The divine guardian who was retreating silently suddenly stood motionless, its towering figure half-shrouded in vapor, the great mane of frost surrounding its head flickering faintly like the last remnants of a dying star. For a long moment, it said nothing, only watching the small Ice Belle resting peacefully in Lucas's hands. Its massive eyes, once brimming with fury and divinity, softened into something solemn...something almost tender.

Finally, the guardian spoke, its voice deep and resonant, echoing across the frozen expanse like a hymn carried by the wind. It turned its gaze fully upon Lucas, and for the first time, the weight of its divine power felt gentle rather than crushing. "Human child," it said, "what you carry now is not a mere companion, nor a weapon, nor a token of pride. She is life itself...the last heir of an ancient lineage. Treat her with reverence, nurture her spirit, and she will awaken into her true self."

Lucas bowed his head instinctively, his breath misting in the cold air. "I will," he said quietly, though his voice trembled slightly from awe. "I promise, I'll protect her."

The guardian regarded him for a moment longer, its gaze unreadable, then slowly began to step back. With each stride, the earth beneath it froze solid, leaving trails of crystalline frost that glittered faintly. When it was several paces away, its form began to waver, blurring into a haze of light and snow. Still, its voice carried through the air, steady and resonant.

"If there comes a time when you are lost," it said, "or when the light falters and the shadows rise to swallow your path...call upon me. The frost remembers those who walk with the chosen."

Lucas nodded quickly, pressing the small Ice Belle gently against his chest as if to shield her from the wind. "Thank you," he said earnestly. "I'll remember that."

The guardian inclined its head once, its towering form now little more than a shape of light fading into the mist. "Then go, bearer of the bond. Protect her well. For her fate… and yours… are now bound by the same thread."

With those final words, the great being dissolved into the fog, leaving behind only silence and the faint whisper of the wind brushing through the ice-crusted stones.

For a few moments, no one spoke. The cold air was still heavy with awe, and Lucas found himself gazing down at the creature nestled in his hands. The Ice Belle blinked up at him with wide, crystalline eyes, her tiny body now warm despite her element. When he brushed his thumb gently along her head, she let out a soft hum, leaning into his touch like a child craving affection. Her fur shimmered faintly with every breath she took, releasing trails of light that hung in the air like snowflakes suspended in time.

"She's… beautiful," Lucas murmured, his voice filled with wonder.

The Empress, standing a few steps away, folded her arms lightly and tilted her head, her veil stirring in the wind. "Indeed," she said softly. "Beautiful and far more dangerous than you can imagine."

Lucas looked up at her, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "Dangerous? She doesn't seem like it. She's so gentle."

A faint smile touched the Empress's lips, though her eyes were serious. "That gentleness you see now is only a fraction of what she is. Do not forget what you witnessed moments ago. The being that could freeze the souls of Sages in an instant and split the heavens with her cry is the same one you now cradle in your hands." She stepped closer, her voice quiet but firm. "The Ice Belle may appear innocent, but she carries the soul of a divine being. Her destiny will shape the balance between light and shadow in ways neither you nor I can yet see."

Lucas glanced down again, watching the creature curl comfortably in his palm, her tiny breath leaving faint wisps of frost that melted against his skin. He smiled faintly, unable to help himself. "Then I guess it's a good thing she chose me," he said softly.

The Empress's gaze lingered on him, unreadable for a moment. "It is not by chance," she replied. "The heavens seldom act without reason. The energy within you, the one that binds instead of commands, is unlike anything I've ever encountered. She sensed it too. To her, you are both strange and familiar...an anchor she can trust."

Lucas listened quietly, the weight of her words settling deep within him. He looked at the small Ice Belle again, who had now fallen asleep, her tiny wings folding like petals around her. Something stirred in his chest...an emotion he couldn't quite name. Responsibility, awe, perhaps even affection. Whatever it was, it rooted itself firmly within him.

The Empress watched him in silence for a long while. The cold wind brushed against her veil, revealing a faint, knowing smile. Finally, she spoke again, her tone solemn and clear.

"Xavier," she said softly, "the Ice Belle is more than a companion. She will be instrumental in the days to come. When the darkness rises...you will need her strength. Nurture her well, guide her, and learn from her....she will be our greatest shield against what lies ahead."

Lucas stared down at the little Ice Belle sleeping peacefully in his hands, her soft glow pulsing faintly like a heartbeat made of light.

He could still feel the faint warmth of the guardian's words lingering in his chest, yet the deeper he thought, the heavier it became. He looked at the tiny creature...so pure, so innocent...and a whisper escaped his lips, barely audible over the wind. "We'll have to help her grow… quickly." His gaze drifted toward the endless mountains stretching beyond the mist, and his expression hardened. "Because the rot is spreading faster than anyone imagined."

The Empress, standing beside him, turned slightly at his words. Her eyes, calm and cold beneath the veil, seemed to carry the same weight. "You are not wrong," she said quietly. "The corruption is no longer hiding in shadows. It spreads through the kingdoms and empires like fire." She looked up toward the distant peaks, where the faint crimson hue of a dying sunset flickered through the clouds. "If the Ice Belle does not awaken soon… not even the most powerful courts will be able to hold the darkness back."

Lucas nodded, his jaw tightening. He could feel it too...an invisible pressure in the air, a slow decay that gnawed at the edges of life itself. He had seen traces of it in towns and cities, the blackened earth, the lifeless forests, the dull eyes of people who once had hope. "Then we can't waste time," he said softly. "She's still so fragile, but she's our only chance."