I. A Stranger on the Shore
The waves moved gently along the coastline.
Unlike the violent sea surrounding Seirai Island, the waters here appeared relatively calm. The occasional breeze carried the scent of saltwater across the sandy shore, while the distant sound of seabirds could be heard above the steady rhythm of the waves.
Two soldiers wearing the distinctive uniforms of the Watatsumi Island resistance were patrolling the coastline.
They walked side by side, keeping a watchful eye on the surrounding waters. Their weapons rested against their shoulders, and their expressions suggested that this was yet another ordinary patrol.
"Another quiet day," one of them remarked.
His companion gave a tired sigh.
"Don't say that. Every time someone says the day is quiet, something happens."
The first soldier chuckled.
"You're becoming superstitious."
"Superstitious? Have you forgotten what happened last week? We were supposed to be watching the western coastline, and suddenly a patrol from the Shogunate appeared out of nowhere."
"That wasn't my fault."
"Of course it wasn't. You were the one who decided to take a nap behind those rocks."
"I was resting my eyes!"
"While we were supposed to be on duty?"
The first soldier laughed.
"All right, all right. I admit that wasn't my finest moment."
His companion shook his head.
"These days, we can't afford to be careless. The Shogun's forces are still active, and the resistance is having enough trouble keeping everyone supplied."
"Tell me about it. We barely have enough food for the soldiers stationed near the southern settlements."
"And the Vision Hunt Decree is making things worse. Every time the Shogun's army captures someone with a Vision, the people become more frightened."
The first soldier looked toward the distant sea.
"What else can we do? We joined the resistance because we believe in what we're fighting for."
"That doesn't make the situation any easier."
"No, it doesn't."
They continued walking.
The coastline curved ahead, revealing another stretch of pale sand bordered by dark rocks. The two soldiers had patrolled this section many times before, and they knew most of its natural formations by heart.
However, something unusual caught the attention of the first soldier.
"Wait."
His companion stopped.
"What?"
"Over there."
He pointed toward the waterline.
A figure was lying on the sand.
At first, they thought it might be a piece of driftwood or discarded clothing. But as they approached, the shape became unmistakably human.
The second soldier immediately became cautious.
"Someone's there."
"Could be a stranded sailor."
"Or an enemy scout."
Both men adjusted their weapons.
They approached slowly, keeping a reasonable distance until they could clearly see the stranger.
It was a young man with golden hair, wearing unfamiliar clothing. His body was partly covered by wet sand, and his arms rested loosely beside him.
He appeared completely motionless.
The first soldier crouched.
"Hey! Can you hear me?"
There was no response.
He glanced at his companion.
"He's not moving."
The second soldier looked around the surrounding beach.
"Check whether anyone else is nearby."
The first soldier carefully examined the stranger.
There were no obvious injuries. His clothes appeared surprisingly intact, and there was no visible sign of a struggle. His golden hair was scattered across the sand, and his face was pale from prolonged exposure to the cold water.
The soldier cautiously placed two fingers near the stranger's neck.
He waited.
Then his expression changed.
"He's not breathing."
"What?"
The second soldier crouched beside him.
He checked again, then looked at his companion.
"Nothing?"
The first soldier shook his head.
"I can't feel anything."
They exchanged uneasy glances.
"Is he...?"
"I think so."
For several seconds, neither man spoke.
They had found dead bodies before, particularly during the conflict with the Shogunate. Nevertheless, discovering an unfamiliar person washed ashore was unsettling.
The second soldier looked toward the sea.
"Perhaps he was aboard a ship that sank during the storm."
"Maybe."
"Should we report this?"
"Of course. We can't just leave him here."
The first soldier reached toward the stranger's shoulder.
"Hey. Come on. Let's see if there's anything we can do."
He gently shook him.
"Wake up."
Nothing happened.
He tried once more.
"Can you hear me?"
Then—
The stranger's eyes opened.
Both soldiers recoiled.
"AH!"
The first soldier nearly lost his balance and stumbled backward.
The second immediately reached for his weapon.
The young man stared at them.
His golden eyes moved slowly from one face to the other, as though he were trying to understand where he was.
For a few seconds, nobody spoke.
Then the stranger slowly raised his upper body.
"...What?"
He looked around.
The sand.
The sea.
The unfamiliar coastline.
Finally, he glanced down at himself.
His expression changed.
He placed one hand against his chest.
There was no wound.
He looked at his clothes. They were no longer torn or damaged. Even the traces of blood and seawater that should have remained after his previous battle were gone.
He carefully moved his shoulders.
No pain.
Then he looked behind himself.
His golden wings unfolded slightly.
They were perfectly intact.
