As Alicia quietly treaded the path covered with yellowed leaves, her steps were so careful that they didn't even disturb the slight breeze of the forest. Without catching Sarah's attention, she secretly reached Queen Layla's mysterious garden. This place, which seemed to have sprung from a fairy tale, was illuminated by the light seeping through the lush green trees.
As Alicia stepped into the tranquil atmosphere of the garden, her soul immediately found peace. The air filled with the sweet scent of flowers gave her a kind of inner tranquility. With every step, she felt the softness of the earth under her feet, as if becoming one with nature.
Queen Layla's garden was like a time capsule. Each flower, each tree had its own story. Alicia felt as if time stood still in this enchanting environment. Her eyes drifted into the distance, her thoughts focused on Stephen's completion of his training.
With Stephen's training coming to an end, they would meet in this hidden corner of the garden. The excitement within her was like a sprinkle of enthusiasm scattered into the serene atmosphere. Alicia was amidst a hopeful yet uncertain anticipation. The first meeting with Stephen after using the elixir held great significance for her. It would mark the first step of their future adventures.
Alicia had a smile full of excitement and happiness on her face. This meeting was not just a meeting for her; it was also a new beginning.
In the midst of her excitement-filled anticipation, Alicia tried to hide from the guards, her heart beating rapidly. She had hidden behind a carefully chosen tree. The gentle breeze, combined with the rustling of the leaves, heightened her tension.
Suddenly, as she cautiously peered from behind the tree, she heard the firm footsteps of the guards in the distance. Her heart beat even faster, and her eyes anxiously searched for Stephen. For a moment, she was filled with worry, but then she breathed a sigh of relief as Stephen had come to the garden with the guards and had moved away from them.
As Alicia secretly turned her gaze towards Stephen, she noticed his surprise. However, there was a seemingly pleased expression on Stephen's face. They quietly greeted each other, communicating through eye contact.
Stephen's voice rose with a low-toned astonishment, "How did you get here? What if you had been caught by the guards?" Alicia had been momentarily worried, but then she confidently smiled to herself. This exciting meeting had strengthened the bond between them.
"Do you remember the hide-and-seek games we played as kids? I was a perfect hider back then. I've never been caught while hiding since those days."
Responding with a smile to Alicia's reminiscences, Stephen enjoyed recalling the playful memories of their childhood. He delved into the past through Alicia's narration, reliving the cheerful moments of their childhood.
"Is it even possible not to remember that?" he replied with genuine smile. Then, pointing to an area unseen by the guards, he said, "Let's go there if you'd like. It's not very comfortable here."
As they moved deeper into the garden, they once again appreciated the beauty of nature surrounding them. Moving among the lush green leaves, the melodies of birds caressed their ears. The sweet scent of flowers floating in the air made each step even more enjoyable.
As they walked towards the area Alicia indicated, Stephen felt that the bond between them was deepening. They reached the vicinity of the pond.
Alicia and Stephen began to enjoy the sweets as they sat on the sheet by the pond. The sweets displayed on the sheet looked freshly baked, each one meticulously prepared. They both sat quietly, savoring the peaceful scenery around them.
As Stephen watched the clear waters of the pond, he observed the sunlight dancing on the surface. This view brought him inner peace, calming his mind. Alicia, sitting beside him, shared the same view, happily indulging in the sweets.
For a moment, Stephen's eyes drifted to Alicia, and he began to watch her. Alicia's beauty and innocence had captivated him. Her tiny nose and the slight blush on her cheeks gave her an even sweeter look. With her blue eyes, fair skin, and full lips, she illuminated everything around her. Alicia's graceful movements and tiny details made her even more attractive.
With thoughts swirling in his mind, Stephen paused for a moment. She's actually a very beautiful girl. Especially her blue eyes are stunning. How did I not notice this until now? he wondered. His gaze fell on Alicia's necklace; even this small detail caught his attention.
Hoping that Alicia wouldn't notice, Stephen turned his head. He felt that today was a special day; he wanted to spend more time with Alicia. However, unable to find a topic, he chose to remain silent. After a while, unable to resist any longer, he decided to bring up a topic.
"You've been wearing that necklace since the day we met. You've never taken it off."
"You know, this was passed down to me from my mother. It's her keepsake, and I never take it off because it reminds me of her."
"Yes, I know, I know. But you always used to tell me that the necklace was very expensive."
"Yes, it's an expensive necklace. My aunt Sarah wanted to sell it several times, but I didn't allow her to."
As Alicia and Stephen sat by the edge of the pond, enjoying the sweets, the silence of the surroundings allowed them to delve into memories of the past. When Stephen curiously asked Alicia if she had ever seen the pictures inside the locket, Alicia's face showed a slight embarrassment.
