The Kamisato Estate was nestled at the foot of Mt. Yougou, serving as both the headquarters of the Yashiro Commission and the ancestral home of the Kamisato Clan. A small village had formed around it, where most of the shrine maidens resided.
Mt. Yougou was massive, and the descent from its summit took considerable time. If one started the journey in the evening, they would only reach the base by dawn. Lumine was never one to follow conventional paths - her first arrival in Mondstadt involved battling Stormterror, while her entry into Liyue saw her branded a fugitive. With so many unconventional experiences, taking the beaten track hardly suited her.
She simply glided down.
Using the wind glider obtained in Mondstadt, she leapt from the heights and slowly descended through aerodynamics, landing directly at the mountain's base. This method was only slightly slower than free-falling.
Before long, she and Paimon were being hosted by Kamisato Ayaka at the estate.
"Paimon, my apologies if the hospitality is lacking," Ayaka said gently.
She had just witnessed Paimon devouring food with hurricane-like intensity - a sight both astonishing yet somehow endearing when it came to the little companion.
"Ayaka, we're the ones imposing by visiting so suddenly," Lumine replied.
Kamisato Ayaka asked, "What imposition? We're friends. Lumine, did you just come down from the mountain?"
There was only one mountain on Narukami Island - Mt. Yougou.
Lumine nodded. "Yes."
"Then... does Lumine know what's happening at the shrine?" Ayaka pressed.
"We know all about that!" Paimon swallowed her mouthful of dessert and puffed her chest proudly.
Her expression clearly said 'Ask me, I know everything.'
Lumine covered her mouth, laughing.
They were currently enjoying post-dinner desserts. After Lumine and Paimon's unexpected visit, Ayaka had immediately arranged for a meal, served with remarkable efficiency.
There was still time before dawn, perfect for this relaxed moment. Even though Lumine was full, some tea sounded wonderful.
"Then, dear Paimon, could you explain?"
"Of course! Hehe, after all these delicious treats Ayaka prepared, how could I refuse? It's all the Shrine Priest's doing," Paimon explained. "He seems to be preparing something called the 'Hyakki Yagyou' that requires ley lines. The Traveler and I have been helping!"
Paimon outlined the general situation, though only in broad strokes.
Lumine added, "Let me fill in some details."
Unlike Paimon, she better understood the meaning behind the priest's cryptic words. His goal was to use the ley line blossoms' monster-spawning properties to revive those youkai.
As Kamisato Ayaka listened to Lumine's explanation, her earlier confusion dissipated.
Recently, samurai around Grand Narukami Shrine had withdrawn - an order from the Shogun. Then came another decree instructing the Tenryou Commission to ignore the abnormal ley line activity near Mt. Yougou. The priest's earlier request for Hyakki Yagyou records through the Yashiro Commission now made perfect sense.
Was everything leading to tonight?
"Ayaka! Traveler! Look outside! What's that?! Wow!!!"
Paimon's exclamation made them both turn to the window, glimpsing a sliver of the extraordinary sight through the narrow frame.
Lumine remembered the starry sky with its full moon when she descended the mountain. Now, all she saw was an expanse of dark mist.
The stars had been blotted out.
In the next instant, both she and Ayaka moved simultaneously to the courtyard for a better view of this phenomenon.
The sky was partially obscured, leaving only a circular opening where the cold moonlight shone through.
"That opening will close too," Lumine predicted.
The black mist expanded outward and inward. The moon's light would soon be completely hidden.
"Lumine, can you see clearly? I think... there are figures moving in that dark mist," Ayaka said quietly.
The mist hovered incredibly high, yet Ayaka could discern shapes rising from Mt. Yougou's peak - shadowy silhouettes floating upward.
Memories surfaced. "Those are youkai," Lumine said.
"Youkai?" Ayaka gazed upward, witnessing history unfold.
Time flowed as batches of youkai ascended, finally sealing away the last traces of moonlight.
Then they saw it - a massive white fox emerging from the shrine, soaring toward the heavens.
...
Kujou Sara had recently become one of Inazuma's most unique figures. Personally trained by the Shogun herself in martial arts.
All Inazuman combat and forging techniques originated from the Almighty Shogun. That "Musou no Hitotachi" had remained an insurmountable peak for warriors across centuries.
Tonight, as the "hyakki" took to the skies, blotting out the stars, she stood with shrine maidens in a quiet corner of Grand Narukami Shrine, observing the spectacle.
Youkai.
In Inazuma, they had become creatures of legend. Beyond the occasional tanuki, how many true youkai remained? The oni population had seen slight growth after the Blue Oni clan's return from exile years ago.
But the once-famous tengu... seemed to have dwindled to just herself.
Bearing tengu blood yet raised among humans, Kujou Sara had always identified as part of the Kujou Clan. Yet... recent encounters with fallen tengu warriors stirred unfamiliar emotions.
She carried the Kujou name's honor - but who would uphold the glory of those ancient tengu? Their living history had faded into stories where tengu were no longer the sky guardians of Inazuma, but mere characters in folktales.
Watching the youkai ascend, Sara felt a pang of melancholy - her first since coming to Mt. Yougou.
"Sara, what troubles you? Would you share your thoughts?"
The sudden voice made Sara blink, quickly schooling her features back to the Shogun's icy composure.
"Lady Guuji, please maintain propriety."
"My, I only came to comfort poor Sara in her sadness. Must you be so cold?"
Sara remained silent - the best strategy with Yae Miko was nonengagement. Bore her, and she would leave.
Yet tonight, the Guuji seemed unusually persistent. Leaning on the railing, she pointed skyward. "Look how long these youkai have been reveling. That little one only just joined them. Honestly, why indulge their frenzy? Won't they have more chances later?"
Sara kept her silence.
But Yae continued, undeterred, "Sara, I do look forward to seeing your interactions with those tengu after their revival."
If Sara wouldn't play along, it mattered little. Among those youkai were plenty who would.