Aether stared at them for a moment.
What happened?
[Recovery complete. All major injuries have been repaired. Physical condition has returned to stable parameters.]
Aether blinked.
"...I'm alive?"
[Affirmative.]
He looked toward the sea.
His memories returned in fragments.
The storm.
The woman.
The violet sword.
The overwhelming attack.
His own blade breaking.
The cold water closing over him.
He slowly touched his chest again.
That wasn't a dream.
[The recorded events indicate otherwise. The confrontation occurred. Your body subsequently underwent an extensive recovery process.]
Aether released a quiet breath.
"Then I really survived..."
He remained seated for a few moments, trying to understand the situation.
The two soldiers were still watching him with considerable suspicion.
Finally, one of them spoke.
"Hey. You."
Aether turned.
"Yes?"
"Who are you?"
Aether looked at him.
"And how did you end up on this shore?"
Aether hesitated.
He glanced toward the sea once more.
He could not tell them the truth.
He had no idea how they would react if he mentioned the that strange woman, the battle, or the fact that he had somehow survived an encounter with inhuman being.
He needed information first.
So he stood up, brushed the sand from his clothes, and answered.
"I came here by ship."
The two soldiers exchanged glances.
"By ship?"
"Yes. We were travelling through the sea when a storm struck us. The ship was destroyed, and I must have been washed ashore."
The first soldier narrowed his eyes.
"Your ship was destroyed?"
"That's right."
"Where are the others?"
Aether paused.
"I don't know. I was separated from them."
The second soldier looked him up and down.
"You expect us to believe that?"
Aether remained calm.
"It's what happened."
"Where did the ship come from?"
"That's..."
He hesitated again.
The soldiers noticed.
The first soldier stepped closer.
"Well?"
Aether studied their uniforms.
The distinctive markings.
The weapons.
Their manner of speaking.
He was beginning to understand.
"Before I answer, could you tell me where I am?"
The two men looked at one another.
"You're on the outskirts of Watatsumi Island," the second soldier replied.
Aether's expression remained neutral, but his thoughts immediately shifted.
Watatsumi Island. So I really am in Inazuma.
He had finally confirmed his location.
II. An Unwelcome Visitor
The first soldier folded his arms.
"Now answer our question. Why would anyone come to Inazuma?"
Aether looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
"Don't pretend you don't understand. Inazuma is a closed nation. Travelling here isn't something people do casually."
"I see."
"Then tell us why you came."
Aether considered his answer.
"I'm a traveller. I wish to visit the different nations of Teyvat."
The two soldiers stared at him.
For a moment, neither appeared to understand what he had said.
Then the first soldier gave a short laugh.
"A traveller?"
"Yes."
"You crossed the sea just to visit different nations?"
"That's right."
The second soldier's expression grew increasingly suspicious.
"Who sent you?"
"Nobody."
"Who is your master?"
Aether frowned.
"My master?"
"Don't play games with us."
"I'm not."
The first soldier stepped closer.
"Listen carefully. We have no reason to trust someone who suddenly appears on our shore and claims to be an innocent traveller."
Aether remained silent.
The soldier continued.
"Perhaps you're one of the Shogun's spies. Perhaps one of her commanders sent you here to gather information about the resistance."
Aether looked at him in disbelief.
"A spy? I'm not working for the Shogunate."
"Then why should we believe you?"
"Because I'm telling you the truth."
The second soldier exchanged another glance with his companion.
They were not convinced.
The first soldier pointed toward the coastline.
"You're not entering Watatsumi Island."
Aether looked in the direction he indicated.
"Why not?"
"Because we don't trust you."
"Is there something I can do to convince you?"
"No."
The answer came immediately.
The second soldier spoke in an even colder tone.
"Go back to your master. We don't need strangers interfering with our affairs."
Aether sighed.
"I've already told you. I don't have a master."
"Enough!"
The first soldier's patience had run out.
He raised his spear and pointed it toward Aether.
"Leave. Now."
Aether looked at the weapon.
Then he looked at the soldier.
He had no intention of starting another confrontation. He had only just recovered from his previous battle, and he wanted to avoid attracting unnecessary attention.
"All right," he said quietly.
He took a step backward.
The soldier lowered his spear slightly.
"Good. Follow the coastline in that direction. You'll eventually reach the route toward Tatarasuna."
Aether nodded.
"Thank you for the information."
The second soldier watched him carefully.
"And don't come back."
Aether turned around.
He began walking away from the two men.
For several minutes, he followed the direction they had indicated.
The sound of the waves accompanied his footsteps.
The coastline gradually changed, and the distant landscape became clearer. He could see the outlines of unfamiliar terrain and the faint shapes of structures far away.
