Echoes in the Water

Melissa and Max stood face to face for a few seconds, silence filling the hallway.

"So... what do you really want?" she asked , maintaining her haughty posture.

Max crossed his arms, looking at her intently.

"I want you to find a way to frame Shana for a crime. I want her wanted in every kingdom," Max replied.

Melissa sighed, relieved for a moment.

"This is complicated, Max. The only crime she could be committing is keeping the secret itself… but revealing it would put you all at risk," Melissa explained.

"I understand. In that case, there's nothing to be done," he said curtly.

"Exactly. And you'd better leave before Sebastian shows up and sees us talking like this," Melissa said .

Max took a step back.

"Okay. I'll wait outside, hidden. I want to see this 'aphrodisiac' you told me about right away. Come out a few minutes later, so as not to attract attention," said Max.

Melissa simply nodded, watching him disappear down the hallway. When she was alone, she felt her face grow hot.

She entered the royal chamber.

Grinn was focused on papers concerning the government of Omeron .

"Hi, dear, do you need help?" she asked casually.

"No, my love. Everything is under control," she replied . Grinn .

"So I'm going out for a bit to help the people of the city, okay?" Melissa said.

Grinn looked up.

"Do you want me to come with you? I just need to finish this first," Grinn asked.

"No, there's no need to rush. You can stay," she replied, smiling sweetly.

He nodded.

"Okay," he said . Grinn .

Melissa turned and left the palace.

On the busy streets, she discreetly looked around.

His gaze fell upon a tomato stand.

Behind the boxes, Max watched the movement, trying to disguise himself.

Upon noticing Melissa's gaze, he made a slight nod. She understood the signal and walked through the alleys to a quieter side street.

Suddenly, a familiar warmth coursed through his body.

"Are you there, Max?" she asked firmly.

FIRE OF YOUTH: Melissa 63%

"You look like you're sweating, Melissa," he replied, in a teasing tone.

"Shut up and lessen the effect now," Melissa ordered.

"As you wish." Max obeyed.

FIRE OF YOUTH: Melissa 57%

She wiped her face with a cloth and took a small bottle out of her bag.

"Use this. It's a spray that neutralizes magical alarms," she said , handing it to him.

Max sprayed his face and nodded.

"Interesting... even the favelas have systems like that," Max said , surprised.

— That's right. Let's go. — She turned towards the alley ahead.

The narrow alleys smelled of iron and smoke. Children played with counterfeit coins, old men whispered behind closed doors.

Melissa stopped in front of a simple house and looked around before knocking.

"The empire will be overthrown," he said in a low voice.

The door opened by itself.

Max raised his eyebrows.

The two went inside. Inside, the air was thick, stuffy, and filled with the scent of herbs.

"Show yourself, Leskip ," Melissa said .

elf emerged from the shadows .

"So you still call me when you need something, Your Majesty," he said with a wry smile.

Max narrowed his eyes.

"Why does Omeron keep an elf here?" he asked .

Melissa replied without hesitation:

"He's a prisoner of the kingdom, but useful. He was convicted of stealing people's life force. Besides... he knows I'm the Knight of Judgment." She looked at him.

Leskip clapped slowly.

"What a lovely secret revealed, isn't it?" he said . Leskip ironically.

"Let's stop this charade," she said.

"And who is the boy?" asked the elf .

"Max. He's going to help us investigate Ros 's death . But... he has his own interests. He wants an aphrodisiac," Melissa replied .

Max clenched his fists.

FIRE OF YOUTH: Melissa 69%

Suddenly, Melissa staggered slightly, a shiver running down her spine.

Leskip watched her, intrigued, and noticed the faint flame in Max's palm.

"It seems you've realized. The Queen of Omeron is under my control now," Max said coldly.

Melissa frowned.

"Control? Don't overdo it," Melissa said .

FIRE OF YOUTH: Melissa 73%

She took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure. Her body was reacting against its will. The heat was suffocating.

— Water... — he murmured, trying to disguise the tremor in his voice.

"Ask properly . Call me 'Mr. Max' and ask as my servant, " said Max.

Melissa stared at him, her eyes gleaming with anger and wounded pride.

"Please... Mr. Max... turn down the power and give me some water," she murmured, but with difficulty.

FIRE OF YOUTH: Melissa 51%

The air seemed to get lighter.

Leskip picked up a glass and handed it to her. She drank slowly, her face flushed from the effort of holding back.

"I'll need a good shower after this..." she murmured, adjusting her hair.

"Interesting. A human managed to control the queen's energy. I like bold men," she said . Leskip smiling.

"I want you to build a weapon. One that fires projectiles with an aphrodisiac effect," Max said , changing his tone.

