In the small, secluded cabin they had temporarily requisitioned, Yoona sat at an old wooden table. The dim light of an oil lamp illuminated the scattered pages before her. Rain, perched on a rickety stool beside her, watched with fascination. Jisoo, on the other hand, was sprawled out on an old couch, a book resting on her face, though it was obvious she was listening with one ear.
Yoona dipped her quill into the black ink she had improvised from charcoal and a few berries, then traced precise lines onto a large sheet of yellowed paper.
— "Look, Rain," she said, tilting her head slightly to check her work. "Corrupted energy isn't just raw power. It's a complex system. It works like a network, a web connecting your emotions, your body, and your environment."
She quickly sketched a human figure, adding wavy lines emanating from what she designated as the "energy center" in the abdomen.
— "Here," she continued, tapping the drawing, "this is where it all starts. The energy rests in what I'll call, for simplicity, the 'Nexus.'"
Rain raised an intrigued eyebrow.
— "And what is the Nexus?"
Yoona smiled, appreciating the curiosity in his voice.
— "Imagine a seed. It's where all the energy gathers and concentrates. But if you don't take care of it, it can sprout wildly and uncontrollably, like a weed."
She then drew several concentric circles around the Nexus on her sketch.
— "These circles represent layers of energy. Each layer is influenced by different factors—your emotions, your environment, and your physical condition."
She drew arrows extending from the circles to schematic representations of hands, feet, and eyes.
— "Energy can be channeled into these exit points—the extremities of your body. Hands for attacking, feet for enhancing movement, and even your eyes to heighten perception."
Rain studied the drawing with wide eyes.
— "So, if I'm angry, that makes the energy stronger?"
Yoona nodded but with a serious expression.
— "Yes, but it's a double-edged sword. Anger will make you powerful, but it will also consume you."
On another sheet, Yoona sketched movements she had experimented with during her training. She depicted a silhouette using energy to form a translucent shield in front of them.
— "This is a technique I call the 'Wall of Shadows.' It's an energy barrier that can protect you from physical or energy-based attacks."
She continued, drawing another silhouette hurling a dark projectile.
— "And this is the 'Nexus Javelin.' It's a concentrated burst of pure energy that you can launch. But be careful—it consumes a lot of your reserves."
Rain gazed at the drawings, awestruck.
— "This is incredible... Did you come up with all of this yourself?"
Yoona chuckled softly, setting down her quill.
— "Not exactly. I tested things—sometimes by accident, sometimes inspired by webcomics. But yes, it's a start."
She took another sheet and sketched a rough image of a stele, with lines extending from it into the ground.
— "And here's something even more complex," she said, pointing to the drawing. "The steles. I think they act like antennas or beacons. They attract energy and distribute it into their surroundings. But…"
She paused, hesitating. Rain tilted his head.
— "But what?"
Yoona met his gaze, her expression grave.
— "I don't think the steles are the source. They only channel energy coming from something even greater."
Jisoo, who had remained silent until now, suddenly lifted her head, looking intrigued.
— "Wait, you mean there's a source... somewhere else? Like what, a meteorite?"
Yoona shrugged.
— "Maybe. It's just a theory for now. But if it's true, then everything changes."
She carefully placed the sheets into a worn leather pouch before handing it to Rain.
— "These manuscripts are just the beginning. Keep them safe. They might be our only chance at understanding this energy."
Rain took the pouch cautiously, as if it contained something sacred.
— "Thank you, Yoona. I'll make sure to protect them."
Yoona placed a hand on his shoulder, her smile warm.
— "And remember, Rain, this power can be a burden, but it can also be a force for good—if you learn to control it."
Silence fell over the room. The seeds of understanding had been planted, and now, Rain was the rain that would water the earth with his own knowledge.