Yet his thoughts remained elsewhere.
He had travelled to Inazuma because he wanted to avoid trouble.
He had hoped to find a quiet place where nobody knew his identity.
Instead, the first people he encountered had immediately treated him as an enemy.
He had not even been given the opportunity to explain himself.
Aether slowed his pace.
I only wanted to pass through.
His fingers curled slightly.
Why does everything have to be so difficult?
[Aether.]
He did not respond.
[Your emotional state is deteriorating.]
Aether continued walking.
[Elevated stress indicators detected. Frustration, anger, and disappointment are increasing.]
He raised one hand and pressed it against his forehead.
"Not now."
[Your emotional response is becoming increasingly difficult to regulate. I recommend pausing and allowing yourself time to recover.]
Aether stopped.
For a few moments, he stood motionless.
He could hear the sea.
He could hear the wind.
He could even hear the faint voices of the two soldiers behind him.
Then his thoughts began to turn toward everything that had happened.
Liyue.
The Qixing.
The Fatui.
Jean.
Amber.
The Shogun.
He had tried to help people, but every attempt seemed to lead him into another conflict.
He had surrendered his title to protect Mondstadt.
He had travelled to Inazuma to avoid involving anyone else.
And now, even here, he was being treated as an enemy.
Aether lowered his hand.
[Emotional instability increasing.]
"Stop."
[Aether, your current mental state may interfere with your decision-making. I strongly recommend—]
"I said stop!"
His voice echoed across the shore.
The two soldiers turned toward him.
"What was that?"
"Is he talking to himself?"
Aether remained still.
Something inside him felt different.
It was not simply anger.
It was a growing sense of exhaustion, a frustration that had accumulated through countless disappointments. He had spent so long trying to understand the world around him that he had begun to forget how to understand himself.
For a moment, his surroundings seemed distant.
The sea.
The sky.
The soldiers.
Everything appeared unusually clear, yet strangely disconnected.
He slowly lowered his hand.
Then he turned around.
His expression had changed.
The uncertainty was gone.
The exhaustion remained, but it had settled beneath a cold seriousness.
The two soldiers watched him approach.
They exchanged confused glances.
"What's he doing?"
"Didn't we tell him to leave?"
Aether continued walking toward them.
His eyes remained fixed on the two men.
And for reasons neither soldier could understand, the sight of the approaching stranger made them increasingly uneasy.
III. The Vision Hunt Decree
Far away from the quiet shores of Watatsumi Island, a very different scene was unfolding.
The streets of Inazuma City were filled with people.
They had gathered around the great Statue of the Omnipresent God, watching as several soldiers of the Shogunate dragged a prisoner toward its base.
The prisoner's hands were bound behind his back.
His clothes were slightly dishevelled, but his expression remained composed.
It was Thoma.
The familiar housekeeper of the Kamisato Clan had been captured as part of the enforcement of the Vision Hunt Decree.
The soldiers marched him through the gathered crowd.
"Keep moving!"
Thoma stumbled slightly as one of them pushed him forward.
"All right, all right. There's no need to be so impatient."
"Silence!"
Thoma looked around.
The crowd was growing larger.
Some people watched with fear.
Others looked away, unwilling to become involved.
A few whispered among themselves.
"Isn't that the Kamisato Clan's housekeeper?"
"What is he doing here?"
"Has he been arrested for resisting the decree?"
"I heard he was involved in helping people escape the Shogunate."
The soldiers brought Thoma before the statue.
One of them pushed him down onto his knees.
"Your Excellency will arrive shortly. Remain where you are."
Thoma looked up.
The enormous statue towered above him, its expression seemingly fixed in eternal calm.
He had seen it many times before.
But standing before it as a prisoner gave the sight a different meaning.
He glanced toward the gathered crowd.
So this is how it ends?
He took a slow breath.
No. Not yet.
The atmosphere suddenly changed.
The soldiers straightened.
The crowd fell silent.
A group of attendants appeared, followed by the imposing figure of the Raiden Shogun.
Her violet eyes swept across the gathered people before settling upon the prisoner.
She approached without haste.
The soldiers immediately bowed.
"Your Excellency."
The Shogun did not acknowledge them.
Her attention remained on Thoma.
He looked up at her.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then the Shogun extended her hand.
An object attached to Thoma's clothing began to glow.
Before he could react, it was drawn toward her palm.
Thoma's eyes widened.
His hands were still tied behind his back. There was no way for him to prevent the Shogun from taking the object.
The glowing item landed in her hand.
She examined it.
The object was a Pyro Delusion, designed to imitate the appearance and elemental properties of a Vision.
