A century after the Cataclysm of Khaenri'ah, Inazuma faced yet another series of calamities. Amidst the ruins of a nation struggling to rebuild, a half-elf set foot upon this land shrouded in thunder.
For several years, the half-elf lived among the people of Inazuma, learning their customs and gaining a clear understanding of their political landscape. Then, he challenged the Raiden Shogun to a duel before the throne.
But this was no ordinary duel.
The half-elf's challenge was one of governance—he wagered that he could transform the poorest village in Inazuma, Higi Village on Yashiori Island, into its wealthiest. In return, he asked the Shogun to teach him her supreme martial arts.
The Shogun accepted.
Her kitsune familiar, equally intrigued, demanded to participate as well. The rules were simple: each would develop a destitute village, and whoever achieved the greatest prosperity would win. The loser would grant the victor a single request.
Unlike blood-soaked battles, this unconventional contest aligned perfectly with Inazuma's war-weary mood. Soon, the nation buzzed with debates—the Shogun, her familiar, and the mysterious half-elf became the talk of the land.
Under their guidance, the two chosen villages flourished.
As a native and the Shogun's chosen, the kitsune held every advantage—heaven's favor, geography, and popular support. Yet, against all odds… she lost.
The half-elf's brilliance turned the tide.
First, he pioneered a revolutionary steel-forging technique—"Jade Steel"—securing massive military contracts that revitalized Higi Village's economy and brought its youth home.
With sharper blades, the Shogunate swiftly crushed rebellions on Yashiori Island, driving the forces of Watatsumi into retreat.
Then, sensing Watatsumi's war-weariness, the half-elf brokered peace. Trade resumed between Narukami and Watatsumi, and Higi Village, sandwiched between the two, became the hub of this newfound commerce.
The irony was palpable.
For years, Higi Village had languished under the crossfire of civil strife. Now, that very strife became its salvation.
None could deny the half-elf's hand in this miracle, not even the proud kitsune. With grace, she conceded defeat.
His victory was threefold:
He ended Inazuma's civil war.
He revitalized its economy.
He won the duel.
Overnight, the half-elf became a legend.
The Shogun honored her promise, imparting her divine martial arts. The kitsune, bound by her word, vowed to fulfill any request—even herself.
As a celestial fox of peerless beauty and status, she had countless suitors. Yet her heart had never wavered… until him.
Just as the world assumed the half-elf would claim his "prize," he made a baffling demand:
"Let me serve as your aide. Let me help govern Inazuma."
The kitsune agreed.
From then on, they were inseparable. By day, the half-elf worked beside her, less an assistant, more a mentor, teasing her even as he taught her statecraft. By night, he trained under the Shogun's tutelage.
Whispers spread. Some speculated the half-elf harbored grander ambitions, to claim both the god and her familiar.
And indeed, he might have succeeded. Both held him in rare esteem.
But just as the world grew accustomed to his presence… he left.
The day he mastered the Shogun's arts, he bid the kitsune farewell.
"I was born in Fontaine, raised in Mondstadt, and honed my skills in Liyue. Inazuma was where I tested my ideals. Now that they've proven true… It's time for me to go."
The kitsune was furious.
She saw his departure as a ploy, a threat to force her and the Shogun into submission. She vowed to expose his "true nature" to the Shogun unless he stayed, even hinting she might… accommodate his desires.
But the half-elf was no manipulator. His resolve was firm.
"Inazuma is too small for my ambitions. The wind calls me onward."
After settling his affairs, he vanished, leaving only a letter for the Shogun.
Its contents plunged her into silence. With a sigh, she retreated into her Plane of Euthymia, entrusting Inazuma to a puppet.
The kitsune never saw that letter.
His abrupt departure left her reeling—betrayed, furious, heartbroken. She had hesitated too long, and now… she was alone.
"If I'd swallowed my pride… if I'd agreed to share him with her… would things be different?"
Eventually, she realized the truth:
He was never hers to keep.
The half-elf had never expressed a desire for either her or the Shogun. All along, she had deluded herself.
That night, when she offered to "help" him… had he laughed at her folly?
Hatred festered. She purged every trace of him—burning portraits, sinking furniture into the sea. Only the Shogun's realm might still hold remnants of his presence… but she could not enter.
Time, however, heals all wounds. The once naive fox spirit matured into the true pillar of Inazuma. Even as the Shogun secluded herself, Inazuma continued to progress.
Eventually, the attendant grew weary of ruling. She relinquished her power and withdrew to the shadows. Even foolish policies like the Sakoku Decree, she chose to ignore.
She thought: "If Inazuma crumbles… will she return? And will he? They might reunite, just like old times."
But the Inazuma only fell deeper into decay. The aging, corrupt noble clans held all the power, and foreign interference pushed the nation further into the abyss. The Shogun remained indifferent. The half-elf was nowhere to be found.
Her hope withered…
Until news arrived from Fontaine.
The name she had buried for centuries resurfaced.
And for the first time in ages…
Her heart stirred.
She would see him once more.