Chapter 8

　　Ei stood on the high platform, looking up at Tenshukaku looming over her, feeling a bit bewildered, looking down at Kiyonoya Sara in front of the hall, suddenly feeling a bit bewildered.

　　Or rather, it was a sense of familiarity.

　　The slightly chilly breeze blew on her cheeks.

　　The snow fell like cherry blossoms, gently floating into the hall and melting on the floor.

　　A layer of snow as thick as a finger had already piled up on the steps outside the hall. This was the season of snow that covered everything.

　　The snow and sunlight mixed together, making it difficult to see clearly.

　　But when Ei first saw him, it was in the middle of summer.

　　It was also in the ancient and solemn hall of Tenshukaku, where she still also on the high platform.

　　At that time, she was not yet the supreme Narukami who controlled the lighting of Inazuma.

　　She was her sister' kagemusha who obsessed with martial arts.

　　Ei still remembered the weather that day, the scorching sunlight floating with restless heat, the air turbid and unclear. The only lively things were the hoarse cicadas and green leaves of high trees, and the fragrant winds were like paintings.

　　The late-blooming pure white cherry blossoms covered the long steps, just like the new snow today.

　　That day was the duel before the throne.

　　As an obsessed warrior, she came to the competition instead of her sister.

　　Duel before the throne was a gathering of Inazuma warriors.

　　The warrior who won the victory could get the reward of Narukami, which was a great honor.

　　He was not the Hashi kuni, nor the lightning of Inazuma, he was still a young boy.

　　Walking on the cherry blossom-covered steps with his wooden sandals, his slender kimono naturally hung down at his feet.

　　The border pattern was a pattern of snakes and wine. The long sleeves hung down, revealing two slender and fair arms. He held a simple and heavy sword in one hand.

　　Walking on the wooden sandals, stepping on the cherry blossoms, dragging the long sword, he climbed up the steps.

　　The murky sky was pressed very low by the clouds, and the cherry blossoms fluttered up and down in the whistling wind.

　　The warriors on both sides kneeled down, wearing black armor, wearing black kimonos, and their hair tied up. They all looked at him with shocked and surprised eyes.

　　Kiyonoya was the winner of this duel. At the age of only sixteen, he defeated all the Inazuma warriors.

　　The young boy slowly pushed open the heavy door of Tenshukaku, and the scorching sunlight streamed in. He also knelt down on one knee, just like Kiyonoya Sara today.

　　"The reward you requested." casually and without concern, "I already know."

　　"To become the Narukami's Divine Imperial Bodyguard."

　　"But."

　　"I don't need a Divine Imperial Bodyguard, nor have I ever had one."

　　Her tone was calm and natural, and there was not much emotion in her eyes. She just said casually:

　　"No one can take my one blow, so no one is qualified to protect me,"

　　"The path to Mosou requires no companions."

　　After uttering those words, the scorching sunlight seemed to go out, the air fell silent, and a leaden sky with dark clouds gathered, with faint thunder echoing.

　　The majesty of thunder was awe-inspiring.

　　She was Ei, a divine being and a warrior, with the pride and reserve that belonged only to a warrior. A warrior did not need the protection of another warrior.

　　Especially when facing just an ordinary person.

　　"Mosou? as expected of Narukami."

　　"You really love martial arts, don't you? I can tell that you truly enjoy this path. But watching warriors fight from the stands must be boring for you."

　　In the face of the majesty of thunder, in the suffocating atmosphere,

　　But the young man did not give up, nor did he retreat. Instead, he slowly raised his head, his eyes as clear as silver frost, revealing a reckless smile:

　　"Well then, Your Excellency, let me see your Mosou."

　　"To be able to witness that one strike with my own eyes, my life would be worth it!"

　　"If I can take that one strike from you," he stood up straight, straightening his spine, facing the thunder, "then you will agree to my request."

　　Exhaling.

　　Drawing his sword - the young man stepped and pulled out his sword towards Narukami on the throne.

　　...

　　No one knew what happened that day.

