The Miracle Pearl

Vastarael sat cross-legged on the forest floor, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Phaenora. He twirled the pearl in his fingers, the once-massive artifact now reduced to the size of a hand.

The white luster of the pearl's surface glinted under the dappled sunlight, yet his gaze flickered between it and Phaenora with suspicion.

"So let me get this straight. You're telling me that while we came to the Lake of Miracles, a random essence surge from the lake condensed this 'giant, mystical pearl' down to the size of a rock? And somehow, it conveniently wound up in my inventory? Do I have that right?"

Phaenora pressed her lips together, her mind racing for any plausible answer that wouldn't tear apart the fragile lie she was weaving. She felt the invisible shackles of Thyrexxa's warning around her, tightening every time she considered telling the truth. Her heart thudded in her chest as she managed a tight-lipped smile.

"Well… not randomly," she said with an exaggerated calmness, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "It wasn't just any surge. It was the result of… uh…"

She faltered for a moment before inspiration struck like lightning.

"It was the lake's energy discharge. All that energy condensed into the pearl, and, uh… it shrank."

Vastarael's expression was unreadable, his eyes locked onto her like a hawk assessing prey.

"And it just happened to shrink exactly enough to fit in my inventory? Why would the Lake of Miracles do this?"

Phaenora blurted, nodding a little too quickly. She gestured to the pearl with both hands, leaning toward him as if trying to convince both herself and him at the same time.

"Yes! It's… a common phenomenon. I've read about it before! Artifacts often adapt to the wielder's essence capacity. And since you're the one who has a lot of energy reserves, it would make sense for the pearl to be bound to you."

She clapped her hands together, as if tying the final bow on her hastily-wrapped explanation.

"Perfectly logical."

Vastarael tilted his head, his lips twitching as though he were suppressing a grin.

"Right. Perfectly logical."

He rolled the pearl again in his hand, his tone deceptively casual. "And the part where you were screaming and clutching your head? Was that also the final energy discharge?"

Phaenora stiffened, her cheeks warming as she remembered her earlier outburst. She waved a hand dismissively, forcing a strained laugh.

"Uh… yes! It was uh… essence backlash! Happens all the time. It was probably a delayed reaction. Totally harmless though. I'm... still not used to my body yet."

Vastarael leaned forward, his face mere inches from hers, his eyes scanning her features intently. The silence stretched between them like a taut string and Phaenora felt sweat bead at the back of her neck. Finally, he straightened, tossing the pearl lightly in the air before catching it again.

"Well," he said with a shrug, "you've clearly got it all figured out. Still, it's a shame that the Raukerai don't live here yet. We came all this way for nothing."

Vastarael occasionally kept glancing back at Phaenora with a concerned frown. He sighed before asking another question again.

"Phaenora, about the headaches. You looked like you were in a lot of pain back there. Are you sure you're okay? I mean, really okay?"

Phaenora hesitated. His eyes, so full of genuine worry, made her chest tighten. She looked down, unable to meet his gaze as guilt gnawed at her. The lie she had told moments ago still felt fresh on her tongue, and now she had to weave another to ease his concern.

"Oh, that? It's nothing. Just… residual essence feedback from the battle. You know how unstable a new body can be. It was probably the pearl's essence settling, and I just happened to be too close," she said, waving her hand dismissively. She forced a small smile as she glanced at him.

His hand reached out, hesitating for a moment before gently resting on her shoulder.

"Phaenora , you were screaming. That wasn't just a mild headache. You don't have to downplay it. If something's wrong, you have to tell me. What if it happens again?"

Her heart twisted at the concern in his voice and she found herself gripping her arm tightly to keep from trembling. She wasn't lying about being fine—she was fine now—but the truth behind the pain was something she couldn't share. Not without risking everything.

She said softly, her voice steadier than she expected. She placed her hand over his, giving it a reassuring squeeze:

"I'm fine, Veneri, Really. It's over now, and it's not going to happen again. You don't need to worry."

"You're sure? Because if this is some weird side effect from the pearl, we need to figure it out."

"I'm sure. Trust me, Veneri. I've been through worse."

He hesitated for a moment before nodding, though the concern in his eyes didn't fade.

"Alright. But if anything like that happens again, you have to tell me. No hiding it, okay?"

"Okay," she agreed, her smile faltering slightly as she turned away. She couldn't bear to see the worry etched into his face any longer. The guilt was already heavy enough.

"So... what do we do now?"

Vastarael summoned the appraisal skill from Phaenora and looked at the detail of the pearl. The information also shocked Phaenora.

[Miracle Pearl, Divine Rank Artifact.]

