Mondstadt — near Springvale
"Paimon, look! The screen!"
"As expected—
It really dragged me into it again!"
Aether pointed sharply at the light screen.
Paimon nodded.
"Yup! Looks like in the original timeline, we definitely met Miss Kamisato Ayaka."
"I wonder… did she treat us to something delicious?"
Aether flicked Paimon on the head.
"Eat your big-headed nonsense!
You only know how to think about food!"
But deep down, Aether was also thinking:
They probably went to Inazuma for introductions to the Raiden Shogun…
but why would she end up storming an execution site?
"Don't tell me it really was like Paimon said…
Did I disrespect the Raiden Shogun?"
"That doesn't make sense!
The screen clearly said 'rescuing someone from execution'."
"But then… who the heck were we rescuing?"
Aether clutched her hair in confusion.
Paimon patted her shoulder.
"Stop thinking about it!
Just watch—he's about to explain everything."
Aether sighed and looked back toward the screen.
Blue Star — Villa
Arthur organized his thoughts and continued:
"Before the Traveler arrived,
the first serious point—
Ayaka's transformation from a child to the Shirasagi Himegimi."
"But before that, we must explain what the Yashiro Commission actually is."
"In every nation of Teyvat, there are governing bodies."
"Mondstadt has the Knights of Favonius.
Liyue has the Qixing and the Eight Trades.
Sumeru has the Akademiya."
"In Inazuma, the supreme authority is the Raiden Shogun."
"She commands her direct forces—the Oniwabanshu (Oni-Otogi troops)."
"Below her is the Commission Office,
divided into Yashiro Commission, Tenryou Commission, and Kanjou Commission.
Each has its own responsibilities."
"The Yashiro Commission governs rituals, culture, and arts."
"And swordsmiths who craft divine blades—
because their skill is seen as sacred—
are also under the Yashiro Commission's control."
Arthur took a sip of water before continuing:
"Originally, everything was going well."
"But one year—
an unexpected disaster struck."
"Due to the Fatui's schemes, a national-level swordsmith defected.
The Yashiro Commission suffered heavy losses.
The Kamisato Clan head at that time was gravely injured
and passed away not long after."
"And because of oversight failure,
the Shogun punished the Yashiro Commission."
"Fortunately…
Yae Miko stepped in."
"What can I say?
The fox finally did something proper~"
"There are some… interesting secrets here involving the Raiden Gokaden swordsmith lines and the Fatui."
"We'll talk about that another time."
Guyun Stone Forest — Alcor Fleet
The fleet had recently returned from Inazuma, so Beidou and her sailors were relaxing.
Kazuha, hearing "Raiden Gokaden," stiffened slightly.
He was a descendant of the Isshin School, one of the five ancient sword schools.
But the truth of that year's tragedy…
he never fully knew.
"So it really was tied to the Fatui…"
He murmured as a large hand suddenly slapped his shoulder.
"Whatever it is," Beidou laughed,
"the truth will come out sooner or later.
Keep watching."
Kazuha nodded quietly.
Inazuma — Fatui Base
"Heh… Raiden Gokaden…"
Scaramouche suddenly burst into a low, eerie laugh.
The Fatui nearby exchanged terrified looks.
Their harbinger was… unstable enough already.
Inazuma — Tenshukaku
Yae Miko let out a dramatic sigh.
"So the fox finally did one proper thing, hmm?
My, my… so hurtful~"
Ei and Kujou Sara opened their mouths—
then silently closed them again.
They both thought the same thing:
You spend your days eating tofu, reading novels, pranking people…
When exactly do you do 'proper' things?
Inazuma — Kamisato Estate
The atmosphere here grew heavy.
The downfall of the Kamisato Clan…
all started from that event.
Ayaka's father's death…
her mother's sickness…
the decline of the Yashiro Commission…
They owed Yae Miko a great favor—
that much was undeniable.
Ayaka's eyes dimmed slightly at the memory.
