In Inazuma, at the Grand Narukami Shrine.
"Miko, are you really going to give me this…?"
Aiden pursed his lips as he looked down at the gift box placed on the table before him.
Sitting elegantly on her knees across from him was Yae miko, radiating a calm, graceful composure.
She had a certain charm about her that often made him wonder if he should settle down and pursue her.
She had prepared a gift for him, neatly wrapped in a box.
The box had been sent by the shrine's officials during last year's festival. It was made from high-quality Yugami wood and cost no small sum. Yet what caught Aiden's attention wasn't the box itself—it was what lay inside.
Inside rested a finely crafted short sword. Its hilt ended with a round, crimson jewel, engraved with the word AZOTH.
At first glance, the sword looked more ornamental than deadly. But appearances were deceiving. This sword carried a notorious reputation: anyone who received it was inevitably stabbed. Without exception.
"What? You mean Tohsaka Rin escaped its fate?"
Hmm? Are you sure she wasn't stabbed by Shirou?
Of course, in Teyvat, this wasn't a case of worlds overlapping, it was simply Yae miko recreating a replica from a novel.
Yes. Reborn into Teyvat, Aiden bore no psychological burden about his life. He had happily taken up the role of literary copyist and even signed a long-term contract with Yae Hall, writing under the pen name Catman II, currently preparing his new work, The Close-Protection Expert of the Campus Flower 3: Legend of the Dragon King.
"How is it? Pretty accurate, right?" Yae Miko sipped her tea leisurely, smiling at him.
Aiden raised an eyebrow. "The design is close enough… but you're serious about giving me this?"
Gifts from Yae Miko were nothing unusual. His rebirth had started as a baby, appearing directly in the Tenshukaku. Back then, Raiden Shogun had almost sent him off with a single stroke of her blade. By some quirk of fate—or perhaps the will of lightning in the Pure Land—she decided to leave him in Yae Miko's care.
From infancy to sixteen years of age, Aiden had spent most of his life at the Grand Narukami Shrine. Even after mastering swordsmanship, he was only ever assigned to guard the mountain gate.
But…
A stabber sword? That was truly unlucky.
He definitely didn't want to accidentally stab Yae Miko. He was no gleeful sadist like Kotomine Kirei.
Well… unless it was a situation like Tohsaka Rin's…
Noticing a flicker of emotion in his eyes, Yae miko smirked inwardly. No wonder he always muttered about never being content to live in someone else's shadow.
Yae Miko, ever proud of her beauty, found his reaction satisfying. She didn't scold him; instead, she found herself tempted to tease him further.
A playful curve appeared on her lips. "You seem to be anticipating something… Why not say it out loud? Perhaps I might lend you a hand."
As she spoke, she absentmindedly twirled a lock of her cherry-colored hair near her ear, emphasizing the words a hand. Every gesture was a blend of elegance and seductive charm, making Aiden swallow nervously.
Yet, just as quickly, he regained his composure. Countless times before, he had been teased by Yae Miko. Though reborn twice, both lives saw him as a boy. Yae miko was a fox spirit too cunning, too dangerous—he could never fully gauge her depths.
Still…
"You didn't give me this on a whim for fun, did you? If there's something you want, just say it straight." Aiden's eyelids lowered slightly, his voice more serious.
Yae Miko's delicate fingers rested on her chin. "Oh? Isn't it normal for me to seek a little amusement? Perhaps I should remind you again—not to jump to conclusions so hastily."
Aiden raised the sword in his right hand, lightly tracing it with his left. The blade gleamed with a clear, icy shimmer.
The jewel-steel was a specialty of Inazuma, its main component crystallized marrow. Adding it to a weapon enhanced its performance and allowed it to conduct elemental energy efficiently.
Yet, recent rebel attacks had devastated Yae Island Town, and the divine wrath's aura polluted the entire island. The Shogunate had suffered heavy losses, and the frontlines were under strain. Weapons were in high demand. A custom gift from Yae miko, in these circumstances, surely took great effort.
Seeing that Aiden had immediately discerned her intention, Yae miko nodded with satisfaction. She had devoted much effort to his training—from swordsmanship to magic, even strategy. Aiden had never disappointed her. His self-taught technique to bring down the Flying Swallow had even earned Raiden Shogun's praise.
"The Grand Narukami Shrine gives each maiden who completes basic spell training. Actually… it should have been celebrated years ago."
"I'm not a maiden. And the shrine maidens get jobs after graduation—inspection, handling local evil spirits, or serving in the Shuumatsu squad. But here I am, still guarding the gate."
Aiden rose and gazed out the window.
The Grand Narukami Shrine sat atop Yingxiang Mountain, offering a sweeping view. At this early hour, mist swirled around the peaks, clouds floated like ribbons, and cherry petals drifted gently in the breeze. It was a scene straight from a dream.
But even the most beautiful scenery grew tiring with time.
Though Yae Miko had been entrusted to raise him, it was also a form of surveillance. Even if he posed no threat, Raiden Shogun herself acknowledged that he wasn't merely an outsider—he possessed the status of a Descender, a title not given lightly in Teyvat..
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