"No, I haven't. I never had the chance to look at them. When we were kids, we even tried to open it, but it wouldn't budge," Alicia replied, reminiscing about those old days.
"Yes, and we tried every way to open it, and that's why we were late getting home. Our families scolded us so much," Stephen added with a smile.
Alicia continued a bit shyly, "You remember all the memories from our childhood."
Stephen noticed Alicia's shyness and felt a strange emotion for a moment. However, recognizing her shyness only strengthened the bonds he felt with her. Alicia's sincere confessions contributed to deepening their relationship. Stephen smiled in response to her statement and decided to change the subject.
"Well, shall we try to open the locket now? I think I can manage with my current magic skills."
Amidst the excitement-filled moments between Alicia and Stephen, the idea of opening the locket added even more color to their time by the tranquil waters of the pond. Alicia's proposal intrigued Stephen, and he eagerly agreed.
"Sure, Stephen," Alicia said, but when she struggled to remove the necklace, she reluctantly admitted her failure. Stephen noticed this and offered to help her.
However, due to her shyness, Alicia hesitated to accept help. "Um... I'll do it. No need," she said, still unable to take off the necklace.
Persistently, Stephen replied, "But you still haven't managed to take it off," indicating his willingness to help.
Alicia's embarrassment increased with each passing second. But finally, feeling embarrassed, she reluctantly agreed, saying, "Okay. Fine. You do it." Stephen stepped behind her and gently removed the necklace. Alicia could feel her face flushing again, silently praying that Stephen wouldn't see her in this state.
As soon as Stephen removed the locket, he handed it to Alicia, saying, "Mission accomplished." Alicia took the locket and eagerly asked, "So, what do we do now?" eagerly anticipating the next step.
"I'll perform a few spells on the locket," Stephen replied.
Alicia's worried gasp signaled the impending danger lurking in the shadows. Stephen had encountered an unexpected event while casting a spell on the locket. Suddenly, the locket opened, but instead of the expected pictures, it revealed emptiness.
Stephen felt his vision gradually darkening. He was rapidly growing weaker, and eventually, his eyes closed shut, and he collapsed to the ground. Amid Alicia's worried screams echoing in his ears, he felt the rapid pounding of his heart filled with fear.
Damn it! Is it the side effect of the potion? Alicia thought, beginning to lose control. Breathing deeply, she struggled with her fearful thoughts. She was at a loss for what to do, her panic increasing.
Despite Alicia's worried screams, when she heard the sound of approaching footsteps, she decided without thinking to flee the scene. She began to run in fear and panic, leaving behind an atmosphere filled with anxiety. The calm waters of the pond flowed silently as if everything were normal.
When the guards arrived at the pond, they were shocked by the scene before them. Prince Stephen lay unconscious on the ground, his face pale with worry. They quickly lifted the prince and rushed him to the physicians they summoned. The physicians, at a loss for what to do, began various medical interventions.
However, no matter how much effort they exerted, Stephen remained unresponsive. Albert, who was the last to enter the room, immediately sensed the dark energy and grew concerned. Therefore, he suggested applying the Light of Positivity spell to Stephen to the physicians.
The physicians immediately followed Albert's advice. After applying the magical formula, a miracle occurred. Stephen suddenly opened his eyes and woke up. With a wave of peace and happiness spreading through the room, the atmosphere of concern gave way to joy.
As Stephen's eyes wandered around, he observed the astonished and happy looks of everyone in the room.
"Just as I suspected," Albert murmured, witnessing Prince Stephen's awakening.
"Wasn't I around the pond last?" Stephen asked, making an effort to remember what had happened.
"Your Majesty, do you remember who cast dark magic on you?" Albert inquired.
Stephen, in a calm tone this time, replied, "No one cast dark magic on me." However, Albert's questions didn't stop there.
"Then who was the last person you met?" Albert asked, curious.
Without hesitation, Stephen answered, "I was alone around the pond." He didn't believe Alicia would do such a thing to him.
The room was shrouded in a cloud of mystery. Prince Stephen's answers raised new questions in everyone's minds.
The silence around intensified with Prince Stephen's unresponsiveness. Albert observed Stephen's demeanor suspiciously, but perhaps he thought Stephen's mind might be confused due to just waking up, so he chose to remain silent.
Stephen expressed his desire to break the silence and understand the reasons behind the events.
"Why did I faint? Was it because of dark magic? Dark magic doesn't usually cause fainting," he asked, trying to dispel the fog in his mind.
