustling noise of the street nearby.
"My Lady! My Lady, can you hear me? Are you feeling any better?!"
The three of them immediately turned toward the source of the commotion. A beautiful, dark-skinned woman with cat-like ears was kneeling on the cobblestones in a panic. Right beside her, a delicate, pale young woman was sitting on the ground, biting her lip tightly as her face contorted in agony.
"Oh no, that girl looks seriously sick! Let's go check it out!" Paimon cried.
"Right, let's go!" Lumine agreed instantly. She was, after all, a kind-hearted traveler who could never ignore someone in need.
"Ah! That's Dunyarzad!" Katheryne gasped, her composure cracking. "Has her Eleazar flared up again?"
Without waiting, Katheryne dashed forward.
"Katheryne, wait!" Paimon called out. She exchanged a worried glance with Lumine, and the two quickly ran after her.
"Hold it right there!" Dehya, the cat-eared mercenary, snapped defensively as she saw Katheryne rushing toward them.
"Katheryne!" Paimon and Lumine arrived a second later, breathless.
"Please wait, we don't mean any harm," Lumine said quickly, raising her hands to placate the fierce mercenary. "I'm a traveler from across the sea. My name is Lumine, this is my companion Paimon, and this is Katheryne from the Adventurers' Guild. What happened to her?"
"Katheryne..." Dehya repeated, lowering her guard slightly. She recognized the guild receptionist, which eased her suspicions, though she remained highly alert.
"My name is Dehya, a bodyguard hired by the Homayani Family. And this is the eldest daughter of the house, Miss Dunyarzad," Dehya introduced briefly, her eyes darting back down to Dunyarzad with immense worry. She had already administered her lady's medicine, but it was proving completely ineffective this time.
Katheryne stepped forward resolutely. "Let me try. While I cannot cure Eleazar, I may be able to suppress the flare-up."
Before anyone could object, Katheryne knelt down and gently placed her hands on Dunyarzad's trembling frame. A moment later, a soft, ethereal green light emanated from Katheryne's palms, slowly flowing into Dunyarzad's body.
As the soothing Dendro energy circulated through her veins, the agonizing tension in Dunyarzad's face began to melt away.
"It's working!" Dehya exclaimed, her eyes widening in pure relief.
"Just as I thought..." Lumine muttered to herself. She watched Katheryne, who was focusing intensely on Dunyarzad, the traveler's suspicion about Katheryne's true identity finally hardening into certainty.
Before long, the pain completely receded from Dunyarzad's face. She fluttered her beautiful eyes open, looking exhausted but stable. Katheryne, on the other hand, looked incredibly drained, leaning back as she panted for air.
"Was it you... who saved me?" Dunyarzad asked weakly, her voice melodic but fragile.
"It was Katheryne! She suppressed your Eleazar!" Paimon chimed in helpfully.
"Dehya... who are they?" Dunyarzad asked, looking around in confusion.
"They're good people, My Lady. They ran over to help the moment you collapsed," Dehya explained, her expression softening. "This is Lumine, and her little floating guide is Paimon. And that's Katheryne from the Guild." She gave Lumine a grateful smile. "Did I get that right?"
"Spot on," Lumine nodded.
"Thank you all so much," Dunyarzad said with genuine gratitude.
"Aw, don't mention it!" Paimon waved her little hands dismissively.
"My Lady, I told you that you shouldn't be pushing yourself outside like this. You should be resting at home," Dehya scolded gently, a helpless sigh escaping her lips. "You need to be more careful, if only for the sake of those who care about you."
"No, Dehya... I don't want to just stay locked up at home. It's too suffocating." A flash of stubborn resistance crossed Dunyarzad's pale face.
"Besides, whether I stay home or not, the outcome remains the same. Eleazar cannot be cured," she continued in a soft, melancholic whisper. "I can feel it... I know I'm nearing the end of my time. Before that day comes, I want to see as much of this world as I can. Otherwise, I'll die with nothing but regrets."
"I just want to see the Sabzeruz Festival at the Grand Bazaar... and watch Nilou perform the Dance of Subzeruz."
"If I miss that, it will undoubtedly be the greatest regret of my entire life."
"I don't want to leave any loose ends in the time I have left... Dehya, can you please understand how I feel?"
"My Lady..." Dehya choked up, staying silent for a long moment before finally nodding. "I understand. I won't try to stop you anymore. But wherever you go, I am following right behind you."
"Mm, thank you, Dehya." Dunyarzad smiled warmly at her bodyguard.
"Dunyarzad..." Katheryne murmured, staring at the fragile girl with a profound, hidden sorrow and a deep sense of self-reproach etched into her eyes.
