The Blessing of the Angels

The cold of Lake Baikal was even more biting than Kristina had anticipated.

Even clad in a thick military-grade winter coat, she could still feel the full force of Siberia's winter. Standing on the frozen surface of Lake Baikal, her breath condensed into white mist in the air, dissipating with the wind. In the distance, the ice shimmered under the sunlight, beautiful and mysterious.

"Is this the location mentioned in the clues?" she asked, glancing at her guide—a Russian man named Ivan, who was the local contact for the "Watchers" organization.

Ivan nodded, pointing toward a specific spot in the center of the lake. "According to ancient records, the Blessing of the Angels is hidden in the deepest part of Lake Baikal, guarded by the 'Sky Guardians.'"

Kristina narrowed her eyes, staring at the seemingly ordinary stretch of ice. Since arriving in Russia four days ago, she had been following leads about the Blessing of the Angels. As a special forces soldier, she was accustomed to harsh environments and dangerous missions, but this challenge was different—it wasn't a battle but a spiritual journey to find an ancient relic.

"Have you found anything about the 'Sky Guardians'?" she asked Ivan as they carefully made their way across the ice.

"There are some interesting leads," Ivan replied, his voice low against the howling wind. "In ancient Siberian legends, there was a group called the 'Children of the Sky,' said to control the wind and clouds, guarding the secrets of the heavens. Modern people dismiss them as myths, but as a member of the Watchers, I know many myths have a basis in reality."

"Does this group still exist?" Kristina asked, her soldier's instincts keeping her alert to their surroundings.

Ivan shrugged. "Uncertain. If they do, they must be extremely secretive. But we have one lead—a small village near Lake Baikal, where the residents claim to be descendants of ancient shamans, maintaining their traditional way of life. If the 'Children of the Sky' still exist, they're likely there."

The two rode snowmobiles to the village, named Neboskoye (meaning "Land of the Sky"). The path was rugged, the landscape desolate yet magnificent—endless white plains dotted with sparse coniferous forests, with distant mountain ranges resembling the backs of giants.

"This area rarely sees outsiders," Ivan explained. "The villagers live in isolation, but they've preserved many ancient traditions and knowledge."

By evening, they reached Neboskoye. It was a small settlement of about twenty wooden houses, perched on a highland along Lake Baikal's northern shore. Smoke rose from chimneys, forming tiny clouds in the frigid air, lending warmth and life to the secluded village.

The villagers regarded the strangers with cautious curiosity. Most had typical Siberian features—high cheekbones, deep-set eyes, and skin roughened by the harsh cold. But Kristina noticed something unusual in their eyes—a peculiar quality, as if the blue of the sky had been captured within them.

Ivan spoke with the village elder in Russian, explaining their purpose. The elder, an elderly woman named Anna, had silver-white hair and sharp blue eyes. After listening, she studied Kristina carefully, particularly the faint white glow on her wrists—the energy traces of the Gauntlets of Light.

"You are a bearer," Anna said in heavily accented English. "The Gauntlets of Light have chosen you."

Kristina nodded in surprise. "You know of the Light Weapons?"

Anna smiled slightly. "Our family has guarded knowledge of ancient powers for generations. The Light Weapons and ancient relics are among the most important."

She invited Kristina and Ivan into her hut, warm and cozy, with a fireplace driving away the cold. Anna's granddaughter, Masha, served them hot tea and simple food.

"You seek the Blessing of the Angels," Anna stated plainly, not as a question but a fact.

"Yes," Kristina confirmed, then briefly explained their situation—Alicia's disappearance, the plan to find the ancient relics, and their hope to use the relics' power to locate her.

Anna and Masha exchanged a meaningful glance before Anna spoke. "The Blessing of the Angels is indeed here, hidden in the depths of Lake Baikal, guarded by our family for generations. But it is not a weapon to be taken lightly."

"I understand," Kristina said, her military discipline evident. "I'm willing to undergo any necessary trials or tests."

"It's not just trials," Anna clarified. "The Blessing of the Angels has its own will. It chooses its bearer, not the other way around. It seeks souls with purity, determination, and a heart full of compassion and protectiveness."

"I'm not sure I meet those conditions," Kristina admitted honestly. "As a special forces soldier, my hands are stained with blood. I've killed, carried out dark missions."

Anna's gaze softened. "What matters is not what you've done, but why you did it. Does your heart desire to protect the weak? Are you willing to fight for justice?"

Kristina thought for a moment, then nodded firmly. "Yes. Everything I've done was to protect the innocent, to make the world safer."

"Then you've already taken the first step," Anna said. "At sunrise tomorrow, we will go to the sacred site of Lake Baikal to begin the trial. Rest well tonight—you'll need all your strength and courage."

