The commotion reached its peak, like a storm raging in the middle of a desert.
Shouts echoed, bouncing off the large rocks, intensifying the already heated atmosphere.
"We're out of water, and you're still acting like a fool? Do you want us to die of thirst?" yelled Dirga, his voice full of emotion, an eruption after long-simmering anger.
"Move aside! I'll finish him off!" barked Bram loudly, his hands gripping a rifle, showing he was genuinely ready to escalate things further.
If given the chance, he might not hesitate to strike.
Amid the chaos, Diego stood firm, his large frame and muscular build prominent as he tried to keep the two apart.
But his face showed exhaustion, his breaths labored as the effort to contain the conflict grew heavier.
Behind him, their party members seemed divided—some trying to calm Bram down, while others focused on pacifying Dirga.
The tension was so thick you could almost feel it pressing down, and the onlookers grew anxious.
Some whispered among themselves, unsure of what to do, while others remained silent, waiting for something to happen.
I stood not far from Ayla, who looked just as stunned by the chaos.
Her eyes turned to me, full of questions, as if searching for answers within me.
I slowly shook my head.
"Why are they acting like this?" Ayla whispered softly, her voice nearly drowned out by the escalating shouts.
"What should we do?"
At that moment, I saw Dirga and Bram standing face-to-face, like two volcanoes on the verge of erupting, glaring at each other with eyes filled with hatred.
Their party members whispered nervously, a few trying to intervene, but all efforts seemed futile.
"What's going on here?!" I demanded firmly, addressing a man from Dirga's party who looked confused and terrified.
"The well's dried up!" he replied, his voice trembling, unable to hide the panic in his expression.
"We... we can't last much longer without water,"
Running out of water in a remote place like this wasn't just a small problem—it was a real threat to our survival.
Without water, we wouldn't last more than a few days, especially with conditions becoming increasingly dire.
I glanced at Ayla, who immediately understood my silent cue.
Without a word, we moved swiftly toward the well, leaving the escalating chaos behind us.
The tension hung in the air, every passing second adding to the weight of the challenge before us.
When we reached the well, the sight awaiting us only deepened the unease in my chest.
The well was nearly empty, with only a small glimmer of water at the dark bottom.
There wasn't enough to sustain us for long.
I took a deep breath, feeling the gravity of the situation. This wasn't just a minor issue—it was a matter of life and death.
"Is it really empty, Ayla?" I asked softly, needing confirmation.
Ayla seemed to know exactly what she needed to do.
Closing her eyes for a moment, she tried to sense the water source using her powers.
I could see the furrow in her brow, a sign that she was focusing all her energy on finding a solution.
"It's not completely dry," she said, her voice calm but serious.
"There's still some left, but only a little. If we ration it carefully, it might last one—no, two days. But that's only if it's used very sparingly."
I nodded slowly, though my heart felt heavy.
Two days?
"Do you think you can take some without them noticing?" I asked, my voice low, laced with doubt even as I tried to hide it.
Ayla shook her head, her expression full of uncertainty.
"I can only sense water around this well. Beyond that, I can't feel anything. Even if I could, we don't have the tools to dig for it."
I fell silent for a moment, thinking.
My gaze shifted back to the crowd still in turmoil in the distance.
Everything was falling apart, and if we didn't act soon, the situation would spiral out of control.
"Then we have no choice but to take control," I said with determination in my voice.
I knew it was a risky move, but there wasn't any other way.
Ayla hesitated for a moment, her face showing clear doubt.
"This isn't our territory, Kai. They won't just let us take over. If we confront them directly, they'll see us as enemies."
I looked at her with unwavering confidence.
"That's why we have to make them listen. They don't have a choice either."
Ayla stared back at me, her eyes flickering with doubt but also a growing glimmer of trust.
"I'm counting on you, Ayla. We have to solve this."
Ayla nodded, though the uncertainty still lingered in her eyes.
.
.
.
.
Tension filled the air like a suffocating blanket.
"You think this is my fault? You're the one who kept using water recklessly! Look where we are now!" Dirga shouted, his voice burning with fury, as if he had been holding back a deep reservoir of frustration and resentment.
His face flushed red, his hand raised, ready to strike.
"YOU'RE NOT THE LEADER HERE! STOP ACTING LIKE YOU OWN EVERYTHING!" Bram fired back, his voice sharp and full of disdain.
His rugged face was contorted with fury, his muscular frame tensed as if ready to escalate the conflict further.
The atmosphere grew even more volatile, and Diego, who had been trying to keep the peace all along, was beginning to lose his patience.
He stood firm between them, his breath heavy. Seeing him like this, I knew the situation was spiraling out of control.
"Diego!" I called out sharply, my voice cutting through the growing noise of the crowd.
He looked at us with weary eyes, then finally stepped forward.
Diego's gaze swept over the crowd, his eyes reflecting exhaustion and deep frustration. But he knew we couldn't stay like this for long.