Leskip frowned.

"I can do it, but with limitations: only two bullets. And depending on your energy level, it might not work," he explained . Leskip .

— Understood. — Max nodded.

Melissa stared at him.

"Who are you trying to achieve with this?" Melissa asked.

— Alisiya . — Max replied.

Silence fell over the room.

"Do you want to make her your prisoner?" Melissa asked seriously.

"No. I want to make her suffer," Max replied .

Melissa lowered her gaze, tired.

"He's a fool. Only Fujimoto can save her," Melissa said .

"I don't want to save her," Max retorted.

"Then you'll just destroy yourself along with her. Revenge never heals what hatred corrodes." Her voice came out firm, even though it trembled.

Leskip interrupted, clapping his hands.

"Philosophy later. We need to go out and collect the materials," he said . leskip .

teleportation magic take ?" Melissa asked .

"Three minutes if I go alone. Five with one person. Ten with two," Leskip replied.

Melissa's eyes widened.

"Ten minutes?!" Melissa said.

"Then we'll have enough time," Max said, smiling.

He looked around.

"Do you have any adventurer clothes here, Leskip ?" Max asked.

"I do. Why?" Leskip asked.

"Because Melissa is coming with us. She needs something suitable," Max replied .

The elf laughed.

— Of course. Let's choose something worthy of an "adventurous queen," she said . Leskip .

The two went up and returned wearing light clothing made of leather and reinforced fabric.

Melissa crossed her arms.

"I dress myself," Melissa said .

FIRE OF YOUTH: Melissa 66%

A sudden warmth coursed through her body. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

"Okay... I accept this outfit. But tone down the effect," he said , almost through gritted teeth.

FIRE OF YOUTH: Melissa 58%

"Now hand it over to me. I need to get ready." She stared at him.

Max gave a half-smile.

"Before that... take a shower. You're sweating too much," Max said sarcastically.

She narrowed her eyes, but didn't argue.

FIRE OF YOUTH: Melissa 57%

"Okay. I'll use the bathtub." She turned to Leskip .

The elf nodded, and Melissa went up the stairs, disappearing down the hallway.

Max watched her go, a half-smile appearing on his lips.

The hot water trickled down Melissa's shoulders, turning the steam into a thin veil that concealed the blush on her face.

She sank up to her chin, trying to calm herself. Her body still held the lingering heat of the Fire of Youth, an inner flame that didn't burn the flesh, but the reason.

Suddenly, Melissa realized something.

"Where's the towel?!" she shouted , angrily.

The door opened and Max appeared with the nonchalance of someone who had already crossed too many boundaries.

"Your Majesty... I must admit, the Queen of Omeron is more imposing than I imagined," he said with a cheeky smile, extending the towel and the new clothes.

"Close the door. Now." Melissa blushed, biting her lip to contain her fury.

Max simply smiled and left. Minutes later, Melissa emerged from the bathroom, dressed in her adventurer outfit.

Leskip , the elf , watched in silence.

"Now let's go," he said.

"Okay," Melissa replied, still visibly uncomfortable.

Max simply nodded.

Leskip raised his staff, and in a few seconds the three disappeared in a bluish-green flash .

When the light faded, they were faced with immense trees and ancient roots that seemed to form living walls.

"Where are we?" Max asked .

Giolal Forest — replied Melissa.

Max raised an eyebrow.

"If you can bring us all this way, why don't you escape this spell that binds you to the kingdom?" Max asked curiously.

Leskip gave a bitter smile.

"Because the spell is clever. It allows me to stay only in Omeron and Giolal . If I try to go beyond that… I'm forced to return to the slums of Omeron ." He snapped his fingers and a faint blue spark flashed.

"I understand," Max murmured.

The elf looked at Melissa.

"But if you are now a servant of the 'new master,' you could ask him to release his prisoner," he said . Leskip .

Melissa crossed her arms.

"It's no use. Even if you force me, I'm not going to remove the seal," Melissa replied.

Max narrowed his eyes.

"Follow me," Leskip ordered .

The three of them made their way along a moss-covered path to a dark crevice between two rocks.

Jamaka 's Cave ," said the elf .

Melissa stopped, alarmed.

"Are you crazy?!" Melissa shouted.

"What is it now?" Max asked .

"There's a furious bear in there. It was sealed here precisely because not even the knights could stop it," Melissa replied.

Leskip simply smiled.

"Then it's good to have the 'knight queen' with us," Leskip said.

"If the bear attacks, protect yourselves. I'll take care of it." Melissa took a deep breath, drew her sword, and said firmly.

The three of them went inside. The air was heavy, smelling of earth and dried blood. But what they found was not a roar, but silence.

