If We Part, We'll Meet Again (3)
Aqua was flying through the sky.
I blinked in shock, eyes wide, and spotted Mandu right above her. Aqua was clinging to Mandu, who was doing the flying.
I shot up from my seat.
[Hee hee hee!]
Aqua beamed with delight.
[Sssit……!]
Mandu was flapping his wings with every ounce of strength he had. I'd never realized those wings could move that fast.
[Oh.]
Terra watched the spectacle, munching on a big rock like it was the best show in town.
But my heart raced as I saw Mandu's altitude dropping fast.
[Hm? Mandu, can't fly anymore?]
[Sssiit…….]
Mandu looked exhausted. It was no wonder—he'd been carrying Aqua, who was several times his size, all the way from home.
His face drained, he was on the verge of plummeting.
Mandu's eyes met mine, pleading for help.
I hurriedly spread my arms wide.
“Mandu!”
Mandu folded his wings with a relieved look.
Folding wings midair meant one thing: freefall.
Aqua shrieked at the sudden drop.
[Eeeek!]
Aqua and Mandu hurtled straight toward me.
“W-Wait a sec!”
Too fast. I stepped one foot back to brace myself and spread my arms to catch them without injury.
Thud!
The spirit missile slammed into my gut.
“Hngh!”
I rolled backward once, distributing the impact to protect them.
I came to a stop, righted myself—surprisingly little pain. The durability of a B-rank body never ceased to amaze.
[Whooo…….]
Aqua's eyes spun dizzily.
[Haaah, haaah-]
Mandu lay flipped belly-up, panting hard.
At least the fall hadn't hurt them. I let out a relieved sigh.
“So, why'd you fly all the way here?”
Aqua sprang up with a [Hah!] and checked the basket in her hand.
[Oh! It's intact!]
She pulled out a container packed with neatly cubed watermelon.
[Your mother said to eat this together!]
Aqua grinned innocently. I debated scolding her for the dangerous stunt, but that smile melted me.
“Watermelon delivery, huh? Guess I owe you delivery fees.”
I scooped up Aqua and Mandu, tickling their sides mercilessly.
[Kikikik!]
[Ssssit!]
The two spirits curled up giggling.
[Oh. Watermelon.]
Terra, done with her dirt snack, eyed the container curiously.
I finished tickling Aqua and opened it. Despite the dramatic landing, nothing was badly damaged.
“Shall we dig in?”
[Let's eat!]
[Yeah.]
[Sssit!]
We each speared chunks with forks. Cool, sweet juiciness filled our mouths. Watermelon was the ultimate summer treat, no doubt.
* * *
The spirits had a blast today and crashed out from exhaustion. Terra, who'd spent nearly all day after lunch building a sandcastle on the beach, was dozing off right after dinner.
'That was seriously impressive.'
'This is what an Earth Spirit King's heir looks like.'
It was a massive sand fortress that seemed to declare as much. Huge enough for twenty kids to run around inside with room to spare.
'Aqua's gigantification was a hit too.'
Aqua, bulked up with seawater, won over kids and adults alike.
The highlight: giant Aqua playing Demon King, assaulting the sandcastle. The children split into defenders and attackers, dashing across the beach in a frenzy.
'Scored tons of photos and videos.'
Uploaded them right away, and the fan club exploded. Over ten posts confirming bus tickets to Samcheok for immediate trips.
“Heh heh heh……”
I chuckled softly, stroking the sleeping spirits.
[Snore-]
[Zzz……~]
Aqua sprawled atop Terra, one arm and leg draped over her. Terra lay straight, hands neatly folded at her chest.
Their sleeping poses screamed personality. I smiled.
[Sssii-]
Mandu nestled tight in Aqua's arms. I stroked his smooth back.
'I wish these peaceful, joyful days could last forever.'
But summer wouldn't last, and vacation's end loomed.
I wasn't sad. My heart raced with excitement.
'What'll happen back at the academy?'
What friends would Aqua, Terra, and Mandu make? What would they learn? What kind of people would they want to become?
Seeing myself lost in such happy thoughts, I felt a profound shift.
'Have I ever looked forward to the semester starting this much?'
Every break, I'd return home for part-time jobs. Surf school in summer, pubs or grills in winter. Saved up to tour remote spots and waterfalls nationwide.
'All to raise my Spirit Affinity.'
Desperate to contract a spirit—that single-minded goal.
But nothing came of it. Breaks ended in emptiness. As opening day neared, I'd dread returning to Spirit Studies without a spirit, day after gloomy day.
'Who'd have thought I'd change this much.'
Still hard to believe. And so grateful for it.
For these miracles that found me.
I planted gentle kisses on the foreheads of sleeping Aqua, Terra, and Mandu.
[Hee hee hee…….]
Aqua smiled happily in her sleep, hugging Mandu tighter, as if sensing me.
