After bidding farewell to Yae Miko, Yu Xie returned to the shrine's residence.
The sun had already set, but the sky had not completely darkened. The fiery red sunset lingered on the horizon, signaling the end of the day.
Kitsune Saiguu had already returned. Seeing Yu Xie come back, she asked him, "I heard from the shrine maidens that you went out today. Where did you go?"
"I went to the Narukami Shrine," Yu Xie replied.
"You went all the way to the Narukami Shrine, and you didn't come find me?" Kitsune Saiguu asked.
"I tried to find you, but the shrine maidens there said you usually don't meet with guests," Yu Xie said.
"Ah... I guess that's true," Kitsune Saiguu recalled for a moment, then smiled. "Alright, next time you go, just tell the shrine maidens you're my little brother."
"You think of me as your little brother?" Yu Xie asked, slightly surprised.
Kitsune Saiguu stepped closer and ruffled Yu Xie's head. "At your age, aren't you a little brother? Now, come eat dinner. After that, get some good rest."
For some reason, Kitsune Saiguu had taken quite a liking to this human "little brother" she had only met the day before.
"By the way, I wanted to help with the work today, but the shrine maidens wouldn't let me," Yu Xie said.
"You should focus on growing up first," Kitsune Saiguu said with a laugh, turning to leave. "When you're older, there'll be plenty of work for you to do."
After dinner, the night passed quietly.
Like the first night, Yu Xie slept soundly.
Though he had only just arrived, there was something about this place that made it feel like home.
The next morning, Yu Xie woke up early.
He made his way to a deserted courtyard within the residence.
With a flash of golden light, a long sword appeared in his hand.
The sword danced through the air, moving swiftly and with grace.
The way he wielded the sword felt as natural as breathing. The movements seemed to be deeply ingrained in his subconscious, a muscle memory that guided his every action.
Just then, a round of applause rang out, causing Yu Xie to stop.
"You handle the sword well. Have you trained before?" Kitsune Saiguu slowly walked over.
"I've practiced a bit," Yu Xie said.
"This sword is nice too. It must have come from a skilled craftsman?" Kitsune Saiguu walked closer and examined the sword in Yu Xie's hand.
"I don't remember," Yu Xie said, holding the sword up to his eyes and examining the blade carefully.
Kitsune Saiguu paused slightly at his response but didn't press him further. People's memories could sometimes be unreliable, so not remembering something from the past wasn't all that strange.
"Does this sword have a name?" she asked.
"Cloud Cutter," Yu Xie replied. "I only remember that it's called 'Cloud Cutter.'"
"Cloud Cutter... a beautiful name," Kitsune Saiguu said. "Let's go have breakfast. After that, come with me to a place."
"Where are we going?" Yu Xie asked.
"To the Tenshukaku," Kitsune Saiguu answered.
...
In the morning hours,
Yu Xie followed Kitsune Saiguu through the streets of Inazuma City, finally arriving at the grand, resplendent building's entrance.
This was the Tenshukaku, the place where the Electro Archon resided and handled political affairs.
Soldiers clad in armor stood guard at the gates, watching vigilantly.
"Are you nervous?" Kitsune Saiguu suddenly asked Yu Xie.
"Not really," Yu Xie answered nonchalantly. "But why are you bringing me here?"
"After seeing you handle the sword this morning, I had an idea," Kitsune Saiguu said. "Come, you'll understand soon enough."
As they approached the gates, the soldiers immediately saluted Kitsune Saiguu respectfully.
"Lady Shrine Maiden."
Kitsune Saiguu nodded in acknowledgment, then walked through the gates into the Tenshukaku.
As they walked through the corridors, Yu Xie couldn't help but admire the surroundings.
Every structure was magnificent, and Inazuma's tallest buildings were truly deserving of their renown.
"When we meet our esteemed Archon, if you feel nervous, you can just hide behind me," Kitsune Saiguu said, leading the way.
"I'm actually not that nervous," Yu Xie replied.
"Is that so?" Kitsune Saiguu glanced back at him with a smile. "That's even better."
With Kitsune Saiguu leading the way, the two of them arrived in front of a small house.
Compared to the other buildings in the Tenshukaku, this one appeared rather modest, not much different from the houses along the street outside.
Kitsune Saiguu led Yu Xie up the stairs in front of the house and through a corridor at the side, guiding him to the back of the house.
The view opened up immediately.
From here, they could see the wide expanse of the sea and feel the sea breeze gently brushing their faces.
The scenery was beautiful.
Under the eaves of the house sat a beautiful woman with deep purple hair.
She wore a light purple kimono, her long hair slightly loose, flowing with the wind. She gazed out at the distant sea, and in her eyes was a hint of melancholy that was barely perceptible to others.
"Makoto!" Kitsune Saiguu called out as she walked over and sat down beside the woman without waiting for an invitation.
Makoto...
Yu Xie was slightly taken aback.
The woman in front of him was none other than the former Electro Archon, the older sister of Raiden Ei — Raiden Makoto.
The Raiden Makoto who had perished during the Khaenri'ah War...
"You're here," Makoto said, turning her head to look at Kitsune Saiguu and noticing Yu Xie standing nearby.
Before Makoto could ask about Yu Xie, Kitsune Saiguu took the initiative to speak first:
"Let me introduce him. This is Yu Xie. He's currently staying at my place, and I suppose... you could say he's like my little brother."
"Yu Xie, hello," Makoto said, looking at him with a soft smile. Her demeanor was gentle, lacking any air of divine authority. She gave off the impression of a kind, older sister living next door rather than a mighty god.
"Hello," Yu Xie snapped out of his thoughts, unsure of what to say in return. He settled for a polite greeting.
"Makoto, the reason I'm here today is to recommend Yu Xie," Kitsune Saiguu continued. "I think he'd be a good fit for the Okuzumeshuu."
The Okuzumeshuu was a special guard unit in Inazuma, directly under the command of the Electro Archon, Raiden Makoto. Unlike the three Shogunate Executives, the Okuzumeshuu were independent and served as the personal guard to the Shogun.
After seeing Yu Xie wield a sword this morning, Kitsune Saiguu had an idea. From his swordsmanship, she saw potential and talent. Such talent should not be wasted.
"I see," Makoto said, giving Yu Xie a thoughtful look.
To have earned Kitsune Saiguu's trust, this young man must indeed possess something remarkable.
"However, the Okuzumeshuu has always been under the command of Ei. We'll need to ask her opinion on this matter," Makoto added.
"Where is Ei?" Kitsune Saiguu asked.
"At this hour, she should be at her training grounds."
"Then let's go find her."
...
Indoor Training Grounds.
Various weapons lined the weapon rack against the wall.
In the center of the training grounds stood a woman with deep purple hair, holding a naginata. Her eyes were closed as she stood still, exuding an air of quiet power.
If you judged her by appearance alone, she could have been Makoto's twin. The only difference was a small beauty mark near the corner of her right eye.
Though they looked similar, their auras were entirely different.
Where Makoto had a gentle, approachable aura, this woman gave off a "don't come near" feeling.
Just standing there, she radiated an unspoken, intimidating presence.
End of chapter
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