The Statue of the Omnipresent God was as tall as two or three stories, with two pairs of enormous wings.
Paimon: "There's a kind of solemn, forbidding atmosphere around this statue. Ordinary people wouldn't come here, right?"
[Ningguang: The size of the statue looks very much like a Statue of The Seven. Is the face on the statue the Electro Archon?]
[Kamisato Ayaka: I have seen Her Excellency, the Shogun. The statue's face is distinctly different from Hers. This is not Inazuma's Statue of The Seven. This is the Statue of the Omnipresent God, and what's on it are Visions.]
[Keqing: So many...]
[Zhongli: A Vision is undoubtedly a person's most precious treasure. Those who have their Visions taken must be in great pain.]
[Kamisato Ayaka: Actually, it's more than that...]
[Ningguang: I recall Keqing once tried to find a way to destroy her Vision.]
[Keqing: I believed that people, relying on their own efforts, could build and protect Liyue better. Having a Vision would make the people of Liyue think my achievements were bestowed by it. I was very troubled back then. I once tried burning my Vision for three days and three nights with intense fire and even threw it from the Jade Chamber. But the Vision wasn't damaged at all. Now, I feel the Vision is actually quite useful.]
[Paimon: It was probably your conviction to build Liyue that drew the gaze of a god, right? Speaking of which, Keqing, your Vision is Electro.]
[Raiden Shogun: Visions are not bestowed by me.]
[Paimon: Huh? You're the Electro Archon, and hers is an Electro Vision. How can that be?]
[Zhongli: The granting of Visions follows a rule from Celestia.]
[Lumine: So that's how it is. I was curious before why Furina received a Hydro Vision even after the Hydro Archon's throne was shattered. I was wondering, did Neuvillette grant it?]
[Neuvillette: Hmm, I do not possess the ability to grant Visions either. If I did, Furina would have received one long ago.]
[Paimon: That seems right. I remember Neuvillette is Furina's biggest fan.]
"If you look closely... Oh, what's embedded on this is..."
Thoma: "Visions..."
Paimon was astonished: "Visions! So all the Visions confiscated under the Vision Hunt Decree are inlaid onto this statue?"
Thoma turned to look at Paimon: "So you already know about the Vision Hunt Decree."
Lumine asked: "Why did the Shogun issue the Vision Hunt Decree?"
Thoma: "Before explaining that, you should know this, right? Just as Mondstadt is the city of freedom, and Liyue the city of contracts, Inazuma is the nation of eternity. The Raiden Shogun is both the supreme ruler of Inazuma and its Archon. Eternal, unchanging, unwavering for a thousand generations—this is the will with which She governs this nation."
"For this purpose, She relies on the Tri-Commission to stabilize governance and the Sakoku Decree to halt the flow of people. The Shogun wishes to maintain Inazuma in a static state, allowing the river of time to flow by on either side, with only Inazuma standing firm and unmoving, until eternity."
[Ningguang: If the Mora in one's pocket could never increase... just thinking about it is painful. Progress is the pursuit of every human. Merchants always seek greater profits. Liyue has been constantly developing.]
[Furina: Speaking of which, Fontaine's operas have also been progressing. Every century, the forms undergo significant changes, becoming more and more brilliant, more and more spectacular. I cannot imagine how dull an eternal world would be.]
[Paimon: Furina is a living piece of history too, with a 500-year lifespan, witnessing Fontaine's changes.]
[Keqing: Progress is the pursuit of everyone. Day after day, there must be refinement.]
[Raiden Shogun: To advance is to lose. While everything is still beautiful, let it solidify just as it is.]
Paimon: "Every Archon has their own ideas."
Thoma continued: "Of course, this is just my own understanding. As for the recent issuance of the Vision Hunt Decree, the reason might be that the Shogun believes Visions can provide people with the power to bring about change, and such an unstable existence cannot be permitted within Her vision of eternity."
"Thus, the Raiden Shogun dispatched officers from the Tenryou Commission to confiscate them far and wide, inlaying the Visions onto this statue one by one. Therefore, this Statue of the Omnipresent God can be seen as a symbol of Inazuma's eternity."
Paimon thought for a moment and said: "If you put it that way, that Raiden Shogun is somewhat selfish, isn't She?"
Thoma was amused by Paimon: "Haha, only outsiders like you would dare to criticize the Raiden Shogun's actions so bluntly."
"However, I agree. The Vision Hunt Decree is indeed something that should not exist. From the very first day the decree was issued, Lady Kamisato made up her mind to resist."