Blue Star — Villa
Arthur continued:
"Although Yae Miko preserved the Kamisato Clan,
their status still plummeted."
"Several generations worked tirelessly to restore what was lost."
"Ayaka's father aged prematurely because of this burden."
"Ayaka herself, originally a lively child,
loved to play, sing, clap, dance in the garden."
"Her parents and brother adored her."
"But after her father's death—everything changed."
"Her mother fell ill.
Her brother overworked himself."
"That was when little Ayaka decided:
she had to grow up."
"She began with poetry and swordsmanship.
If she mastered them, she could attend public functions."
"But she lacked talent.
Poetry? Sword arts? Calligraphy?
If one time didn't work—she tried fifty."
"Through perseverance alone,
she transformed."
"When her mother passed away, she was no longer a child—
but the Kamisato Clan's pillar."
"She became Inazuma's beloved Shirasagi Himegimi."
Arthur played Ayaka's PV video — "Snowflakes and Spring Blossoms."
The music was elegant, graceful.
"'The burden of the Kamisato Clan…
should not be carried by my brother alone.'"
Soft narration, a girl dancing in the snow,
a life of quiet duty.
Mondstadt — Springvale
Paimon wiped her eyes.
"Uuu… Ayaka really went through so much…"
Her respect for the elegant noble grew wildly.
But then—
Aether suddenly leaned forward, eyes sparkling.
"Wow… that 'Oushi'!"
"So cute!
How did little Ayaka's voice clip like that!? It's adorable!"
Paimon: "…"
She suddenly understood why the light screen labeled Aether as "Ayaka's dog."
Because RIGHT NOW—
the vibes were 100% accurate.
Inazuma — Kamisato Estate
Ayaka stared at the screen.
Her whole childhood replayed before her eyes.
Her parents' smiles…
Her brother's tired face…
Her lonely training…
Her determination.
Ayato gently smiled at her.
"Thank you for your hard work, Ayaka."
Ayaka shook her head softly.
"It was you who worked hardest."
Thoma raised a cup:
"To the young lady and the clan head—cheers!"
Laughter filled the room.
Supernatural Chat Group
Barbara: I didn't know Miss Ayaka's past was so touching…
Keqing: To bear such burdens at such a young age—admirable.
Yoimiya: She truly lives up to the Shirasagi Himegimi name!
Ei: The Kamisato Clan… truly fitting of Inazuma's prestige.
Yae Miko: Ayaka dear, if you want to join the shrine, the door is open~
Ayaka: Thank you, Shogun-sama, Guuji-sama, and everyone…
Alice: Yae Miko! Are you stealing my talent now?!
Yae Miko: I'm offering her a choice, not stealing. She lives closer to my shrine anyway~
Ayaka: P-Please don't fight…
Aether: Ehe~ Ayaka, your little "Oushi!" was soooo cute!
Nilou: Yes! I wanted to say that too!
Furina: Why can't I say it like that…?
Neuvillette: …
…
Blue Star — Villa
Arthur also laughed.
"That 'Oushi' really is something.
To this day I don't know how the VA clipped that sound out.
It's like Ayaka possessed her."
He shook his head.
"And next—
we get into two more categories:
Ayaka as a girl,
and…
Disrespecting the gods."
"That last one?
Very interesting~"
He cleared his throat.
"Serious Review, Part Two — Ayaka as a Girl."
"Though she studies tea ceremony, flower arrangement, etiquette—
these are noble obligations."
"What she truly loves are everyday joys:
making snacks, fishing,
sneaking away to read Yae Publishing novels,
and when she gets hungry at night—
quietly sneaking to the kitchen to cook tea-rice."
"And in tea ceremony class,
she secretly uses the tea leaves' shape
to divine her romantic fortune."
"To the world, she is the elegant Himegimi."
"But only in these small moments
can she truly be—
the girl named Kamisato Ayaka."
To read advanced Chapters, head over to p@treon:
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