Under the torrent of leyline energy, Raiden Ei found it to be more of a comfortable massage than a threat. However, for Yae Miko, Kamisato Ayaka, and the shrine maidens of Narukami Shrine, it was a disaster.
At this moment, Raiden Ei's attention was entirely on her sister, who was about to be resurrected. She paid no mind to anything else.
Kamisato Ayato and Kamisato Ayaka both turned pale. Though they were nobles of Inazuma and often dealt with the monsters on Narukami Island, they had never experienced such a crisis.
Only Yae Miko remained unfazed. She knew that Lord Takumi, a god, would not just stand idly by, allowing such chaos to unfold. Otherwise, it would be a slap in the face to the gods.
"Snap!"
Takumi gently snapped his fingers, and the previously menacing energy from the leylines immediately stabilized. The flow weakened rapidly until it resembled a gentle stream running along the mountaintop.
Raiden Ei looked at the "Dream Isshin" in her hand, which had vanished, leaving behind an orb made of purple energy. In the blink of an eye, the orb slowly disappeared, fading away into a hidden space.
Yet, leyline energy continued to flow into the area.
The birth of a demon god takes place in a secret, special space, and it does not open until the demon god is successfully reborn.
Narukami Shrine was bathed in a strange light, and an unfamiliar consciousness began to awaken.
At the same time, Raiden Ei and Yae Miko's consciousnesses resonated. Takumi touched his chin and deliberately entered the resonance.
The conscious space pulled in everyone connected to the consciousness, a phenomenon that usually happened when a demon god retained a trace of their consciousness before dying.
Raiden Makoto's conscious space was an endless sea of purple.
The figure of a woman who resembled Raiden Ei but had a softer temperament appeared, seemingly confused by her surroundings.
"Am I being reborn? I remember dying..."
She recalled being summoned by Celestia to join the Seven Archons in resisting the abyssal invasion at Khaenri'ah. Defeated by the abyssal power, she barely managed to endure until the Abyss Gates were sealed. She could only catch a last glimpse of her sister before everything faded away.
Before that, however, she had a conversation with the Ruler of Time and preserved a trace of her consciousness in a seed, hoping it would be there to help Inazuma in a time of crisis.
While she tried to make sense of her situation, she heard a trembling voice.
"Makoto."
Raiden Makoto looked at the figure standing in the conscious space, her emotions mixed.
"Ei..."
Raiden Ei's voice trembled as tears gathered in her eyes. "Makoto!"
In that moment, all the expectations, grievances, resentments, and regrets she had held within her turned into tears flowing down her cheeks.
Makoto opened her arms as her sister ran to her and embraced her tightly.
"Ei, it's been a long time. I'm back."
Yae Miko watched the reunion between Raiden Makoto and Raiden Ei, and her thoughts went back to when she was just a little fox who loved to lie on the shoulders of Lady Kitsune Saiguu. Back then, Makoto and Ei often competed over who could warm her the best.
Everything had changed after five hundred years.
But perhaps, now, things could go back to how they were.
The thought brought her to look at the "Time Demon" who seemed distracted by something.
"Great God of Sky Island, peeking in on someone's heartfelt reunion is not a very noble habit," she said resentfully.
Takumi sighed. "Ah, what a shame. The recording machine from Fontaine is completely useless in this consciousness space. Such a pity."
He had originally wanted to take a photo of such a classic scene for his collection. But alas, even as Celestia, there were things that could not be done.
Yae Miko put on an exaggerated pout and spoke with a coquettish tone. "You are truly a wicked god."
Takumi flashed a mischievous smile as he looked at Yae Miko's twitching fox ears.
"Hmm, I've got an even more wicked idea, little fox. Care to take a guess?"
Yae Miko felt as if her ears were in danger of being pulled. She quickly became prim and proper. "Oh, I am a poor, weak, helpless little fox. I wouldn't dare guess."
In her heart, she felt like crying. It seemed this god had no intention of letting her go.
But Makoto was truly back. And if she could resurrect Saiguu as well, then perhaps enduring some teasing would be worth it.
She comforted herself with that thought.
At that moment, Raiden Makoto and Raiden Ei's twin consciousnesses merged. Raiden Makoto fully understood what her sister had been through over the past five hundred years, what had happened to Teyvat, and why she had been resurrected.
Makoto initially blamed herself, then felt surprise and shock, and eventually, relief.
"Ei, thank you for everything you've done these past years. You've been through so much."
Saying this, she looked toward the young man who had been teasing Yae Miko. Raiden Makoto walked over and bowed respectfully.
"Lord Takumi..."
She had wanted to thank him, but Takumi waved her off and smiled.
"No need to thank me. Instead, you can help me out properly. Raiden Ei is definitely not suited to manage Inazuma."
Makoto was one of the few among the Seven Archons who excelled at governance—a talent needed to conquer other worlds.
Raiden Makoto quickly nodded. "Yes, Lord Takumi. I will make sure Inazuma is managed well."
She then looked at her sister apologetically. Managing Inazuma meant that her sister would step down from her position as one of the Seven Archons.
Raiden Ei didn't mind at all. Governance wasn't her strength anyway, and it would be a relief to pass on the responsibility.
Takumi then added, "But simply managing Inazuma isn't enough."
Raiden Makoto nodded again. "Whatever you need us to do, Lord Takumi, my sister and I will do it."
It was difficult to fathom what this new Celestial, with power far beyond Fanes, intended to do. But since it was beyond comprehension, she could only follow his orders.
Takumi touched his chin, looking at Raiden Makoto with her soft, gentle demeanor—more like a caring sister than Raiden Ei ever was.
"You'll do whatever I ask? I'll remember that." His smile turned playful.
Yae Miko, who had wanted to talk to Makoto, secretly rolled her eyes. At least now, the mischievous god's attention was on someone else.
Raiden Makoto wasn't as innocent as her sister. She knew all too well the customs and wishes of the people of Inazuma. Takumi's desire was not hidden, and she understood what he meant.
"By the way," Takumi asked, "you met Istaroth before the Khaenri'ah disaster, didn't you?"