Paimon said, "So the memories of those who passed away in the past are appearing now."
Ei nodded. "Yes. That soldier was one of countless who sacrificed themselves."
"What he spoke of was the disaster that befell Inazuma five hundred years ago."
[Lumine: I wonder what Khaenri'ah was like back then.]
[Zhongli: Khaenri'ah was the gateway through which the monsters invaded Teyvat. The monsters were so dense that I had to use my full strength, casting down massive stone spears without end. The very land of Khaenri'ah shattered during the war.]
[Lumine: What about the people of Khaenri'ah...]
[Zhongli: The people of Khaenri'ah were also the main force fighting the monsters. Only a small number escaped. The vast majority perished in that war. Those who fled were also cursed, becoming Hilichurls.]
[Paimon: Hilichurls are the people of Khaenri'ah?]
[Zhongli: Yes.]
[Paimon: They are so pitiful.]
[Zhongli: But it was Khaenri'ah that brought forbidden knowledge and opened the door to darkness. Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, Makoto, Egeria... all of them fell because of this.]
[Ningguang: They were the source of the disaster, but also its victims.]
[Zhongli: I am not willing to judge who was right or wrong.]
Ei said, "She also mentioned that Lady Saiguu was gone..."
Ei looked toward the distant Sacred Sakura. "Back then, Inazuma faced multiple crises. Some came from within, others from the fallen nation of Khaenri'ah."
"The disaster in Inazuma troubled me. Without timely intervention, this calamity could have spread across all of Teyvat."
"And my friend told me that she would use every resource at her disposal to protect Inazuma, to clear away any concerns that might hold me back."
"I could sense that even though neither of us said it out loud, we both understood that the road ahead would likely be perilous."
[Yae Miko: After that, there were no more youkai processions.]
[Paimon: Miko, here is a hug.]
[Yae Miko: Little Paimon, I am quite composed. I do not need a little one to comfort me.]
[Lumine: Paimon might actually be the older sister.]
[Yae Miko: Things like older and younger sisters cannot be determined by age.]
[Paimon: Then what should they be determined by?]
[Yae Miko: By leg length!]
[Paimon: Miko, you are really something...]
Paimon rested her chin on her hand. "So when the disaster struck Khaenri'ah, Inazuma was also attacked."
Ei nodded. "Countless monsters suddenly appeared across the land of Inazuma. Lady Saiguu... she ultimately gave her life to protect the people."
She looked up at the sky, a trace of sadness showing on her face. "Though I did not witness her final moments, I choose to believe that she kept her promise to me until the very end."
"But even so, the devastation in Inazuma far exceeded expectations. Those unfortunate events became deep wounds, remaining in this land and in my heart."
Lumine asked, "This is what Miko meant by loss?"
Ei nodded. "For a long time, I could not face the pain of loss."
"I wielded great martial power. I could slay gods and wipe out monsters. Yet I could never defeat time. I could never keep those I cherished close."
"But after contending with the wishes of humanity, I have done much thinking. I have come to realize that my gaze cannot remain fixed on the past forever."
[Ningguang: There is a small story from Liyue. When someone is insulted, if they keep thinking about being insulted, it is as if they are still being insulted. If they remember it for a lifetime, they are hurt for a lifetime.]
[Ei: But forgetting them would also be unfair.]
[Ningguang: Important things can be made into festivals. As long as the festivals continue, they will not be forgotten. The rest of the time, we should look forward.]
[Paimon: Ningguang is amazing.]
[Ningguang: Life experience.]