Prince Alaric: whispering D-darling, look here. This treasure...it, it might be the clue we need. What do you think?
A-Alaric, where did you find this? Is it... magical? his eyes sparkle, clearly entranced by the shiny object
holds the treasure closer to Cox I-I found it hidden among the ancient ruins deep within the enchanted forest.
he reaches out to touch it, his fingers trembling with anticipation R-ruins... ancient... do you think... he hesitates it could... lead us home?
gently places his hand over Cox's, guiding his fingers to touch the treasure I... I hope so, darling.
I...I think it does. But...but what if it's guarded by a dragon, or...or worse? he shudders at the thought
squeezes Cox's hand reassuringly W-we won't know until we try, my brave love.
A-Alaric... he swallows hard, fear evident in his eyes I...I can't help but feel scared. What if...what if we're not strong enough?
takes a deep breath, his eyes filled with determination
he looks at him, searching his eyes for reassurance
pulls Cox into a tight embrace W-we'll face whatever comes together, my love.
Y-you promise, Alaric? he whispers, leaning into the embrace
nods, his voice full of determination I promise, Cox. We'll face whatever challenges lie ahead, together.
he sighs softly, resting his head against Alaric's chest Thank you, Alaric...I trust you.
kisses the top of Cox's head gently You have always been my guiding star, Cox. Together, we'll conquer any obstacle that stands in our way.
he nods, trusting him completely
releases Cox from the embrace and steps back, determination shining in his eyes
W-what's...what's the plan, Alaric? How are we going to get past...whatever is guarding those ruins?
paces back and forth, deep in thought We need to gather more information about the ruins and the potential guardians.
I...I could try some...some magic. Maybe a spell...
stops pacing and turns to face Cox Magic... yes, that could be useful. But first, we need to find a safe place to prepare.
S-safe place... he swallows hard, fear and determination warring in his eyes Okay, let's...let's find a safe place.
grabs Cox's hand and starts leading him deeper into the forest We'll keep an eye out for any potential threats and find a secluded spot to gather our thoughts.
Okay, Alaric... he lets Alaric lead him, constantly scanning their surroundings
pauses suddenly, his eyes widening in alarm Wait! There's someone... or something coming this way! Stay close, Cox!
he tenses up, gripping Alaric's hand tightly Oh god, what...what is it, Alaric?
quickly pulls Cox behind a large tree, peeking out cautiously It appears to be a group of bandits, armed and dangerous.
Bandits?! Shit, Alaric...we can't...can't fight them! We need to...to hide!
whispers urgently We can't just hide, Cox. We need to find a way to deter them without resorting to violence.
B-but...how, Alaric? They're armed! desperation and fear mix in his voice
quickly rummages through his bag and pulls out a small vial I have a potion here that can create a diversion.
D-diversion... he swallows hard, looking at Alaric I-I trust you, Alaric. Go ahead...
raises the vial high and throws it to the ground, breaking it open Brace yourself, Cox!
a bright light flashes before his eyes, blinding him momentarily Shit, Alaric...what was that?!
smirks, leaning closer to Cox That, my dear Cox, was the power of distraction.
G-god, Alaric...that was...intense! he steadies himself, taking a deep breath So...are they gone?
looks around cautiously They seem to have been temporarily stunned by the potion. We need to move quickly before they recover.
Right...let's...let's go then, Alaric. he pushes aside his fear, following Alaric
quickly leads the way through the dense forest, glancing over his shoulder occasionally Keep your guard up, Cox.
he tries to steady his trembling hands, keeping close behind Alaric Okay...okay, Alaric. I trust you...
stops abruptly, turning to face Cox with determination in his eyes Cox, I need you to trust me completely. We're going to take a detour.
A-detour? he looks worried but nods Okay, Alaric...
grabs Cox's hand tightly, intertwining their fingers Trust me, Cox. This detour will be worth it. We're going to find a hidden waterfall nearby.
W-waterfall? How...how do you know about it, Alaric?
starts walking briskly towards the waterfall, speaking quickly I stumbled upon it during one of my hunting trips.
Hunting trips? surprised You...you hunt? Here, in the forest?
smirks and nods Yes, I do. It's one of my ways to clear my mind and unwind. But enough about that.
O-okay... he follows along, intrigued yet cautious Lead the way, Alaric...
leads Cox to the hidden waterfall, his grip tightening on Cox's hand Just stay close, my love. The path can be a bit slippery.