Countless wishes converged upon Lumine.
This granted her power of immense strength.
She fell silent, gripping her spear as she advanced toward Raiden Ei.
Raiden Ei remained silent as well.
She could feel the power of those wishes from her own people.
Vast, majestic, as if it could accomplish anything.
Each one was a fragile wish gathered together!
Yet when thousands of wishes united, even the stubborn Electro Archon had to take notice.
Boom!
The overwhelming force forced Raiden Ei back step by step, her expression growing complicated.
Was Lumine her opponent?
Clearly not.
With her divine might, slaying the girl before her would be effortless.
But the buffs those powers granted were far too potent.
Raiden Ei had no choice but to treat her seriously.
Boom!
Another clash.
Raiden Ei parted her lips, but no words came out.
She knew she had lost.
Not to Lumine, nor to any demon god—but to the wishes of her countless subjects.
Raiden Ei gazed at Lumine in a daze, her eyes filled with disbelief.
"You've been defeated, Ei," Yae Miko declared.
Raiden Ei let out a soft sigh before replying, "Yes... I have."
"Why couldn't you trust your people? Trust the power of their wishes?"
"Those wishes have transcended distance, space, and time. No one can suppress them now."
Yae Miko said wistfully, "The Traveler already witnessed it in Liyue—when people charge forward with all their might, they can surpass even the gods' expectations, even take over the gods' roles. There's a nation across the sea where humanity races ahead, leaving the gods behind. So why do we insist on... willfully abandoning progress ourselves?"
Raiden Ei's expression shifted dramatically, revealing struggle and sorrow.
"We've both witnessed the losses that come with progress. Only eternity—only eternity can—"
Raiden Ei's face twisted in pain as she slowly recounted her past.
"Where lightning flashes, shadows fall."
"I am the shadow."
"With Musou, I shall purge Inazuma of all obstacles to progress."
"Yet with every step forward, something is lost."
"Even she... was lost in the end."
"Those tales are still sung beneath the Sacred Sakura's shade to this day, but the scars of those losses still burn upon this nation."
"'Chase it forth, even if it's but a fleeting light. At least we have this moment.'"
"She once said that... But I watched a nation that ran full tilt lose everything before the Heavenly Principles. Perhaps only by freezing time can the lightning's glow endure."
"This moment is a fragile illusion. Only eternity comes closest to the Heavenly Principles."
"Now, I am no longer the shadow."
"This body is the most supreme and noble form, fit to wield absolute authority over the land."
"This body promises its people a dream—an eternity unchanging across a thousand generations."
One scene after another flashed by.
A ferocious serpent slain by Musou no Hitotachi.
An enraged thunderbird pierced by arrows.
Endless hordes of twisted, hateful monsters swarming forth.
A nation engulfed in ceaseless flames of war and destruction.
A figure collapsing into her arms, filled with despair and agony.
Her own body remade into a puppet, her consciousness meditating endlessly in her inner world.
[Kujou Sara]: General... so she's been through all that...
[Kamisato Ayaka]: I suddenly understand the General's intentions a bit... but her methods were wrong...
[Sangonomiya Kokomi]: Watatsumi Omikami... Sigh...
[Zhongli]: I'd buy osmanthus wine to share, but alas, when shall we meet again?
[Venti]: Sigh.
[Nahida]: (Bewildered)
[Yae Miko]: The stubborn god is beginning to change, but how will she make amends for the past mistakes? (Sigh)
[Raiden Ei]: I...
Raiden Ei was utterly dejected.
She had witnessed it all.
Everything proved the error of the Vision Hunt Decree and her own stubbornness.
She had set Inazuma on a path to inevitable ruin.
Even without Gu Chen and the others, the nation would have shattered itself.
"I truly was wrong..."
"Sister..."
"There, there. Nothing's happened in this life yet—it's not too late to turn back~" Yae Miko gently embraced her.
"Mm!"
Raiden Ei's gaze hardened with resolve.
"I won't let the Shogun persist on this mistaken path... Eternity... at least, my way was wrong!"
[Lumine]: So what now? Raiden Ei turns over a new leaf, Inazuma prospers—what about me? What about ME!!
