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Chapter 19

The storm in Inazuma showed no signs of abating, and the group gathered in the inn's main hall to strategize. The encounter at the Sacred Sakura had left more questions than answers, and Furina was pacing restlessly.

"They keep escaping!" she exclaimed, her frustration evident. "Every time we think we've cornered them, they slip through our fingers."

"We need information," Neuvillette said, his calm voice a stark contrast to Furina's agitation. "The figure's power is ancient, and their knowledge of the Archons is too precise. Someone in Inazuma must know more."

Yoshika leaned against the wall, her spear resting beside her. "The Raiden Shogun mentioned an archive beneath the Grand Narukami Shrine. If there's any record of similar threats, it would be there."

Arlecchino nodded from her seat. "It's worth investigating. But if we go, we'll likely face more traps or worse."

Furina's eyes sparkled with renewed energy. "A hidden archive? Drama and danger? Count me in!"

---

The path to the archive led them deep beneath the shrine, where ancient torches flickered to life as they descended. The air grew colder, the walls lined with intricate carvings depicting Inazuma's history.

At the heart of the chamber stood a massive stone door, its surface inscribed with Electro symbols.

"This must be it," Lyney said, running his fingers over the carvings. "But how do we open it?"

Neuvillette stepped forward, channeling his Hydro vision. The water swirled around his hand, merging with the symbols on the door. Slowly, the mechanisms clicked into place, and the door groaned open.

Inside, rows of ancient scrolls and tablets were neatly arranged, their glow faint but steady. Lynette moved silently among them, her eyes scanning for anything of relevance.

"Here," she said, pulling out a scroll. "It mentions a group called the Abyss Heralds, servants of a greater power seeking to disrupt Teyvat's balance."

Arlecchino frowned. "Servants? Then the cloaked figure isn't the mastermind."

Furina picked up a dusty tome, flipping through its pages. "It says here that the Heralds once sought to unravel the seals of the Seven Nations. If they succeed..." Her voice trailed off, her expression grim.

Neuvillette finished the thought. "The gods' connection to Celestia would weaken, leaving Teyvat vulnerable to forces beyond our understanding."

Yoshika's grip tightened on her spear. "They've already begun."

---

As they left the archive, the storm outside had reached a fever pitch. Thunder rumbled like an ominous drumroll, and lightning illuminated the sky in bursts.

"They'll strike again soon," Neuvillette said. "And this time, we must be ready."

Furina turned to Yoshika, her usual bravado replaced with a quiet determination. "We've come this far together. Whatever happens next, we face it side by side."

Yoshika nodded, her dark pink eyes meeting Furina's. "Always."

---
𝖠𝖭 𝗇𝗈𝗍𝖾: ! 𝖲𝗈 𝗂𝗇𝖿𝗈𝗋𝗆𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇, 𝗆𝗒 𝗈𝖼 𝖸𝗈𝗌𝗁𝗂𝗄𝖺 𝗂𝗌 𝗈𝗋𝗂𝗀𝗂𝗇𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝖿𝗋𝗈𝗆 𝖢𝖾𝗅𝖾𝗌𝗍𝗂𝖺🙏 𝗒𝖾𝖺 𝗂𝗍 𝗆𝖺𝗒 𝗌𝗈𝗎𝗇𝖽 𝗈𝗉 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝗂 𝗐𝖺𝗇𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝗅𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝖻𝖾 𝗂𝗇𝗍𝖾𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗒𝖺𝗒.