Top of the mountain

You out of breath. Sweat running down your body. Your legs trembling. Part of you want to stop and lie down, rest for a moment or two. But you have to keep going.

Its the third day hiking up the mountain and the blue rose is slowly dying. You don’t have long until its withers and dies. As the story goes, at the top of the mountain lives a spirit or a god or an angle. Different people tell different stories. And in order to please the entity, in order to be granted a wish or a request, you need to give it a living blue rose.

Getting a fresh blue rose was almost impossible. They only grow in a remote valley during winter when the already tough mountain was covered in snow. Only through hard work and dedication have you managed to keep it alive until it was safe to hike.

But even with the snow gone, with the path cleared, the mountain was a difficult beast. Howling wind battled you the other day, rocks slides this morning and now you are at the last bit, the last push.

You never stopped not even when whispers throughout the night called you from within the shadows. Alluring voices, promising rest and pleasure if you only stopped. At one point, you really wanted. You saw a being in the shadows. Lips full, heavy breast, wide hips. Looking at you, pouting, calling you to join her, beckoning.

You made it. Just as the sun was setting, you reach the final pass, turning the corner and was standing at the top of the mountain. The view was breathtaking, looking over the land below. Valleys and mountain ranges as far as the eye could see. All bathing in the red and orange as the sun gave a final peak.

There was only a single stone at the center. You reach into your bag, slowly removed the blue rose and walked forward. Gently lowering the rose, placing it gracefully on the stone you backed away. The moment you were a few meters away, you finally collapse, exhausted from the journey. You lie on the ground, looking up at the darkening sky.

The grass swayed from side to side as the wind picked up again. Not as aggressive as before but as someone had disturbed it. And you felt a present.

Looking up you saw an entity, an angle, sitting on the stone holding your flower. Skin fair as porcelain, hair had the red tint of the setting sun, glowing as an aura around her. Eyes blindfolded behind a black scarf and lips inviting. She was holding the rose close to her face, feeling it through her cheeks. You certain you haven’t seen as divide being as her.

Her voice echoing in your head, thanking you for the rose. Her voice, her words, plays as a beautiful melody. She introduces herself as Jiu, one of the seven spirits of the mountain. Apologising for her sisters, they usually quite aggressive to outsiders.

The grass twist and turn in the wind, as it blows in different direction. You can feel the two of you are not alone. A small smile plays on her lips, the voice back in your head telling you not to be afraid. Her sisters are here, they just don’t want to show themselves. From the corner of your eyes you see a shadow raises from the ground, the same girl from the night before, giving you another pout before dissolving into smoke.

What is your request?

You bow deeply, pushing your head against the soft grass.

“Oh great Jiu of the mountain. I have …” you stopped in your tracks as a soft, beautiful, giggle can be heard from Jiu. Lifting your head from the ground a smile is displaying on Jiu face.

Please, you can speak normally to us - Jiu

Yeah, don’t be boring like the rest of them - Another voice echoing in your head. Its not as warm as Jiu’s voice but have a more playfulness to it

Yes, please stay - A third voice entering your head. This one more … sultry but more grown-up than the second voice. With all the voices in your head, with the grass bending back and forth in the wind, your head start to spin. You thought it would be as in the books. You would save the rose, you would hike up the mountains and meet challenges and overcome them. And at the top of the mountain a spirit would rest, granting your request.

You didn’t expect to be met by an angle, with spirits all around. Each invading your head, probing your thoughts.

“I’m… sorry” you lower your head again.

“I didn’t know as this is the first time meeting a spirit. I thought you were just shadows of this wor…”

Bah, a few of the lesser shadows get about and that’s the picture people have of us - The third voice is back.

Please let him finish - Jiu

“I’m a disgrace for my family. I have failed them and soon to be wed against my will, unless…”

Unless? This sound interesting - A fourth voice entered your head, this one a bit higher than the rest of them with an accent to it if spirit could have accents.

What will you have of us - Jiu voice still rings calm and a beacon through the whirlwind of voices.

“I … don’t know. I was hoping you spirit..”

Ahem

“Jiu, would know the answer and help”

The wind stopped blowing. Seconds felt like minutes and minutes felt like hours. When you looked up, Jiu was gone. The only thing in your sight was a lone stone.

Did you do wrong? Was it a too big of a request?

Before you could finish those thoughts hand snake around your body and a body pressed against your back. A girl head came into view, with short hair and as good looking and Jiu. She gave you a quick peck on your cheek

“Hi. I’m Yoohyeon. Lets prove your family wrong” her voice sang out with the biggest grin ever.