Atlass,
A man of contracts must have an impressive memory if he is to remember others’ promises.
The people who signed them, whether the sun was present when each contract was signed, how the stars in the sky lined up when each contract ended—every detail he must be able to recall. Having said that, not every recollection is a pleasant one.
It is said that during the years when rulers contended against one another, the man’s aspect was that of boundless slaughter. Because of this, people and other beings alike would fear him for his power. So much so that even stone would shake before his very feet, a reminder of his daunting and despiteful nature. One couldn’t possibly ascribe gentleness to him.
Low Tide
It was the morning after Taurus’ ascension.
He remembers the faint scent of saltwater as it blew through the wetlands and through the glaze lilies. He was tired, lost. As he walked past the marsh, he seemingly noticed a woman standing by the riverbed.
The woman was surrounded with sparkling dust around her, each particle reflecting the light back towards him. The wind blew past her billowing sleeves. She acted solemn, yet joyful. Her gentle voice asked the man what it was that caused the earth around them to shake.
The man, who had only known violence and cruelty as an answer, responded in a confused manner.
The woman whom he had just met did not fear him, but felt more concerned. At that moment, the earth, which had always shook before the very sole of his feet, stopped. All the rumbling he had only ever heard before had gone to rest. For the first time, he could hear the birds flutter their wings as they passed him. He could hear the water as it splashed through the rocks.
For the first time, he had found tranquility.
The woman had introduced herself as an engineer of sorts, a mender of broken things. A funny coincidence, she remarked, as it seemed the man standing before him looked like one who needed mending as well. The man rolled his amber eyes and replied he didn’t need it, and was better off alone. She insisted and asked the man if he would like to accompany her to her people's settlement down south.
The man, already curious about this woman's personality, convinced himself to follow her and know more about her. Either way, he had no other choice since he had no place to go.
High Tide
It was already the morning of Bootes when they had arrived at the fields where the settlement resided. The dewy grass swept through the plains the pair walked on.
The settlement was so huge you could see it from hills away. The towering stone buildings could easily be mistaken as mountains themselves. As they approached the settlement, the man’s face turned as pale as a ghost when he realized the woman referred to her people as normalfolk. The man had always despised the normalfolk—he thought they were simple-minded and stubborn beings. He had always seen them as beneath him.
As they entered the encampment, they had received mixed looks. Looks of fear and despisement for the man, and love and adoration for his companion. People approached the woman in joy. The woman responded back just the same.
That night, as the moon rose from the horizon, they feasted amongst the great halls of one of the huge stone houses. The woman sat at the center of the room celebrating with the people in benevolence, while the man sat at the far corner of it. He had spent most of his time alone, so to him, mixing in with the normalfolk would’ve felt like mixing oil and water.
The woman was kind towards her people. The man watched as she approached every person in the hall. He remarked that the way the woman smiled to them was genuine. The warmth in which she enveloped her people felt like a fireplace on a cold winter night. He himself was not participating in the celebration of her return, and yet he could feel it even from that distance.
The woman took notice of how lone amber eyes followed her, and so she chose to approach the man in the corner. The man quickly turned away, acting still as rock, like nothing happened. The man then asked why a woman like her was compassionate and empathized with the normalfolk. They were hard beings, never needing the help or guidance of a person like her.
“If you’ve spent just as much time as I have with them,” her gentle voice uttered as the cold wind entered the hall windows, “you could tell that these people could become so much more than you ascribe them to be.”
Those were words he understood. However, it would take him a long time to figure out that knowing what they meant did not mean he understood them. The woman could tell from his expression exactly that. Smiling, she reached for the jewelled trinket on her waist and gave it to him. He didn’t quite understand why, but the sly grin of his companion told him that it would be important in the future.
They had spent the next lifetime becoming friends, forging bonds and contracts between the land and its people. But even time isn’t so kind. Like stone, it erodes even those with the purest intentions.
Soon enough, the man who had finally found a companion, found himself alone all over again amongst the fields of glaze lilies where they had first met.
Low Tide
It was the night of the Scorpion’s masquerade, and all of the local royals were present.
The sea, the most tranquil of the royals, was seen oddly along the coastline. It quickly danced, moving from the sand and back into the dark ocean. The wind joined this quickstep, making its way past the guests with a sharp, icy draft. It was a glorious night.
The attendees were happy—save for one.
The man, unlike those around him, wore a frown on his face.
The light atmosphere and all the merrymaking were like the salt in the sea. They taunted the gashes on his chest. Every single thing that was in sight was a cruel reminder of the promise he had yet to achieve.
He thought he had already understood people. He glimpsed into the hearts of those he met and, although not perfectly, was able to make sense out of them. He was able to wrap his head around the silliest of disputes normalfolk had. He knew now that men were not flat earth. They could not survive the force he previously subjected them to. They were more like cliffs—capable of enduring the weight of towers, but too much would make them crumble.
He knew all these. He knew—and yet he didn’t.
