Aleph emerged through a luminous portal at the entrance of Master Yoshi's castle, Leticia unconscious in his arms. The castle staff, caught by surprise but trained for any eventuality, rushed to his aid, quickly leading them to the infirmary. Master Yoshi, as if anticipating their arrival, was already waiting.
In the infirmary, assistants placed Leticia on a bed. Master Yoshi, without uttering a word, began the healing process. His hands, illuminated by a golden aura, hovered over Leticia. An intricate and glowing magic circle formed between his hands and the princess's body. The ice that encased her began to melt, the color slowly returning to her skin. An assistant, responding to a subtle gesture from the Master, presented a wooden box carved with the symbol of the Winter Kingdom. From within the box, the Master retrieved a silver necklace, adorned with a shimmering blue crystal, and delicately placed it around Leticia's neck. Then, he traced another magic circle in the air, this time with a silvery light, which enveloped the princess's mind.
"The winter's chill will remain dormant until the opportune moment," murmured the Master, his voice laden with power.
He explained to Aleph that the necklace would act as an amulet, regulating Leticia's magic and protecting her from her own uncontrolled power. After ensuring Leticia was in the care of his assistants, Master Yoshi invited Aleph to his office. Inside, an ancestral flame crackled in the fireplace, warming a teapot. The Master served Aleph an infusion of medicinal herbs. The flame, which had burned incessantly for over six centuries, imbued the tea with a unique restorative power, capable of rebalancing energies and internal magic.
While savoring the tea, Aleph felt his energy renewed and, anxious, wished to recount what had transpired. He needed to confess to the Master his hesitation in using his powers, his imprudence in holding back. Although already aware of the events through his abilities, Master Yoshi listened attentively as Aleph shared his perspective, and then offered an explanation.
"The power Leticia manifested is an ancestral energy, capable of controlling the attribute of winter," revealed the Master. "It is believed that there are four guardians, each with a specific attribute, the origin of the kingdoms' names being based on this ancient legend. It is suspected that this energy is capable of rivaling Risny's power. Therefore, it is likely that Risny is already planning to eliminate or capture her."
"That cannot happen!" exclaimed Aleph, worry etched on his face. The threat posed by Queen Risny was real, and he knew of the sovereign's cruelty.
Perceiving Aleph's anguish, Master Yoshi attempted to reassure him:
"Leticia will be safe in your kingdom. Risny wouldn't dare attack you directly. The Autumn Kingdom is one of the most powerful kingdoms, possessing various magical relics, and is the main supplier of provisions for Risny's kingdom."
Master Yoshi paused, his gaze fixing seriously on Aleph.
"Your imprudence put the princess's life at risk. Even under the restrictions of the royal training, concealing your abilities to such an extent was negligent."
Aleph fell silent, unsure how to respond. The rules of the training forbade him from revealing his true identity, but his omission had nearly cost Leticia her life.
"The restrictions exist," continued the Master, "but it is up to you to interpret them and act in the most appropriate manner for each situation."
"Master, does this advice also apply… to the other problem?" asked Aleph, referring to his secret mission.
"Certainly," responded the Master, with an enigmatic smile. "Use the rules to your advantage. The loopholes between them can be exploited without future consequences for you..."
"It surprises me to hear that from you!"
"If you don't break any fundamental rules, no punishment will be applied on my part."
"It will be a challenge, Master, but I will do my best."
"I trust you. And remember: tell Leticia the truth. Sooner or later, she will find out. And convince her to keep the necklace."
"Understood, Master."
The four kingdoms are allies and protected by Master Yoshi, who ensures compliance with the fundamental rules of the dimension. Breaking these rules would mean dishonor and the loss of the right to rule, in addition to the support of the other kingdoms and all established agreements. It would be a betrayal of the sacred oath taken during the coronation.
…
After a peaceful night in the castle, in the same room he had occupied during his training, Aleph rested. He had entered training at sixteen, training alongside Prince Laurenn for a year, a period during which they solidified their friendship.
