The third day came and went…
The cold chamber no longer felt like a prison. The frost that once covered the walls had melted into gentle vapors. The spiritual formation Kent had drawn still pulsed softly, feeding a warm current of energy to the still figure lying atop the Ice Lotus Bed.
Princess Neela, the First Daughter of the Naga Clan, finally opened her eyes.
The moment her silver lashes fluttered, Princess Nyara rushed forward and grasped her hand with tearful joy. "Sister! You're awake again—how do you feel? Can you speak?"
Neela nodded faintly and sat up on her elbows. Her breath no longer trembled in the air. Her gaze was clear. Her limbs moved without stiffness. She even managed a ghost of a smile.
"I... I can feel my body again," she said, her voice light like the sound of snow falling on silk. "The pain that clung to my bones... is gone."
Nyara turned around with bright eyes. "Kent! You've done it! She's finally...!"
But Kent didn't smile.