He didn’t know, because his people retreated from him like the waters of Yaoguang Shoal. He spoke to them as gently as he could. Yet to some, his words were still as rough as sand. The normalfolk still regarded him as this stone-cold fellow, and his stories were poison, bringing much suffering to those who stood by his side.
The man sitting on the beach looked towards the sky. He could only look up now, because the person whom he made the promise to, and who was always beside him, was gone.
He smiled sadly, remembering the soft locks of hair on his shoulder. His friend was as strong as dust. Yet, he could not help but think that she was the strongest out of all that he met.
High Tide
It was already the night of the Pegasus when he arrived.
The masquerade was still on, although now it was a winter ball. The sea, now dancing with the wind, sashayed back and forth the shoreline. The wind still danced its quickstep, its gritty coolness darting around the cliffs and trees. Together, they looked like the queen and king of the white mountains.
This waltz had been happening for a while now, and the man was used to it. He returned to the same spot, paying no mind to how the biting water enveloped his ankles. His mind was here to think, and think he did.
The gentry thought that when he achieved his goal, or made strides towards it, everything would become perfect. From up a hill, flocks of people would talk to him about the simplest of things. The wind would be as gentle as the words exchanged, and their hearts as warm as the sun. Above them, the sky would be as clear as untouched waters. He would finally be with everyone.
Yet here he was—at night, the wind as piercing as the claws of golden crabs. No light or warmth could be seen nearby, save for a single lantern a child had given him earlier from the lantern festival. He was alone.
And yet, he didn’t mind.
He laughed at himself. Truly it was foolish to think the best parts of life would be perfect.
Admittedly, there were still a few things the man did not understand. But for now, what he knew was enough. It was enough, because he finally had people by his side. They were with him out of their own will, and he no longer caused them pain. It wasn’t perfect, but now he didn’t need it to be.
He was finally fulfilling his promise.
As he stared off into the distance, he recalled the moment when he made that vow to his friend. The fabric she adorned herself with flapped in the breeze like the mighty clouds that flew over the region. The last smile she wore before returning to dust was sincere.
“Our journey together has ended, it seems.” She motioned to the trinket on the man’s belt. She claimed it held her wisdom, and unlocking it would allow him to reach his goal—to understand his people. “Forget about it,” were her last words, clearing him of any responsibilities.
But he would not forget. Someday—he didn’t know when, and he didn’t know how long it will take—he will fulfill his promise.
Based on the lore of Genshin Impact (miHoYo Co., Ltd., 2020)
Literary: Promise
The people who signed them, whether the sun was present when each contract was signed, how the stars in the sky lined up when each contract ended—every detail he must be able to recall. Having said that, not every recollection is a pleasant one.
It is said that during the years when rulers contended against one another, the man’s aspect was that of boundless slaughter. Because of this, people and other beings alike would fear him for his power. So much so that even stone would shake before his very feet, a reminder of his daunting and despiteful nature. One couldn’t possibly ascribe gentleness to him.
Low Tide
It was the morning after Taurus’ ascension.
He remembers the faint scent of saltwater as it blew through the wetlands and through the glaze lilies. He was tired, lost. As he walked past the marsh, he seemingly noticed a woman standing by the riverbed.
The woman was surrounded with sparkling dust around her, each particle reflecting the light back towards him. The wind blew past her billowing sleeves. She acted solemn, yet joyful. Her gentle voice asked the man what it was that caused the earth around them to shake.
The man, who had only known violence and cruelty as an answer, responded in a confused manner.
The woman whom he had just met did not fear him, but felt more concerned. At that moment, the earth, which had always shook before the very sole of his feet, stopped. All the rumbling he had only ever heard before had gone to rest. For the first time, he could hear the birds flutter their wings as they passed him. He could hear the water as it splashed through the rocks.
For the first time, he had found tranquility.
The woman had introduced herself as an engineer of sorts, a mender of broken things. A funny coincidence, she remarked, as it seemed the man standing before him looked like one who needed mending as well. The man rolled his amber eyes and replied he didn’t need it, and was better off alone. She insisted and asked the man if he would like to accompany her to her people's settlement down south.
The man, already curious about this woman's personality, convinced himself to follow her and know more about her. Either way, he had no other choice since he had no place to go.
High Tide
It was already the morning of Bootes when they had arrived at the fields where the settlement resided. The dewy grass swept through the plains the pair walked on.
The settlement was so huge you could see it from hills away. The towering stone buildings could easily be mistaken as mountains themselves. As they approached the settlement, the man’s face turned as pale as a ghost when he realized the woman referred to her people as normalfolk. The man had always despised the normalfolk—he thought they were simple-minded and stubborn beings. He had always seen them as beneath him.
As they entered the encampment, they had received mixed looks. Looks of fear and despisement for the man, and love and adoration for his companion. People approached the woman in joy. The woman responded back just the same.
