The Light in Aquala

“If this is happening here, what is happening at Aquala?”

They both looked at each other with this same thought, then spun around and started running towards their final destination.

When the canopy finally opened, the majestic waterfall appeared before them. A vast curtain of water was plunging from the massive rocks above into the colorful mist-filled pools below, then into the huge river that then wandered through the jungle.

Sunlight struck the falling water, scattering the familiar colors of the Season across the surrounding vegetation in an ever-shifting display of Neon lights.

Mist floated up from the pools, catching the light and carrying it into the jungle in shifting waves of Neon that seemed to flow with a life of their own.

The colors swirled and combined, creating new colors, patterns and designs that shifted with every breath of wind and change in the light.

For a moment, the sisters simply stood there, astonished yet again. They had seen this sight many times, yet it never failed to move them, never lost its power to inspire wonder.

Mara felt her scientific instincts warring with something deeper, a sense of awe that reminded her why she had dedicated her life to understanding this world.

Lena felt the familiar thrill of discovery, the certainty that this moment was important, that they were witnessing something that would change everything.

Then Mara saw the light.

Deep within the center of the waterfall, almost hidden behind the thunderous water, a tiny gleam had appeared.

She stared at it, her eyes widening in astonishment. It was unlike anything she had ever recorded, unlike anything she had ever seen or even read about in the Academy's extensive archives. It wasn't blue, silver or gold. It seemed to contain traces of colors they knew yet somehow belonged to none of them.

At first, it was no brighter than a distant star, almost impossible to distinguish from the countless reflections dancing through the waterfall.

Then it moved.

Mara took a step closer to it, careful not to go too close to the edge of the cliff ridge they were standing on. Her heart was pounding and the strange color grew, brightening in response, as if noticing her approach.

Lena moved beside her, and the light intensified even more, growing stronger and more defined as they stood together. They stared at the waterfall as the unexplainable light slowly grew stronger and bigger.

Mara reached for her instrument but stopped before activating it. For once, she wasn't certain that a measurement would tell her anything. Some things, she realized, needed to be witnessed before they could be understood.

The sisters continued to watch the indescribably beautiful colors grow bigger and brighter with each passing moment. The blue was becoming richer, more vibrant while the golds and silvers were expanding around it, looking like molten jewels.

The roaring waters of Aquala filled the uneasy space between them, while the unfamiliar light continued to move slowly, back and forth, behind the curtain of water. It seemed to be searching for something or perhaps waiting for something.

The light suddenly stopped moving.

It simply stopped, hovering in place, as if it had noticed them watching it.

Lena and Mara froze.

The waterfall roared on, indifferent to the moment unfolding before it.