Let the Mountains Stand Witness

Things you said when we were on top of the world

His hand in hers, she drags him through the courtyards of this strange place – what was the exact name again? Lai Shi? –, eager to show him something.

She came here barely a week ago – although it seemed a lot longer to him –, because of a promise that the people here would help her with her newfound powers. And it looks like they did – even after such a short time, she seems so much less afraid, so much freer, smiling from the heart again, being the girl he feel in love with.

She leads him out of the residential area, away from the disapproving gazes (even if he's here on her request, and with permission from above, the people here are not so welcoming towards a mere human), to an old, red archway standing the edge of a cliff, overlooking a great valley and an even greater mountain behind it.

"It's not simply earthquakes," she explains him in an excited tone. "It's vibrations. Jiaying – she's my mentor, you should meet her, she's really nice – says it's all about the vibrations. That everything vibrates, and I can tap into that. And there's a whole world of possibilities to use it for, and it doesn't even have to be destructive, but I'm still just starting out, but look, look, what I can do!" She is almost bouncing on her feet as, still holding onto him with one hand, she outstretches the other towards the mountain and closes her eyes in concentration.

What happens the next moment makes his jaw drop.

The snow on the mountains first starts to tremble, then begins to stumble down in great waves, casting white mist over the mountainside.

The whole thing doesn't last more than a minute or two; when it's over, she looks at, expectantly, waiting for him to say something – but all she sees is him gaping at the mountain, eyes wide. She lets his hand drop and takes a step back, suddenly shy and withdrawn.

"It's more than this, of course…" she says, trying to sound cheery and nonchalant at once, but gives a weak performance. "My powers… they can be used for more than this. Not just for destruction. But I'm just starting to learn what I can do, and… I swear it's not just destroying things… Please, don't be–"

He doesn't let her finish the sentence. He grabs her face with both hands and kisses her with all the love and passion he can muster, caressing her cheekbones with his thumbs. When he breaks the kiss, he rests his forehead against hers, looking into her eyes – her irises glistening with unshed tears.

"You are amazing," he whispers, letting the mountains stand as his witness.