That is it, Arin thought as the distant roar reached his ears. The sound grew rapidly louder, announcing the arrival of a tremendous wall of water rushing towards the lake. Rather than looking towards the approaching flood, he focused his attention entirely on the lotus and the damaged nutrient channels within its developing seeds. He needed to guide his nature mana with as much precision as possible, and even a moment of distraction could cause him to lose control. Consequently, he closed his eyes and relied on his physique and connection to the surrounding environment to understand what was happening around him.
For Arin, sight was often more of a hindrance than a help when he needed to concentrate on a plant at such a deep level. His eyes could only show him the physical appearance of the lotus, whereas his physique allowed him to sense the plant's condition and the movement of mana within it. By shutting out the visual distractions, he could devote his attention to the damaged channels and the energy he needed to guide through them. He trusted that the lotus would somehow withstand the approaching wall of water, although he knew that trust alone would not be enough to guarantee success. If his plan was to work, he needed to act at precisely the right moment.
The flood finally rounded the bend and roared towards the small lake, carrying with it the force of the water released from the dam. Yet the moment it reached the lake, something extraordinary happened. The rushing water seemed to come to a complete halt before dissolving into the lake itself, as though the boundary between the incoming stream and the still water had ceased to exist. Rather than crashing into the lotus or sweeping it away, the water flowed into the lake without creating the destructive impact Arin had feared. The lake's volume began rising rapidly, while a substantial amount of water was simultaneously drawn away through the other side, continuing its journey downstream in a much calmer flow.
Wow, that is way too much, Arin thought as he felt the lotus struggling to absorb the sudden influx of mana. The flower had been deprived of its usual water supply, and now it was being forced to process an enormous amount of energy in a very short period. Although the returning flow was necessary for his plan, the sheer quantity of mana threatened to overwhelm the plant from within. The lotus seemed to be fighting against the pressure, its internal processes struggling to cope with the sudden change in conditions. Arin realised that he could not simply let the plant absorb everything at its own pace, because doing so might destroy the very thing he was trying to save.
Right, this is the only way, Arin thought, pushing his physique to its limits. He reached out through his connection to the forest and tried to borrow some of the nature mana surrounding him, hoping that the additional energy would help stabilise the lotus. To accomplish this, he activated his Essence-Gated Reservoir skill, even though it had never been intended for such a complicated task. Instead of using it in its usual manner, he guided its effect around the entire lotus, forming a protective enclosure that allowed him to manage the energy surrounding the plant. Once the enclosure was established, he stopped the skill's normal operation and redirected the mana he had gathered towards the lotus itself.
The strain was immense, and Arin could feel his reserves dwindling as he continued forcing nature mana into the damaged channels. He was attempting to accomplish several things simultaneously: stabilise the lotus, repair the pathways supplying nutrients to its seeds, and prevent the incoming mana from tearing the plant apart. The amount of concentration required left him with little room for error, and he knew that he could not maintain the process indefinitely. Just as he was approaching the limit of what he could manage, the forest finally responded to his efforts. Nature mana began flowing towards him through the network of connections he had established, providing the additional energy he desperately needed to keep the lotus alive.
Come on, come on! Arin urged silently, clenching his teeth as he fought to maintain control. The strain became so severe that he bit down hard enough for blood to appear at the corners of his mouth. Nevertheless, he refused to release his connection, knowing that the lotus might not survive if he stopped before the damaged channels had been restored. The forest continued supplying him with nature mana, and he carefully directed that energy into the flower while the rushing water fed the lake. Every passing second felt longer than the last, but Arin held on, determined to finish what he had started.
After five long minutes, the flow of water finally began to level off, and the pressure on the lotus gradually diminished. The most dangerous part of the operation was over, and Arin could finally sense that the plant had stabilised. Instead of continuing to struggle against the sudden influx of mana, the lotus began using the energy he had supplied to strengthen itself. Its damaged internal channels were recovering, allowing the plant to restore its natural processes and support the development of its seeds. What had initially seemed like an attempt to save a dying flower had become a fierce struggle between the forces threatening to tear it apart and the energy helping it recover.
It survived, Arin thought with immense relief as he felt the lotus's condition improve. The plant was healthier than it had been before the operation, and its developing seeds were finally receiving the support they needed. Although the experience had pushed him close to his limits, his efforts had succeeded in restoring the lotus without destroying the delicate balance of its environment. He quickly harvested the seeds, taking care not to damage the flower now that it had recovered. The seeds appeared radiant, carrying the promise of a plant that could one day provide the Sonnenberg forest with the same extraordinary benefits.
Once he had secured the seeds, Arin swam back towards the shore and handed them to Lilian. He explained the lotus's characteristics, its dependence on a constant supply of flowing water, and the importance of maintaining the conditions necessary for its survival. He also made sure to emphasise that the family should not treat the seeds as ordinary plants, since their cultivation would require careful planning and an appropriate environment. Lilian listened attentively, understanding that the discovery could prove extremely valuable if the Sonnenbergs managed it properly. After receiving the seeds and Arin's instructions, she gave him a firm nod before setting off towards the mine.
Lilian hurried out of the clearing, intending to follow the route that would take her back towards their home. The family needed to hear about the discovery as soon as possible so that they could decide how to protect the lotus and cultivate its seeds. Meanwhile, Arin had little energy left to spare after the ordeal, and he knew that attempting to continue working would be foolish. He forced himself to climb back into the tree and settled onto a branch where he could meditate and begin recovering from the strain he had endured. As he closed his eyes and let the forest's presence surround him, one final thought crossed his mind.
This is going to be a lonely few weeks, Arin thought before finally allowing himself to rest.