Chapter 24 - Chapter 24

Daniel, dagger in hand, walked towards Leticia. His steps were so light and silent that even Aleph was surprised by the somber look in his eyes. The hand holding the dagger trembled slightly, and his voice, when he addressed Leticia, carried a tone of regret.

"Aren't you going to order your knight to defend you?" he asked, his voice almost a whisper.

Aleph, attentive, sought an opportunity to disarm the young man. Leticia, perceiving Aleph's intention, extended her arm, preventing him from acting. Keeping her gaze fixed on Daniel, she spoke calmly and with authority:

"Knight Daniel, show me your loyalty."

In a swift, unexpected move, Daniel spun around, throwing the dagger directly into the chest of the mercenary leader, killing him instantly. One of the mercenaries, enraged, lunged at Daniel. The young man, with surprising agility, jumped and, in midair, drew a small blade hidden in his boot, striking the man in the head.

Aleph, without hesitation, pulled Leticia close, shielding her from the horror of the scene. He embraced her, hiding her face in his chest while Daniel, with lethal efficiency, eliminated the remaining mercenaries.

The fight ended as quickly as it had begun. Daniel, dropping his weapons to the ground, fell to his knees before Leticia, his body trembling and tears streaming down his face.

Immediately, Aleph retrieved his sword through a discreet portal and pointed the blade at Daniel, ready to protect Leticia. But before he could advance, Leticia raised her hand:

"Aleph, wait!"

Aleph hesitated, sheathing his sword, but remained alert. Daniel, on his knees, wept copiously, his gaze fixed on his bloodstained hands. Leticia approached, touching his shoulder with a gesture of compassion.

"Rise, Daniel," she said, extending her hand.

Daniel, however, did not accept her help.

"I'm filthy…" he whispered, his voice choked with pain. "I tried to kill you… How can you trust me?"

"It is up to you to decide whether to accept the hand I offer," Leticia replied compassionately. "I trust in your willingness to learn."

Tears streamed down Daniel's eyes. At that moment, he understood that Leticia was the first person, in all his years of life, to treat him as a human being, and not merely as a weapon. Vulnerability and relief mingled on his face as, hesitantly, he reached out and took her hand.

Leaving Leticia in a safe place, Aleph returned with Daniel to the scene of the confrontation. When they arrived, Aleph, with an icy stare, pushed Daniel against a tree, gripping his shoulder firmly.

"I don't know why Leticia trusts you," he said, his voice low and menacing. "But don't you dare betray her. Don't become a mangy dog that bites the hand that feeds it. Understood?"

Aleph released him abruptly. Daniel, humiliated but understanding that earning everyone's trust would be a difficult journey, picked up a shovel, preparing for the grim task of burying the bodies. Aleph, however, interrupted him with a gesture. He extended his hand, and a portal opened in the ground. In an instant, the bodies disappeared, buried with precision and without effort.

Daniel, dumbfounded, stared at Aleph, disbelief etched on his face.

"Who… who are you, after all?"

"Someone who is trying to earn the trust of an assassin."

"That was… awesome!" Daniel exclaimed, his eyes shining with admiration.

At the inn, Daniel revealed to Leticia that he had known her true identity from the beginning and informed her that several mercenaries, from different regions, had been hired to pursue them.

"Do you know who is after my life?" Leticia asked apprehensively.

"I did some investigating before… accepting the mission," Daniel replied. "I discovered it's a certain General Shineid, a man with a lot of influence in the Winter Kingdom. But something intrigued me… Why would he hire mercenaries instead of ordering the Shineideas to take care of it?"

Daniel was unaware of the magical barrier protecting the Spring Kingdom, making it impossible for the Shineideas to enter its territory.

"Giving us this information, you almost seem like an allied spy," Leticia commented, smiling.

"That's quite a compliment!" Daniel laughed, pleased. "I've always wanted to be a spy."

Leticia observed him for a moment, assessing his determination.

"In that case…" Leticia began, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Would you accept a mission on my behalf?"

