The Crystal Caves and the Scaredy-Spark
The third portal opened not onto a ledge or a path, but directly into the heart of a mountain. Leo stumbled forward into a cavern that took his breath away. Every surface was covered in enormous, perfect geodes, crystals of amethyst, citrine, and deep blue celestite that glowed with their own inner light, illuminating the vast space in a soft, rainbow radiance. This was the Crystal Caves.
"The distress signal is close," Fable whispered, his voice echoing faintly in the crystalline silence. "And potent."
The Compass in Leo's hand wasn't just pulsing now; it was vibrating, its needle spinning before locking onto a narrow tunnel to their left. As they approached, Leo heard a new sound—a frantic, high-pitched chittering, punctuated by sharp, flashing lights that jumped erratically across the tunnel walls.
Crouched in a small alcove was a creature no bigger than his fist. It looked like a tiny fox, but its body was made of pure, crystalline energy, shifting in color from panicked blue to fearful violet. It was a Scaredy-Spark, and it was utterly lost. Its terror caused its body to flash uncontrollably, casting sharp, leaping shadows that loomed and twisted, which only scared it more, creating a vicious cycle of fear.
"It's afraid of its own shadow," Leo murmured, understanding dawning. He knew that feeling—waking from a nightmare and being terrified of the dark shape of a chair in the corner of his room.
"Hello?" Leo said softly, but his voice echoed, and the Spark flinched, flashing brightly.
He realized that loud noises and sudden movements were only making it worse. He needed to be a calm presence. He remembered what his dad did when he had a bad dream: he would turn on a small, steady nightlight.
"Fable, can you make the Compass light steady?" Leo asked.
"Adjusting luminescence output," Fable replied. The Compass's gentle glow shifted from a pulse to a constant, unwavering beam.
Leo held the Compass out, not pointing it directly at the scared creature, but letting its calm light pool on the floor between them, pushing back the jumping shadows.
"It's okay," Leo whispered, his voice as steady as the light. "You're not alone. We can help you find your way."
The Scaredy-Spark's frantic flashing slowed. It stared at the steady, inviting light, a stark contrast to its own chaotic pulses.
"Follow the calm light," Fable encouraged, his voice a soft, digital hum. "Your fear makes the light jump, but look at this one. It is brave. It is still."
Hesitantly, the Scaredy-Spark took a small step forward, then another. Its own light began to stabilize, shifting from panicked violet to a curious, hopeful yellow. Leo slowly backed up, leading it with the steady beam of the Compass back through the winding tunnel.
After a few turns, they entered a larger cavern where a whole cluster of Scaredy-Sparks pulsed together in a harmonious, gentle rhythm. The lost Spark let out a happy chirp and zipped into the group, its light seamlessly merging with the others.
Before it fully rejoined its family, it turned back to Leo. It glowed a final, brilliant gold, and a small, perfectly formed crystal, warm to the touch and pulsing with a soft, steady light, floated from its core into Leo's open palm. The Kindness Compass chimed as the crystal was absorbed.
"A Shard of Courage," Fable said. "You did not fight its fear, Leo. You offered it calmness instead. That is how courage grows."
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