"影に対する稲妻"

"One handling a spear, you must find absolute balance. Polearms are often harder to use than swords. But you? You are your sisters sword." Astaroth explained, observing Ei's stance.

Nyx was her opponent, holding a bow staff as a substitute for an actual spear. The serpent grinned brightly, as the younger Raiden twin gripped her spear. Ei pursed her lips, adjusting her feet as she glared at Nyx.

On the other hand, her opponent was grinning mischievously. Nyx had always been excited at the concept of having to fight with an Archon or a sort of guard to the archon. Ei was the perfect opponent for her, as the twin and shadow of the current Electro Archon. It was perfect for her.

Astaroth oversaw the training, narrowing his eyes as he circled them from outside the decided area. There was a a circle drawn on the dirt serving as a barrier that would indicate one of the two girls loosing. If one were to pass through it, they would be deamed looser. The god of chaos fleeted his eyes between his familiar and the girl who was shoved to him to teach.

Astaroth was known to be a great teacher among the gods. He had trained Morax, Nyx, and oversaw the training of the Yaksha's. Astaroth never took a nation, often times it was said that Teyvat itself was his territory.

With the knowledge of how great of a teacher he is, Astaroth finds himself training the younger sister of the Electro Archon. He hadn't wanted to, but seeing a chance to influence an Archon arised and he hesitantly took it.

"Raiden Ei, if you do not push her out of the circle, I will make you repeat fighting with Nyx until you do so. Fail again, you will work more and more." Astaroth harshly explained, narrowing his eyes at the kagemusha.

Ei gulped.

"Begin."

Nyx was a serpent and she moved like one. Ei yelled as Nyx lunged towards her with a malicious grin, raising her staff to swiftly strike at Ei. The Kagemusha barely parried against the attack, pursing her lips as she pressed her heel against the dirt.

Ei pursed her lips, jumping back, careful not to pass the line of the circle, before striking at Nyx. Grey eyes met electric purple, grinning like a maniac as Ei plunged down her staff towards Nyx.

Nyx dodged the attack, harshly swinging her staff against the side of Ei's head, causing the Kagemusha to yell out in pain. Ei barely grazed the line, grinding her teeth as she held her wounded head.

She wanted to move, but her gaze was met with the tip of Nyx's staff. As her breath became heavy, her chest heaved, as her entire face turned red.

"Aw~ is the little Kagemusha angry? Too bad. This is the sixth time you've lost." Nyx sighed, a hand pressed against her cheek as she grinned. Ei grit her teeth, gripping the staff until a small crack was heard.

"That's enough for today. Both of you better wake up early for training, or I'll have you sit under a waterfall.." Astaroth murmured, dismissing the two. "I promised the little dragon I would be there for him."

Nyx nodded in understanding, "I will stay back for now. Please set down some flowers for Guizhing for me, I will make sure to visit soon after." She explained, and Astaroth gave her a pleasant smile. He spun on his heel, sinking into his shadow.

Nyx and Ei were left alone.

"Again." Ei demanded once she made sure Astaroth was gone. Nyx only rolled her eyes, but stepped back into the circle and mockingly spun her staff.

"Get ready to loose Kagemusha!" Nyx declared, her staff behind her as Ei glared fiercely.

Nyx was never an easy person to fight with, neither was Ei the nicer twin. Both were vicious women and ready to fight. They fought, argued, and bickered, but Nyx understood one thing. Ei was perfect for her.

The twin, the shadow of lightning and she, the shadow of chaos itself was her perfect partner. Thus both launched themselves at eachother, staffs resounding a thunderous clack as they fought and fought.

With every strike Nyx landed on Ei, the Kagemusha relentlessly pushed back. Lightning sparks against her heel, and Nyx cackled as the Kagemusha vanished for a second before appearing inches away from Nyx.

The serpentine woman reacted immediately, her hand invaded in a shadow like armor and sheilding her face from the lightning.

Neither noticed the presence of a curious little fox watching them over the roof. Her short fluffy pink hair swaying against the wind, fluffy ears and tail twitching as she watched the two in fascination and adoration. Vivid purple eyes sparkling in delight, rocking herself on her knees.

Her shrine maiden uniform gained a bit more of the dirt of the roof. Her ears twitched as she heard her name being called, face turning red in panic, before hastily getting of the roof. She didn't want to be scolded, but she wanted to watch the two women fight.

