Sunrise was upon us, and we weren't going to make it to the nearest town before having the dubious pleasure of enjoying the sin-burning heat of the desert.
Rin wasn't impressed.
-"You are making a mountain from an anthill. Come here, you uncultured brute, let me place some cooling sigils upon you."
My mind pondered over why dad didn't use those because he wasn't a magical cripple like yours truly. Aaanyways, I kept my trap shut and she was done in a few minutes.
When the ruthless sun started to hit on us, we endured quite well.
An hour or so into our Roasted Chicken Experience, I saw that Rin was starting to grimace.
-"The constant strain of having to keep up this Isaz is heating my circuits."
Ahhhh...that's why.
Her brow was wet with sweat and if we didn't find water soon, I would become a widower before even being married!
Think!...and there isn't a frigging tree to dig!
To top it off, since we were on the run, we couldn't wait a whole day for a slow solar water still.
-"Shiiiiriiuuu...give me some foooddd...at least I won't staaaaarve..."
I had to swat aside her hands from the backpack.
-"Don't. Eat."
I passed my arm around her and helped her walk. Her body was feverish across her circuits.
"Digesting food consumes water."
To add insult to injury, the waves of heat rising from the ground made it look like there was a pool in front of us...taunting us...
Her breath was becoming erratic, I feared for a heatstroke.
-"Too much heeeat...and I can't sink it... it's buuuuurning meeee...make it stooooop..."
We couldn't even drink our pee because it was far too concentrated, and we lacked proper filters. I knew the town was just a bit further...we ..we...
Wait.
Pool?
I looked at Rin.
Excess heat?
I grabbed Rin from both shoulders and looked at her really looked at her.
-"Rin, can you do some Formalcraft to transfer your excess heat to a marked stone?"
She was delirious, but Rin was Rin.
-"You sssstoopid, thatswquestionsssstoopid. Of coursheican."
I opened the empty bottle and sliced it in two.
-"Pee here."
She was far too tired to be a proper lady, and her colourful refusal painted a new facet of my betrothed.
I had no inclination to waste saliva trying to argue.
Pool.
I projected a kiddie pool. While large in size, it was awfully simple, the material was thin, waterproof and while complex and heavy stuff demanded more of me, this was child's play.
Heh...
Well...time to kill pride.
As the saying goes, pride kills, so shoot it first.
I took out my gun and poured the strong-smelling liquid into the sliced bottle. I placed it in the pool and took some large rocks.
-"Tell me, which rune do you need?"
I took out my knife and started carving an incorrect rune, because maybe OCD would do what I couldn't.
She slapped the knife from my hands.
-"Dohlt! Shoy are messhing it, shtep ashide."
She marked several stones and we placed them inside the dark brown liquid. I placed the other half of the bottle in the middle.
Now, projecting a thin plastic cover aaand voila!.
-"Discharge your heat into them."
She closed her eyes in concentration and the sound of sizzling water reached our ears. Rin was able to breathe easier now.
After a few minutes, the cover was all fogged up. Removing it and slowly shaking it, all those precious droplets could reach the bottom as well. Every 'lil bit helped.
Word of advice, boiled pee STINKS!
I took the now purified water and drank half of it.
-"Rin, I offer you my purified pee in a gesture of love."
She eyed me and with a reticent hand, reached for the bottle.
-"It...doesn't stink?"
Eyeing it for some trickery, she sipped it.
"Your Emiya Vintage needs to work a bit on the presentation."
I eyed her crossly.
-"If you don't want, I can drink it."
She chugged it, survival instincts overpowering any leftover resistance.
-"That hits the spot. Got more?"
I eyed her clothes, which were damp.
-"Take off your clothes and squeeze them over the other half of the bottle. Pee too."
I turned around and granted her a modicum of privacy.
Taking my much-abused notebook, I added.
Learn to project a Root be damned PHONE.
The sound of liquid grabbed my attention, making me very aware of just what it meant. I heard steps and she entered my field of vision. There were still some droplets of sheen on her temple. I took a bit of cloth and proceeded to absorb those as well to add them to the bottle too.
Rin captured my hand and stared into my eyes.
-"Not a word about this to anyone."
Then she gave me a quick peck. Dried out lips and all, it stole my breath away.
"You didn't need to turn around, yet the sentiment is appreciated."
