Paimon asked, "Did she also die in that disaster?"
Ei said sorrowfully, "Yes. She hid it from me and went alone to Khaenri'ah. Unlike me, Makoto was completely unskilled in martial arts. Every time we faced similar danger in the past, I would act in her place."
"This time, she had no choice. Makoto could only leave me behind. Or rather, she hid me behind her. By the time I realized it..."
[Ningguang: Makoto sensed the deadly danger, which is why she did that. Because in the past, she had entrusted everything similar to Ei.]
[Yae Miko: Sigh... Makoto was a gentler person.]
[Zhongli: Makoto's combat ability was not weak.]
[Paimon: If it had been Ei who went to Khaenri'ah that day, would she have...]
[Zhongli: The monsters were ferocious. That possibility cannot be ruled out.]
[Paimon: That is terrifying.]
[Ei: The Musou Isshin was Makoto's blade. After she fell, I began using it as my weapon. It feels like returning to the days when we fought side by side.]
Lumine said, "Could it be..."
Ei said softly, "Yes. It was far too late. I only arrived in time to see her on the verge of death."
"By then, she was already unconscious. I could only enter her consciousness space, a place similar to the Plane of Euthymia."
"There, we said our final goodbyes. I wept bitterly. Even then, I still could not understand her thoughts. Why was it her who reached Khaenri'ah first, and not me? Why did she hide it from me? Was this what they call protection?"
"It was there that I resolved to pursue eternity. To bear witness to that resolve, I preserved her collapsing consciousness space and brought it back to Inazuma."
Paimon said, "So that is how it happened."
Ei continued, "After returning to Inazuma, I was surprised to discover a giant sakura tree on Yougou Mountain. That is the Sacred Sakura you know."
[Yae Miko: In my memory, the Sacred Sakura has always existed.]
[Zhongli: Nahida, memory is your domain. Do you know anything about this?]
[Nahida: If everyone in Inazuma has altered memories, then it is very possible that the Sacred Sakura connects to Irminsul through the ley lines, and through Irminsul, memories can be modified.]
[Zhongli: Ley line power, the Sacred Sakura... historical phantoms appear near the roots of the Sacred Sakura. It is not impossible that the Sacred Sakura has a connection to Irminsul.]
[Yae Miko: But the Sacred Sakura is Electro-aligned.]
[Ningguang: Could it be that the Sacred Sakura came from Makoto's power?]
[Lumine: That is very likely.]
[Ei: Makoto's power? Was it you, Makoto?]
Lumine asked, "Has the Sacred Sakura not always existed?"
Ei spread her hands. "As you said, everyone at the time naturally told me that the Sacred Sakura had existed since ancient times. They did not understand why I was so surprised."
"No one questioned it. The existence of the Sacred Sakura clearly conflicted with my memory. It seemed I was the only one who could sense that it had appeared out of nowhere."
"In the end, I could only conclude that it was a mysterious phenomenon caused by that consciousness space."
"Ultimately, with the power of the Sacred Sakura, I was able to quell the monster disaster in Inazuma."
Paimon did not quite understand. "This is beyond my comprehension."
Lumine said, "Perhaps it was Makoto's power."
Ei said, "Compared to her love for the people, I still fall far short. I had resolved never to speak of this past again. Facing separation is a very painful thing."
"But as bitter tea enters the throat, its aftertaste also holds sweetness."
"It is time to face all of this."
[Yae Miko: Ei, you have stayed at home for so long. If you have questions, you can always ask me.]
[Ei: I plan to go to Liyue and study by Ningguang's side for a while.]
[Paimon: Oh? In that case, Ningguang will be very nervous too, right?]
[Ningguang: Nervous? No, I will not be.]