It was mesmerizing.

"Miko!"

.

Astaroth sighed, rubbing the side of his head as he glanced towards Nyx who weakly slithered beside him. She chose to be in serpent form, she didn't look like a garden snake, rather she could be compared to a python. Black scales glimmering under the dim light of the sun.

"Don't sulk. Both of them won't help our situation, and I'd prefer you have minimal interactions with either of them." Astaroth tried to reason. His familiar was as stubborn as him after all. "I understand you... Have grown close to Yae Miko and Raiden Ei, but it will not help us now. Both will want Scaramouche gone."

Nyx did not answer, slithering quietly as Astaroth walked up the steps towards tenshukaku. Lightning flashed across the sky, thunder echoing as he stood right in front of the door.

He glanced towards the shogunate guards and servants unconscious on the floor. It has already begun, and a sense of dread swallowed him quietly. He closed his eyes, sinking into the shadows as he felt another person's presence. It was fiery yet cold at the same time. He could barely recognize it, but knew that it was associated to somethin he was familiar with.

Astaroth couldn't exactly pinpoint how many people were inside Tenshukaku, but he could feel the otherworldly presence that belonged to Aether, and the divine force that belonged to Ei. He felt Nyx twitched at that, sighing before he landed right in front of supposed throne.

He stood behind 'Ei' or the puppet that looked exactly like her. Eyes narrowed before his gaze landed on Aether battling La Signora. His heart pounded in his chest as he saw the viciousness Aether displayed, sending down meteors towards La Signora in her crimson's witch form, before following with a burning tornado from her own flames.

He dodged swiftly once a fireball was aimed at him, using the wall to propel him towards the 8th harbinger and mercilessly striking at her with his sword. La Signora gasped as Aether slashed at her arm, barely even dodging it.

Astaroth was silent, watching in awe at Aether's anger and fury bubbling up like boiling water, and taking it all out on Signora.

"He's angry... He doesn't know that the soldier, Teppei, is alive." Nyx whispered, still in her serpent form.

Astaroth nodded in understanding, glancing towards the shogun who was still ignorant of their presence.

It didn't take long when Aether finally dealt the finalt blow, and La Signora was reduced to her mortal form. She was panting, holding her chest as she glared at Aether from the floor she fell to. She was defeated in the duel before the throne.

Aether's cold eyes bore into the harbinger, before turning towards the sounds of footsteps. The shogun gripped her sword tightly, moving towards them as Aether took a defenseive stance.

But to the travelers shock, Raiden Shogun sliced her sword towards La Signora. They watched as vivid blades of electricity sliced through the harbinger. They watched as she grew weaker, frailer, and nothing was left but the ashes that fleated through the air.

None of them heard it. The screams of agont and the voice begging for mercy.

Astaroth heard La Signora's―no... Rosalyne's cry, her voice entering his ears as he closed his eyes and bowed his head. He may have been a god but the dead had always been his dominion. Rosalyne was― is a child of Mondstadt and the Tsaritsa's eighth harbinger. He could only show mercy and outstretched his hand towards troublee soul frantically trying to escape the room.

The faint glow of red and blue, he saw it within the soul as it hesitantly moved towards him. His shadow moved, quickly moving towards the recently released soul, as it hurriedly brought it to Astaroth's palm.

The soul was scared, saddened but somewhat relieved to be released from the living world.

"Rosalyne-Kruzchka Lohefalter, lover of Rostam, 8th of the fatui harbinger, and the crimson witch of flame."

Her true name, her lover, her current status, and who she had become during the cataclysm. Astaroth knew this from simply holding her soul. He smiled softly, admiring such a strong headed woman who would have burned the world down for her lover. It was high time the roles had switched for the man who would destroy the world for love, to the woman who would burn it all down to avenge her lover.

A small laugh left him, "Think of this my first and only mercy to you." He declared and slipped her through a shadow portal. "Reminisce your life. Be it in Mond or in Snezhnaya, wander the lands one last time before reuniting with you lover and friends."

The soul of Rosalyne trembled, almost as if it were sobbing as it passes through the portal. Astaroth saw the silhouette of a woman with luscious blonde hair, soft blue eyes, and her red skirt swaying with the wind. Her gaze landed in the cliff of Cecilias and the sea. She turned back to him, tears in her eyes before she curtsied.

