Genshin Impact, I, a mere mortal, cannot accompany you to the very end.

Slender osmanthus blossoms lightly on the hall, dark purple braids hanging down her back, swaying gently in the wind.

She wore a purple kimono with gentian flowers embroidered on the collar. The sleeves on the left and right sides were of different lengths, hanging down behind her, with purple and gold tassels cascading down as well.

In her exquisitely beautiful pale purple eyes, thunder seemed to strike, reflecting the image of Sara.

Majestic. Lonely.

Sara bowed slowly, placed her katana on the ground, knelt on one knee, and paid her respects.

“Kiyono...Sara. I remember you, you are a samurai of the Kiyono family.”

The general spoke slowly, "Are you sure you want to do this?"

“Yes.” Kiyono Sara raised her head, her bright golden eyes reflecting the general’s gaze, and said earnestly.

"Yes, I have decided to do so."

"Is this his intention? Or yours?"

The general's voice was calm and unwavering.

"This is His Excellency's instruction. It is also my decision."

silence.

In the almost suffocating silence, time slowly passed, the sun gradually shifted, and the reflections of the pine and cypress trees outside the palace rotated, climbed along the palace wall, and finally landed on General Thunder and Lightning.

During this time, the general kept her head slightly lowered. After a long while, as if she had come back to her senses, she said:

"...Let him come to me in person."

...

In a place where nothing exists in the world, in the depths of eternity, in a boundless pure land, a desolate shrine stands, and the red sun hangs upside down—this is a realm where time stands still.

The warrior who wields the eternal thunder of Inazuma, who commands the thunder of authority, and who pursues eternal solitude—Ray Movie—slowly opened his eyes.

For the first time in a long time, she felt a sense of confusion.

This is something that hasn't happened in many years.

---

P.S. 1. Everyone, please be patient, let me be anxious first...

The reason for the slow updates is that I'm stockpiling chapters; I write two chapters and save one... I feel very insecure if I don't have tens of thousands of chapters saved up during the new book season...

Volume 1: Chapter 8 I will always be by your side

As the shadow stood atop the high platform of the castle tower, looking down at Kiyono Sara in front of the hall, he suddenly felt somewhat dazed.

Or rather, a sense of familiarity.

It seems familiar.

A slightly chilly breeze brushed against her cheeks.

The snow fell like cherry blossoms, gently sprinkling into the palace, melting away almost instantly. On the steps outside the hall, a layer of snow, about an inch thick, had already accumulated, marking the season of a world draped in white.

The snow and sunlight blended together, making it too blurry to see clearly.

But Ying first met him in the height of summer.

At that time, in the ancient and solemn hall of the castle tower, she still stood on the high platform.

At that time, she was not yet the supreme ruler of Narukami, who wielded the Inazuma Thunder.

She is her sister's shadow warrior, a martial artist obsessed with martial arts.

Ying still remembers the sky that day: the scorching sunlight stirred up restless heat, the air was murky and unclear, and the vibrant green leaves of the tall trees and the hoarse chirping of cicadas, with a gentle breeze like a painting.

Late-blooming pure white cherry blossoms covered the long steps, just like the fresh snow today.

That day was the imperial examination.

Obsessed with martial arts, she attended the competition in place of her sister.

Unlike the duels before the emperor, the Imperial Tournament is a seven-day competition where warriors from Inazuma compete against the emperor at the castle tower. The victorious warrior receives a reward from the god of war, which is a great honor.

He was not a pillar of the state general, nor was he the thunder of Inazuma; he was still a boy.

Osmanthus steps onto the cherry blossom-covered steps, her long kimono cascading naturally at her feet.

The border was decorated with snake and wine patterns, and the long sleeves hung down, revealing two slender, fair arms. One hand held an ancient and heavy katana.

Stepping on osmanthus leaves, the osmanthus leaves brushing against cherry blossoms, and dragging his slender katana, he ascended the steps.