The Shogun's eyes narrowed slightly.
"This is not a Vision."
Thoma remained silent.
The Shogun turned the object between her fingers.
"A Delusion."
She looked directly at him.
"Where is your Vision?"
Thoma slowly raised his head.
For a brief moment, his expression was unreadable.
Then he smiled.
It was not a cheerful smile.
It was a small, defiant expression that suggested he had anticipated this outcome.
The Shogun stared at him.
Thoma met her gaze.
Without changing her expression, she closed her fingers around the Delusion.
A flash of violet energy appeared.
The object cracked and crumbled in her hand.
She opened her palm, allowing the broken fragments to fall to the ground.
The crowd watched in silence.
The Shogun then spoke.
"Hand over your Vision."
Thoma looked at her.
"No."
The soldiers shifted uneasily.
The Shogun's expression did not change.
"Refusal is meaningless. The Vision Hunt Decree must be carried out."
"Then you'll have to find another way."
"Your Vision belongs to the authority of this nation."
Thoma gave a faint shake of his head.
"No. It belongs to me."
The Shogun's gaze remained fixed upon him.
"Your personal attachment is irrelevant."
"Is that what you think?"
Thoma's voice was calm.
He looked toward the gathered people before turning back to the Shogun.
"You claim to protect Inazuma, yet you continue to take away the things that give its people hope."
The soldiers immediately became tense.
"Watch your words!"
Thoma ignored them.
"You call this eternity. You call it protection. But all I see is a nation being forced to surrender its dreams."
The Shogun said nothing.
Thoma continued.
"You're not fit to be their god."
A murmur spread through the crowd.
The soldiers stepped forward, but the Shogun raised one hand.
They stopped immediately.
Thoma looked directly into her eyes.
"You're acting like a dictator. You have no feelings for the people you're supposed to protect. You take their Visions, destroy their ambitions, and tell them it's all for their own good."
His voice grew colder.
"And the truth is that you're carrying out this decree for your own purpose. Not for the people of Inazuma."
The Shogun remained motionless.
No anger.
No visible surprise.
No hesitation.
Her expression was as cold as it had been when she first arrived.
"Your understanding of eternity is incomplete."
Thoma gave a quiet laugh.
"Perhaps. But I understand one thing."
He raised his head.
"People deserve the freedom to choose what they want to become."
The Shogun looked at him for several seconds.
Then she turned toward the soldiers.
"Take him away."
The order was simple.
"Your Excellency?"
"His Vision is to be confiscated when recovered. Until then, he is to remain imprisoned."
The soldiers bowed.
"Understood."
They seized Thoma by the arms and pulled him to his feet.
"Move!"
Thoma stumbled slightly but quickly regained his balance.
As they dragged him away, he looked back once.
The Shogun was already turning away.
There was no sign that his words had affected her.
No hesitation.
No visible doubt.
Only the same unchanging expression.
Thoma lowered his gaze.
I hope the others are safe.
The soldiers led him away from the statue and toward the prison.
The crowd gradually dispersed, although many people remained troubled by what they had witnessed.
The Shogun stood before the Statue of the Omnipresent God.
She looked upward at its immense form.
For a moment, she considered the state of the nation.
The Vision Hunt Decree was not yet complete.
The resistance continued to oppose her authority, and the people remained attached to ambitions that, in her view, could only lead to suffering and instability.
She understood that her methods were harsh.
But she considered them necessary.
Eternity required an unwavering will.
To protect her people from the uncertainty of change, she had chosen to remove the very desires that made them vulnerable to it.
She could not afford hesitation.
She could not allow personal feelings to interfere with her judgment.
And she could not abandon the path she had chosen.
The Shogun turned away from the statue.
Her attendants fell into formation behind her.
Without another word, she began the journey back toward Tenshukaku.
The great doors opened before her.
Then they closed.
The Raiden Shogun had returned to her seat of authority.
And the Vision Hunt Decree continued.
IV. The Stranger's Decision
The waves continued to move along the Watatsumi coastline.
The two soldiers were still standing where Aether had left them.
At first, they assumed he had simply ignored their warning and intended to return.
But as he approached, they began to notice something unusual about his expression.
He was not arguing.
He was not asking for permission.
He was simply walking toward them.
"Hey!"
The first soldier raised his voice.
"Didn't we tell you to leave?"
Aether continued forward.
The second soldier stepped ahead of his companion.
"Stop where you are!"
Aether did not stop.
The first soldier tightened his grip on his spear.
"Are you deaf? I said stop!"
Still, Aether continued.
The soldier's expression hardened.
"That's enough!"
