Waves of Love

ONE

5 years old

It was a cold and grey day. The wind wiped and lashed at the feathered hats and silk ties of the guests. The crowd was restless cursed the gods of wind and water for tarnishing such a emotional day. But the little boy was thanking the rain. Because as he stared at the framed photo by the giant wood box he couldn't help but cry.

His silent tears were washed away with the rain and all he could think was, 'thank you water gods.'

Up, up in the sky was a small girl with hair as white as snow and eyes as blue as the purest ocean. She stared down at the little boy and smiled. "Aquafina!" An urgent voice called behind her. "Didn't I tell you to stop messing with my work!" The pale girl turned to her father who's face was blue with rage. He marched through his office and yanked the girl off his glass desk. "Go and finish your chores. If your mother comes home and sees they aren't finished-." He didn't need to finish talking. She already knew.

Aquafina wriggled her way out of her fathers grasp and skittered out of the office room. She gave one last glance to the magic orb on the desk before scurrying away.

•••

10 years old

Finally, Aquafina was ten. She stared proudly at the glass ball in front of her. A world of opportunities were at her finger.

She grinned up to her father, his pale blue eyes squinted as he mimicked her toothy grin. "Are you that excited?" He watched her bounce in the large leather seat.

It had been years sense she last touched this glass orb but she had dreamed of taking over her fathers job of controlling the weather since she cast her first rain spell. It was a messy incantation of the words she had heard her father use once before, so it was expected that she spell was a bit too strong. However, now she knew more. She was confident and ready.

Her father hovered his hand over the glass ball and twirled his hand around to conjure a smaller world. "This is the smallest world, but the most faithful to the water gods. They are prosperous because their villages make it a custom to pray to every single god from the god of creation to the god of death."

Aquafina grimaced at the image of the lean and dark faced god of death. His blank stare and emotionless gaze always gave her the creeps. It was no surprise that many creatures and gods feared this god. "Why do they worship the god of death?" Her father pondered the question. "Because the god of death is as important as the god of creation. When something dies it goes back into the world and fertilizes the earth. It's soul rises and becomes one with the stars. Without death we wouldn't appreciate the life we were given."

Aquafina nodded in understanding. "I see," she grinned. 'Maybe I'll be nicer to the god of death the next time I see him,' she smiled to herself.

With that, her lesson began. She learned how to control the tides and the move the currents. She made rain sprinkle over their crops and rainbows that painted their skies. "The best part of being a water goddess," her father started. He made a pulling motion to the orb and a small white square floated in front of them. "Only a goddess can do this. Your mother will do better at showing you how, but you can paint snowflakes."

Aquafina stared in curiosity, "but in this world it is spring?" Her father chuckled, "yes but in other worlds it is winter." He skimmed through the list of planets. He stopped at one of familiar design. "Like this one. It is a popular world. Many of the gods have found many prophets and prophetess' in this world."

Aquafina immediately recognized the crude shape of the continents and its oceans and rivers. He chuckled at her scrunched face, "I created these rivers when I was barely older than you. Don't judge them too much, everyone starts somewhere."

She nodded. Her finger hovered over a section in the middle part of the continent. She motioned for the map to zoom in until she could clearly make out the layout of a city. "What are you looking for?" Her father observed. But she did not answer. Her mind had resurfaced a forgotten image of a young boy with dark brown hair and pale green eyes. She was curious about him.

She spotted a silver castle at the top of the hill and zoomed in. She looked past the vast flower gardens and the gleaming ponds full of various water animals. She looked past the tall proud trees that were cleanly cut and whispered they secrets through the wind. She looked and looked till she paused her fingers.

In a small balcony, staring up at the sky was a lean boy with gelled back brown hair. His pale green eyes mixed with the blue of the sky. His face was morphed with grief and his eyes brimmed with tears. Suddenly she felt a warmth fill her chest as the boy whispered a silent prayer. "Oh rain gods. What do I do?"

She looked at her father with hesitation. He recognized the glow on her face. "Has this boy sent you a prayer?" She touched her chest, "I think so." He beamed, "then do as he asks if it is simple enough." Aquafina nodded and looked back to the boy. It seemed that only she could hear him pour out his heart to the sky.

"They want me to be a ruler but I don't know if I can. I can't bare the burden. I feel cowardly saying it but I just can't."

Aquafina frowned. She understood him. At times she wanted to run away from her responsibilities. But she couldn't abandon her family. So she decided to think of the responsibility in a lighter note. It might be exhausting, and the other gods may judge her but she could still help people. And to her, that is what really mattered.

She did what her heart felt was right. She created a small drizzle of rain through the whole capital city. The civilians stared up in wonder at the small warm water droplets. Aquafina mumbled a small spell then watched as a large rainbow towered over the city.

The boy's eyes widened as he stared at the magical sight before him. She sent a small gust of wind that pecked his check. A small blush enveloped her face. She could only hope he understood her meaning. He touched his cheek and smiled. A small blush feathered his ears. "Thank you," he whispered. His heart warmed. He wiped away his tears. A proud smile pulled at his lips as he stared proudly at the beautiful city filled with people he was destined to protect. "Thank you," he repeated.