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With the whispers of life beginning to stir in Aethel's depths, Aris turned his attention to the planet's most dynamic force: water. Not just the static oceans he had filled, but the grand, cyclical movement that would shape land, nourish life, and sculpt the very atmosphere. This wasn't merely about rainfall; it was about orchestrating a cosmic ballet of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.
"Alright," Aris resonated, focusing his awareness on the vast liquid expanses. "Time to make it rain! But, like, *beautiful* rain, not the kind that ruins picnics. We want gentle showers, majestic deluges, and the kind of mist that makes mountains look mysterious. I wonder if the Kalas are pleased with the elegance of this cycle."
He accessed the Genesis System's hydrological controls, a complex system that allowed him to choreograph the planet's water cycle with astonishing precision. He could manipulate surface evaporation rates, influence cloud formation, and even direct wind currents to guide moisture across continents.
He started with the basics, encouraging vast amounts of water to evaporate from the oceans, forming colossal, white clouds in the upper atmosphere. He then gently nudged these clouds with planetary winds, guiding them over the nascent landmasses.
"Okay, evaporation here," Aris thought, feeling the upward pull of moisture. "Condensation there… now, let's make it rain over that new mountain range. We need some erosion to carve out those valleys, after all."
The first rains on Aethel were a profound experience for Aris. He felt every drop as it fell, the way it pattered on the forming crust, nourishing the barren rock. He witnessed the birth of the first streams, trickling down the slopes of his newly formed mountains, gradually carving out channels that would become mighty rivers.
"It's like a cosmic watering can," Aris mused, watching the water flow. "And now for the grand finale: a majestic river system. Winding through plains, cascading over cliffs… and definitely no floods that wash away my delicate little microbe experiments. Balance is key."
He meticulously designed river networks, ensuring they would flow from high elevations to the oceans, carrying nutrients and shaping the landscape. He created vast freshwater lakes, fed by glacial melt (from the higher peaks he was already planning) and consistent rainfall, forming crucial reservoirs.
The System provided intricate simulations, showing how different rainfall patterns would affect erosion, soil formation, and eventually, plant growth. Aris learned to avoid extremes, ensuring that precipitation was balanced and consistent, avoiding prolonged droughts or devastating floods.
"Gotta keep things running smoothly," Aris reasoned, fine-tuning the atmospheric moisture levels. "A well-regulated water cycle means a thriving ecosystem. And a thriving ecosystem means a happy planet. Which means a happy me! And hopefully, a pleased set of cosmic architects who appreciate a good hydrological ballet."
As he orchestrated the flow of water, Aris felt Aethel truly begin to breathe. The atmosphere circulated, the clouds gathered, the rain fell, and the rivers flowed, each element inextricably linked, a seamless, life-giving dance. It was a cycle of constant renewal, a testament to the elegant processes that underpinned existence.
The vision of his temple, too, integrated with this new understanding. He imagined waterfalls cascading down its mountain-sculpted *gopurams*, sacred rivers flowing through its crystalline *mandapas*, and deep, reflecting pools mirroring the ever-changing sky. Water, the very essence of life, would be a central element of his cosmic tribute.
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