New Technique (1)
[Mosquito?]
Aqua tilted her head, clearly having no idea what that was. It seemed there were no mosquitoes in the Spirit Realm.
The Spirit Realm really is paradise, huh.
I got up from my seat and turned on the light. I couldn't let a mosquito disturb my sleep—or Aqua’s or Mandu’s—so I planned to hunt it down.
[Sss-.]
At that moment, Mandu was staring intently at something. Following his gaze, I spotted a mosquito stuck to the wall.
[Oh! Is that the mosquito?!]
The mosquito was perched midway up the wall, several meters high—a height I couldn't reach even by jumping.
"Hold on a sec. I need to grab a newspaper or something."
[No need! Leave it to me!]
Aqua stood tall on the bed, her voice booming with dignity. Somehow, a cowboy hat made of water had appeared on her head.
[Heh heh heh... To dare target territory under my watch? You've got guts!]
Standing atop the bed, Aqua glared at the mosquito, fingers on her hips in a pose straight out of the movie we'd just watched.
Sheriff Aqua makes her triumphant return...!
It had been ages since she'd last appeared, back when she'd chased off that creep. I sat lightly on the edge of the bed, ready to watch the sheriff in action.
[Hmmm...!]
Aqua narrowed her eyes at the mosquito. Mandu and I held our breath, watching the scene unfold.
Then, in a flash, Aqua thrust her finger forward like lightning and shouted.
[Bang!]
A jet of water shot from her fingertip. The vigorous stream flew toward its target—Ah, it missed.
It missed. Aqua's aim with her finger-gun wasn't great.
But Aqua had spirit power to more than compensate for that flaw.
Whoosh—!
The missed stream whipped sideways like a lash.
Splat—!
The mosquito hit by the water whip disintegrated on impact.
"Whoa!"
I couldn't help but clap softly in admiration at the satisfying scene.
[Sssit! Sssit!]
Mandu cheered enthusiastically too.
Aqua grinned, blowing imaginary smoke from her finger-gun.
[Death is the only fate for intruders!]
"Awesome, Sheriff!"
[Hmph!]
Aqua puffed out her chest and snorted proudly. The thrill of the hunt hadn't worn off yet.
That was when it happened.
[Sssii-.]
Mandu's eyes locked onto something else. Following his gaze, I saw another mosquito on the headboard.
There was more than one, huh.
I called out to Aqua with anticipation in my voice.
"Sheriff?"
Aqua had already drawn her finger-gun.
[Leave it to me!]
Samcheok's Sheriff Aqua racked up an impressive record after that, taking down two more mosquitoes.
[All caught!]
"Thanks. Now we can finally sleep."
We turned off the light and lay back down. But in the end, we didn't sleep.
This time, Aqua was too pumped from the hunt to drift off.
"...Wanna watch a movie?"
[...Put on something boring that’ll make us sleepy, if possible.]
We didn't fall asleep until after 2 a.m.
* * *
Whoosh—.
The sky outside had been overcast since dawn, and by lunchtime, it started pouring.
Aqua's eyes went wide at the heavy downpour, and she pressed herself to the window.
[Whoa! Is this the rain of the human world?!]
It was said that it didn't rain much in the Spirit Realm. Our country's monsoon season must have seemed pretty novel to her.
I opened the window for Aqua. Moisture, rain sounds, and scattered droplets rushed into the room.
Aqua gripped the windowsill and peered out. Mandu scurried up beside her, gazing up at the thunderclouds.
[They say the sea falls from the sky. Indeed!]
Aqua stretched her hand outside. The sudden shower soaked her hand and arm. It must have tickled, because she giggled.
[These weak streams haven't changed. Like farts from drunk sylphs, right?]
Mandu's sleek, streamlined body got wet too. Blinking slowly as rain got in his eyes, he seemed to enjoy it.
Salamanders liked raising their body temperature, but they also enjoyed cooling it down. That was why they loved cold food and hanging out with undines.
They must like rain too.
I gently stroked Mandu's damp back. Aqua hopped up onto the windowsill, kicking her feet happily as she enjoyed the rain.
