Leticia and her retinue advanced toward the Autumn Kingdom, crossing the stunning landscapes of the Winter Kingdom. Majestic fjords, crowned with eternal snow, cut across the horizon, while crystalline lakes mirrored the serene beauty of the boreal forest, creating a breathtaking scene.
During a brief stop to rest on the banks of a river, the two knights responsible for the carriage were talking, intrigued.
"Sir Werner, don't you find this strange?" one of them asked. "I'm following the map to the letter, but it seems we're moving faster than we should be. The landmarks are appearing ahead of schedule."
"I've noticed that too," Werner agreed. "But we'll soon reach a village. We can rest and restock our supplies there."
Upon arriving at the village, they settled into a cozy inn. Leticia's assistant approached the princess discreetly.
"Your Highness, you've been confined to the carriage for days," she said with a gentle smile. "How about a walk through the village? Sir Aleph could accompany you."
Aleph nodded, and Leticia, grateful for the opportunity for a distraction, accepted the invitation.
While the other staff rested, Leticia and Aleph strolled through the town. For Leticia, it was an enchanting experience, as it was the first time she had explored places beyond her own kingdom. Awestruck, she wandered through the market stalls, contemplating the products she had previously only known on her table, already prepared. Her curiosity drove her to approach the vendors, asking about the items that caught her eye. Aleph watched her with admiration, charmed by the princess's enthusiasm and thirst for knowledge. She, in turn, excitedly pointed out and shared her discoveries with him, and he was infected by her interest. Throughout the walk, they talked animatedly about the peculiarities of the place, in a fluid and light exchange. The connection between them was palpable, evident in the way they complemented each other and enjoyed one another's company.
Their return to the inn was interrupted by the sudden appearance of a group of shineideas. The surprise paralyzed Leticia for a moment. Aleph, in an agile move, positioned himself in front of her, his sword drawn and ready for combat. With her trembling hands on his back, Leticia whispered apprehensively:
"Sir Aleph, do you intend to fight all of them?"
The question was heavy with concern. Leticia's own sword rested in the carriage, making her a helpless spectator. The ability to defeat shineideas was rare, a gift she did not yet possess. The creatures advanced, their swords glinting like sharp fangs.
"We've finally found you, Princess Leticia!" one of their voices cut through the silence, laden with an icy threat.
"What do you want with me?" Leticia inquired, her voice firm despite her fear.
"Your head!" the creature hissed, bluntly. "And we've come here to take it."
One of the shineideas lunged at Leticia with surprising speed. Aleph, however, intercepted the attack, his sword a whirlwind of steel blocking every blow from the creatures. Leticia watched, impressed; Aleph's skill was remarkable, an impeccable defense against the fury of the shineideas. But he did not attack, only defended. The princess wondered if he was just conserving energy, aware of the impossibility of defeating them.
In a brief moment of truce, Aleph found an opening and ordered Leticia to flee. The princess hesitated, fear for the knight's safety tightening her chest.
"My duty is to protect you," Aleph insisted, his voice firm. "Run. Get help."
Taking the opening, Leticia ran, leaving behind the metallic sound of combat, the hope that Aleph would hold out until her return pulsing in her heart.
As soon as the princess disappeared, a subtle but perceptible change came over Aleph. His gaze, once focused on defense, became icy, capable of freezing anyone who met it.
"Who sent you?" His voice, now as cold as the steel of his sword, cut through the air.
"We don't have to answer to you, pretty boy," one of the shineideas mocked.
"We'll see," Aleph replied, a glacial smile on his lips.
With a swift and precise movement, his sword flashed. One of the shineideas fell, struck down.
"How many of you will I need to eliminate to get an answer?" Aleph questioned, his voice carrying a deadly promise.
The shineideas charged at Aleph in a frenzied assault. With precise and elegant movements, he dodged their blows, retaliating with lethal force. In a few moments, the creatures had vanished as if they had evaporated into thin air.
"It was someone who came with us," Aleph murmured thoughtfully. "I need to find out who."
At that moment, Leticia returned, accompanied by Ritz and Werner. They found Aleph on the path, and the princess, relieved to see him unharmed, asked about the fate of the shineideas.
"They gave up after you escaped," Aleph replied, omitting the truth about the combat.
Leticia found the explanation strange. Who would want her dead? Why would the shineideas be involved? Could Risny be planning to invade the Winter Kingdom? The questions swirled in her mind, creating a tangle of doubts and suspicions.
After the incident, the group sought rest at the inn. The next morning, they resumed their journey. Ritz and Werner talked, commenting on the speed with which they had reached the next village, something that seemed inexplicable to them.
