Ethereal slumber- Raiden shogun x Tomo

Chapter 23

As the adventurers left to attend something urgent. Ei then leaned on the side of the gate, as she feels the puppet's body exhausted from all the walking.

She was suddenly flung backwards when she got near at the gate. Her heart rate then beats faster up to celestia, when she saw the gate lead her up towards the mountain. Seconds later, Ei then landed safely at a floating Island, as she was still shaking at how high up she was from the ground.

Ei wobbled towards a thunder sakura bough nearby and sat down with her knees close to her chest. Ei did not dare to look down, as she has a phobia of heights.

Daichi poke out his head from the belly bag and makes his way towards Ei's face, as he licked her cheek. Like it was telling her that; don't be afraid, I'm here with you. Ei hugged the feline close to her and stood up.

Ei puts Daichi back to her belly bag, as she summoned an electrograna. Ei took a deep breath, as she was determined to overcome her fear of heights. She then teleported through a electro butterfly to another, as she landed to another floating Island.

After minutes of teleporting through floating Islands, Ei then saw a large floating Island with some electro sparks coming out of it.

Ei then flew down to the large clearing below to investigate it out curiosity. All of a sudden, lightning strikes everywhere at her surroundings. A thunder manifestation then flew above them, as it sends more lightning towards them. Ei made sure to dodge all of the boss's attacks, so that Daichi won't get harmed.

Ei's stamina was then decreasing slowly, as she accidentally tripped on a rock making her stumble to the ground. The thunder manifestation then took this opportunity to strike her.

When Ei was about stand up, she was then struck by a powerful lightning that blew her away from the floating Island and results her; blacking out.

Ei then felt somebody shaking her rapidly, as she heard a faint echoing voice calling her name:

"Ei... ake up... wake up... EI! EI!"

She opened her eyes to see; Tomo shaking her and a blinding light surrounding them "Wha—huh— Ei was cut off by Tomo shouting "WAKE UP! EI! WAKE UP!" Tomo's voice rang through her ear, as she was brought back to reality.

She was now falling down towards her death. Ei then summoned her naginata and plunged down to the ground, as it makes a large impact and killed hilichurls nearby.

Ei was panting and her heart beating rapidly. "Daichi, are you okay?" Ei spoke while panting heavily. She then felt the temperature gone tenfold colder than earlier. Ei slowly opened her belly bag and saw Daichi's mouth agape and his lifeless eyes staring at nothing.

Ei pulled her out of her bag and held his lifeless feline body close to her, as her eyes flooded her vision with tears brimming through her purple orbs.

Daichi's body was still warm, as Ei rubbed her hands against his back and chest. Daichi's head hung backwards making Ei sobbed more and more.

Ei then heard ruffling from a bush nearby. Ei turned around and saw it was the felines that she was searching for.

Ei rips her long sleeve off and wrapped Daichi's dead feline body with the cloth. She then puts him in her belly bag and approached the other felines to carry them.

The cats were looking concerned at Ei, who was sobbing nonstop while walking to Koseki Village. They were then stopped by a treasure hoarder saying "stop right there and give— the hammer user was interrupted by Ei glaring dead at him.

The hammer user took a step back and held up a hand to stop his troops from attacking. "I-I'm sorry... do you need help with carrying your cats?" The hammer user asked and Ei handed the cats to him "Yes" Ei spoke seriously and the hammer user handed the other cats to some of his troops.

The treasure hoarders followed Ei towards Asase Shrine, as she was now holding Daichi with her sobbing synching with the storm. A shovel user took pity at the crying goddess and offered her a napkin. Ei took the napkin and sneezed on it "Thank you..." Ei muttered, as the pyro potion user rubbed her back and the hydro potion user offered her water to calm her down.

The female hoarder can't take it any longer and takes off her jacket, as she placed it above Ei. When they arrived at the shrine, Ei felt her body weakens and faints.

Luckily, the treasure hoarders were there to catch her in time, before she hits the ground. Neko noticed the group and leaped out in the rain "Oh dear me... please carry her inside the shrine and take shelter for now, all of you might get ill if you wander any longer in the rain" Neko said and the treasure hoarders carried the Shogun, as they followed the priestess inside the shrine.

Neko sat at a couch and patted it "Place her here" Neko signaled them and they obeyed. The cat priestess then ordered her other feline companions to serve some tea and offer them dry towels.

The female treasure hoarder then volunteered to help Neko. The female treasure hoarder squeezed the towel with warm water, as she puts it on Ei's forehead. Neko bowed at the girl "Dear, If it's not trouble; can you report to the adventurers guild about the Shogun's state and tell them to take her to the Narukami priestess or to the General" Neko spoke and the girl nodded "We will. Once this storm has calmed down" the hoarder said.

The female hoarder then took a peek outside, as it was almost dawn and the rain was slowly trickling away "hmm... we will find the adventurers to inform them about it now" the hoarder spoke and exited the shrine with the others following her. Neko stared down at sleeping Shogun and shivered, as the temperature went below zero "Winter is soon coming..."