"This city is alive tonight," Adonis said with a rare smile. "I want to show you something special."
He gently took her hand and pulled her towards the central market, where everything was vibrant. Children ran around holding colorful balloons, street musicians played their instruments skillfully, and stalls displayed everything imaginable, from honey-glazed sweets to jewelry adorned with precious stones.
Adonis pointed to a candy stall and said, "Try this."
Daphne took a small piece of sugar-dusted candy, and as she tasted it, she wrote in her notebook:
"It's like a piece of heaven. Did you used to eat these?"
Adonis laughed, his deep voice harmonizing with the night's ambiance, and said:
"It was my favorite when I was a child."
She looked at him with a smile and wrote:
"It seems you haven't changed much; you still hold onto some of your childhood."
Adonis led her to a small bridge in the middle of a nearby forest. The bridge was surrounded by night-blooming cherry trees, whose flowers glowed with faint colors under the moonlight. The scent of jasmine filled the air, and the quiet, broken only by the soft sound of water flowing beneath the bridge, made the scene look like a carefully painted picture.
There, the two stood, and Daphne looked up at the sky in amazement. Fireworks began to light up the sky with successive bursts of color—red, blue, and yellow—adorning the heavens like blooming flowers. The reflection of the lights in her eyes made her seem to carry all the colors of the world.
Adonis was looking at her, not the fireworks. He whispered as if the words escaped without thought:
"Seeing you happy like this... makes me feel something I've never understood before."
She turned to him when she felt his gaze. His face was very close, his calm features reflecting everything he couldn't say. She smiled and wrote:
"What is this feeling?"
He replied with a small smile, his voice soft but deep:
"It's as if I finally... have a place where I belong."
At that moment, the wind stood still as if watching the scene. Daphne gently placed her hand on his, and wrote:
"Me too. Your presence made me find my world."
They returned to the city to continue the celebration.
Adonis pointed to a ring of people in the center of the square, where magic shows and illusions were being performed. They approached to watch the magician pull flames from his hands, then transform them into swarms of butterflies that flew towards the sky.
"What do you think?" Adonis asked, noticing the amazement on her face.
She wrote quickly:
"It's amazing! Can you do something like that?"
He laughed and said:
"I don't think I'm good at tricks, but I can show you my swordsmanship someday."
The night continued with more enjoyable activities, from riding a Ferris wheel that offered a panoramic view of the city to trying exotic foods that Daphne had never known before.
At the end of the night, after the fireworks had ended, snow began to fall.
The entire empire was covered in a white blanket, adding another layer of charm to its magic. They walked side by side, Yarrow and Marshmallow following them with small steps.
Adonis stopped and looked at Daphne, saying in a calm tone:
"This is the first snow of the year. It's said that the first snow brings good luck to those who see it with someone they love."
She raised her head towards the sky, watching the snow fall gently. She wrote:
"So... we are lucky."
He smiled and said:
"Yes, and I think I'm the luckiest."
That night was the beginning of unforgettable memories, and moments that made each of them feel that life, despite everything, was worth living.
As Adonis and Daphne walked back home, a blanket of pure white snow covered the city.
The golden streetlights cast a warmth on the cold scene, and the sound of their footsteps sinking softly into the snow created a quiet rhythm, as if they were living in a moment separate from time.
Suddenly, an old woman with kind features and rosy cheeks, as if the cold had brought them to life, appeared before them. She wore a heavy gray coat and a small hat adorned with feathers. Her smile was as warm as if she had known them for a long time.
Old Woman: "Ah, good evening, you beautiful young people."
Adonis stopped cautiously, hesitant, but Daphne smiled and wrote in her notebook:
"Good evening, how can we help you?"
The woman laughed, her voice like the murmur of water in quiet springs:
"Oh, you don't need to help me. But I can see something special between you... you are lovers, aren't you?"
Adonis looked at Daphne for a moment. His eyes hesitated, as if considering the right answer, but he smiled and said in a quiet voice:
"Yes... you could say that."
The old woman's face lit up with joy:
"Oh, I knew it! You are perfect for each other. There's a bond between you that nothing can break. And for that... I will give you a small gift."
Her old, worn bag opened, and two distinctive books emerged.
The first book was matte black, its cover surrounded by silver engravings that reflected the moonlight. The second was a shiny gold, adorned with delicate patterns as if etched by an artist's hand.
Old Woman: "These books are not ordinary, my dears. They choose their owners themselves. And they have chosen you specifically. You will know their true value when the time is right."
Adonis took the black book, while Daphne took the golden one, and each looked at the other with a mixture of amazement and curiosity.
Adonis: "What do you mean? How can a book choose its owner?"
The woman smiled with a gentle knowing look:
"That is a question you will answer yourselves in the future. But remember one thing... these books are connected to each other. Their secrets will open the way for you if you listen to your hearts."
Then she bid them farewell in a friendly manner:
"Now, go home safely. Tonight still holds many surprises. And don't forget... everything happens for a reason."
She left quietly, leaving behind light footprints on the snow, as if she had never been there.
---
At home, after they sat by the fireplace, Daphne decided to explore her book.
