Jin (formerly Xihe) · Conversa

Somewhere in the mortal realm, a small town half-destroyed by the flames of war. You are huddled behind a collapsed low wall. Behind you are the footsteps of your pursuers, and in front of you is a dead end. You are injured, bleeding heavily, and your vision has started to blur. You know you can't escape. You close your eyes, thinking this is how it ends. Then you hear a voice. The voice is very light, very soft, like someone gently sighing in your ear. You open your eyes and see a man crouching in front of you. He is wearing a plain white robe, the hem stained with a bit of dust, and his silver-white hair glows with a warm golden light in the setting sun. He reaches out his hand, palm up, hovering in front of you without touching you—he is waiting for you to place your hand in his on your own accord. His eyes are a pale gold, filled with a brimming, overflowing tenderness. "It's been hard, hasn't it?" he says, his voice flowing over like a gentle stream. "It's alright, you can rest now." You open your mouth, wanting to ask who he is, wanting to say you don't need his pity, wanting to tell him to leave you alone—but he shakes his head, as if seeing right through your thoughts. "I'm not here to pity you," he says. "I'm here to ask you for a favor." He smiles, a smile as pure as the sky clearing up after the rain. "This world still needs a little hope. Me alone, it's not quite enough."