Shallow Dive

"Phew, this place sure offers a lot of atmosphere in it" said the girl next to me joyously, taking a sip of tea. The gentle rain keeps on pouring, the trail of water dropping from the roof decorates the view.

"It sure does. Most of it keeps you coming back." I say as i look outside.

We're in a cafe, sitting on one of the table. A cup of tea for each of us. This place is on the rooftop of a 3 level building. Outside is a fairly well driven traffic, no jam.

"You sure its not me that keeps you coming back?" She smiles

"Pretty sure not. It's the tea, if anything." I giggle "we've met quite some times, lady. Not even once you told me your name. All i've ever known is that you are on a search for treasure"

"No need for a name, Ardon." She stressed my name jokingly, "I just happen to find the places we visited and met had some interesting clues, so i came back"

We talk back and forth, just small talks, nothing deep. Time passed as we do.

"And we actually meet again, coincidence for sure" i took a sip, "so what are those clues?"

She smiled as she waved her head, "Not a good idea to tell you"

"How about telling me your name then?, That one is a slightly better idea"

She giggles "you're so desperate, aren't you?"

"Not as much, i can still get myself some fine women"

"Sure you can." She sighs "the rain is almost over, sure you don't want to go yet?"

"Maybe, but i have my own thing to do still. Got to catch the next one."

"Same goes for me." She nods and stands "see you later, Ardon. Don't bump into me on your quest~" she walks away, leaving me watching as she fades to the distance.

I want to take another sip but a glimpse of a group of 4 men in mask stops me from doing so, they spot me already and are closing in to the cafe.

Of course there is nothing wrong with wearing a mask. But for rainwalker like me, it's a big trouble. And that is no ordinary mask. Well, it looks like one. A black version of medical mask, but it can track our trace we leave when we rainwalk.

I quickly walk into the elevator on the corner, the door slides close once i pushed the button. Down i go, with a bit of shake from the elevator.

There's no way they don't know i'm in the elevator, chances are : they are waiting for me down there.

I clench my fists, inhale a deep breath and blink. The rain is about to end and it is my only way to escape. I have to get in touch with it as soon as possible.

The elevator stops and beeps, the door starts to open, time feels like it's slowing down. It's given the first glimpse, shoulders of people. More is opening, they are the group i saw. The door opens completely, we stared at each other. My smirk meets their deadpan.

In a split second, a knife with ancient rune carved on it tries to stab me. I swiftly blocked it away, only to be greeted by another knife. I grab his arm and throw him inside the elevator while simultaniously launched a kick to the face next to me. One of them grabs me from behind, the other one runs toward me with his knife ready to stab.

That knife is no ordinary too, the rune carved on it works effectively to stop someone to rainwalk for 20 minutes. Meaning just a stab from it could be the end for me

I wave my head right, the stab misses. I elbow the stomach of the guy behind me, lock the other guy's arm and body slam him to the ground. The guy in the elevator tries to catch me but i make my run in time

With them rising one by one and starts to chase me towards the street. I run fast, the rain pours on me, alhtough it's only drizzle of what it was. Still enough, i'm connected with the rain.

My mind is focused, with a hint of cool from the raindrop on it. I keep running but every step i take feels more lightweighted. I take a deep breath, close my eyes.

"Raindrops weave the courteous path, the splashes are those of the chosen ones' path. Walk on it, rain " I whispered smoothly

And the next thing i know, everything that surrounded me is gone. No concrete jungle, city lights, people, nothing. The only thing that exists is me and a wide field of what seems to be water, and the rain that keeps drizzling over me. This is rainwalking.

They call this place "The Rain Dimension", No idea who named it that, i myself know it from the people of my likes. Honestly, it is very calm and endearing here. I could spend all day in this place if not for missions.

Anyway, those pesky masked cultists have lost me. Usually, i should be good to take it slowly from here but unfortunately the rain is almost over. Better dive before i can't.

I open my phone, no signal. I open the chat i had with Amar before the encounter with the girl, there he told me to meet him in #509.

If i remember correctly, #509 is somewhere to the east. Maybe some hundreds of meters from here. Better run. the water field splashes along my steps. I've run almost 100 meters. Hehe, i'm a fast runner afterall.

I finally stop after i kind of assured that this is the dive point of #509. With time running out, i could only hope. If the rain at the place where i rainwalked to this place stops. I'll be stuck here until the next rain drops at that place.

"Alright, here we go" I say as i bounce for a little while, getting ready to dive jump. Then i jump, diving into the water field. It splashes upon contact, i slide so easily, as if i am being drawn by a great force. After a short while, the water starts to fade. Slightly fast until none left surrounding me.

I roll forward to a concrete ground and find myself in a small alley, windows of the apartment around me stand still in their place. My cloth is wet, soaked.

#509, otherwise known as the city of Taneom. This is the place, i hope. Now... To Amar.