"Be careful not to fall."
I sat on the sill too, gripping it, and savored the midsummer shower together.
Whoosh—.
There was a serene romance to the pouring rain. Even my gradually soaking arms felt endearing.
Just as the raindrops reached their peak intensity, I spoke up.
"Aqua, Mandu."
[Hm?]
[Ssit?]
"Wanna go out?"
[Where?]
"To the yard. With an umbrella."
[Umbrella?]
Aqua and Mandu looked at me curiously. I smiled.
"Rain sounds great from inside, but they're even better under an umbrella."
There were so many kinds of rain sounds in the world. Rain on the roof at home, rain from inside a car, rain by a cafe window, rain dripping from eaves.
Everyone had their favorite. Mine was the sound under an umbrella.
Aqua and Mandu will love it too.
I wanted to share that experience with my spirits.
Aqua nodded.
[Your recommendations are never wrong! Let's go!]
Aqua reached out her arms to me. I gently scooped her up.
[Sssit!]
I extended a hand to Mandu, and he climbed up to my shoulder.
[But what's an umbrella?]
I just smiled at Aqua's question. It was a little surprise.
"Heading out?"
Jang Gilsan, reading the Jungja newspaper during his lunch break, asked.
"In this downpour? Where to?"
"To get rained on."
"Rained on? On purpose?"
"I'm a water spirit user, remember."
Jang Gilsan stared at me, then shook his head.
"I really don't get spirit users."
Still, he stood up.
"You rest. No need to get soaked."
"It's a mood booster. Plus, there are still lots of scouts around."
I didn't argue further.
Cute moments are twice as fun shared. Misery loves company too.
* * *
We borrowed umbrellas from the lobby. Surprisingly, there were even rain boots.
Delighted, I helped Aqua into a pair—they fit her tiny feet perfectly, like kids' boots.
Thud-thud-thud—!
Stepping outside, the fierce shower hammered the umbrella.
[Whoaaa!]
Aqua looked up at the umbrella's underside in wonder.
[Is this the rain sound?!]
"Yeah. Bigger than you thought, huh?"
[It sounds like this under the Spirit Tree sometimes! But the umbrella's even louder!]
The Spirit Tree was a massive tree in the Spirit Realm. A single leaf was probably as big as this umbrella.
But nothing beat the sound right under one, it seemed.
[It's like they're knocking to come in!]
Aqua rode on my neck under the umbrella. Mandu flicked his tongue atop her head, eyeing the umbrella's interior warily. The loud noise seemed a bit scary.
[This won't rip the umbrella, will it?]
"Hahaha. Wind might, but raindrops won't tear it."
[Rain really is weak water! Can't even match a waterfall—more like an old dog's piss stream! The shame of water!]
Aqua smirked and thumped the umbrella's underside with her fist.
I asked in alarm.
"Old dog's what? Where'd you learn that?"
[Overheard it from the human who ferried us.]
Park Uncle, probably.
"Don't hang out with that uncle anymore."
[Huh? Why not?]
I racked my brain for a reason before saying,
"It's a bad word."
[Old dog piss?]
"It's not that bad. But I don't want to hear it from your mouth."
[Why?]
"I just want you to see pretty things, hear pretty things, say pretty things."
Maybe it was selfish. Aqua had the ability and freedom to learn and use whatever knowledge she wanted.
But still, I hoped she'd stay pure and innocent.
[Hm, got it! I kinda understand!]
Aqua giggled.
[I used to scold undines for cursing at sylphs too!]
Sister spirit indeed. I imagined Aqua sternly lecturing them: undines on their knees, arms up, sniffling; Aqua hands on hips. The mental image sent me to comedy heaven.
Aqua beamed happily.
[You feel like I did back then!]
"Caring for each other feels the same for everyone."
[Hee hee hee!]
Aqua laughed softly, then hopped off my shoulder into the rain. Mandu followed.
I handed her the small kid-sized umbrella. She popped it open with a snap—a red one with a white tip.
With red boots too, she looked perfect.
