╔═════ஓ๑♡๑ஓ═════╗
scene ten:
the alchemist

"How about a spell to your heart?"
╚═════ஓ๑♡๑ஓ═════╝

AVA BID GOODBYE TO Sunghoon who continued on his work. She sighs, unknown now what to do.

She didn't want to bother the others anymore because of her going hiding. Furthermore, if her family finds out... There might be war for hiding a crowned princess.

She head her way to the garden. A place that has become her favorite in the castle. She shut her eyes, able to feel the whispers of the wind and the warmth of the sun.

Suddenly, she felt something.

She opened her eyes and stared at the sky. Ava's blank expression showed through as she looked up. She turned around to walk away from the garden.

"Okay then... Let's go meet that bastard."

AVA WALKED THROUGH the village of Kingdom Connect. A more free aura surrounded her.

Kingdom Tomorrow was already a free kingdom as they let the people do whatever they want as long as its not a crime or any wrong doings.

Kingdom Connect was another free kingdom. However, Ava noticed how talkative and connected the people are.

Some just turn to each other and their actions are in sync. It was a sight to see for Ava. She feels happy to see the people of her neighboring kingdom be so connected.

She looked around, stayed aware of her surroundings and where the said building is. Suddenly, she feels something pull on her cloak.

"Hello...?" She muttered to the cat as it meowed. Ava kneeled down and stared at it. Her eyes widen when she saw its eyes.

"Ah, hello, K... Long time no see, you're still a big cat as ever." She laughed before the cat jumped into her arms. "It's been so long but why are you in this form, K?"

The car just meowed then got off her as if he's telling her to follow him... And Ava did.

Ava followed the cat into a building that's labeled as a potions shop. She looked around, not surprised by the amount of potions but instead, surprised by the fact not a single one is the same.

"So what brings the Crowned Princess here?" Ava turned around to see the cat had already turned into human.

His size of a feline was even considered into his human form. He was a tall man, towering over Ava herself.

"I felt the voices of alchemy until the castle of Kingdom Connect... Do you think it's that time again?" Ava put her hood down after K put down the blinds of his windows.

The tall man crossed his arms and threw a smile of mischief at Ava. "What made you question that? Are you worried about me now, princess?" His voice had a tone of tease.

Ava just smiled as little veins start to show on her neck, to K's amusement. His teasing self have always been annoying, entertaining but annoying. Although, it doesn't bother Ava much.

"Just answer me, you sly bastard."

"I'm very hurt, princess. It is indeed that time of the year. It seems like my core has reached the castle... Is it because you're there?" K kept the same tone and same smile.

That time of the year... It almost seems like wizards and witches don't exist in their world when they do. She figured it's because the magical world has always been in bad terms with them.

Many have decided to go in hiding while others stayed and lived as human. However, that doesn't change the fact that they, themselves, are still beings with magic.

It was just unfortunate that most of them had been killed in war and only few survived. One of those few is the alchemist himself, K.

A man full of mysteries. Not even his past name is revealed to anyone. All he is known for is to showcase the world of alchemy and make profit from it.

Other than that, he has nothing.

"My core or mana, should I say... I've been trying to reach out to you after you left your kingdom."

"Do you think an explosion will happen?"

"Why? Are you so desperate for that to happen? If it does, you and the people around you could be severely injured or even die." K glared at the princess who only waved her hand to him as she walked around the shop.

"The last time you weren't able to control your core - not only you did a massacre but almost died as well." Ava pulled out a potion from the glass case.

"Your core is your only source of magic left, K. You gave everything else to me, that's why you're so calm whenever I'm near. That's also how I felt your core's presence. You saved my life, K..."

K reached out his hand to stop Ava from drinking the potion she pulled out. The blue liquid was suddenly emptied from it's beautiful glass bottle.

"You saved my life but I never asked for your magic in the first place." For the first time in a while, K saw ice surrounding Ava.

A gaze she often throws at things and people she dislike. A distaste that could leave a bittersweet after flavor in a person's life.

There is yet to be more about Ava herself. The only daughter of the king of Kingdom Tomorrow. She's mysterious herself.

All that innocent and independent sides... They were true but nothing could compare to the Ava that she hid after that 'war' of her own.

"Leave this kingdom immediately. If I sense your core's trails on this kingdom grounds, I will dispose you myself." She placed the empty potion bottle on the counter.

'A silent scream' was written on the bottle. A potion to keep one's mouth shut about secrets until they drink the anti version of it. It was a powerful potion.

Leak someone's secret and wisteria poison will slowly creep from your feet to your head until you fall to the ground, lifeless.

K sighed, feeling tired already. If it weren't for that fight they did, he wouldn't have given Ava his magic to keep her from dying. And now, she could sense him whenever it's that time.

K pushes his hair back before letting out a laugh. "As expected from the Princess herself, better than most men out there."

AVA LOOKED AROUND the shopping district she was in. Despite being neighboring kingdoms, there's still a lot of things she doesn't recognize.

"Buy some jewels! All well made from the Kingdom Bangtan!"

"Get some! Get some! Get some meaty kebabs! Recipe came from Seventeen Kingdom!"

"Specialized weaponry from Neo Kingdom!"

There seems to be a lot of trades, Ava thought as she held onto her cloak.

She freezes on her spot when she took a turn. People filled the streets where she might be easily recognized. She grips on her cloak once more before looking for a way to go through the crowd.

"Come," she felt someone pull her away.

"Let me go!" Ava was ready to pull the dagger she carried. The unknown man dragged her into a shop, an empty one. "Who are you?"

She ppointed the dagger at the covered person. "Is that how you treat me?" The man turns around with an evident frown on his lips.

Ava's eyes widened before she puts her dagger back into its sheath. She sighed.

"Prince Jay... I apologize for my rude actions." Ava bowed to him, to which the prince immediately shook his hands in front of her.

"No, no! I scared you - it was only right for you to act that way... But if I may ask..." Jay scratched his hair, nervous.

"Yes?"

"What were you doing in the village? I never expected to see you here."