Rainmaker

14

I feel a strange mix of pride and relief wash over me, knowing that I've been able to help them. But even as I smile at the sight of their joy, there's a tug of unease deep inside me—an awareness that this peace might be fleeting.

As we stand in the rain, one of the villagers approaches us—a man, thin and pale but with a spark of life now shining in his eyes. "You... you did this?" he asks, his voice hoarse from disuse. "You brought the rain?"

I nod, feeling a bit awkward under the weight of his gratitude. "Yes, I... I just wanted to help."

His hands tremble as he clasps them together in front of him. "You saved us. We thought... we thought we were going to die out here."

Before I can respond, a quiet but strong voice cuts through the rain. "She is more than a savior."

I turn toward the sound and see an older woman standing at the edge of the village, her gray hair tied back, her face lined with the marks of age and hardship. Despite her frailty, there's wisdom and strength in her posture, and her eyes—sharp and clear—are fixed on me.

"You," the woman says, her gaze never leaving mine. "You're not just a Rainmaker, are you?"

 I glance at Lucas, unsure of how to respond.

"I've felt this power before," she continues, her voice quiet but full of certainty. "You carry the spirit of the elements within you."

My breath catches in my throat. "How... how do you know that?"

"Come. There is much to discuss."

We follow the old woman through the village, the villagers watching us with awe and curiosity. She leads us to a small, weathered house at the edge of the village. Inside, the air is thick with the smell of herbs and something earthy. The room is simple, with a small fire crackling in the hearth and bundles of dried plants hanging from the ceiling.

The woman motions for us to sit. "You've done more than just call the rain," she says, lowering herself into a chair across from us. "You've awakened something ancient that has been waiting for you."

I sit down slowly. "Awakened?"

She nods, folding her hands in her lap. "There is an ancient power in the elements, a force that only a few have ever been able to control. Most of those who could are long gone, their knowledge lost to time. But you..." She looks at me with a strange intensity. "You are different. You are an Elemental. The elements respond to you because you are one of them. Earth, air, fire, water—they are part of you, and you are part of them. You have the power to command them, to bring balance, or to destroy."

I swallow hard. "Destroy?"

The old woman leans forward, her voice soft but firm. "You must learn to listen to them. The earth, the air, the water are not tools to be used. They are living things, and you must treat them as such. If you respect them, they will respect you in return."

Her words resonate with something deep inside me, and I feel a flicker of understanding. The storm and the rain... weren't just magic. They were alive, responding to my emotions and my will. But the idea of treating them as living beings, as forces with their own desires—it's both terrifying and awe-inspiring.

Lucas has been quiet this whole time. I glance over at him. He offers me a smile but nothing more.

"Rest here tonight," the woman says, her voice soft. "You both need it. Tomorrow will bring challenges, but you are safe for now."

 The woman goes outside and returns a few minutes later with a basin of water. "You can clean up here," she says, motioning to the water basin. "And when you're ready, the village is gathering for a celebration. It's been a long time since they had reason to rejoice."