"Lumine, are we really going back like this?" Paimon asked, glancing back at the swirling mist. Though terrified, she knew there must be secrets hidden within, perhaps even clues related to Yuna. She refused to give up so easily.
"We're going back for reinforcements," Lumine replied firmly.
She had no intention of abandoning the investigation either. Six altars, and only this one was malfunctioning. This was also where Yuna's body had been kept—there had to be a reason.
Moreover, it was generally accepted that if a body was stored here, the person had likely been executed here as well.
It's better to carry limbs and a head than a whole body!
Plus, Tsurumi Island was unique. Other souls could linger here, so why not Yuna's?
The Abyss craved soul power, viewing emotions as worthless baggage. Yet emotions were precisely what Lumine yearned to obtain.
The mist here was peculiar. Though Lumine's sword could help her see through the haze, using it...
This would undoubtedly drain the souls of Rola and Qingge, who resided within the blade. Lumine couldn't bear to do it. She had promised them she would show them all of Teyvat!
-
After leaving Tsurumi Island, Lumine and Paimon headed straight to Mt. Yougou, where they found Yae Miko.
The real Mt. Yougou was far larger than its portrayal in the game. Beside the Grand Narukami Shrine stood a simple kitchen, specially prepared by Yae Miko for Yuna. Though Yuna had since left, the kitchen remained.
Yae Miko was busy in the kitchen, seemingly making fried tofu, her expression betraying hidden worries.
"Ah, it's you two. Perfect timing! Just a little longer and you can taste my fried tofu. But don't get your hopes up too high—it's nowhere near as good as what that little rascal Yuna used to make."
"Yae Miko..."
"Hmm? From your expressions, it seems you have something to tell me?"
With the pot already on the fire, Yae Miko continued her preparations.
"It's about Yuna," Lumine said.
Yae Miko lifted the pot off the fire, washed her hands, and prepared to listen.
"It's like this..."
Lumine recounted her visits to the altar over the past few days, emphasizing the strange mist on Tsurumi Island.
"That mist wasn't there before. It only appeared after the altar incident. Paimon and I went to investigate and nearly got trapped inside. I suspect it's connected to Yuna."
To support her theory, Lumine recounted to Yae Miko the Abyss's past attempts to collect Pure Souls in Mondstadt and Liyue.
Yae Miko listened intently. The moment Lumine suggested the mist might be connected to Yuna, she resolved to investigate, even if the possibility seemed remote.
Yuna's death had profoundly affected Yae Miko. Lately, she'd been plagued by nightmares, finding only fleeting comfort in Mizuki's presence.
"So, your theory is that when the Abyss collected Yuna's soul, they carelessly discarded her emotions, and those emotional fragments manifested abnormally on Tsurumi Island, causing the current situation?"
Lumine nodded, confirming her theory.
"In that case, we shouldn't delay. Let's depart at once."
"Agreed. But I need to find two people first."
"Kuki Shinobu and that Oni Clan boy?"
"Mm-hmm."
Lumine nodded, then departed Grand Narukami Shrine with Paimon.
-
Kuki Shinobu had been staying home these past few days, taking care of her parents.
When Lumine mentioned that Yuna might be involved, Shinobu immediately agreed to help, her eagerness palpable.
They found Itto sitting on a large rock, his right hand propping up his chin, gazing melancholically into the distance.
"Itto, what are you doing?"
Seeing Itto in such a state, even Paimon couldn't bring herself to call him a cattle herder.
"Boss..."
Shinobu had been watching Itto's transformation. She had always wished he would mature, but now that he truly had, a strange emptiness settled in her heart.
The price of growth, huh?
Itto turned his head. "Shinobu, Trusted Friend, Paimon, what's up?"
"Tsurumi Island," Shinobu said. "Yuna's soul might be there. Do you want to go?"
Itto immediately leaped off the rock. "Let's go!"
The four of them set off together, heading toward Konda Village.
"Itto, have your horns gotten longer?" Paimon asked curiously.
"Yeah, probably has something to do with my bloodline awakening," Itto replied.
Paimon nodded, sighing inwardly.
If this were the old Itto, he would have burst into loud laughter, then puffed up his chest and asked Paimon if she thought he was cool.
But the current Itto was much more composed, his eyes sharp and intense, as if he had suddenly aged several years.
"Trusted Friend," Itto said, "you've been to Tsurumi Island once already, right? Can you tell me more about what it's like there?"
As Lumine recounted her experiences on Tsurumi Island, she led the group onward, eventually meeting Yae Miko, who had been waiting for them in Konda Village.
"Everyone, come inside the Serenitea Pot," Lumine announced, holding up the teapot.
Since discovering the Serenitea Pot's teleportation function, Lumine had made full use of it, finding it incredibly convenient.
For instance, if the group were to travel to Tsurumi Island on foot, it would take at least seven or eight days.
But with the Serenitea Pot and Lumine's ability to use Teleport Waypoints, the journey would take mere seconds.
Yae Miko and the others, having already experienced the Serenitea Pot's teleportation, entered without hesitation.
Lumine approached the Teleport Waypoint and activated the teleportation.
-
Tsurumi Island.
Lumine released the group and solemnly warned them:
"See that mist ahead? Once we enter, we must stay within five meters of each other. Otherwise, we'll get lost inside."
Paimon chimed in, "Exactly! Last time Lumine and I went in, I could feel her right next to me, but suddenly she was far away! Lumine insisted she hadn't moved at all!"
Kuki Shinobu murmured, "A hallucination?"
Lumine shook her head. "It doesn't feel quite like that."
The last time they'd entered, Paimon had been right beside her, just a short distance to her right. But after stepping inside, Paimon had vanished from that spot.
When Lumine finally found Paimon using her sword as a guide and they emerged, they had inexplicably teleported from the front of Mt. Kanna to its rear. Yet Lumine was certain she hadn't walked that far.
Paimon turned to Yae Miko. "Miko, do you know what's going on?"
All eyes turned to Yae Miko, who shook her head. "Not yet. Let's go inside and investigate."
Lumine's eyes widened suddenly as she stared in shock at something behind Yae Miko.
Yae Miko frowned and turned her head. "Ei..."
Ei stood with her arms crossed. "If you were coming, you should have invited me."
Paimon: "Ei, what are you doing here?"
Ei: "I asked the Anemo Archon for help. Now I have a general understanding of both major and minor events in Inazuma."
Hiss—
You can do that?!
Paimon was confused. Ei's Authority was Electro, so how could she...?
Could it be that the perpetual overcast skies in Inazuma these past few weeks were Ei's doing?
"That's not it," Ei interjected before Paimon could even voice the question. "If I wanted to maintain perpetual overcast, I wouldn't need the Anemo Archon's help."
Paimon scratched her head. Why does everyone always seem to know what I'm about to say, even when I haven't asked yet?
This had happened several times before, and not just with Ei.
"Let's go. We don't have time to waste."