Stephen and Alicia were by the lake, in a peaceful and serene setting. Stephen had his head resting in Alicia's lap, lying down completely relaxed. The calm waters of the lake created a peaceful atmosphere that spread around them. Both of them could sense their feelings for each other more deeply in this place. Stephen's tired spirit was lightened by being next to the woman he loved; this place was like a charm for him.
With Alicia's gentle touches, Stephen relaxed and felt much better. Spending time by the lake together strengthened their relationship even more. The grapes that Alicia offered were not just fruit, but also a way of expressing their love for each other.
Under the sun, they gazed into the blue depths of the sky. The air was filled with a cool and fresh breeze, and the melody of nature surrounded them. In this peaceful atmosphere, Stephen appeared to go on an inner journey all of a sudden. Alicia noticed the deep thoughts in his eyes and asked anxiously, wondering what was on his mind. "What's wrong? Are you okay, my love?" she asked worriedly.
Stephen, deep in thought while looking at the sky, suddenly sat up. There was still a distant look in his eyes, but he tried to smile to ease Alicia's concern.
As he took slow breaths, he began to look around carefully. The still waters of the lake moved slightly with the gentle breeze, spreading peace around. The melodic songs of the birds harmonized with the rhythm of nature. Yet, within Stephen, a storm was raging, hidden in the depths of the clouds above.
When Alicia's worried voice brought him back to his thoughts, he realized her concern. His smile was strained, but he struggled to conceal his complex emotions. "I'm perfectly fine. Why do you ask?" he said, with a slight tremble in his voice that was barely noticeable.
Alicia wanted to believe Stephen's words, but the depth in his eyes and the slight crack in his voice made her worried. As she tried to understand the silent storm within Stephen's mind, she moved closer to him, wanting to make him feel her support.
Inside Stephen's mind, complex emotions and thoughts were mingling, as changeable and uncertain as the clouds in the sky. His declining reputation among the populace was significant to him; however, the fact that most people weren't even aware of this situation deepened his internal conflict.
The high walls of the castle gave him a sense of security and protection. Yet, this sense of security couldn't suppress the other emotions within him. Respect for the king and his leadership was a universal truth, but the issue of the Chosen Ones that troubled Stephen was like a thorn piercing his heart.
Missing his loved ones and the Sword of Justice created a deep void within him. His desire to help people burned his soul, but at the moment, it seemed impossible.
"You fell silent suddenly in the middle of the conversation. It's unusual for you."
Responding to Alicia's worried gaze, Stephen spoke with a smile. "I'm fine. All my other reputation issues are resolved. Why would I be upset?" But he knew the storm within him wasn't calmed; he was just trying harder to hide it.
Stephen's eyes seemed lost in deep thoughts, looking confused. Alicia approached him with a calming tone. "Resolved all your reputation issues? You've been expelled from the Chosen Ones. How is everything resolved?"
After thinking for a moment, Stephen lifted his head and sighed deeply. "I want to go back there. I'm even ready to contact the Organization for this." However, immediately after, his face showed hesitation.
Alicia asked in astonishment, "Then why don't you talk to them?"
Stephen, lowering his head, replied, "I've talked about this with both my father and my sister, but they didn't allow it. Actually, they have their reasons, so I couldn't argue with them."
Alicia paused for a moment, then spoke in astonishment, "You are the rightful owner of the Sword of Justice. Are you bound by their decision?"
With a complex expression on his face, Stephen silently pondered the difficult situation he found himself in. The silence in the forest reflected the difficulty of making a decision.
Stephen, taking a deep breath, tried to clear the air of uncertainty in the forest. "They said the organization was using me. And when I think about it, they seem to be right. So even though this situation upsets me, a part of me tells me not to interfere," he said, his voice sorrowful and hesitant.
There was a moment of silence. However, the silence was suddenly broken by the sounds of birds outside.
Alicia, trying to understand, replied while listening to the birds that broke the silence, "I see. Then they seem to be right. If they weren't using you, they wouldn't have expelled you for something you did not willingly do and did not harm anyone."
