Genshin Impact: Strength Through Bonds [143]

"Marriage?"

Columbina murmured softly before letting out a light chuckle.

Meeting someone unknown, getting to know them, eventually making a vow to be together, in some sense...

Wasn't that similar to her and Ren?

They had met in a dream, joined forces to stop the Doctor's experiment,

Overcame trials, and now stood together in this pristine hall.

The only thing missing was a vow of union.

The girl let out an almost imperceptible sigh.

Cursed as she was, she wasn't worthy of vows.

"What an interesting idea,"

She whispered, her voice barely audible.

An unexpected development, indeed.

Perhaps… this was a fateful encounter.

She lifted the bouquet in her hands, pondering.

"But there are only the two of us in this hall."

Her delicate brows furrowed slightly, as if troubled.

Finally, she plucked a petal from the bouquet.

In the sunlight, she extended it gently toward Ren.

The quiet girl, in her unhurried way, seemed to have chosen a companion.

Lifting her face to meet his gaze, she smiled and asked:

"Then, who do you think that person might be?"

Beneath the sun, the girl in pure white, angelic in appearance, posed her question.

"You seem to be searching for something,"

Ren said softly, extending his hand without answering her question.

The girl's white gown gave off such a striking impression in the hall that his earlier words had slipped out instinctively.

A perfect girl standing before you like this…

It was a scene that only existed in dreams.

To say he wasn't captivated would be a lie.

But he also knew her identity.

A Fatui Harbinger.

In any case, the one standing at the end of the aisle wasn't going to be him.

"Of course, you've already seen it."

"I'm searching for a companion to change the world with me."

"If you can resonate with my memories, then perhaps you are that person."

Columbina smiled as she raised her hand lightly.

Their fingertips brushed for an instant before separating.

But in that brief moment, a subtle connection passed between them.

"…"

Ren was taken aback.

The girl's pale skin had an unexpected warmth.

Completely different from the quiet and distant demeanor he'd imagined.

Coo-coo-coo.

Outside the window, a white dove tilted its head, witnessing the moment.

"A companion?"

Ren took the petal, only to see it dissolve into specks of light and merge with his body.

"What a wondrous power."

Feeling the strengthened mental energy coursing through him, Ren remarked.

This was the second time she had helped him.

He looked intently at the girl who had now closed her eyes.

For some reason, he felt as if a deeper bond had formed between them.

Was it just his imagination?

"You've seen spirits, haven't you?"

The girl didn't answer directly, instead taking a slow step toward the floor-to-ceiling window.

She gazed out at the world beyond, her figure bathed in the sun's ethereal glow.

It was warm, yet cast a solitary shadow.

"I have."

"Each spirit searches for only one companion in their lifetime."

The girl turned, raising a finger.

Ren recalled the dream he had witnessed and frowned slightly.

The spirit in the dream, a lone girl, had endured a world-ending catastrophe.

Had she been alone ever since?

"Shh—don't ask too much."

The girl, as if reading his thoughts, offered a cryptic response.

Ren sighed inwardly. Here we go with the riddles again.

"Why did you bring me here? What do you want to say?"

A companion? A friend?

"Nothing much. Just to congratulate you for catching the Doctor's attention."

Looking at the smiling girl, Ren sighed.

Why did it feel like she was enjoying the show?

She was definitely here just to watch the chaos unfold!

"Nothing else? Like the cause of this dream?"

The girl pondered briefly before explaining:

"This is a mental realm constructed by a segment of the Doctor."

"He sought to explore the connection between the mind and reality."

"But I interfered, and the experiment failed."

Her fingers tapped lightly on the window, creating a soft rhythm.

Ren's thoughts stirred.

It was the beat of a song, though now wasn't the time for singing.

"That experiment was about creation,"

The girl turned toward him with a smile and asked:

"Care to guess what he was trying to create?"

"A god."

The empty hall fell silent.

"And I'd guess there were two gods."

Seeing Ren's calm expression, the girl was momentarily surprised.

"You have a spy network in Snezhnaya?"

"Among the Harbingers, this is top secret."

Ren chuckled and shook his head. "Just a guess."

The girl didn't seem convinced but thought for a moment.

Suddenly, realization dawned.

"What do you think of Sandrone?"

Ren coughed lightly. "What do you mean?"

Why did this question feel like he was meeting her parents?

Now that he thought about it, Sandrone did seem very close to Columbina.

Almost like real sisters.

"What do you think?"

"Do I need to spell out what you two did in the dream?"

"You saw… ahem."

Realizing he'd been exposed, Ren coughed again.

Observing us secretly? That's cheating!

Shaking his head, he steered the topic back.

"So within the Harbingers, you and the Doctor are in opposing factions?"

The girl nodded in approval. "Exactly."

Ren drew a sharp breath and murmured,

"Two factions, each aiming to create a god…"

The Doctor pursued the path of biological modification, while the girl and the Marionette followed the mechanical path of Khaenri'ahn technology.

Under the Tsaritsa's watchful eye, the two factions competed against each other.

Your civil servants in Snezhnaya are really overachievers, huh!

"No wonder the Doctor's segment attacked Sandrone,"

Ren muttered as the pieces fell into place.

Absorbing the other's work would be a significant leap forward.

Now that he thought about it, he hadn't checked the segment's remains.

Who knew what he could gain from it?

"There is one key difference,"

The girl spoke softly.

"Sandrone's research doesn't require a Gnosis."

"?"

Ren frowned. Could it still qualify as creating a god without one?

"Because she has created a new 'Gnosis.'"

"And this power… needs a vessel."

The girl pushed open the window, her bouquet dissolving into scattered light.

Turning back, she asked quietly:

"Do you wish to become a god?"

Ren's eyes slowly widened.

"I…"

"There's no rush to answer,"

She smiled, removing the lyre from her waist.

"Every journey begins with poetry and song."

"Play me a tune?"

Ren took the lyre, his mind filled with questions.

Out of nowhere, we're playing music now?

"Begin," she said with a gentle smile.

Sighing, Ren plucked the strings softly.

The melody matched the tune she had hummed in the dream.

"It seems you truly resonate with my memories,"

The girl murmured, her lips curving into a faint smile.

Leaning against the window, she began humming along.

Unlike the sorrowful melody in the dream, this time, her song was filled with warmth.

…

When the song ended, Ren opened his eyes.

He'd unknowingly immersed himself in the duet.

"What was that song?"

"A ballad I wrote—about you."

By the window, her long hair flowing gently, the girl looked serene and beautiful.

It was clear she was pleased.

"How was my playing?"

"Beautiful."

"… Thank you. Your singing was lovely too."

In the quiet moment, they exchanged a smile.

"Is it time to leave?"

"Yes, it's time to end this."

Her figure began to dissolve into specks of light.

"The dream will soon end. Don't keep those who care about you waiting."

Ren instinctively called out:

"About the disaster in your memories…!"

Her ethereal voice echoed, but there was no answer.

"The day we meet is drawing near."

"May we embark on the journey together then."

"Ren, I will always be watching you."

Her voice faded as the space around him collapsed.

…

"!"

Ren opened his eyes abruptly.