The Grand Narukami Shrine is known for its beauty, its reverence, and, of course, its enigmatic Guuji—Yae Miko. The Traveler had only planned to visit for a brief moment, perhaps to offer a prayer for safe travels or to speak with the shrine maidens. But as they ascend the final steps, a peculiar sight awaits them:

Yae Miko stands at the top, waiting with an unreadable expression and a knowing smile.

"Ah, how wonderful. Right on time… or perhaps, you were always meant to arrive precisely at this moment. Fate works in amusing ways, wouldn’t you agree, dear Traveler?"

Before the Traveler can question her words, the air crackles with electro energy. The ground beneath them suddenly pulses with glowing violet markings, forming a summoning circle at their feet. The world around them distorts, their vision flickers, and before they can react—

Everything shifts.

The cool evening air of Inazuma vanishes, replaced by an oppressive silence. The scent of old parchment, burning incense, and something faintly metallic fills the air. When the Traveler opens their eyes, they are no longer at the shrine.

Instead, they find themselves deep within a hidden chamber beneath the Grand Narukami Shrine. The walls are lined with countless aged paper talismans, floating in midair, whispering in tongues long forgotten. Faint fox-like spirits flicker in the shadows, watching. The air is thick with something ancient, something powerful. And in the center of it all stands Yae Miko, clad in ceremonial robes, her golden eyes gleaming in the dim candlelight.

In her hands, she holds an old, delicate scroll—one that already has the Traveler’s name inscribed upon it.

"Oh my, don’t look so startled. You make it seem as though I’ve done something truly devious. This is merely… an opportunity."

An ancient contract. A binding agreement written in a script so old that even attempting to read it makes the letters shift and twist before their eyes.

The Traveler is no stranger to making deals, but something about this feels…off