The Second Archon War: Interlude 15

Interlude 15: Strangers’ Reunion

Water exploded in a crackle of lightning, and the sea monster reared up out of the water, letting out a bugling warble of a battle cry. Paimon screamed in fear and tried desperately to bail out the boat with a rusty pail, but Lumine found herself grinning in excitement.

“COME ON!” she roared, and leapt with her bat held high, right at the thing. The seahorse-like monster raised its crackling horn, swiping it right at Lumine. She smashed her bat into it, a jolt of lightning running through her. Then she was atop the beast, grabbing the horn and battering away at its head with all her might.

“LUMINE!” Aether cried, but he was holding up a ball bearing, which he sent right into the creature’s gut with a crack. It warbled in pain, but Lumine wasn’t done yet.

With a mighty swing, she managed to break off the unicorn-like horn, picking it up and holding it aloft with a wide, bloodstained grin.

The creature bellowed again, then dove down. Just before it slipped beneath the surface, Lumine targeted the motor on their boat and swapped places with it. The motor slipped beneath the surface, but Lumine managed to land inside of their boat with a thump.

“LUMINE!” Paimon wailed and nearly knocked Lumine off the boat with a mighty hug. The little fairy was crying as she checked Lumine for wounds, of which she had a number. “Paimon was so, so scared! That monster came up out of nowhere, a-and Paimon was trying to get the water out of the boat because it was sinking but then you jumped on it and-”

“Shh, shhh, it’s fine, Paimon,” Lumine whispered, wiping away Paimon’s tears. She still didn’t feel the pain, instead running off of adrenaline.

“That was a stupid ass move!” Aether called as he hastily bailed out their small boat. It was just a small 10-meter fishing boat, one barely suitable for the open ocean. It had probably been a bad idea to try to take it to Japan from South Korea, but it had been where they’d ended up. “Now we don’t even have an engine anymore!”

“Relax, it was already broken,” Lumine told him. “It was the first thing that sea monster wrecked.”

“Yes, but now we’re stranded in the Narukami Trench WITHOUT AN ENGINE!” Aether snapped. He sighed before grumbling. “Leastwise with a broken engine, we could have tried fixing it. Now we don’t even have that option.”

“It’s fine, we’ll just use the radio to call for…” Lumine trailed off as she picked up the radio. It was completely dead. “Orrrrr the sea monster could have fried it? Um, whoops?”

“Great. This is just great. We travel all the way across Asia, spend weeks on that dirty cargo ship, and now we’re stuck in the most monster-infested part of the entire world!” Aether grumbled, still bailing out water. Was it just Lumine, or was the water coming in faster than they could bail?

“It’s probably not the most monster-infested part. That new mountain range in Europe is,” Lumine pointed out helpfully. She didn’t deserve the glare that Aether gave her. Not even a little bit.

They frantically spent the next half-hour bailing, as Electro started to build up. At first, it just felt like a mild static shock, but soon Lumine felt her nerves starting to go dull and her teeth chatter. No matter how much they baled, the boat continued to fill up, not helped by Lumine and her brother growing ever more sluggish. Paimon tried to tug on them to lift them out of the water, but it was pointless. She couldn’t carry one of the twins, much less both.

“G-go, s-save yourself,” Lumine told Paimon, barely able to speak with her muscles twitching from the elemental energy.

“Paimon can’t leave you! Paimon has to help!” the little fairy said, struggling to lift up buckets of water and tip them as fast as she could.

“N-no, y-you have to g-go find h-help. I-it’s the only way w-we live,” Aether said, pointing across the ocean.

“Paimon doesn’t want to leave the Travelers! Oh, but if it’s the only way…” the twins nodded in Union, and with a sniffle, Paimon zipped off over the waters.

“T-think she’ll find anyone?” Lumine asked as they gave up on bailing, the boat tipping over beneath them.

Aether shook his head. “N-no. B-but at least she might live…”

The electro began to overwhelm them both, neither able to float or swim. Lumine tried to suck in one last breath, but she was growing paralyzed, and she knew that she was doomed to drown within moments. She closed her eyes…

There was a roar and a hiss, and Lumine’s eyes snapped open. Had the monstrous seahorse come back? She found herself lifted up out of the crackling water, lying flat on cold scales that glistened in the sunlight next to Aether.

CHILDREN. YOU HAVE WANDERED FAR.

“Paimon found help!” her companion said, frantically hovering over Lumin. “Miss Dragon was patrolling not far from here! She came as soon as Paimon told her where the Travelers were!”

Trembling, Lumine managed to get to her knees, and look up in awe. She had met the Dendro Dragon of course, but Tessa had remained in a mostly humanoid form. Now, however, she beheld the Hydro Dragon in all her glory. Keiga’s coils had churned the sea to froth all around them, massive scaly loops that were as thick around as train cars. Her underbelly was a pinkish hue, while the top was a deep cerulean. The dragon’s great horns looked like fuchsia staghorn coral, and her eyes were dark orbs that were larger than Lumine herself.