[Raiden Ei]: ...I'm sorry.
[Kaeya]: Who knew the previous life's videos would affect Miss Lumine so much? (Curious)
[Paimon]: Sigh, she was heartbroken when Gu Chen died. If she could've beaten her, Paimon bets she'd have rushed straight to Inazuma. (Paimon · Shocked)
[Nilou]: It's a shame the videos are just the previous life, with no link to this one. Otherwise, Miss Lumine and Mr. Gu Chen... Ah, no! If only Mr. Gu Chen could've survived!
[Lyney]: Kinda melancholic, but the Great Magician's intuition tells me the videos are wrapping up—or Miss Lumine is about to embark on a new journey.
Within the video.
Lumine couldn't let go of Gu Chen's death.
But once the countless wishes faded, she was no match for Raiden Ei.
Raiden Ei sincerely apologized to Lumine, but Lumine refused to accept, coldly stating she had no need for concern from the killer's master.
Raiden Ei was at a loss, so she first abolished the Vision Hunt Decree.
Outside the Plane of Euthymia, she beheld eternity in the eyes of the world.
"Some wishes can heal wounds, seize victory, and ignite hope."
"Some wishes remain as pure and fervent as the day they were born, even after their bearer has fallen and their soul ascended to the heavens... enduring eternally..."
At the Grand Narukami Shrine.
Yae Miko stood beneath the Sacred Sakura, gazing at the expressionless Lumine.
With a wistful sigh, she slowly produced an envelope and said softly, "He entrusted this to me without explanation, only asking me to give it to you later. Now... perhaps he foresaw this all along?"
Lumine's pupils trembled as she reached out to take it.
Bright sunlight bathed the Grand Narukami Shrine, cherry petals dancing on the gentle breeze.
Yae Miko left without disturbing her.
Lumine slowly opened the envelope, revealing a letter inside.
"To my best travel companion, Lumine."
"When you read this, I suppose I've died by the Raiden Shogun's blade."
"I'm sorry I can't keep traveling with you, but please don't blame me, or the Raiden Shogun—and don't let hatred cloud your eyes. You should pull yourself together and continue your journey."
"There's always mystery and the unknown ahead, so many things waiting for you to witness."
"Oh, right! Paimon kept nagging me about wanting the grilled fish from our first meeting. I thought, we barely had any seasonings back then—what's so tasty about that? Sadly, she'll never get to eat it. She's our best guide, so Lumine, take good care of her from now on—and take even better care of yourself."
"Let go of the negativity and travel light, my companion!"
[Venti]: @[Gu Chen] My friend, are you trying to kill me?!
[Keqing]: Aaaah!! It suddenly brings back all their journey memories!!!
[Raiden Ei]: The guilt is even stronger now...
[Yae Miko]: (Photo of Raiden Ei with teary red eyes)
The video perspective shifted.
Lumine and Paimon headed to Sumeru.
Lumine and Paimon went to Fontaine.
Lumine and Paimon pressed on with their journey.
But whenever she encountered new scenery or stories, she would return.
Even without time, she would send photos and letters, asking Yae Miko to burn them at Gu Chen's grave—so he could see them too.
[Previous Life Series Episode 1]
[Stories on the Journey]
[Concluded!]
[Main Characters Receive Rewards]
[Gu Chen Obtains Previous Life Memories]
[Lumine Obtains Previous Life Memories]
[Paimon Obtains Previous Life Memories]
[Previous Life Series Episode 2 Updates in Seven Teyvat Days!]
Memories, to some, are far more precious than any treasure.
They may be mundane, joyful, or brimming with every emotion.
In the eyes of those who cherish them, no matter their form, they are the most invaluable.
—Thanks to bosses [Tearless][Empty Empty · Empty City] for the monthly votes!
—We'll likely go premium tomorrow. Premium chapters will be 4k words each, with more content—it's a test for the book and me. I'll give it my all to deliver better content!! Also hope everyone supports it more—grateful!
Chapter 51 Lumine: As Long as Aether's Alive, That's Fine—Finding A-Chen to Marry Is More Important!