Rain poured down as Wei Ge stood frozen by the lake.
No words or writing could convey Wei Ge's shock at the beauty that had appeared in the rain. The Witch who considered herself the most beautiful could only admit at this moment that the face in the lake was even more beautiful than her own—
"No!"
An instinctive voice of rebuttal arose within her:
I'm the most beautiful woman in the world! How could anyone be more beautiful than me?!
With that thought, Wei Ge suddenly came to her senses—Galina's assessment of her "narcissism" had been absolutely fair. Once awake, Wei Ge looked at that bewitching, captivating face again. Though still stunned by its charm, she could now see something extraordinary within it.
"What are you?"
Wei Ge asked in astonishment, her voice involuntarily turning shrill. It was an instinctive reaction to danger. The enchanting face in the water revealed a gentle smile, then asked over the sound of rain in a slightly hoarse voice, languid as though desire had just been satisfied:
"Do I look beautiful?"
"Of course you're beautiful. What are you?"
Wei Ge backed away as she spoke, scooping Shade up from the ground and preparing to flee. But an overwhelming premonition of danger froze her in place again. She realized that if she left now, she would likely die the instant she turned around.
"What am I? Of course, I am a young lady as beautiful as you, one who can attract him."
The woman's head on the water answered with a smile, and Wei Ge felt her head turn back toward it beyond her control.
"Are you jealous, Wei Ge Astley?"
The voice in the rain asked softly.
"I'd be jealous of you?"
Wei Ge immediately flared up, while the smile on the woman's