He rushed forward, raising his spear.
His companion called out.
"Wait! Don't—"
The warning came too late.
The soldier thrust the spear toward Aether.
Aether barely moved.
He simply raised one hand.
The spear stopped.
Its point hovered just before his chest, held firmly in place by Aether's hand.
The soldier's eyes widened.
"What—?"
He tried to pull the weapon backward.
It did not move.
Aether looked at him.
For a brief moment, the two stared at each other.
Then Aether released the spear with one hand and struck the soldier with a powerful punch.
The impact sent the man flying backward.
He travelled several metres before crashing against a large rock near the edge of the beach.
The sound of the collision echoed across the shoreline.
His spear fell from his hands.
He attempted to move, but his body refused to respond. He slumped against the rock and then collapsed onto the sand.
He did not rise again.
The second soldier stood frozen.
For several seconds, he could not understand what he had just witnessed.
His companion had attacked the stranger with a spear.
The stranger had stopped the weapon with one hand.
And with a single movement, he had sent a fully armed soldier flying across the beach.
"Y-You..."
Aether turned toward him.
The soldier's expression changed.
His shock gave way to anger.
"YOU MONSTER!"
He raised his spear and rushed forward.
He was no longer thinking about the orders he had been given.
He was not considering the possibility that he could not win.
He was thinking about his companion.
Aether watched him approach.
The soldier thrust his weapon forward.
Before it could reach him, Aether stepped into the attack.
His fist struck the soldier's chest.
The impact sent the man backward and carried him beyond the edge of the shore.
He fell into the sea.
The soldier surfaced briefly, struggling to regain his balance.
But the waves were stronger than he expected. Disoriented by the impact and unable to swim effectively, he was carried away from the shallows.
He tried to call for help.
The sound was swallowed by the sea.
Aether stood at the edge of the water, watching.
The soldier's movements gradually disappeared beneath the waves.
The shoreline became quiet again.
Only the sound of the sea remained.
Aether looked toward the place where the second soldier had vanished.
For several moments, he did not move.
[Aether.]
His inner self spoke quietly.
He did not answer.
[The immediate threat has been neutralized.]
Aether lowered his gaze.
"Is that what you call it?"
[The individuals initiated physical aggression. You responded to the threat.]
Aether looked toward the first soldier lying near the rock.
"That doesn't change what happened."
[Your actions were significantly more forceful than necessary to create distance. However, your emotional state remains unstable.]
Aether closed his eyes.
The words did not comfort him.
He had wanted to avoid trouble.
He had wanted to leave without hurting anyone.
Yet he had allowed his frustration to take control of the situation.
The two soldiers had been hostile. They had threatened him and refused to listen.
But he knew that he had possessed other choices.
He could have walked away.
He could have restrained them.
He could have used his abilities to disarm them without causing such severe consequences.
Instead, he had acted with a level of force that he could not easily take back.
Aether slowly opened his eyes.
The distant island stretched before him.
Watatsumi Island.
Its cliffs, settlements, and winding paths were visible beneath the cloudy sky. The faint outlines of structures could be seen beyond the coastline, and the sound of the sea seemed to grow quieter as the wind shifted.
He looked toward the island.
For a long moment, he stood in silence.
He had come to Inazuma seeking isolation.
Now, he had already become involved in the affairs of its people.
The first two individuals he had encountered were members of the resistance.
And he had just fought them.
Aether looked down at his hands.
"...What am I doing?"
[Your current course of action requires reconsideration.]
He said nothing.
His thoughts returned briefly to the Shogun.
The woman who had defeated him.
The woman who had refused to listen.
The woman whose presence seemed to embody the very thing he had hoped to avoid: an authority that judged him without understanding him.
He remembered her words.
Your presence is an intrusion.
Perhaps the entire nation was like that.
Perhaps there was nowhere left for him to go without becoming entangled in another conflict.
Aether released a slow breath.
Then he looked toward the path leading into Watatsumi.
He could still turn back.
He could leave the island and search for another place to hide.
But he had already come this far.
And he needed answers.
He needed to understand where he was, who ruled this nation, and why its people were so suspicious of outsiders.
Most importantly, he needed to understand the strange power that had defeated him.
Aether adjusted his clothing and began walking.
His expression was serious.
His steps were steady.
He did not look back at the shore.
The fallen soldier remained near the rock, while the other had disappeared into the sea.
Behind Aether, the waves continued their endless movement.
Ahead lay the unfamiliar land of Watatsumi Island.
And the traveler walked toward it without hesitation.
The stranger had finally entered Inazuma.
Clarify Aether's sudden return to the soldiersMake the soldiers' fates less ambiguous