Ei arrived at Grand Narukami Shrine with the completed puppet arm.
As she approached the shrine, she caught a familiar scent—so familiar that she dared not even think about it, let alone acknowledge its familiarity.
It wasn't until she saw the table overflowing with delicacies in the shrine's open space that she confirmed the aroma's reality.
Fried Tofu, Sweet Madame, Tiramisu, Braised Pork...
"Yae Miko, these are all..."
"Ei, come sit down! Fidelle made all of this. Doesn't it smell familiar?"
Yae Miko had watched Fidelle prepare the feast from start to finish. It wasn't as if she was trying to think about it, but the resemblance was undeniable—absolutely uncanny!
From the cooking steps and habits to the dishes themselves and their flavors, everything was eerily alike.
Yae Miko was so stunned that she forgot her work. Lumine and Paimon had to step in to help her finish.
Though the food was tempting, Ei felt it was best to attach the puppet arm to Fidelle first.
Fidelle stood by the table, seemingly waiting for Ei to help her attach the arm.
"Are you ready?" Ei asked.
"Ready," Fidelle replied.
Ei held the puppet arm in her left hand. With her right hand outstretched, sparks of Electro crackled at her fingertips. She pressed a finger against the stump of Fidelle's severed right arm, causing the area to go numb, briefly cutting off sensation.
With a swift chop of her hand, Ei sliced away the "flesh" that had regrown under the influence of Rukkhadevata's Divine Power. She then rapidly reattached the arm.
The bleeding wound from the excised "flesh" was instantly cauterized by Ei's Electro arcs, searing the edges black and stopping the bleeding.
Ei's methods were direct and brutal.
The arm she installed this time wasn't as lifelike as the first one. Beyond the difficulty of repairing such intricate details, the primary reason was that she had previously relied on Rukkhadevata's assistance, allowing her to focus solely on the external appearance and basic core functions, without needing to worry about nerve connections.
This time, however, the arm had to be functional—and highly so.
"Try moving it," Ei instructed.
Fidelle flexed her right arm, discovering it moved freely and with astonishing precision.
The only drawback was its somewhat unsightly appearance, lacking the texture of flesh and blood. Yet even with this imperfection, Fidelle was immensely satisfied.
She cared little for aesthetics. As long as her right arm was usable, allowing her to care for Lady Furina and Lady Focalors without restraint, that was all that mattered.
Lumine suggested, "We could go to Rukkhadevata and ask for her help."
Fidelle considered Lumine's suggestion but ultimately declined.
It wasn't that she didn't want to go; she just didn't want to go right now. The battle with Chu Xi had left Rukkhadevata seriously wounded, and Fidelle still needed to search for any contingencies Silaya might have left behind. She also needed to discuss the plan for dealing with Chu Xi with Venti and the others.
Going now would only add to her troubles. As long as her right arm functioned properly, that was all that mattered. As for aesthetics... she could revisit that issue later when Rukkhadevata had time to spare.
With the right arm reattached, everyone settled into their seats.
As the most esteemed guest at the table, Ei took the first slice of the perfectly rectangular tiramisu. She speared a piece with her fork and brought it to her lips.
"Hmm..."
Ei closed her eyes, savoring the tiramisu's exquisite flavor, though her thoughts had already drifted elsewhere.
In her long life, Ei had only encountered three individuals with Pure Souls. Setting aside Angie from Snezhnaya for the moment, Yuna and Fidelle were both top-tier chefs!
She had always known Yuna's creations were delicious, but now she realized Fidelle possessed the same extraordinary ability.
Having lived for millennia, Ei had never tasted anything so sublime, not even the gourmet dishes she had prepared back when she still truly existed.
Inevitably, Ei once again attributed this exceptional flavor to the Pure Souls of the creators.
-
At the dining table, Yae Miko, Paimon, Lumine, and Fidelle all stirred into action.
As Yae Miko ate, her eyes began to redden. She held her small bowl, subtly turning away, trying to conceal her emotional turmoil.
Only a few months had passed since Yuna's departure, but to Yae Miko, it felt like yesterday.
She still remembered every pause, inflection, lingering note, and final whisper in Yuna's voice as she called her "Lady Guuji."
That was the dearest little one I've ever known, she thought. How could I possibly let go so easily?
Yae Miko and Lumine ate slowly and quietly, even slowing down Paimon's usual voracious pace. Lumine knew they weren't just eating food, but memories...
This somber atmosphere lingered for half an hour.
By then, the hot dishes had cooled. Lumine and Paimon had each finished their Sweet Madame, and together with Fidelle, the three formally took their leave from Ei and Yae Miko.
Before departing, Fidelle placed her right hand over her chest, bowing solemnly to Ei in gratitude.
Ei shook her head, gesturing for Fidelle not to worry.
"You possess a Pure Soul. Should you ever need help in the future, don't hesitate to come to me directly. I will do everything in my power to assist you."
Ei made this promise in the presence of both Lumine and Yae Miko.
Throughout the entire exchange, Yae Miko remained silent, offering no objection.
-
After Lumine and Paimon left, Ei and Yae Miko remained for another half-hour, finishing the tiramisu before preparing to leave.
"Ei, are you just going to leave like that?" Yae Miko asked.
Ei turned back, her face puzzled. "Is there something else?"
Yae Miko didn't answer. She slowly walked into the kitchen and emerged with a tray of tiramisu, a piece missing from the center—the exact size of the slice Ei had just finished at the table.
Ei reached for the tray, but Yae Miko raised it out of her reach.
"Miko," Ei said sternly, her expression darkening.
Yae Miko smiled faintly. "You have to leave some for me, you can't take it all."
Yae Miko adored these little cakes. Their exquisite flavor was one reason, but more importantly, they reminded her of the departed Yuna...
Yae Miko cut half for herself and gave the rest to Ei.
Ei, cake in hand, was about to leave when she suddenly remembered something. She returned to the kitchen and, under Yae Miko's resentful gaze, took some braised pork, fried tofu, and a Sweet Madame.
-
Fontaine.
Two hundred meters from home, Fidelle finally noticed a problem.
Her right sleeve was gone. After gritting her teeth and enduring the pain to adjust her originally somewhat unsightly right arm, it now looked much better.
However, it still lacked the fleshy texture of a living limb.
Returning in this state would immediately alert Lady Furina and Lady Focalors, rendering her plan to prevent them from worrying completely useless.
"Traveler, your clothes..."
Fidelle paused, looking down at Lumine, who barely reached her shoulder. She swallowed back the words she was about to say.
Lumine: "..."
Why does Fidelle's gaze feel a bit offensive just now?
After carefully examining her arm and confirming it was as perfect as she could make it, Fidelle emerged from her hiding spot.
At worst, I'll just bake two extra small cakes tonight.