“Paimon! You saved us,” Lumine gasped, hugging her best friend tightly as Paimon laughed and cried.

Aether slowly got to his feet, looking up at the dragon in awe. “Um, thanks, Lady Keiga. We, uh, appreciate it.”

I HAVE LOCATED YOUR VESSEL, Keiga rumbled, and their wrecked boat appeared in her coils. I SEE YOU HAVE FACED ONE OF THE MONSTERS OF THE DEEP. THAT IS QUITE THE TROPHY.

Glancing down, Lumine found she had the sea horse's horn tucked into her belt. She plucked it out, offering it up to Keiga. “If you take us back to land, this is all yours…we were trying to meet the Shogun, to see if she could make a path home for us.”

I SENSE THAT YOUR FATES ARE NOT AMONGST THE STARS. INTERESTING. YOUR COMPANION ALSO. YOU SMELL OF TEYVAT, SPIRIT, Keiga said, snorting out a mist of Hydro towards Paimon, who coughed and sputtered.

“Um, the other Archons have said that, but honestly, Paimon doesn’t know,” the fairy admitted. “Paimon doesn’t remember anything before meeting the Travelers.”

FASCINATING. YOU ARE INDEED OF INTEREST. COME. I WILL BEAR YOU TO THE SHOGUN. SHE WILL WISH TO HEAR YOUR TALE.

With that, Keiga uncoiled and began surging through the waves. Lumine and Aether had to cling to her back, with Paimon grabbing onto Lumine as the wind whipped in their hair. They were traveling at a tremendous speed, spray surging to either side of them as Keiga plowed forward at speeds that no boat could match. Lumine found the experience exhilarating, and she cheered, the early spring sun high over their heads.

Even at breakneck speeds, it still took several hours to cross the Sea of Japan, and Lumine found herself drifting off to sleep despite the wind whipping in her face. The exposure to Electro had drained her, and she was soon snoring softly. Fortunately, she didn’t slip off the dragon, with little ropes of water gently conjured by Keiga securing the Travelers and Paimon as they rested.

After some time, several hours by the sun sinking in the west, Lumine was jolted awake. She blinked, panicking for a moment until she felt the water’s gentle embrace about her. She managed to sit up, then stand, gasping in shock as Keiga lifted herself out of the water and into the sky.

“We’re flying!” Lumine said somewhat redundantly, a wide grin on her face. They had reached the Western Shore of Japan, and Keiga was snaking her way into the sky. Below them, waves lapped against the coast, and Lumine could see boats and a few small villages nearby. She gripped the coils of water, laughing in delight.

NOT LONG NOW, LITTLE ONES, Keiga rumbled. WE MAKE FOR THE IMPERIAL PALACE OVERLAND.

“Wow,” Aether gasped, holding on to Lumine as they flew through the sky. “Look at it all!”

Below them stretched the mountainous Japanese countryside. There were rice fields aplenty, as well as cities and towns. What really drew the eye however were the massive purple Sacred Sakura trees that were at the center of each settlement. They were a potent symbol of the Archon’s power and immediate presence, and Lumine felt both eager and worried. The Raiden Shogun had a fearsome reputation. Venti had been thought of as a drunk drifter, right up until he reshaped Europe and beat back the Ice Queen all on his lonesome, and Nahida Saeed was known far and wide as an adorable (if incredibly powerful) child.

But the Raiden Shogun was the Endslayer. A brutal warlord who had now expanded her sphere of influence from Japan to Korea, laying low the Chinese Union Imperial and defying the United States repeatedly on the international scene.

There was no going back now. Only forward. Lumine pushed her doubts out of her mind, and focused on the future.

It was fully dark when they arrived in Tokyo, and Lumine peered curiously down below them and into a sea of light that seemed to go on forever. As Keiga descended lower, Lumine beheld towering skyscrapers and all sorts of mechanical marvels. This was the first place on Earth Bet she had seen mecha, but there were dozens of them in the city below. Some were obviously military platforms that had been converted for policing duty, while others were working on construction sites. There were also plenty of cars, and to Lumine’s surprise, she saw that more than a few lacked wheels. There were even scooters and boards that hovered along on jets of glowing electro.

“Hover cars? When did those come out?” Lumine said aloud.

THEY ARE A RECENT INNOVATION, DESIGNED BY YOUNG CLARA. SHE IS ONE OF JAPAN'S FINEST TINKERS AND IS EMPLOYED BY TOYOTA DESPITE HER YOUNG AGE, Keiga said. NOW HOLD ON TIGHTLY, YOUNG ONES. I AM TAKING US IN FOR A LANDING.

The Imperial Palace appeared before them, a perpetual thunderstorm hanging overhead, from which lightning eternally flickered. It reminded Lumine of nothing so much as a final boss lair. If this were a video game, she would definitely be heading for a high-level raid zone. Hopefully, this didn’t turn into that, because she was fairly certain she was under-leveled and under-geared for a showdown with the Shogun.

