This was what she got when she didn’t mind her own business and asked questions, however harmless, that left the door open for further intimacy.
A few steps later, they arrived at the Mirror Pond, where the inhabitants of the Heavens came to observe the goings on of the mortal realm.
One would think that so many Immortals would flock to the pond out of curiosity about the ant-like humans below, that the place would ever be congested with crowds. But in truth, Immortals were rarely curious about humans, whose lifespans were but a blink in the infinite stretch of time.
Rather akin to the fact that humans rarely paid attention to the creatures they considered beneath them—birds, fish, other mammals, and yes, ants. Unless they were studying them academically.
Rui had a modicum of respect for those types of humans.
“Look,” Seventh Sister directed, gesturing to the perfect calmness of the pool’s glistening surface.
“Tell me what you see.”
Obligingly, Rui leaned closer to look into the pool, careful not to touch the edge of the water, or Heaven forbid, tumble inside.
The Mirror Pond was a portal to the mortal realm. If one fell in, one would tumble from the Heavens to earth. A fate worse than death, some celestial beings would say.
Rui, however, spent most of her time in the earthly realm, beneath the waves. Falling into the pond, being transported to another place, didn’t frighten her.
Nevertheless, she’d rather control her own Destiny, versus letting a small body of water make the choice for her. Because it wasn’t just another place the pond could transport her to, but also another time.
Rui liked where and when she was just fine.
At first, the tranquil surface of the pond showed only her reflection, and the crystal clear reflection of her surroundings—the lush gardens, the blue sky dotted with fluffy white clouds, and the ethereal visage of Seventh Sister crouching next to her at the edge of the pond.
But then, slowly, the images began to blend and blur, reforming into a new scene. In a place and time Rui did not recognize.
In answer to Miss Seventh’s request, she described, “There’s a woman. Very beautiful. But I am no judge. Long, dark hair, pale face, large, doe-like eyes, and rose-petal lips. She is quite…”
She struggled to find the right word and came up with—
“Round.”
“That’s called voluptuous, dear,” Miss Seventh corrected.
“Curvaceous. Hour-glass figured. That sort of womanly form has always been popular with human men, no matter the time or place. No matter their station or age.”
Incomprehension knitted Rui’s brow. She struggled to correlate the human body to dragon form.
Dragons came in all shapes, colors and sizes. Some big, some small. Some with horns, others with wings. Some that could unleash flames from their mouths, others that shot lightning from their eyes. Some had smooth scales, some were more rugged. There were dragons with two claws, four claws; two heads, more heads.
They were all beautiful to her. Creatures of the purest magic.
But humans…
She’d come to understand through unavoidable observation that humans preferred certain physical traits over others. It was true what Miss Seventh said. Females were preferred to be more “rounded,” while males were expected to be more angular.
Rui didn’t know how these generalities were formed, but as they didn’t matter to her, she mentally shrugged and moved on.
“She’s sitting in a mud-brick cottage full of…curiosities,” she continued to describe. “Glasses and jars of various herbs and…animal parts.”
She wrinkled her nose in distaste. Humans were such barbaric butchers.
“It’s a witch’s cottage,” Miss Seventh supplied. “You see that gray-haired old lady sitting by the hearth? That’s my mortal representative. This fair maiden—and I use the word loosely—has been harassing me for several months. She wants me to foretell her future. She wants to know who she will marry.”
Rui eyed Seventh Sister and carefully pointed out, “I thought that’s what you…you know…do. All women come to you to find out the identity of their future husbands.”
“Not all,” Miss Seventh said modestly. “Just the ones who appreciate the wisdom that I impart in my various earthly forms. And I do not necessarily reveal who their future husbands will be. No one can predict that with infallible accuracy. Even Destiny can sometimes be reshaped by choices made.”