Thinking back to the long years spent traveling the land with old friends, it all felt as if it had happened only yesterday.
"I understand. Just let me know before we depart."
Seeing Lori agree so readily, Ei nodded and prepared to leave.
It seemed she had indeed come only to deliver that single sentence.
For something that could have easily been passed along through someone else, why bother coming in person?
So Lori called out to stop her.
"You're already here. Stay and spend some time with me."
Ei's movement halted. She hesitated slightly.
"I still have shogunate affairs to handle."
Out of her sight, Lori rolled his eyes.
What a low-level excuse.
If she truly had something urgent, why would she waste time coming all the way here?
"It won't take long."
"…Fine."
The moment she agreed, Ei's mind flashed back to the look her sister had given her before she left—an unmistakably mischievous smile.
"If you can't bear to come back right away… you can stay a little longer. But you can't stay overnight…"
Ei hadn't even heard the rest. Her face had already turned bright red as she fled the room, accompanied by her sister's restrained laughter.
"I wanted to leave… I'm only staying because he asked… I'm not staying on purpose…"
Making excuses to herself, Ei stepped forward on her purple-black heels.
A faint blush spread along the base of her ears.
Lori, unaware of the emotional theater happening inside the usually cold and noble woman before him, simply took her hand and led her toward the deeper part of the shrine.
The moment he held her hand, Ei instinctively followed his steps.
As the noise of the visitors in the front courtyard faded away, the world around them fell silent.
Ei's tense posture slowly relaxed.
In this tiny world belonging only to the two of them, the drifting sakura petals seemed to stir with the wind's gentleness.
Even the air carried a faint warmth that made one's heartbeat quicken.
Her gradient purple hair swayed like silk ribbons.
Ei quietly savored this rare peace.
Ever since she and her sister founded the shogunate—one ruling with literature, the other with the sword—Ei had fought endlessly on the battlefield.
She once slew the god Orobashi with a single strike, lightning sweeping across the seas to crush Watatsumi's invasion.
Her only regret was the death of her friend Sasayuri.
Later, she defeated the Thunderbird that plagued Seirai Island.
The massive floating stone above the island today was the remnant of that battlefield—an eternal symbol of the Raiden Shogun's unmatched might.
And after that… came this mysterious man who entered her life.
Memories flickered like scenes in a movie across her mind.
Before she realized it, Ei let out a soft sigh.
Lori turned to look at the elegant woman whose expression carried faint sorrow and teased:
"What's wrong? Being with me makes you that unhappy?"
Pulled back from her memories, Ei lifted her gaze to meet his.
She rarely smiled—but this time, the corners of her lips curved slightly, though she said nothing.
Even a warrior doll who once knew only battle—after developing emotions—could change from a cold god into a person of flesh and feeling.
Even Ei herself could hardly believe that one day she would hold a man's hand without hesitation.
Of course, what she didn't know was that the young man beside her wanted… a lot more than that.
Things far more daring.
But to Ei, the only clear truth was that time passed especially quickly when she was with the one she liked.
Even though most of their time together was spent in silence, neither felt uneasy.
Instead, it felt like a perfect harmony—two currents blending seamlessly.
By the time they noticed, two whole hours had passed.
"I should go."
Reluctantly drawing her hand back, Ei stood before him and explained—perhaps out of guilt, perhaps out of habit.
"A report came from Ritou yesterday. A delegation from Khaenri'ah has requested an audience. They seem to have business with us."
Khaenri'ah?
At that name, Lori's DNA immediately jolted awake.
He knew what would eventually happen—
How, before long, the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles would gather the Seven Archons to crush them and erase their nation.
But at this time, no conflict existed between the Seven Nations and the godless realm of Khaenri'ah.
Despite lacking a ruling deity, the ancient nation was extremely powerful, drawing strength directly from the ley lines.
Their technology and alchemy were unparalleled.
Almost every region of the continent made use of their "cultivators"—their automated farming machines.
Seeing Lori remain quiet, Ei continued her explanation:
"Makoto transferred authority over receiving the delegation to me. So…"
"In that case, I'll go meet them as well."
Lori was very curious why Khaenri'ah would approach Inazuma at this moment.
It was clearly not just a simple diplomatic visit.
Ei froze for a moment.
Meeting Lori's intent gaze, she instinctively averted her eyes.
"…As you wish."
"Then let's go."
Lori clasped her slender, soft hand once more and snapped his fingers.
A swirling black vortex appeared before them.
No doubt—this was one of his abilities derived from the Law of Void.
Ei, long accustomed to the strange and bizarre powers around him, was not shocked.
But she did stop and try to pull her hand free.
Lori held tightly—leaving her no chance to escape.
"What's wrong?" he asked innocently.
"…"
For the first time showing visible annoyance, Ei glared at the man standing so close.
Before she could react further, he pulled her straight into the dark portal.
Really—
If she kept looking at him with eyes like that, Lori wasn't sure he could restrain himself from doing something far more improper.
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