They landed amidst a wide platform that was clearly designed as a landing pad for giant dragons. Waiting for them were a coterie of servants, dressed in formal kimonos. Lumine and Aether scrambled off of Keiga, who transformed from a hundred-meter long serpent into a woman who was actually a hair shorter than Lumine. And stark naked. Lumine hastily covered Aether’s eyes, even as his cheeks turned bright red.

A servant hurried forward with a blue kimono with wave patterns and the electro sigil on the back, draping it over Keiga and hastily tying the ribbons for her. “Do not overly trouble yourself. I have grown used to the process of transformation. Besides, any who stare overly long risk my husband’s ire,” Keiga said with a laugh.

“We wouldn’t want that,” Lumine muttered, taking her hands away from Aether’s eyes. Paimon was blushing as well, though Lumine knew for a fact she was definitely a girl as well, mostly since they’d bathed together more than once.

“Kaa! Kaa!” a baby’s voice burbled, and one of the servants groaned as a toddler slipped out of her grasp, floating up in the air and streaking toward Keiga. It was oddly adorable, seeing a baby doggy-paddle through the air. Lumine wondered if she should’ve been worried, but seeing as even the servant who had been holding the baby only looked exasperated instead of panicked, Lumine felt safe in giggling a little.

“There you are,” Keiga laughed, snatching the baby out of the air. “Were you good while I was gone?”

The baby, which Lumine recognized as Bailu, grinned widely. “Iie!”

“Um, she said no,” Paimon whispered to Lumine and Aether. “I think kaa is short for kaa-san, which is baby talk for mom in Japanese.”

“How can we understand Keiga then?” Lumine whispered back.

“Oh, she’s a Sovereign. They can just do that,” Paimon said with a shrug. “Sort of like the Archons, really. Bailu’s just a baby dragon so she doesn’t have that kind of magic yet since she’s still learning to talk.”

“Huh, I guess that’s why Venti and Nahida could just talk to us too,” Lumine mused. Had Tessa spoken to them in their native tongue? She hadn’t really interacted with her enough and had figured the Dendro Dragon was just speaking English, which Lumine was at least semi-fluent in.

“How was she?” Keiga said to the servant who scurried over, Paimon translating her profuse apologies as she bowed. “Do not fret, she is a slippery one, my Bailu.”

“The same as usual, my lady. She was very stubborn and did not like her supper. She has eaten only a little. We couldn’t get her to eat her vegetables, she demanded dinosaur nuggets,” the nurse said, looking rather frazzled as Bailu giggled and began to float around her mother’s head.

“Little girls must eat their vegetables, Bailu,” Keiga chided.

Bailu screwed up her face and huffed, “No! Vegetables yucky! Want Dino Nuggies! No!” No did seem to be her favorite word. By her size, she was just about three years old, and if Lumine remembered right her birthday was in just a couple of weeks. It seemed the Terrible Twos were real no matter what world you found yourself in.

Keiga sighed and grabbed her daughter out of the air, giving her a light swat on the rear. “No dino nuggies until you eat your vegetables. Now listen to Nurse Aoi. Mama will be back to check on you later.”

“No! Want to play with mama! Mama gone all day!” Bailu wailed, screwing up her face again and clinging to her mother’s arm.

“Mama will be back soon. She has to see Aunty Ei. Then she will come and play,” Keiga promised, handing Bailu back to her nursemaid.

“Hmph. Promise mama play with me later?” Bailu asked, looking hopeful.

“Promise,” Keiga said, kissing her daughter on the forehead.

“OK. Bailu be good. Sorry, Nurse Aoi. I eat vegetables now,” Bailu said. Then slipped out Aoi’s arms again. This time, she landed on the ground, laughing and running off towards the palace. The nurses scrambled after her, causing Keiga to smile and shake her head.

“She’s going to be like her father. Always trouble, that one,” Keiga sighed. She turned to Lumine and Aether. “Come. I have notified her Excellency of your arrival. She seemed eager to meet with you.”

Keiga led the twins and Paimon deep into the castle complex. All around them were priceless artifacts, from ancient vases and wall hangings to furniture that was probably older than a lot of countries. Lumine hastily caught up to Keiga, nervously looking at the servants who bowed as they passed. “Um, we don’t really have a whole lot of stuff, really just the clothes on our back, but…shouldn’t we get cleaned up before we meet with Raiden?”

“She wishes to meet with you without delay,” Keiga said, but she smiled gently. “Do not worry. Raiden does not give overly much thought to exterior appearances. Truthfully, if my husband and I did not chide her on occasion, would wear the same clothes day in and out and only rarely groom herself.”

Lumine frowned, glancing at Aether, who grinned at her. “So, Lightning Princess Ami’s Gremlin Raiden is canon then?”

Keiga laughed at that even as Lumine made shushing motions at her brother. “While the depiction is exaggerated for comedic effect in the show, her Excellency is indeed a bit of a shut-in otaku if left to her own devices.”

