Ei poured the tea herself, taking her time before speaking.
When she finally looked up, her expression was solemn.
"I want to understand how you were brought back. From what I know, when a god dies, their power either returns to the Ley Lines or crystallizes into divine residue. In either case, the god is truly gone. There should be no path to revival. And yet… you…"
She drew in a quiet breath.
"You came back. If that's possible, then… you must know how to restore another god as well. Don't you?"
The hope in her eyes was impossible to ignore.
For a fleeting second, Lora almost said yes—almost promised her she could bring Makoto back.
But she exhaled softly instead.
"I'm sorry, Ei. I wish I could tell you I understand it. But I don't. I don't even know why I returned."
Her own existence was an anomaly—Egeria's fading consciousness entwined with something from beyond this world. It wasn't a method. It wasn't a technique. It was an accident no one could reproduce.
And she certainly couldn't tell Ei the truth—that she came from another world and had no intention of tearing open reality just to test a theory.
Silence settled between them.
After a while, Ei gave a faint, restrained smile.
"It's alright… I knew it wouldn't be that simple. If there is no way, then that is only natural."
Disappointment lingered in her expression—but not despair. Perhaps she had already understood that this hope was fragile from the start.
Lora watched her quietly, feeling a flicker of helplessness.
Her gaze lowered to the teacup between them. Tea leaves drifted in the amber liquid, turning slowly in silent currents.
Then, suddenly—
An idea surfaced.
She looked up. "Back then—did you bring your sister's consciousness space back with you?"
Ei went still, then nodded at once. "I did. It was collapsing when I found it. I used everything I had to stabilize it, to slow its decay. Later, I sealed it in a cavern beneath the Grand Narukami Shrine." She leaned forward, hands braced against the table, hope flaring in her eyes. "Are you saying… it could be used to bring her back?"
"Easy," Lora said softly, easing back in her chair. "It's only a possibility. I don't know if it would succeed."
She chose her words carefully this time.
"A life needs two things—consciousness and a body. If her consciousness still exists, then in theory… what's missing is a vessel strong enough to hold it."
"Like the Shogun?" Ei asked immediately.
Lora shook her head. "No. The Shogun's body is Khaenri'ahn puppet craft. However advanced it may be, it's still artificial. Not true life." She held Ei's gaze. "And you're not the same case. Your consciousness is whole—stable. Your sister's is already fragile. Placing her inside something like that would only accelerate the collapse."
Ei fell quiet, turning the idea over in her mind.
"So… it must be a living body," she said at last.
Lora gave a small nod.
"What kind?" Ei asked at once. "I'll go and find one."
"Find what?" Lora blinked at her.
"A body for my sister," Ei said simply.
Lora stared at her for a second, then shook her head. "That won't be necessary. With me here, why would you go searching? Did you forget who you're talking to?"
"You are…" Ei hesitated.
Lora gave her a flat look.
"The Heart of the Primordial Sea."
Understanding lit up Ei's face. "Right—the Heart of the Primordial Sea. And?"
"I create life," Lora said, a hint of impatience slipping into her tone. "All life in Teyvat traces back to the Primordial Sea. I can shape a body tailored perfectly to your sister's consciousness."
Ei's eyes widened. "Fontaine's people… they were born from your power, weren't they?"
Lora inclined her head. "Yes. But creating ordinary life and crafting a vessel capable of sustaining a god are very different matters. I can't do that alone."
"Tell me who you need," Ei said immediately. "I'll bring them."
"The Chief Justice of Fontaine—Neuvillette."
"Who?" Ei asked, genuinely puzzled.
"The Hydro Dragon Sovereign."
"…The Hydro Dragon Sovereign?" The title clearly meant little to her.
Lora exhaled lightly. "Long before the Heavenly Principles descended, Teyvat was ruled by the Seven Elemental Dragon Sovereigns. The Hydro Sovereign was once the true heart of the Primordial Sea. When the previous one fell, I was created to take that role."
She met Ei's gaze steadily.
"To create a body worthy of your sister, we need his power."
She held Ei's gaze.
"To create a body worthy of your sister, we'll need his power."
Ei's brow furrowed. "If that's true, shouldn't we be his enemies? The Heavenly Principles cast down the Dragon Sovereigns and established the rule of the Seven. As one of the Seven, I would stand against him. Why would he agree to help us?"
Lora weighed her response.
"Well… he's surprisingly reasonable."
"Reasonable?" Ei echoed.
"In short," Lora said, "he is the Hydro Dragon Sovereign—but his memories of that distant era are fragmented. He bears resentment toward the Heavenly Principles, yes. But that hostility doesn't extend to us."
Ei fell silent, considering it carefully. After a moment, she gave a small nod. "If that is so… then it may be worth trying."
"Though if we bring Neuvillette here, we can't just leave Fontaine unattended," Lora murmured, tapping her fingers lightly against the table. "Someone will need to stand in for him."
She paused, thinking—then snapped her fingers.
"Got it. Send Zhongli."
"Zhongli?" Ei blinked.
"That's Morax," Lora added casually. "He shed a dragon skin, staged his own funeral, and retired."