Observing the traces of Anemo element in the air, Coppelia no longer hesitated. She raised her hand, palm up, and manipulated a gentle stream of air, carrying Columbina's song with it, blowing it toward the faint, pale-green bands of light high above.
This first attempt failed; due to insufficient height, the airflow couldn't reach its target.
She temporarily withdrew her power and focused more intently, mobilizing the energy being released around her body along with Columbina's song. Converting it into more Anemo elemental energy, she once again sent a wisp of wind toward the sky.
Under Elemental Sight, the color of that pale-green band of light grew deeper and deeper, and its altitude steadily decreased.
The cyan light gradually condensed and contracted, growing brighter and brighter, until it finally became a distinct point of cyan light that slowly descended from the sky toward the ground.
Coppelia deactivated her Elemental Sight. The pitch-black night sky, the dancing bonfire, the quiet crowd, the small animals listening in the distance... all the various colors returned to her eyes.
In the spot where the cyan light had been, a tiny creature emitting a soft, bluish-white halo now appeared, spiraling downward.
The small creature resembled a teru teru bōzu with a black face, its body adorned with cyan stripes, and several wings that graded from white to cyan on its back.
A Wind Sprite!
It seemed completely mesmerized by Columbina's song, dancing lightly around the center of the music. It stirred the surrounding Anemo elemental energy, kicking up gusts of soft, pleasant breeze.
The wind brushed past the animal hides of the tents, swept over the branches, and passed through the gaps in the crowd.
The sound of the wind was not chaotic; instead, it rose and fell with a rich rhythm, cleverly weaving itself into a simple, pleasant melody that became a natural accompaniment to Columbina's song!
In this symphony of song and wind, the weariness on people's faces seemed to be swept away by the breeze. Some unconsciously began to nod their heads to the rhythm, tapping their feet to the beat.
Children nestled in the arms of adults, their eyes watching the dancing Wind Sprite and the small animals in the distance. Even those timid little creatures let down their guard in the pleasant atmosphere, some curling up, others hopping lightly on branches, or sweeping the snow with the tips of their tails.
The song, the wind, the tranquil snowfield, the glowing sprite, the listening crowd and animals... all painted a harmonious scene that one could only see in a dream.
Gunnhildr stood up straight, her gaze fixed intently on the tiny wind spirit.
...
The symphony of wind and song continued. The people, immersed in this rare, harmonious sight, almost forgot the harsh reality of their surroundings.
Coppelia, however, was not completely captivated. Her calm gaze swept across the crowd.
Everyone seemed to have forgotten a key part of the plan.
She began to move stealthily, like a fish gliding through water, drawing close to a few people nearby and reminding them in a low voice:
"Pray. Pray to it, quickly. As we said before, any wind sprite could be an incarnation of the 'Lord of Wind'!"
Those who received the message were stunned for a moment, then realization dawned. They immediately turned and passed the message on to the person next to them in a whisper.
One told ten, and ten told a hundred. Gradually, those in the crowd who had been nodding and tapping their feet to the rhythm stopped.
They wiped the rapturous expressions from their faces. Clasping their hands before their chests or raising them slightly with palms up, they focused their gazes on the small, cyan sprite circling in the air, their lips moving silently as they murmured heartfelt prayers and pleas.
Gunnhildr stood at the front of the crowd, her attention highly concentrated, fixed entirely on the Wind Sprite. She leaned forward slightly, not missing a single one of its minute movements.
With its ability to control the wind, this Wind Sprite was more than capable of sheltering this band of refugees, if only it was willing to offer its protection.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. She had to seize any possible moment to communicate with it and could not afford to miss it through carelessness.
A few minutes later, Columbina's song began to fade rapidly. The wind's accompaniment also weakened, no longer as clear or powerful.
Finally, Columbina's song came to an abrupt halt. She stopped, panting slightly.
In the air, the little Wind Sprite also stopped its windy accompaniment, but it didn't leave right away. Instead, with a curious air, it circled lightly around the now-silent Columbina, its small eyes filled with confusion, as if searching for something precious that had just been there but had now suddenly vanished.
Now! Seizing the opportunity, Gunnhildr immediately stepped forward, preparing to open negotiations with the Wind Sprite.
The crowd parted tacitly to either side, clearing a path for her.
However, just as Gunnhildr was about to speak, Columbina, who was standing there, suddenly swayed.
The girl who had just been singing with abandon now raised a hand to her forehead. Her brow was tightly furrowed, and the color drained from her face.
"Columbina?" Coppelia, who had been watching closely, immediately rushed forward, reaching out to support the girl.
But she was a step too late. Columbina lost consciousness and her body fell backward.
Coppelia dashed forward and, before Columbina could hit the ground, caught her by looping an arm around her back and under her knees, lifting her up.
This sudden turn of events startled Gunnhildr, and the words she was about to say caught in her throat.
But she quickly recovered. Seeing that Coppelia had caught Columbina, she immediately ordered the people nearby: "Quick! Help carry Miss Columbina back to her tent to rest!"
At the same time, the Wind Sprite in the air became unusually agitated upon seeing Columbina fall.
It stopped its leisurely circling, the light around it flickering. It ignored the approaching Gunnhildr and transformed into a streak of cyan light, swiftly chasing after the departing Columbina. It followed alongside Coppelia, flying anxiously around the unconscious girl.
Seeing the Wind Sprite's attention was completely captivated by Columbina and that it had no intention of negotiating, Gunnhildr could only suppress her urgency and hurry after them.
Coppelia carried Columbina back to their small tent and gently laid her down on a pallet made of thick straw and animal hides.
As soon as her body was laid flat, Columbina's weak, hoarse voice sounded out: "My throat... hurts a little... I'm so dizzy... and so hungry..."
A woman standing guard at the tent's entrance immediately replied, "I'll go get something to eat right away!"
Coppelia added, "Please prepare some food that won't irritate her throat." Her gaze was fixed on Columbina's pale face.
Just then, Gunnhildr also arrived outside the tent, having followed the Wind Sprite.
She first gestured to the crowd that had gathered around the tent upon hearing the commotion, saying in a low voice, "It's alright. With Miss Coppelia taking care of her, Miss Columbina will be fine soon. Everyone, please disperse. Don't disturb their rest."
Though worried, the crowd slowly dispersed as instructed.
Only then did Gunnhildr bend down and enter the tent. She first glanced quickly at Columbina's condition; though weak, she was conscious, which brought a small sigh of relief.
Immediately after, her eyes began to search the small tent.
However, the Wind Sprite that had clearly followed them in was now nowhere to be found!
___
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