“NEET Raiden? Does that even count if you’re the god of an entire country?” Lumine asked, feeling rather baffled at the concept.

“Oh, her Excellency works very hard, never you fear. People, however, are not her specialty. That’s what she has us for. Here, she is waiting for you,” Keiga said and slid open a panel door before Lumine could even collect herself.

The door led out into a garden, which after a gesture, Lumine hesitantly stepped out. It was a traditional Japanese affair, with native plants immaculately groomed and tended a rock garden, and that thingy that went “donk” when it filled up from the running water by the koi pond.

And there, on a bridge, looking up at the waxing moon, stood the Raiden Shogun. Her hair glowed faintly purple in the moonlight, a breeze causing the warrior’s braid to swing slightly. She was dressed not in the traditional kimono that Lumine had more than half expected, but in a rumpled shirt and blue jeans of all things. Rather tight ones, actually, as Lumine caught her brother staring at the divine thighs and had to elbow him to keep him from drooling.

As they stepped out into the soft moonlight, Lumine saw the contrast between the ethereal image of a god on the Lunar surface, and the real woman before her as the Shogun turned to regard them. She was inhumanly beautiful of course, with the only supposed blemish a beauty mark under her left eye. To Lumine’s surprise, the Shogun seemed slightly startled to see them, her gaze fixing on Paimon. Then she locked eyes with Lumine.

Within those violet eyes, Lumine beheld Eternity. If she had doubted that Raiden was a divinity before, those doubts vanished. She could see from the beginning of time to its very terminus, a vast storm of eons that swirled about her and made Lumine sway on her feet. She gritted her teeth, grasping the horn in her hands until she felt the pain from it. She raised the horn in a high guard position, her feet falling into a combat stance.

“Traveler. We meet again,” the Shogun said, slowly approaching Lumine.

Aether’s eyes were wide, looking back and forth frantically from his sister to the Shogun. “Lumine?! What are you doing!? You can’t seriously- Lower that thing! We can’t fight her!”

“Even gods can bleed if you try hard enough,” Lumine found herself saying through gritted teeth. “Where’s your sense of adventure?”

A smile spread over Raiden’s lips. “Well said, Lumine. I had not thought to see you and your companion again…and yet, you are not she, are you?”

“I am Lumine Genshin. And though we have not met before, I am not one to back down,” Lumine growled.

“Um, my sister is very sorry, she uh, took a blow to the head! Really, we’re just here to-” Aether began, putting himself between Lumine and the Shogun, but she shoved him aside.

“Shut up. You! If I beat you, will you tell me the way to get home?” Lumine demanded hotly, pointing her horn at Raiden.

“A similar question to what your counterpart asked me, once,” the Shogun mused, stopping ten meters from Lumine. She shook her head. “I will not face you like this, mortal. You are wearied, and that is no weapon. What of this: hand me that horn, and I shall forge a blade from it worthy of striking down even a god. After you have trained a little, then we shall have our rematch, though, for you, I suspect it will be the first time we have dueled.”

Lumine blinked. She looked at the horn in her hand, then gasped. She was bleeding! She’d gripped the edge so tightly, she’d cut herself on it. She slowly relaxed her grip, and lowered the horn to her side. “Are you…seriously saying we fought before?”

“No, I fought another with your face and name from a distant star, in another universe. In some ways, you are the same person. Bold, driven, and far from home. And yet in so many others, your soul is your own, Lumine Genshin. For you are a mortal, and in that, your fate is yours to determine.” Raiden extended a hand, open palm up.

Reluctantly, Lumine handed Raiden the horn. With a nod, the Shogun took it. She examined it, noting the smear of blood as Paimon hastily tore off a bit of her own clothes and bandaged Lumine’s hand. “What will you make of it?” Lumine asked.

“A sword, as I said. One worthy of one with your drive. Were you of this world, a Vision would also be yours to claim. But you are not. Thus, Heaven’s eyes are blind to you,” Raiden said, the horn vanishing from her grasp in a flash of lightning. She turned to Aether, regarding him. “And you. Your counterpart I have not met, but of the Abyssal Prince I have heard. Which I wonder are you in this tale?”

“I’m just a homesick guy trying to get home with his sister and their travel guide,” Aether said, giving Raiden a sheepish grin.

“Hmm. Indeed. Your Fate is yet to be revealed. For you a sword would not be appropriate. A spear, I think. It would suit your power,” Raiden said with a nod.

“Uh, that’s cool and all, but once I throw a spear…not much will be left,” Aether said with a sheepish grin. He flexed his bicep. “Believe it or not I have a hell of an arm.”

Raiden smiled faintly at that. “I am certain that you do. Fear not. A spear forged by a god is not so easily broken, nor parted from the hand that wields it.”


Then Raiden turned to Paimon, and her expression cooled. “And you. What of you, Guide? What star do you follow, I wonder?”