"All hail the emperor of the night, Astaroth. Her Majesty the Tsaritsa will continue to strive to judge Celestia for their crimes towards humanity." She said, trying her best not to break her composure. "I have served her for centuries and am honored that it is you who shows me such a mercy."

Rosalyne smiled, before the the portal closed. Astaroth sighed, turning back towards the four who were having a silent stand off. His silver eyes turned towards the Raiden Shogun who stood alone, but seemed to tremble at the sight of Nyx who had pushed Aether and Paimon behind her.

Her spear in hand as she glared at the puppet of the one she had considered her friend. She was listening to Astaroth's orders―do not show mercy towards her. Judge her properly for the sins and crimes she had done to her own people.

Astaroth watched her carefully.

Nyx and the Shogun prepared their own spears, ready to charge at one another. It took only a second, before the two moved. In an instant, they were inches away from each other as the purple of lightning and the obsidian of shadows covered their spears.

It was a familiar scene to Astaroth. It was over a thousand years ago― when Ei and Nyx were simply sparring with each other using wooden staffs as weapons. But this time, it was between a a puppet created by Ei and a still recovering Nyx.

They exchanged blow after blow, the remaining three watching their battle. Astaroth closed his eyes and sighed.

"That's enough." He said, snapping his fingers as a burst of darkness blew them apart. Nyx was not too affected by the explosions of darkness, but the puppet had shielded herself. He saw the patches of black on her arm, the sound of her hissing pain at the blow.

He raised his arm again, opening his palm as the dark mist covered the entire room. He silently ordered for Nyx to move Aether and Paimon out of the room, before following them out. As the darkness dispersed, the puppet was left alone.

Outside of the room, Aether and Paimon were ushered out of tenshukaku with Nyx and Astaroth following. The traveler panted, turning towards the two beings of darkness before gathering Paimon in his arms.

"Noir! I―"

"The people of watatsumi are okay. Kokomi and Nyx managed to save them from death. Although some of them have lost a few years..." Astaroth quickly explained as Aethers eyes grew wide.

Tears welled in the travelers eyes, lunging towards Astaroth crying out his thanks before huffing Nyx. He sobbed, thankful that his friend ―Teppei― was alright. He wiped his tears away, flinching at the sound of thunder crashing.

Astaroth's gaze turned towards the sky, the once clear sky was shrouded in purple clouds as lightning sparked. He glanced towards Aether, who flinched at the sight of the purple glow. He hummed softly, watching as the traveler held his throbbing head. Paimon screamed as lightning hit a rooftop.

"Agh... The musuo no hitotachi." Aether whispered not noticing how Nyx stiffened. "We... I need to get to the plane of Euthymia." He murmured, stumbling down the steps. Astaroth quickly supported him, his arm around Aether's waist.

"Astaroth― the plane of Euthymia..."

"Shh... We'll deal with that later, right now... You are in need of rest."

Aether dazedly shook his head, whining as he tried to pry himself of Astaroth. But they froze as they heard the sounds of footsteps. He quickly turned back to his mortal disguise, black hair turning white as the watatsumi troops hurried up the steps. Aether's eyes gleamed seeing them, "Kazuha! Gorou!" He yelled.

But Aether saw the way Kazuha's eyes dilate. Astaroth felt the prickling sensation of lightning and snapped his head towards the glow of purple. "Shogun!" He yelled, just as Kazuha moved with a burst of lightning.

Astaroth was frozen as he watched as the young man who wielded anemo use the power of electro. Kazuba parried the shoguns blade, finally overpowering her and lightning burst through the air. Kazuba was pushed back, falling down the steps as Gorou caught him.

The watatsumi troops cried out the name of their island and charged. Aether quickly pushed Astaroth away and charged at the Shogun. Nyx and Astaroth yelled out to him, chasing him as Aether summoned the power of electro and his blade was coated in purple light.

Reality began to break, and Astaroth reacted in an instant. He formed a walk of sceo to stop the mortals from entering the plane of Euthymia, as he and Nyx landed right after Aether. The god of chaos could feel the buzz of power, a divine turmoil as his eyes turned towards what Nyx was staring at.

The one before him was not a puppet.

"So... We meet again." Ei spoke, before she turned towards Astaroth and Nyx. A small smile graced her lips.

"It's been far too long... My lord, Nyx."

"...Ei..."