Cherry blossom amidst the snow

Spanish

El eco de las voces de los elnin que se encontraban tranquilamente charlando y bebiendo en el bar retumbaba contra las paredes, dando la impresión de que el sitio estaba bastante animado. El local estaba situado dentro de una cueva subterránea en el corazón de la mismísima Zevija. La única luz que entraba eran pequeños rayos de luna que se colaban entre las rocas, y que se reflejaba en los miles de cristales con tonos púrpuras y azules que habían brotado aquí y allá con natural armonía. El lugar era perfecto para conversar tranquilamente: luz ténue, el mejor jugo de uva importado y almacenado en botellas talladas a partir de gemas preciosas... Ah, pero perfecto para Hanami. Ella sí estaba en su ambiente de discreción y sensualidad. Ella sí había disfrutado haciendo su entrada, alardeando sutilmente de la pomposidad de su pelaje, de la intensa fragancia a flores de cerezo que emanaba y embriagaba a aquellos que le rodeaban, dando rienda suelta a su aura atractiva. Todo el mundo pensaría que la gente también tendría ojos para la otra Elnin que la seguía: una flor de cerezo entre la nieve. La criatura era blanca y delicada, demasiado pura para esta caverna oscura iluminada con cristales que rebosaban magia milenaria. Pero no fue así. Pese a que tenía los ojos color rosa claro de su madre, éstos estaban cubiertos por una capa de permafrost. Cualquiera que la mirara se quedaba congelado en su asiento. Este copo de nieve no parecía contento de haber bajado a lo que para ella sería el inframundo.

"Miyuki, hija mía, relájate un poco. Parece que les vayas a morder."
"No sé siquiera qué hacen mirándome."
"No lo pueden evitar... Se sienten atraídos."
"Pues me da asco."
"Tanto asco no te da cuando ejerces el mismo efecto sobre tu amado Kanji..."

Miyuki frunció el ceño y miró hacia abajo sin contestar, mientras se sentaban en una mesa un poco más íntima que Hanami había pedido al lado de un muro decorado de cristales rojo salmón.

Hanami se encargó de pedir las bebidas al camarero. ¡Y no cualquier bebida! Serían la especialidad de la casa.
Cuando éste apuntó su comanda, despareció con una sonrisa. Miyuki seguía mirando hacia abajo, simulando que estaba distraída por los cristales carmesí. Hanami la observó unos segundos y cerró los ojos mientras se acomodaba en la silla y dejaba soltar un suspiro.

Las bebidas no tardaron en llegar: dos preciosas copas talladas en zafiro. El borde superior de éstas estaba cubierto por una fina capa de azúcar cristalino de un tono azul intenso. Una de las maravillas de Zevija: los cristales de azúcar. Se formaban naturalmente, y la única manera de distinguirlos de los cristales normales era lamiéndolos, muy al pesar de los Elnin que se dedicaban a recolectarlos... O minarlos... La parte de lamerlos tampoco hacía mucha gracia a los clientes que más tarde los consumían... Los existían de tantos colores como el arco iris, y según el color tenían un sabor final de una fruta distinta. La gente dice que, en esta región árida, esto es posible porque dichos cristales acumularon el sabor de la fruta que eones y eones atrás acabó deshidratándose al sol y tomó forma cristalina.
La que habían servido a las dos damas tenía un final con sabor a arándanos, y era tan dulce que hasta el camarero rezaba para que pudiera endulzar aunque fuera un poco la mirada de la más joven.
Ambas tomaron las copas entre sus dedos y las rozaron levemente, como era costumbre, a modo de celebración por el encuentro. El material dejó escapar una suave nota musical, y el contenido de la copa acarició la los labios de ambas. De un tono carmesí, el jugo estaba hecho de las mejores uvas de Faerindell, y probablemente había reposado en barriles de zafiro durante cientos de años. Ambas saborearon el tono afrutado antes de mirarse finalmente a los ojos, preparadas para lo que iban a hablar.