Albert responded carefully, "You have a vulnerability to dark magic. Even the slightest dark energy makes you very tired. Although dark magic is harmful to its user, your case is different. You have a special sensitivity."
A worried expression appeared on Stephen's face. "Will this make it harder for me to fight the Dark Lord?" he asked, considering future dangers.
Albert replied in a calm tone, "Yes, indeed, if the Dark Lord is resurrected. So, there's no need to worry right away."
When Stephen's gaze turned towards them, there was still a tense atmosphere in the room. Stephen's weakness worried everyone about how future battles would unfold.
As he took a breath, the unease in the room slowly eased. However, his mind was still filled with complex questions. The idea of Alicia casting dark magic on him seemed absurd. Perhaps that's why he focused on the mysterious elements in the necklace. Alicia's sudden signs of fatigue were also etched into his memory. Dark magic was a power that could cause serious harm, and if there was dark energy in the necklace, it could explain why Alicia became so tired so quickly. In that moment, amidst the silence of the room, he was left alone with these thoughts.
After the physicians' final checks were completed, silence reigned in the room, and Stephen was left alone. A few minutes later, Sarah quietly entered the room. As soon as she stepped into the room, Stephen turned to her with an unexpected question: "Where is your niece, Alicia?" Sarah hesitated for a moment because she didn't expect this question.
"She's in the kitchen, Your Highness," she replied with a trembling voice, feeling a bit of fear.
"Summon her here. Tell her she needs to come immediately, and that the matter is important," Stephen said with a serious expression.
Stephen's serious expression sparked concern in Sarah. She felt there was a sudden change in his demeanor.
With a tremble in her voice filled with fear, Sarah replied, "As you wish," and quickly ran to the kitchen. After informing Alicia that Stephen had summoned her, Alicia's anxious heart eased a bit. Joy instantly appeared on her face, but this joy was mixed with internal complex emotions.
Together with her aunt, they made their way to the room. They stood silently in front of the door, looking at each other, then quietly opened the door and entered. When Stephen's sharp gaze filled the room, Alicia's heart skipped a beat for a moment. However, with the happiness of being sure that Stephen was fine, she tried to cope with her mixed emotions.
"Leave Alicia and me alone."
Upon hearing this instruction, Sarah swiftly left the room. She waited quietly by the door. Although she wanted to stay there to hear what they were talking about, she was afraid of attracting attention, so she eventually had to return to the kitchen. The silence emanating from the room increased her anticipation filled with curiosity.
Alicia's question created a wave of tension in the room. Signs of astonishment and concern appeared on her face. Stephen tried to suppress his complex emotions and confidently responded.
"Yes, there is," he began. "They told me I was subjected to dark magic and asked about the last person I met. Of course, I didn't mention your name. I don't believe you would do such a thing."
Alicia's internal worry eased slightly when she heard Stephen's response. "Thank you for trusting me. Your trust made me happy. I was afraid you would suspect me."
Stephen's response warmed Alicia's heart. "No, why would I ever suspect you? Actually, I have a theory about where that dark energy surge could be coming from."
As Alicia raised her head with curiosity, Stephen's eyes sparkled with excitement. "What's that theory?" she asked.
Stephen pressed his lips together for a moment, then said firmly, "That surge of dark energy could be coming from your necklace." This sentence cut through the silence in the room like a sharp knife, and Alicia's face showed a mix of astonishment and a glimmer of hope.
Stephen's words increased the tension in the room, and Alicia's face showed an expression filled with concern. "No, that can't be possible. Why would my mother give me something like that?" she said, her voice conveying both disbelief and denial.
Stephen continued firmly, "You don't understand, Alicia. You were always getting tired, remember? That necklace could be the reason. I have a request for you."
Before Stephen could continue, Alicia cut him off, furrowing her brows with anger. "No, Stephen! I will never throw away or harm that necklace," she said.
Trying to understand her emotional reaction, Stephen continued, "That's not what I'm asking. Just don't wear the necklace for a day and try to stay away from it as much as possible. Can you do that?" His voice echoed with both concern and hope. Alicia realized she had overreacted and felt regretful for interrupting him. After calming herself down, she said, "Alright, I can do that." Alicia's calm response slightly eased the tension in the room.
"Thank you for listening to me. Trust me, it will make a difference. You'll feel better and more energetic."
Alicia responded sincerely, "I hope so..." She still felt uncertainty and worry inside, but she wanted to trust his words.
Unable to bear waiting in the kitchen's silence, Sarah couldn't resist any longer. She was afraid of witnessing this special moment between them. Therefore, she asked for permission to open the door and entered, informing Alicia that she was called for other tasks. After bidding farewell to Stephen, Alicia quietly left the room.