Genshin Impact: Mondstadt Alter
Special Chapter 1.0:
Decisive Contract
My vision is in a haze, and I'm breathing raggedly. My hearing is barely working, too. I heard a crackling noise combined with a blurry blaze in front of me. It's a faint noise, but I'm sure I heard footsteps. That person's coming closer with each step.
"Wow! I'm impressed that you are still alive after that. Your parents are long gone already. Why don't you join them?"
"Ompf!" I coughed.
I can feel something hot and sharp on my chest. Before I knew it, I felt another pain that exceeded the pain in my head. I can feel something hot and sharp on my chest.
I'm starting to feel my body getting cold, and my consciousness is fading. I can't think-
any-
more,
…
It's cold.
It's dark.
I can't see, feel, or hear anything.
Am I dead?
[Relax. You are not dead yet.]
I panicked when I heard a voice, making me frantically look around. However, I don't see anyone or anything. I thought god had spoken to me, or I'm just crazy? Don't tell me I'm going insane even after I'm dead.
"He- hello? Is anyone there?"
[Yes, yes. I'm here.]
"Whoa!"
[Will you chill out? I'm not going to devour you or anything.]
"Who's there?!"
[Good. You seem a little more composed now. How are you feeling?]
"I- I feel fine? But w- who are you?" I questioned.
[Who am I does not matter.]
Okay? I still have no idea what's happening, so I move on to the next question.
"What is this place?"
[Here? It's your own subconsciousness. Don't you recognize it?]
My subconsciousness? I find it hard to believe what he said. Why is it darkness all over? Is it because I've died? That makes sense. I know a little about deep consciousness because I've read about it before. I suppose dead men don't have control over their minds anymore.
[You seem perplexed. What's the matter?]
I sigh before opening my mouth, "Am I dead?"
[No, you're not.]
"But- I got stabbed! Right on my chest! How am I still alive?" I denied.
[I'm not lying when I said you're still alive. Although I'll be lying if I say your current live function isn't critical.]
"You mean-"
[Yes. Basically, you're on the verge of death.]
Now, it's all coming together. I finally understand why I can still be here and why I still can remember pretty much everything that happened, even though I'm not sure if I should be happy with that fact. This time, I let out a desperate sigh before speaking,
"Let's get this straight. The reason I'm still alive, or to be precise, dying right now, even with all the damage I suffered, is that I'm in my subconsciousness. I've read about this, but I don't understand how. The time flow in the deep consciousness is much slower than in real-time."
[Yeah, that's the gist of your current crisis.]
"But even if that's true, wouldn't I be dead if I stayed here long enough?"
[In normal circumstances, yes. But rest assured, that won't happen in the meantime.]
"Huh? Why is that?"
[Because you die when I say you die.]
Hang on, hang on. What does that mean?
"So you're telling me that you have affairs with me?" I said, narrowing my eyes.
[Correct. Have you ever been told you're a little too smart for your age?]
Ignoring his compliment, I gulped. I decided to ask what is he after,
"What is that you want?"
[I come to make a deal with you, Morgan.]
"A deal?" I repeated.
[I'll bring you back to life and heal you to your prime in exchange for conditions.]
"But I'm not dead yet."
[You will if you refuse my offer.]
My mouth is agape, but no voices come out. This place is in my head, called deep consciousness. That means I'm still alive, but not for long due to all the injuries. Lastly, this being offer me conditions in exchange for my life.
Although, I've not heard about what the requisites are yet. I should listen to what they want before accepting it.
"What are the conditions?"
[In exchange for your life, I have three conditions. First, I'll observe you starting when you wake up and after this to the point you die. Second, you don't tell anyone about me and our deal. Third, whenever I chant [Order], you'll listen and act accordingly.]
"Hmm..." I pondered for a moment.
[What's wrong?]
"I want to ask you something. This is bizarre, no matter how I look at it."
[Go ahead.]
"Why are you doing this? Why are you making a deal with me when you can compel me to obey your words or orders? Correct me if I'm wrong, but this feels like you're looking for someone to be your puppet."
