Chapter Forty

~ Weather ~

Tao looked down on his clothes with a miserable frown, then raised his head to glare at his horse. Ahra managed to stop herself from chuckling, which was what their other two companions did when he slipped and fell from his horse into a puddle of mud, at the young man’s displeased expressions. It would likely offend him and make him more sulky. It has only been a couple of days since they’ve met, yet it was already obvious to her that Tao acts adorably like a child.

“I should have asked Suho to wash this off me. Why didn’t I thought of it before?” Tao complained.

“It’s good that you didn’t, actually.” Ahra smiled apologetically. “Suho’s abilities are kind of… raw. That is why he didn’t offer to help you himself. He didn’t know how to control it well and he’s afraid of drowning you in the attempt of helping you.”

Tao frowned thoughtfully. “Then it’s also good that I haven’t thought of reversing time back to prevent all that until now.”

“Yes,” she laughed. “You could have done something like reversing our meeting or worse, your birth.”

“Huh,” he mused. “So I’m that powerful to do that.”

“From what I understand, hosts like yourself have more raw power than usual. I have met someone in Virgula that could also control water, but his is nothing in comparison with what Suho could do.” She shook her head, remembering the rogue wave she and Suho had encountered in the Lacrimae sea. “So, yes, you have enough power to do that. That power is also one of the reason why all hosts must be brought back to Virgula. You will have access to people who could train and teach you how to have control over your power instead of your power having control over you.”

Tao looked at her from atop his horse. “Did you train with them?”

She frowned. “No, but I’m different from you.”

“It’s impossible you’re not a host.” He argued. “You give off the same energy as Lay and Suho do. Although not quite the same, but still.”

“I’m really not.” She denied, even though she knew Ren would beg to differ. “I’m just someone… chosen to gather all of you and bring you where you are needed. You could say that I’m an amplifier.”

“That’s your power then? To amplify other’s abilities?” Tao asked curiously.

“Not exactly. It’s one of my abilities, though I only seem to amplify hosts’ powers.” She mused before moving her horse’s reigns, speeding up their pace. “The well should be nearby now. I could smell freshwater already.”

Tao muttered a bit before following her. It was not long before they found the well they were looking for. Both of them mounted off and led their horse towards it.

“I’ll get the water so you wouldn’t get mud on the rope. It might get slippery.” Ahra volunteered.

Tao hesitated before nodding. “I hope it isn’t too deep.”

“Pulling up a bucket is not too much of a work; don’t worry.” She smiled before sliding the rope-tied bucket down the well. The bucket hit water a few feet down, which made it easier for her t