Shajin gave a slight nod to show he understood, but deep down, doubts swirled within him.
That power that protected my mind… it must've come from the Path of Preservation, right? Or rather, from the Aeon of Preservation— Amber Lord—Qlipoth's power?
But the other one…
"Nurture"?
"Not to transgress"?
Why do those terms feel so similar to the powers described on the village stele about the so-called "Mother Goddess"?
He had once scoffed at that stele, never taking it seriously.
After all, when his parents were swallowed by the sands while making offerings to the "Mother Goddess," he'd lost all faith in gods.
But now… it seemed he needed to return to the "village" soon. It had been a long time since he visited his sister's and parents' graves.
If the "Mother Goddess" truly existed—
Then how heartless must she be?
To let her own believers be slaughtered without lifting a finger?
Mother Goddess of the Triple Eyes…
Are you…
Watching me now?
Under the mask, Shajin's eyes narrowed, as though locking gazes with some unseen force beyond the veil of space.
The Tsaritsa…
What you wrote in that letter…
You'd better not have been lying to me…
Otherwise…
There'll be no need for Celestia to intervene…
I'll…
Make Snezhnaya…
Another Khaenri'ah.
That last line rang out like an oath—resolute and full of conviction.
...
"Mmm~"
A soft moan escaped Shenhe's lips as she lay on the ground.
It sounded like a suppressed voice finally breaking through, slowly being released.
Her body trembled faintly, as if she were undergoing an intense inner struggle.
Her brows furrowed tightly, lips quivering, as though trying to speak but unable to form the words.
Then, Shenhe's eyes slowly opened.
Her gaze was dazed and helpless, like a wounded deer groping for direction in the dark.
Her eyes drifted around the room before settling on Shajin.
He watched as the feral rage in her eyes gradually faded, returning to that calm, indifferent state from before. Then he raised his right hand.
In that instant, the chains binding Shenhe dissolved into nothingness, as if they had never existed.
She blinked, sensing her body regain its freedom, and with effort, pushed through the soreness to slowly sit up.
Cloud Retainer hurried forward to support her.
"Master, I…"
Cloud Retainer gently stroked Shenhe's head with tender affection.
"It wasn't your fault, Shenhe~"
Shajin clapped his hands lightly.
"I really hate to interrupt your touching reunion, but it's about time I took my leave."
He looked at Shenhe and Cloud Retainer, something complex flickering in his gaze.
But then he smiled faintly, crouched beside Shenhe, and gently lifted her wrist with the red cord.
Shenhe blinked in confusion.
Imaginary energy streamed from Shajin's glove, weaving into threads that coiled around her wrist and threaded through the gaps in the red cord.
A golden character—Bet—formed atop the red string.
Then, Shajin placed a Mora in her palm.
He chuckled softly.
"Heh, consider these two items my payment to Moon Carver for his divination~"
He stood up and dusted off his clothes, then turned and left Cloud Retainer's abode without hesitation.
Cloud Retainer thoughtfully eyed the "payment" Shajin left behind.
"Shenhe, how do you feel?"
Shenhe gazed blankly at Shajin's departing figure, then looked back at her master.
Tears rolled silently down her cheeks, but the corners of her mouth gently curled upward.
"M-Master… I can… I can smile now. Is this what happiness feels like?"
Cloud Retainer froze—then embraced her disciple in pure joy.
"That's… that's wonderful, Shenhe!"
Moon Carver and Mountain Shaper exchanged a glance, both seeing the astonishment in each other's eyes.
Moon Carver couldn't help but mutter with admiration,
"This Adventurine truly lives up to being someone even Rex Lapis entrusts tasks to… what a remarkable man~"
...
Shajin activated his Imaginary power, swiftly returning to the ruins of the Avgin Tribe's village.
The area was deserted now, overgrown with weeds and trees—a picture of desolate decay.
At the village's edge, Shajin stopped. He removed his mask and stared at the once-vibrant land that now echoed only silence and emptiness.
He took a deep breath. The air smelled of dust and memories.
He stepped into the village. Each stele, each ruined home whispered fragments of the past.
The Avgin village had been built near the mountains, and the stele in question lay inside a cave. With his sharp memory, Shajin quickly found it.
Inside the cave stood a massive stele nearly three meters tall.
