We climbed the Stairs and arrived on another level within the Mountain. Before us stood a Gate just like all the previous levels had. On this Gate was the image of a lady holding up Twin Swords that had their blades encrusted in sharp Ice Crystals. Above her was a Sapphire glowing brilliantly. Across the door was the image of what appeared to be murky water. Concealed within the murky waters was the image of a serpent.
"This is an image of my Mom, Ai Kirisawa" Mitsuki pointed to the image of the lady.
"This murky water was what the now Shining River was in the era of the Battle Of Black Water Bridge when Decay, the fifth soul of evil, the evil soul of Water was concealed beneath the river. It is rumoured that during the era of the Battle Of Black Water Bridge, Shining River was murky and gloomy. It had another name then, 'The Grave Of Unforgiving Souls'. However, our grandmother Saito Kusanagi Kirisawa risked her life to save two children that were in danger of drowning. Her courageous act purified the River and that's how Shining River acquired its new name and nature. The serpent concealed in the Water is Decay" Saito explained.
"Yeah, that soul of evil that toys with the conscience of humans but in contrast to the conscience that corrects without condemning, Decay condemns without correcting" I said.
"Anyway, let's go in" Mitsuki said and pushed the door open.
"Shouldn't those who have an affinity for Water go through this portal?" Keiran asked.
"Every human has an affinity for the Four Basic Elements necessary to support Life. Even if they can't consciously utilize the element in combat, they depend on it for survival. Don't you at least want to learn about the element for the purposes of Survival?" Mitsuki asked.
"Of course" I said.
We walked into the next Hall. In this Hall, we found Torches with the Flames Of Vitality, Fortitude and Purification. There was a gentle breeze and a Lake. There was also a forest. In the Hall we were met by my Aunt Ai and Aileen I.
"Granny? You have an affinity for Water too?" Arlene appeared to be amazed.
"Of course I do, the Greek Titan Atlas is believed to hold up the Sky. Rain falls from the Sky, Clouds float in the Skies and Ships navigate the Oceans via the Stars which are in the Sky. Our Dream Knight House is the House Of Atlas, it goes without saying that Water is one of our dominant affinities aside from Wind" Aileen I explained.
"Let's begin your lessons on the Element Of Water. On Earth, Water predominantly exists in three states, Solid, Liquid and Gas. The greatest mass of Solid Water can be found in the glaciers located at the Earth's Poles. The greatest mass of Liquid Water can be found in the Oceans. The greatest mass of Gaseous Water can be found in the Earth's atmosphere in the form of Vapour and Clouds. I'm certain you passed through the Three Halls Of Time to get here. The trials you faced there were a prerequisite to understand this lesson. There's a reason the Water on Earth exists in these three forms instead of one. If all the Water on Earth were liquid, the entire Earth would be flooded and there'd be no Solid Ground, it would all be undersea. If it were all frozen, there'd be no soil for plant life to take root. All the soil would be sealed beneath the Ice. If it were all Gas, the implication would be that the Temperature of the Earth is far too great to support Life. The three states of Water are mainly determined by variations in Temperature. Very low temperatures turn Liquid Water into Solid Ice. When the Temperature is very high on the other hand, Liquid Water turns into Vapour that accumulates in the atmosphere and becomes the Clouds. When Temperatures are just right or intermediate, Water can sustain its Liquid Form" my Aunt Ai explained.
"The three states of Water act to regulate the Temperature of the Earth. They also keep the Oceans at a constant level allowing Solid Ground, where terrestrial animals and humans live and work, to remain elevated above the Oceans. For the Earth to maintain Solid Ground and habitable temperatures, there must be a balance in the mix amongst Solid, Liquid and Gaseous Water" Aileen I explained.