A heavy silence lingered after the spirit's proclamation. "The flow... is toward him."
Lux stood still, heart pounding in his small chest, unsure whether to step back or forward. No one moved, as though time itself had paused in reverence—or fear. The wind, which had howled moments ago, now hung still like held breath.
The summoning circle beneath Aeris glowed brighter with each passing second. Not violent now, but charged—as if waiting. As if listening.
Then, without warning, the light shifted.
From the pulsing center of the runes, a shape emerged. Not a beast, not a guardian, but a creature of pure radiance. It soared upward, wings spread wide, trailing ribbons of aurora-colored light. Feathers made of shimmering mist, eyes that held starlight.
A bird. Majestic. Ancient. Impossible.
It circled once in the air, silent and elegant, before turning.
And it flew straight toward Lux.
He barely had time to gasp before the creature passed through him—not piercing, not burning, but entering like light melting into shadow.
For one breathless moment, the world went still.
Then a whisper echoed in his mind, so faint no one else heard it:
"So you are the being he was talking about."
And then it was gone.
Lux staggered, a sudden heat blooming in his chest. Not painful—just… strange. Like being branded by moonlight. He clutched at the spot beneath his collar, blinking rapidly.
Who was 'he'? Why me? What am I being pulled into?
The spirit deer—the Hydra—lowered its head. "It is gone. Whatever it was… has passed."
A wave of quiet relief washed through the glade. The oppressive energy lifted like fog burned off by the sun.
Miriel was at Lux's side in a heartbeat. "Are you alright?"
He hesitated. "Something… strange in my chest."
She gently checked him over. Her fingers paused on his skin, lips parting in silent surprise. Her fingers lingered longer than needed. She said nothing, but her gaze followed Lux even after she turned back to Aeris.
Ronan leaned in but didn't speak. Even Aeris stood still, eyes locked on her brother.
The Hydra spirit watched silently, its watery form slowly dissolving into soft vapor. It offered no more warnings.
Miriel exhaled slowly and turned to her daughter. "It's alright now. Do you want to continue?"
Aeris blinked. "I… yes."
She stepped cautiously back into the circle. The runes glowed again, but this time, they hummed gently—obedient, calm.
A soft mist gathered. Crystals of frost spun in the air, forming delicate spirals.
From that swirl, a small spirit emerged—blue and silver, no larger than a child's head. It was a Frost Owlet, a tiny round owl with feathers like shards of snow and soft, watchful eyes.
It floated toward Aeris, brushed her hand with a glow of acknowledgment, and settled gently on her shoulder.
A spirit of ice.
She laughed, breath catching. "It's… beautiful."
Miriel smiled faintly. "You did well. What will you name her?"
Aeris gently stroked Crystal's feathers, eyes wide with disbelief. "I did it…" she whispered, almost afraid to believe it. Then, beaming, she declared, "Crystal."
Later, as the family rode home beneath quiet skies, none of them spoke of what had happened before the ice spirit appeared.
Ronan's brows were furrowed in thought.
Aeris kept sneaking glances at Lux.
And Lux sat with one hand on his chest, silent, thoughtful.
The bird of light. The voice. The heat.
He didn't understand it. But something had changed.
He hadn't come here expecting anything.
Yet something had come for him.
He wasn't sure if the light had chosen him… or simply found him first.