"Kai, they won't stop. It's like they're sworn enemies. What do we do?"
I stepped closer to him.
"Use your Battle Roar to get everyone to calm down," I said firmly.
Diego studied my face seriously, clearly understanding how critical the situation was.
"You've got a plan?" he asked, making sure I had something up my sleeve.
I nodded with conviction.
"But I need them to listen."
Without wasting any time, he took a deep breath and unleashed the full force of his power.
"EVERYONE, STOP!" he roared, his voice thundering like lightning splitting the sky, making the ground tremble beneath us.
Diego's voice echoed through the air, filling every corner and crack, creating a tension so sharp it could be cut with a knife.
Everyone fell silent instantly.
The once-rowdy crowd was now stunned, no one daring to move.
I felt a slight tremor in my own body from the sheer force of his voice, but I knew this was our chance.
Now, all eyes were on Diego, and I could speak without interruption.
With steady steps, I moved forward, aiming to take control of the situation that had slipped away.
"All right, now that it's quiet, listen to me," I said, my voice clear and full of undeniable authority.
Each word I spoke seemed to carve through the tension like a knife.
The crowd was silent, their attention entirely on me.
Bram, unable to contain his emotions, was about to interrupt.
However, Dirga quickly raised his hand, signaling Bram to stay silent.
Dirga's sharp gaze locked onto mine, though there was a glimmer of restrained calm in his eyes, as if he were carefully weighing what I might say next.
"And you think you have a solution?" he asked, his tone still full of skepticism, as though testing my intentions.
I nodded slowly, ensuring he could see the confidence in my response.
"My friend Ayla, as you know, has the ability to control water. She proved her abilities when we were nearly swallowed by a tsunami yesterday, and some of you witnessed it. Using her abilities, she sensed that there's still water deep beneath the ground, and she can draw it into the well. But the amount is very limited—barely enough for two days if used sparingly and managed with strict control."
Bram, unable to suppress his frustration, stepped forward with a face full of doubt.
"So, what are you trying to say, kid? You think we'll just hand over the well to outsiders like you?" His voice dripped with skepticism.
I met his gaze, cold and unyielding.
"I'm not asking you to hand over the well. I'm offering a solution. Let us manage the water distribution. We'll ensure everyone gets a fair share, without exception."
The crowd began to murmur, their voices filled with confusion.
Some seemed to waver, while others remained defensive.
Dirga, seemingly processing my words, stepped forward.
His sharp eyes never left mine.
"And how do we know you won't use this to your advantage?" he asked, his tone serious, as if testing my intentions.
I held his gaze firmly, my voice steady and confident, though I knew there was a lie in what I was about to say.
"If we intended to take advantage, we wouldn't have told you about the water beneath this well. We could have taken it quietly, without anyone knowing. But I'm offering this as a gesture of goodwill. We want to work together, not for personal gain. We want to ensure everyone survives, especially before phase two begins."
Dirga fell silent for a moment, clearly thinking things over.
The crowd, too, remained hushed, waiting for his decision.
"You know, what you're suggesting makes sense," Dirga said quietly, though doubt still lingered in his eyes.
But Bram interrupted again, his voice sharp and loud.
"Don't be stupid, Dirga! You're really going to give them control? This has to be a trap!" His voice was full of mistrust and resentment.
I turned to Bram with a cold stare.
"If you don't believe me, go ahead. Climb down that well and see if you can extract the water without our help."
Dirga quickly interjected, cutting into our exchange.
He turned sharply toward Bram, his face hardening.
"I don't need your opinion on what I should do, Bram. This is my territory, and I'll decide."
"YOUR TERITTORY?!" Bram scoffed.
"I saved your life back then. If it weren't for me, you'd be dead by now, killed by that idiot clown."
Dirga stepped closer to Bram, standing just inches away.
The tension between them was electric, crackling in the air.
"And you think that gives you the right to act like this?" Dirga shot back, his voice low but laced with a dangerous edge.
"If you're not going to help, at least don't get in the way. And keep that rifle down. We don't need more trouble here."
Bram scowled but finally stepped back, his movements laced with hostility.
"Fine," he muttered with venom, retreating from the group with heavy, deliberate steps.
"We'll see who's right soon enough."
Dirga leaned in, his eyes burning with pent-up fury.
"Don't make me remind you again, Bram," he said, his voice quiet but brimming with menace.
Before things could escalate further, I stepped in, trying to take control.
"If you want to continue this fight, do it after we've dealt with the water crisis," I said, my voice firm and unyielding.
Bram glared at me with pure hatred.
Instead, he tightened his grip on his rifle, clearly holding himself back from making a rash move.
"Let's see who's right in the end," he muttered before stomping away from the group.
Dirga finally turned back to me.
"Fine," he said quietly, his eyes still filled with doubt, but this time there was a hint of seriousness in his tone.
"But I'll be watching. If anything seems suspicious, I won't hesitate."
.
.
.
.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down.