That night, as the moon rose from the horizon, they feasted amongst the great halls of one of the huge stone houses. The woman sat at the center of the room celebrating with the people in benevolence, while the man sat at the far corner of it. He had spent most of his time alone, so to him, mixing in with the normalfolk would’ve felt like mixing oil and water.
The woman was kind towards her people. The man watched as she approached every person in the hall. He remarked that the way the woman smiled to them was genuine. The warmth in which she enveloped her people felt like a fireplace on a cold winter night. He himself was not participating in the celebration of her return, and yet he could feel it even from that distance.
The woman took notice of how lone amber eyes followed her, and so she chose to approach the man in the corner. The man quickly turned away, acting still as rock, like nothing happened. The man then asked why a woman like her was compassionate and empathized with the normalfolk. They were hard beings, never needing the help or guidance of a person like her.
“If you’ve spent just as much time as I have with them,” her gentle voice uttered as the cold wind entered the hall windows, “you could tell that these people could become so much more than you ascribe them to be.”
Those were words he understood. However, it would take him a long time to figure out that knowing what they meant did not mean he understood them. The woman could tell from his expression exactly that. Smiling, she reached for the jewelled trinket on her waist and gave it to him. He didn’t quite understand why, but the sly grin of his companion told him that it would be important in the future.
They had spent the next lifetime becoming friends, forging bonds and contracts between the land and its people. But even time isn’t so kind. Like stone, it erodes even those with the purest intentions.
Soon enough, the man who had finally found a companion, found himself alone all over again amongst the fields of glaze lilies where they had first met.
Low Tide
It was the night of the Scorpion’s masquerade, and all of the local royals were present.
The sea, the most tranquil of the royals, was seen oddly along the coastline. It quickly danced, moving from the sand and back into the dark ocean. The wind joined this quickstep, making its way past the guests with a sharp, icy draft. It was a glorious night.
The attendees were happy—save for one.
The man, unlike those around him, wore a frown on his face.
The light atmosphere and all the merrymaking were like the salt in the sea. They taunted the gashes on his chest. Every single thing that was in sight was a cruel reminder of the promise he had yet to achieve.
He thought he had already understood people. He glimpsed into the hearts of those he met and, although not perfectly, was able to make sense out of them. He was able to wrap his head around the silliest of disputes normalfolk had. He knew now that men were not flat earth. They could not survive the force he previously subjected them to. They were more like cliffs—capable of enduring the weight of towers, but too much would make them crumble.
He knew all these. He knew—and yet he didn’t.
He didn’t know, because his people retreated from him like the waters of Yaoguang Shoal. He spoke to them as gently as he could. Yet to some, his words were still as rough as sand. The normalfolk still regarded him as this stone-cold fellow, and his stories were poison, bringing much suffering to those who stood by his side.
The man sitting on the beach looked towards the sky. He could only look up now, because the person whom he made the promise to, and who was always beside him, was gone.
He smiled sadly, remembering the soft locks of hair on his shoulder. His friend was as strong as dust. Yet, he could not help but think that she was the strongest out of all that he met.
High Tide
It was already the night of the Pegasus when he arrived.
The masquerade was still on, although now it was a winter ball. The sea, now dancing with the wind, sashayed back and forth the shoreline. The wind still danced its quickstep, its gritty coolness darting around the cliffs and trees. Together, they looked like the queen and king of the white mountains.
This waltz had been happening for a while now, and the man was used to it. He returned to the same spot, paying no mind to how the biting water enveloped his ankles. His mind was here to think, and think he did.
The gentry thought that when he achieved his goal, or made strides towards it, everything would become perfect. From up a hill, flocks of people would talk to him about the simplest of things. The wind would be as gentle as the words exchanged, and their hearts as warm as the sun. Above them, the sky would be as clear as untouched waters. He would finally be with everyone.
Yet here he was—at night, the wind as piercing as the claws of golden crabs. No light or warmth could be seen nearby, save for a single lantern a child had given him earlier from the lantern festival. He was alone.
And yet, he didn’t mind.
He laughed at himself. Truly it was foolish to think the best parts of life would be perfect.
Admittedly, there were still a few things the man did not understand. But for now, what he knew was enough. It was enough, because he finally had people by his side. They were with him out of their own will, and he no longer caused them pain. It wasn’t perfect, but now he didn’t need it to be.
He was finally fulfilling his promise.
As he stared off into the distance, he recalled the moment when he made that vow to his friend. The fabric she adorned herself with flapped in the breeze like the mighty clouds that flew over the region. The last smile she wore before returning to dust was sincere.
“Our journey together has ended, it seems.” She motioned to the trinket on the man’s belt. She claimed it held her wisdom, and unlocking it would allow him to reach his goal—to understand his people. “Forget about it,” were her last words, clearing him of any responsibilities.
But he would not forget. Someday—he didn’t know when, and he didn’t know how long it will take—he will fulfill his promise.
Based on the lore of Genshin Impact (miHoYo Co., Ltd., 2020)
0 comments: