Alex barely had ti to react as the pull of the portal yanked him out of the dim, weightless space. His instincts took over the mont his boots touched solid ground. He shifted his weight forward, rolling smoothly across the wooden floor, coming up on one knee.
The faint scent of wildflowers filled the air, and the room was quiet save for the crackling of a small hearth in the corner. A figure to his left moved, and Alex turned his head sharply.
Z'yna stood there, the faint blue glow in her fingertips fading as the portal behind him sealed shut. Her expression was calm, but there was a subtle edge of exasperation in her narrowed eyes.
"Try to react faster next ti," she said, brushing an errant leaf off her sleeve.
Alex rose to his feet, brushing the dust from his cloak. "Right, I'll need to work on that," he replied dryly, his tone light but respectful. "Thank you, Z'yna."
He glanced past her to the center of the room, where the Queen of Nature sat languidly in an armchair, a cup of tea balanced effortlessly in one hand. Her gaze was fixed on Isabella, who was struggling against thick, writhing vines that coiled around her like living snakes.
"Careful," the Queen murmured, not bothering to look at Alex. "She might bite."
Alex allowed himself a small smile as he stepped closer to Isabella, who froze the mont she noticed him. Her wide, frightened eyes t his, and her struggling ceased. The vines around her didn't loosen, but they seed to relax slightly, their movents slowing.
"Easy," Alex said softly, his voice relaxing and reassuring. He stopped a few feet away, hands visible, making no sudden movents. "You'll understand everything soon."
Isabella didn't respond. Her eyes darted between him, the vines, and the two won behind him, her wariness plain.
Alex let out a quiet sigh, raising one hand.
"Just trust ," he muttered under his breath, more to himself than to her. With a flick of his fingers, a do of radiant white light unfolded around the two of them, cutting them off from the rest of the room.
Inside the Bright World, the air seed lighter, the space vast and endless despite its apparent confinent. Isabella's expression shifted rapidly—confusion, fear, then sothing deeper as fragnts of her mory began to surface.
Alex stood silently, watching as recognition flickered in her eyes.
He didn't interfere; this was her journey now. After a few monts, her knees buckled, and she sank to the floor, her hands clutching her head. The light of the do dimd before vanishing entirely.
Alex stepped back, leaving Isabella alone as she processed what she had seen. He turned and walked to the small table near the hearth, where Z'yna and the Queen were seated.
"Tea?" the Queen offered, holding up a delicate porcelain cup with a sly smile.
"Don't mind if I do," Alex replied, pulling out a chair and sinking into it. He accepted the cup Z'yna passed him.
"So," He began, leaning back slightly in his chair, "the plan worked... in a sense."
"Define 'worked,'" Z'yna said, taking a sip of the tea. The subtle hint of herbs and sweetness lingered on his tongue. "You let soone else kidnap her and let them get away. The plan almost didn't succeed. Thankfully, the kidnapper went in the direction we planned to."
The Queen chuckled softly, setting her cup down. "Oh, don't sulk, dear. You're here, and everything worked out well in the end. That's two wins in my book."
Z'yna arched a brow. "Sure, let's just ignore the part where soone outplayed us."
Z'yna's fingers tapped against the table, her eyes narrowing slightly. "The kidnapper was... unusual. Their thods were unusual, almost as if they were moving through space and ti. Whoever they are, they're no ordinary adversary."
"..."
Alex swirled his tea absently, the faint herbal aroma wafting up as his mind turned over Z'yna's words.
'Ti, huh…'
He didn't voice the thought, but it hung heavy in his mind.
The Queen, perched elegantly in her chair, glanced at him out of the corner of her eye but said nothing. Her silence spoke volus—she had recognized the face of their adversary from the very beginning.
Z'yna, ever the perceptive one, picked up on the shift in mood.
She set her teacup down gently and gestured toward Isabella, still sitting on the floor, her arms wrapped around herself as she pieced together the fragnts of her restored mory.
"She doesn't look too convinced," Z'yna murmured, her gaze flicking back to Alex. "Will she help us?"
The Queen tilted her head, her mischievous smile softening into sothing almost curious. "I'm wondering the sa thing," she said, her voice lilting with amusent. "She's one of the keys you ntioned, isn't she?"
Alex smiled faintly, his eyes still on Isabella. "You'll get your answers soon enough," he said, his tone calm and assured.
'If she's anything like the person I've read about, she'll help. In the novel, she stood by her brother even when it brought her nothing but danger. She put herself on the line for what she believed was right, despite her corrupt father's influence. Man, readers really liked her character developnt.'
He paused, watching as Isabella's trembling began to subside. Her breathing steadied, and her expression shifted, the fear lting into sothing more resolute.
'She really is different,' Alex thought. 'Her father could never understand her, and maybe that's why she'll be the one to change everything.'
As the last of the tea disappeared from their cups, Isabella rose to her feet. Her movents were graceful yet commanding, the aura of a princess enveloping her once more. Gone was the frightened girl trapped by vines; in her place stood soone who carried herself with poise and strength.
She stepped toward them, her gaze unwavering as she addressed Alex directly.
"How can I help you?" she asked, her tone firm and clear. "You need my help, don't you?" Your next read awaits at My Virtual Library Empire
The room fell silent for a mont, save for the soft hum of the fire. Z'yna leaned back slightly, a hint of approval flickering in her otherwise composed expression. The Queen's lips curled into a satisfied smile, as though she had expected nothing less.
Alex rose to his feet, his expression calm but tinged with warmth. "Yes, we do," he said. "And if you're willing, there's much to discuss."
Isabella nodded, her gaze unwavering. "Then tell everything. If I can help, I will."
Alex glanced at Z'yna and the Queen.
He then turned back to Isabella, his voice steady. "Let's start from the beginning."
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