[So that's what been bugging your mind, huh? Sadly, your assumption is false. But it isn't when you said I could force you to listen to me. Sure, I can do all of this without your consent.]
"Then-"
[I have no intention of doing that.]
"Why's that?" I hesitated.
[I believe it isn't necessary for you to know.]
"Actually, there are a lot of questions I'd like to ask you. May I?"
[Feel free. There's more than enough time for us to discuss this.]
"First, why are you striking a deal with me? It might sound the same as my last question, but I meant it differently."
[I won't answer that.]
Tsk, I should've seen that coming. There's no point in me pushing this question further because I bet his response won't change.
"Why me?"
[Care to elaborate?]
"Exactly what I said. You could just offer this to someone other than me, yet here you are. If your answer is because I'm dying so you can make a give-and-take situation, the timing is too convenient. Tevyat is a vast world. There has to be someone other than me who is on the verge of death right now. It can't be a coincidence that you chose me." I explained.
[Are you implying that I chose to make a deal with you because you're extraordinary?]
"I never said anything about me being special. I'm saying there has to be a reason for you to make me your first candidate." I refuted.
[Don't get ahead of yourself, Morgan. I did not choose you because of a reason. Not because you're clever, strong, talented, or whatever. You might find it disappointing, but your guess about this being a coincidence was actually correct. Think that you win a lottery.]
A lottery, huh? What are the odds, really?
This deal can stay between him and me, even though I have no intention of sharing it with anyone about this. My parents-
"My parents! Where are they?!" I stressed as I darted my eyes all around.
[Do I need to answer that? You should-]
"ANSWER ME!" I snapped.
A moment of silence.
[They're long gone already.]
Hearing those words, I can feel my heart gradually beat rapidly. I feel my limbs trembling, nausea, chest pain, and numbness. My visuals are beginning to blur. When I came back to my senses, I dropped to my knees.
Neuralgia emerged as soon as his words looped in my ears. I grabbed my head with all my strength as if trying to crush it. My senses are in chaos. I'm curling on the ground, trying to alleviate all the terrible feelings I'm having right now.
"Kuh!" All I wanted was to live happily with my parents.
"Hrgh…!" WAS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK?!
These hurt as hell, especially the one in my head. My brain feels like being squeezed like a lemon. My breath is getting ragged.
You can't have shit in life, can you?
Unforgivable.
…
Minutes have passed, probably. Or hours. I don't know.
Blank. I can't think of anything.
I'm still on my knees, using both hands to support my weight.
The pain still lingers.
I have the urge to throw up so badly.
My eyes are getting moist.
Ha. Ahaha.
For some reason, I want to laugh, but I quickly wipe the smile on my face.
[Feeling better, I wonder?]
"Give me a minute," I said, still panting.
After recollecting everything from the beginning, I stand up on my feet.
"Why did you choose me over my parents?"
[As I said, it was a coincidence. Besides, I can't make a deal with the dead.]
"Figured."
[So, have you made up your mind? Yes or no?]
"I have," I said indifferently, "My answer is yes. However, I'd like you to adjust to it."
[Let's hear it.]
"I want something else. What can you offer me other than reviving me?"
[Are you asking for something more?]
"Exactly. I'll oblige to do everything you say in exchange for something, but reviving me is not the one I want. I know life is supposed to be invaluable."
[Hooh, quite the individual, aren't you? Very well, what is it that you want then?]
"Can you grant me a wish?" I straightforwardly asked.
[What do you wish for? Before you do, I should mention resurrecting the dead is out of the question.]
"... I want power."
[What a cliche. Why do you want power?]
"Because there are scumbags who don't deserve to live in this world."
[Do you seek revenge? Is that why you want to power so you can avenge your parents' death?]
"You have a problem with that? If so, we can just pretend all of this never existed." I declared.
[Look at you~ Blinded by hatred~ Taking my offer without care of the world for the sake of vengeance. Where did your common sense go?]
"Tsk. If you're against my idea, then spit it out. I don't need to stay here longer if you can't fulfill my demand."
