New Technique (3)
“You ran away from home?”
My voice rose a notch at the completely unexpected story. I recalled my first meeting with Aqua. She had been in the wild at Samcheok Beach.
“Does that mean all the other wild spirits ran away too?”
If so, it would turn the world's spirit studies community upside down.
[No, that's not it. Only the heirs to the Spirit Kings can't leave the Spirit Realm.]
Heirs. It seemed there were others besides Aqua who were successors to Spirit Kings.
“Why just you guys?”
[I don't know the details myself. It's a rule the Spirit Kings set when the pathway to the human world opened.]
This was news even to me, who'd studied spirit arts at the Academy. The Spirit Realm was still shrouded in many secrets, so it made sense in a way. No one had even known before that the Spirit Kings had heirs.
“Did you run away because you hated that rule?”
[No. It was stifling, but since the other heirs were doing the same, I just accepted it. Hearing stories from undines who'd visited the human world and imagining it was fun enough on its own!]
Mandu lifted his head, ears perked toward Aqua's words. She glanced at the raindrop rolling across the back of my hand before continuing.
[But things changed a few years ago. Niagara started insisting we cut all contracts with humans.]
Aqua clenched her tiny fist, sending another droplet trickling down Mandu's snout.
[The undines ignored him.]
Undines loved physical contact with humans more than any other spirits—they'd never listen to a call to sever contracts.
Aqua continued in a dissatisfied tone.
[He told me, as heir to the Water Spirit King, to set an example and agree with him. Even when I said no, he wouldn't hear it. I got fed up with him trying to force me to stay in the Spirit Realm, so I snuck out.]
Spirit Kings might be called kings, but they didn't coerce or oppress other spirits. Still, Niagara had pressured Aqua because of her position as heir.
It was a short, simple explanation, but countless arguments must have happened in between.
Spirit arguments.
I bet they'd be adorable. Like kindergarten kids bickering.
I shelved the stray thought and returned to the main issue.
“Niagara started pushing to cut human contracts five years ago, right?”
[How did you know?]
That was around when Niagara went into seclusion and his contractor, Sia Clearwater, vanished into the Amazon.
The Wind Spirit King died that year too.
Japan's “Wind God,” a national sensation, had perished five years back. Spirit scholars analyzed that as the trigger for the Water Spirit King's seclusion.
“Was it because the Wind Spirit King died, and he lost faith in humans?”
[Oh, how did you even know it was connected to the Wind Spirit King?]
Aqua nodded, impressed. Humans really are clever.
[It's not some grand reason like that. Niagara's just scared the spirits will die again.]
A simple, spirit-like motive—humble, yet fitting for a king who had to protect his undines.
If they never met humans, spirits could live out their full lives in the Spirit Realm without mortal peril.
For every spirit thrilled by humans, others died in gates.
I asked Aqua the key question.
“Can we talk Niagara into changing his mind?”
She wrinkled her nose.
[Doubtful. I already tried and failed.]
The ideal solution was dialogue. But if words failed, we'd fight.
The Spirit Shop dangled that prophecy as a warning about this threat.
An old thought resurfaced: the Spirit Shop had appeared to connect me and Aqua.
If so, we need to prepare.
The prophecy only forewarned. Overcoming the threat was on us.
We told Jang Gilsan everything about Aqua's identity and Niagara. We'd need his help to beat Niagara.
“Heir to the Water Spirit King? Just like the researchers said.”
Jang Gilsan didn't seem surprised.
[You knew too?]
“Aqua, in the human world, some folks make bank just by using their brains. Assume big corporations know everything.”
[Humans are scary smart...]
“Jeong Ri-on probably knows too.”
Jang Gilsan clicked his tongue lightly and continued.
“So, what do you need from me?”
“You'll stick around the resort, right?”
“Depends on the situation. Why?”
“We wanna stay here until Niagara shows.”
Here, we could focus solely on prepping for Niagara.
“Fine. When's he coming?”
“Ten days from now.”
The prophecy showed a full moon. The next one was in ten days.
Jang Gilsan muttered about extending the booking and nodded.
“Treat it like your own home.”
“Thanks.”
“Anything else, just say.”
Jang Gilsan was a truly grateful, reliable friend.
[Thanks, Gilsan!]
