For Eternity

For Eternity - X

Miko and Ei stared at each other in silence. Miko was letting out short yet heavy breaths, as her eyes filled with tears. Ei had highly mixed feelings about the situation. She didn't know what Miko had done and why, but since Miko was so dear to her, she felt guilty- not only for trusting her, but for not realizing it sooner.

"M-my archon... Please... Let me explain myself...", Miko pleaded. Ei sighed and created a Baleful Omen over Miko's vision, locking it. Meaning, if Miko had the Omen written over her, she couldn't use her vision.

"Explain yourself, then. Your explanation better be reasonable, otherwise, you know what will happen next.", Ei threatened. Miko nodded slightly and got to stand up. A moment of silence struck between the two, before the kitsune opened her mouth.

"This feels like a curse... Forcing someone to kill others... Only to show someone how much you adore them... How much you love them and their company... How you wish to spend all of eternity with them...", she started. Ei tilted her head slightly, confused about Miko's explanation.

"This feeling hasn't been able to leave me... Everything I've done... Has been only... Only for you, Ei... For your eternity...", Miko continued with tears running down her cheeks. The archon was genuinely surprised, but she didn't want to believe a thing the kitsune said.

"What you're saying is that you tried to kill my entire nation so I would notice the 'sacrifices' you do for me?" Ei asked. Yae went silent, she realized how dumb the idea sounded only now. She truly felt guilty, until she realized what started all the nonsense.

"Most of them, yes... The first incident was... Different...", Miko told. She took a step closer to Ei, who in return took a step back.

"You mean the death of Arataki-who, aren't you?", Ei asked. The kitsune slightly giggled at the nickname but nodded as an answer.

"You don't understand how poorly the man was talking about you. He claimed that he could've overthrown you, the God of eternity herself! Hearing it all made my blood boil, I couldn't stand listening to it...", Miko ranted. Ei felt her cheeks slightly burn up, which she absolutely didn't want to happen. She walked away from Miko and tried to understand her thoughts.

"Miko. I need you to understand that killing my people for my sake isn't fair. It must need some kind of a punishment.", Ei said with clear guilt in her voice. Miko's ears lowered down, she knew exactly what Ei was talking about.

"A-as you wish, my archon... I understand...", she said quietly as more tears formed in. Miko got on her knees and prayed as Ei created her sword, Musou No Hitotachi. She turned to Miko with a sorry-look and raised the weapon over her head.

"I'm sorry for betraying your trust, my archon... Please... I wish a good memory of me remain with you... For the rest of your eternity...", Miko said. Ei shut her eyes as Miko drew her last breath, and at that second...

"I love you, Miko..."

The threat had finally been erased.

Or that's what you might think.

Ei teleported out of the Euthymia back to Chinju Forest. Ayato and Thoma were taking care of Ayaka's wounds when she returned. Ayato stood up and walked to the Shogun. He saw the sword in her hand and understood what had happened.

"Now that she's been taken care of, I believe Inazuma is safe again... It will take a while for us to get used to this, but it won't be that bad...", the man said. Ei didn't react to his words any way, she only stared at the ground and breathed quietly as tears formed in her eyes. Ayato helped his sister up and Thoma cleaned packed up the first-aid-kit.

"Thoma, do you have the time to report in Liyue that the ships from Inazuma are safe to return?", Ayato asked.

"There is no need to do such a thing.", Ei replied. The three turned to her surprised as she took a tighter grip of her sword. The archon was filled in guilt.

"Show them how much you love me.", a voice behind her said. It sounded so much like Miko, it made Ei think she was losing it.

"There's a feeling inside me, a weird one. I don't know where it came from, and I don't need to know.", Ei started. She pointed her sword at the three, directly at the head of the Kamisato.

"I loved her, you hear me... I don't care if she had to kill all of you to proof it... She could've done that... It wouldn't change a thing... I'd still feel guilty for killing her...", Ei said

"All that matters is that nothing like you pathetic beings will not last forever. And your lives are a threat to our eternity."

Almost a month had passed. The traveler and their travel companion Paimon decided to finally return in the nation if Eternity, but the silence surprised them.

"Hey, traveler, where is everyone? Paimon is a little worried... Paimon heard that a lot of ships from Inazuma have left in Liyue, did they go on a vacation?", Paimon asked around. The traveler had a bad feeling about it all. It almost felt the same after what happened after challenging Signora, right before they had their second fight with the Shogun.

They walked through Inazuma as fast as they could, trying to find a sign of life from anywhere. It was until they stepped in Inazuma city, where the air started to feel more suffocating. At least to the traveler. They tried to keep up the fast pace and see if the Shogun was present, when the air started to get more electrified.

"Traveler... Paimon doesn't feel well... Paimon thinks she ate too many sticky honey roasts up board...", Paimon joked. Once they took their first step inside the Tenshukaku, the doors locked after them.

"Wh-what the-?! That hasn't happened before, right?!", Paimon shouted. The traveler felt like they were about to pass out, when suddenly a figure appeared in front of them.

"Ei! Oh Paimon is so glad we found you! What the heck has happened to Inazuma?!", Paimon shouted. Ei stared at them with red, tired eyes. It almost looked like she hadn't had food nor sleep in months.

"What... The heck has happened to you?!", the flying creature continued.

"You see... Love can be a painful subject... When you hurt someone you love, you feel bad, don't you... You wish someone would kill you, just so you get what you deserve for hurting them... That is what happened here. That is what happened to me.", Ei replied shortly. Once more, she created her sword in her hand and stared at the pair.

"Her last wish was that a memory of her will remain besides me... I may have taken it literally... I don't want her to leave me after I slayed her like that..."

"E-Ei, what're you talking about? Paimon doesn't understand this at all! Who is 'she'?", Paimon kept asking.

"Those two are a threat to our relationship, our eternity, Ei. You love me after all, don't you? Show them how eternal we will be.", the voice returned. Ei closed her eyes and

"You two are a threat to our eternity... We don't want you in the way..."

"W-wait Ei! Paimon doesn't get it! What happened here?! Ei!" Paimon shouted. With their last remaining strength, the traveler created their sword and got in front of Paimon to cover her.

"Now witness your final calamity."