Chapter 14: Spiritual Water

"Arion, I think I need to sleep for a bit," Elan said, feeling the exhaustion overtaking him.

"Of course. How about I sing you a song to help you sleep better?"

Elan chuckled softly, appreciating the gesture. "That sounds nice, Arion. Thanks."

Elan closed his eyes, expecting to hear a pleasant song. Instead, he was surprised when Arion began singing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." The unexpected choice made Elan almost burst out laughing.

"Stop, Arion," Elan said, barely containing his laughter. "Sing something other than a children's song."

Arion chuckled in response. "I'm just joking with you. Alright, let me try something else." He then began to sing "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Elvis Presley.

Elan smiled as he listened to Arion's soothing voice. The familiar melody brought back memories of his past life, and he found himself reminiscing about his wife. He hadn't expected to think about her again so soon.

He remembered their first date, the way she laughed, and the countless evenings they spent together. They used to walk along the beach, hand in hand, talking about their dreams and plans for the future. He remembered the warmth of her smile and the way her eyes sparkled when she was happy.

Arion's voice continued to fill Elan's head with the gentle, timeless lyrics:

"Wise men say

Only fools rush in.

But I can't help falling in love with you..."

Elan sighed softly, feeling a mix of nostalgia and sadness. 'Listening to love songs really stirs up the old memories,' he thought to himself. 'I thought I had moved on, but these songs bring it all back.'

Despite the wave of emotions, the exhaustion finally overtook Elan. He drifted off to sleep, the memories of his wife mingling with the soothing notes of the song. His last thought before falling asleep was a bittersweet mixture of longing and peace.

-----

Elan woke up after an unknown amount of time. As he stirred, he could still hear Arion singing, but this time, to his shock, Arion was singing "Super Bass" by Nicki Minaj.

"Dude, you know this song too?" Elan asked in disbelief.

Arion immediately stopped singing and laughed. "Hahaha, of course. I know all the songs from Earth."

As an AI, Arion should know everything. From the most insignificant data, like the birthdate of a minor historical figure, to the most significant scientific discoveries and breakthroughs, For Elan, he just never expected that an AI would sing "Super Bass." He imagined the reactions of the scientists if they saw the most advanced and sentient AI singing pop songs with references to butts.

The pinnacle of artificial intelligence, designed to solve complex problems and advance human knowledge, singing a song about "boom, badoom, boom, bass." They'd probably be stunned.

Elan chuckled at the thought. "I suppose it would be odd if you didn't know it. How long was I asleep?"

Arion responded promptly, "You slept for almost six hours."

Elan felt a bit more refreshed but was still curious. "Do you also know what time it is now?"

Arion replied with precision, "It is 4:45 PM and 30 seconds."

Elan was impressed by the accuracy. "I suppose that's another advantage of having an AI around. Thanks, Arion."

Arion chuckled. "That's what I'm here for, Elan. Now that you're rested, how about we find some food?"

Feeling more energetic and ready, Elan nodded. "Yes, let's go find something to eat. I'm starving."

He stood up slowly to avoid getting dizzy from standing up too quickly. He grunted as he straightened, feeling some soreness in his legs, but it wasn't too painful. Then he retrieved the storage ring from the wooden floor and put it on his right index finger.

Before leaving the hut, Elan instructed Arion to scan the entire place once more, just in case there was something important they had missed. After a thorough scan, Arion reported, "Nothing here, except that skeleton doing yoga. There's nothing important."

"Alright, let's find some food," Elan said.

Elan stepped out of the hut and looked around the trees for any signs of fruit, but he didn't see any. Determined, he walked around to the back of the hut, hoping for better luck.

When he reached the back, he abruptly stopped, his mouth wide open. Just 15 meters away from the hut, there was a beautiful scene: a grove of unknown trees laden with various fruits and a patch of unfamiliar vegetables. In the center of this verdant area was a crystal-clear pond, with dense fog hovering above it, giving it an ethereal and mystical appearance. 

The fruits hanging from the trees were a mesmerizing sight. Some were deep purple and resembled plums but had a radiant glow, while others were bright orange, similar to oranges but with a translucent skin that shimmered in the light. There were also large, round fruits that looked like golden apples, their surfaces sparkling as if dusted with fine gold powder.

