Grand Narukami Shrine
Elias
Looking up at the seemingly endless staircase littered with Torii gates ahead of me I let out an exhausted sigh.
"This is going to be a lot of effort... I wish I just had wings.." I muttered to myself as I recalled how I even ended up at the foot of Mt. Yougou.
After admiring the statue of Kather- I mean the omnipresent Goddess I made my way to a comfortable Inn, it was around 12am at the time. Luckily, they had a room available, a comfortable one at that. It came with its own bathroom and shower, kitchen and double bed.
Oops my bad I got side tracked. Anyway when I was in the room I saw a beautiful painting depicting a majestic shrine blanketed by a mystical cherry blossom that excused a magical aura, beanthe said painting a few words were written.
(Like this but Ignore Miko, Ei and Makoto)
Mt. Yougou, Grand Narukami Shrine.
And in that moment I decided where my next destination would be. Looking back up the staircase I thought of the painting to motivate me, I took a deep breath and then my first large step of many to come.
My motivation was clear in my mind, I had retired from my previous official position, and while the others may not know that they did not need to. My goal now was clear, I wanted to find a serene environment where I could enjoy the finals years of my life, and as I said before maybe write a novel.
I continued to treck my way up the staircase of Mt. Yougou and with every step I took I felt more resistance, my legs became gradually more exhausted and the air became thinner and thinner the further I went up the mountain.
Eventually, my exhaustion caught up with me cussing me to stop and take a rest on one of the stairs, I dropped my backpack onto the steps next to me and rummaged around for the water I had taken with me.
It wasn't much but water is water. Opening the lid I took a small sip, the sensation of the crisp, cold water felt like a blessing on my tongue. The sensation acted as a double-edged sword causing me to realize how thirsty I actually was. Yep... I accidently drank the whole thing.
Oh well... I'm pretty sure I heard somewhere you're not meant to try make water last anyway, pretty sure they said you should just drink it straight away... It's not like I'd die of dehydration anyway the hike could only last a couple more hours maximum, the worst consequence I could forsee was a bad headache at most.
I hoisted my backpack off the ground and slung it back onto my shoulder, before continuing my hike I looked off the mountain towards Inazuma city. The view really does get more beautifully the higher you go. I wonder how it looks from the top of the mountain?
---
Finally, I had done it. I had made it to the top of Mount Yougou! The first thing I spotted was a little area to pray right by the entrance of the shrine, next to that was a shrine maiden whose attention was focused on me, she had a gentle smile plastered onto her face.
"Welcome guest, are you here to worship The Electro Archon?" The woman spoke maintaining a calm demeanor, "Uhm no I'm not actually. I have a bit of and odd request actually." I quickly responded trying to stay polite as possible.
"Oh? And may I ask what that is?" She responded her curiosity was obvious I mean why wouldn't it be there's not much else to do in a shrine other than worship the person it's built for. "I was wondering if it'd be possible for me to live in the Grand Narukami Shrine, I quite enjoy the quiet and serenity of the place." Her head tilted in confusion as she pondered something.
A short moment of silence later and she responds, "I'm not actually sure. We don't normally do this but no one has asked before so... I will have to ask The Guuji."
"Would you mind just waiting here for a moment, please?" She shortly added on and I nodded in understanding. As she walked off I went over to the edge looking towards the horizon towards the violent storm that surrounded Inazuma.
"How can The Archon be such a stark contrast to her shrine?" I asked myself as I watched violent bolts of lightning attack the ocean's surface from afar.
Around what felt like five minutes later the shrine maiden was back, though she seemed somewhat shocked and nervous. "It's seem The Guuji wishes to see you perosnally, sir. By the Sacred Sakura." My eyes widened slightly but then I regained my composure, nodding in understanding. The Sacred Sakura must be the cherry blossom in the painting.
I followed the shrine maiden through the shrine and out into the court of sorts. A lone woman sat beneath the boughs of a venerable cherry tree, she was as ethereal as the falling blossoms themselves. Her hair a cascading waterfall of a familiar cherry blossom pink, was long and flowing, sparingly bound yet whispering tells of grace with each spring breeze. A delicate circlet akin to halo adorned her head, framing her serene, porcelain face.
Her eyes, attractive yet powerful hid many wonders in their sea of deep amethyst. Her lips, touched with the bloom of the softest petals, were slightly parted in contemplatiom and curiosity.
She was adorned in vestments as vibrant as the fire of autumn leaves, the rich silk of her garments draped elegantly across her slender frame. Elegant quartz silk made up the upper portion of her outfit though her back was uncovered by silk hidden only by her wonderous hair.
Her posture, relax yet regal, against the ancient wooden Torii gates.
"Why hello, you must be the one wanting to live here, aren't you just adorable." She said as she stood up and walked towards the shrine maiden I. Uhm well this is odd, for once I don't know what to say.
