Chapter 25 Have You Seen the Pillar General?

The Pillar General went to bed early tonight.

The Shogunate army gazed from afar at the darkened room.

It made sense; the General needed to rest well now, to recuperate properly.

They were all soldiers who grew up hearing stories of the Pillar General. In their hearts, his status was second only to the Raiden Shogun of Inazuma. Countless young men joined the military hoping to one day become as impressive as the Pillar General.

A few days ago, the Pillar General went alone, on a snowy night, dressed in kimono and straw rain cape, wielding a tachi sword, to slay the remnant soul of the serpent god on Yashiori Island. This truly won the admiration of countless Inazuma citizens. The divine curse had been rooted in Inazuma for 400 years, and today it was finally removed, all thanks to the Pillar General!

The Pillar General was still vigorous in his old age, his demeanor unchanged from his younger days.

Like many citizens, this young soldier still didn't believe the Pillar General would leave. In his view, the Pillar General was so powerful that this time he just needed a few days of rest, and then they would see the General's carefree and hearty smile again.

It was his honor to guard the Pillar General's rest here.

"Thank you for your hard work," a young man came out and said, "The Pillar General is very tired. Don't let anyone disturb his sleep tonight."

"Yes, sir," the soldier nodded. This was a given.

There were strict orders from Tenshukaku not to disturb the Pillar General, nor to let him leave... He would naturally follow orders.

This young man in front of him, he had seen a few times. The Pillar General often summoned him.

His background was unclear, but he should be a confidant trained by the Pillar General.

"That's good. You should go home early too, to prepare for the New Year. See your parents."

"Being able to guard the Pillar General, my old man is very proud. He told me not to come back at all, or he'd beat me!"

"Alright then."

Seino took one last look at the Pillar's mansion. In the center of the grand residence grew a vigorous pine tree, its branches spreading across half the courtyard. This tree was planted by Ei and him 300 years ago. After so many years, it had grown this big.

And his 500 years of life were all here.

"Farewell," Seino waved, not knowing if it was to the soldier, or to the mansion, or just to this old pine tree.

"This time I'm really leaving."

He walked towards the ferry dock, where a boat was waiting for him. He would leave Inazuma tonight, then die at dusk tomorrow.

The next day.

It snowed heavily last night, the snow completely covering the entire Inazuma City. The steps were covered with thick rime, the weather had turned cold, which also meant the New Year was coming.

Maybe it would succeed.

Ei slowly exhaled, a thin mist dispersing in the cool air.

She stared at the failed doll in front of her.

-- At least she had found the right direction.

A mortal's consciousness is much more fragile than a god's, so this doll couldn't have any autonomous consciousness, not even the ability to think. It could only be an empty shell, like a piece of clothing.

Then, it must be a shape that could contain Seino's soul.

Seino had practiced swordsmanship for many years, and his unwavering heart had gradually touched the edge of the way of eternity. As long as Ei opened the Plane of Euthymia and shared that world with him...

Perhaps she could keep him.

But Ei needed time, needed more and more time. She believed she could do it.

Last night, she thought about many things, and understood many things. At least she wasn't as lost and helpless as she had been in the past few days.

Ei clearly understood her current state of mind:

-- Wanting to keep him.

A clear mind could give her inspiration, a clear state of mind could let her grasp that inspiration. Ei was close, she just needed a little more time.

Two weeks, no, maybe one week

Would be enough.

Lightning gathered in her palm, destroying the doll in front of her again, to recreate it.

At her ankles, in the shadows where sunlight couldn't reach, many 'corpses' lay scattered. These dolls were all failures. In these past few days, Ei had been constantly creating and destroying, slowly accumulating the remnants of the defective products.

"This isn't like you," the Raiden Shogun said softly again. "This isn't what you should be doing. You're very tired, you should rest."

"Five hundred years ago, my sister died,"

Ei rebuilt the form again. She seemed to be talking to herself, but also seemed to be talking to the Raiden Shogun. "In the war that destroyed Khaenri'ah, under the decree of the heavenly principles, her fate became unknown. At the same time, corruption also invaded Inazuma."

She spoke of past events, her purple eyes trembling slightly,

"At that time, I still remember, Seino Raimei said to me, 'Ei, go find your sister. I will guard your country for you.' It was laughable, a mere mortal? But I felt at ease to go to Khaenri'ah."

"But when I found my sister, she was already dying. She lay in my arms, losing her warmth. I couldn't do anything. I returned to Inazuma."

Ei carefully drew the patterns on the doll, her voice trembling, "I found my country still there, Seino Raimei covered in wounds -- he was smiling at me."

"I don't want to go on like this anymore."

Ei said softly, her eyes still trembling: "So I began to pursue eternity, entered the Plane of Euthymia, promising the people an eternal paradise."

She stared at the doll in front of her, her fingers unconsciously gripping her sleeve,

"But now I've come out of the Plane of Euthymia, and found that Seino Raimei is about to be gone too,"

Ei exhaled a thin layer of mist, she asked, also asking herself: "...What do I have left?"

"..." The Shogun was silent.

"So I must complete this, I must make up for my mistake," Ei said softly, gritting her teeth, "I won't be as powerless as I was 500 years ago."

"It will be completed soon."

The sky was fully bright now, pure white clouds covering the sky. Suddenly, hurried footsteps came from the stairs of Tenshukaku.

Ei knew it was Seino Sara. She had just warned her yesterday -- why was she coming to disturb her again today?

Before Ei could send her away, Seino Sara shouted from behind the heavy mansion doors, her voice very flustered:

"Lord Raiden,"

"Have you seen the Pillar General?"

"Has the Pillar General come to you?"