“Um, if you’re giving gifts…Paimon likes money! And food!” their guide said eagerly. “And Paimon’s stomach is really rumbly right now! She’d like a bowl of hot ramen, and some katsu, and curry, oh! And rice, and an omelet, oooo and sushi! Lots of sushi! Paimon loooooves sushi!” Their guide smiled guilessly and somewhat shyly at Raiden, adding a belated, “Please?”

After a moment, Raiden nodded. “Food and lodging will be provided you.” Then she turned to Lumine. “Your blade will be ready when you are fit to wield it.”

“And then we fight?!” Lumine asked, heart pounding in her chest. It would be close, but she was a teleporter, and she’d learned a lot about fighting in the past couple of years. Sure, it would be a stretch to fight the Endslayer, but if she went all out-

“No,” Raiden said flatly, and Lumine’s heart sank. “You may face me when you can defeat my daughter.”

“Dalnim!?” Lumine’s eyes shot to the moon, and she felt a surge of excitement.

“No. My younger daughter. She is close to your age. She will be 14 this year,” Raiden stated, her expression once more serene.

“Hey! I’m 18 now!” Lumine growled, anger making her growl just a little. “I’m not a kid!”

“If one must declare oneself not to be a child, then one is indeed quite childish,” Raiden said, a hint of amusement in her tone. “Regardless. Once you can best Ami in a duel, then I will consider you fit to challenge me. And not before.”

Hmph. Lumine huffed in irritation but nodded. How hard could beating some 14-year-old princess who spent all her time as an idol or making a dumb TV show be?



*CRACK*

Lumine went flying one direction, her wooden practice sword the other. She landed flat on her back, the wind knocked entirely out from her as colors flashed and her vision swam. A ringing sound filled her ears, and she couldn’t focus on anything but the pain.

“Kazeyo, iyashi o motarasu!”

A burst of wind swirled around Lumine, the ringing stopped as her vision cleared. She groaned and sat up, grinning sheepishly at the perturbed-looking mini-ninja crouched at her side.

“Sayu says that was really dumb of you. If she has to heal you again, she’s going to charge you for stunting her growth,” Paimon translated as the ninja growled at Lumine in Japanese.

“One more time,” Lumine groaned, and tried to get back to her feet, using her sword as a crutch. Her legs wobbled, however, and she ended up nearly sprawling on her face, and would have if Paimon hadn’t caught her.

“FUFUFUFU!” Princess Ami laughed, giggling smugly as she looked down at Lumine. She twirled about and posed with her sword like some ridiculous children’s cartoon hero, while her little dragon spirit translated.

“My lady says, ‘O Traveler from afar, these are the skills with which you challenge me? Verily, you are as skilled as an ogre and as graceful as a chull! Such clumsy strikes! Do you truly think you can challenge the Prinzessin des Blitzes in such a state? You must train a hundred years before you can even consider facing her in single combat!’”

“I’ll wipe that smug grin off your face!” Lumine spat, and managed to haul herself to her feet.

“Nuh-uh,” Sayu said, switching to English. “You’ve had enough, lady. You’re not that bad, for someone who clearly has never had a master, but you need a lot more practice before you can hope to fight Ami. She’s been training daily with the god of blade work herself since she was eight years old. You can’t even begin to compare, even with all that fancy teleporting you can do.”

Tears of frustration formed on Lumine’s face, and she scrubbed away at them angrily. She couldn’t cry! Not here, not now! “No! I didn’t come all this way just to fail!”

Ami’s expression softened, and she approached, putting a hand on Lumine’s shoulder. That just made her sag in shame and defeat. Now this kid was going to comfort her?

“My lady says that there is no shame here. You fought bravely and well,” Murasaki translated again. “Stay here, and train for a time. She will teach you the ways of the sword, that you might surpass even her, and challenge her Honored Mother to a match that will echo throughout eternity.”

“I…” Lumine swallowed her pride, and forced a smile. She nodded. “Right. I’ll do that. Then…then she can show me the way Home, right?”

“Home is not a place, but the people you love,” Murasaki translated, a far-off look in Ami’s eyes. “My Lady also knows what it is to lose a home, and those you treasure. Do not fear: she will aid you in your quest, Miss Lumine.”

“Right,” Lumine said, and then groaned, limping over to where her brother was sitting with Clara, who was tinkering with some contraption while her brother chewed on a rice ball.

“Not bad,” he said through a mouthful of food. He proffered her a water bottle. “Have some food.”

“Some help you are,” Lumine muttered, but she took the water bottle and collapsed on the grass, guzzling the liquid greedily.

“I would like to point out that it was you who challenged, and then were soundly beaten, by a 14-year-old demi-god. Not once. Not twice. Not even three times. Five times, Lumine. You’re going to have bruises for days,” Aether said with a shake of his head.

“At least I’m trying to find us a way home!” Lumine growled.

Aether shrugged. “Hey, all respect to you for that. Maybe the Shogun knows a way, maybe not.”

