Alice extended her hand, a small, knowing smirk playing on her lips. "Come. Stand up."
She took the hand with a visible shiver, her fingers trembling against Alice's palm. "Please... don't kill me! Who are you? How can anyone be so powerful?"
Alice's smirk softened slightly. "I am Alice. And you, little girl—who are you?"
"I am Treiffa," the girl whispered, her voice small. "I'm from Blackilion."
"Blackilion?" Alice's voice sharpened, her tone suddenly dangerous.
"Yes," Treiffa squeaked, shrinking back.
Alice studied her, her brow furrowed in confusion. "But your power... it's wind. Do the people of that realm not wield the shadows? Why is yours so different?"
Treiffa's expression grew dull, a shadow of sadness crossing her face. "My mother has no magic; she is from Albelion. My father... he is from Axelion. I suppose my power became this because of them." Despite her somber tone, a flicker of pride remained in her eyes.
Surprise flickered across Alice's face. "Then where do you live?"
"On the borders," Treiffa answered, regaining some of her calm. "The law doesn't reach us here. No one knows we exist."
Hearing this, a sharp pang of grief twisted in Alice's chest. She thought of her own hidden life, her own lost family.
Treiffa looked up at her curiously. "Why are you here? We usually attack unfamiliar faces. My father told me bad people would come to kill us for breaking the Law of the Regions."
Alice's expression clouded with a weary sadness. "Don't worry. No one is going to kill you today. Just be strong enough to protect your family. I am only here to find something... precious."
Seeing the pain in Alice's eyes, Treiffa felt a wave of sympathy. "Come, Alice. I'll take you to our home. Maybe my parents can help you."
"No," Alice demurred, "I don't wish to disturb your family."
But Treiffa grabbed Alice's hand and pulled. Her grip was warm—radiating a light that felt like a physical hum of energy. "Don't worry," Treiffa insisted with a bright, sun-drenched smile. "They will treat you warmly."
After a short walk, they reached a hidden cottage. To Alice, it was breathtaking. It was a modest structure, but it felt heavy with history; every weathered stone and winding vine seemed to whisper a story of love and survival.
"It's beautiful," Alice whispered, a rare, genuine smile fluttering across her lips.
"Get inside!" Treiffa chirped, swinging the door open.
Inside, a woman sat by the window, bathed in the soft glow of the afternoon sun. Her hair was a delicate silver-grey, and her frame appeared fragile, yet her eyes remained sharp and observant. She was knitting, her needles clicking softly until she looked up.
A sweet, melting smile transformed her face. "Welcome home, dear," she said, her voice a low, melodic hum.
Treiffa rushed over to hug her. "Mom, this is Alice. I found her in the woods. I accidentally attacked her... I thought maybe you could help her."
"Hello, Alice. I am Erica, Treiffa's mother. Forgive my daughter if she caused you any trouble."
"Not at all," Alice replied, her voice soft with surprise. "She's a kind child."
"Come, dear, have a seat," Erica urged, gesturing to a wooden chair. "You look exhausted."
As Alice sat, Erica turned to her daughter. "Treiffa, prepare some dinner for our guest."
"Understood, Mom!"
Once they were alone, Erica's gaze turned serious. Her voice remained low, but it held a hint of a chill. "So, tell me, Alice. Why have you come to this forgotten place? It is a dangerous thing to wander the boundaries of the world."
"I am searching for the truth," Alice said, her gaze dropping to the floor. "I need to reach Blackilion. I feel as though I've forgotten something... something more precious than life itself."
Erica watched her with pity. "Don't worry, my dear. Everything finds its way to a conclusion in the end."
For the first time in years, Alice felt a weight lift from her heart. But Erica's next words were a warning. "But be careful. Entering Blackilion alone is a journey into the mouth of a wolf."
"Don't worry, Mom!" Treiffa called from the kitchen. "She's the strongest person I've ever seen!"
Suddenly, the front door creaked open. A man with shock-white hair stepped inside. Like Erica, his skin was pale, but his face was etched with a deep, brooding gloom. The moment his eyes landed on Alice, the air in the room turned freezing. A thick, murderous intent rolled off him.
Alice didn't flinch. Her eyes ignited instantly, sparking with that terrifying red-orange glitter. The room became a pressure cooker of killing intent as the two titans stared each other down.
"My love, calm down," Erica interrupted, her voice cutting through the tension like a knife. "She is our guest."
The killing intent vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
"Forgive my husband, Jack," Erica said smoothly. "He is from Axelion, and he is... protective. Hunters have come for us before. He has learned to trust no one."
Alice nodded slowly. "I understand. I am sorry for the intrusion."
Erica laughed softly. "Why the apology, little Alice? Don't be silly."
Despite the warmth, Alice felt a hollow ache for them—for their broken, beautiful lives. "I must leave for Blackilion," she stated firmly.
Jack's voice was like grinding stone. "Why? Are you going there to start a war?"
"Dear," Erica warned. She said his name with a specific tone—a mix of deep love and sharp command that only a wife could master. She glared at him until he looked away.
Alice watched them, and suddenly, the world blurred. A memory flooded her mind, unbidden and raw.
She saw a man, his face obscured by a golden haze. "Alice! Alice, come here! Look... our daughter is walking! Look at her go!" The memory snapped shut, leaving Alice's eyes brimming with tears. The joy of the vision was so sharp it felt like it was breaking her.
"I... I need to leave," Alice choked out.
"But what about dinner?" Treiffa asked, looking disappointed.
Alice stood tall, her posture shifting into that of a Grand Mage—a warrior's command returning to her. She flashed a confident, iron-willed smirk. "I'll eat it next time. And make sure you cook a larger feast... because the next time I visit, I'll have two more family members with me."
Erica smiled, a look of true respect in her eyes. "You can do it, Alice. Go."
Jack watched her in silence, his cold stare lingering on her as she stepped toward the door.
"Goodbye, everyone," Alice said, her voice betraying a hint of the sadness she felt leaving the first warm home she had stepped into in years.
As she walked back into the cold woods, the warmth of the house lingered on her skin, fueling the fire in her heart.