The Lake of Miracles, in its frozen state, had been a haunting yet captivating sight when Vastarael first arrived during the First Epoch Cycle.
Back then, its surface was a sprawling sheet of glittering ice with sharp, crystalline formations. The lake, though magnificent, was lifeless and ominous.
Now, as Vastarael and Phaenora reached the lake after hours of relentless running, it was an entirely different scene.
The late afternoon sun cast rays across the water, which shimmered with an ethereal glow. The lake wasn't particularly large—perhaps a few hundred meters in diameter—but its beauty was unparalleled.
The crystal-clear water reflected the green hills around it, creating the illusion of a mirror on the earth. Small ripples moved across the surface. At the lake's center, a single massive and radiant white pearl, floated just above the water. It pulsed with an inner glow, its luminescence akin to moonlight captured and condensed into a perfect sphere.
Vastarael and Phaenora staggered to the shores, utterly drained. The long journey had pushed them to their limits and their reserves of essence were spent. Vastarael slumped against a nearby boulder, his breaths coming in gasps as he leaned his head back, closing his golden eyes.
"Next time," he groaned, his voice barely above a whisper, "we walk. No more sprinting halfway across an island. Why did you have to be connected to my energy?"
Phaenora flopped onto the grass beside him, equally exhausted, her words muffled by the crook of her arm.
"Fine by me. I'm not made for this at all. I miss my incorporeal form. At least I couldn't get tired..."
Despite her complaints, Phaenora reached out with her connection to Vastarael, tapping into his immense reservoir of essence. It flowed into her like a gentle river, easing the ache in her muscles.
"Thanks for the refill."
"Don't thank me," Vastarael replied, his tone flat. "Thank Omniphage for keeping me from keeling over. It's absorbing essence from the atmosphere right now. If it didn't, I'd probably be a dried-up husk."
Phaenora opened one eye to smirk at him.
"What, no witty comeback? You really are tired."
Ever since Phaenora gained a physical body, she was sharing Vastarael's energy levels. She didn't have a pseudo core of her own and instead, relied on Vastarael's energy. She couldn't use Omniphage on herself. She didn't have a pseudo core anyway.
Phaenora was completely relient on Vastarael's energy.
As the two began to regain their strength, a low, unsettling chittering noise reached their ears. Vastarael's head snapped up, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the area. Phaenora pushed herself into a sitting position.
Creeping toward the lake's shore, they peeked over the edge of the boulder. Their blood ran cold.
They saw Krepsunas were unlike anything they had seen before. They were grotesque arthropods that seemed like nightmares made flesh. Each one stood nearly two meters tall, their segmented bodies covered in an exoskeleton armor that glistened like oil in the fading sunlight.
Their eight legs, sharp as scythes, clicked against the rocks as they moved in erratic, jerky motions. Their heads were the stuff of horror: bulbous and featureless except for rows of mandibles that twitched and snapped hungrily.
It reminded Vastarael of the head of the Lava Louse he fought during the academy evaluation but ten times more powerful.
The horde numbered in the dozens, perhaps more. They scuttled and swarmed around the lake, their focus entirely on the massive white pearl hovering at its center. Every so often, one of them would release a shrill, keening sound, and the others would respond in kind, creating alien noises that made Vastarael's skin crawl.
Vastarael's gaze locked onto the pearl and he immediately felt its power. The artifact radiated an energy that was ancient and potent, unlike anything he had encountered before. Phaenora noticed it too.
"That's not just a pearl," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "It's an artifact. A very powerful one."
Vastarael nodded, his expression grim.
"That explains the Krepsunas. They're drawn to it, probably feeding off its energy."
"Or guarding it."
"Either way," Vastarael muttered, "if we want to get that pearl, we're going to have to go through them."
"Why do you want the pearl?"
"It's powerful and maybe it will be helpful. We don't know why we're here and to be fair, finders keepers."
"I don't think that term fits our situation right now. We wanted to find if the Raurekai live here but they don't. Maybe they'll arrive here after the isles are frozen."
They ducked back behind the boulder to avoid detection. Vastarael pressed his back against the stone, rubbing his temples as he tried to think.
"Okay," he began, "we need a strategy. These things look tough and we're low on essence. We can't just charge in there and hope for the best."
"You're the prince, Veneri. Come up with something clever."
Vastarael rolled his eyes. "Oh, sure, let me just conjure a miracle while I'm running on fumes. You're supposed to be the strategic one, Phaenora."
"Well, we could lure them away from the pearl. Maybe use some bait to distract them."
"Like what? You? Me? A sign that says, 'Free Essence, this way'?"
"Not the worst idea you've had."
"Ha ha, very funny," he deadpanned. "But seriously, we need to figure out what these things want. If it's just the pearl, maybe we can create a diversion long enough to grab it and run."
