The next day, driven by his determination to refine his abilities, he ventured to a nearby river. The sight of the flowing water filled him with a renewed sense of purpose.
Standing by the riverbank, Rei extended his hand toward the water. With a deep breath, he focused his spirit arts, and to his satisfaction, manipulating the water proved far simpler here than it had been in the arid backyard. The river's abundance of water provided a natural medium, and with minimal effort, he lifted a swirling stream of liquid into the air.
Rei concentrated further, compressing the water with the same techniques he had used to manipulate wind. The dense and vibrant sphere of water shimmered in the sunlight. However, his earlier struggles with atmospheric water manipulation lingered in his mind. The realization dawned on him—creating a water ball purely from the atmosphere was beyond the scope of his current capabilities. With a sigh of resignation, he decided to abandon that particular endeavor.
From a distance, Emilia watched, her eyes widening in awe as Rei demonstrated his mastery over water manipulation. The way he controlled the liquid, shaping and compressing it with such ease, left her momentarily speechless. Her own struggles with water magic seemed almost trivial in comparison, and a pang of envy stirred within her.
As the moments passed, envy gave way to admiration—and determination. She stepped closer to the riverbank, her boots crunching softly on the gravel. Watching Rei's focused expression reflected in the shimmering water, she spoke with genuine admiration. "Rei, this is incredible. You've already surpassed my abilities in water manipulation, and we've barely scratched the surface of what you can do. I can't imagine what other feats you'll accomplish with your spirit arts."
Her words hung in the air for a moment as Rei continued to work with the water, his expression unreadable. Emilia paused, choosing her next words carefully, hoping to reach through the icy barrier he had built around himself.
"But I want you to understand something," she said, her tone gentle but firm. "While your talent is undeniable, it's not just about raw power. True strength comes from control, precision, and a deeper understanding of your abilities. That's where I can help you."
Emilia's gaze softened as she turned her focus inward, reflecting on her own experiences. "You've already mastered two elements with your spirit arts—something I could only dream of doing at your age. But I've spent years honing my skills, learning to combine techniques and maximize efficiency. If you're willing, I can teach you ways to channel your power more effectively, to think beyond the basics and explore possibilities you might not have considered."
The wet ground beneath Rei's feet gave way, and before he could react, he was plunged into the rushing river. The cold water enveloped him, and the powerful current carried him downstream. Panic surged through his mind as he thrashed helplessly.
"I can't swim! I can't control this water!" Rei's thoughts raced, his desperation rising with each second. "Someone... anyone... please help me!"
Through the churning water, Rei caught a glimpse of Emilia running along the riverbank, her face etched with concern and desperation. Her eyes locked on him, unwavering despite the chaos. "Rei! Don't worry! I'll save you!" she shouted, her voice trembling but resolute.
As the current dragged him further, Rei began to slowly sink while moving in the river, neither his body nor his face coming up to the surface of the river now, and a flash of memory surfaced in Rei's mind. Rei was in the court. He had black hair, and his eyes were covered by his hair. Rei thought, "What is this memory? Whose memory is this? Oh, it's mine."
Rei's sister said, "Judge, we don't have any evidence regarding my brother's arrest. you can't arrest him without any evidence."
The judge let out a crooked smile and said, "We have enough situational evidence to arrest him. All these testimonies confirm it."
Rei said, "They have ties with the real culprit. you can't consider their testimonies as fair."
the judge said with a stern voice. "The victim won't speak unless I say."
Rei looked at the girls who were framing him. They were smiling as they talked amongst themselves. One of the girls said to Rei's sister, "There is a law where situational testimonies are taken into consideration. Why don't you admit it that your brother is a murderer?"
Rei's sister glared at her and said, "Shut your mouth."
The judge said to Rei's sister, "This is no way to conduct yourself in the court, ma'am."
Eventually, Rei was arrested and sent to jail. Rei's sister would visit him every month and would console him that she would get him free. She often researched the ones who framed him and tried to find evidence. One day she saw how Rei was affected by the Jail's environment. she saw his misogynistic behaviour towards her and said "Hey brother, I am very close to getting you out so just hold on and don't let the one who framed you change who you are" Rei's eyes suddenly widened as he heard her saw that then she said "brother, you have a pure heart don't let that witch taint you"
As Rei was drifting in the water, he thought, "Why? Why did this happen? What happened after this? Answer me!!!!"
