The city was in a festive mood, perhaps because of the party at the nearby palace. I stumbled over cobblestones as I ran. Though I felt apprehensive about the flood of inner voices in the city, I found that they didn’t bother me—my focus was strictly on saving Alicia.
“Tell me where the Crimson Horse Tavern is!” I shouted at a random group of people. The ones who knew showed me the way immediately.
When I arrived at the tavern, I hurried to the second floor.
“Everyone besides Alicia, sleep!”
Everyone in the room toppled over in slumber.
“Alicia!” I called. “Alicia, are you all right?!”
At last, I found her—she was lying on the floor. I rushed over and propped her up.
“I’m okay,” she murmured. “I’m sorry for troubling you.”
“You’re sorry?! Those people were after me! This is all my fault… Are you hurt?”
She nodded and stood up, holding my hand for support. “It’s nothing serious. I just fell and got a few scratches when I tried to fight the kidnappers.”
Hearing her response, I let out a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness…”
Now that I’d found her safe and sound, my heart finally stopped threatening to explode. That said, there was no time to bask in our heartfelt reunion.
“We can’t stay here. We have to run,” I told her. “There could be others out to kill me.” I stood up and made to go out the way I came.
Just then, men appeared from another room and spotted us trying to flee.
“Hey, the kid is running away!” said one.
“Wait, isn’t that our target?!” asked another.
One of them cast a spell, shooting a stream of flames so bright it resembled a laser beam.
“Watch out, Your Highness!” Alicia cried, shoving me away. She alone stood directly in line of the spell.
“No! Alicia!”
The fiery beam pierced right through her.
“Ah… Aliciaaa!”
Time slowed down to a crawl—it was as if I watched her fall in slow motion. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the man click his tongue as he readied another fire spell.
“Everyone besides Alicia, fall asleep!” I said, running full speed toward her. “Alicia… Alicia!”
“Are you hurt, Your Highness?” Alicia asked hoarsely.
“I’m fine, don’t worry about me! You’re—”
“That’s great…”
Seeing her smile, I froze. “Why?”
Why are you smiling? Why didn’t you protect yourself? Why are you on the floor?!
“Since it was all so sudden, I couldn’t use my magic,” she replied, as if she could hear my thoughts. She launched into a coughing fit, spitting up blood.
That snapped me back to my senses. “Alicia, don’t speak! I’ll get you to a doctor right away!”
I channeled magic through my body and picked her up.
“You’re my first friend, Your Highness,” Alicia went on, heedless of my warning. “I wanted to protect you, no matter what… As long as you’re okay, I’m happy.”
Her smile grew wider as she closed her eyes.
“Alicia…? Alicia!” No matter how many times I called her name, she didn’t wake up. “Alicia, no!”
She’s…not breathing.
My legs gave out, and I crumpled down on the spot. I looked at my hands, dyed red with her blood. My entire body shook.
Why? Why did this have to happen to Alicia? No… No, no! I don’t want to lose her. Please… Please, wake up!
One after another, tears welled up from my eyes. They rolled down my cheeks and dripped down onto hers.
Drip. Drip.
“Alicia…”
Being with her made me so happy. For the very first time in this world, I had been at peace. Yet I was about to lose someone so precious like this?
“Nooooo!”
The moment I yelled, I felt a tremendous amount of mana flowing from my body. Five swords of just as many hues appeared around me.
“Are these…the Sacred Swords?”
The five swords spun around me in midair.
“Why are they here?”
I can only inherit the swords during the coronation or…when the king dies. Has something happened to Father?!
I wasn’t sure, but I didn’t have the time to think. I grabbed the amber-colored sword—the one that represented eternity—and drove it straight into Alicia’s heart. The sword emitted a dazzling amber light, and I felt even more mana drain from my body. My vision blurred, and I became so dizzy that I couldn’t distinguish up from down.
“Urgh…”
I vomited blood from the discomfort welling up from my stomach, but I held tight to the sword.
More… I have to channel more magic into it!
Somehow, I knew she would come back. I was absolutely certain of it.
Eventually, the light ebbed away. Once it had completely disappeared, I checked Alicia’s wound.
“Thank goodness,” I said.
To my surprise, her wound had sealed altogether. Most importantly, she started breathing again. Tears overflowed from my eyes once more, this time from relief. I’m so glad you’re all right…
“Oh, Alicia,” I murmured, gently caressing her cheek. She felt warm.
Utterly relieved, I collapsed on the spot. As I drifted off, I heard a familiar man’s voice.
“Your Highness!”