Chapter Eight

LIA POV:

As I concentrated on the surroundings to create a mountain, I found myself unable to create anything. Frustration filled me, and I shot a deadly look at Cloudy.

"Master, try with something simpler first. You know, baby steps," Cloudy said, trying to sound encouraging.

Baby steps? I rolled my eyes. Sure, why not try creating a tiny flower or a cute little cloud like Cloudy himself? Easy peasy. I closed my eyes and attempted to follow his advice.

"Master, why not try to create a tree or something cloud-like, like me? Close your eyes, focus on the surroundings, and gather as much spiritual air as you can. Imagine those spiritual energies collected into one place and try to form a shape. Concentrate hard enough, just like a potter shaping a pot, and try to make something recognizable," Cloudy advised.

I followed Cloudy's instructions, but it was easier said than done. I closed my eyes and once again tried to blend with the surroundings. Slowly, I could see red, blue, white, and green spiritual balls. As I concentrated more, the golden spiritual balls also became visible, though their quantity was less than the others.

Alright, concentrate. Gather them all up. Just like a pro potter shaping a masterpiece. Easy as pie, right? Not really. My mind was starting to feel like it was on the verge of exploding.

Drops of sweat started to drip from my face. I kept at it, refusing to give up. Determination surged through me, and I reminded myself that I didn't want to feel as helpless as before. I needed to be stronger, self-reliant, and in control.

Okay, this was definitely harder than I thought. My second attempt ended in utter failure. All I managed to do was create a chaotic mess of spiritual energy swirling around, resembling nothing remotely close to a mountain. Cloudy gave me an understanding look, as if saying, "It's okay, you'll get there eventually."

But no, I couldn't accept defeat so easily. I gritted my teeth and gave it another shot. Concentrate, Lia, concentrate. This time, I tried to focus on the golden spiritual balls, hoping they would hold the key to success. But alas, it was as if the golden ones were playing hide-and-seek, slipping away from my grasp each time I tried to gather them.

I felt a tinge of frustration creeping in. How hard could it be to create a mountain? It's just spiritual energy, right? Apparently not for me. My third attempt was no better than the first, and I couldn't help but feel a bit disheartened.

Cloudy, sensing my disappointment, floated over and patted my back with his tiny cloud hand. "Don't be disheartened, Master. Aryavarta wasn't built in a day, you know."

Right. Aryavarta. As if I was trying to build an entire land. I sighed and tried to shake off my frustration. Maybe I needed more practice, or maybe creating a mountain was just way beyond my abilities right now.

"Well, at least I didn't blow up anything," I muttered, trying to find a silver lining in my failed attempts.

Cloudy chuckled, his cloud body shaking with amusement. "That's the spirit, Master. You'll get there eventually. Just take it one step at a time."

As I tried to make something similar to a fluffy cloud, it became evident that the universe had other plans for me. No matter how hard I tried, I was failing miserably at this task. Frustration and exhaustion were starting to creep in, and I could feel my determination waning. I decided to call it a day for now and take a break.

Sitting down on the soft cloud-like ground, I looked at Cloudy, who was hovering nearby, observing my every move. "Cloudy, this is harder than I thought. I can't seem to create anything properly," I sighed, feeling a mix of disappointment.

Cloudy floated closer to me, his dove eyes filled with empathy. "Don't be too hard on yourself, Master. It's not an easy task to control and shape spiritual energy, especially for someone new to this world like you. Remember, this heavenly world is connected to your power. As your power grows, so will mine, and consequently, this world will flourish too."

I nodded, trying to absorb his words of encouragement. "So, it's like a symbiotic relationship between me and this world?"

"Exactly," Cloudy affirmed, "Your strength and mine are intertwined. As you grow stronger, you'll find it easier to harness the spiritual energy around you. Don't lose hope; it takes time and practice."

Lia couldn't help but wonder about her newfound ability to sense spiritual air in this world. Back on Earth, she had never experienced anything like this. The questions were bubbling in her mind, and she couldn't help but voice them to Cloudy.

"Cloudy, I have one more question," Lia said, "How come I was never able to see or sense spiritual air on Earth, but in this world, it's like I can feel it all around me? I wish I could ask those four mysterious beings who brought me here, but they left without a word."

Cloudy replied, "I'm sorry, Master, but my knowledge is quite limited. It's not like I can keep track of every detail of your life on Earth, you know. And besides, I don't have any information about why things are different here."

Lia sighed, feeling a bit frustrated. "Of course, you can't possibly know everything. It's not like you're a magical cloud with all the answers," she said sarcastically.

Lia nodded, realizing that even Cloudy couldn't provide all the answers she sought. "Well, I guess it's just one of those mysteries of this strange new world. Maybe I'll stumble upon the answers as I go along."

THIRD POV:

Unbeknownst to Lia, as she struggled to gather the spiritual air, a tiny cloud, no larger than a plum, had already started taking shape nearby. It was almost as if the heavenly world itself was playing a subtle game, keeping its surprises hidden from her eyes. Lia was so engrossed in her efforts, she hadn't noticed this new development right under her nose.

With furrowed brows, she continued her attempts, unaware that nature was already conspiring with her. The cloud seemed to be observing her, like a mischievous little secret waiting to be revealed. Perhaps it was testing her determination or slyly mocking her earnest efforts.

As minutes turned into what felt like hours, Lia remained focused, completely oblivious to the gradual growth of the small cloud beside her. It was as though the heavenly world was sharing a private joke, watching her labor in vain, while it had already prepared a surprise.

The plum-sized cloud took on a life of its own, growing gradually but steadily. It seemed to taunt her, almost daring her to notice its presence. Little did Lia know that as her connection with this mystical realm deepened, the heavenly world was also starting to reveal its enigmatic secrets, one subtle clue at a time.