The vegetables were equally fascinating. There were tall, leafy plants with broad, dark green leaves that looked almost like kale but with a bluish tint. Bright red tubers protruded slightly from the soil, their skins smooth and glossy. Nearby, vines with clusters of vibrant blue pods twisted around stakes, each pod pulsing gently as if alive with energy.

The landscape itself was a lush, vibrant green, and the grass was thick. Wildflowers of every color dotted the ground, adding to the magical ambiance of the place. The trees were tall and majestic, their branches heavy with abundant fruits. The whole area was bathed in a gentle, golden light, filtering through the dense foliage above.

Elan's mouth watered at the sight of the fruits, and he didn't even realize it was happening.

"Hey, your mouth is watering," Arion said while chuckling.

Startled, Elan quickly wiped his mouth with his hand and then hurried toward the pond. As he reached the pond, he marveled at how incredibly clear the water was. The clarity of the water and the abundance of food around him felt almost surreal. He dipped his hand into the pond, feeling the cool, refreshing water. The fish scattered slightly, then returned to swim near his hand, curious but not frightened. 

"A Spiritual Water!" Arion shouted in excitement upon detecting the water in the pond.

"Damn it, Arion, don't shout, this is the second time, and what is 'Spiritual Water?'" Elan said, rubbing his ear while genuinely intrigued.

"Spiritual Water is known for its purity and the mystical properties it carries. It can enhance one's physical and spiritual strength. I can't believe there's actually a Spiritual Water here, you hit the jackpot this time, Elan," Arion explained.

Elan's excitement grew. "Really? This is amazing. What should I do? Tell me, tell me," Elan said in a hurry.

"It's very simple. Just stare at it. Of course, you're supposed to drink it," Arion said sarcastically.

Hearing Arion's sarcasm for the second time, if Arion were a real person, Elan would have probably smacked him for such a remark. As an AI, Arion unexpectedly displayed a knack for dry, sarcastic comments that were both surprising and a bit frustrating. His tone carried a hint of mockery, as if he found amusement in poking fun at Elan's questions and concerns. Despite this, Elan found himself appreciating Arion's wit, even if it made him roll his eyes on occasion.

"Oh, sorry, master. I thought I was supposed to eat it. My apologies, master," Elan replied, matching Arion's sarcasm.

Arion laughed at Elan's sarcastic reply and said, "Hahaha. Alright, alright. Go ahead and drink the Spiritual Water, but don't drink too much at once."

Elan rolled his eyes, but he couldn't help smiling. He cupped his hands and carefully scooped up some of the clear water. He hesitated for a moment, then brought his hands to his lips and drank.

As soon as the spiritual water entered his body, Elan could feel its effects immediately. A sharp, searing pain shot through his entire body. It felt as if his insides were being torn apart. He clutched his stomach, gasping in agony.

Thinking the spiritual water was poison and that Arion had deceived him, Elan cursed, "Arion! What have you done to me? This water is poison! You lied to me!"

Arion's voice remained calm and reassuring. "Elan, it's normal. The pain you're feeling is the spiritual water purging impurities from your body. It's a necessary process to strengthen you. Trust me, it will pass."

Minutes later, the pain began to subside. Elan lay on the ground, panting and drenched in sweat, but felt immense relief as the pain finally vanished. The intense agony had drained him, leaving his body trembling from the exertion.

"Check your body," Arion instructed.

Following Arion's instructions, Elan looked at his body and spotted black slime oozing from his pores. The smell was horrendous, like rotting garbage. "What is this disgusting stuff, and why does it smell like shit?" he asked, horrified.

"They are called impurities. Impurities are toxins and waste materials that accumulate in the body over time. The spiritual water is expelling them. It's a sign that your body is becoming purer and stronger," Arion explained.

Hearing Arion's explanation, Elan stood up from the edge of the pond and felt his body. He noticed that his hunger had significantly decreased, and he only felt a slight pang of hunger. He balled his hand into a fist and felt a newfound strength surge through him. "Just by drinking a bit of the spiritual water, I'm already this strong," he marveled.

"Yes. Now imagine if you drank more of it. How much stronger would you become?" Arion confirmed.