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Inazuma being so locked down made you continuously thank Venti for having such an open country.

After being denied at the border, meeting up with the Kanjou Commissioner, being recruited by his daughter, and sneaking out of Ritou the next day, you were ready to face plant into another inn bed or your bed in Aether's teapot, you honestly weren't feeling all too picky right about now.

Unfortunately, you and Aether were trudging along the path to Narukami Island to get to the Kamore Teahouse. While a part of you was excited to meet Ayaka, and see Thoma again, a bigger part of you was dreading the coming conversation.

Eventually you all make it to the teahouse, handing over your invitation to the attendant and slipping inside.

The teahouse itself could only be described as cozy. The walls were beige, accented with deep brown wood, clean but worn. Sunlight fought through the paper curtains, dosing the room in warm light and paper lanterns gently swayed as they hung from the ceiling. Directly in front of you was a counter with a proper looking dog sitting atop it, its eyes sweet and happy. The back wall was lined with shelves filled with pots and bonsais, and one incense burner with smoke curling out the top.

"Paimon doesn't see Thoma anywhere." She huffed and planted her fists on her hips. "Did he forget his promise?"

Before you could respond, a voice from the back wall spoke.

"Who's forgotten their promise? I was beginning to think you'd forgotten about me!"

Paimon screeched and pointed at the calm dog. "T-the dog! It's speaking to us!"

"What? You've never seen me in this form before?" Thoma's voice playfully drawled.

The look of shock on Paimon's face had you wanting to burst out laughing, but it was Aether's look of genuine confusion that had you covering your mouth to hide your snickers.

"You're a dog..." Aether whispered, and from the corner of your eye you saw the look of utter befuddlement on Ariel's face, seriously scrutinizing the poor boy.

"So, you've never seen something like this in Liyue Harbor?"

"Thoma, please." You shook your head and laughed. "I think we have a bit more important things to discuss."

From the back wall, Thoma appeared, looking no better than when you had last seen him on Ritou. His smile was strained, his face gaunt, and his hair had dulled, once the color of golden wheat now a dishwater blond. It was as if the saturation, the life, was slowly draining from his body.

"Alright, I've had my fun." He chuckled, approaching your group to speak more comfortably.

"You're very close to getting an ugly nickname, mister!" Paimon scolded, waving her finger at him.

"I've had a lot of time to kill since I've been waiting for you." He shrugged.

"It's been, like, a day." You raised your eyebrow.

"Every minute lasts hours when you're always fighting."

You couldn't tell if that comment was for the fight against the pain and struggle of losing his vision or the fight against the Electro Archon, but the look in his eyes and clamped your mouth shut, haunted and sad and almost... empty.

"However, I would like to apologize for the 'test' I put you all through, despite it being necessary." His lips twitched up. "It helped me determine if you could be brought before Miss Kamisato, and whether or not you could face the lighting alongside us."

"I don't hate to remind you, but I've already told you that neither I nor my companions will be participating in the difficulties your country faces." Aether's face is hard, but he does take a second to bow his head respectfully. "I appreciate all the help you've given us, but we have other things to worry about."

Thoma frowns, but nods. "I understand, but as long as you reside in Inazuma, you will face the lighting of the Electro Archon. Let me take you before Miss Kamisato, you might change your mind."

You didn't interrupt. The reason for coming to Inazuma was for information on Lumine. It is Aether who should make the decisions surrounding your stay purely for that reason. To your shock, Aether didn't deny the offer.

"Okay." He said, his face stoic. "I'll meet Miss Kamisato, at the very least as repayment for helping us into the country."

Thoma's strained little smile reappeared. "Thank you. I'll bring you to the Kamisato residence, where the Yashiro Commision is located. Though, first I'd like you to accompany me somewhere."

"Ooh! Where?" Paimon's childish excitement seemed to soften the lines in Thoma's face.

"To the statue of the Omnipresent God."

-

It was big, that's for sure.

