But Ei seemed beyond reason. Her presence bore down on them, heavier and heavier, until Sara and Yae Miko struggled to draw breath. Outside, the thunder quickened—a relentless, terrifying drumbeat that chilled the blood.
"Alright. Calm yourself. Anger will solve nothing." Yuki rose and walked over to Ei. He placed a hand lightly on her shoulder, his voice soft and soothing.
And as if his words reached past the storm and straight into her heart, Ei's fury ebbed. The crushing pressure vanished.
The tension in the hall dissolved. Sara and Yae Miko released the breaths they hadn't realized they'd been holding. They felt the cool dampness on their backs—their clothes soaked with nervous sweat. Even now, the memory of Ei's wrath lingered, a shadow in their minds.
Seeing their pale faces, Ei's expression softened into one of guilt. "I'm sorry. I lost control," she offered her apology.
Sara, ever the loyal vassal, dropped to one knee. "No, Your Excellency. The fault is ours. We failed in our duties, and the people of Inazuma have suffered for it. Please, punish us."
Ei shook her head. "It is not your fault. You have done well. Rise. If I were to punish you, who would be left to hunt down the real criminals?"
She was not without reason. She could see that Sara bore no blame. Slowly, Sara rose. Ei then turned to Yuki.
"Thank you."
He simply smiled and nodded, withdrawing his hand and returning to his seat.
Yae Miko watched the brief exchange, her gaze shifting between Yuki and Ei, a thoughtful look crossing her face.
With Ei calm once more, the conversation moved to the details of the incident.
"Your Excellency," Sara continued, "according to the wounded soldiers, each of the invaders possessed a Vision. And there were many of them—far too many for a standard patrol to handle. Combined with the rumors surrounding Watatsumi, many citizens of Narukami are now convinced the attackers came from there."
Sara was merely reporting the facts. She held back from voicing her own suspicions.
"And you, General Kujou? Do you believe the people of Watatsumi are responsible?" Ei turned the question back on Sara.
Sara hesitated, then shook her head. "There is something strange about the Watatsumi rumors, but the timing is too convenient. I do not believe they are responsible. Someone is framing them," she spoke her mind.
Ei nodded slowly. "Of course it isn't them. It's too deliberate."
Yae Miko interjected. "A group of Vision-wielding attackers—more than a dozen strong—facing a mere patrol of five, and yet one soldier escapes? Unlikely. They let him go on purpose."
Ei inclined her head in agreement.
"It's meant as a taunt," Yuki added with a faint smile. "A declaration: You will never find us. Thus, even if the people of Inazuma suspect Watatsumi has been framed, pressure from the masses will force you to make them the scapegoat."
His smile carried a note of grudging respect for the strategist behind the scheme. Were it not for Yuki himself, Ei might never have uncovered the true mastermind.
"Then the real culprits will simply set another fire on Watatsumi…" Ei began.
"And then," Yae Miko finished the thought, "the two islands will have no choice but to go to war once more. Is that not so, Mr. Yuki?"
"Indeed." Yuki's voice was calm. "A cruel and heartless design."
Sara shivered. The pieces fell into place. If she had detained the Watatsumi merchants—just as Yae had warned—it might have sparked open conflict between the two nations. And that, she now realized, was exactly what the enemy wanted.
"What do we do, then?" Yae Miko's gaze swept between Ei and Yuki. "Surely we can't sit back and do nothing."
"Before you arrived," Ei said quietly, "Yuki told me who the real enemy is. And so, now we begin our counterattack." Ei's voice was calm, but her eyes held steel.
"Eh? You already know? Really? You're not pulling my tail, are you, Ei?" Yae Miko's elegant eyebrows rose. She looked at Ei with playful suspicion.
"Hmph. Yuki told me. Do you doubt him? Or do you think he'd lie to me?" Ei's tone carried a hint of displeasure at her friend's skepticism.
Yuki decided it was time to speak. "Everything is the work of the Fatui."
The moment the words left his mouth, Yae Miko and Kujou Sara's expressions shifted.
"The Fatui?!"
"Mr. Yuki, do you have proof?" Sara, as a stickler for the law, would not accept mere words.
"General Kujou, Yuki would not deceive me." Ei frowned slightly, her words firm.
"And what is their aim, Mr. Yuki?" Yae Miko asked, her eyes narrowing with interest. She had not voiced any doubt.
"There's nothing wrong with Lady Kujou's skepticism," Yuki said mildly. "As for proof… It's simple enough. Capture one of the attackers. As for their goal…" He turned to Yae Miko. "Ei's Gnosis."
The fox's expression sharpened. Sara's eyes widened. So the Fatui had set their sights on the very symbol of the divine.
"Ah." Yuki smiled faintly, as if sensing something. "They're moving now. Come. I'll take you to them. You'll have your proof soon enough."