Celeste stepped toward the circle of black flowers, her heart racing against her chest. The soft glow from their blue centers cast eerie shadows across her face.
She glanced back at the others waiting tensely behind her, catching Satori's eyes. Something in his gaze steadied her nerves—a quiet confidence that she could handle this.
"Ice Princess, huh?" she muttered under her breath, feeling a flush creep up her neck.
Why did his little nicknames always affect her this way? She'd been called far more elegant titles her entire life by diplomats and politicians. Yet something about the casual way Satori said it made her feel...
Focus.
The flowers swayed in unison as she approached, despite no wind blowing through the clearing. Celeste focused her Aspect, drawing moisture from the air around her fingers. A thin layer of frost formed over her skin—a shield of sorts.
"Slow and steady," she whispered to herself. "Just like training."
