Inside the village.
Morning lay quiet over the small village. A thin fog drifted between the wooden rooftops.
The trees Stan had planted himself lined the dirt road on both sides, their leaves trembling in a gentle breeze that carried the smell of damp soil. Far beyond, the fields waited for rain that hadn't come in weeks.
Stan walked with steady steps, holding a small notebook filled with notes and estimates of the village's supplies—
Until he met Ethan on the path.
Stan: "There you are! I've been looking for you."
Ethan smiled softly. "Hey, Stan. Did you need something?"
Stan bent down to examine the leaves of a small sapling as he spoke:
"We're working ourselves to death hauling water from behind the mountains… but it's not enough. The workers are exhausted, and the fields are thirsty."
Ethan lowered his head a little.
"I know… I feel guilty every time I see the kids carrying empty buckets."
Stan stopped, turning fully toward him.
"Ethan… you control water. If we don't have a river nearby, then we need a new solution. We need you to think of a way to pull water from a distant source… or create a stable flow."
Ethan lifted his eyes, calm but with a faint gleam of confidence.
"It's not easy, Stan. Moving large amounts of water takes focus… and my powers could collapse if I try to push it over long distances."
Stan gave him an encouraging smile and set a hand on his shoulder.
"I trust you. The plants need you. The people need you. All I'm asking… is that you try. Maybe you'll find a new method—something you've never attempted before."
Ethan fell silent for a few seconds, staring at the thirsty fields. Suddenly, a small wave of dew rose around his feet—then vanished quietly.
He said:
"Maybe… I can pull up groundwater instead of moving it from rivers. If I can locate an underground pocket beneath the village… I can open a natural path to bring it up."
Stan clenched his fist in excitement.
"That's exactly what we need! If you can open a natural well, I'll have the plants clean the soil around it and stabilize the sides with their roots. We'll turn this place into a source of life."
Ethan stood in the middle of the orchard, sweat sliding down his forehead despite the chilly morning.
He closed his eyes. Focused.
The depths of the earth felt like another world to him—full of hidden noises and heavy layers.
Then—suddenly—
The ground shuddered hard, forcing Stan to step back. The trees shook violently, and parts of the soil split open.
The children playing near the wooden houses froze, then some screamed, grabbing onto their mothers' clothes.
Daisy, peeked out of the window of her tiny clinic.
"What in the world is happening out there?!"
Mousta was in the training hall, fist slamming into the metal bag.
A sudden tremor ripped through the floor—Rex burst into loud, frantic barking outside.
Mousta snapped his head toward the orchard, muscles tensing.
"Ethan!"
Ethan's power surged higher. The earth split wider, sending warm vapor rising from the depths.
But his face went pale—like something inside him was draining away.
Stan shouted:
"Ethan! Stop! That's enough!"
But Ethan raised his arms in one final push, voice trembling:
"No… let me finish. The water's close… I can feel it!"
Connor sat on a stone wall near the fields, watching with a strange smile.
"If the ground explodes under him… that'll be fun. But if he succeeds? Even better."
He let out a small amused laugh, eyes glittering as he watched.
The water erupted.
The crack in the earth filled with a massive spring that blasted upward, like the land itself was breathing.
Water droplets scattered through the air like shards of glowing glass. Children clapped in awe. The villagers cheered loudly.
Ethan dropped to his knees, gasping—
but smiling. A tired, proud smile.
Stan rushed to him, grabbing his shoulders.
"You did it! Ethan !"
Maru stood far off holding his icy staff beside Mousta, arms crossed. But even he allowed himself a rare small smile.
"That boy just saved us from a water crisis."
From every direction, joyful cries rang out…
Villagers rushed toward the new spring.
Daisy ran forward with her medical bag.
"Let me through—he's exhausted! Make way!"
Khaled stepped out of the armory and maintenance shed, hand on his axe, eyes locked on the disturbance.
"This isn't an earthquake…"
Then he noticed the crowd gathered in the orchard, cheering.
Almy hurried over from the monitoring post.
Almy, tense and confused: "What was that?!"
Khaled: "No idea… but I think it was Stan!."
They headed toward the orchard.
They arrived to find Ethan standing with Stan's help, staring at the spring overflowing with clear water…
Villagers around him smiling, cheering his name, hugging each other.
Khaled: "Ethan! I figured it was you." (He glanced at Stan.)
Stan: "Haha—no, it was him. I just suggested he help us find a nearby water source or make the flow easier. He pulled up groundwater and I wrapped the soil around it with my roots."
Khaled: "You two did great! This is a huge service to the village."
Stan: "He did almost everything!"
Almy stood in front of Khaled, looking worried for Ethan.
Almy, anxious: "Is he okay?!"
Daisy answered while packing up her tools:
"Yes, he's fine. Just exhausted from overusing his powers."
Ethan looked toward Almy weakly.
She blushed and lowered her head.
Connor, still sitting on the stone wall, clapped slowly with a playful sarcasm:
"What a spectacular show… I kinda hoped you'd collapse, but this… this is way better."
Khaled spoke quietly to Stan:
"Take him home. He needs rest after using that much power."
Stan: "Of course."
Stan carried Ethan toward his house while Khaled, Almy, and Daisy remained among the celebrating villagers.
Khaled glanced at the crowd, smiling faintly:
"I've never seen them this happy."
Daisy: "He gave them something precious."
Khaled: "Yeah… I like that boy. Peaceful… and a good heart."
Almy listened, thinking only of Ethan.
Her eyes shimmered with admiration.
He really is… someone special.
Khaled checked his watch, suddenly in a hurry.
"Ah— I've got things to take care of."
Daisy: "Me too. I need to get back to the clinic."
Almy : "And I have work at the station."
Everyone went back to their duties—except Khaled, who headed toward the forest.
As he walked, disappearing between the trees, Connor watched from the stone wall.
Connor: "I wonder where he's going alone….Maybe he's going to meet that werewolf he's told us about…"