"The sights of the floating world remain unchanged through a hundred thousand years, yet human life is but dew and an illusion. Void."
Raiden Shogun stood at the bridgehead, gazing at the rushing water below as she softly recited the words to herself.
"Hm? Are you the Shogun now, or Ei?"
Raiden Mei stood beside Raiden Ei. Hearing her recite those lines, she could not help but pause in surprise. She was suddenly getting sentimental.
However, Mei noticed that several little sparrows—birds Qiqi liked—had landed on the Raiden Shogun. She found it rather curious.
The Raiden Shogun was someone ordinary people dared not approach, yet these tiny sparrows showed no fear of her whatsoever. They even seemed exceptionally close to her.
"Of course it is me, not the Shogun! When I am traveling with you, I will not let the Shogun take my place."
Hearing Raiden Mei's question, Ei answered with great seriousness. To her, traveling alongside Raiden Mei at this moment felt like taking a stroll with her sister Makoto.
How could she bear to leave and let the Shogun replace her?
As she answered, Ei raised a finger and watched an adorable little sparrow land upon it. At that moment, she looked incredibly gentle and lovely.
Even as gods, they had still walked this land in person and traveled alongside humans. Gods and mortals had experienced long ages together.
Several centuries ago, when her sister and she were both still here, the two ate and slept together. They endured illness and war together, witnessed death, and beheld new life.
Then, on that day, she watched "her" collapse in her arms. There was no saving her. Ei had been caught completely off guard... her mind went blank, and only a god's tears continued to fall.
She had thought an