Ever since the previous life, when he was reincarnated as Orobashi, the Raiden Shogun, Ei, and Makoto had been deeply distressed. They had searched for their brother for so many years, but found no trace of him. Never in their wildest dreams did they imagine that while they were searching, he had appeared beside them twice—and they had been completely unaware. Worse, they had raised their blades against him twice, sending their beloved brother into a new cycle of reincarnation with the Musou no Hitotachi.
Can you imagine that feeling? To have seen their brother yet not recognized him, and then to have struck him down twice with that peerless blade. It was unbearable.
But fortunately, their brother had not truly died. He had entered a new reincarnation. There was still a chance to reunite.
After two lifetimes of cutting him down, Ei was already numb. She had only one thought now: let the storyteller finish all the stories quickly. She wanted to know where her brother had been reincarnated in this present life. She wanted to see him as soon as possible, to say she was sorry, to cry and embrace him, to tell him about all the years that had passed, to let him taste the food she had made, to eat sweet dumplings with him, to make him the ruler of Inazuma, to give him the highest honor.
There was so much she wanted to do when she saw him again. She wished that day would come soon.
Seeing the Raiden Shogun still crying, Ei, who was usually cold and proud, learned to comfort others.
"Shogun, don't cry anymore. This life is over. Perhaps the next life is the final one. Our brother will appear before us soon. Do you want him to see you like this, weeping?"
She gently tugged Makoto's sleeve and gave her a look, signaling her to say something to stop the Shogun from crying.
Ei also found it strange. As a puppet, the Shogun should have had difficulty crying. But once she started, she couldn't stop.
If the people of Inazuma could see their Shogun now, they would never believe it. The always cold-faced Raiden Shogun, crying like this. It was completely unbefitting of her status.
But it was understandable. Ever since Ei created her, the Raiden Shogun had possessed the same appearance, the same memories, the same personality as Ei. Ei's brother was naturally the Shogun's brother as well. Crying for him was only natural.
Beside them, Makoto, who had been silent, finally spoke. "Ei is right. What we need to do now is to welcome our brother back in the best possible state. But have you considered one question?"
Her tone was serious. Ei was confused.
"What question?" Ei asked.
Makoto said seriously, "We only know that our brother keeps reincarnating, and in each life, he is killed. Have you ever wondered who is making him go through all this? And for what purpose?"
From the very beginning, Makoto had been thinking about this. Reincarnation—even they, as powerful archons, could not understand it, let alone touch it. The one who could make their brother reincarnate must be something above the Seven.
After much thought, Makoto could only think of one name: the Heavenly Principles.
Ei was stunned. Indeed, though only seven lives had been told so far, the coincidences were too many.
In the first life, he saved the Raiden sisters. In the second, he raised Qiqi and saved Liyue. In the third, he influenced Barbatos, helping him become the Anemo Archon of Mondstadt. In the fourth, he became Durin, destined to be Mondstadt's guardian but was turned into a weapon by Rhinedottir. In the fifth, he slew a monster and saved Shenhe. In the sixth, he single-handedly created Watatsumi Island and saved the people of Enkanomiya. In the seventh, he challenged the Raiden Shogun to a duel before the throne, and though he died by her blade, he inspired many samurai in Inazuma afterward.
Each reincarnation, he fulfilled a mission of redemption. Each death was accompanied by a major event that shaped Teyvat. He had visited Mondstadt, Inazuma, and Liyue, affecting the entire continent with his actions.
If one such reincarnation were a coincidence, seven in a row surely were not.
That was why Makoto's expression was so serious.
Beside her, Ei, Zhongli, and Barbatos all frowned. This cycle of reincarnation was beyond their understanding. Even as archons, they could not comprehend it.
After a moment, Ei spoke. "Could it be related to eternity?"
Having once pursued eternity, that was the first thing that came to her mind.
Makoto shook her head gently. "I don't know. We don't even know the reason or the details of the reincarnation. Based only on these stories, we cannot yet guess the purpose."
She had thought for a long time but could not figure out the cause.
Zhongli said calmly, "Reincarnation is not something that can be explained in a few words. I believe that when the storyteller finishes all the cycles, the truth will eventually come to light."
Barbatos agreed. "I hope he finishes soon. Then I can hear him play the harp again."
At that moment, everyone connected to these stories was waiting for the return of Li Mo. And they believed it would not be long.
As they spoke, the Raiden Shogun listened carefully and finally stopped crying.
Not only the Shogun, but all the listeners in the inn were also discussing.
"Seven reincarnations already. How many more will there be? My heart can't take much more—"
"I can still hold on. Help me up—I'm not crazy!"
"Storyteller, tell us the next life. I refuse to believe that every one of his lives is so tragic. Surely there's one that's sweet, right?"
"Will the next life return to Liyue?"
"You've told stories about the Anemo Archon and the Electro Archon. After so many days, when will you tell the story of our Rex Lapis?"