“Yeah, who knows? But just don’t try and mouth off to her, that’s a good way to get a pounding,” a new voice said.

“Yeah, Lumine learned that- HEY, my rice ball!” Aether yelped. A grey raccoon dog with a black and yellow ballcap and a little black jacket was sitting next to Aether, munching on his onigiri.

Aether growled and lunged, but the tanuki danced back, escaping his grasp and shoving the rest of the rice ball into its mouth.

“Why you little-” Aether snarled, then grabbed up a cloth napkin from their picnic basket. There was a crack as he sent it flying at the raccoon dog, who had turned tail and started running. The cloth wrapped itself around the creature, who went sprawling with a yelp.

With a shout of triumph, Aether jumped forward, tacking the tanuki and wrapping his arms about it tightly. “I have you now, you little pest! And I’ll-”

There was a puff, and Lumine gasped in shock as the raccoon dog turned into a grey-haired girl, dressed only in a black jacket and ball cap. Aether’s face turned bright red as he looked down at the girl’s eyes, his arms still wrapped about her, his face right above hers like they were about to kiss.

“Boo,” the girl said with a cheeky grin, a bit of rice still on her lips.

Aether’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t let go, to Lumine’s mortification. “Boo yourself. That was my rice ball. And don’t think you can embarrass me into letting go. Lumine learned the hard way that doesn’t work ages ago.”

“Hmm. Plan B then?” the Tanuki girl said. She screwed up her face and shouted, “HELP! I’M ONLY FOUR YEARS OLD AND THIS PERVERT IS MOLESTING ME!”

That caused Aether to let out a squawk and hastily let the girl go, scrambling back on all fours. “H-hey! You stole- I didn’t know!”

“He he,” the girl giggled, jumping up and pulling one eyelid down and sticking her tongue out. “Four years old is ancient in tanuki years, stupid human!”

With that, she turned tail (though she now lacked one) and sprinted off, leaving a flustered Aether in the dirt.

“Well, I guess I don’t have to introduce you to Stelle now,” Sayu said with a sigh, coming over to help Aether up. “You’ll meet her twin brother, Caelus, soon enough. She’s pulled the ‘I’m only a little kid’ stunt before. Don’t be fooled. She’s an adult in every sense of the word, even if she’s a stupid brat. Damn her and her freakish height!” Sayu shook a fist in the direction that the thief had vanished.

“Uh, yeah. She is tall, isn’t she?” Aether said, still bright red.

Lumine rolled her eyes. Her brother had always had a thing for big strong women. She’d certainly noticed his posters of Hoshiguma the Ogre and Quibai the Demon from their favorite gacha in his room, and she was well aware of the sort of women he looked up online. He thought he was sneaky even now, but it was hard to hide his stash when they lived and traveled together. Lumine was polite enough not to comment on it, and he very respectfully didn’t comment on her drooling over pictures of Ajax and Itul online. Maybe having a thing for hot tall people was genetic.

“Don’t even think about it,” she said, poking Aether. “We’re going home, remember?”

“Yeah. Home,” Aether agreed with a sigh. He turned and gave Lumine a sheepish grin. “Just as soon as you master the blade and defeat the Endslayer. We’ll be there in, oh, a century or three.”

“Shut it. You’re studying the blade too,” Lumie said, smacking his back. “Or the spear, anyway.”

“Yeah, I guess,” Aether agreed with a grimace. He sighed and stood up. “I don’t suppose there’s a polearm master around I can study under?”

“Glad ya asked, kid. Normally I’m against beaten the ever lovin’ hell outta children, but I got orders to look after ya from my sweetheart. And lookie here. I found you a training partner and everything,” a deep voice growled.

Lumine and Aether slowly turned to see none other than a very irate-looking Lord Mushu holding up a sheepish-looking Stelle. The grey-haired woman had been stuffed into a loose-fitting gi, while Mushu was bare-chested with a pair of sweatpants on. He tossed Stelle onto the ground, where she landed with a yelp.

“Uh, hey there, friend. Um, look, we got off on the wrong foot, but really, has violence ever solved anything?” Stelle said nervously, a weedling grin on her face as she looked at Aether.

“Yes,” Mushu said, throwing a pair of training staves at Stelle and Aether. Both of them snatched the staves out of the air, which earned a grunt from Mushu. “Now get on yer feet. You’ve been mooching for too long, Stelle. And since this fine young man was stupid enough to challenge Her Excellency to a sword match-”

“I very certainly did not do that! That was Lumine! It was 100% her, I wasn’t even involved!” Aether protested desperately, crossing his arms in negation

Stelle hastily nodded. “Yeah! And I was just an innocent bystander, humbling begging for a small donation of food, and I-”

SILENCE.

Thunder echoed as Stelle and Aether both stood ramrod straight, then bowed. “HAI, SENSEI!” they cried in unison.