[Raiden Shogun: I deeply love the people of Inazuma. That goes without saying.]
[Lumine: Every Archon protects their nation in their own way.]
[Yae Miko: Ei is indeed a bit stubborn. Really, really hard to persuade.]
[Paimon: Is that how Miko evaluates the Electro Archon?]
[Yae Miko: To be precise, it's not Ei who is stubborn, but the Shogun.]
[Ningguang: Ei is the Raiden Shogun's name, and the Raiden Shogun is also the Archon's title. Why does Miko say that?]
[Yae Miko: Ah, right, you don't know. The one residing in Tenshukaku is not Raiden Ei herself, but a puppet created by Ei using her own Archon body as a base. The puppet possesses independent intelligence, unwaveringly enforcing eternity.]
[Kamisato Ayaka: A puppet? No wonder, no matter how many petitions I submitted, the Shogun would never change Her mind.]
[Paimon: A perfectly good Archon, why would she turn herself into a puppet?]
[Zhongli: I believe it is because of Erosion. Even unbreakable stone worn down by vortexes can be eroded by the passage of time. The firmest of wills can be distorted within the long river of time. This is perhaps Ei's original intent in creating the puppet.]
[Paimon: Erosion? I still don't quite understand.]
[Nahida: As humans age, they tend to become forgetful, and their emotions can become unstable. Sumeru calls this illness 'senile dementia.' Archons have similar troubles.]
[Paimon: Senile dementia, I know that. So Zhongli has senile dementia? He even forgot to leave some pocket money for himself.]
[Zhongli: Hmm, I have not reached the point of dementia. But Erosion has indeed been imposed upon me.]
[Paimon: What about Venti?]
[Venti: Me? I'm still young, not too eroded yet.]
Lumine touched the statue. In an instant, it was as if countless voices rang out in her mind. Lumine immediately let go in pain.
Paimon asked with concern: "Lumine, what's wrong? You look like you're in pain."
Lumine: "What were those voices just now?"
Thoma scratched his head: "Voices? I didn't hear anything. What happened just now?"
Paimon: "Yeah, you touched the statue, and then?"
Lumine's pain had eased. After thinking, she replied: "I seemed to hear... the wishes of others."
Thoma: "Wishes? That actually validates a certain saying. Have you heard it? When a person's wish becomes strong enough, the gaze of a god will fall upon them. That is the origin of Visions. One could also say a Vision represents that person's wish."
"If what you just said is true, then it seems these people's wishes are even more tenacious than I imagined."
Lumine: "So... a Vision symbolizes not power, but a wish?"
Thoma: "Alright, tourists of Narukami Island, it's time to follow me to the next stop: the Kamisato Estate."
[Kamisato Ayaka: I truly never expected so many people would be touring my home along with the video.]
[Paimon: Sounds like Kamisato Ayaka is very nervous. I remember Ningguang speaks very proudly when talking about her Jade Chamber.]
[Lumine: Girls have different personalities. In the video, Furina also refused to let us into her room.]
[Paimon: I bet Furina is probably too lazy to clean her house. You can tell from the food—she eats macaroni all the time.]
[Furina: I repeat, Paimon, I like eating macaroni!]
Following Thoma, Lumine entered the interior of the Kamisato Estate. The estate had an elegant air. In the center of the room was a purple screen painted with blooming flowers.
Paimon: "So this is the mansion of a prestigious family in Inazuma? It doesn't seem as extravagant as imagined?"
Lumine: "Well, we've already seen the Jade Chamber."
Thoma: "Welcome to the Kamisato Estate, esteemed guests. The young lady has been awaiting your arrival for some time."
Paimon rested her cheek on her hand: "It's the 'Heron Princess' you've been mentioning, right? Where is she?"
At that moment, a voice came from behind the screen.
Paimon realized: "Is Lady Kamisato behind the screen?"
Thoma nodded: "As the young lady of the Yashiro Commission, this is how Lady Kamisato usually receives guests."
"One could say it's also a custom of the Yashiro Commission for the past century. Please understand."
Lumine thought for a moment: "It seems understandable, though there's still a bit of a letdown."
[Furina: Ah, so we just get to look at a screen?]
[Sigewinne: Lady Kamisato's voice is so pleasant. Just hearing it makes you feel she must be very beautiful.]
[Ningguang: This is Inazuma's tradition. In principle, it should be respected.]
[Paimon: Such a strange tradition! Paimon is not happy.]