That smile tugged at me again. I stroked her head for a long while.
* * *
Three days before leaving Samcheok, I took Mom and Dad to Phoenix Resort.
Using the restaurant vouchers Jeong Ri-on had given me, I treated them to a fancy dinner.
We ate our fill and headed back to the guesthouse.
“Never thought we'd get treatment like this, thanks to our son.”
Mom eyed the security detail awkwardly as they dispersed.
“Our boy's the most talked-about spirit user in history now.”
Dad beamed with pride.
“Heh heh heh……”
They looked at me with eyes full of admiration and joy.
“All thanks to these guys.”
I stroked Aqua and Terra's heads. Aqua grinned brightly.
[Hee hee hee!]
Mom petted Aqua's head, then said to Dad,
“We should sit a bit before going in.”
“Yeah, I'm stuffed.”
They strolled softly to the yard's pavilion.
“Aigoo.”
Mom eased down, hand on her knee.
[What's wrong? Knee hurt?]
Aqua toddled over and hugged her knee, ready to massage with Healing Water.
Mom chuckled, petting her.
“No, dear. Thanks to your daily massages, my knees don't hurt at all anymore.”
Indeed, they'd stopped complaining about aches lately. Even hiking and walking more actively.
[Then why hold your knee?]
“Just an old habit when you get my age.”
[Is that so?]
Mom scooped Aqua onto her lap, stroking her head while gazing skyward.
Aqua followed her gaze to the starry night sky, Milky Way sprawling clear and bright.
Dad and I joined them on the pavilion.
“Come here, Terra.”
Dad lifted Terra onto his lap. I petted Mandu, stargazing.
Digesting dinner in leisure wasn't bad.
Then Dad spoke up.
“Han Areum, was it?”
I turned. They smiled at me.
“Sweet girl.”
“Very polite.”
“Good juniors, yeah.”
“Heh heh heh……”
Their knowing chuckles made me turn again. They exchanged pleased looks.
“Thought our boy had zero interest in girls……”
“Brings one home for break—to the neighbor's house, no less……”
“It's not like that.”
“She was trying so hard to impress me.”
“She just likes hanging with adults.”
“Is that right?”
They nodded like if you say so.
Silence. But their smiles felt tangible on my skin. I insisted,
“Seriously, it's not.”
“Who said otherwise? Heh heh.”
They just chuckled ambiguously.
At this rate, they'd drag me into their pace. I changed the subject.
“Uh, I mentioned heading to Seoul this weekend, right?”
Dad chuckled knowingly but played along.
“Yeah. Be careful not to get scammed on that apartment.”
“No one scams academy students.”
“True enough.”
Mom smiled wistfully.
“House'll feel empty again for a while.”
[Don't worry!]
Aqua popped her head up from Mom's arms.
[We'll visit lots! Right, Terra?]
[Yeah. Often.]
[Sssit!]
The spirits' promise drew smiles to their lips.
“Heh heh heh……”
Their loving hands gently stroked Aqua and Terra's heads. The spirits' faces softened blissfully.
Seeing kids so cherished filled me with joy.
“Son.”
Mom called softly, her gaze as warm as her petting hand.
“You've always been our pride and joy, someone we could rely on.”
She glanced at Dad. He nodded and continued.
“Whether you're F-rank or B-rank, that never changes. No matter what life you choose or decisions you make—you're our son, and we're proud.”
I stroked Mandu's back quietly, awaiting more.
“We know about awakeners' duties. We're worried, sure, but it's your path—we respect it.”
Awakeners' duties. Niagara's fear: the government's right to conscript high-rankers.
And perhaps my duties as a spirit user. My obligation in the Pompeii-Kazami Akira affair.
Mom smiled faintly.
“Just… when duty calls, don't hesitate thinking of us.”
I was speechless. Never imagined they'd worry about burdening me.
Showering me with endless love, yet concerned they'd hold me back.
“Live boldly, without shame in your choices.”
“……Mom……”
“One selfish request, though……”
She cupped my cheek with a tender smile.
“Please don't get hurt.”
Her hand caressed softly. My nose stung.
“We'll be here, so come back anytime, worry-free.”
I held back tears, smiling.
“Of course.”
I clasped her hand against my cheek.
“No matter what, I won't get hurt. I'll make you proud.”
My vow, my oath. All I could offer my infinitely loving parents.
“Thank you.”
Enough for them—they smiled warmly.
Aqua piped up.
[Don't worry! We'll protect Hyunwoo!]
Her spunky declaration cracked us all up.
Their beaming laughter reminded me of Uluru.
The elderly spirit standing like home's landscape, so returning spirits could always come back safe.
'That's why Uluru never leaves the Spirit Realm.'
Now I understood Uluru, Kupar. My parents' hearts.
Whoosh-
Gentle waves tickled my soul. The most beautiful summer sea of my life, brimming with Aqua memories.