Bessmert did indeed succeed.
On one hand, as she clearly points out the direction of her thinking and provides reasons and arguments for her judgment, her human companions are easily convinced.
On the other hand, all other concerns soon cease to be of significance—
Two days later
Yenisei: ...!!!
The girl's eyes widen as she looks blinking at the flowing stream appearing seemingly from thin air not far from them—as though staring at it might restore it all to its original state.
She remembers clearly when she was only a mile from here yesterday evening, there was nothing to indicate the presence of such a miraculous hidden feature.
Jurien: Ladies ...
Jurien: This is a miracle. I'm glad we didn't give up and go back.
Yenisei: Wait, something's not right ... I ...
Krolik: What-what are we waiting for?
Not intending to wait for an answer, he runs toward the stream. An unheeded reaction to the long labors of their journey through the desolate wilderness.
Krolik: We are on the right path. I have nothing to say.
The humans move briskly toward the rushing stream.
For a moment, only the two arcanists remain skeptical about this new variable.
Bessmert: No ... Wait! Please don't ... !
Unable or unwilling to heed her shouts, they rush into the stream. Sinking their faces into the water and pulling them out, with smiles as wide as if they had never seen such natural beauty before.
Standing beside Bessmert, who had failed to stop their advance, the red-haired girl cautiously retreats as well, marking a sharp contrast with the humans who embrace the water like a fish too long in the air.
Yenisei: Wh-What ...
Yenisei: Madam, you didn't tell us the running water was right on the side when we pitched camp yesterday.
Bessmert: Yes, because I didn't notice any signs of water.
Yenisei: I thought it was your doing!
Bessmert: I wish it was, but, sadly, this is beyond my power. I'm not even sure if we are still staying on the planned route.
This is obviously not good news, as Yenisei's silence reveals. Bessmert immediately realizes the ambiguity of her words.
Bessmert: Indeed, I can hear the river flowing and running against the stones and shores.
Yenisei: Have you noticed anything else?
Bessmert: Yes, um, I'm not an expert, though.
Bessmert: The soil here is moist too, but it feels different, like just dampened by frequent spring rains.
Bessmert: The dry air of winter has completely gone.
Yenisei: And the grass here looks nothing like the temperate grass we should be seeing in December. It's so green, as if it were April or May now.
Bessmert: But we haven't gone that far. Is this ...
Bessmert: Is this some kind of illusion brought by arcane power?
Yenisei: Whether it's an illusion or something else, there must be something wrong with the water they drank.
Bessmert: You're right. We can't let them drink it.
Yet, their rational repudiations could not change the fact that their companions had already drunk from the abnormal water.
Bessmert instinctively runs forward, wishing to minimize the damage before things get worse.
Bessmert: Gentlemen, please listen! The water ...
Yenisei: Hold on, Madam! It's too late!
Yenisei grabs her hand, trying to prevent Bessmert from running in a panic and potentially suffering a fall.
Bessmert still wishes to rush forward, but finds herself unable to break free.
Bessmert: I have to tell them. I am the reason why they are here.
Yenisei: Listen. They have filled the water bags and are coming back.
Their momentary joy at finally being able to move forward is rapidly diluted.
The only consolation is that the human walking back toward the two of them still appears to be normal.
Team Member I: What's wrong? Are you not going to fill your water bags?
Yenisei: Nothing. We'll go later.
Team Member I: The water is clean. You can even see the trouts swimming. Too bad, we need to keep our packs light.
Yenisei: ...
Bessmert: Thank you. We'll fill our bags once we figure out which way we should go next.
Team Member I: Krolik is still by the river. He seems parched. Is he the reason you didn't go there?
Yenisei: No.
Team Member I: Alright, no problem, then. I'll go check and fill the rest.
Their tall companion nods and walks past the two of them, and toward the previously set-down baggage.
Once he is gone, Yenisei speaks once more.
Yenisei: Please wait here, Madam. I'll go check ...
Jurien: Madam Bessmert.
Bessmert: Mm? Mr. Jurien, did, did you drink the water?
Jurien: Oh, we ... I did. Just like Petrov said, the water is clean, a bit sweet to taste, even.
Bessmert: That's good, that's good then. You were looking for me. Is there a problem?