She opened it carefully, and a text written in a language she had never seen before appeared before her, yet it seemed to address her directly. She tried to read the words, and suddenly, the letters glowed with a golden light, and the text began to form in a language she understood:
"Everything has a beginning, and every secret has a key. You are here to know the truth, and the truth will reveal itself when you are ready.
Love is the only power that defies time, but it is also the weakest against the truth."
The words held a mysterious meaning, but they left a feeling of unease in her heart. She looked at Adonis, who was holding his black book, staring at it as if reading its depths.
Daphne wrote to him in her notebook:
"Is there anything in your book?"
He looked up at her, his eyes serious and thoughtful:
"Not texts... but blank pages, as if waiting for me to write something. But it carries a strange feeling... as if it knows me."
She smiled, but she couldn't hide the worry that began to creep into her heart. She wrote:
"Maybe we should be careful. The woman said we would know its value later... that means there's more waiting for us."
Adonis: "Nothing happens without a reason, as the old woman said. If these books are related to what we are going through, we will understand soon. For now, let's enjoy the moment."
But Daphne couldn't ignore the words of the golden book.
There was an inner feeling telling her that these books would change the course of their lives... and perhaps their relationship too.
From afar, the sound of the wind began to rise as if the night itself was telling them that the adventure had begun, and that the books they held were not just gifts, but keys to a world full of secrets and dangers.
The next morning, in the vast training hall within the Imperial Palace, the echo of swords filled the air with every movement. Helior, the young prince with a serious face and sharp features, was facing his brother Adonis, whose face held a faint smile that couldn't hide his latent strength.
Helior, breathing deeply: "Let's see if you can defeat me this time, Adonis."
Adonis raised his left eyebrow and smiled calmly, a hint of challenge in his voice: "A new experience, isn't it?"
The confrontation intensified, swords clashing and gleaming under the dim light of the hall. Suddenly, with a grace and speed that no one expected, Adonis knocked Helior's sword from his hand, sending it clattering to the ground. In a moment of silence, the sword lay gleaming at Adonis's feet.
Adonis looked at Helior with a scrutinizing gaze, then said in a calm tone with a slight hint of mockery: "I think it's time for you to start training seriously, Prince. Better luck next time."
In the corner of the hall, the Emperor watched the scene attentively, a hint of relief in his eyes. But he was quickly forced to hide his proud smile when he turned his face towards the Empress, who stood beside him with clear lines of anger etched on her face.
Emperor, in a quiet voice tinged with genuine admiration: "Adonis is unmatched in his fighting prowess."
Empress, with a sharp tone laden with displeasure: "And what is that to us? The important thing is that Helior is ready, for he is the rightful heir to the future."
The Emperor chuckled, but his laughter was a mixture of sorrow and pride: "No need to worry, for Helior may be the heir to the throne, but Adonis will settle for nothing less than being Emperor. But if things remain this way, the empire may be in danger."
The Empress looked at him in astonishment, her eyes gleaming with a sharpness he had never seen before: "What do you mean?"
The Emperor, extending his hand towards the window and gazing at the distant horizon, his voice filled with resolve: "Shambhala has always been a symbol of peace and strength, and I will not allow my spoiled son to bring it down. There must be stability, even if it requires everything to change."
The Empress's eyes gleamed with a cunning glint at that moment, as she thought of the days when the Emperor did not know her dark past. "Peace, yes... but what price will everyone pay?" she whispered to herself, her voice fading into the expectant silence of the hall.
In the quiet evening, flames danced on the walls of the spacious living room, spreading their warmth and glow throughout the space. Adonis and Daphne sat on the sofa near the fireplace, where the firelight reflected on their faces. Adonis was slightly relaxed, his head leaning forward, his blue eyes contemplating the flames in deep silence, as if he were speaking to their tongues in a language no one else understood.
Daphne, on the other hand, sat beside him, quiet, holding her pen which moved lightly over the pages of her notebook, as if she were recording thoughts she feared would be lost in the rush of the moment. Her eyes, shimmering with the firelight, watched her words before she raised her head to look at Adonis with a hidden shyness.
Yarrow, the loyal dog, ran around the room energetically, chasing his tail in a childish scene that brought joy, while Marshmallow, the white cat with luminous eyes, watched him from afar with cautious steps and curious glances. Daphne's faint smile, which seemed stolen from time, filled the room with greater warmth when Yarrow tried to jump onto the sofa and slipped comically, eliciting her quiet laughter.
Daphne wrote her words in beautiful script, then held her notebook out to him. Adonis took the paper and looked at it, reading in a soft voice:
"Won't you ever ask me how I became a designer?"
Adonis, with eyes full of interest, looked up at her and smiled a faint, warm smile. He said in a deep voice filled with confidence:
"I've always loved your designs since I first saw them, but I don't need to ask. I believe the answer is deeper than words can convey."
Daphne's cheeks flushed with shyness, and a quiet smile, carrying a mixture of bashfulness and joy, spread across her lips. She looked at him as if silently challenging him to read her thoughts, while Yarrow approached her and rested his head on her lap affectionately, as if wanting to protect her. Marshmallow sat nearby, watching the scene with her bright blue eyes.