After checking into their lodging, Leticia awoke to find her assistant gone. In her place was a letter. In it, the young woman explained her escape with Werner, an act driven by love. Returning to the Winter Kingdom would mean an arranged marriage with some royal counselor, a fate she refused. Her heart belonged to Werner, and a life away from him was unthinkable.
"I'm happy for her," Leticia murmured, a touch of melancholy in her voice. "She found a great love and had the courage to flee to make it real. Something I cannot do..."
Leticia informed Aleph and Ritz about the departure of the two. Aleph, pondering the situation, concluded that Ritz was the only one who could have informed the shineideas of the princess's location.
"Those two ran away!" Ritz thought, distressed. "Sir Aleph might suspect me. I need to inform the shineideas of our location so they can attack."
"From now on, we will head to the city of the Third Division, to the west of the kingdom," Aleph announced to Leticia, loud enough for Ritz to hear.
"Finally, a direction!" Ritz celebrated internally, relieved to have the information he needed.
The carriage was traveling down the road when it was suddenly surrounded by a large group of shineideas. Aleph, sensing the ambush, slammed the carriage door shut with a quick blow, preventing Leticia from getting out.
"Don't come out until I say so," he ordered, his voice tense.
"But... I want to help!" Leticia protested, worried.
Ignoring the princess's plea, Aleph locked her inside the carriage. Outside, the shineideas stared at them, emanating a threatening aura. Ritz remained by Aleph's side, waiting for the opportune moment to act.
"Hand over Princess Leticia, and we will spare your lives," one of the shineideas demanded.
"And if I refuse?" Aleph retorted, drawing his sword with a metallic glint.
"We will have no choice but to take your lives," the shineidea replied, its voice icy.
"Those words should only be spoken by someone willing to die fighting," Aleph provoked, his gaze fixed on the enemies.
"A simple knight believes he can defeat ten shineideas?" another mocked.
"I have no doubt at all," Aleph affirmed, his confidence unwavering.
An icy shadow crossed Aleph's face. His eyes narrowed, his focus as sharp as his sword's blade, his fighting stance changing to a style of his own. With impressive speed, he delivered a precise blow to the first shineidea, eliminating it instantly. The second met the same fate, barely having time to react to Aleph's agility and precision.
Meanwhile, Ritz, seeing Aleph focused on the fight, tried to force the carriage door. Suddenly, a dagger grazed past his face, causing a superficial cut.
"But how...?" Ritz murmured, incredulous, touching the wound. "From where...?"
"Don't think for a minute that I'm distracted," Aleph's voice sounded cold and threatening behind him.
Taking advantage of Aleph's brief distraction, the third shineidea attacked. But Aleph, with an agile dodge, counter-attacked, eliminating it with a single blow. Fear began to spread among the remaining shineideas.
"You are shineideas! Defeat him!" Ritz shouted desperately, still trying to open the carriage door.
The shineideas, gathering their forces, attacked Aleph simultaneously. He, however, moved with the grace of a deadly dancer, dodging, blocking, and counter-attacking with relentless efficiency. One by one, the shineideas were eliminated, until none remained.
Aleph walked slowly toward Ritz, who was hammering on the carriage door, shouting for Leticia. The door, however, remained inexplicably locked.
Pointing his sword at Ritz's throat, Aleph said in a cold voice:
"She won't hear you. Nor will she come out. Who is behind this?" Aleph demanded, moving even closer.
Ritz remained silent.
"It doesn't matter," Aleph continued. "Just tell your boss that he messed with the wrong kingdom."
Aleph released Ritz, who fled in a panic. Quickly, the knight unlocked the carriage.
"We need to go," he told Leticia with urgency. "Hold on!"
Aleph climbed onto the carriage and whipped the horses, taking off at a gallop as if fleeing from something—or someone. Aleph's ability to defeat shineideas was rare and powerful, something he preferred to keep secret. The escape, therefore, was a way to disguise his true power.
Aleph stopped the carriage in an unknown location. As he opened the door, Leticia looked around, confused.
"What happened to the shineideas? And Sir Ritz?" she asked, trying to understand the situation.
"Everything is resolved," Aleph replied, seeking to reassure her.
"Thank goodness," Leticia sighed, relieved. "But I don't understand why the shineideas would attack me."
"I would also like to know," Aleph admitted thoughtfully.
...
Meanwhile, Ritz, with the help of the shineideas, arrived at the castle in the Winter Kingdom. He presented himself before General Shineid, reporting what had happened with distress.
"That man is not normal!" Ritz exclaimed. "He defeated ten shineideas by himself! He's a monster!"
"I doubt he'll survive the next attack," General Shineid replied with a cruel smile. "One less city won't be a loss for the kingdom."
On the map before him, King Hayden moved a piece, his eyes fixed on the territory of the Winter Kingdom, calculating his next move.