"Run where?" Phaenora countered. "They're faster than we are. And what if touching the pearl triggers some kind of trap? Also, it's as huge as a building and floating in the middle of a lake. How do we grab it?"
Vastarael sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"You're not making this easier."
"I'm just being realistic," she shot back. "But fine, let's say we do grab the pearl. What's the backup plan if things go south?"
"We'll have to burn through what little essence we've got left to create a barrier or an escape route. It's risky, but I don't see another option."
Phaenora shrugged, "Then let's make it count. We'll wait until nightfall when the Krepsunas are less active. So for now, let's have a picnic date."
Vastarael stared at Phaenora, his expression caught between disbelief and exasperation.
"A picnic? Here? Of all places? With that—" he pointed a thumb toward the grotesque swarm of Krepsunas chittering on the lake shore— "going on right over there?"
Phaenora shrugged, unbothered by the chaos nearby. She stretched out her legs, crossing her arms behind her head with a smirk.
"Why not? If we're waiting until nightfall, we might as well recharge with a decent meal. Besides, your essence isn't going to replenish fast if you're stressed. And me? I've been borrowing so much of yours, I need snacks to keep myself running."
Vastarael groaned, dragging a hand down his face.
"This is insane. Who has a picnic next to a horde of Krepsunas?"
"Someone who values efficiency. I'm just saying, if you're going to die horribly at the claws of oversized nightmare arachnid bugs, you should at least go out with a full stomach."
He sighed, finding the logic—however twisted—undeniable.
"Fine. But if one of those things even looks this way, I'm blaming you."
Vastarael opened his inventory, his fingers deftly navigating the glowing interface to pull out some of the snacks he had gathered during his shopping in Minafallen. He placed them on the smooth surface of the boulder they were hiding behind, raising an eyebrow as he took stock of the array.
A blue energy drink in cans glowed faintly. He frowned, tapping the can lightly.
"This is disturbingly similar to Earth's energy drinks. I didn't expect interdimensional parallels to include junk food. Is Spheraphase a different version of Earth?"
"Wait until you taste it," Phaenora said, popping the tab on her own can. She took a sip, her eyes lighting up. "See? It's weirdly delicious. Kind of tastes like blueberries, but... fizzier. Whoa..."
Vastarael noticed Phaenora's pupils getting bigger as she took another sip, shocked by now tasty it was.
'Is this thing laced with drugs? Or maybe it's because she's never had it before that she's reacting like this?'
He rolled his eyes but took a tentative sip of his own. The drink was startlingly refreshing, with a tangy sweetness that gave his taste buds a pleasant jolt.
'Huh. Not bad. Still weird, though.'
Next came the snacks. The potato chips were a vibrant red, their crispy texture almost sparkling under the sunlight. Vastarael held one up, examining it like a curious scientist.
"So, red potatoes. I'm guessing they taste just like Earth's?"
"Better," Phaenora replied through a mouthful of chips. "Saltier, crunchier, and—" she waved the bag at him— "spicy. Try them."
He hesitated but eventually popped one into his mouth. A burst of fiery flavor hit his tongue, and he coughed slightly.
"You could've warned me they'd be this spicy!"
Phaenora grinned mischievously. "Where's the fun in that? And I'm using your water divinity to cool my lips."
Phaenora opened her lips and spewed out water like a waterfall tinged with a faint red from the spicy chips. Her teary, glaring eyes made Vastarael smirk.
"It's spicy, isn't it?"
Phaenora straightened, her expression turning defiant despite the obvious redness of her lips.
"Nope! That wasn't spicy at all!" She declared, though the slight quaver in her voice betrayed her.
"Oh, really?" Vastarael said, his smirk deepening. He grabbed another chip and held it out to her with mock sincerity. "Then prove it. Take another."
Phaenora hesitated for a split second, but her pride wouldn't let her back down. She's the one doing the teasing!
"Fine!" She snapped, snatching the chip and popping it into her mouth.
The result was immediate. Her entire face turned a brilliant shade of pink and her pale cheeks grew streaked with tears as she frantically tried to summon Vastarael's water divinity again.
Nothing happened.
She glared at him through the haze of spice-induced torment.
"You… turned it off! You absolute monster!"
Vastarael leaned back with a triumphant grin, arms crossed as he basked in her suffering.
"Oh, this is so satisfying. You always act so smug, but look at you now. Totally defeated by a potato chip."
Phaenora whimpered, fanning her face with both hands as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"I hope you step on a Krepsuna claw! This isn't fair!"
"You'll live," Vastarael said, tossing another chip into his mouth, though much more cautiously this time. "And don't worry, you're still pretty even when you're crying."
Her response was muffled by another sputtering attempt to cool her burning tongue, her glare promising retribution once the spice wore off.
"I hate you..."