Emptiness. Nothingness. Nobody-ness. It all embodied Koishi. To be completely without a sense of self, a true mind beyond primal instinct and will. She couldn't be seen by others, and couldn't be detected without willingly making an effort for people to see her...and yet, most of the time she didn't care that others couldn't see her. She just wanted to roam, and leave the world in the dust while she made her rounds.
Her aimless wandering across the Multiverse had led her back to Terra somehow, now standing along the Eastern Bay of the Solinus Sea. Was it calming? Did the sunset make her happy as the golden rays of sunlight tickled the waves that sloshed upon the shore? Was she feeling?
No.
Everything she witnessed, everything she did, and everything she was...it was empty. Devoid. Nil. Nothing. Her mind embodied and endless and pure sense of nothing that refused to allow her to see beyond the world. It was her choice, however. Either she could live a life of pain, constantly reading the minds of those who hate her and be tormented by the verbal abuse beholden within their psyche, or she could shut it all away. While she ended up taking the easy route...she shut it ALL away in the end. Everything, even that which she didn't mean to shut away. All of it, gone. Family? Friends? Love? Hate? Nothing more than figments of her imagination. Sure, she loved her sister Satori. But whether or not it is the same kind of love her sister felt for her is...questionable.
Barefoot, Koishi let the waves brush over her ankles as sand beneath the sea kicked up and rubbed against her feet while the water traveled forwards before then receding once more. It tickled, and the water was cool just like the air. While there, she stared at the water...no thoughts passed through her mind, contemplation was lost on her. She enjoyed looking at the water for the moment, and would likely forget she liked looking at the water not too long after watching it for a bit. It was her way to get caught up in the moment, lose herself in blankness, and then return to her blissful self and move onto the next thing she can do to keep herself busy.
Koishi...
Her sister? Koishi wasn't sure why, but she could almost feel like she was hearing Satori's voice within the air, across the sea, and all around her. It wasn't her, but she thought it could be.
"Big sis. I missed you~"
Saying this to the emptiness which had called her voice prior, she looked around curiously to see if anyone would respond. If perhaps her sister would appear from nowhere to greet her, and be one big surprise. But nothing. She was as alone as she'd always been. Completely and truly by herself. It wouldn't be okay, if she could think things though. But she couldn't. And the absence of her sister did not phase her when it should have. Merely, she dismissed it and continued watching the sea once more, transfixed on the water as it swayed to and fro.
Never to understand how truly alone she felt.
Antok's face fell, this...wasn't going to be as simple as they once thought. He turned his gaze to his men, and pointed forwards to the opposing ships. He was practically seeing red, and did not wish to retreat. He wouldn't surrender. Him, and his men had come too far.
"Men! Attack!"
And all around, the ships began to swarm and power forwards for space combat. In the meantime, the Event Horizon began charging once more to prepare for a second attack.
Remilia was rather surprised by the reaction she had gotten upon her arrival, especially considering that she had been away so long. Truthfully, she thought she was going to have some trouble garnering recognition from anyone - even here in the Detente. After all, in many places, leadership came and went and with it...the people who such influence mattered to could suddenly be gone in an instant.
She smiled in response to Daemala's surprise, and stood up straight as she placed her hands behind her back. She put on her usual regal appearance in spite of her younger stature, looking quite jarring to those not used to Remilia's nature and attitude.
"Hello there, it's been some time...I sent out a letter, but I figured I'd come here myself to announce my reentry into public affairs. Some...drama surrounding Gensokyo has been dealt with. And the bridge between Gensokyo and Terra has been reestablished once more."
She added that last bit with a rather satisfied grin. Though the circumstances haven't been publicly disclosed, what little knowledge was spread to the outside was that a particular band of youkai under the Gekokujō Alliance - led by Seija Kijin, in an attempt to gain control of the boundary for their own purposes...for now, it was safe, and the amanojaku and her group is no longer a threat to stability...and Remilia, she sought to keep it that way now.
It had been quite some time since the last word from the denizens of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, Remilia Scarlet had suspended all contact with those she had previously spoken to in Terra, focusing on internal matters within Gensokyo itself. It was unusual for someone as lively and dignified as herself to enter an antisocial period of near-hermit behavior. After some time though, the lights begun to shine in the Scarlet Devil Mansion's few windows visible outside, and fairy maids who were once locked inside were now leaving the mansion to tend to the grounds - both maintaining the gardens on the Gensokyan side and also trimming the shrubbery which had started to overtake the road leading from Castle Vankoryth to the Scarlet Devil Mansion.
A letter was sent out to many of her associates and former friends, a letter of apology...
To whom it may concern,
You likely have noticed my absence of late. The Scarlet Devil Mansion has been practically dead - dead as a doornail. What was once a community locale of friendship and unity had entered into a strange period of hibernation...I apologize, sincerely, for this and wish to extend an invitation to visit the mansion to those who may wish to see me once more. We will be resuming operations as per before, and with that goods and services from Gensokyo will be available to the residents of Terra once more.
If you have never been to the Scarlet Devil Mansion, the doors are open for guests - just announce your arrival ahead of time and one of my maids will see to you. If you are looking for an audience with me, please give me at least a couple of days time to prepare, if it isn't urgent.
Yours truly,
Remilia Scarlet
Remilia had her fairy maids deliver these letters out, especially to the Vavkoryth as they had likely been curious or concerned as to what happened to their prior ally...for now, Remilia was focused on rebuilding her prestige and relationships again...maybe, just maybe, she'll attain her heights once more as the regal
Scarlet Devil - feared, respected, and beloved...