During his rest, a distant memory surfaced. Still a child, Aleph found himself surrounded by threatening flames. A protective figure interposed itself between him and the fire. Then, a sudden rain began to extinguish the flames, while a barrier of ice arose around them, protecting them from the intense heat. The identity of the figure remained hazy, but the power demonstrated by Leticia awakened a suspicion in Aleph. Could she be the person who had saved him from the flames?
The next morning, Master Yoshi informed him that he would send a mentor to the Autumn Kingdom to train Leticia. Rumors about her powers had spread, and proper training was essential. The Master asked Aleph to keep Leticia's true nature as a Guardian of Nature with the attribute of winter a secret, for now. The revelation, however, confirmed Aleph's suspicions. Leticia was the person he was looking for, the one to whom he owed a debt of gratitude.
Aleph led Leticia, still asleep, through a magic portal. He transported them near the border of the Spring Kingdom, as direct travel to the Autumn Kingdom was impossible due to the strong magical barriers protecting it.
They were near a dense and mysterious forest when Leticia awoke, startled. Her eyes darted in all directions, and an expression of confusion and fear crossed her face. Everything around her seemed so different that she barely understood where she was, as if she had emerged from a terrible nightmare. The feeling of disorientation was so strong that a slight headache crept in.
Noticing her discomfort, Aleph approached carefully, held one of her hands, and in a soft, reassuring voice, gently asked:
"Your Highness, are you alright?"
Leticia nodded, noticing a delicate necklace around her neck. A light blue crystal, set in a thin silver chain, shimmered in the sunlight. Surprised, she looked up at Aleph and asked:
"What is this?"
"It's a protective amulet, Your Highness. I ask that you wear it from now on."
She held the crystal, admiring its beauty. The stone glowed softly, and although she was still confused, she felt something comforting about the amulet. Without further questioning, she accepted the gift, but noticed something different in Aleph's behavior, which, added to the inexplicable awakening in an unknown location, intrigued her.
They traveled to a nearby village, where they rested for a day. During a stroll, Leticia became interested in a bookstore and entered, seeking a distraction from the long journey that still awaited them. While Aleph waited outside, Leticia examined the books on the shelves when a map of the kingdoms caught her attention.
"How did I get to this place so quickly?" she thought, confused. "My memory is a little foggy."
Consulting the map, she asked the vendor about the cities they had supposedly traveled through. The answer confirmed her suspicions. Aleph had used some kind of special ability to transport them. Observing the emblems of the kingdoms on the map, Leticia remembered the symbol engraved on Prince Ryuuji's gift, and suddenly, an idea occurred to her. The same symbol was present on Aleph's sword.
"It can't be!" she thought, her heart racing. "He wouldn't be… Prince Ryuuji? Only members of royalty possess swords with the royal emblem." Her and Laurenn's swords bore the symbol of the Winter Kingdom.
And then, the pieces began to fall into place. Laurenn had only recognized Aleph after her physical description, mentioning that they had trained together. And only members of royalty are trained by Master Yoshi. Aleph's fighting techniques… everything pointed to the same conclusion. Leticia concluded that Aleph was Prince Ryuuji, disguised to fulfill the final stage of his royal training, just as Laurenn had done in the Spring Kingdom.
"If he is Prince Ryuuji…" Leticia thought, a shy smile gracing her lips. "Then there's no problem with… falling in love with him."
A blush crept across her face as she glanced discreetly at Aleph, who waited patiently outside. She needed to confirm her suspicions. The handwriting on the letter that accompanied the gift would be the final proof.
After leaving the bookstore, Leticia and Aleph went to the inn to collect their belongings and continue their journey. Leticia watched Aleph fill out the registration form. Leticia watched from a distance, struggling with a mixture of anxiety and anticipation—something inside her desperately wanted his handwriting to be the same as the letter's.
When her eyes scanned the letters on the page, her heart leaped: it was the same handwriting. The elegant and precise strokes were unmistakable, and a mixture of relief and astonishment washed over Leticia.
Aleph, oblivious to the impact this discovery had on her, finished filling out the form. Leticia looked away, trying to calm the thoughts now swirling in her mind. For a moment, she felt both safe and intrigued, but she couldn't reveal how much this meant to her.