Although everyone had long known of Makoto's plan, now that it was truly beginning, excitement filled the air.
Ei still couldn't help feeling uneasy about leaving Inazuma, worrying whether Makoto might face danger in her absence.
But then she remembered the Resurrection Totems embedded within Makoto's body, each one capable of sustaining her even if calamity struck. That alone was enough to ease Ei's heart.
Even if something truly went wrong, those totems would buy enough time for Ei to return from Liyue to Inazuma.
Moreover, Makoto still wielded that strange and unfathomable "Thunder Staff."
With that staff in her hand, and with the Ley Lines of Inazuma empowering her, harming Makoto would be nearly impossible,
Unless the one striking was Zhongli or the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles herself.
But Zhongli had no such intent, after all, they were allies now.
As for the Sustainer… she still slumbered.
And even if she were to awaken, the first nation she would trouble would likely be Liyue, not Inazuma.
Makoto's gentle voice cut through Ei's thoughts:
"Send a thousand soldiers ahead. According to the schedule, they should reach Liyue Harbor within two days."
"Ei, you and the others will depart today. Go ahead and inform Morax of our arrival, and finalize the signing of the Pact of Nations."
Ei nodded silently. But Kujou Sara, after thinking for a moment, raised a question:
"Your Excellency… will those thousand soldiers be stationed permanently in Liyue?"
"Wouldn't that cause Liyue to take issue with us?"
Makoto only smiled and shook her head.
"Don't worry. Strictly speaking, they won't be stationed there. Once you arrive, you'll understand."
Sara didn't press further, though curiosity flickered in her eyes.
She still remembered how, just days ago, Liyue had deployed over two hundred dragon riders, a sight that had truly startled her.
Rumor had it that those were merely one of Liyue's five main combat divisions, and the strongest among them.
Sara couldn't help but wonder what sort of power the other four divisions possessed.
They chatted for a while longer, though calling it "chatting" wasn't quite right.
Even in casual conversation, Makoto's mind always circled back to Inazuma, her thoughts naturally turning to unaddressed matters of policy or governance.
She had a habit of suddenly coming up with new reforms mid-conversation, ones perfectly suited to Inazuma's current state.
For Kamisato Ayato and the others, this made their work far easier.
Truthfully, even though Ei had inherited Makoto's gentleness and care for the people, she remained a kind deity.
But Makoto, she was a true Raiden Shogun.
Not only kind and compassionate, but unmatched in her ability to rule a nation.
At least to Ayato, many of Makoto's policies were so well thought out that he couldn't think of better alternatives himself.
All they needed to do was follow the course she envisioned.
Serving under such a leader… was truly a comfort.
Their conversation in Tenshukaku lasted until nearly noon.
Makoto had wanted to keep them for lunch before they departed,
but when Lumine mentioned that Ryen and his companions planned to press through the Twilight Forest that very night,
Makoto decided it was best not to delay such a critical operation.
The one thousand soldiers of Inazuma's new army were already camped outside the city walls,
having undergone intensive training for some time.
Though their strength hadn't dramatically increased, at least they now moved and acted with discipline.
As for the deeper knowledge about that other world, Lumine and her group naturally wouldn't teach it to them just yet.
Makoto didn't see them off, her own responsibilities were far from over.
After Kujou Sara finished arranging for the troops to depart ahead of schedule, she returned to Ei's side.
"Are we leaving now?"
Nearby, Yae Miko leaned lazily against a cherry blossom tree, arms folded.
For a moment, it was hard to tell which was pinker, the blossoms, or the mischievous smile on her lips.
Ei turned her gaze toward Miko.
"The Gnosis."
Yae Miko arched a brow, a sly smile curling on her lips. Reaching into her sleeve, she drew out a small chess piece, its surface flickering with threads of violet lightning.
"Don't worry," she teased lightly, "I've kept it safe and sound."
Ei gave a brief nod of acknowledgment.
"Then let's go."
With that, lightning surged.
A cascade of electro light enveloped the group, Ei transformed into pure thunder, carrying them swiftly beyond Narukami Island.
Though Venti was said to possess the swiftest speed in all of Teyvat, thunder itself was never far behind.
In the blink of an eye, they were already above the open sea.
Ei's expression remained calm and unreadable, but within her consciousness, the struggle between her and the Shogun puppet grew more intense by the second.
The Shogun's consciousness refused to allow Ei to leave Inazuma.
Makoto's sweeping reforms in recent days had already disrupted the "Eternity Protocol" engraved deep in the puppet's core.
Thus, the clash between Ei's will and the Shogun's program had not ceased for even a moment.
Yet Ei now bore her sister's blessing.
She understood perfectly well,
If the Shogun were to regain control of the body, that rigid and unyielding pursuit of "Eternity" would surely turn against Makoto and the others.
And in that case, wouldn't it be her own mistake that her sister would have to pay for?
If Makoto were ever harmed by her own creation, Ei would never forgive herself,
not in this lifetime, nor the next.
That conviction gave her strength, and the Shogun could gain no ground against her.
Her decision to leave Inazuma this time was partly because of this.
Remaining any longer risked disaster.
For all Makoto's strength, her greatest danger did not lie in the dark seas beyond Inazuma,
but in her willful little sister.
Leaving was Ei's only choice. She needed space, distance, and time to find a way to resolve the conflict within.
Otherwise, every moment spent near Makoto carried the fear of letting the Shogun slip free.
At this thought, Ei's chest tightened with quiet regret.
How she wished she had never forged that puppet in the first place.
Yae Miko, who had known Ei for countless years, noticed the shift in her aura immediately.
But this was a burden even the wise Guuji could not ease.
She simply sighed softly and chose to pretend she hadn't noticed.
Fortunately, the hardest part was already behind them.
Once they left Narukami Island's borders, the Shogun's connection grew faint, almost imperceptible.
Then,
in the dim recesses of Ei's mind, a streak of violet-black lightning flickered.
A cold, mechanical voice echoed faintly:
"Ei… you have defied Eternity."
"I will correct you… when you… return…"
Ei ignored the message, though her heart felt heavier.
She knew that if she couldn't find a solution in Liyue,
then upon her return to Inazuma… things would become far more complicated.
The more she thought of it, the deeper her regret sank.
Within the borders of Inazuma, Ei was no longer the official Electro Archon,
but as one of the twin deities born of Inazuma's soil,
she still possessed the right to command its Ley lines.
In but a flash, they crossed the last stretch of ocean.
Ahead lay the vast, golden land of Liyue.
Lumine's voice suddenly called out, sharp and urgent:
"Ei! Slow down! Restrain your divine power!"
Ei frowned slightly but did as told, the currents of lightning dimming around her.
Turning her head toward Lumine, she asked evenly:
"What's wrong?"