Aleph emerged through a luminous portal at the entrance of Master Yoshi's castle, Leticia unconscious in his arms. The castle staff, caught by surprise but trained for any eventuality, rushed to his aid, quickly leading them to the infirmary. Master Yoshi, as if he had foreseen their arrival, was already waiting for them.
In the infirmary, assistants settled her onto a bed. Master Yoshi, without uttering a word, began the healing process. His hands, illuminated by a golden aura, hovered over Leticia. An intricate and brilliant magical circle formed between his hands and the princess's body. The ice that imprisoned her began to melt, color slowly returning to her skin. An assistant, responding to a subtle gesture from the Master, presented a wooden box carved with the symbol of the Winter Kingdom. From within the box, the Master retrieved a silver necklace, adorned with a sparkling blue crystal, and placed it delicately around Leticia's neck. He then traced another magical circle in the air, this time with a silver light, which enveloped the princess's mind.
"The cold of winter will remain dormant until the opportune moment," the Master murmured, his voice heavy with power.
He explained to Aleph that the necklace would act as an amulet, regulating Leticia's magic and protecting her from her own uncontrolled power. After ensuring Leticia was in the care of his assistants, Master Yoshi invited Aleph to his office. Inside, an ancestral flame crackled in the fireplace, heating a teapot. The Master served Aleph an infusion of medicinal herbs. The flame, which had burned incessantly for over six centuries, gave the tea a unique restorative power, capable of rebalancing one's energy and internal magic.
As he sipped the tea, Aleph felt his energy renew and, anxious, wished to report what had happened. He needed to confess to the Master his hesitation in using his powers, his recklessness in holding back. Although he already knew of the events through his own abilities, Master Yoshi listened attentively as Aleph shared his perspective, and then offered an explanation.
"The power Leticia manifested is an ancient energy, capable of controlling the attribute of winter," the Master revealed. "It is believed that there are four guardians, each with a specific attribute, with the origin of the kingdoms' names being based on this ancient legend. It is suspected that this energy is capable of rivaling Risny's power. Therefore, it is likely that Risny is already planning to eliminate or capture her."
"That cannot happen!" Aleph exclaimed, concern stamped on his face. The threat posed by Queen Risny was real, and he knew of the sovereign's cruelty.
Noticing Aleph's anguish, Master Yoshi tried to calm him:
"Leticia will be safe in your kingdom. Risny would not dare attack it directly. The Autumn Kingdom is one of the most powerful realms, possessing various magical relics, and it is the main supplier of provisions to Risny's kingdom."
Master Yoshi paused, his gaze fixing on Aleph with seriousness.
"Your recklessness put the princess's life at risk. Even under the restrictions of royal training, hiding your abilities to such an extent was negligent."
Aleph fell silent, not knowing what to say. The rules of the training forbade him from revealing his true identity, but his omission had nearly cost Leticia her life.
"The restrictions exist," the Master continued, "but it is up to you to interpret them and act in the most appropriate manner for each situation."
"Master, does this advice also apply... to the other problem as well?" Aleph asked, referring to his secret mission.
"Certainly," the Master replied with an enigmatic smile. "Use the rules to your advantage. The loopholes between them can be exploited without any future consequences for you..."
"I'm surprised to hear that from you, sir!"
"If you break no fundamental rule, no punishment from me will be applied."
"It will be a challenge, Master, but I will do my best."
"I trust you. And remember: tell Leticia the truth. Sooner or later, she will find out. And convince her to keep the necklace on."
"Understood, Master."
The four kingdoms are allies and protected by Master Yoshi, who ensures compliance with the fundamental rules of the dimension. Breaking these rules would mean dishonor and the loss of the right to govern, in addition to the support of the other kingdoms and all established agreements. It would be a betrayal of the sacred oath made during coronation.
...
After a quiet night in the castle, in the same room he had occupied during his training, Aleph rested. He had entered the training at sixteen, training alongside Prince Laurenn for a year, a period in which they solidified their friendship.
During his rest, a distant memory emerged. Still a child, Aleph saw himself surrounded by threatening flames. A protective figure stood between him and the fire. Then, a sudden rain began to extinguish the flames, while an ice barrier rose around them, protecting them from the intense heat. The identity of the figure remained hazy, but the power demonstrated by Leticia awakened a suspicion in Aleph. Could she be the person who had saved him from the flames?