"Makoto..." At this moment, Raiden Ei, who had been unsure what to say, finally spoke.
Raiden Makoto turned to Raiden Ei and said:
"I'm sorry, Ei, for suddenly entrusting Inazuma to you. I should have gradually taught you more, so you wouldn't be so fixated on Musou."
"But things happened too suddenly back then. I apologize..."
Raiden Ei shook her head, her expression complicated:
"For the past few hundred years, I was indeed deeply entrenched in my stubborn pursuit of eternity, but now, I have discarded my own views and decided to bear the thoughts and wishes of all beings."
Raiden Makoto let out a sound of relief: "Ei, you have truly changed so much..."
Raiden Ei fell silent again. After a long while, she asked:
"Makoto... back then, did you already sense what was about to happen in Khaenri'ah?"
The year the Ancient Nation of Khaenri'ah perished was also the year Raiden Makoto died.
That year, the Archons of the Seven Nations were ordered to go to Khaenri'ah, and Raiden Makoto, the Archon of Inazuma, unfortunately died at that time.
Afterward, Inazuma even faced an invasion by the army of Abyssal Monsters.
That year was an incredibly heavy blow for Inazuma.
Recalling all this now, Raiden Ei realized something.
It seemed Raiden Makoto had anticipated her own death back then.
Facing Raiden Ei's question, Raiden Makoto replied:
"Somewhat. For any Mortal Archon, that place was an existence that could not be ignored."
"The current me can no longer perceive time, nor do I know what Inazuma has experienced during this period. I can only barely sense the things that have happened around you recently, Ei."
"You've worked hard these past years."
Hearing this.
Raiden Ei couldn't help but recall the past.
Back then, Raiden Makoto suddenly passed away and entrusted Inazuma to her—a person with absolutely no experience—to manage.
Needless to say, Raiden Ei was naturally extremely lost at first.
She walked one arduous path after another.
Which eventually led her astray onto the path of pursuing eternity.
Thinking of this, Raiden Ei shook her head again: "Over these years, I have done many wrong things. I failed to complete the task you entrusted to me, Makoto."
Raiden Makoto showed no intention of blaming her: "But you have always tried your best, haven't you?"
Raiden Ei fell silent and turned her head away, her expression unreadable.
At this moment, Raiden Makoto spoke again:
"All in all, seeing you grow up, Ei, and having so many excellent companions around you, puts my heart at ease."
After speaking, Raiden Makoto turned to the Tsaritsa, Empress of Snezhnaya and Yuuko, and said:
"In the future, can I still ask you two to continue helping this silly girl, Ei, and prevent her from going astray again?"
The Tsaritsa, Empress of Snezhnaya folded her arms across her chest and did not respond.
Yuuko, however, pondered for a long time before nodding:
"If she dares to do reckless things again, I will beat her until she comes to her senses."
"Hahaha... that's certainly a unique way to solve things. But, I entrust Ei to you." Raiden Makoto laughed heartily:
"After all, don't let Ei's seemingly strong exterior fool you; she is actually a person with a fragile heart."
"Perhaps in the time before, she wanted to give up countless times and cried secretly countless times."
Hearing this, Raiden Ei couldn't help herself. She turned around and said:
"I am not that weak..."
Raiden Makoto smiled: "See? You just admitted it."
Raiden Ei wanted to retort, but for some reason, the words caught in her throat. She could only turn her head away and remain silent.
Watching Raiden Ei unable to refute, Raiden Makoto laughed for a while.
Then her tone suddenly became serious:
"My time is running out, Ei. Come, take this before my last consciousness fades."
As soon as she finished speaking, the sphere of light containing Raiden Makoto's consciousness transformed into a purple seed.
It slowly drifted down.
Until it landed in Raiden Ei's palm.
Accepting the seed, Raiden Ei's eyes were filled with confusion.
But soon, Raiden Makoto's answer resonated throughout the entire space, resolving her confusion.
"The Miraculous Wood that shelters all people—this is a strange existence unseen by anyone. When it arrives and where it sprouts depends on the dreams and heart of the person who gives it life."
"Ei, bestow life upon it."
Hearing this, Raiden Ei closed her eyes and tightly grasped the seed in her hand.
Then, she opened her palm.
The seed slipped from Raiden Ei's hand and fell into the ground of this Consciousness Space.
And slowly merged into the ground.
Subsequently, a root drilled up from the ground and grew at a visible speed.
Finally, it grew into a uniquely shaped tree.
"This is... the sacred sakura tree..."
Raiden Ei and Yuuko recognized the tree almost instantly.
Because this was Inazuma's Guardian Divine Tree, the sacred sakura tree.
This tree protected Inazuma for thousands of generations.
It was also because of it that Inazuma was able to successfully resist the invasion of the army of Abyssal Monsters back then.
At this moment, Raiden Makoto's voice appeared again in the Consciousness Space:
"Where eternity and dreams converge, the sacred sakura tree will ultimately break free from the shackles of Heavenly Principles and Bloom from the darkness."
"Nightmares will eventually disappear, and reality is about to be perfected. The scene we long for is right ahead."
At this moment, Raiden Makoto's voice was no longer as cheerful as before:
"It's just a pity that I can no longer walk with you, nor witness the future of Inazuma."
The sacred sakura tree had already fully Bloomed in the Consciousness Space.
The tree was covered with pink sakura blossoms, looking very beautiful.
The sphere of light reappeared, but the aura emanating from it was extremely weak now.
Raiden Ei came before the sphere of light, a hint of sadness faintly visible in her purple eyes.
In response, Raiden Makoto smiled:
"Thank you, Ei. My final wish has been fulfilled."
"You shielded me from countless calamities. In truth, I always felt indebted to you."
Raiden Ei's eyes widened, and she hurriedly shook her head.
Raiden Makoto continued: "This sacred sakura tree is the only thing I can give you in return. It should have bought you enough time, right?"
Raiden Ei nodded silently, but her hands were slightly clenched.
Seeing this, Raiden Makoto let out a sigh of emotion:
"Ei, I am truly happy to see how much you have grown."
"From now on, Inazuma is completely entrusted to you, Ei."
"This is the last time, Ei. Give me a smile. It's been so long since I've seen you smile."
Raiden Ei remained silent for a long time, eventually forcing out a stiff smile.
Raiden Makoto laughed: "Haha, Ei, smiling really doesn't suit you."
As her voice fell, the aura on the sphere of light was already close to dissipating.
"Is it time...?"
Just before dissipating, Raiden Makoto turned to Yuuko and said:
"To be honest, I was truly surprised when I learned that you were still alive..."
"One day, you will step onto Celestia, won't you?"
"Your existence will bring great calamity upon Inazuma, however... since Ei chose you, I will also trust you."
"Ei, I entrust her to you."
In the very end, Raiden Makoto entrusted Raiden Ei to Yuuko.
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