paradoxical | genshin impact

29 : memories.

"Do you want to explain what happened back there?"

The moment the words came out of your mouth, it felt like you were doing something wrong. You've never once tried to be curt with your mother, and in the off-chance that you did, it was followed up by a thorough scolding. But now, you supposed that the apprehension in your tone was completely warranted.

When you found her inside her room earlier, you thought it was over for the both of you. But once the strange white light dispersed, all you could see was a dazed-looking maman; looking like someone who'd just woken up from a dream. However, she was quick to compose herself the moment she saw you inside her house. That's when you decided to take things to the living room, where maman was kind enough to prepare some tea as the two of you basked in the silence.

"Of course," she murmured, setting down the teapot on the table. "You deserve as much, mon chou. Where would you like me to start?"

You pursed your lips as you reached for your cup and saucer. "The beginning, I guess?"

It was hard to miss the way she tensed up at your answer, but maman's shoulders gradually relaxed as she sighed in resignation. "I suppose this tale is long overdue. You're old enough to know, either way."

...What on earth did that mean?

The living room is plunged into another bout of silence thick enough to cut with a sword. Nothing but the incessant tick of the clock hanging from the wall echoed in your ears, but you resort to sipping your tea quietly as maman gathered enough courage to speak.

"When I was your age, I wasn't all that different from Young Master Diluc," she began—the hint of a smile grazing her lips. "I worked as a vigilante in Fontaine, doing odd jobs for anyone who paid me well enough. But unlike Diluc, I was never gifted with a Vision. I had to rely on my skill with weapons and trickery alone."

"One day, I was hired by some high-ranking official in the parliament to take out a Fatui diplomat. That diplomat was your father."

White noise rang in your ears as she spoke the words, and your eyes widened in disbelief. Maman never talked about your father. When you asked where he was when you were younger, all you got was a simple he already passed on. At the time, you'd accepted it like it was just a mere fact of life. Crepus was as good enough as a father to you anyways, so you never did feel the absence of a male parental figure in your life.

But now, hearing your mother speak about him for the first time...

"I accepted the job because I despised the Fatui. They're the reason why things go awry in a lot of places across the continent," Maman continued. "You remember what happened to Noah, do you?"

You did—vividly so. You still remembered how hard the rain came down on the Winery that day. How Arthur and Noah almost died because of the latter's unsupervised use of a Delusion. When you found out that the Fatui were behind the entire thing, you've come to harbor some degree of resentment for that shady group of Snezhnayans over time.

Not only did maman decide to keep any information about your father from you for more than twenty years, but...she'd kept the fact that he was Fatui a secret from you, too?

"If you knew as much, why'd you get together with someone like that in the first place?" you asked her, brows scrunched up in confusion.

Honestly, you didn't mean to sound so...betrayed. You wouldn't be sitting right here if maman hadn't met your father, after all. But you couldn't help but feel disgusted with yourself now that you knew the blood of a Fatui diplomat was flowing in your veins. Maybe it was better if she'd kept you in the dark about his identity instead.