This situation was clearly more complicated than I thought.
"Let's get started," I said to Ayla and Diego, trying to shift the focus away from the tension that had just erupted.
Ayla stepped forward toward the well, her body looking steady, although I could sense the anxiety hidden beneath her calm expression.
She closed her eyes, seemingly to focus her energy on what was below.
On the other side, Diego stood alert, making sure no one got too close.
His eyes never left the movements of the people gathered around the well.
I knew he was ready to act if anyone tried to interfere.
But I couldn't ignore Bram's gaze from afar, filled with intentions I couldn't quite decipher.
"This will take time," Ayla whispered softly, her voice almost swallowed by the silence surrounding us.
The crowd began to murmur, their voices tinged with clear doubt.
"She can do it," I replied, my voice loud enough to overpower the murmurs.
Ayla slowly raised her hand, her fingers moving carefully, as if she were controlling something invisible.
"Almost," Ayla muttered, her voice flat but filled with determination.
She didn't open her eyes, but her movements grew stronger.
I could see the confidence reflected in her face, even though her body was slightly shaking from the effort.
We all stood still, and even the crowd, which had been anxious before, now held their breath.
"The water's deep down, and I have to pull it up slowly so I don't disrupt the balance of the source," Ayla said, her voice trembling from the effort clearly draining from her body.
Suddenly, Ayla opened her eyes quickly.
With a gentle motion, Ayla moved her hand once again.
Along with that, a faint trickling sound emerged from the well, like water slowly finding its way out after being locked away for so long in the darkness.
"It's coming out!" she said with a firm voice, though exhaustion was clearly visible on her face. Her eyes held no doubt—only clarity and deep conviction.
The water started to rise from the dark depths, first just a drop, then more and more.
Slowly, the flow became stronger, bouncing off the sunlight that filtered through the cracks in the well's stones.
This simple miracle brought new hope. But I knew, we were far from done.
Dirga stepped closer, his face shocked but filled with hope.
Dirga approached cautiously, his steps careful.
His face showed surprise, but within it, hope began to emerge.
"She really did it..." he muttered, almost in disbelief, but I could feel the shift in him.
He was starting to believe.
The water continued to flow, and the atmosphere, which had once been full of tension, slowly began to change.
Some people cheered softly, but most still held back, uncertain if this was enough to change the situation.
Doubt was still written on their faces, but there was a glimmer of light, however faint.
Ayla looked even paler than before, her body trembling, sweat dripping from her temples.
Her energy was clearly spent, but she stood tall, unwilling to show any weakness in front of us.
Diego stepped closer and gently patted her on the shoulder, giving her the recognition she deserved.
"Good job, Ayla," he said in a soft voice, full of appreciation.
But even as he acknowledged her achievement, I could see the seriousness in his eyes.
"But we still need to ensure the distribution."
I glanced over at Dirga, who now seemed to be giving instructions to his group, preparing to manage the water distribution.
"Hold on a second," I said, my voice firm and commanding.
All eyes turned to me instantly, and Dirga seemed a bit confused by the direction I was taking.
"I have new rules for the water distribution."
All eyes were on me, and Dirga seemed slightly puzzled.
"Ayla will only draw water three times a day," I continued, my voice growing more confident.
"Once in the morning, once in the afternoon, and once again at night. Each time, only a small portion will be drawn, enough to last until the next time. If the water runs out, we won't draw again until the next scheduled time." Each word I spoke was deliberate, making sure no one would underestimate my rules.
Dirga and the others stared at me with expressions that were hard to read.
But after a few seconds, their confusion began to turn into a better understanding.
Dirga finally spoke, his tone firm.
"Okay, since my party has 10 members, each group of 5 gets 1 water container. So, we'll get 2 water containers. Bram's group will do the same. For you, since you're only four, I'll give you 1 water container."
"Alright, that's fair," I said, nodding in agreement with the proposal.
I was satisfied with that decision.
Slowly, each party from both Dirga and Bram's groups began to take their share, two water containers each.
Diego began drawing water from the well using a bucket and rope, distributing it to the people who approached.
He worked quickly and carefully, making sure everyone received their fair share without anyone taking more than they should.
With skilled movements, he lowered the bucket into the well, pulling it back up with just enough water to meet their temporary needs.
When the bucket was full, he lifted it with precision, pouring the water into the containers that had been prepared by the people.
Some protests could be heard from those who were unhappy with the distribution, but most seemed to understand and accept it.
They knew that if they didn't cooperate, things would end up worse.
I could see the anxious expressions on their faces, but there was a hint of confidence growing.
They knew that if they wanted to survive, they had to follow the rules.
"This must be fair," Dirga said firmly, his voice reverberating through the air around us.
"No one can take more than they need. Everyone has to get their share."
Ayla looked a little more at ease with the clear rules.
The atmosphere, which had once been full of tension, was now beginning to feel more controlled, though I knew this was just the beginning before Phase 2 started.