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

The kneeling samurai on both sides, with their hair tied up, wearing armor and black kimonos, all stared at him with shocked and astonished eyes.

Kiyono was the champion of this tournament. At only sixteen years old, he defeated all the samurai in Inazuma.

The boy slowly pushed open the heavy door of the castle tower, and the scorching sunlight shone in. Just like Kiyono Sara today, he knelt down on one knee.

"The reward you requested," she said calmly, seemingly unconcerned. "I already know that."

"—Become Narukami's personal attendant."

"But unfortunately."

“I don’t need attendants, and I never have.”

Her tone was calm and natural, and her eyes showed little emotion; she simply said:

"No one can withstand my blade, therefore no one has the qualifications."

“Protect me,”

"The path of no thought needs no companions."

After he finished speaking, the scorching sunlight seemed to go out, the air fell silent, dark clouds piled up in the leaden sky, and thunder rumbled faintly.

The thunder was imposing and awe-inspiring.

She is a shadow, a god, and a warrior. A warrior has her own unique pride and self-restraint, and a warrior does not need the protection of another warrior.

not to mention--

He was just an ordinary person.

"Nothing to think of, as expected of Narukami."

“You really like martial arts, I can tell. You truly love this path, but you must get bored just sitting in the stands watching the warriors fight.”

Faced with the imposing majesty of thunder, in a suffocating atmosphere,

But the boy did not give up, nor did he retreat. On the contrary, he slowly raised his head, his silvery eyes clear and pure, revealing a lawless smile:

"Then, Your Majesty, let me meet your Wuxiang."

"Being able to witness that stab with my own eyes makes this life worthwhile!"

“If I can withstand your blade,” he straightened up, his spine erect, facing the thunder, “then you will grant my request.”

Exhale.

With a swift movement, the young man stepped forward and drew his sword toward Narukami, who sat atop the throne.

...

No one knows what happened that day.

All that is known is that in the height of summer, dense clouds rose up, and a vast expanse of lightning flashed through the gaps in the clouds.

The world was turned upside down in an instant, and it was gone in an instant. After the thunder, the world was still bright and clear.

The shadow stared at him without the slightest pity.

He was covered in blood, half of his samurai uniform torn open, revealing bloody skin. A huge wound pierced through his shoulder blade and cut open his abdomen, but he still stood, his spine straight, still holding the sword.

He still wore that lawless smile, and although lightning passed over his body, it could not bring him down.

It was as if no amount of suffering could destroy him.

He smiled, his silver-gray eyes seeming to say, "I won."

The boy was badly injured, almost on the verge of death—Shadow hadn't held back with her strike; she had unleashed the full power of that strike, a strike capable of destroying mountains and rivers.

Anyone who dares to offend the throne and draw their sword on the castle tower must be prepared to lose their life.

Furthermore, Shadow is also a martial artist. When another martial artist risks his life to challenge her, holding back becomes a desecration.

To Ling Ying's slight surprise, the boy survived.

He remained so small, and the shadow gazed into his eyes, saying:

"But you've miscalculated, and you've come to the wrong person, mortal."

Ying said calmly:

"I am not Narukami, my name is Kage. I am merely my sister's shadow dancer, a mere shadow. If you wish to become Narukami's protector, I can recommend you..."

"That--"

The conversation was interrupted.

The boy spoke softly, and in the midsummer sunlight, he fell onto the cherry blossoms that covered the steps, his body plummeting down, sending the cherry blossoms flying.

"Then let me stay by Shadow's side forever."

He said this, then closed his eyes wearily and fell into a deep sleep.

This was their first encounter.

Ying looked down from the high platform at the boy who had collapsed with a thud, listened to his last words, and smiled with a hint of helplessness.

forever...?

There is no such thing as forever...

What can mortals possibly talk about 'forever'?

That's overestimating their abilities.

"Ah, mortals...in the face of eternity, are but a fleeting moment of life..."