She suits it so well. Too well—adorably so, making my heart race.
I pressed my chest to calm it.
Aqua in boots and umbrella jumped over puddles, splashing playfully. Mandu clung tightly to her hair to stay put.
I quietly pulled out my camera and snapped photos for the album.
Click—!
Click—!
Hearing shutter sounds that weren't mine, I turned to see Jang Gilsan with his phone camera out.
Our eyes met, and he awkwardly looked away, clearing his throat.
"Ahem, ahem."
I felt my mood soar.
[Look at this!]
Turning back at Aqua's call, I saw her jump into a puddle with both feet together.
Splash—the water sprayed out, then froze mid-air.
Aqua's spirit power at work.
[A water flower!]
I looked again. The suspended spray resembled a frog's webbed foot, or a crown, or a dress hem.
Definitely as beautiful as a high-speed documentary shot.
"Wow, that's really pretty. Hold it just like that."
I propped my umbrella on my elbow and seriously photographed Aqua and her water flower.
[How is it? Prettier than fireworks, right?]
"Way prettier. And with you in the middle, even more so!"
[Obviously!]
Aqua laughed, twirling her umbrella. Falling droplets traced perfect circles before scattering.
I captured that too.
Rainy-day Aqua. The epitome of a water spirit—perfectly suited.
* * *
We headed to the resort pond under our umbrellas. I wanted Aqua and Mandu to hear the frogs croaking.
Croak-croak-croak—.
As we neared, the frogs' chorus grew louder and clearer.
[Whoa! The frogs are singing in harmony!]
Aqua dashed to the pond under her umbrella. Mandu wagged his short tail excitedly.
A frog family chorused together at the pond.
Better stay back.
They might flee at human presence. Jang Gilsan and I hung back, just tapping our phone cameras.
Mandu hopped down from Aqua's head to the pond.
[Mandu, approach gently this time—no scaring them.]
Aqua crouched encouragingly. Mandu nodded and slowly approached the frogs. He'd already fully manifested.
Croak-croak-croak—.
The frogs didn't mind Mandu. Spirits were part of nature. As long as he didn't startle them like last time, animals accepted them.
[Sssit!]
Mandu climbed onto a lily pad, looking around joyfully at the frogs before opening his mouth.
[Sssit, sssit, sssit!]
Perfectly in rhythm with the frogs' croaks.
Seeing Mandu get along, Aqua scurried back to me, beaming.
[It worked!]
She was thrilled Mandu had made friends.
"Yeah. He's got buddies now."
We watched Mandu sing with the frogs for a bit.
Then—plop—water pooled on a tree branch fell onto Aqua's umbrella.
[Eek?!]
Aqua startled and looked up.
[Wh-what was that? Sylphs?]
"Haha, no. Just rainwater."
[Rainwater? Why so loud?]
Her reaction sparked an idea. I summoned a Water Shield in mid-air. Water quickly pooled in its concave curve.
"Here, Aqua. Come over."
Aqua toddled up under her umbrella. I moved the Water Shield over it and manipulated my spirit magic to poke a small hole in the center.
The pooled rain became a waterfall, cascading onto her umbrella.
Thud-thud-thud!
Aqua jumped at the sound, then grinned and nodded.
[Whoa! That's what it was! Do it again!]
Aqua started enjoying the rain sounds for real.
[This stream could rip an umbrella if strong enough!]
"Probably. Water jets punch through rock, after all."
[Hee hee hee!]
Her innocent laugh and proud smile—I knew what came next without hearing it.
"Water spirits are the best, right?"
[Water spirits are the b... Eek?! How'd you know?!]
"Hahaha!"
I gathered more water in the Water Shield and poured it again.
[Hee hee hee! Once more!]
Aqua shouted like a kid on a ride.
Then something brushed my head. I looked at the Water Shield.
Holding water, pouring it out.
[What's wrong?]
Aqua asked, puzzled by my silence.
In a quiet but certain voice, I said,
"This... we could use it as our new technique."
[New technique...?]
Aqua blinked up at the Water Shield. Ripples danced across the pooled rainwater.