"Así que..." Comenzó Hanami. "Habéis vuelto."
"Nunca estuvimos juntos, mamá."
"Oh, erais inseparables de críos. Y una noche de primavera también me distéis unos nietos preciosos..."
Miyuki suspiró. Recordaba con un poco de pesar esa noche en la que se dejó llevar por el amor por Kanji. Ella aún estaba con su anterior pareja por aquel entonces, pero ésta apenas había tenido tiempo para ella, y Miyuki a veces podía ser muy cría... Y tampoco era de piedra frente a los encantos y perseverancia de Kanji. Se sintió mal durante semanas, pero con el tiempo también se separó de su pareja de aquel entonces. Aún así, Kanji estuve allí siempre para ella, y hacía latir su corazón más fuerte que nadie. Se dio cuenta de lo estúpida e infantil que había sido todos estos años sin hacerle el más mínimo caso. Además, quería volver a conectar con sus hijos, especialmente con Geki. Kana estaba en buenas manos con su madre, pero Geki necesitaba una madre...
"Te gusta, Miyuki?"
Lo primero que le vino a la mente a Miyuki fue Kanji, y sus mejillas, ya de por si coloradas en rosa pastel, se encendieron.
"C-Claro que me gusta, mamá!"
Su madre le miró con media sonrisa en la cara. "Me refería a la bebida, apenas la has probado."
Si pudiera ser, Miyuki se sonrojó más. La noche era joven, y mamá era muy buena con los temas del amor y las relaciones. Miyuki necesitaba desahogarse, hablar de su corazón con alguien y brindar por el amor. Aquel era el sitio y la compañía perfecta. Iban a venir muchas copas más. Su madre lo sabía.

Improved English

The sounds of the Elnin conversing and drinking in the bar reverberated around the cave, creating a lively atmosphere. This establishment was situated within a subway cave located at the heart of Zevija. The only source of light was the occasional moonbeam that penetrated the cave, casting a purple and blue hue on the thousands of crystals that adorned the walls in perfect natural harmony. It was a perfect place for leisurely conversations, with soft lighting and the best imported grape juice, stored in bottles crafted from precious gems. However, this place was only perfect for Hanami, who revelled in the discreet and sensual ambiance. Her entrance had been carefully planned, flaunting the opulence of her coat that exuded an intense cherry blossom fragrance, which emanated and intoxicated those around her, unleashing her seductive aura. Although others may have taken note of the other Elnin accompanying her, a cherry blossom amidst the snow, the creature was too pure for the dark cavern illuminated with the crystals brimming with ancient magic. Although she had inherited her mother's light pink eyes, they were glazed over with permafrost, giving anyone who looked at her the chills. This snowflake did not seem pleased to have descended into what she considered the underworld.

"Miyuki, my child, please try to relax a little. You look like you're about to bite them." "I don't even know why they're staring at me." "They can't help it... They're just drawn to you." "Well, it makes me feel disgusted." "But you don't seem to mind when you have the same effect on your beloved Kanji..."

Miyuki's frown deepened as they sat down at a more intimate table, per Hanami's request, next to a wall adorned with salmon red crystals. She remained silent as Hanami ordered the house specialty drinks from the waiter, who disappeared with a smile. Miyuki kept her gaze fixed on the crimson crystals, feigning distraction. Hanami watched her for a few moments before settling into her chair and sighing with contentment.

Their drinks arrived in sapphire carved goblets, topped with a layer of crystalline sugar in a deep blue hue. Zevija's famous sugar crystals were naturally formed and could be distinguished from other crystals only by their distinctive fruit flavor, which varied depending on the color. Miyuki and Hanami's goblets were infused with a sweet blueberry flavor, much to the delight of the waiter, who hoped it might sweeten Miyuki's disposition. As was customary, they briefly brushed their cups together to celebrate their reunion, eliciting a soft musical note from the delicate material.

The crimson juice, made from Faerindell's finest grapes, had likely been aged in sapphire barrels for centuries. They savored the fruity taste before meeting each other's gaze, ready to talk.

"So," Hanami began, "you and Kanji are back together."

"We were never together, Mom," Miyuki replied.

Hanami reminded her that they had been inseparable as children and that Miyuki had even given her beautiful grandchildren one spring night. Miyuki remembered that night with a tinge of regret, having been carried away by her lust for Kanji despite being with her previous partner. She eventually ended that relationship and realized how much she had taken Kanji for granted. She also wanted to reconnect with her children, especially Geki, who needed a mother.

"Do you like her, Miyuki?" Hanami asked, referring to the drink.

Miyuki's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "S-sure, I like him, Mom!"

Her mother smiled knowingly, sensing that Miyuki had more to say. As the night wore on, they raised many more toasts to love, and Miyuki knew that she had found the perfect place and company to vent and talk her heart out.

