System vs Rebirth

"Welcome."

Noel and Rose finally entered the room where the Water Lord experimented. The room was spacious with a few tanks around it.

Some were filled to the brim, some only contained some liquid. The colors of the liquid also varied.

There were some smaller containers, from a gallon to a small tube. On the opposite side of the room, they could see a huge stone table where he experimented with the water.

The Water Lord led them to that table and offered them some seats.

"Please sit down. I'm going to bring some samples first, along with the chalk." The Water Lord immediately walked away, only to return with a chalkboard filled with some drawings and explanations.

It was too complicated for Rose and Noel, so they wondered what the Water Lord wanted to say.

"Before helping me with my experiment, you have to know the basics of what you're working for." The Water Lord put down two small glasses, one filled with water and one filled with a green liquid.

"These two are different liquids, as you can see from their colors. The first one is water and the other one is Herimone Poison extracted from the Herimone Snake.

"When I was young, I traveled to all corners of the kingdom and learned a lot. At one point, I actually came to a certain note, saying that the water is actually formed by something smaller."

The Water Lord raised chalk and said, "Take a look at this chalk. I have 'one' chalk in my hand, right?"

Noel and Rose nodded in agreement. Then, the Water Lord scooped a bit of the water and let it stay on his palm. "How about this? Can I call this one water?"

They shook their heads. "Well, it's the difference between tangible and intangible…"

"Yes, that's true. But…" The Water Lord took out another glass, this time, full of oil. "This is the vegetable oil that you're familiar with. I'll pour this oil into this cup of water. What do you think will happen? Will they fuse?"

"Hmm? Yes?" Noel tilted his head in confusion. He remembered that the poison would fuse together with the water like what plagued this town not long ago.

But to his surprise, the water and the oil didn't fuse with each other.

"Hmm? It didn't…"

"Yes." The Valley Master nodded. "They don't mix. Then…"

The Valley Master grabbed another cup of water and poured it on the poison. At first, the water remained clear, but as time passed, the water became more polluted, showing the fusion process.

"Why is the first cup not mixed while the water in the second cup mixes with the poison? I'm not very sure myself either. But when I received that note saying that the water is actually made of something smaller.

"That's when I got the idea. What if the water is composed of particles… something smaller than particles where we can actually divide that water and call it one water, two 'waters,' three 'waters,' and so on…"

The Valley Master pointed at the image of a cup of water on the board. The cup of water was actually divided into three categories: A, B, and C.

"This is my hypothesis. I believe that liquid is composed of something smaller than particles. I don't have the name for it yet, but let's assume there are three different things inside that water.

"Then, there should be another three different things inside that water…" The Valley Master pointed at the drawing of the oil cup and the poison cup.

The oil was divided into three called: X, Y, and Z. Meanwhile, the poison was also divided into three but with different naming: D, E, and F.

"Let's take a look at these nine… let's call them particles for the time being. These nine particles are the ones that determine whether they can combine or not."

The Valley Master was trying to explain his research, not knowing whether this was the correct answer or not. But since he was experimenting with everything, he could only go forward until he reached the answer.

"In the first cup, I believe that these A, B, and C are not compatible with the X, Y, and Z in the oil cup. Those particles can't fuse with each other. On the other hand, the water is compatible with the poison.

"Hence, they fuse and create AD, BE, and CF. Well, I don't know if there are three different types of things inside the water or whether those are the right combinations.

"However, one thing is for sure. That note is right. There is actually something smaller than particles.

"And now, I want to actually know about the particles that make up the water and everything else. The scope of the study is a bit too big, so I'll limit it to the water right now.

"My hypothesis is that there are things that are incompatible and things that are compatible. So, there can be a partial fusion as well."

Noel was confused by the explanation. He understood what he wanted to do, but he didn't see why his ability worked.

"So, what do you want me to do?" Noel asked.

"That's where your abilities come in." The Water Lord smirked playfully. "I believe that your purification ability is to let the water revert to its original form. Of course, the only thing that can allow such a process is Time Ability.

"However, your ability rests in your Ice Element. I assume that this purification ability breaks apart the smaller particles and reattaches them to form the original waters. After that, it destroys the other particles aside from the water.

"That's the only explanation I had when you purified the lake. So, by taking advantage of your ability, I can prove those particles and get closer to what kind of smaller particles the water has.

"It will be a huge breakthrough in human history… So, I need your help to purify the water in all kinds of liquid.

"Of course, you are allowed to refuse a certain liquid when you realize that it's too potent and might harm your body. What do you think?"