Chapter 170

—Mariela, where does the rain come from?— The young alchemist heard her master’s voice from somewhere within the world of rain. —The sky. From those big, thick clouds. Ahh, those clouds I can see from the ground look so fluffy and soft and fun. I wanna dive into them, but they would be different if I got close. They’re containers for the thunderstorms, full of raging lightning and brimming over with raindrops.— —That’s right, Mariela. They came from the sea. They’re blown wherever the wind takes them, they fill with water, and look, it’s too much for them to hold. They steadily shed rain as if they were basins with holes in them. Understand, Mariela? Although it’s only a small amount, Drops of Life has blended with the clouds and the rain. Every single drop of rain that falls outside and inside this city should feel very near to you.— —Yes, Master. The raindrops are round; they’re perfect circles. But the wind pushes them and spreads them. Ahh, the mountains seem far below me. The planet’s surface feels very near. There are so many raindrops. Hitting the roofs of the City, bouncing off the leaves of trees.— Although Mariela was in the rear garden of Sunlight’s Canopy, it felt like she was spread wide and thin in the rain falling incessantly inside and outside the City. It showered relentlessly onto the earth, where the membranes of the raindrops stretched and flowed to lower places. It was like she was swimming on land; the rain made even the air seem hazy. Right now, it felt as though a fish could fly through the sky. —Mariela, where is your friend?— —Lady Carol, where is Lady Carol?— No matter how much the rain filled the City, the Drops of Life were heavily diluted. Following the drops, Mariela felt like she was everywhere, and yet it also seemed like she was still the girl standing in the rain. She was spread both far and wide throughout the City, and yet so concentrated and near. She couldn’t see anything clearly. —Mariela, what kind of person is your friend?— —Lady Carol is kind. She’s beautiful, like a princess, but strong. She wants to make all kinds of medicine and help lots of people. We made it together.— —With alchemy skills?— —Yeah. She’s not connected to a Nexus, but I think Lady Carol’s definitely an alchemist. I bet the ley line wants to connect to her, too. She said she wants to make potions. Ahh, that’s right. Lady Carol. That’s who she is. Where are you?— Mariela’s magical power flowed against the current of the Nexus. It intertwined, mixed, and melted into Drops of Life and spread far and wide through the raindrops engulfing the City. Pop-pop. The raindrops popped out before they hit the earth. As if searching for something, someone, they spread out smaller and smaller, fell to the earth, and returned to the ley line. Would anyone have noticed the dance of these bursting raindrops? Surely such a slight change would be almost indistinguishable in such a storm, and no one would notice. Surely the raindrops themselves were the only ones who knew. Mariela felt weightless. Her body was still there, but it felt hollow. Through the sensation, Mariela mumbled something barely audible. “Found her.”