[Ease up. I have nothing with how you'll live your life after this.]
"Wait, you agree to my demand?"
[Even if you didn't ask for it, I'll give it to you anyway. I cannot have you relying on me all the time.]
"Fair enough. What kind of power you'll be giving to me?" I inquired.
[The kind of power that flows through the veins of Tevyat, elemental energy. A vision, the catalyst for the chosen one to manipulate it.]
"Good enough for me. Are we done here?"
[Why the rush? There are still some things we need to discuss for our deal.]
"What is it?"
[Getting curious now? Let's talk about it one by one.]
I remain silent to let him continue.
[First, let's choose what element of your vision you would want. I'll allow you to select whichever you want. You can't change it later on, so choose wisely.]
"Element?"
[Uh-huh. Which one do you want? Your options are pyro, cryo, electro, hydro, dendro, anemo, and geo. You may select only one, of course.]
I legitimately don't know which one I should choose. I'm guessing whichever I choose, it won't really matter because each option has advantages and disadvantages of its own. Although, having the right to pick your vision element is such a golden opportunity.
"You know what? I'll let you decide for me. I won't mind."
[Are you serious? Vision bearers don't have the choice to pick their preferred element. Here I am giving you that chance, and you're throwing that away just like that?]
"I'm not a picky type, I say." I nodded.
[Hmm, take this if you insist on not choosing the one you want.]
"Ow!" Something fell on my head.
The thing drops to the ground next to my feet. Crouching to pick it up and look closely, I see a small object. It's a pentagonal prism dice with a different symbol and color on each side.
"A dice?"
[The solution to your problem without me getting involved. As you can see, each side represents its element. Unless you have a problem with it, let it determine for you.]
"Well, here goes nothing," I said as I threw the dice to the ground.
It bounces a few times before it spins rapidly.
"What the fuck?"
[Don't be surprised. I never said it's an ordinary dice.]
"B- but why is it spinning?"
[For esthetic. It will end soon, don't worry. Now, while we wait for it to stop, let's talk about the next subject.]
"Good choice, then."
[You were saying that you are dissatisfied with our deal on your end, and you asked for something additional, which is a wish. I complied. But you wanted power, which I initially meant to give you at the end if you agreed with the deal.]
"Uh, so?"
[So technically, you still have your wish. Is there anything else you want?]
If he hadn't said it, I would not have noticed it since I had not considered it. I even believed he would pretend to forget it. Granting a wish should be a big deal, no matter what it is.
"Then how about I ask you not to get in my way of revenge?"
[About that, you don't have to ask me. As I said, I have nothing with how you'll live.]
"Good, at least I don't have to worry about you getting in my way."
"I don't need anything else then." I continued.
[Are you sure?] I nodded.
[Alright, you may keep it when you've returned to life. Give me a heads-up when you have something in mind.]
"I can do that?"
[Sure, I won't grant everything, though. I'll tell you if your wish is acceptable.]
"Oh, okay. Thanks, I guess."
[One last thing. You won't recall anything we've discussed when you wake up but the conditions.]
"Wait, ANYTHING? You mean literally?"
[Yes. Only the conditions and nothing else.]
"Can you make a few exceptions?" I begged.
[No. Is there anything else you want to say or ask? Not that you'll remember it.]
I look at the ground.
"Oh, the dice have stopped spinning."
I bend my knee once again to take a closer look. The dice show an anemo symbol.
[Oh, you get the anemo vision.]
How coincidence. I lived on the land of the anemo archon and got the same element of my vision. I don't know if he's playing tricks with the dice, but as I said, I do not care.
"I don't think there's a point of me saying or asking anything here if I'll forget all of this later. But I do have a question, though." I paused to stand up, "What about my wish and me owning a vision?"
[No one can use that vision except you, and I'm sure someone will tell you when you wake up later. As for your wish, I'll mention it when you're desperate for something.]
"I see."
[Then, we finished and wrapped up everything. See you, Morgan Friedrich.]
A/N: As the first special chapter, it feels pretty straightforward.
Thank you for reading, and carry on!