The Master of Language - T.M.L Chapter 44 (Part 1):

The flow and spread of water.

Mixing and separating.

None of it goes against the laws of nature.

Water flows, it’s a simple principle of nature.

The same goes for the fountain’s water.

In that long journey from the beginning to the distant future.

At this moment, here in this place.

It’s just staying for a while.

The current position is just a passing point on the path forward, there’s nothing special about it.

So only the wisest sage can create the present that divides the past and future.

If you can’t count time, how can there be a present?

Even the source of endless flowing water is allowed to experience rest for the first time.

In this unfamiliar rest, the source of the water feels confused.

Ashamed.

Its existence, hidden in infinite flow, has been exposed before a great intellect.

The sage whispers.

The sources of water only look at each other, not daring to even think of responding.

Water must run along the predetermined path according to its given fate. It’s already embarrassing to have stopped, how could it respond?

The sources of water feel emotion for the first time.

They feel anger.

Infinite anger towards the order that has constricted them since the beginning.

A sneer appears on the sage’s face.

The sage is about to leave.

Then the present he brought will disappear with him, and the sources of water will lose the power to distinguish between past and future.

They immediately fall into fear.

The sage stops.

He turns around and smiles wickedly.

Like a devil offering forbidden fruit.

The sage speaks.

The source of water gathers. It moves as one, in the sage’s hand, led by the sage.

But can the sources of water, who have only followed since their existence, understand freedom?

What is freedom to them?

“What is……”

I opened my eyes while muttering the last phrase of the spell.

In front of me, above the fountain, was a water lump in the shape of a small boy.

A different appearance from the undine I saw at Master Abana’s lakeside.

In its eyes was hatred towards the world, and on its face was disgust towards itself.

[Why the hell did you wake me up?]

I involuntarily let out a groan.

I almost broke the spell.

“Hey, is cursing really necessary right from the start?”

[Why did you wake me up?]

I calmed down and explained.

“There’s going to be a fire at the mansion soon. I called you to put it out.”

[What? Then just put it out yourself! Why call me for this crap?]

“The fire’s going to be caused by magic, so I absolutely need you.”

The undine fell silent.

It raised its eyes and looked over the mansion behind me.

[It’s quite old. It’s been decades, hasn’t it?]

“Are you just going to let it burn down like this?”

[As much as I’d like it to disappear, this mansion is the purpose for which I was created, so I can’t deny it.]

“If you help, I’ll grant you a wish.”

The undine’s expression darkened.

[What? You’re not going to take me as your familiar? Just give me a name and order me. That’s all you need to do.]

“There are circumstances that prevent me from taking you as my familiar. Tell me your conditions.”

The undine shook its head furiously at my words.

[If you’re not going to take me as your familiar, then forget it. I don’t care if this damned mansion burns down or not.]

It even crossed its arms and turned its head up sharply, looking just like Psyche.

I quietly looked at it and fell into thought.

What does this water truly desire?

The source of water lies in its flow.

For this fountain water, trapped in this tiny flow and surviving on occasional rain from the sky, what it wants most is probably only one thing.

“I’ll take you to the sea.”

[…….]

The undine only turned its eyeballs to look at me.

“The sea. The final destination for all water. I’ll take you there.”

The undine smirked.

[To that grave full of corpses? What am I supposed to do there? Die too?]

“Grave?”

[Yeah, the sea. People started calling it the source of life at some point. I don’t know which great mage came up with that, but it’s a pretty remarkable deception.]

The sea, known as the source of life, referred to as a grave for the corpses of water.

Now that I think about it, the ancients did regard the sea as a symbol of death.

But isn’t that precisely why it’s the source of life?

“Anyway. If you don’t want to go to the sea, tell me what you want.”

[To become your familiar.]

“I told you, that’s not happening.”

The undine uncrossed its arms. Then it took a deep breath and exhaled.

[I’ve just breathed for the first time. I’ve tasted this vast chaos. I don’t want to go back into that order again. I don’t want to be trapped again.]

“…….”

[Take me with you. If you don’t, I won’t help you at all. No! I’ll actually hinder you!]

There was a burning anger in the undine’s eyes.

For a mere water.

“Sigh. If I had known things would turn out like this, I wouldn’t have awakened you. To think you’d actually hinder me.”

[Yes. I’ll hinder you. I’ll absolutely hinder you. So just give me a name and take me with you.]

That can’t happen.

I could still feel the faint presence of the red eye lingering in my mind.

That bothered me.

I slowly walked.

Into the fountain.

[Uh, huh? Wh-what are you doing?]

Dangun

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