"Lost your words?" She said with a taunting smirk. "Ahem." I cleared my throat, "My apologies Lady Guuji I seemed to have zoned out there for a bit." Her smirk widened and she quickly responded. "Call me Yae, little one."
"Oh okay? Well anyway Miss Yae, it is as the shrine maiden here has told you. I wish to live in The Grand Narukami Shrine." She paused for a moment bringing her hand to her mouth as she pondered something curiously.
"Well first of little one, what is your name?" My eyes widened and I felt a little embarrassed that I forgot to mention my name. "Oh! My apologies! I am Elias, Elias White." She giggled lightly at my response making me even more embarrassed for some reason.
"Are you from Inazuma, Mr Elias?" Hearing her question I gave a slow nod, "Yes I am Inazuman, my parents just lived the idea of a child with a foreign name." She simply nodded contemplating a few more things before talking.
"And may I ask you a question?" Slightly confused I answered quickly, "of course you can?" She nodded once more, "Then please answer with complete honest. What do you think about the Raiden Shogun's methods." I thought for a while making sure to get a perfect answer for her. For all I know this could affect wether or not I get to live here.
"Well in all honestly I believe the way the Raiden Shogun is handling the situations of her nation is more like a baby throwing a tantrum than a proper leader. For one, she locks herself away in a sort of different dimension and then goes off to let a puppet that ends up stripping people or their ambitions rule her nation."
Yae seems to smirk hearing my response so I assume I did something right. "I must say Elias I'm quite shocked, your knowledge runs extraordinarily deep, there aren't many people at all who know the current Shogun isn't the real one. Not even many higher ups know about it." I rubbed my head in embarrassement.
"Hehe you see I'm very interested about the Raiden Shogun so I've done lots and lots of research about her and her methods." I explained, yet Yae still seemed extremely suspicious of me.
"Hey I just realized something?" I said garnering her curiosity, "Hm you have? What's that?"
"You're Yae Miko the one who signed the books at the shop in Inazuma City." I tried to drag the conversation away from me knowing to much but it seemed to backfire.
"Youve only just recognized that now? Nearly every resident in Inazuma has heard of the name Yae Miko and nearly every resident has knowledge that I run the Yae Publishing house, but you do not?" She explained suspiciously. Damn! So knowing too much gets me in trouble but also knows my too little also gets me in trouble?
"Uhm well you see i've not been in Inazuma for a while. I was living in Liyue for a long while as my family went on vacation before the vision hunt decree started and only now have I been able to return to Inazuma." She simply shrugged her shoulders and brushed it aside.
Shes acting as though she believed me but I can obviously tell she's still suspicious. She is smart by acting like she believes me she's hoping my guard will go back down and that I will slip up and reveal something about myself.
"I suppose we have a room that we can spare for you, as long as you can afford your stay that is, little one." I smiled gratefully and nodded. "Of course money is not a problem, I'll happily pay for my stay."
An evil smirk then found its way onto Yae Miko's face, "very well your stay will be around six hundred thousand mora a month." My eyes widened in shock but I quickly regained my composure.
I cleared my throat and spoke clearly, "Of course that is no problem whatsoever, Miss Yae." She nodded and gave off an accepting smile. "Very well please follow me to your room." She then began walking into the main building of the shrine.
I patiently followed behind her as we passed a few rooms, "since you're willing to pay so much I thought I'd be generous and give you the second biggest room in the shrine." Once more my eyes widened in shock, "That's very generous of you Miss Yae. I'm thankful." She smiled gently.
"Don't be it's the least I could do for someone as adorable as you." She said as she gestured towards a sliding door, I ignored her teasing a pulled the door open. On the other side was a medium sized room a bit smaller than the one I had stayed in last night. It had a beautiful view of the ocean, a double bed, bathroom with shower and a few other minor things that you need.
The room was perfectly clean and the sheets were already ready on the bed so I could just get in and fall asleep straight away.
"It's perfect! A nice view, comfy looking bed, bathroom and it's perfectky quiet. Exactly what I wanted." Yae Miko let out a light hearted laugh, "I'm glad you like your new room, little one." I do hope she stops calling me little one though...
"Well anyway I have some business to attend to so why don't I let you settle into your new room." I nodded, "Okay then, thank you for allowing me to stay her Miss Yae." Yae Miko then left my room, for a short while I could hear her light steps down the hall but eventually it was silent once more.
Now on my own I flopped down onto the bed and such my eyes. I hope the others don't get to mad because I disappeared out of nowhere.. I had been working way too long...
(A/N) Woohoo chapter finally done! I can sleep! Hope you all enjoyed and I will see you all next chapter. Whenever that will be lol. Exams are long frfr.