That night, Kristina slept in a simple but comfortable hut. Lying in bed, she reflected on the past weeks—from her mission with Russian special forces to becoming a bearer of the Gauntlets of Light, and now searching for an ancient relic in the Siberian wilderness. The changes in her life were so drastic that it sometimes felt unreal.

She thought of her teammates, especially Yeh Yao and Alicia. Though she hadn't known them long, she could sense the deep bond between them. As the most reserved and serious member of the team, Kristina rarely expressed her emotions, but deep down, she felt a strong protective instinct for this newly formed "family."

I won't let them down, she vowed to herself. I must find the Blessing of the Angels to contribute to the team.

With this resolve, she drifted into sleep. Strangely, she dreamed of flying over Lake Baikal, her fists clad in glowing gauntlets, the sky swirling around her as if responding to her call.

Before dawn the next day, Anna woke Kristina. The sky was just beginning to lighten, the air filled with the cold stillness of early morning.

"Are you ready?" Anna asked, already dressed and holding a ceremonial staff adorned with feathers and crystals.

Kristina nodded and followed Anna, Masha, and several villagers to Lake Baikal. As the sun rose, the ice grew clearer under the morning light, displaying breathtaking shades of blue and white.

"Lake Baikal is the deepest lake in the world," Anna explained. "It's not just a geographical feature—it's a place of immense spiritual power. Ancient shamans believed it was where the sky and earth converged, a gateway to the spirit world."

They stopped at a specific spot where the ice looked more transparent, like a mirror. Anna tapped the ice with her staff, chanting an ancient incantation. To Kristina's astonishment, the ice melted, revealing a circular opening in the water.

"This is the entrance to the depths of Lake Baikal," Anna said. "Few know of its existence."

"Do I need to dive in?" Kristina asked, eyeing the dark water uneasily. Lake Baikal's water was near freezing—ordinary humans would succumb to hypothermia quickly.

"Yes, but don't worry," Anna reassured her. "The Gauntlets of Light will protect you, allowing you to breathe and move underwater. It's one of their abilities."

Kristina took a deep breath and summoned the Gauntlets. White light glowed brightly in the cold air. Warm energy flowed from them, shielding her from the cold.

"From here, you must proceed alone," Anna told her. "There are three trials at the lake's bottom, testing your will, compassion, and protectiveness. Pass them all, and you will meet the Blessing of the Angels."

Kristina nodded. "I understand. Thank you for your guidance, Anna."

She took another breath and plunged into the icy water. To her surprise, she didn't feel the expected shock of cold. Instead, the gauntlets formed a protective barrier, letting her breathe and move as if in air.

Kristina swam downward as the water grew deeper and darker. Yet the gauntlets' glow illuminated her path.

Before long, she reached the first trial chamber—an underwater cave blocked by a powerful current, forming an invisible barrier. Symbols on the walls glowed faintly, forming words:

"Cross the torrent, prove your will."

Kristina tried swimming through, but the current was too strong, pushing her back. After several failed attempts, she realized this wasn't just a test of strength.

"There must be another way," she thought. "This isn't about brute force—it's about willpower."

Focusing, she imagined herself as part of the current rather than fighting it. Relaxing her body, she let the water carry her while using the gauntlets' energy to shield herself.

Gradually, she sensed the current's rhythm. Seizing the right moment, she swam hard—and broke through the barrier.

"First trial cleared," she thought, relieved, and pressed onward.

The second chamber was a larger underwater cave filled with injured aquatic creatures—fish, seals, even a small Baikal dolphin, all in pain. The symbols here read:

"Heal the wounded, show compassion."

Kristina swam toward them, unsure what to do. As a soldier, she was more accustomed to inflicting harm than healing. But she remembered Anna's words—the Blessing sought compassionate souls.

She touched an injured fish with the gauntlets, concentrating on the idea of healing energy. To her amazement, the gauntlets emitted a soft glow, and the fish's wounds began closing.

Encouraged, she healed the other creatures, each act filling her with an unfamiliar yet fulfilling warmth—so different from her military experiences, yet just as exhilarating.

Once all were healed, the creatures swam to her as if in gratitude before vanishing through another passage.

"Second trial cleared," Kristina smiled and moved forward.

The third and final chamber was a massive underwater dome. At its center was an air bubble trapping a group of human children, their oxygen dwindling. Surrounding the dome were fierce predators—giant fish and other aquatic beasts, eyeing the bubble hungrily. The symbols on the walls commanded:

"Protect the innocent, at any cost."

Kristina understood immediately. She had to defend the children while facing these predators.

As the beasts attacked the bubble, Kristina charged without hesitation, repelling them with the gauntlets. The battle was intense and perilous—the predators were numerous and powerful.