The statue towered over you, its form is of Ei sitting properly, hands neatly folded in her lap and her head bent down in a manner that was probably meant to be merciful, but you could only see as condescending. Visions were embedded all the way from the statue's base to the wide spread wings, giving a strange likeness to body jewelry, a thought that had you shivering in disgust.

"Not many people come here, huh? Too gloomy." Paimon's voice broke the oppressive, silent atmosphere. "And what's that in the stone of the statue?"

"Visions." Thoma replied, his voice blank.

"You mean that the visions collected from the Vision Hunt Decree are put into the statue?" She shrieked, her voice appropriately horrified.

Thoma laughed humorlessly. "You've heard of the Vision Hunt Decree." He shakes his head. "A decree set forth to preserve our deity's idea of 'eternity'. The Tri-Commision to handle nation affairs, the Sakoku Decree to halt the people's movement, and the Vision Hunt Decree to stop the people themselves from growing, changing. The Tenryou Commision scours the nation for visions so they can be embedded into the statue."

His voice was jaded, hurt, as if he had been personally betrayed. In a way, you guess, he had. The Electro Archon is meant to rule over and protect the people. To have this protector, who the people have been worshiping, who they have stood behind for generations, turn on you, take away a piece of you, must create such ugly feelings. You could only commend Thoma for his composure, to not sneer right at the statue of the Archon.

"It sounds like the Electro Archon is just being selfish."

This time, when Thoma laughed, it held much more mirth. "It is selfish, something that should never exist. That's why Miss Kamisato has been fighting against it since the moment of its inception."

Before Thoma could finish the last word, Aether dropped to his knees, clutching his head and groaning.

You dropped next to him, wrapping one arm around his waist and pulling him close. "Aether, what happened?"

"That sound..." He dug his palms into his ears. He pulled them away, while his eyes blinked rapidly, as if he was trying to rid them of floaters. He reoriented himself and stood up, gripping your forearm to steady himself.

"What did you hear?" You asked.

"Voices." He muttered. "Tons of them, all at once."

The visions, you realize. They're already connecting with him the same way they'll connect with him when he fights the Electro Archon. You give him a meaningful look and he nods, accepting to talk about it at a later date.

"Alright!" Thoma chirped. "Time for the next stop, the Kamisato residence."

You, Aether, and Paimon begin to follow when you notice Ariel hadn't moved. You whisper a little 'I'll catch up' to Aether, which he nodded to, and you stayed behind.

Ariel had been awfully quiet the entire visit to the statue and now you could see why. His eyes were wide and glassy, small tears running down his cheeks, as he stared at the horrible statue. You stood next to him, slipping your hand into his and laying your head onto his shoulder.

"It's horrific." He murmured. You stayed silent. "How could a god do something like this? How could they harm they're chosen people like this? It's pain for the sake of pain. Pure selfishness."

"I don't know." You whispered. "Maybe it's as Thoma said. Inazuma is the country of eternity. Maybe she sees this as protecting her people."

"She can't possibly." His wings drooped behind him, the tips nearly dragging along the stone floor. "How can she not see how she's hurting her people?"

Gazing at Ariel's heartbroken expression, you didn't have the courage to explain the whole robot situation. You actually think it would make him madder with how negligent Ei became of her country due to her grief. So instead, you squeezed his hand and pulled him into a hug, kissing his temple.

"Let's go catch up with Aether and Paimon." You mutter against his hair. "I'll hold your hand the whole time."

"What if someone sees?"

You scoff lightly, a small smile on your lips. "When have we ever cared about that before?"

-

The blue dividing screen in front of you held delicate swirls of gold and beautifully painted petals.

"Forgive me for receiving you in such a way, especially following a long journey over the sea." Ayaka's voice was light and lilting, girlish and sweet, a strangely naive voice for someone in their early twenties. 'I have awaited your arrival with great anticipation, and Thoma assures me that you do possess the power to change the tide."

Aether sighed, but did not interrupt. You privately commended his patience.

