Chapter 10

As Aristotle alluded to, a man who does not enjoy the act of doing good deeds is not a good man; thus, for a virtue to exist as a virtue, it must stem from love and thus love must be the supreme virtue from which all others branch.

As sunlight enters raindrops and emerges as rainbows, so love enters the soul of each person and emerges as their passions in the arts, in science, in nature... in whatever sparks their curiosity and drive. It is how they find their truth and purpose. It is how they give of themselves to others. Love is what makes us who we are, it is the energy that brings us to life.

Love is sweet, yet more as fresh fruit than candy or confectionary. Love is colourful, yet more as summer blooms than the neon lights of frenetic city streets. Love is steady and forgiving, yet more as the wise mother than the servant in chains. Love hears and speaks with the wisdom of the heart, with a sense of the soul of the other. In love we have our "forever home" and it gives us the ability to fly so freely, joyfully returning when each heart calls for the other's touch.

There's a reason love is invisible, undetectable with anything but our minds. We aren't evolved enough to be trusted with it. We'd try to engineer it, alter it, use it, weaponize it. Aren't there always great reasons to do immoral acts? Or are they excuses to allow us to follow our more basic desire for dominance? Power addiction is always the wrong route to escape fear. The only way to understand love is to feel it, embody it, embrace it. The power of love will always be greater than any other and the keys to reality will only ever be given to true students of the only master.

I love you. That means I would defend you with my life even if the odds were insurmountable. It means I will comfort you in the difficult and painful times. It means I will dance and rejoice with you when times are good. It means I will never betray you, never give up on you. It means finding my fire when you, my loved one, is threatened, yet never waging war - only doing what is necessary for a noble defence. Love says I forgive you when you err. Love says though life may test me I am yours into eternity and I will never abandon you. It means I will never put you in danger no matter how noble the "cause" may be. Love means protecting the earth, protecting humanity, being kind to animals, but should anyone demand your life to save their own I will tell them to rot in hell. There can never be a higher calling to me than protecting and caring for those I love. Love is not a concept for sheep, for sheep run at the first sign of fear; it is a concept for lions, so be brave my love and know that I am here.

Nyla Rivers wanted someone to utter these 3 magical words to her. She really needs someone to hold on to. She spent days thinking about her first love, first kiss, first touch everything. She wants to experience that.

Nyla doesn't even know she's dreaming about love right now, maybe because she's deprived of it. Sighing, she looked outside her window. The sky looks dull, alike her and it looks like it's going to rain.

'A cup of hot chocolate would be perfect in this climate' she thought.

Hot chocolate is her favorite drink.

Slowly her thoughts drifting back to café where she met the handsome yet rude stranger.

'I should've given him a hug, so that his anger would've lessen a bit' she thought and pouted.

'No, no...Mr. Rudie doesn't deserve it. Hmph!! '

But something about him seems very suspicious to Nyla. Like she knew this man all her life. It's very strange. And there is something about him, some kind of pull towards him which she can't point out.

'Why do I feel like I know him?' she asked herself.

Her mood is still sour because of the incident that took place at the café .

She doesn't even know why her heart aches at the thought of him avoiding her or not acknowledging her. Strange.

'Stupid heart. Stop' She reminded herself.

Nyla always felt a void inside her but the moment her eyes met Jace's it felt magical, she felt complete.

She closed her eyes to get rid of such absurd thoughts.

Here come the drops steady and soft, falling from a sky of white velvet. They come altogether and yet as pioneers.

Just like that the rain started to pour. Nyla loves Rain. It's a perfect distraction.

Rain falls like God's own poetry; each drop is a single letter in a song that takes eons to sing. It has always been music, always called to me in ways I cannot explain. When the patter of the drops tumbles from grey skies the melody brings serenity no matter the chaos in life. Rain. Blessed rain.

Nyla's POV :

Each drop sits on my skin like a puddle that will never leave, perfectly formed, perfectly cold. I feel the water steal my body heat just a tiny bit at a time. Perhaps once I would have sort shelter or warmth - but no longer. I have become accustomed to the elements, to the wind and chill. There is a coziness in my suffering, as if life has and will always be this way. There is comfort in predictability.

I wonder though, what if the sun broke through? What if each drop sparkled with light? What then? Would the warmth seep through and bring a new reality? Would I shake off this rain as easily as a cat after a storm? Because... I think I'd like that. I'd like that a lot.

The rain brings a richness to each hue, the browns deepen in a way that soothes my heart, brings a steadiness to my soul. The grass becomes glossy, reflecting the light, a new bright shine to their wands, softly waving in the breeze. This rain brings a freshness, each drop a heaven-given gift for each part of creation. I raise up my hand, tilt my face toward the sky, feeling water and sunshine together. As I do, a song stirs within, one that feels as if it means "thank you" and "love" all at once. Perhaps this is joy, a happiness that feels pure.

If the rain is one drop it is millions, cascading from a confident sky. It is the sort of weather that washes everything anew, bringing deep puddles into which children splash. And in that happy congregation of water and air, is the sense of being alive, that from such beautiful simplicity comes everything we love, the flora, the fauna, the very essence of nature.

Nature is everything. It holds a power which can calm even a ferocious beast.

Dancing in the rain is the best feeling in the world, forgetting all the problems and dance like there is no tomorrow is the best.

"Nyla"

I turned around towards the voice.

There stood my dad in the doorstep of their home, with a cup of hot chocolate smiling at me.

What did I do to deserve him? I smiled back at him.

(Back to Jace and Harry)

Jace POV :

Driving in rain is my soul massage; from the sound of each water-car connection, to the world that has become impressionist art, I am at peace.

' Nyla must be enjoying and going crazy'

I can't help but giggle at the thought her going crazy because of the rain.

"Jace, snap out of your thoughts and attend the call dude " a sleepy whiny Harry muttered.

Shit, for how was it ringing, sliding the green button I spoke,

"Hello"

"Sir, we found the witness present at your parent's death " ***