Genshin Impact - Beauty and the beast

Book: [Beauty and the beast]

Once upon a time, a lad who shall yet to grow into a man, was strolling under the always snowy mountain. He was not bothered by the freezing cold, or falling snow. His feet were light on the snow blanket while walking on path that he take too many times. As if the eternal winter of the snowy mountain was not existed for him. Or he was just colder that the mountain itself. But, as frivolously he look, he managed to attract a predator.

A young woman with a sharp metal claws stood up in his way. She, too, seemed unaffected by the mountain's cold. No, she look native to the frost of eternal winter. Or, she too, was just colder that the mountain itself. She spoke to him, showing her intent to attack. "Foolish boy, this mountain is no place for you. I can see; that you are up to no good. Return home, leave this place and never!,- come!,- back!"

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But the lad gaze at her with the expression of an experienced sage who saw to many winters. "And I see; that this weather do no good for you musical voice. The shackles of mountain winds, hold you back. If you wishing for a duel with me, then I give it to you under one condition. I know a place, a perfect stage, where it will be wonderful to hear you voice. You will sing there for me."

The woman dint plan to accept any deal as her claws clangs to the wind. "Fool. I gave you a chance." Whit no mercy in her eyes, she leap forward like a beast, to tear up the boy.

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However, her opponent dint make a single step back. No as he make a step forward to face her straight.

Those two clashed. Exchanged a blows and attack. Again, again and again, until they fight was so furious that it was scaring off anything that was near or alive.

But it was the woman, who realize that is not her who is an ominous beast here. It was him. From the first moment she saw him, she knew... she felt it in her bones... He was a menace. A liar. And a dangerously strong.

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As last clang of metals echoed to the wind, and she fell down onto her knees, hardly catching a breath, she know she lost against him and probably never stood a chance. As he stood in front of her, she clicked her tongue in disgust averting her gaze. "Kill me!"

But the lad had other intentions. "Its true, that the rules of the mountain are harsh. Kill or be killed. And we both are monster, to well accustomed to this rule. Very well. In a matter, I will fulfill you wish." Even if she was taller that him, in that moment when she was on her kneels, he tower over her, when he stand directly in front of her. "Then I, as a winner chose: That it is you former life, that you lived here, until this day, that will die on this place. Come with me! You owning me a singing on place I chosen for you. However, not even death will prevent you to pay me back." Not changing anything on his approach to her like his pace or voice intonation; he change the atmosphere of they interaction by a single line. "By the way, can you eat a warm food, and drink a wine?"

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Confused, that woman bark back. "Don't think I am a fool! You are up to no good—worse that anything on this mountain."

But he stared at her with that sage look. "And yet, you stand up my way with a right intentions. You are a fool!, who searched for a way to die. No!,- to escape what you are. You reminiscing me a mirror that I look into, many years ago." Then he risen his hand in a (Why he shall care about it?) gesture. "Good and evil, is like white and black. Like a day and night, none means nothing without the other and the only difference is a date in calendar." With a tossing away gesture he denied that silly idea. Then he crouch down to get his eyes on her level. "Forget the idea of dying for now! Because you body had in itself to much will to fight to allow it." As she given him a judging stare he give her an answer. "Correct! Suspect me! Unforgiving cold of mountain is different from pointless cruelty of those under it. So never loose you guard around me. Because there is a thin line between reasonable being and just a monster. And you saw, how very thin, is mine line."

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As he make a dangerous expression for the first time for they interaction, she allow him to take her away. And the lad lead her down from the mountain. They travel through a forest and across a plain, until they pass a stone bridge before a gate. They had a snack on a food vendor, climbed many maintained stairs and on a plaza they stand in front of quite big stature of praying woman with a goose wings and with a wonderful pond next to her feet.

Curiously, every time anybody asked the lad about her; he just reply: "She lost the bet."

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That peaceful place, was her stage and as he sits down on a bench, she began to sing with a voice that was not disappearing into a harsh wind.

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"Are you satisfied?" Asked when she finished her number, not paying attention to anyone else.

"Yes." Said the lad standing up from the bench, ready to leave. "Consider you bet to be paid. Even if you are easily to startled, and instead of shrieking you reacting by scratching, that cold mountain don't deserve you. But before you decide what you will do with you life, you shall knew, that I still think that you voice fits this place. Just like the voices of the girls over there."

He gestured behind her, and when she looked back, she noticed that her cool performance had attracted a large audience. Especially sisters from the cathedral approached her engaging in a dialogue. She tried to back up, even tried to move her entire attention on the lad. But doesn't matter how hard she look around, that beast who steal her from her former life, was already, (gone).

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[By Dretnoth – 29-30 march 2024, Entry for a job interview (not a success). Edit: 27 may 2024]