Jurien: No, no. Look, I know you don't need any compliments, but thank you for leading us to the running water. I'm glad you once again earned their trust.
Bessmert: Maybe we should thank the "Ask and Acquire."
Jurien: Haha, perhaps.
Jurien: Now, it's time for us to set out again for the Eastern arcane skill you mentioned.
Jurien: But before we do that ... I remember you once mentioned your assistant during your speech, saying her arcane skill was related to water and could find directions in the wild.
Bessmert: Yes, you remember it correctly.
A glad smile of acknowledgment appears on the face of the middle-aged man, his enthusiasm compelling him to ask one question after another.
Jurien: Ah, that is so wonderful! Earlier, you said that this was a safeguard, but at the time you did not explain in detail how it would work ...
Jurien: Now, may I have the honor to witness it? How does she communicate with water? Will she be possessed?
Jurien: Or like those mystics in the Palace ...
Yenisei: Sir, my arcane skill cannot predict what will happen precisely, and it is not cast through "possession."
Yenisei: Please do not overestimate what you don't understand and simply count on it.
Jurien: I know, child. I'm only curious and hoping to see it with my own eyes ...
Yenisei: No, Sir. It is not an exhibit in the museum or a play in the theater.
Jurien: Oh ...
The girl shakes her head and firmly refuses Jurien's request once again.
But he doesn't care. He has received more of an answer than he expected, and as he leaves, he smiles and straightens his collar again, bidding goodbye to both of them, respectively.
Yenisei: They look alright.
Bessmert: For now, yes. I feel uneasy about it. I have to go there ...
Yenisei: There's little you can do even if you go there, given the condition of your eyes. I will go check them, one by one.
Bessmert: Wait. Mr. Jurien just asked about your arcane power. Maybe now it's a good time.
Yenisei: What?
Bessmert: When you look for the direction with your arcane skill, check if the "water" is real.
Yenisei: What if it's not?
Bessmert: ...
Bessmert: In that case, child, we have no choice but to divine our way back, with the water in your bottle.
Bessmert's worried and helpless words echo in Yenisei's ears.
Yenisei: ...
Yenisei: Fine. I'll do it.
Yenisei: I will find the direction through divination, verify if the water is running, and check if anything's wrong.
The girl takes a step forward and walks toward the strange babbling stream that seems to have come from nowhere.
Yenisei walks barefoot into the river.
Flowing water on a temperate plateau like this should naturally be cold. It gently laps at her, just beneath her calves.
She closes her eyes, trying to make herself unaware of the temperature.
Yenisei: Sacred water, please flow and flow ...
Yenisei: May your love and care drift far away with the flowing foam.
Yenisei: May you water the roots, moisten the grass, and sweeten the souls.
Yenisei: Like lifting a current from a reef where waves are breaking.
The light spots gather and gradually fill the empty glass bottle.
Yenisei: And I ...
Yenisei: I will go to that current.
Yenisei: Everything will be as I said.
Yenisei: ...
Yenisei: Southeast.
The empty glass bottle falls from her loosened grip.
The girl looks dazed as she picks up her damp and heavy feet from the water, heading to the southeast.
Bessmert: ...
Bessmert: HEY!
Bessmert: Where are you going?
Yenisei: Hmm ...
Yenisei: Mmm? I ...
Half of her mind is still in the realm of delirium. The sounds she hears are fragmented into pieces that she can only attempt to fit together.
Yet, through the difficulty of her present state of mind, she tries her best to make sense of what Bessmert is saying.
Yenisei: Mmm ...
Bessmert: You've found something, haven't you?
Yenisei: I, emm ...
Bessmert: Easy, Yeni, take your time.
Yenisei: Yes.
Yenisei: Yes. The sign has come out.
Yenisei: I asked the river to show me the place with the strongest arcane energy. Then, it pointed at the southeast among all the other directions.
Yenisei: That is probably the direction we are looking for.
Yenisei: And yes, this river is real running water. It is flowing with vitality.
Bessmert: Alright. Perhaps I was wrong.
Yenisei: It's never wrong to consider all the possibilities, Madam.
Yenisei: Please wait here. I will mark the direction and inform everyone of it.
Bessmert: Sure.