He nodded and asked, “How do you plan to beat Niagara?”
“Train our asses off first.”
If you want peace, prepare for war. We needed to build our strength.
“Aqua, can we take Niagara?”
[Hmm...]
“He'll fight solo, without a contractor. You've gotten stronger with me.”
Aqua held powers of healing and destruction.
But she shook her head doubtfully.
[Tough. Even as heir, he's a full Spirit King.]
Aqua looked glum. Niagara loomed too massively.
I gently stroked her back.
“Don't worry. I've got a training method in mind.”
[Training method?]
“One to beat opponents stronger than us.”
[Ooh!]
Aqua's mouth formed a perfect O of admiration, as if my words solved everything. I smiled, happy to meet her expectations.
If we couldn't win head-on with brute force, we'd use the enemy's strength against them.
Lucky for us, Aqua and Niagara were both water spirits.
Like aikido or jujutsu.
I knew just the training for it.
Gotta contact Jeong Ri-on.
Phoenix Resort's cooperation was essential.
I set up a meeting with Jeong Ri-on and Mulsuja. It was lunchtime, so they had time and came to the VIP building's first-floor lounge cafe—considering I couldn't wander far with all the scouts.
Such considerate people.
In return, I covered the coffee.
Sitting by the beach view, Aqua and I laid out the whole Niagara fight.
To get help, we had to be upfront. That was my etiquette for asking.
“If you lose to Niagara, forced return to the Spirit Realm?”
Jeong Ri-on paused mid-sip, mouth agape in shock.
Aqua asked at his reaction,
[That's what surprises you? Skipping right over me being a Spirit King's heir?]
“Well...”
He shrugged like he'd known. Not a huge secret, apparently. Aqua shook her head gravely.
[Human brains are terrifying...!]
While Aqua reeled, Mulsuja's undines fumed.
[What kinda talk is that!]
[No way!]
The undines grumbled and bounced on their feet.
[Even Niagara can't do that!]
[Hate Niagara!]
Mulsuja felt the same.
“Even as Water Spirit King... that's tyranny.”
She phrased it mildly, but her eyes spat curses.
Losing a spirit to a contractor was like losing family. Spirit users wouldn't let another suffer that.
Aqua smiled, soothing the undines.
[Don't worry! With you all to play with, how could I lose?]
[Lady Aqua!]
[Lady Aqua!]
The undines clung to her, gestures begging her not to go anywhere.
I met Jeong Ri-on and Mulsuja's eyes seriously.
“That's why I need a little help from you.”
“Anything.”
“Name it.”
Their ready agreement left me flustered.
Jeong Ri-on chuckled.
“Why the surprise? Thought we'd demand something?”
“...A bit.”
“Disappointing, maybe, but we want nothing from you, Hyunwoo. If we helped for gain, our spirits wouldn't stand for it.”
His sylphs nodded.
[Of course! Spirits help spirits—no reason needed!]
[Besides, Lady Aqua's our biggest rival!]
[Can't leave our fight unfinished!]
Jeong Ri-on smiled, petting their heads. Watching warmed my heart.
No reason needed for spirits to help spirits—or spirit users to help each other.
I recalled the saying among spirit users.
No bad people among spirit users.
Pure truth.
Mulsuja spoke.
“Don't feel burdened. If you do, just guide our junior spirit users well later.”
“I'll gratefully accept your kindness.”
“What help do you need? Backup in the fight?”
I exchanged glances with Aqua. We'd discussed this.
“No. This is for me and Aqua to handle.”
“Not a flaw on you, junior.”
Jeong Ri-on nodded, pleased.
“I want sparring practice for Aqua, but I need Phoenix Resort's help.”
“The resort? Not us as opponents?”
Regrettably, sparring Jeong Ri-on or Mulsuja wouldn't help much against Niagara.
Aqua needed to learn to fight stronger foes.
Specifically, ones that wielded water.
No water spirit stronger than supreme-grade Aqua except Niagara.
So they couldn't spar her.
But the human world had water stronger than Aqua.
Right nearby.
I turned to the window.
Bathers frolicked under the brilliant sun.
The strongest water of all.
My gaze dropped to what lay beneath the vacationers.
There it was.
The supreme ruler of water, covering over half the Earth.
Aqua would spar the ocean.