"My first mission as a knight?!" Daniel asked, his eyes shining with enthusiasm.

"Certainly, Sir Daniel," confirmed Leticia with a smile.

Daniel's joy was visible, and he responded with a clumsy bow:

"Tell me what you wish, Your Highness! It will be an honor to fulfill your orders!" he exclaimed, imitating the dialogues of the heroes from his favorite books. "I've always wanted to say that!" he thought, satisfied.

Leticia requested that Daniel thoroughly investigate General Shineid, discovering who was truly behind the attacks and whether Laurenn was also in danger.

Aleph, watching the scene with incredulity, wondered if they were serious or engaging in some strange playacting. Daniel, eager to begin, announced that he would leave immediately. Aleph turned to Leticia:

"With your permission, Your Highness, I would like to offer the knight some instructions before his departure."

Leticia nodded, making it clear that she trusted Aleph's experience to guide Daniel.

Behind the inn, in a secluded spot where only the neighing of horses broke the silence, one of them, of simple appearance, belonged to Daniel, which he would use to head towards the Winter Kingdom.

Daniel, visibly aware of Aleph's distrust of him, spoke firmly:

"I know you don't trust me. But I will prove you wrong. I will never betray Princess Leticia."

Aleph, without a word, tossed a small object towards Daniel. It was a silver metal key, intricately crafted.

"What is this?" Daniel asked, examining the key with curiosity.

He looked at Aleph with a questioning look, and the knight, his expression unchanged, explained:

"This key can open hidden portals. Upon contact with a synchronized portal, the magic is activated, allowing passage."

Aleph handed Daniel a scroll with the locations of some portals along the way to the Winter Kingdom.

"These portals…" Daniel exclaimed, surprised. "Will they help me on my mission? You're actually a nice person!"

"I'll take that as a compliment," Aleph replied with a slight smile.

Aleph explained to Daniel how to activate the portals correctly, and Daniel was amazed at how quickly he could cross over to the Winter Kingdom. He had imagined the journey would be long and full of obstacles, but now, with this new ability, the mission seemed more attainable.

Aleph returned to the inn, finding Leticia on the veranda, her gaze lost in the garden landscape. The inn, larger and more elegant than the previous one, offered a more tranquil and welcoming atmosphere.

Leticia, however, remained absorbed in her thoughts, but her gaze showed growing unease. He approached and stood beside her, but Leticia remained silent. Aleph could feel the tension in the air. She was consumed by doubts, fear etched on her face, but she didn't know how to express it.

"Why are they trying to kill me? What did I do wrong? Is Laurenn also in danger?" These were the thoughts racing through her mind, and the uncertainty made her tremble, however subtly.

Aleph, perceiving her state, and without saying anything, took the cloak he was carrying and covered her with it, placing a comforting hand on Leticia's shoulder in a silent gesture of comfort.

"We will leave for the Spring Kingdom tomorrow," he said, his voice calm and reassuring. "There, your safety will be guaranteed."

Leticia looked at him, her eyes filled with uncertainty. Aleph felt a strong urge to embrace her, to protect her from all the dangers surrounding her, but he restrained himself. Leticia, however, took the initiative. She touched his arm, and he, without hesitation, slid his hand along her head in a gentle gesture. But then, to his surprise, Leticia moved closer, her arms wrapping around him timidly and tremblingly. Aleph stood still for a moment, surprised by her action, but soon felt the warmth of the embrace and the lightness of her hands gripping his clothes tightly, as if anchoring herself to him.

"I will be by your side, Leticia," Aleph whispered, returning the embrace. "She is so strong, but deep down, she is just a young woman who has always lived protected by the castle walls. This whole situation must be terrifying for her," he thought.

"Thank you, Aleph," Leticia murmured, her voice muffled. "Right now, you're the only one I can trust."

Aleph, touched by her sincerity, gently placed his hand on her head, stroking her hair with a soft, protective gesture.

"You can be sure that I will protect you," he promised with conviction.