CHAPTER 294: PROUD BELLE

The room had grown quiet again after Lucas had spoken, the firelight flickering against the smooth stone walls and filling the chamber with a warm glow. Lira sat a little closer to him, her hand resting gently on the edge of his blanket, while Nyx and Selene settled near the foot of the bed. Henrietta had taken a chair close by, her posture straight but her eyes soft with concern.

Lucas looked from one face to another, his voice still faint but touched with curiosity. "I remember fragments...the battle at the Lechian pass, the collapse, and then darkness. Everything else feels... like pieces of a dream. What happened after that?"

The three women exchanged glances, for a moment, it seemed none of them wished to speak first. Then Lira sighed softly and began, her tone low but steady. "It wasn’t easy, Master. After you fell into the coma, we didn’t know if you’d survive."

Selene leaned forward, her eyes reflecting the glow of the fire. "Everything was dark down there. We couldn’t tell where the sky ended or the earth began. The air was thick with corruption.... it stung when you breathed, and even our Qi circulation felt sluggish. For days, we walked without knowing if we were heading deeper or closer to escape."

Nyx nodded solemnly. "We almost lost hope more than once. There was no food and water. One time, the dark sky above the abyss lit up with blue fire...we thought it was the end. That’s when we realized something was hunting us."

Henrietta frowned slightly, leaning forward. "Something? What kind of creature could survive down there?"

Nyx gave a short, humorless laugh. "Not something we’d ever seen before ... a celestial shadow dragon. Its body was shrouded in mist darker than night itself. When it breathed, the flames were blue and hot enough to burn the very air. We thought we were finished."

Lira’s gaze shifted to the small creature perched quietly on Lucas’s shoulder. The Ice Belle, sensing the attention, blinked its bright eyes and tilted its head as if understanding what was being said. "That was when she changed," Lira continued softly. "The corruption in the abyss was strong, strong enough to twist any spirit or beast into something unnatural. But instead of being tainted, she transformed. Her body began to shine with a divine light ... pure, cold, and blinding. It was... beautiful and terrifying at the same time."

Selene took up the story then, her voice carrying a note of awe. "She flew straight into the path of the dragon’s blue flame. The rest of us could barely see through the glare, but her light cut through the fire like it was nothing. They clashed in the middle of the abyss.... the divine light against the dragon’s cursed flame. The shockwave from their battle tore the ground apart. We had to hold the others down so they wouldn’t be thrown into the chasm."

"The dragon was powerful," Nyx added quietly. "It roared so loud the abyss itself trembled. But the Ice Belle wouldn’t back down. She was fighting for you, Xavier ... we all knew it. We saw as the dragon screamed as her light blinded its left eye. She defeated a celestial shadow dragon in it’s domain."

Lucas listened without interrupting, his eyes following the Ice Belle as she floated a little higher, her tiny wings shimmering faintly in the light. He could hardly imagine the small creature before him standing against something as terrifying as a celestial shadow dragon, but he didn’t doubt a single word. There was power within her ... a purity unlike anything he had ever felt before.

Henrietta was the first to speak after the story fell into silence. "So it was her... this little spirit saved you all."

Lira smiled faintly and reached out to stroke the creature’s head. "She did. Without her, we wouldn’t have survived the abyss. Her light pushed back the corruption, and her power kept us alive long enough to reach the edge."

Lucas exhaled slowly, the weight of their words sinking into him. He reached up and gently touched the Ice Belle, who chirped and leaned into his hand. "I owe her more than I can ever repay," he said quietly. "And I owe all of you just as much."

Lira shook her head. "No, Master. We all owe each other. We only made it through because we refused to give up on one another."

The Ice Belle, now perched proudly on Lucas’s shoulder, gave a soft, melodic trill that almost sounded like laughter. Her tiny crystalline wings fluttered, scattering faint frost motes through the air that shimmered in the firelight. Selene noticed it immediately and frowned, though there was no real anger in her eyes...just that playful exasperation that often surfaced whenever the spirit decided to single her out.

"Oh no," Selene said, narrowing her eyes at the little creature. "Don’t you start acting smug now, you little frost menace. I know that look."

The Ice Belle tilted her head, feigning innocence for a heartbeat before puffing out her cheeks and spreading her wings wide as if to say she was the most important being in the room. She gave another chiming sound, almost as if mocking Selene’s scolding tone, then floated up and circled Lucas’s head once before settling right back where she had been...smirking, or at least the closest thing to a smirk a spirit could manage.

Lira laughed softly, her eyes lighting up with amusement. "She’s been waiting for this moment. I think she’s enjoying your reaction, Selene."

"She always does," Selene sighed dramatically, though the faint curve of a smile betrayed her. "Every time I tell her not to eat my food or freeze my drink, she just stares at me like I’m the unreasonable one."

Nyx chuckled from where she sat cross-legged near the end of the bed. "Maybe she just likes you more than you think. You should see the way she behaves when you’re not around. She doesn’t tease anyone half as much."

Selene crossed her arms, pretending not to be swayed. "If that’s her way of showing affection, then I’d hate to see how she treats someone she dislikes."

The Ice Belle gave an indignant chirp, her tiny hands on her hips as if defending her pride. A light frost suddenly gathered on the edge of Selene’s hair, forming little sparkling crystals before melting away harmlessly. Selene blinked, her lips parting in disbelief as the others burst into laughter.

Henrietta smiled softly, shaking her head. "She really has your temperament, Xavier."

Lucas chuckled, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "I think she’s worse. At least I don’t freeze people to make a point."

The Ice Belle turned to him, made a tiny sound of protest, and patted his cheek with her frosty hand as if scolding him for the accusation. Then she floated toward Selene again, her translucent body glowing faintly gold for a second, and tapped Selene’s forehead gently. The touch left behind a faint cool sensation, not cold but soothing.

Selene blinked, surprised by the sudden gentleness. "What was that supposed to mean?"

Lira smiled knowingly. "That’s her way of saying sorry."

Selene gave a soft sigh, pretending to look away so the Ice Belle wouldn’t see her smile. "Fine," she murmured. "Apology accepted. But if you ever steal my food again, we’re going to have words."

The Ice Belle responded by crossing her arms, lifting her chin, and then turning away with a haughty little "hmph."

Nyx burst into laughter, almost falling over. "Oh, Selene, she’s completely won this round."

Lucas watched the exchange, warmth spreading across his face. For a moment, the exhaustion and the lingering pain of the coma seemed far away. He reached up and brushed the air near the Ice Belle gently, his tone soft and sincere. "She’s happy now. I think she’s proud too. She deserves to be."

The Ice Belle turned at his words, her small expression softening. She perched back on his shoulder and rested her head against his neck, her frosty aura mellow and calm once more. The room settled into quiet laughter and soft smiles.