“That’s not silence,” Mushu muttered, glowering at them. “But fine. Right. Now, we’re gonna start off with basic forms. And if either of you numbskulls tries to run away, I will personally strike you with a bolt of lightning. I’m missing precious time with my sweet baby girl for this, so you’d better appreciate it.”

“Congrats, Aether! You’re getting trained by the Dragon Lord himself!” Lumine said, waving cheerily to her brother, who snarled at her. She just waved at him, then hauled herself to her feet and nodded to Ami. “Right. I guess we pick up where we left off?”

“FUFUFU!” Ami laughed. Then she grew serious and shook her head. “No, we must start at the beginning. First, footwork. You will walk as I do, move your feet as I do. When you have mastered that, then we will work on how to hold your sword.”

Lumine bit back a protest that she already knew how to walk and hold a sword. She had a chance to learn swordsmanship from the very best, the Daughter of Raiden herself. Even if Ami’s reputation was inflated, she was still acknowledged as a Blademaster in her own right at 14, and Lumine was pretty sure Raiden wouldn’t have conferred that title unless her daughter had earned it.

She began to walk as Ami did, practicing her footwork, while Mushu bellowed at Stelle and Aether and forced them to practice various stances with their staves.

This isn’t so bad, Lumine thought to herself.

They passed several days like that. Mushu and Ami naturally were rather busy and did not come by to train the twins daily. Indeed, they spent a lot of time practicing with various soldiers and guards, meeting only with their respective masters once a week. Lumine met Caelus, Stelle’s twin, who she immediately pegged as a scoundrel, if a charming one. If she wasn’t careful, he might just charm her too, and she hadn’t decided if she’d let him yet. He did seem to be almost as much of a gremlin as his sister.

Three weeks went by in the blink of an eye. Training during the day, feasting with Stelle and Caleus at night, and of course, sneaking out of the palace to various arcades and card shops with the tanuki twins to cause mayhem. Though Lumine did catch Caelus digging through a dumpster and eating a slice of pizza out of it.

“What? He said, munching happily. “You humans throw away all kinds of food!”

“It’s gross! We have yen, we could just buy some fresh!” Lumine said, smacking the pizza out of his hand. Then she paused, glancing in the dumpster. “Hold on, did someone seriously throw away an entire box of Genius Invocation cards!?”

She hastily dug the cards out of the can, wiping off the refuse and grease. Sweet! It was mostly draft chaff, but you could never have too many cards!

“I seriously don’t see the difference here,” Caelus opined, plucking another half-eaten slice out. He pulled an intact piece of pizza out and proffered it. “Want some?”

“Ew, no,” Lumine said, turning her nose up. Then she quickly stuffed away her treasures. “Now help me look for any spare change or other goodies. Not food! People throw away all kinds of perfectly good stuff.”

“I think I’m in love,” Caelus sighed as Lumine rummaged through the can.

“Save it, mister. You’re four years old too, aren’t you?”

“Yeah, but that’s like, thirty or something in human years,” Caelus said as he shifted through the bin beside Lumine.

“Ugh, that’s worse. You’re old.”

“I am NOT! I was two when I got my powers! Well, two and a half. So I’m, uh…mid…twenties? Or something?” Caelus said, scratching at his grey hair. “Honestly, I can’t keep track. My ID says I’m 24 though, so I can drink.”

“You forged an ID?” Lumine said, frowning up at him. Her arms were deep into the rubbish, but she just knew there had to be good stuff in here. She hadn’t survived this long by being adverse to dumpster diving.

Caelus grinned broadly. “Made it myself! Why, you want one?”

“Hell yes! Don’t tell Aether though, he’s too young to be drinking,” Lumine confined.

Caelus’ brow furrowed. “Aren’t you twins?”

“I’m older. By 20 minutes.”

And so, Lumine ended up in Caelus and Stelle’s room a short time later. Caelus had on a special set of jeweler's lenses and was carefully etching the elemental signature into the fake ID he’d crafted for Lumine. It said she was 21, a full year above the legal drinking age, so as not to be suspicious. She could definitely pass for 21, especially since she looked foreign.

The door banged open, and Stelle and Aether spilled into the room, panting and out of breath. Lumine immediately spun, while Caelus yelped and yanked his goggles off.

“Hey! What are you doing with my sister!” Aether demanded, glaring at Caelus, his hands forming into fists. Lumine scowled at him. She could do whatever she wanted! She was the older one!

“Uh, nothing,’ Caelus said hastily. Then he blinked. “Hey! What are you doing with my sister?!”

“Um, we were, uh…” Aether trailed off, while behind him, Stelle lewdly thrust her hips and made moaning noises. “H-hey! We were just, uh…not that.”

“Oh?” Caelus growled, a bat forming in his hands as his anemo vision glowed bright green. “Well, maybe I got an issue with that nothing! She’s too young to be having kits!”

“Oh please, I’m the older one, obviously,” Stelle said with a roll of her eyes.

“You don’t know that!” Caelus spat. “Before she died, mom told me to protect you!”