An elegant female voice sounded from behind the screen: "You two have crossed the seas, weary from your journey, and yet upon arriving at my estate, you can only be received in this manner. Please forgive the lack of courtesy."
"I have long anticipated your arrival. From Thoma's account, I am also convinced of the power you possess to change the current situation. In today's Inazuma, under the impetus of the Vision Hunt Decree, the wishes of the people are being trampled upon at will. Although the Yashiro Commission serves the Shogun, due to the nature of our duties, we are also the ones closest to the livelihood of the people. The authority of the Commission originates from the trust of the people. How could we rest easy if we sit idly by and ignore such a situation?"
"Traveler, please lend me your strength. Together, we will surely be able to—"
Lumine interrupted: "I only came to see the Raiden Shogun, not to start a rebellion."
Kamisato Ayaka: "...Oh."
[Ningguang: Is the Traveler dissatisfied with Kamisato Ayaka? Indeed, if the person I visited spoke to me from behind a screen, I would also be unhappy.]
[Keqing: Feels like being looked down upon, not receiving due respect.]
[Arataki Itto: Could it be... the Kamisato Clan's young lady is really ugly and doesn't dare to show her face?]
[Kuki Shinobu: Boss, just think those things, don't say them out loud!]
[Ningguang: This is Inazuma's tradition. I believe Lady Kamisato certainly didn't do it on purpose.]
[Kamisato Ayaka: Miss Ningguang is correct.]
Thoma spread his hands: "I told you, young lady, that wouldn't work."
Lumine turned to leave: "Then I'll be going too."
"Ah, ah, wait a moment, please don't leave yet." Kamisato Ayaka's voice came from behind the screen.
Lumine turned back again.
Kamisato Ayaka continued: "I will help arrange an audience with the Raiden Shogun for you, but on the condition that you help me fulfill three small wishes."
Paimon asked curiously: "What wishes?"
Kamisato Ayaka: "They are about three people who have lost their Visions. After you meet them, you might understand."
After listening to Kamisato Ayaka tell the stories of the three individuals, Paimon repeated: "A warrior protecting a village, a former samurai who enforced the Vision Hunt Decree, and a swordsman who once aimed to be the greatest in the world, right?"
Kamisato Ayaka: "Correct. Please help them as much as you can. I will wait here for your return."
Lumine: "I agree."
[Ningguang: Visions hold the wishes of their bearers. If a Vision is taken, is the wish taken too?]
[Kamisato Ayaka: Yes. Liyue and Mondstadt don't have a Vision Hunt Decree, so it's impossible to know. There are already too many people in Inazuma who have lost their Visions.]
Arriving at the place Kamisato Ayaka mentioned.
Lumine heard people talking from afar.
Granny Tomo: "What are you doing? After all these years, why are you suddenly leaving?"
Grandpa Kenjiro: "Yes, yes, we have no psychological preparation at all. We just heard the news suddenly. The children are still looking forward to you taking them out to play. We beg you, please reconsider."
Lumine ran over and inquired: "Excuse me, what's happening?"
Tomo explained: "It's about Mr. Washizu. Ever since he came here thirty years ago, he has guarded this place, driving away Treasure Hoarders, repelling nearby monsters, mediating village disputes... He has poured a lot of effort into this place, and we see him as the most respected person."
"But now he suddenly wants to leave. Did we do something wrong? If we did, we are willing to apologize to Mr. Washizu. We only ask that Mr. Washizu continue to stay here."
Kenjiro also said: "I feel this matter might be related to the Vision Hunt Decree. Mr. Washizu clearly did nothing wrong, yet his Vision was confiscated. After that, he became like a different person."
"Sigh, I can't quite put it into words, but it feels like he lost something important. After walking around the village alone a few times, he suddenly said he wants to travel the world. We actually don't know whether we should persuade him to stay or not, but we feel we can't just let him leave in such a lost state."
Paimon: "It seems the people nearby all respect him a lot."
Lumine and Paimon then ran over to the person being entreated: "You are Mr. Washizu, right? Why are you suddenly leaving this place?"
Mr. Washizu rubbed his head: "Me? Rather than asking why I'm leaving, it's more like... I don't know why I stayed here in the first place."
[Paimon: It's not just the will to fulfill a wish; even memories are lost?]
[Kamisato Ayaka: Yes. A Vision carries not only the will to fulfill a wish but also the memories related to that wish.]
[Lumine: It's as if Erosion has descended upon them all at once.]