English

The echoing voices of the elnin who were peacefully chatting and drinking at the bar echoed against the walls, giving the feeling that the place was quite lively. The establishment was located inside a subway cave in the very heart of Zevija. The only light coming in were small rays of moonlight that slipped through the rocks, reflecting off the thousands of crystals gleaming purple and blue hues that had sprouted here and there in natural harmony. The place was perfect to chat leisurely: soft light, the best imported grape juice stored in bottles carved from precious gems.... Ah, but it was only perfect for Hanami. She was in her environment of discretion and sensuality. She had indeed enjoyed making her entrance, flaunting subtlety the pompousness of her coat that smelled of an intense cherry blossom fragrance that emanated and intoxicated those around her, giving free rein to her seductive aura. Everyone would think that everyone would also have eyes for the other Elnin that followed her: a cherry blossom among the snow. The creature was soft and delicate, too pure for this dark cavern illuminated with crystals overflowing with millennia-old magic. But it was not. Although she had her mother's light pink eyes, they were covered in a layer of permafrost. Anyone looking at her would freeze in their seat. This snowflake did not seem happy to have descended into what for her would be the underworld.

"Miyuki, my child, relax a little. You look like you're going to bite them."
"I don't even know why they're looking at me."
"They can't help it... They feel attracted."
"Well, it disgusts me."
" You are not that disgusted when you wield the same effect on your beloved Kanji..."

Miyuki frowned and looked down without answering as they sat down at a slightly more intimate table that Hanami had requested next to a wall decorated with salmon red crystals.

Hanami took it upon herself to order the drinks from the waiter - and not just any drinks! They would be the house specialty.
When he wrote down their order, he disappeared with a smile. Miyuki kept looking down, pretending to be distracted by the crimson crystals. Hanami watched her for a few seconds and closed her eyes as she settled into the chair and let out a sigh.

The drinks didn't take long to arrive: two beautiful sapphire carved goblets. The top edge of these was covered with a thin layer of crystalline sugar of a deep blue hue. One of Zevija's wonders: sugar crystals. They were naturally formed, and the only way to distinguish them from normal crystals was to lick them, much to the annoyance of the Elnin who were devoted to collecting them.... Or mining them... The licking part was not much fun either for the customers who later consumed them. There were as many colors as the rainbow, and depending on the color they had a different final taste of a different fruit. People say that, in this arid region, this is possible because these crystals accumulated the flavor of the fruit that eons and eons ago ended up dehydrating in the sun and took crystalline form.
The one that had been served to the two ladies had a blueberry-flavored finish, and it was so sweet that even the waiter prayed that it might sweeten even a little the younger one's gaze.
They both took the cups between their fingers and briefly brushed them, as was customary, as a way of celebrating their encounter. The material let out a soft musical note, and the contents of the glass caressed their lips. Crimson in hue, the juice was made from Faerindell's finest grapes, and had probably rested in sapphire barrels for hundreds of years. They both savored the fruity taste before finally looking into each other's eyes, prepared for what they were about to say.

"So..." Hanami began. " You guys are back together."
"We were never together, Mom."
"Oh, you were inseparable as kids. And you gave me beautiful grandchildren one night of spring, too..."
Miyuki sighed. She remembered with a bit of regret that night when she let herself be carried away by her lust for Kanji. She was still with her previous partner back then, but this one had barely had time for her, and Miyuki could sometimes be very childish.... And she wasn't made of stone in the presence of Kanji's charms and perseverance neither. She felt bad for weeks, but eventually she also parted ways with her then-partner. Still, Kanji was always there for her, and made her heart beat stronger than anyone else. She realized how stupid and childish she had been all these years without paying much attention to him. Besides, she wanted to reconnect with her children, especially Geki. Kana was in good hands with her mother, but Geki needed a mother....
"Do you like her, Miyuki?"
The first thing that came to Miyuki's mind was Kanji, and her already pastel pink cheeks heated up.
"S-Sure I like him, Mom!"
Her mother looked at her with a half-smile on her face. "I meant the drink, you've hardly tasted it."
If possible, Miyuki blushed more. The night was young, and mom was very good at love and relationship topics. Miyuki needed to vent, talk her heart out to someone and raise a toast to love. This was the perfect place and the perfect company. Many more drinks were to come. Her mum knew it.