Gasping for air in the salted ocean, (Name) realised had truly only skirted past this place's borders. She was left coughing up water at one of the vacant shorelines of this island. Having passed it before, on a boat trip with Kama, the effects of the device remained on here. Looking down at the device, having magically been protected from the water, (Name) saw the glow had dimmed. It wasn't too dark, but it wasn't as bright as when Albedo gave it to her.

Meaning it was a device with finite uses.

(Name) sighed.

Albedo couldn't have known how much she would have to use it this much; she had barely told him anything.

Looking around the island, it beheld a totally different beauty from Watatsumi. While the latter had a soft, refreshing feel to it, this place reminded her of solidarity, strength and majesty.

It reminded her of Kunikuzushi, a bit.

Kunikuzushi.

Truth be told, it had scared (Name) when he had changed his persona so easily just as Aether had arrived. How he had treated his emotions as something so insubstantial that they can be plied into a mere manipulation tool.

But perhaps he wasn't too wrong.

Having measured her own worth by the standards of everyone she had met, it wasn't too much of a surprise that he was thrown about those who may have not seen any worth in him. Like the Shogun.

But that was his point of view too.

(Name) supposed that he had been so betrayed by what he thought she did that he never bothered to learn the bigger truth.

It would have shattered him.

Maybe it did. He certainly looked that way when she said his true name; nobody must have uttered it for centuries.

(Name) hoped that Aether would be okay, but with Miko there, it wouldn't be too much of an issue. As she was putting the device back into her pocket, she felt something else there.

A slip of paper.

It read:

Miss (Name),

I hope you haven't forgotten our correspondence, but I remember that we once had an agreement back when I met you in Liyue.

The Fatui have suddenly taken a few high key figures, even amongst the underlings within them, and taken them on a ship sailing for Inazuma.

Stay safe,

Yuheng Keqing

(Name) let out a small laugh. She supposed that it had slipped her mind, and since it had been so long since they both met, she didn't expect a letter from her.

Not much this information could do for her now.

Aether would find out soon enough as well.

As for her, she'd stay the night in an old hut somewhere here, maybe in one of the abandoned houses by the shrines in the vicinity, and then head back tomorrow. Without any Kama to take her, the device would have to be used once more.

A pity.

------

"I still can't believe you gave him the gnosis," Paimon whined, head resting on Aether's legs.

"Now, now little one, I told you I had no choice," replied Yae, sitting in a tent at the Resistance Camp. The kitsune had seemed to act vacant the whole morning, and Aether could tell why. After all, after giving Scaramouche the gnosis, she had no idea where he went after, but he had immediately left the ruins and headed out somewhere. Yae would have investigated it herself, but with the Traveller in such a condition, she didn't quite get the opportunity.

"Miko, do you know where (Name) went after the incident?" Aether asked, now perfectly fine.

"Don't worry, she's still in Inazuma, I presume she stayed as she has unfinished business with the Balladeer. She's strong, she'll be alright," Yae responded, holding up a piece of paper to herself. It was a letter from the Shuumatsuban, requesting if they should follow the Balladeer. Yae had already sent the one in return, promptly telling them that it was too dangerous. They had no choice but to comply.

Speaking of letters, Yae handed one to the Traveller.

"(Name) told me to give you this,".

It was from Childe.

Dear Traveller,

The time of Lantern Rite will arrive in a few weeks, so I was wondering if you would join me for a festive battle on that day. Your friend was kind enough to give me this correspondence, in exchange for me not revealing her to the Fatui. I'd doubt you know, but she got into quite the scuffle with Scaramouche before. Anyway, I hope to see you soon.

Tartaglia

"Oh my, poor girl. Getting so wrapped up in the Balladeer's business. We can only hope that it will turn out better for her," lamented Yae, skimming over the contents of the letter over Aether's shoulder.

"(Name) depended on him, on him getting to meet me to escape a probably dangerous situation. Looks like the first thing I'm going to do after fighting the Shogun is find him," spoke Aether, determination set in his eyes.

Paimon was still reeling by the time it had turned late, and Aether had been determined sufficient to fight the Shogun in two days.

----------

There was the taste of blood in (Name)'s mouth, and her whole body felt paralyzed as she felt the sensation of being dragged somewhere across solid ground. Vision hazy, she looked up in time to see a warped mix of purple, red and gold.