“Really? Because I’m pretty sure mom was just a plain old tanuki,” Stelle sniffed. “Besides, it’s none of your business if I want to have kits with Aether.”

“S-Stelle!?” Aether gasped, his eyes bugging out.

“What? It sounds like fun. Though maybe not the kits part,” Stelle mused, putting a finger to her lips. “That sounds like work. Humans have something to make it so you can have the fun without the responsibility, right?”

“We seriously were not even doing that,” Aether said hastily as Lumine raised an eyebrow at them. “Look, we were just-”

“Travelers! There you are!” Paimon said brightly zipping in. “Hey, Yae, I found them! Hurry!”

“Paimon! You sold us out!” Stelle groaned, as Caelus very hastily tried to hide his ID-forging gear while the chubby form of Yae Miko sauntered into the room.

“Well, well, what’s this?” Yae said, stepping forward and snatching the mostly finished ID out of Lumine’s hands. She raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Forging an ID, Caelus?”

“Uh, no?” Caelus said, and Lumine slapped her palm into her face. He could be so stupid sometimes for someone so smart.

“Pity. I would have you forge me one. The pathetic humans deny me alcohol no matter how much I insist I’m an adult,” Yae huffed.

Lumine gave the diminutive girl an incredulous look. Caelus and Stelle could pass for mid-20s. Yae would be lucky to pass for more than seven.

“If you want one, I can make you one!” Stelle said excitedly. She rummaged in her bust and pulled out a rumpled and folded bit of cardboard. Holding it up proudly, she displayed a glued-together monstrosity. The picture had been drawn in what appeared to be crayon, and the identifying descriptors were misspelled, save for Stelle’s name. Her age was listed as “adult” and sex was listed as “yes.” Lumine would have thought Stelle was joking, but she clearly thought this was a brilliant forgery.

“That’s nice, dear,” Miko said, taking the ID, and tossing it into the trash can.

“Hey! I worked hard on that!” Stelle protested.

ENOUGH. A dark fox demon growled, and the two sets of twins immediately stiffened to attention. “Better,” Miko huffed. “Come. Something of import has happened. We have been summoned. So behave yourselves.”

“Uh, us too?” Lumine asked, pointing to herself and Aether.

“I don’t see why not. Though if you are wise, you will keep silent, and listen,” Miko sniffed. “Now come along, children. The Shogun awaits.”

They all hastily followed Miko, who turned into her fox form to scamper along so quickly that the twins all had to run, though notably Caelus and Stelle stayed human. They soon arrived at a room deep in the palace that Lumine had never seen before, and Yae popped back into human for, not a muss or wrinkle on her clothes.

“No…no fair. How do you do that?” Caelus panted. “I always rip my clothes when I try it.”

“Skill, little one,” Miko chuckled, which earned her a glare from Caelus. “Now, behave, and act as a retainer should. Announce me.”

Caelus flung open the door, and in a sonorous announcer's voice declared, “Presenting, her most serene pain in my backside, Yae-YOUCH!”

“Ah, Miko. Come,” the Raiden Shogun said, gesturing to the table. She spied Lumine and her brother and nodded to them. “I suppose this concerns you as well, Travelers. Come. You also, Paimon.”

Lumine hastily entered, then went to stand beside Sayu, who was at attention behind Ami. At the table were the most powerful people in Japan and Korea. Not just the Raiden Shogun, but both Ami and her sister, Dalnim, or was it Tsukuyomi? It was the first time that Lumine had seen the moon god in person, and it was striking just how much she looked like her mother, like a reflection, save for her haircut and slightly more angular and youthful build. Mushu and Keiga were there, as were the Emperor of Japan, the President of Korea, Lady Noriko and her wife Bukdu, and several other high officials.

“A new fate has appeared in the heavens,” Raiden decreed, and all heads turned to her. “Keiga was the first to sense it.”

The Hydro Dragon nodded. “Yes. Not an hour ago, I sensed the arrival of a great Authority, one that contested my own over Hydro. I believe the Hydro Archon has arrived.”

“Indeed. I have detected a new divine constellation,” Raiden agreed. But her brow furrowed. “It is not, however, Lustitia Themidis, the constellation of Focalors. It is another. I have reached out to Buer, but she knew the same Constellation I did. This new one she does not recognize. I would consult with Barbatos, but he yet slumbers. As for Dantilion…she I will not consult with. Not until her foolish ways are put to rest.”


There were mutters around the table, but they were quickly silenced when Dalnim spoke. “Indeed. It seems we have an unknown Archon on our hands. But she is yet the God of Justice, is she not, mother?”

“Perhaps. I am still uncertain,” Raiden said with a slight shake of her head.

“Then who is she? What is her constellation?” the President of Korea asked.

“That, it seems, is yet to be revealed,” Raiden said.

Lumine swallowed, and reached out, taking Paimon and Aether’s hand. The world was changing.

Would Justice change with it?