"At present, Inazuma's people, in the name of the Vision Hunt Decree, are being senselessly trampled. It is the people that Yashiro holds close and as a result we can no longer remain indifferent to the Raiden Shogun's actions." Her voice built up, as if her confidence was growing with every word. "Traveler, led us your power-"

"No."

Aether's flat response must've taken Ayaka off guard because the only thing you could hear was a soft 'oh' and then silence.

"It's just like I said, Milady, we'll get nowhere." Thoma frowned.

"I came here out of courtesy, as Thoma helped myself and my companions easily enter the country, but I have no intention of involving myself in your county's affairs, something I have already explained multiple times. If a pitch to get me to take part in some kind of rebellion is all you will speak to me about, then I'm leaving."

Aether turned to leave, and you followed him, though your heart couldn't help but hurt at the idea of how many people you'd be leaving behind to suffer the same fate as Thoma, the oppression of the Electro Archon.

In the original game, you felt bad for Aether as he was consistently tugged around by these people who only saw him as a tool for their use, and you still did. You understood how Aether would be reluctant to engage in any of this when most people show no care for his well-being even though they're the ones asking him to help.

However, you could also recognize that the rebellion would not have been won without Aether. Yes, Kazuha had his moment, but it was Aether utilizing the Visions that truly overpowered Ei that got her to stop, along with Yae's pep talk. If Aether did not fight in the rebellion and use his unique abilities, then hundreds of innocent people could possibly die, vision holders would never get their visions back, and Inazuma would be an even more oppressive country with an intense tyrant at the helm who's constantly concerned with rebellion.

Helping was entirely Aether's decision since it would be his life on the line, but you just wish you could do more for the innocent villagers in this situation.

"Wait! Please don't go!" She called out desperately. You could almost envision the way she instinctively stands from her proper kneel, hand reached out as if trying to grasp Aether. "I'll give you whatever you like."

Aether paused. "Can you get us an audience with the Raiden Shogun?"

"Yes." She said hesitantly. "On the condition you fulfill three of my wishes."

"What wishes?"

"Three visionless people. A warrior of a small village, a samurai who carried out the Vision Hunt Decree, and a sword master." Her voice turns soft, sad. "Help them, please. Perhaps if you witness their plight, you might understand how serious this is."

"Fine." Aether grumbled.

-

After helping the people who lost their visions, you could see it in Aether's face how affected he was by the experience.

You saw it specifically whenever the conversation would drift to lost memories. Aether's face would crumble, though he tried to hide it, and you could see his mind rolling over his own lost years, the five centuries he spent sleeping while his sister was out, doing whatever without him.

His resolve against helping the rebellion was deteriorating but you refused to feel any sort of satisfaction from it. You didn't like it when Aether was sad, you didn't like how this was blatant emotional manipulation from Ayaka to get Aether to stay.

It's as if she's holding Aether by the shoulders and saying 'Look, look what you're doing to these people by refusing to help. This is your fault for choosing to let it continue.'

When the shrine cleared out and the only ones left were you, Paimon, Aether, Ariel, the shrine maiden, and Yae Miko, you took a second to lean by Aether's ear and whisper. "I know you're upset, but if you really don't want to involve yourself, I'll support you. I mean that."

He sent you a weak smile of gratitude.

"It seems my intuition was correct." Yae Miko's sultry voice drifted through the quiet, calm air of the shrine. "The wind that blows from afar brings new life to these shores." Her eyes were half-lidded as she sized you and Aether up, her body moving in a strange sway.

You and Aether glance at each other and you feel Ariel clench his hand around your fist.

"For us to meet is premature. Nevertheless, you set foot on these islands at precisely the right moment." She walks up steps to another part of the shrine. Before she disappears from sight, she looks over her shoulder, her voice elusive like a dream. "I have high hopes for you child. Don't disappoint me."

Once Yae is gone, Ariel grabs Aether's wrist and signs into his hand. 'A-V-O-I-D H-E-R. S-H-E W-A-N-T-S T-O E-A-T Y-O-U.'