Stephen appreciated Alicia's understanding and nodded with a faint smile. "Yes, you're right, my love. That's why I'm not interfering," he said, accepting the predicament he was in.
Stephen embraced the silence, but his thoughts drifted into deep waters. With his training reduced, he found the free time he had longed for, dedicating it to himself. However, these times were not just for rest; on the contrary, he delved into deep introspection.
When he closed his eyes, thoughts of the organization's complex world occupied his mind. The burden of his duties weighed down on him like an unseen load on his shoulders. The reduction in training had unexpectedly given him a chance to breathe; however, this break also gave him the opportunity to question his own existence and role.
Alicia... Her absence was one of the things that puzzled him the most. Even upon her return, he had asked what happened, but Alicia had always downplayed it, not allowing him to press the issue. This silence provided him an opportunity to seek answers to the questions accumulating inside him.
And that necklace... The mysterious necklace with dark energy. It no longer glowed around Alicia's neck. Its fate had become a mystery in Stephen's mind. With the disappearance of the necklace, his curiosity grew even more, standing in his head like a puzzle waiting to be solved. Perhaps the answers to these questions formed the key to a bigger mystery awaiting him.
"Alicia, there was a necklace that knocked me out. What happened to it?"
"Just forget it, my love," she said.
"You keep dodging this. Can't you at least tell me why you're hiding this from me? Or is it because you don't want to remember bad things that happened?"
Stephen's words cut through the tension in the room like a sharp knife. Alicia's shameful glances hit her face despite her evasiveness. She averted her eyes from Stephen's and lowered her head. The silence filled the atmosphere of that moment, almost like a wall separating the two sides.
There was intense tension in the air, like the calm before a storm. But this silence was a form of internal conflict and emotional intensity. Stephen's eyes carefully observed Alicia's face, looking for something to draw from her silence.
At that moment, a gentle breeze blew through the forest, as if the calming breath of the world outside. Stephen felt the peace brought by this light wind. Maybe this was somehow a sign that would reduce the tension.
He took a deep breath and spoke with determination, intent on breaking the silence. But at the same time, he approached Alicia with an understanding and compassion for her inner world. Because perhaps what was hidden behind this silence was just the surface of a bigger obstacle they would face together.
"You know, I'm a man with trust issues. This is a sensitive topic for me. Don't you trust me?"
"No, no, no. I swear I trust you completely," she said, her voice full of sincerity.
Without averting his eyes from Alicia's, Stephen tried to unravel the mystery in her expression. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't fully access her inner world. This heightened Stephen's walls of distrust even more.
"Then why do you keep hiding it?"
"I think it's actually your trust in me that needs to be questioned, Stephen. Why are you so curious about this?"
Alicia's response left Stephen feeling cornered. The room was filled with tension, each word hanging in the air like a mist. Stephen's complex emotions swayed like shadows in the storm.
Alicia's words made him question his trust as well. Maybe the reason behind this silence was not just about him, but also about both of them hiding behind their emotional armor. But accepting this truth could be even more challenging for him.
After questioning, Stephen realized Alicia's tactic. Alicia was openly trying to manipulate him and change the subject. Because Alicia knew that Stephen trusted her the most in this world.
Alicia's move created mixed emotions within Stephen. While her attempt at manipulation shook his trust, at the same time he didn't want to argue with the woman he had been seeing for just a few days. However, this didn't mean he would suppress his feelings and questions.
Realizing Alicia's tactic became a breaking point for Stephen. Although his sense of trust was momentarily shaken, it did not weaken his belief in Alicia. Because deep down, he knew that Alicia was the person he trusted most in this world.
Alicia's attitude was a disappointment for him. However, this disappointment didn't make him undermine his feelings or weaken his bond with her. Perhaps this was one of the challenges arising from the nature of relationships, and overcoming it would only make them stronger together.
Stephen found himself alone with his complex emotions. Perhaps it would be best to revisit this topic later in a calmer setting. For now, though, the prevailing silence in the room resonated within both their inner worlds.
"You know all my secrets. Doesn't that show my trust in you? And I was just curious about the source of an item filled with dark energy that had been harming my loved one for years. Anyway, maybe I'm overreacting. I don't want to argue with the woman I love over a silly necklace."
