Leticia watched Aleph discreetly, a new glimmer in her eyes. She disguised her glances, afraid that he would notice the change in her behavior. She wanted to understand more about him, but she didn't want him to perceive her curiosity.
During a break for rest, Leticia sat down to read while Aleph prepared a small bonfire. The atmosphere was calm, and Aleph considered that this might be the ideal moment to finally reveal his true identity. But the words seemed to be stuck in his throat. The fear of Leticia's reaction prevented him from speaking.
Leticia, feeling Aleph's gaze on her, looked up from her book. Something seemed to be troubling him. He looked like he wanted to say something. Intrigued, Leticia stood up and sat down beside him.
"Aleph, is there something you'd like to tell me?" she asked, looking 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 next to Leticia. With a carefree gesture, he picked up the book she had set aside and began to flip through it with curiosity.
"What an interesting book!" the young man exclaimed. "What's it about?"
Leticia was startled by his sudden appearance.
"I didn't even see you coming," she commented, surprised.
"Cool!" the young man exclaimed with a radiant smile. "I managed to hide my presence!"
Aleph, however, frowned, annoyed. "How did I not sense his presence? Could I be that tired?" he thought, while discreetly placing his hand on the hilt of his sword.
The young man, who seemed to be the same age as Leticia, though with a more jovial and carefree air, introduced himself:
"My name is Daniel, from the Spring Kingdom!"
Before Leticia or Aleph could respond, Daniel, with contagious energy, turned his attention back to the book. He flipped 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 on alert, suspicious of the young man's sudden appearance.
"You don't find such interesting books out here in the country," 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 would never tire of reading new things."
Daniel was excited by the idea and began to describe the book he had read in detail, demonstrating an impressive memory. Leticia was impressed with Daniel's ability to memorize and articulate, and she saw potential in him to learn even more, if given the chance.
"Can I accompany you?" Daniel asked suddenly. "I'm lost, and I'm afraid that if I continue alone, I'll just get lost again."
Aleph glanced at Leticia, silently disapproving of the request. But Leticia, moved by her compassion, responded softly:
"Aleph, I believe everyone has the capacity to evolve, as long as they have the opportunity. And he has already shown courage by asking for help. Besides, he possesses a good essential aura."
The 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: the magical, which reflects an individual's abilities and magical potential, and the essential, inherent to all human beings, representing their essence and emotional state.
Those who possess great mastery over their magic can hide 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 capital of the Spring Kingdom. He preferred to observe the young man up close, analyzing his intentions.
During the journey, Daniel quickly won Leticia's affection. With his extroverted manner and the ease with which he communicated, he was always attentive and cheerful, listening with interest to her stories and impressions of the books she had read. Leticia, for her part, found it pleasant to talk with someone so curious and spontaneous, and with each step, she seemed to trust Daniel more, who, with his natural charm, was carving out a 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 stay vigilant, as a presence he had been unable to detect was not 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, "From the way you look at each other, I was sure you were a couple."
Daniel pulled a chair close to Leticia, took her hand with a radiant smile, and asked:
"Miss Leticia, could I be your knight too?"
Leticia, not knowing how to react to the 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 were walking down the road, Daniel approached Aleph and whispered:
"Are you sure you're not a couple?"
Aleph maintained his 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."
As they were talking, a stealthy movement among the trees caught Aleph's attention. Instinctively, he moved closer to Leticia, his senses on high alert. The air around them seemed to carry an invisible tension. Suddenly, a group of mercenaries, swords in hand, emerged from the bushes, surrounding them.
Aleph and Leticia drew 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 of the opponents, sending them to the ground. Leticia, for her part, faced her opponents with the same dexterity, her sword dancing in her hands like an extension of her own body. The fight was unequal. The mercenaries, though numerous, were no match for the skill of the two warriors.
One of the mercenaries, seeing he was at a disadvantage, ran toward 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 gathered their belongings.
"Please, let him go," Leticia requested to the leader of the mercenaries, her voice firm despite her concern.
"Of course, we'll let him go."
The leader let out a cynical laugh and gave a signal 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 look. "Kill them."