Leticia observed Aleph discreetly, a new sparkle in her eyes. She disguised her glances, fearful that he might notice her change in demeanor. She wanted to understand more about him, but didn't want him to perceive her curiosity.
During a rest stop, Leticia sat down to read while Aleph prepared a small fire. The atmosphere was calm, and Aleph considered that this might be the ideal moment to finally reveal his true identity. But the words seemed caught in his throat. Fear of Leticia's reaction prevented him from speaking.
Leticia, sensing Aleph's gaze upon her, looked up from her book. Something seemed to be troubling him. He appeared to want to say something. Intrigued, Leticia stood up and sat beside him.
"Aleph, is there something you'd like to tell me?" she asked, gazing at him with her crystal-blue eyes.
They were close, their gazes meeting for a silent moment.
"Princess Leticia, actually…"
Before Aleph could continue, he was interrupted by the sudden arrival of a young man who sat down beside Leticia. With a carefree gesture, he picked up the book she had set aside and began leafing through it curiously.
"What an interesting book!" the young man exclaimed. "What's it about?"
Leticia was startled by the sudden appearance.
"I didn't even notice you arrive," she commented, surprised.
"Cool!" exclaimed the young man with a radiant smile. "I managed to conceal my presence!"
Aleph, however, frowned, uneasy. "How did I not sense his presence? Could I be that tired?" he thought, discreetly resting his hand on the hilt of his sword.
The young man, who appeared to be the same age as Leticia, although with a more youthful and carefree air, introduced himself:
"My name is Daniel, from the Spring Kingdom!"
Before Leticia or Aleph could respond, Daniel, with infectious energy, turned his attention back to the book. He leafed through it with such interest that he seemed to have forgotten to return it. Leticia was amused by Daniel's carefree attitude, but Aleph remained alert, suspicious of the young man's sudden appearance.
"You don't find such interesting books in the countryside," Daniel commented enthusiastically. "The other day I got one about espionage! I found it fascinating!"
"Have you ever thought about moving to the main city?" Leticia suggested. "There, the libraries are immense. You wouldn't tire of reading new things."
Daniel became animated by the idea and began to describe in detail the book he had read, demonstrating an impressive memory. Leticia was impressed with Daniel's ability to memorize and articulate, and saw in him the potential to learn even more if given the chance.
"Could I accompany you?" Daniel asked suddenly. "I'm lost, and I'm afraid that if I continue alone, I'll end up getting lost again."
Aleph glanced at Leticia, silently disapproving of the request. But Leticia, moved by compassion, responded softly:
"Aleph, I believe everyone has the capacity to grow, as long as they have the opportunity. And he's already shown courage by asking for help. Besides, he has a good essential aura."
Aura is a subtle energy that surrounds all beings, a manifestation of their life force and, in some cases, their magical power. There are two types of aura: magical, which reflects an individual's magical abilities and potential, and essential, inherent in all human beings, representing their essence and emotional state.
Those who have great mastery over their magic can conceal their magical aura, disguising their abilities and passing as ordinary people. In exceptional cases, some can even suppress their essential aura, becoming practically invisible to the senses. The ability to read and interpret auras, in turn, is a rare gift, allowing some to perceive the true nature of those around them.
Suspicious of Daniel's unusual abilities, Aleph decided not to use the portal to shorten the journey to the Spring Kingdom's capital. He preferred to observe the young man closely, analyzing his intentions.
During the journey, Daniel quickly won Leticia's sympathy. With his extroverted manner and ease of communication, he was always attentive and animated, listening with interest to her stories and impressions about the books she had read. Leticia, in turn, found it pleasant to converse with someone so curious and spontaneous, and with each step seemed to trust Daniel more, who, with his natural manner, was gaining space in her circle of friendship.
Aleph, observing from a distance, noticed the growing affinity between Leticia and Daniel, but remained alert. He knew that appearances could be deceiving, and his instinct told him it was prudent to remain watchful, as a presence he hadn't been able to detect wasn't something to be ignored.
They stopped for lunch at a roadside inn. While waiting for their order, Daniel, with his usual curiosity, posed an unexpected question:
"So... I was thinking, are you two a couple? Are you running away from home?"
Leticia almost choked on her food, surprised by the question. Aleph responded promptly, in a firm tone:
"I am merely Miss Leticia's knight."
"I guess I was mistaken, then..."
Daniel shrugged with a mischievous smile and murmured to himself, "The way you look at each other, I was sure you were a couple."
Daniel pulled a chair closer to Leticia, took her hand with a radiant smile, and asked:
"Miss Leticia, could I be your knight too?"
Leticia, unsure how to react to this sudden and bold gesture, hesitated for a moment.
"Well…" she began, regaining her composure. "I would need to test your skills first. But I believe you have potential. You just need to dedicate yourself to your studies."
Daniel clenched his fist, vibrant with joy.
After lunch, as they walked along the road, Daniel approached Aleph and whispered:
"Are you sure you're not a couple?"
Aleph maintained an impassive expression.
"Why do you ask?"
"You like her, don't you?" Daniel insisted with a mischievous smile. "If you're shy, I can give you some tips."
While they were talking, a furtive movement among the trees caught Aleph's attention. Instinctively, he moved closer to Leticia, his senses on alert. The air around them seemed to carry an invisible tension. Suddenly, a group of mercenaries, swords drawn, emerged from the bushes, surrounding them.
Aleph and Leticia unsheathed their swords in a synchronized movement. The mercenaries advanced on Aleph with clear murderous intent. He, however, remained calm and calculating, dodging their blows with slight movements of his feet. In the blink of an eye, he disarmed several opponents, throwing them to the ground. Leticia, in turn, faced her opponents with equal dexterity, her sword dancing in her hands like an extension of her own body. The fight was uneven. The mercenaries, though numerous, were no match for the skill of the two warriors.
One of the mercenaries, seeing himself at a disadvantage, ran towards Daniel, who was watching the fight unarmed and frightened. Grabbing him by the neck, he pressed a dagger against his throat and shouted:
"Drop your weapons!"
Leticia and Aleph, without hesitation, obeyed, letting their swords fall to the ground. Another mercenary quickly collected their belongings.
"Release him, please," Leticia requested of the mercenary leader, her voice firm despite her concern.
"Of course we'll release him."
The leader let out a cynical laugh and signaled to the man holding Daniel. Surprisingly, the mercenary released the young man and handed him the dagger.
"Now, do what we agreed," he ordered with an icy stare. "Kill them."