After a long time secluded in his room, Rand finally stepped out. His body still carried the exhaustion of everything that had happened, but in the bathtub, he had found a rare moment of collapse. The hot water wrapped around his skin like a forgotten embrace, and for a few minutes, his worries evaporated. No thoughts, no memories—just silence. A comforting emptiness.
When he emerged, he looked like a new man. He wore clean clothes and carried several boxes in his arms—carefully wrapped packages. They were for Helena. He had promised to give them to her after the ritual... but recent events had forced them to flee, to fight, to survive. Now, with a brief moment of peace, it was time to fulfill that promise.
Upon entering the room, he found everyone gathered around the table. The atmosphere was light, almost familial. Everyone had been bathed and dressed in fresh clothes, displaying clean and renewed faces, as if they were coming back to life. Even Matt and Parry had returned. They were quieter, their eyes tired, but clean nonetheless. They sat next to Thom, who held a glass of red wine—probably a gift Lily had brought after a well-placed request, typical of the old man.
Rand walked with steady steps toward Helena, who was sitting beside Egwene. An empty chair next to her seemed to be waiting for him.
"Hey, kiddo," he said with a gentle smile, setting the boxes carefully on the table. "I've got something for you."
The girl quickly lifted her head and turned to him. Her eyes, marked by fatigue and pain, sparkled with a rare flicker of anticipation. That expression of genuine surprise warmed Rand's heart.
"I remember promising you some gifts after the ritual," he said, pushing a smaller box toward her. "Here they are. Open it—I'm sure you'll like it."
Helena looked at the box, hesitant, then back at Rand. With delicate hands, she removed the lid of the first one.
Inside was a thin, elongated wand made of birchwood with golden veins, as if liquid gold ran beneath its surface. Its tip was slightly curved, like a branch bending in the wind of fate. At the center, a pure silver band wrapped gently around the handle, engraved with ancient symbols—runes nearly invisible to the naked eye, but glowing softly under the light. The core was made of phoenix feather.
Rand saw her confusion and let out a soft laugh.
"To channel magic, we use wands in the beginning. They help us control the energy until our bodies learn to do it on their own. Think of it as an extension of yourself... a bridge between the world and the power inside you."
Helena slowly nodded and picked up the wand with her left hand. Instantly, the wand glowed with a soft golden light, warming her hand.
Rand smiled, proud.
"I knew I wasn't wrong. It chose you."
The others watched in silence—some curious, some admiring, and a few with slight skepticism as they saw the frail girl holding the artifact as if it had always been hers.
Next, Rand levitated a perch. It was almost as tall as the girl. Helena's eyes widened when a burst of red light and flames appeared.
A scarlet bird, magnificent, with feathers that looked like flames and gold, and a long, elegant tail reminiscent of a peacock's. Its beak was golden and refined, its claws black and firm, and its eyes... its eyes were like small abysses, deep and full of ancient wisdom.
The bird flew around the room gracefully, landing in front of Helena. It gently pecked her nose, drawing a childish giggle from her that silenced the room for a moment.
"That's a phoenix—a very rare creature," Rand explained, kneeling beside her. "It can heal wounds with its tears, carry heavy loads, deliver magical messages, and it's extremely loyal, spirited, and intelligent. Most importantly: it's immortal. She'll always be with you."
"Wow..." Helena murmured, mesmerized.
"I considered giving you a basilisk because of your lineage, but..." he made a playful face, "it would've been a headache. They're temperamental and hard to control. It's not time for a snake yet."
The women at the table shuddered and exchanged nervous glances. Parry choked on his wine, and Matt muttered something about "madmen and their crazy ideas."
Rand just laughed.
"The phoenix is better for now. And she chose you too."
The bird gently pecked Helena's shoulder and let out a low, melodic sound, as if confirming Rand's words. This wasn't just a choice—it was a bond. The connection between the two was already sealed, invisible to common eyes, but felt by everyone in the room.
Still smiling, Helena looked back at the boxes with curious eyes. She began opening them one by one with the care of someone unwrapping a dream.
The next box revealed fine dresses, tunics, enchanted cloaks, and even light armor, all tailored to her—though Rand quickly explained:
"These clothes are enchanted. They'll adjust to your body as you grow. You can choose what to wear each day. Some are resistant to cold, repel water, and there are even a few that... well, let's just say they don't tear easily."
Helena's eyes widened at the sight of a dress made just for her. It changed color slightly depending on the light—shifting from gold to burgundy, passing through ruby tones. Beside it, a lightweight silver armor with scarlet details looked precisely molded for her. It was delicate, but clearly strong.
"I... can I really wear all this?" she asked, her voice almost a whisper.
"You can. And you should," Rand replied with a smile. "You're not just any child, Helena. You need to be prepared... but you also deserve to feel beautiful, comfortable, and safe."
She caressed the fabric of a cloak embroidered with golden stars and opened her mouth, trying to hold back emotion.
Then Rand pushed forward two smaller boxes, carefully sealed with golden wax. When opened, Helena found delicate glass vials—some filled with shimmering liquid, others with soft, mysterious colors. Each was labeled with handwritten tags.
"These are special potions, prepared by the Globins," Rand said. "Some will boost your energy, others will help your body recover from years of malnourishment, and a few will protect you from common illnesses."
Helena picked up a pale blue vial, watching the light dance inside it.
Egwene, beside her, gently opened the girl's hand, emotional. She had been through so much… and now, for the first time, Helena didn't just receive gifts—but care, love, and hope.
"But remember," Rand continued, now more serious, "all of these things are just tools. Clothes, the wand, potions, the bird… they help, but the one who'll make the real difference… is you."
Helena looked him in the eyes. For the first time, there was something new in hers—confidence. Still fragile, still shy... but real.
The phoenix let out a soft song, as if it knew exactly what that moment meant.