Another memory came to his mind. This time, during visiting hours, her sister was not present, but the same woman who framed him was. Rei said, "How are you in here laws states no one except the family member can meet the prisoner"
she said. "The laws have been very loose lately, you know. I came to tell you that a bug oh no more like a bitch tried to get in my way and had a little accident."
Rei's eyes widened. "No, don't tell me."
She said while smiling, "You know that even little accidents are dangerous, so she just passed away."
Rei started hammering the glass that was separating him and the woman. He said, "You, how dare you? I will kill you, just you wait." The guards came and took the woman out as Rei kept banging on the glass. When Rei was exhausted, the guards took him.
As Rei was still drifting, he was angry. Suddenly, he again remembered, "Brother, you have a pure heart; don't let that witch taint you.".
Emilia, who was still chasing Rei's drifting body. She was worried because she had not seen his head out of the water for a while. Suddenly, a hand slowly started coming from the water. The hand grasped a rock that was near it. Rei thought, "I was powerless before, but I won't be now. I am ready to change myself. I will not go down without a fight.". Rei's head finally emerged from the water again.
Still, as he struggled against the current, Rei felt a surge of instinctive trust he couldn't suppress because Emilia's face of worry was the same expression that her sister wore in his past life. For the first time, his voice carried genuine emotion. "Help me, Emilia!" he shouted, his voice breaking through the roar of the river.
Hearing her name, Emilia's resolve solidifies. Her grip on her wand tightened as she ran faster, her heart pounding in her chest. "Let the water guide me! Turn into a wall and protect my loved ones—Water Wall!"
The river surged as her spell took effect. A shimmering wall of water rose from the currents beneath Rei, gently pushing him upward and out of the river's grasp. The wall redirected him toward the riverbank, and as he came within reach, Emilia darted forward and caught him, pulling him into her arms.
She held Rei close, her own breaths labored from the effort. "Shh, it's alright, Rei. I've got you now. You're safe," she whispered, her voice soothing as she rubbed his back gently.
For the first time in a long while, the flicker of warmth in Emilia's words began to melt away the chill of Rei's guarded heart. He felt an unfamiliar sense of relief, a vulnerability he rarely allowed himself to experience. Despite everything, Emilia's unwavering concern and determination to save him sparked something within him—something fragile yet undeniably real.
"Thank... thank you, Emilia," Rei said, his voice carrying a mix of hesitation and sincerity. It was rare for him to express gratitude, especially to a girl. But she had saved him—there was no denying that—and it felt wrong not to acknowledge her effort.
Emilia's eyes widened in surprise at his words, and a soft smile began to grace her face. Gratitude from Rei, given his guarded nature and past, was no small feat. But as her heart lifted, his next words tempered her joy.
"However," Rei continued, his tone hardening, "it doesn't mean I've changed my mind about girls. They're still manipulative."
The warmth in Emilia's smile faltered but didn't fade completely. She sighed, recognizing the weight of the bitterness Rei carried. It wasn't something she could erase in a moment—or perhaps ever. Still, what he said next caught her completely off guard.
"But... it's just... you're an exception."
Emilia blinked, her surprise evident. She hadn't expected that. Her eyes softened, and her smile returned, warmer and more genuine this time. "I... thank you, Rei. That means a lot to me, more than you know."
She paused, her gaze searching his for any trace of the walls he kept so firmly in place. "I know trusting people—trusting me—doesn't come easily for you. And I won't pretend to understand everything you've been through. But I promise you, I won't give up. I'll keep trying to show you that not everyone fits the image you have in your mind."
Emilia stepped closer, her hand resting lightly on his shoulder. "And just so you know," she said, her tone earnest, "I'm not like the other girls you've met. I have my own path, my own purpose. And right now, that purpose is helping you. Not because I have to, but because I want to. I see something in you, Rei, and I'm willing to take the time to help you see it too."
Emilia was reaching her goal. Though progress was small, it was steady.