In the center of the cave lay the motionless body of the giant bear.

The claws were broken, the ground covered in marks from the fight.

"It can't be..." Melissa murmured.

"Who killed him?" Max asked .

Leskip examined the body.

— Someone powerful. And recently. — he said . Leskip .

Melissa took a step back, about to scream, but Max held her back and covered her mouth.

FIRE OF YOUTH: Melissa 73%

"Calm down. Shouting is the worst thing you can do right now," he whispered .

The heat made her shiver, but she understood his intention.

FIRE OF YOUTH: Melissa 51%

"Okay... Let's continue," she said , taking a deep breath.

At the back of the cave was a small room filled with flasks, scrolls, and crystals. Leskip collected some.

"I have what I need. Now, let's get out of here," he said . Leskip .

As they left, the light of dusk enveloped them.

"How much longer until we can teleport back?" Melissa asked .

"Five minutes," replied the elf .

Melissa looked at the nearby river. The sound of the water drew her in.

"Then I'll take advantage of this and cool off," said Melissa.

Max smiled slightly.

"Just don't blame me if I look," Max said .

Melissa glared at him.

"Peek, and I'll cut your throat," Melissa retorted.

Leskip raised his hands.

"I heard nothing, nor did I see anything," he said . Leskip .

Melissa walked to the river. As she approached the bank, she noticed something unusual: women's clothing folded on the grass, protected by a magical barrier.

She slowly submerged herself, letting the cold water wash away the weight of the day.

But the tranquility was interrupted by a sudden ringing of the doorbell.

Melissa gasped, turning away.

— Max, stop it … — Melissa was saying.

But the voice that answered was not male.

"Who is Max?" asked a soft, almost curious voice.

Melissa turned around and came face to face with a young woman with dark hair and a piercing gaze.

"Who are you?" Melissa asked , taking a step back.

— Fedorova Alisiya — replied the girl, smiling serenely.

The name rang like thunder in his mind.

"And you? What's your name?" he continued . Alisiya .

Melissa hesitated.

"I am Merechale Melissa… queen of Omeron ," Melissa replied.

Alisiya 's eyes lit up.

"The queen? How interesting… I never imagined sharing a bath with royalty," she said . Alisiya .

Melissa felt her heart race.

"They say you revolutionized the kingdom. Tell me... if a tragedy were to happen, would your army be able to prevent another massacre?" he asked . Alisiya with a psychopath's gaze.

Melissa clenched her fists.

"We will always protect our people," Melissa replied .

— What a beautiful speech. Now, tell me… Satoru "Did Fujimoto talk about me?" Alisiya smiled, but there was something cold in her eyes.

Melissa froze.

" Dolberg Cassandra must have been a good visitor. I can imagine what the reunion between sisters was like." Alisiya 's voice was sweet and menacing at the same time.

Melissa could barely breathe.

Alisiya approached and touched her shoulders.

"Don't be scared. I'm just a box of secrets," he said . Alisiya .

"Are my brother and his group here?" She leaned in and whispered.

" N-no ," Melissa replied, trembling.

Alisiya smiled, almost maternally.

"Then why did you mention Max's name?" Alisiya asked.

Melissa's silence spoke for itself.

"I understand. Don't worry, I won't kill you." The girl walked to the shore.

Melissa took a step back.

— So… why? — Melissa tried to get the words out of her mouth.

— Because it wouldn't be fun yet. You seem useful to me. — he replied Alisiya .

"Take me to Max." She dressed calmly and, looking over her shoulder, said.

Melissa hesitated, but obeyed.

Along the way, the air felt heavier, as if the forest were holding its breath.

When they arrived, Leskip saw them first.

"Well, well... the queen brought company," he said . Leskip .

Max turned around and, upon seeing the newcomer's face, his face turned pale.

— Ah… Alisiya .

She smiled.

"Hi, Max. Have you gotten over the grief of your family's death yet?" Alisiya asked sarcastically.

The silence was absolute.

Leskip watched from the corner of his eye.

Alisiya approached Max, whispering something that sent a chill down his spine.

"I may have destroyed your city and killed your family, but don't blame me. Blame Shana for betraying you. And blame Fujimoto ... for not expelling her ," he said . Alisiya .

Max's eyes widened.

"How do you know that?!" Max asked , startled.

She just smiled.

"It doesn't matter. But I'll leave you with an offer: make Fujimoto suffer, and I will repay you with gratitude," Alisiya replied.

"I refuse," Max replied, his voice hoarse but firm.

Alisiya tilted her head, disappointed.

"That's a shame. The next time we see each other... you might not have a choice, " he said . Alisiya .

And he disappeared into the forest mist, as if he had never been there.