Omniscius II [Genshin Impact]

75: Prisoner of Heaven

It was like staring into a mirror. Or perhaps, the future. If Soleil were to live for ten more years, she would most likely bear resemblance to the prisoner in front of her.

But it was a horrifying thing to believe that this was her future: Imprisoned, alone, and no longer lusting for life.

As if seeing right through Soleil, the prisoner tilted her head and smiled.

"You're horrified," she commented. "Who would not be?" Soleil replied bitterly, "It's as if I'm looking at my future."

"Child, nothing is worse than the ability to roam free but be powerless. To live and achieve nothing. To witness catastrophes but having no power to do anything about it," Seire stated, "I may be in this state, but I regret nothing."

Soleil stared at her. Then, she looked behind her. Her brows rose to see Kazuha and Kokomi frozen with the looks of shock on their faces. Everything has fallen still, like a living painting.

"Has time stopped?" Soleil asked. "No. I do not have that kind of power. Time is merely stretched into infinitesimal pieces. To them, a second hasn't passed just yet," Seire explained, "It is us that move and speak at a speed faster than light."

"I see," Soleil said, understanding by theory that it was possible. She looked back at Seire.

She'd describe Seire as beautiful if it weren't for the fact that they had the same face, and that it would sound narcissistic. She had an ethereal presence, a gossamer of something that was both divine and spiritual.

But their eyes... No doubt they were the same, their gazes being vaults to the same set of secrets they had to keep.

Although they may share the same face, but they were two different people. Soleil was staring at a stranger that she'd known all her life.

"I am your last incarnation on Teyvat," Soleil whispered, "Everybody else has perished."

"I am aware, my child. All the other incarnates scattered across the frames of time had already met their fated end. Being a portion cut off their source of power could only let them live for a certain amount of years," Seire said, "But you have been spared of this tragedy. I never imagined that divine intervention would occur, but...well. Fate has funny things in store for us."

"Fate sees us as nothing but toys," Soleil grimaced. "Still so full of wrath, I see," Seire said sadly, "You must realize that anger will do you nothing good."

"It brought me to where I am now," Soleil pointed out. "Simply because a path is adorned with flowers does not mean it does not lead off the edge of a cliff," Seire replied.

Soleil did not reply. Her gaze faltered and she sighed. Seire smiled.

"You would not go through this ordeal of seeking me if you did not make a decision," she said. Soleil did not answer.

"The world's stasis is slowly crumbling away. Forced equilibrium, despite being equilibrium, will still give in. It is imposed falsely, and the nature of the world will not allow it," Seire stated.

She closed her eyes, "I feel everything, child. The stolen Authorities are seeking its rightful owners despite being handled by many hands. The firmament is slowly breaking. 'Those beyond' are seeking entry into this false paradise."

"The world...is not ending, is it? That's ridiculous," Soleil scoffed, trying to hide her nervousness. Cliche as it may sound, there were signs staring at them in the face.

"It was a mistake to leave our seat unoccupied. Even if we leave a puppet to manage our affairs, a puppet is still an artificial creation even if it breathes. It may still have defects," Seire said in dismay.