[The Lake of Miracles is known to be a very powerful place. It is said that a being bathed on its waters every winter solstice and still does. Unfortunately, only a few have gotten a glimpse of the beautiful woman but they forget her face.]

[The Miracle Pearl is the accumulation of power from the being after bathing in its waters. On every winter solstice, she comes down to take a bath and all Krepsunas escape.]

[Abilities: [Time-Season Calendar], [Water Enhancement], [Supreme Dominion,] [Interstellar Audience.]

[Time-Season Calendar: The pearl can tell the time and the seasons of the world.]

[Water Enhancement: Those linked by this pearl have their own water capabilities intensified. However, it only works for those with the power of water.]

[Supreme Dominion: You can command aquatic creatures for one hour a day. Cool down is 24 hours.]

[Interstellar Audience: This can only be unlocked if the wielder is of the Divine Rank.]

_____

There are six classes of artifacts depending on their power; Normal, Rare, Epic, Legendary, Lore and Divine or Demonic Weapons. This is also the ranking of weapons as well.

"Okay... let's test out the Time-Season Calendar."

The second he activated the skill, a series of runes appeared in front of them. They slowly read through the information, which was shockingly accurate.

___

[Era: The Recovery Era, 3 years before the Destras Cataclysm.]

[Time: Late Afternoon.]

[Next Solstice: Winter Solstice, Today.]

___

"The Winter Solstice is today? This can't be a coincidence, right?"

Phaenora's eyes widened.

'If a being is supposed to come here today, then what about the Bioluminescent Manta Ray? Why is it here?'

Phaenora looked at the ocean and used Soul Vision to the highest capacity. Vastarael noticed the slight essence drain and faced Phaenora, who was shocked by her she saw.

"Phaenora?"

"Look deep into the lake. Like really deep."

Vastarael shrugged and used his Soul Vision and stared into the lake. He gasped when he saw a very powerful soul deep inside the lake that was too shocking.

"A Divine Creature?"

Phaenora sighed, "It seems so. Maybe the aquatic creature is the goddess's pet?"

The Bioluminescent Manta Ray was not a Krepsuna. It was a Divine Creature.

The term Divine Creature carried a weight that shook Phaenora and Vastarael to their cores. In Spheraphase, Divine Creatures were beings of extraordinary might and origin, created either directly by deities or as byproducts of divine phenomena.

Unlike regular creatures, whose souls burned with a finite energy, Divine Creatures were marked by eternal energy cores. They are resilient, nearly impossible to destroy, and capable of feats no mortal or immortal being could replicate.

These creatures served as guardians, companions, or even agents of the gods, each one bound by a purpose that tied them to the threads of divine will. The mere presence of such a creature often signaled a holy site, a sacred trial, or a divine message waiting to be unveiled. Encountering one was a rarity, a near-mythical event spoken of in reverent whispers, and facing one in battle was tantamount to courting death.

And Phaenora and Veneri were supposed to kill it.

For a long, tense moment, Phaenora and Vastarael, still sitting on their picnic date, stared at the lake.

Vastarael tore his gaze from the lake, his golden eyes wide with disbelief.

"A Divine Creature… here? In this lake? That's not just unusual; it's unheard of."

Phaenora nodded but her eyes betraying a storm of thoughts.

"I thought the Bioluminescent Manta Ray was a Krepsuna, albeit a mutated one. But this… Veneri, this is something far beyond us. And it's protecting something."

Vastarael frowned. "The pearl?"

"Perhaps. But if that pearl is linked to the Divine Creature, then it's not just a treasure. It could be a key, a weapon, or even a piece of the woman's power."

Phaenora's brow furrowed as she stared back at the lake, the faint glow of the water reflecting in her eyes.

"We need answers. If this creature is here, then the goddess connected to it will come today. She takes a bath in these waters today, right?"

"A bath, huh? So we're going to stalk a beautiful woman while she showers? What if she tells us to leave?"

She gave him a withering look but didn't reply immediately. Instead, her gaze turned thoughtful, her hand idly brushing her side where her Soul Vision still hummed faintly.

"Then we leave," Phaenora said firmly, turning her gaze back to the lake. "This isn't about fighting. If she doesn't wish to see us, then so be it. But we need to try."

Vastarael studied her for a moment, his eyes narrowing as if trying to read the deeper layers of her thoughts. Finally, he nodded.

"Fine. We try. But if things go south, I'm dragging you out of here, no matter what divine nonsense is going on."

Phaenora allowed a faint smile to touch her lips, though it didn't reach her eyes.

"I wouldn't expect anything less, Veneri."