Etched upon it were the divine powers and doctrines of the "Mother Goddess":
[Within Her "concept," the universe tasted different when □□□□.]
[She governs □□□□ spheres, inflexible in defending the rules, but it must be acknowledged—]
[Under □□□'s shelter, □□□□ are restrained, as □□□ civilization builds □□□ efficiently.]
[□□□□□□□ her era of protecting all beings shone brightly. Her miracles left echoes in the void.]
[The notes arranged □□□□□□□—and their structure became Her own voice.]
[Since the Dusk War □□□□, emptiness. Chaos reigned on earth.]
[□□□□ tore the void, thoughts piercing into matter, □□□□ unable to grasp the illusion of reality.]
[To teach the sky □□□ knowable, □□□□ born.]
[She inscribed □□□□ as the staff lines, laid out twelve □□□□ harmonic laws.]
[Reality and imagination became distinguishable □□□□ formed.]
[The first day of all creation.]
[She granted □□□□ people "truth," all beings honored the great Aeon. Glorious!]
[We, under □□□□, understood what it meant to be human—knew life but not □□□'s workings.]
[It was □□□□ who crafted the instrument, with broad white keys and narrow black ones.]
[She struck □□□□ and the sun rose, struck □□□□ and the moon lit up.]
[As □□□□ a day, with three cycles □□□□ repeating four equal steps.]
[□□□□ night, seasons, years—all □□□□ formed.]
[She granted □□□□ people "calendars," and again all beings praised the great Aeon. Glorious!]
[We □□□□□□ the laws of motion, knew how the heavens □□□□ and how to recognize one another.]
[She □□□□ a pen's tip, scripting symbols of □□□□ numbers.]
[Her pen outlined □□□□ the shape of existence.]
[□□□□ thoughts' illusions.]
[□□□□ infinity □□ from limited elements □□ arose.]
[All things numbered □□□, the matters □□□□ completed.]
[This was the □□□ day.]
[She bestowed □□□□ "language," and all □□□□.]
[□□□□ first expressed thought, understanding □□□ meanings, but not □□□ their consequence.]
[It was □□□□ who gathered diverging streams, pointing □□□□ to the source—where evil and □□□□ lay.]
[Then raised dikes in the middle, allowing □□□□ to flood.]
[The world's □□□□ and gain, matters □□□□.]
[□□□□]
[She granted □□□□ "values," and all □□□□ praised!]
[We □□□□□□ clean from foul, but □□□□ how to respond.]
[It was □□□□ who wrote codes before the people's eyes.]
[Among all peoples' values, the most sacred □□□□—those who violate must be judged.]
[The dignity and property □□□□ to each, those who uphold □□□□ shall be rewarded.]
[These are □□□□ beyond dispute. Let all of flesh and blood remember them forever.)
[T/N: Don't ask me, I know nothing about this shit. If you know something, is this some sort of referenced to a lore in the game? It's been a while since I last played this game(and also I'm not that knowledgeable in the HSR lore)]
Shajin placed his hand on the surface.
Though most of the text was faded and difficult to decipher, he still managed to grasp much of it.
So… the "Mother Goddess" that his tribe worshipped—was she an Aeon, like Qlipoth?
"Heh… things are getting more and more interesting~"
Leaving the cave, Shajin arrived at the graves of his sister and parents. Other clansfolk were buried nearby as well.
Staring at the weather-worn tombstones, a deep, inexpressible sorrow stirred in his heart.
He gently brushed his fingers over the stone, as if still feeling their warmth.
In a soft voice, he spoke.
"Sister, Father, Mother… I've returned."
It had rained yesterday. Nearby, a small puddle had formed.
In its reflection, Shajin saw his own image—clear and vivid.
He stared at "himself."
"…Ha… hahahahaha!"
He didn't even know what he was laughing at—only that he couldn't stop.
"What 'Solitary Star' and 'Disastrous Evil'?"
"What 'Heavenly Principles'?"
"What 'Aeons'?"
"All I ever wanted—was to protect myself!"
He locked eyes with his reflection—those dreamy, otherworldly pupils.
His lips moved.
"May the Mother Goddess thrice close her eyes for you…"
"Keeping your blood eternally pulsing…"
"May your journey be forever peaceful…"
"And your schemes… forever concealed. "
_
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