　　All that was known was that in the midst of summer, dark clouds rose, and vast thunder flashed through the cracks in the clouds.

　　The world turns upside down, rising and falling in an instant. After the thunder, the world remains serene under the clear sky.

　　The boy was being watched by Ei, without the slightest hint of pity.

　　He was covered in blood, half of his samurai clothing was torn apart, exposing the bloody flesh, and a huge wound pierced through his shoulder blade and abdomen, but he still stood upright, with his spine straight, holding onto his blade.

　　He still wore that lawless smile. Thunder passed through his body, but he remained standing.

　　It seemed that no suffering could destroy him.

　　He smiled, his silver-gray eyes seemed to say, "I win."

　　The boy was severely injured, almost dying. Ei did not hold back with her strike, the power of her sword could destroy mountains and rivers.

　　Daring to offend the throne, drawing his sword on the Tenshukaku, he must be prepared to lose his life.

　　Moreover, Ei was also a warrior. When another warrior offered their life to challenge her, holding back would be an insult.

　　What surprised Ei slightly was that the boy survived.

　　He was so small, compared to the gods.

　　Ei looked into his eyes and said:

　　"But you miscalculated, and you also found the wrong person, mortal."

　　Ei calmly said:

　　"I am not Narukami, I am Ei, the Kagemusha of my sister. If you want to be the guard of Narukami, I can recommend you..."

　　"That--"

　　His words were interrupted.

　　The boy said softly, falling into the cherry blossoms that covered the steps in the summer sunshine, his body falling and stirring up a flurry of cherry blossoms.

　　"Then let me always stay by your side, Ei."

　　He spoke thus before closing his eyes wearily and falling into a deep sleep.

　　This was their first encounter.

　　Looking down from the high platform, Ei gazed at the boy who fell with a loud crash, listened to his last words, and smiled somewhat helplessly.

　　Eternity...?

　　Where is there such a thing as eternity?

　　What can a mortal talk about "eternity"?

　　It's just overreaching.

　　"Ha, mortals...in the face of eternity, it's just a fleeting life..."

　　But at the same time, she also found it somewhat interesting, amusing, and not so boring. She said softly:

　　"...Well, well, I'll accompany you for a forever."

　　No one knows what happened at the Tenshukaku that day, and the historians of Inazuma only knew that a new military -Divine Imperial Bodyguard appeared by the side of the Grand Narukami Shrine since that day.

　　At the same time, he was the only Divine Imperial Bodyguard in Inazuma's history.

　　Five hundred years have passed since then, and the boy has become the renowned Hashi Kuni.

　　But there has never been a second Divine Imperial Bodyguard.

　　Although no one mentioned it, the official documents of Yashiro Commission still mention the name "Kiyonoya Raimei" as the title of the tDivine Imperial Bodyguard, and that was the only name mentioned.

　　The rain and snow were falling.

　　"Is this his intention? Or your wish?"

　　...

　　"This is the order of Hashi Kuni, and also my decision."

　　...

　　-"The Hashi Kuni will resign from the position of Divine Imperial Bodyguard and recommend me to succeed."

　　...

　　Kinoyona Sara raised her head, her golden eyes calm and without any emotional fluctuations.

　　She had no expression on her face.

　　In almost suffocating silence, time slowly passed, the sun slowly turned, and the reflection of the pine and cypress trees outside the hall climbed along the palace wall and finally fell on the Radien Shogun.

　　At this moment, the shogun lowered her head slightly, lost in thought.

　　'I'll accompany you for a forever.'

　　Resign?Now?

　　After a long pause, the shogun, now Ei, emerged from her state of mindfulness.

　　Ei raised her head and said:

　　"...Let him come to me in person."

　　The melting snow on the steps was as white as the cherry blossoms that covered the steps on that day, and in the slow, moist sound of the snow, Ei felt somewhat annoyed.

Hello everyone, may I ask if there are many grammar errors or some sentences that are difficult to understand when you are reading? Or are there any awkward phrasings that do not conform to English writing conventions, causing confusion?