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Baal, Ei, The Raiden Shogun.
She was known by so many names, and more. At least if Sara was the one being asked. Sara had her own names for the woman she served so fiercely.
Darling, dearest, my beloved.
Their love was a beautiful poem. One that started and ended with tragedy. Sara knew that. Had she not known, she likely wouldn’t have signed on to protect the archon. Sara wanted to be immortalized as well. Not through eternal life, rather through memory. Everyone would remember their love. When Sara passed, she knew Ei would immortalize her memory to the people of Inazuma.
Sara knew things other people in the nation would never know. How Ei had a sweet tooth. how the woman couldn’t cook. Or, how she needed a lantern in her room if he wished to sleep. If her people didn’t understand the good she was doing, it didn’t faze the archon. She and Sara saw eye to eye on most things. Perhaps the only place they differed was the Vision Hunt Decree.
It wasn’t even a difference, just a slight confusion between the pair. Sara thought some people should have visions, to avoid the Fatui delusions becoming popular. Ei seemed unresponsive to such a thing, because there hadn’t been a threat of the Fatui. Not yet. However, she found that the other woman was slowly shifting her opinion day by day. Sara was able to make a difference! Could visions return to Inazuma?
“Sara, if you could give a vision to someone, who would it be?”
She couldn’t even explain it. Sara knew plenty of people who deserved visions, but she knew that things would not do much. “My troops I suppose.” She tilted her head. “I’m afraid I don’t know too many people who would deserve it.”
Seemingly pleased with the answer, Ei nodded. “I think…” She began. “I think if I were to give visions, it would be to those of other lands.” She exhaled slowly. “The way that the other archons come here, gift their visions… It almost feels disrespectful to me. They know about the decree, yet they still hand out visions to our people.”
Our people. Sara was a part of the ‘our’. Ei’s people, but her own as well. “They’re actively harming them.” Sara understood that. She understood what the other woman meant. Neither of them were people who wished to hurt the citizens of Inazuma. At the same time, the people of Inazuma could become a danger to themselves. Being given a vision and not knowing how to use it could be fatal. Not only to themselves, but those around them. It wasn’t what was needed.
“Exactly.” Ei frowned. “They’re actively harming them.” Repeating Sara’s words, she shook her head. “They are threatening our eternity. Trying to destroy our people. Sara, we must do the same to them I suppose.” Ei didn’t look like she meant that though. Not entirely.
Sara knew who Ei had gifted visions to. There was a short list, a scroll kept in her chambers. The two women had added to the list occasionally. Not that Sara was able to gift visions to anyone. Ei would meditate, and they would come to her. Lonely people in other nations, those in need. Those were the ones who deserved an electro vision. Ei liked to seek out those in need, and give them visions. Those were who she found deserving.
She hadn’t actually done a single thing to prevent the Fatui. Sara was unaware. Ei knew though. Ei had feigned innocence, unsure of how the Fatui had wormed their way into the heart of Inazuma. Things would change. They truly had no strength when it all came down to it. She cared for Sara so deeply, but there were some things that weren’t meant for mortals to worry over. Sara had her own worldly concerns and desires. Ei wasn’t meant to take such things away from her with things that didn’t truly concern her.
One day, Sara’s life would fade. Ei was tired of burdening the other woman with things that would prove pointless and menial in the future.
“Sara,” she said. “Do you think we worry too much?”
Sara looked stunned by the question. “What do you mean by that?”
“We spend so much time focusing on our land, and I know that we do so with good reason. But you, Sara, you need a day of rest.”
Sara seemed stunned. “But your Maj-”
Ei raised her hand and shook her head. “Sara, you need a day of rest. I command it.” She smiled just slightly at the other’s pale face. “Worry not. One day of rest for you will not be the end. It isn’t as if my shell is in use, it’s me.” Ei
--
Things were simpler then. Now? Now it was alright. They were past the Vision Hunt Decree. Ei and Sara had plenty of days off. That was then, this was now.
“Today, I’m going to teach you to cook. Alright Ei?” Sara looked over at her with a grin. “Egg rolls, your favorite.”
Now it was Ei’s turn to pale as Sara spoke to her. “Oh, Sara I appreciate it but I’m not sure an archon should ever be able to do such a thing like this.”
“Nonsense,” Sara shook her head with a grin. “No, no you need to at least give it a shot Ei. You’ll never know if you can’t do it if you don’t try.” She winked. “Or should I find Yae to have her tell you such a thing?”
Ei quickly shook her own head. “No!” She said. She didn’t need her longtime friend over to lecture her. “I’ll cook if that is what you want.” She smiled over at the other, trying to light the fire. Even that was difficult for her. It was clear that even if Ei had loosened her grasp on being perfect, there were things that flustered her.
Sara blinked, watching as the woman’s face grew redder by the second. “Here,” she had taken Ei’s hand in her own and guided her. “You light it like this.”
“I suppose it would be easier if I had a pyro vision,” Ei muttered under her breath. Sara only chuckled, watching as the fire finally lit. It was the way that Ei’s eyes lit up which made her own face grow red with blush. Though it wasn’t embarrassment for Sara, it was love.
That was when she decided she needed to confess to the other. She had never said a word to Ei. Ei didn’t know how Sara felt towards her. Their love– whatever it may have been– was not official. Their love was as one-sided as it could get. Their eyes locked, and Sara felt her breath catch in her chest.
“Raiden,” she said. So softly, almost sheepishly. “I… I want to serve you forever.” Sara couldn’t say anything good. Not romantic. It was so difficult for her to do! How come her words fell flat? It was so hard to say anything good. How unfair.
“I appreciate it, Sara.” Something in the taller woman’s demeanor had shifted just a bit. “I apologize, I must leave.” She stood up and walked out of the room.
That was the last time Sara had spoken with her.
Raiden Ei was more distant now. She was seen with Yae Miko more often. The next time she spoke with Sara was to tell the other woman that she didn’t need her services. Her exact words were: “We need to rebuild Inazuma. In a new way.” With a smile, and a recommendation for Sara to explore the world. So that was what Sara had decided to do. She needed to leave, to get as far away from the love she could never have.