The next morning, Master Yoshi informed them that he would send a mentor to the Autumn Kingdom to train Leticia. The rumors about her powers had spread, and proper training was essential. The Master asked Aleph to keep Leticia's true nature as a Guardian of Nature with the attribute of winter a secret, for now. The revelation, however, confirmed Aleph's suspicions. Leticia was the person he was looking for, the one to whom he owed a debt of gratitude.
Aleph led Leticia, still asleep, through a magical portal. He transported them near the border of the Spring Kingdom, as a direct journey to the Autumn Kingdom was impossible due to the strong magical barriers protecting it.
They were near a dense and mysterious forest when Leticia awoke with a start. Her eyes moved quickly in all directions, and an expression of confusion and fear crossed her face. Everything around her seemed so different that she could barely comprehend where she was, as if she had just emerged from a terrible nightmare. The feeling of disorientation was so strong that a slight headache crept in.
Noticing her discomfort, Aleph approached carefully, took one of her hands, and with a soft, reassuring voice, asked gently:
"Your Highness, are you alright?"
Leticia nodded, then noticed a delicate necklace around her neck. A light blue crystal, set in a thin silver chain, shone in the sunlight. Surprised, she looked up at Aleph and asked:
"What is this?"
"It is a protective amulet, Your Highness. I ask that you wear it from now on."
She held the crystal, admiring its beauty. The stone glowed softly, and although she was still confused, she felt that something about this amulet was comforting. Without further questions, she accepted the gift, but she noticed there was something different in Aleph's behavior which, combined with her inexplicable awakening in an unknown place, intrigued her.
They traveled to a nearby village, where they rested for a day. During a walk, Leticia took an interest in a bookstore and went inside, seeking a distraction for the long journey that still awaited them. While Aleph waited for her outside, Leticia examined the books on the shelves, when a map of the kingdom caught her attention.
"How did I get to this place so quickly?" she thought, confused. "My memory has been a bit fuzzy."
Consulting the map, she asked the bookseller about the cities they had supposedly traveled through. His answer confirmed her suspicions. Aleph had used some kind of special ability to transport them. Observing the kingdom emblems on the map, Leticia remembered the symbol engraved on Prince Ryuuji's gift and, suddenly, an idea occurred to her. The same symbol was present on Aleph's sword.
"It's not possible!" she thought, her heart racing. "He couldn't be... Prince Ryuuji? Only members of the royal family possess swords with the royal emblem. Her and Laurenn's swords bore the symbol of the Winter Kingdom."
And then, the pieces began to fall into place. Laurenn had only recognized Aleph after her physical description, mentioning that they had trained together. And only members of the royal family are trained by Master Yoshi. Aleph's fighting techniques... everything pointed to the same conclusion. Leticia concluded that Aleph was Prince Ryuuji, disguised to complete the final stage of his royal training, just as Laurenn had done in the Spring Kingdom.
"If he is Prince Ryuuji..." Leticia thought, a shy smile appearing on her lips. "Then there's no problem with... falling in love with him."
A blush crept over her face as she glanced discreetly at Aleph, who was waiting patiently for her outside. She needed to confirm her suspicions. The handwriting from the letter that accompanied the gift would be the final proof.
After leaving the bookstore, Leticia and Aleph went to the inn to collect their belongings and continue their journey. Leticia watched Aleph fill out the registration form. Leticia observed from a distance, struggling with a mix of anxiety and expectation—something inside her desperately wished for his handwriting to be the same as the letter's.
When her eyes scanned the letters on the page, her heart skipped a beat: it was the same handwriting. The elegant and precise script was unmistakable, and a mixture of relief and astonishment washed over Leticia.
Aleph, oblivious to the impact this discovery was having on her, finished filling out the form. Leticia looked away, trying to calm the thoughts that were now swirling in her mind. For an instant, she felt secure and intrigued at the same time, but she couldn't reveal how much this meant to her.