"Katheryne, when I look at you, I feel something very comforting... something familiar," Dunyarzad said, turning her gaze to the receptionist. "It feels almost like... the gentle power I used to catch glimpses of in my dreams long ago..."
"..." Katheryne fell silent for a brief moment, before shaking her head and forcing a polite smile. "How could that be..."
"Lumine, Paimon, you said you were travelers from a foreign land, right?" Dunyarzad asked, her eyes lighting up with interest.
"Yep!" the two nodded in unison.
"Then you must have visited so many incredible places and explored so many thrilling secret domains!" Dunyarzad said, a hint of envy dancing in her eyes. "You two must be the absolute best of friends."
"We are companions who share life and death, the best of friends through thick and thin," Lumine said, casting a warm look at Paimon. Though the little floating fairy had a massive appetite, Lumine had long since come to view her as family.
"That sounds wonderful." Dunyarzad smiled, then eagerly grasped Lumine's hands. "Lumine, would you mind telling me stories about your adventures?"
Lumine smiled softly and nodded. "Of course."
"Wonderful! Let's head over to that café right there. We can chat over some drinks!" Dunyarzad cheered, leading the group toward a nearby outdoor café.
Seated at the café, Lumine and Paimon began reciting their grand journey. Whenever they reached the most thrilling or humorous climaxes, Dunyarzad would gasp and cheer in absolute awe.
Even Katheryne sat with her chin resting in her hands, watching Lumine with a rare flash of childlike wonder in her eyes. Lumine had traveled to so many nations and witnessed so many wonders; her life must be so incredibly fulfilling. She had to be a very wise person, right?
Thinking of her own restricted reality, a sudden shadow of grief crossed Katheryne's eyes.
"Wow, that's just incredible!" Dunyarzad clapped her hands in delight. "What a magnificent way to live. I wish more than anything that I could experience a life like that."
"My Lady, that level of intensity is out of the question for you. You shouldn't even dream of leaving the city walls on your own," Dehya interjected hastily. The wilderness outside the city was teeming with Hilichurls, Fungi, and aggressive Eremite bandits. Her young mistress was far too fragile to handle such dangers.
"Don't worry, Dehya, I'm not foolish," Dunyarzad pouted, shaking her head.
"..." Dehya stared flatly at her lady. *Not foolish? Look at the state of your health, yet you're still harboring such reckless thoughts...*
Looking at Dunyarzad's pale, sickly face, which still managed to beam with an unyielding love for life despite the ravages of Eleazar, Lumine felt a heavy knot tighten in her chest.
"Eleazar..." Lumine murmured under her breath.
"Lumine..." Paimon whispered, noticing the traveler's downcast eyes. The kind-hearted fairy was also feeling incredibly heartbroken for Dunyarzad.
*There's nothing I can do right now...* Lumine thought, giving a helpless internal sigh. She couldn't just ask the person she loved to fix every problem for someone she had only just met. Curing a deep-rooted affliction like Eleazar was a monumental task; if word ever leaked that they possessed a cure, it would bring an apocalypse of trouble down upon his head.
Paimon seemed to catch Lumine's drift, nodding silently without pressing the matter further.
"Dunyarzad... I'm so sorry... I am still far too powerless," Katheryne whispered inaudibly, her head bowed in deep sorrow.
Lumine and Paimon spent the entire day accompanying Dunyarzad and Dehya, a gesture that forged a deep bond of friendship between them in a remarkably short time. Lumine could clearly see the innate goodness and purity of Dunyarzad's soul. Even under the constant torture of an incurable disease, the young lady's heart remained untainted.
Before they parted ways for the evening, Dunyarzad treated the group to a lavish feast consisting of Sumeru's finest local delicacies.
"Lumine, I actually own a small residential property near the city center. If you don't have a permanent place to stay yet, please use it as your home." Dunyarzad pulled out a key and pressed it into Lumine's palm.
"Dunyarzad, this is too much..." Lumine tried to decline.
"Please, take it. I rarely stay there anyway. Being able to help you in this small way brings me immense joy," Dunyarzad insisted.
"Cough, cough, cough...!" Suddenly, Dunyarzad's face lost all its color as a violent fit of coughing racked her chest.
"My Lady! You're pushing yourself too hard. We've been out walking all day," Dehya said, immediately supporting Dunyarzad's frail frame with deep concern. "Let's get you home so you can rest right away."
"Alright..." Dunyarzad nodded weakly. She turned back to Lumine, quickly giving her the directions to the house, before letting Dehya guide her back home into the evening twilight.