Chapter 17: Drench
After experimenting with his Talent, Gara turned to Madha. He had to help his loyal friend activate his own. From his experiments, Gara understood that to activate the Talent, everything revolved around purpose and control. For Madha’s Flesh Shield, the purpose was clear: to protect from harm. Control, however, rested solely on Madha.
"Madha, let’s continue with your Talent." Gara met Madha’s gaze with a serious expression. "I’ll attack you with my water, and you must defend with your body, okay?"
The tall boy nodded, stepping back a few paces to create space between them.
"Are you ready?" Gara called out, ensuring Madha could hear him.
"Yeah," Madha replied obediently.
Shurssh.
Water flowed directly from Gara’s palm. Madha was instantly drenched as the stream hit his body, but there was no sign of a Flesh Shield. Frowning, Gara sent another jet of water. He could see Madha’s body tremble slightly. "Are you okay?" he shouted.
"I’m fine," Madha replied, giving a thumbs-up.
"Don’t just accept the water! I know my water isn’t strong enough to hurt you, but you still need to defend yourself. The purpose is to protect you from the water!"
"I’m sorry." Instead of attempting to find a way to activate his Talent, Madha offered an apology.
Gara sighed, resisting the urge to shake his friend’s head. "Forget it. We’re talking about your Talent. Don’t apologize to me."
Again, Gara shot water from his palm. With each stream, he felt his water grow stronger, though it still couldn’t leave a scratch, only made Madha shiver.
That’s fine, Gara thought. If he feels cold, his mind will try to defend his body. Then, the Flesh Shield will show up.
Madha could only endure Gara’s relentless drenching.
Unfortunately, even after an hour, there was no sign of Madha’s Talent. On the contrary, wrinkles appeared on Madha’s skin from being soaked for too long.
"Let’s stop this before you catch a cold. We can try another time. Don’t be upset," Gara conceded, trying to lift Madha’s spirits.
"It’s fine. I’m the one who let you down. The Liner from the Mayor’s office can help me tomorrow," Madha said, walking toward Gara with a slight smile.
"The Liner from the Mayor’s office, like Kala?"
"Yup. My uncle said they can help us activate our Talents before we get a mission."
Gara paused. "So, you mean we don’t need to bother activating them on our own?"
With Madha’s nod, Gara felt a familiar pang of self-reproach. He’d done something utterly unnecessary again.
Stop judging everything with your limited knowledge! Just because you don’t know something doesn’t mean other people don’t. He internally scolded himself, vowing to ask Madha about everything first from now on.
They headed back to town, a dejected Gara and a thoroughly wet Madha. They arrived just before the shift change.
"Did you drown yourselves?" One of the soldiers, who had appeared stern earlier, now chuckled, looking like a friendly uncle-next-door. Perhaps it was because another soldier had arrived, and he was ready to go home.
"Sort of, Sir," Gara answered, polite and firm. The soldier laughed once more before entering the Guard Office beside the gate.
Upon arriving at the inn, Madha changed his clothes, and then they went to dinner.
All day under the hot sun, even with his palm constantly wet, Gara felt sticky all over his body.
"Madha, I want to take a bath. Can you leave the room, please?" Gara asked after they got back to their room.
Initially, as an office worker woman with minimal romantic interactions, she had wanted to at least glimpse—and perhaps even touch—toned abs, like those she’d read about. Gara’s current body was delicate, without any abs.
But after that first night with Langga, he merely wanted no other guy to lust over his body, just as he had once lusted over men’s abs.
Another karma, he thought. He’d come to this world and gotten the 100-baby challenge because he used to ridicule and laugh at the streamer, or more accurately, the pregnant pawn.
Now, that existence had become him.
No more insulting other people or having dirty thoughts!
After Madha left the room, Gara freely showered himself with his water. He’d even borrowed a large washbasin from the inn. Even without soap, he felt utterly satisfied. That night, he slept soundly.
The next morning, after breakfast, they headed to the Mayor’s office. With Gara’s refreshed appearance, men’s stares immediately fell upon him. They looked at him like a predator eyes its prey. Gara had grown accustomed to it. As long as they didn’t try anything funny, or he’d make them look like wet dogs.
In front of the Mayor’s office, Kala waited for them.
"Come and join the other newbie Liners in the reception room from yesterday," she said with a gentle smile.
The two boys entered the Mayor’s office, easily finding the designated room. Inside, only three people were present: two in bright colors and fine garments, and one in muted color and rough clothes.
"Hi~" The brown-haired boy in humble clothing, much like their own, greeted them happily, as if he’d found long-lost siblings.
Madha and Gara walked towards him, knowing the boy felt awkward between the two noble youngsters, who always flocked together with those of their own status.
"I’m Orman. What about you guys?"ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ɴovel(ꜰ)ɪre.nᴇt
"Gara and Madha." Gara gestured to himself, then to Madha, who nodded curtly at the boy.
"I was the first person to become a Liner yesterday. After that, I watched others and saw that both of you also awakened. But I didn’t hear your Talent and Bloodline. What did you two awaken, by the way?"
Gara looked at Madha. For something like this, he needed Madha to handle it. Again, he didn’t know the norm. Was it customary to share one’s Talent and Bloodline?
Noticing Gara’s guarded expression, Orman immediately offered, "I awakened an Elemental Bloodline with Earth Block’s Talent."
"He awakened an Elemental Bloodline, but I didn’t," Madha finally said.
From Orman’s eager eyes, Gara knew he wanted to know Madha’s Bloodline—a Human with a Bloodline other than Elemental was considered strong—but their guarded expressions caused him to stop prying. Instead, he talked about other things.
"Only six of us awakened this year. The Mayor’s Office staff must be working hard to make us stay. But I plan to go to the city after the six-month period. I don’t want to be trapped in this small town. What about you guys?"
"I don’t really think that far ahead. Maybe I’ll finish the six months first, then look for a chance later," Madha replied.
As Madha and Orman talked, Gara swept his gaze across the room. Five people had arrived. Only one more person.
Click. The door opened, revealing a familiar delicate girl, followed by her brother.
I forgot that The yellow-dressed girl also awakened her Bloodline. But what is her jerk of a brother doing here?
...