The situation was desperate, and Aleph realized he needed to take more proactive measures. Surrounded by relentless enemies, he fought with precision, eliminating the Shineids around him to get closer to Leticia.
That's when he noticed a Shineid stealthily approaching Leticia, preparing a cowardly attack. Without a strategic thought, he ran, dodging the blades around him, determined to reach her in time. At the last moment, he managed to intercept the blow aimed at Leticia, but the enemy's blade struck his right shoulder. The pain was intense, and he felt the blood warm his clothing as his arm went numb.
The Shineid laughed with satisfaction at the sight of the wound.
"This blade is poisoned. In a few minutes, you will succumb… for any human, this poison is fatal."
Aleph's vision blurred, and his movements slowed. With his sword in his left hand, he struggled to stay on his feet, his voice weakened.
"It seems… I won't have a choice… but to…"
As his senses faded, he vaguely heard Leticia's voice, trying to staunch the bleeding with trembling hands.
"They're after me, Aleph. Please, run! You don't have to do this for me…" Leticia pleaded, distraught.
Aleph shook his head, leaning on his sword.
"I can't… accept this…"
Leticia, desperate, pressed a cloth against Aleph's wound, but the blood continued to gush. She looked around for help, but no one dared approach. The Shineid who had attacked him watched the scene with sadistic pleasure, preparing for a final blow, certain of its victory.
Then, in a defensive impulse, Leticia raised her sword. When the blades clashed, an intense blue light enveloped her blade, releasing fragments of ice that shimmered in the air. The intense cold quickly spread through the Shineid's sword, freezing it until the warrior itself became an ice statue, crumbling into blue dust as it was swept away by an icy breeze.
A wave of freezing energy quickly spread across the battlefield. The Shineids who were attempting to attack began to freeze and disappear, one after another, as if they were mere shadows dispelled by the cold. Leticia stared at the scene, surprised and incredulous. She didn't understand how she had invoked such power.
The citizens, who had been fleeing in panic, stopped when they saw the blue glow. Awestruck, they witnessed the Shineids vanish before their eyes, engulfed by the freezing wave emanating from Leticia. The village, once filled with chaos, fell into stunned silence as Leticia, still bewildered, realized the awakening of an unknown force within her. Hope was reborn in their hearts as the purifying ice washed over the village, driving away the shadows.
Aleph, seeing Leticia surrounded by ice magic, was struck by a childhood memory: the suffocating heat of a fire and a younger girl beside him, trying to calm him as a barrier of ice rose, protecting them from the flames. He murmured to himself, astonished:
"How could I forget? She reminds me of the person who saved me…"
The wave of ice continued to expand around Leticia, and she, with no control over her new ability, began to fear the power emanating from her hands. The ice spread without direction, threatening everything around her. Her body cooled intensely, her heartbeat slowed, and her vision blurred as she collapsed, exhausted by the energy her magic had drained.
Aleph, still staggering and feeling the weight of the poison coursing through his veins, struggled to reach Leticia. He touched her face, feeling her skin cold as ice, but was reassured to find she was still breathing. Leticia opened her eyes with effort, calling his name weakly.
"Aleph…"
"Princess Leticia, everything is alright now," he reassured her, struggling to keep his voice steady.
"But… you're hurt!" Leticia whispered, her gaze fixed on Aleph's bloody shoulder. "The poison… this is all my fault…"
Aleph tried to smile, lying to appease her.
"Don't worry… the poison didn't affect me that much."
Despite his words, he was almost out of strength; the poison was acting quickly, and he had never been exposed to this particular venom. Leticia tried to push him away.
"Don't come near me… you'll freeze too."
"I would never abandon you, Princess."
Ignoring Leticia's warning, Aleph reached out to help her up, but darkness enveloped him before he could touch her. His body, weakened by the poison and the exertion of the fight, gave way, and he collapsed into the snow, unconscious.
Seeing Aleph about to fall, two villagers rushed forward and caught him. The villagers, still stunned by the sight of the young woman who had somehow destroyed the Shineids, approached. Some murmured, speculating whether Leticia was the warrior of ancient legends.
The villagers, realizing the severity of the pair's injuries, decided to take them to the nearest village, where a healer known for his rare skills was staying.
The healer, Lowell, examined Aleph carefully. The shoulder wound and the symptoms indicated poisoning. He administered a specific antidote and, with his healing abilities, treated the shoulder injury, which healed quickly. He reassured the villagers about Aleph's condition and turned his attention to Leticia, his expression of tranquility faltering.
Observing Leticia, he realized he had never seen anything like it: her skin was cold as ice, and her barely perceptible heartbeat indicated a state of freezing. Lowell tried to apply his healing magic, but to no avail.
One of the villagers who had brought the couple approached apprehensively.
"Doctor Lowell, will she be alright?" one of the villagers asked anxiously.
"At the moment, I can't say for sure," he replied, frowning.
Another villager commented:
"How lucky they are that such a skilled healer is passing through here."
Lowell didn't confirm the statement, but he knew it wasn't a coincidence. He was there due to a request made by Master Yoshi to the Spring Kingdom. Upon receiving the call, he hadn't understood the urgency, for upon arriving in the village the day before, he had treated all the sick, but no case required his specific skills. Now, however, two patients with extremely complex conditions had appeared in a short period. He realized he had been summoned to help these specific people, even if he didn't have all the resources to assist them as he would have liked.
Minutes later, Aleph awoke abruptly, looking around for Leticia. Lowell approached, reassured him, and led him to the room where she rested. As they walked, Aleph asked:
"Were you the one who healed me?"
"Fortunately, I had the necessary antidote."
"My name is Aleph, from the Autumn Kingdom. How can I repay your help?"
"I am Lowell, from the Spring Kingdom. As for repayment… I fear my skills haven't been enough to help your friend. It's the first time I've seen anything like this."
When they entered the room, Aleph was surprised to see Leticia completely frozen, in a deep sleep. He approached, his heart clenched with worry, but relieved to notice she was still breathing. Lowell suggested in a serious tone:
"I believe only Master Yoshi can help her. I recommend you seek him out as soon as possible, as she cannot remain in this state for much longer."
Aleph hesitated before touching Leticia's shoulder, seeking permission from Lowell, who nodded.
"Thank you for your care, Doctor," said Aleph, bowing in gratitude.
Approaching Leticia, Aleph carefully took her in his arms. With a slight movement of his still-sheathed sword, he opened a portal and disappeared, taking Leticia with him, leaving Lowell with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.
Lowell watched the portal close, perplexity etched on his face.
"Who were those people, anyway?" he murmured thoughtfully.