"What are you talking about?" Aether furrows his brows.

"What did you say?" You turn to Ariel.

"She looks like she wants to eat him. You know? With her weird stare, eyeing him like he's meat." Ariel shrugged. "I want him to stay away from her. I feel like she'd hurt him and not care. She's strangely nonchalant."

"You got a lot from four sentences."

"Five." He corrects. "And with everything that's happened in your time here, I feel like I have the right to be suspicious of anyone over the slightest thing."

"Paimon's curious about what she wants. She seemed interested in you."

"I don't want her to be interested in me." Aether frowns, crossing his arms.

"Who does?" Ariel grumbles.

"I can think of a few people." You mused lightly, winking at Ariel when you see his flabbergasted face.

"No, really? Her?!"

"What? She's hot!"

"Not with that vibe!"

"Her vibe is attractive."

He groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Why can't you settle down with the redhead? He's moderately attractive, nice, and rich."

You scoff. "First of all, you know Diluc's name. Secondly, I said she was pretty, not that I wanted to marry her!"

The entire walk back to see Ayaka was filled with Ariel cries of 'picking the weird ones' and strange looks from Aether and Paimon.

-

Ayaka beauty and elegance personified. The combination of her armor like vest and expensive dress made her refined, strong and approachable. Her arctic blue hair was in stark contrast to her pale skin and the pink ropes tying the hair near her cheeks framed her face in a rather soft way.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you all face to face." Her voice perfectly matched her face, especially her small, grateful smile.

"Hey, why can we see you without the screen now?" Paimon asked.

"Because now that you've granted my three wishes, I consider you three my friends." Her eyes softened towards Aether. "Thank you for helping them, truly."

"We didn't do much." Aether's eyes dart to the ground. "There wasn't much we could do."

"Yeah, it doesn't seem like there's really anyway to help them outside of getting their visions back."

"Miss Kamisato," You pipe up. "If I may ask, Thoma has lost his vision, but not his ambition or memories?"

"Ah." She cups her hands and looks down. "Thoma very recently lost his vision. The others have lost theirs for several days, weeks. Thoma and I have been tracking his condition but..." Thoma and Ayaka share an uneasy glance. "We don't know how his deterioration will progress."

"Do you think everyone's conditions will be cured once they get their visions back? Their memories, everything?"

"We can only hope so." Ayaka shakes her head and looks up. "Anyway, now that you've witnessed the pain of those who have lost their visions, how do you feel?"

"It seems like a truly ugly fate."

Ayaka sighs. "I imagine that to a deity, such things are inconsequential. Surely you understand what they endure." Her eyes glimmer hopefully. "I hope now you can appreciate my feelings on this matter and perhaps reconsider your stance?"

"Miss Kamisato." I frown, stepping forward. "My brother should not be pressured into helping you. Using these people as a way to get him sympathetic to your cause is almost... manipulative."

You ignored the part of you that was yelling 'join her! help her!'. You pushed away the side of you that fought with Aether over his involvement only the other day. Even if you wanted to be involved, you would not let someone pressure Aether into doing it. That was the stance you had to- no, should be taking.

"Oh no!" Ayaka stumbled. "I didn't mean to- I just wanted you to understand." She waved her hands, her fan fluttering. "I had no intention of guilting you, I just wanted you to see. You hold power none of us do, Traveler. We are going against an Archon. We need all the help we can get."

"I know." Aether cut her off, not unkindly. He was quiet for a moment before sighing in resignation. "I will help you fight the vision hunt decree."

You nearly gasp. "Aether, are you sure?"

"You will? Really?" If it didn't break her demeanor of elegance, Ayaka would probably be bouncing right now.

"So long as you keep your promise and get me an audience with the Electro Archon."

"Naturally, of course." She smiles brightly.

"I guess you were right, milady." Thoma chuckles

"I told you I put my trust in the right people." Ayaka looks at Aether with satisfaction. "Now, since the rest of the discussion pertains to more confidential matters, why don't we head back to Kamore Teahouse?"