Diancie's body jolted, and she tried to yank her hand back at once.
However...
The soft warmth wrapping around her palm pressed gently first, stopping her from pulling away.
At that, Diancie's heart completely panicked.
She carefully opened her eyes, only to find emptiness before her.
All she could see was her own little hand, still trying to form a diamond, and beyond that, the crowd of Carbink watching from the stands.
Yet the touch that held her hand had no warmth—like a ghost without a body.
At the thought, her struggle grew more frantic, her face filling with fear.
She didn't know what had caught her.
But the fear of the unknown was enough to make her tremble violently.
Just as she was about to lash out with a move in panic, suddenly, a gentle voice brushed her ear.
"Don't move. First—make the diamond."
Elias's voice whispered close to her.
He hadn't expected her courage to be this small—he hadn't even done anything yet, and she was already shaking like a leaf.
But thinking back to her usual behavior, he realized it wasn't surprising.
On the other side, the instant Diancie heard that voice, she froze.
It was a voice like water from a gentle spring, flowing softly into her ears.
Unlike the reverence of her people, unlike the queen's sternness—this was concern, tinged with helplessness. Something she had never felt before.
And in that moment, though she still had no idea what was happening to her, she obeyed him without thinking.
"Y-you… who are you?"
Diancie whispered.
There was something in that voice—something strangely familiar.
But Elias did not answer at once.
He steadied her arm with one hand, and then slowly revealed his form.
In Diancie's vision, the human boy she had longed for, day after day, appeared suddenly before her eyes.
And the soft warmth enclosing her tiny hand—was his hand.
"Elias!"
Diancie's pupils contracted, then widened in disbelief as she cried out.
She looked at the cracked diamond clutched in her arms, then at the Elias before her—her heart surging with a joy she couldn't contain.
But her expression quickly shifted. She turned her head anxiously toward her Highness.
At that moment, the queen's brows were furrowed, clearly displeased.
But…
It seemed she hadn't noticed Elias appear?
"Don't worry. Right now, only you can see me."
Elias spoke at just the right time, soothing her.
He could feel it—he seemed bound to Diancie.
Until her strength reached a certain point, others would not be able to perceive him.
Hearing this, Diancie let out a small breath.
Unconsciously, a strange satisfaction filled her chest—that he could only be seen by her.
She swallowed, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Elias.
Her guess had been right.
The one who saved her that day—it had truly been Elias.
But alongside her joy came a wave of guilt.
If not for her, he wouldn't have suffered those cracks across his body.
"Elias, I'm sorr—"
She lifted her head to apologize, but Elias stopped her first.
"Weren't you about to make a diamond?"
He nodded toward the faint pink light glowing in her palm, reminding her.
At his words, Diancie remembered where she was—on the stage, in front of everyone.
The happiness that had flared in her heart was doused with cold water.
She had already reached her limit. There was no way she could make a diamond…
I can't do it, Diancie thought in despair.
But even as the thought formed, she realized something was wrong.
Hadn't she reached her limit earlier? And yet after speaking with Elias, the glow in her palm hadn't faded.
Swallowing nervously, she looked down at her hand.
And then her mind went blank.
Amid the pale-pink glow—a small pink diamond was taking shape.
It wasn't big. Nowhere near the size of the great diamond above, not even larger than many of the gems in the ore veins.
But still—
This was truly a diamond she herself had created.
The first diamond she had ever made since the day she was born.
As the realization struck, Diancie's gaze turned blankly toward Elias, who was half-embracing her.
It had to be because of him.
Just yesterday she had been nowhere close.
In a single night, her strength couldn't possibly have grown this much.
And she was still doing it with only one hand.
Her pupils reflected Elias's face, and she felt her breath quicken.
She hugged the cracked diamond tighter, her head swimming.
But… the feeling wasn't unpleasant.
At the same time, all the Pokémon watching had seen it too.
Every Carbink's breath hitched.
Truth be told, this year they had carried little hope.
And when they saw their princess extend just one hand to attempt it, despair only deepened.
She had clearly given up herself.
Yet against every expectation—
She created a diamond? With one hand?
This was nothing like the Diancie they had known.
From afar, the queen's brows furrowed.
She knew Diancie well. That look on her face—she was surprised herself.
For her to succeed in making a diamond had been beyond even her own expectations.
Then…
What factor had changed the outcome?
Her eyes narrowed, trying to glean an answer from her.
Rarely, as queen of the Carbink, had she ever been so curious about one thing.
As time passed, the diamond in Diancie's hand grew larger, more defined.
The whole audience held their breath, afraid to disturb her.
Clink—
With a crisp sound, Diancie finally reached her limit.
The light faded, and a pebble-sized pink diamond fell from the air.
It hit the ground with a clear chime.
"I… I did it."
Diancie breathed heavily, hardly daring to believe her eyes.
She had made a diamond.
She turned toward Elias. He looked weary too—his colors dimmer than before.
"Congratulations."
He turned, smiling warmly at her.
Her lips trembled, and her eyes grew moist.
Suddenly, she felt she had found something far more meaningful than creating diamonds.
"E-Elias… who are you?"
She summoned her courage and asked.