The Gate Guardian

Leo didn't respond, his hands tightened on the scars.
He turned and walked away.
The silence between them stretched, heavy enough to make Emma shift uneasily

"It's time to move, Alice," Leo said quietly, gently shaking her shoulders.

"AAAH, JUST FIVE MORE MINUTES!" Alice groaned, turning to the other side.

"Aren't you angry?" Emma asked with a disbelieving smile.

Leo stopped shaking Alice's shoulders, his face turning to the side.

"Listen, Emma… or whatever your name is… I don't care about the past between us.
I don't even remember who you are."
Emma’s smile faltered, but she bit her lip and said nothing

Leo grabbed Alice's hand.
"I just have one thing to say to you:
I won't forgive that rotten king."

"Let's go, Alice." Leo dragged her along while she was still asleep.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! I SAID JUST FIVE MORE MINUTES!"

Leo sniffed something and let go of Alice's hand.
"Eh?"
His nose twitched; the faint smell of smoke curled in the morning air

Leo walked and saw a campfire beside the river.
"Was someone here?" he whispered.

"The campfire's just embers now," he said, staring at the remaining coals.

"Seems like that's not our secret place anymore," Alice followed, wiping her tears.
Her words stung, though Leo didn’t show it

Emma kept watching Alice and Leo as they walked away.

As they stepped out of their spot,
"H-Hey! Wait!" Emma followed, clutching her chest, her breath unsteady.

"I've got no time to waste. I need to find my sister," Leo said. He didn't turn, but Alice did.

"I can... tell you where your sister is."

Leo hesitated for a moment before turning to Emma.
"How do you know?"

"I don't know exactly who your sister is, but they've hired maids recently in Rosa's Kingdom."

"Rosa's Kingdom? Huh, I hope it's not chaotic like its village," Alice said.

"I've been traveling all these years… from castle to castle, village to village. I'm not certain your sister is at Rosa Castle though. Since Rosa's a sub-kingdom to the Eastern Kingdom, she wouldn't be this far."
Leo’s jaw clenched; every word she spoke only deepened his suspicion

Leo dragged his feet toward Emma as if each step weighed a ton, then leaned close to her.
"Hey… that's too close," Emma said nervously.

"If you lie to me, I will kill you," Leo said, his eyes cold and unwavering. His grip on the sword tightened.

"Swear I won't! Trust my knowledge, my experience, and the places I've been!"

Emma led the way, walking confidently ahead while both trailed behind her. The journey stretched on for half an hour.

"Hmm, this girl's good at shortcuts. Last time we were at a hill, and now we're approaching an old road," Alice said, tilting her head to Leo.

But Leo was silent, lost in thought, staring at Emma.
"Huh," Alice pouted.

"Are we there YET??" Alice whined, starting to complain.

"Stay patient! We're about to arrive," Emma turned to Alice.

"See this Milestone? It means that we have crossed more than half the way."

Emma pointed at a milestone seemingly planted in the ground.

"HALF WAY?! I am tired!!" Alice cried, then ran to sit on that rock.
Emma rolled her eyes, but even she looked a little winded

As they were walking, they read the sign: 'Welcome to The Rosa Castle.' Built with gold, it shone as they walked through.

"We did it!! Finally!!" Alice's sad tears turned into tears of joy.

"Yes, Rosa Castle… unlike its village… a majestic place renowned for elegance and noble reputation," Emma said with a wide smile.

"But… it's now surrounded by huge walls?!" Emma's smile vanished as she saw the new fortifications.
The towering stone loomed over them, casting a shadow that swallowed their excitement whole

"Since when was it walled?! I don't remember these!"

"The walls cover the whole castle. It's completely invisible now," Leo said.

"That's what Emma just said, haha!" Alice teased Leo, but he didn't react.

"You don't remember them, huh?" Leo stared coldly at Emma.

"L-Let's keep going..." A nervous sweat dropped from Emma's forehead.

"Let's calm down, okay, you both?!" A flicker of anxiety showed on Alice's face, palms down in a calming gesture.

Once they reached the main entrance, they found a huge gate… guarded by someone standing watch…

"Guys… who's this?" Alice watched the guy as if he were another layer of wall.

A mountain of a man wielding a giant crusher stood at the gate, confronting them; his footsteps shook the ground like an earthquake.
Even Leo’s steady breath faltered at the sheer weight of the man’s presence.

"What's happening?!" Alice jumped onto Leo's shoulder, her head buried in his neck.

"That's unbelievable," Emma wiped her sweat, her voice trembling.

As they approached him—
"NO ONE SHALL PASS!!!" he yelled, his voice echoing, making birds scatter to the opposite side.

"I, THE GREAT GORO, WILL NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO ENTER!"

"My eaaaaaaaars!" Alice screamed.

"This sound is reaching other kingdoms for sure!!" she added, covering her ears.

Alice hid behind Leo's leg, clutching his trousers like a stray cat.
"GET HIM, HERO!"

"Alice! Get off my leg first!" Leo pushed Alice slightly, and she started laughing.

"We're not here to play, Alice!"

"Alright, alright." Alice let go of Leo and went back to Emma.

He looks like Gromman but… is more muscled… I sense something else… I can't describe it…
He's way too different…
His presence… too heavy… Leo thought

Leo stared at the giant, almost losing consciousness; his eyes blurred, seeing Goro in duplicate.
His grip loosened for a heartbeat, fear creeping in like frost

"LEO! LEO! LEO! WAKE UP!" Alice's voice reached him.

For a moment, her sound was soft and motherly, Leo thought it was his mother's voice.
"No time to sleep, Leo!"

Leo gasped, Alice's voice snapping the world back into sharp, cruel focus.
"Oh… Somehow I woke up." Leo tightened his grip.
The fear hardened into determination, his eyes burning against the giant’s shadow

Alice and Emma stepped away, giving Leo space.

"Good luck, Hero!!!!!" Alice's voice echoed.
"Good luck, Leo!" Emma waved.

"I don't think I can do it… No… No time to think." Leo stared into the giant's eyes.

Goro stood motionless, like a boulder guarding the gate.

…It's worth a shot. Leo thought

Leo rushed directly at the giant.