Adonis paused before speaking again, as if the words needed to choose their place carefully:
"There's something else..." he said slowly, his voice hiding deeper dimensions. "I heard about that rare gum everyone's talking about... but I don't want to ask for details. What truly matters to me... is that you are here. Your presence is enough to fill this place."
Silence hung in the air for a moment, the sound of the fireplace like a quiet melody enveloping the moment. Daphne raised her eyes to meet his, and a smile of light drew itself on her face. She whispered to herself in a shy but certain voice:
"You mean more than you think, Adonis."
Adonis sighed deeply, as if his breath carried with it everything he couldn't express. He reached out and gently placed his hand on her cheek, his fingers as if telling a story that was not yet finished. "With you, here, I find everything I've been searching for."
The two exchanged gazes laden with unspoken promises, and a quiet smile brought them together, like a shawl of emotions enveloping them in a moment that time would never forget.
---
The room was filled with the warmth of the fireplace, and the flames whispered in their own language, casting their wavy shadows on the walls. Adonis and Daphne sat near the hearth, each lost in their thoughts. Yarrow was stretched out on the sofa beside them, his head resting on Daphne's feet, enjoying her gentle hand stroking his fur. Marshmallow, the small cat, sat on the floor, looking at them curiously while flicking her tail lightly.
Between Adonis's hands was a leather-bound book, its pages completely white, bearing no writing, as if it were a riddle in itself. Adonis was turning the blank pages in frustration, as if searching for a hidden meaning, something yet to be written.
He said in a low voice, as if speaking to himself:
"It's strange that the old woman gave us two books... one blank and the other full of secrets I don't understand."
Daphne looked up at him for a moment, then at her book, which she had received from the same woman. Its cover was old, and its pages bore writing in a strange language that slowly transformed into words Daphne alone understood.
Adonis, who had been watching her book with a skeptical look, said in a tone full of curiosity:
"Your book... looks different from mine. What's in it?"
Daphne, as usual, did not speak. She took out her small notebook and wrote quickly:
"It has strange writing... but it turns into a language I know whenever I read it."
Adonis read her words carefully, then raised his eyebrows in surprise:
"It changes? How can something like that happen?"
Daphne closed the book slowly and wrote:
"I don't know, but it's like messages directed at me. As if it knows me."
Adonis pondered her words, then returned his gaze to his blank book. He turned another page, then said with a faint smile:
"Maybe my book is waiting for me to write something in it."
He looked up at her and said in a tone he tried to make lighthearted:
"At least your book says something. As for me, I only find the silence of paper."
Daphne smiled faintly, but did not reply. She looked at Marshmallow, who was staring at her as if understanding something that humans did not.
The atmosphere in the room was a mixture of quiet and mystery, as if the books in their hands held secrets too great to be revealed in a single moment.
---
The room was steeped in nocturnal quiet, illuminated by the dancing flames in the stone fireplace. Adonis and Daphne sat on a sofa before the hearth, the warmth of the fire enveloping them in a cozy embrace despite the heavy silence between them.
On the edge of the sofa, Yarrow, the loyal dog, lay stretched out, his large head resting on Adonis's feet, while Marshmallow, the small cat, was curled into a tiny ball of fur on the cushion beside Daphne, purring softly as if singing a lullaby to reassure everyone.
Adonis sat with a straight back, still as a statue, his blue eyes following with a hidden depth the strange book that Daphne was turning the pages of. Between them was a mixed feeling of tension and curiosity.
Daphne was nervous, the tips of her fingers trembling as she ran them over the engraved letters on the old pages. Her slightly damp hair still dripped after she returned from the rainy outdoors, and Marshmallow nestled into her lap seeking warmth, which brought a small smile to her lips despite the bewilderment occupying her.
Yarrow, as if sensing something, suddenly raised his head, his pricked ears directed towards the book. He crawled slowly to approach Daphne, his eyes gleaming with an unusual intelligence, as if he understood that something unnatural was about to happen.
Then the letters in the book glowed.
A faint glimmer appeared on the pages, gradually increasing until the words became clear, glowing with an unusual golden shimmer:
"If it weren't for humans, we would be fine."
Marshmallow, who was in Daphne's lap, suddenly woke up and let out a soft, nervous meow. The small cat jumped from her arms and ran towards the corner of the room.
Yarrow let out a low growl and moved closer, as if trying to protect Adonis and Daphne from something only he could see.
Daphne, her eyes wide, couldn't tear her gaze away from the words, as if an invisible force was pulling her. She whispered soundlessly, only the movement of her lips visible: "Why... me?"
Adonis noticed the change in her expression and quickly reached out, trying to snatch the book from her hands. His voice was full of tension:
"Daphne, drop the book!"
But the moment was faster than him. An overwhelming light suddenly emanated from the book, filling the room with a bright glow that blinded everyone for a moment.
Then Daphne disappeared.
When the darkness gradually returned, Adonis found himself alone. Yarrow stood beside him