The samurai said, "Everyone was hopeless because they did not know where Her Excellency the Shogun had gone. But now we have found you. You are right here."
"As long as you reappear before everyone, hope will rekindle in our hearts."
"That hope will become the light that guides us through the darkness."
[Ei: I am ashamed of that hope. They trusted me so much, yet I let Inazuma become what it is now.]
[Ningguang: Dwelling excessively on the past only brings pain. We must look toward the future.]
[Paimon: Ningguang always speaks so wisely.]
[Ningguang: I simply read many books.]
[Lumine: You are usually so busy. Do you still have time to read?]
[Ningguang: Reading is like crossing time to converse with a wise person. Although I am very busy with work, I can always find some time to read.]
[Paimon: What do you usually read, Ningguang?]
[Ningguang: Well... ah? The Quotations of Rex Lapis. And I have not finished it yet...]
[Zhongli: The Quotations of Rex Lapis? I remember that book. It records the edicts I issued each year, as well as some of my thoughts and insights. Two thousand years of accumulation—not something an ordinary mortal can absorb.]
[Paimon: That sounds like a very impressive book.]
[Ningguang: In Paimon's words, this book contains a great deal of high-level knowledge, covering all kinds of professions and industries.]
[Ei: May I read this book?]
[Zhongli: Of course. There are many copies in circulation among the people, but most are incomplete. Only the Qixing possess the complete version, because this book was compiled by the Qixing and continuously improved by each generation of the Qixing.]
[Paimon: That sounds so impressive.]
With that, the phantom samurai charged forward. Lumine also joined the battle. These phantoms were powerful, and Lumine's combat ability was high. They quickly eliminated all of them.
Ei sat at the back and said softly, "Thank you..."
Paimon turned around and asked with concern, "Ei, are you alright? Do you need to rest a while longer?"
Ei replied, "I am fine. I feel much better."
The samurai turned to Lumine. "The two of you are truly skilled. We are impressed. Those monsters will surely return. Next time, it may not be just Riftwolves."
"You two must escort Her Excellency the Shogun back to the city as quickly as possible and rendezvous with the army led by the general. When everyone sees Her Excellency return safely, their morale will surely soar."
Paimon asked, "What about you?"
The samurai answered earnestly, "We will stay here to hold back the monsters. They cannot be allowed to advance any further."
The samurai exchanged glances with one another. "As long as we brothers work together, no number of monsters can stand against us."
[Navia: Lady Furina, you have worked hard...]
[Furina: Huh? Why bring that up all of a sudden?]
[Navia: You have carried the future of the people of Fontaine on your shoulders. You have worked hard.]
[Lumine: Seeing these samurai, I thought of you, Furina. Although you have no martial strength, no sword or blade, you stood before all the people of Fontaine just like these samurai.]
[Furina: Hahaha! That... it is nothing. Because I love them. I love Fontaine.]
[Neuvillette: The feeling of protection?]
[Ei: I also know what I must do now.]
[Yae Miko: Speak up. Tell us.]
[Ei: Though I have not fully figured it out yet, the core is to answer the people's expectations.]
[Paimon: Ei, I am sure you will do well.]