Taking advantage of the silence in the room, Stephen chose to bid Alicia farewell. He expressed his feelings to her, apologized for the argument, and then left quietly without breaking the silence.
He set out to meet his new magic instructor. However, within him lay a tension that reminded him of the negative experiences he had in the past. Knowing that Henry, the palace magic master, would be his next instructor disturbed Stephen.
After the revelation of his royal identity, Henry's attitude had changed, even going so far as to kneel and apologize at his feet. While Stephen had accepted the apology, he still harbored resentment. Despite his feelings toward Henry, he made sure not to reveal them.
Meeting his new instructor also brought hope within him. He was always a person full of hope. Hope was Stephen's lifeline.
Maybe this new beginning could mark a new era in his magical journey. Nevertheless, the traces of the past within him continued to influence his view of the future.
As Stephen passed through the path, he was suddenly shaken by an unexpected feeling: the sensation of being watched. This feeling reminded him of that chilling experience he had a week ago. The Sword of Justice ring on his finger suddenly began to glow and then fade away. From his past experiences, Stephen knew that this signaled something foreboding.
Quickly, he transformed his ring into a sword and took a defensive stance. Suddenly, he felt a warm breath on his shoulder, sensing someone breathing right behind him. It was a sign of an attack. But before he could start defending himself with his sword, he heard the sound of a metal object hitting the ground.
When he turned his head, he saw Sam. Behind Sam was a mysterious figure fleeing into the depths of the forest, like an assassin. Sam was swiftly chasing after them.
Stephen ran after Sam, calling out to him. Sam turned back abruptly, panting with excitement. Then they realized they had lost the trail of the fleeing figure.
Stephen, following the incident, gave Sam a worried look. He stepped towards him to understand what had happened. Sam's face still showed excitement but also a growing concern. As they both caught their breath in the silence of the forest after the unexpected event, only the sounds of nature echoed around them.
"Damn! I couldn't catch the guy," Sam said breathlessly, speaking with frustration.
Feeling Sam's worry, Stephen reminded him to stay calm.
"The guy seemed to have used a potion to increase his running speed, Sam. There was nothing more you could have done," Stephen said, trying to calm him down.
Still worried, Sam added, "But I have something left from him. A dagger," and handed the seemingly magical dagger to Stephen.
No sooner had Stephen taken the dagger in his hand than he felt dizzy. The dagger looked charged with strange dark energy. Noticing Stephen's state, Sam quickly took the dagger back from him.
"Sorry. I didn't realize the dagger had dark energy in it," Sam said in a regretful tone.
Stephen accepted Sam's apology. However, knowing that the dagger was dangerous made him even more cautious. Both of them could feel the dark power of the dagger, making the threat they were facing even more evident.
"Never mind. Thank you for saving my life," Stephen said.
"You're welcome. I owed you a life debt anyway," Sam replied.
"But are you alright?" Stephen asked.
"I'm fine. Just exhausted from trying to run so fast. A little rest will do," Sam said.
After saying this, Sam carefully examined the dagger he held. The dark energy in it was so intense that it could be felt even from a distance.
"Whoever they are, they know about my special sensitivity to dark energy. They've prepared this dagger specifically to kill me."
"But how could they know? This information never leaked out of the castle," Sam said with a curious and surprised expression.
"Maybe if no one outside the castle knows, there could be a spy inside," Stephen said with a worried expression.
Nodding, Sam added, "Yes, we shouldn't ignore that possibility. We need to find the enemy within."
Stephen felt a bit relieved when Sam mentioned that he would investigate the dagger and perhaps find out which region the magic source came from. However, knowing that Sam needed to stay out of sight for a few days to survive worried him.
"Stephen, I have a request from you. But I need you to be careful. Stay alert at all times and protect yourself," Sam said, looking at Stephen in a friendly manner.
With a determined expression, Stephen nodded. "Don't worry, Sam. I'm always ready. You take care too," he replied.
Feeling confident in Stephen's determination, Sam thanked him. Then, as he continued to worry about Stephen's safety, he began planning to find the spy inside the castle with the unease within him.