Mid-fight, she noticed the bubble shrinking—the children's oxygen was running out. She had to end this quickly.

But no matter how many she drove back, more appeared. Realizing brute force wouldn't win this trial, she made a bold decision—she stopped attacking and instead shielded the bubble, using the gauntlets to create an energy barrier around it.

The predators continued assaulting the barrier, but Kristina held firm, even as her energy drained rapidly. She refused to yield, determined to protect the innocent, even at the cost of her own strength.

Just as she was about to collapse, the predators suddenly retreated. The bubble and children began glowing, transforming into pure energy that coalesced into an object—a pair of uniquely crafted gauntlets, their surfaces resembling blue-white metallic sky, embedded with gemstones, radiating ancient power.

"The Blessing of the Angels," Kristina gasped, feeling an overwhelming pull toward them.

She reached out, and the gauntlets floated into her hands. A cool, mighty energy surged through her, merging with the Gauntlets of Light. A blue-white flash later, the gauntlets had transformed—now more refined and powerful, a perfect fusion of white and blue, their engravings more intricate.

"Trials complete, bearer," a voice echoed through the dome, seemingly from the Blessing itself. "You have shown unyielding will, true compassion, and selfless protectiveness, proving yourself worthy. Wield this power to guard the innocent—this is your duty."

"I accept this duty," Kristina vowed solemnly. "I will use this power to protect, not to harm."

A passage opened in the dome's wall, leading upward. Clutching the Blessing, Kristina swam toward the surface, emerging into sunlight. Anna, Masha, and the villagers awaited her, their faces filled with awe at the sight of the gauntlets in her hands.

"You succeeded," Anna said, amazed. "Few pass all three trials."

"This isn't just my success," Kristina replied humbly. "It's for a greater purpose—finding Alicia, stopping a greater threat."

Anna nodded solemnly. "The Blessing now acknowledges you as its bearer. But to unlock its full power, you must learn to commune with the sky itself. These gauntlets are not just weapons—they are an extension of the sky's will."

"I will learn," Kristina promised. "Please guide me."

Over the next two days, Anna taught her how to harness the Blessing's abilities—to sense changes in the sky, to command wind and clouds, to use the sky's power to heal rather than harm.

"The Blessing's greatest ability," Anna explained, "is granting its bearer temporary flight. In theory, you could cross oceans, reach any corner of the world."

"That's incredible," Kristina marveled. "This would give our team unmatched mobility."

"But it demands tremendous energy and precise control," Anna warned. "A beginner may only fly briefly before exhaustion. As your bond with the Blessing deepens, this power will grow stronger."

After training, Kristina contacted Yeh Yao and the others, sharing her success. Yeh Yao, Michelle, and Nasser had obtained both Phoenix Swords and the Earth Shatterer, respectively, and were now searching for the Howl of the North Wind in the Grand Canyon.

"I'll head to the U.S. to regroup immediately," Kristina told Yeh Yao. "Maybe I can test the Blessing's flight, though I'm still unskilled."

"Don't risk it," Yeh Yao replied. "Conventional travel is safer. We'll wait for you at the Grand Canyon."

Kristina bid farewell to Anna and the villagers, thanking them for their help. Anna gave her an amulet adorned with feathers and crystals.

"This will help you stay connected to the sky," she explained, "no matter where you are in the world."

Kristina accepted it gratefully. "Thank you, Anna. I'll treasure these gauntlets and your teachings."

"Remember," Anna said finally, "true power comes from protection and compassion. The Blessing can destroy enemies, but its true purpose is to guard and heal. Never forget that."

Leaving Neboskoye, Kristina and Ivan returned to Irkutsk to prepare for their trip to the U.S. While waiting at the airport, Kristina decided to test the Blessing's power.

Finding a secluded spot, she summoned the gauntlets and focused, imagining herself becoming light as a feather.

To her amazement, she felt her body grow lighter—her feet lifted a few centimeters off the ground! Though it lasted mere seconds, it was undeniably flight.

"Incredible," she whispered. "It really works!"

But she quickly realized she wasn't skilled enough for long-distance travel yet. Reason prevailed, and she boarded the plane as planned.

"One day, I'll master this," she promised herself. "And then, our team will have unparalleled mobility."

As the plane took off, Kristina watched Siberia shrink below. The Blessing rested in her hands, its power and responsibility resonating within her.

This journey had changed her. No longer just a Russian special forces soldier, she was now a bearer of the Light Weapons, a warrior bound to the sky itself.

Whatever challenges lay ahead, she was ready. For her team, for Alicia, for protecting this world—she would march forward without hesitation.

This was the continuation of the Gaia Expedition—a journey of power, duty, and camaraderie.