When only she and Echo remained with the Iron Dragonfly, Celeste began her plan. She did not hunt for the most precious Essences, but sought the most suitable Essences to empower Kai.
· Step 1: Hunt for "Endurance"
Celeste went to a dark corner of the cargo hold, where the Cables were recovering on their own after their efforts. Using her Sensory Glove, she gently touched them. A feeling of perseverance and tenacity - the effort to reconnect even after being severed - spread through her. She used a small, hollow Prism Capsule to collect a bit of this essence. It was brass-colored and felt solid to the touch.
· Step 2: Gather a Ray of Hope.
Next, she went to the "Stargazing Nook". There, a few small Stardust Wisps she kept as pets were whispering. They are creatures of light and joy. Celeste whispered to them, and the Wisps happily donated a few grains of sparkling stardust. Touching them brought a feeling of warmth and optimism. She stored them in a small glass vial, where they glowed brightly.
· Step 3: And most importantly, "Courage".
This was the most difficult step. Courage is not found in safety, but often emerges from challenges. Celeste recalled the moment Ember was most courageous: facing the flame to protect her. She went to the lounge, where an ancient Dreamweaver was sleeping. Its dreams sometimes contained powerful memories.
Celeste placed her hand on it, focusing on the image of a brave Ember. A wave of hot emotion, gentle yet overflowing with fierceness, spread out. This was the essence of courage. She collected a fragment of orange-red essence that seemed to be in constant motion.
With the three precious Essences in hand, Celeste returned to Kai's Essence Prism. She placed it in the center, arranging the three other essences around it in a circle.
"Now, let's help him together," Celeste whispered to Echo, who had created a faint image to observe.
She closed her eyes, pouring all her concentration into it. Her white hair began to glow. She did not "force" the Essences; instead, she requested they connect and share their strength. Bit by bit, rays of light from the three supporting Essences emanated, like golden threads, swirling around Kai's dim, foggy prism.
· Resilience (brass) coated it with a protective layer.
· The Ray of Hope (soft light) seeped inside, brightening the orange flame.
· Courage (orange-red) flew into the center like warm blood, causing the entire prism to vibrate and emit warm vapor.
When the ritual ended, Celeste opened her eyes, exhausted. But the result made her smile. Kai's Essence was now significantly brighter, the orange flame burned larger and more steadily, surrounded by a small, multicolored halo.
Back on Earth, Kai was in a dangerous situation. He had accidentally startled a young Ravener while searching for food. Before, he would have run away.
But this time, something strange happened. A wave of warmth spread through his chest, dispelling the paralyzing fear. No voice sounded in his head, but a strong instinct: "Hold your ground. It is scared too. Show strength."
Changed, Kai stood his ground, his posture becoming full of confidence. His fierce stare caused the young monster to hesitate and then retreat. Kai quickly withdrew to safety.
His heart pounded, not from fear, but from excitement. For the first time, he felt he was no longer a victim. He had survived using his own strength and courage.
On the ship, Celeste sensed everything through the Essence. She cried out with joy upon seeing the orange flame flare with brilliant light, and a new streak, the yellow of confidence, appear on the prism.
"I did it! Echo, did you see? He was amazing!" She hugged the prism and danced around.
Echo manifested a bit more clearly, emitting happy, chirping sounds like a bird sharing her happiness.
Celeste knew this was just the beginning. But she had found a way to help her distant friend. She would continue to be a silent "gardener," nurturing that seed of strength until the day they truly met.
End of Chapter.
Celeste's experiment was an initial success, laying the foundation for Kai's inner growth and opening new possibilities for the story.