The day had been long, filled with the usual princely duties that demanded Leo’s attention—meetings with advisors, overseeing the kingdom's affairs, and maintaining the delicate balance of diplomacy. 

Yet, throughout it all, there was a nagging sense of disappointment that shadowed his every move. No matter how many tasks he completed, there was one thing he couldn’t do: help Auriella.

As night fell, Leo lay in his grand bed, the silken sheets offering little comfort against the unrest in his mind. He turned over, his thoughts drifting back to Auriella. 

Her long blue hair flowed like a river in his memories, her pale blue eyes seemed to hold the sky within them, and her lips…those lips that seemed to call to him with every moment they had spent together. 

The corners of his mouth twitched upwards in a smile as he imagined her beside him, and for a moment, the world felt lighter.

But his thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a sudden sound—a soft tap, tap, tap—coming from his bedroom window. 

Leo’s eyes snapped open, and he sat up, his heart skipping a beat. What could it be at this hour? He rose from his bed and cautiously approached the window.

Outside, perched on the stone ledge, was a crystalline red bird, its ruby feathers glistening in the moonlight. 

A small letter was wrapped around its leg, and Leo’s tension melted away as he recognized who the bird could belong to. 

There was only one person who would use such a magical creature to send a message.

“Auriella…” he whispered, his smile returning tenfold as he unlatched the window. The bird hopped inside, ruffling its feathers before settling down on a nearby table. 

Leo gently untied the letter from its leg, his fingers trembling with anticipation. 

But as he reached to unfurl the letter, he noticed something unusual—the bird had its mouth slightly open, revealing a glint of something inside.

“Hmm? What’s this?” Leo murmured to himself, his curiosity piqued. 

He carefully reached out and retrieved the object, revealing a delicate necklace. It was a locket, crudely engraved with the initials “A+L.”—Auriella and Leo. 

His breath hitched as he opened the locket, finding a small picture of Auriella from her childhood days inside. 

She looked so innocent, so full of life, and his heart swelled with emotion at the overwhelming cuteness of the image. His cheeks began to hurt from the wide smile on his face.

With reverence, Leo placed the locket around his neck, feeling a sense of closeness to Auriella that he had longed for all day. 

The bird, meanwhile, began to hop from one leg to the other, clearly impatient for him to read the letter. 

Leo chuckled softly and turned his attention back to the letter, breaking the wax seal and unfolding the parchment.

The letter was written in Auriella’s beautiful penmanship, each word carefully crafted. 

She detailed her work with the Infernal Ten to create Amanara, explaining that it would take about a week for everything to be ready. 

But as Leo read, one sentence at the end captured all his attention:

"I love you, and I can't wait to see you again."

Leo’s heart raced, his pulse quickening as he read the words over and over.

The words filled him with an intense joy, and he could hardly contain his excitement. Without wasting another moment, he raced around his bedroom, searching for paper and something to write with. He had to send a response, and he had to do it now.

He penned his letter quickly but thoughtfully, telling Auriella that he would begin gathering some of his people to live on Amanara and that he would meet her there after the week had passed. 

He ended the letter with a declaration of his own love, promising that he couldn’t wait to see her again and finally claim her lips for himself. 

With a satisfied chuckle, Leo tied the letter to the bird’s leg.

“There you go, little one,” he said softly, giving the bird a gentle pat before it turned around and soared into the night sky. Leo watched it until it faded from view, his heart lighter than it had been the whole day. 

Thanks to Auriella’s efforts, their plan was now in motion, and Leo knew what he had to do next.

With a renewed sense of purpose, Leo climbed back into bed, a contented smile on his face as he closed his eyes. 

For the first time in what felt like forever, he was ready for a new day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning, Leo rose early, determination set in his eyes. He donned a simple disguise—just an ordinary traveler in worn clothes, nothing that would give away his royal status. 

His destination: Silverton, a small town known for its bustling harbor and, more discreetly, for the hidden information guild that operated beneath the surface.

The journey was uneventful, and by mid-morning, Leo arrived at the local pub, The Mermaid’s Tail. 

The scent of sea salt and ale filled the air as he stepped inside, the low murmur of fishermen and townsfolk creating a lively atmosphere. 

The pub was a humble establishment, with wooden beams overhead and a stone fireplace crackling in one corner. 

A few fishermen were gathered for a quick breakfast before heading out to sea, while some drunkards lay around in booths, seemingly having been there since the night before.

Leo made his way to the bar, where a female bartender was wiping down glasses. She glanced up as he approached, her eyes briefly assessing him before she leaned against the wall behind her.

“What’ll you have, stranger?” she asked, her tone casual as she waited for his order.

“I’d like a Sea Shanty cocktail, please,” Leo replied, his voice steady. 

The bartender’s eyebrows raised slightly, a smirk playing on her lips. Not many knew that name—it was a code, a signal that he was here for more than just a drink.

The bartender nodded, straightening up as she began to prepare his order. A few moments later, she slid the drink across the counter to him. 

As she leaned in, she whispered just loud enough for him to hear, “Meet me in the alley in five minutes.”

Leo gave a subtle nod, lifting the glass to his lips. The drink was strong, with a hint of citrus and a kick of something potent—just what he needed to clear his mind. 

He sipped slowly, letting the warmth spread through his body as he contemplated his next move.

Once he finished his drink, Leo paid and left the pub, stepping out into the crisp morning air. Should he linger around or go straight to the meeting point? 

The decision was made for him when he heard a soft, familiar voice from an alley behind him.

“Psst! Over here!” the voice called.

Leo turned to see the bartender from earlier coaxing him over. 

‘I guess she got off work earlier than expected,’ he thought as he approached her. The woman led him through a series of winding alleys, their path twisting and turning until they finally reached a set of bunker doors hidden away from prying eyes.

“Follow me inside and watch your head,” she instructed in a low voice, opening the doors and allowing Leo to step inside. 

The stairway was dimly lit, the only sounds their footsteps echoing off the stone steps. 

They descended deep underground until they reached an open cave with a small lake surrounding a large plot of land.

“Hey everybody! We have our first customer!” the woman called out, her voice echoing in the cavern. 

A group of six men and women emerged from the shadows, their expressions a mix of curiosity and readiness. One of the men, with a wiry frame and sharp eyes, grinned as he addressed the bartender.

“That’s great news, Boss!” he said.

“It sure is, ain’t it?” the bartender—now revealed to be the leader—replied. She turned her attention to Leo, her smile wide and inviting. 

“So, dear customer, what can the Silverton Information Guild do for you today?”

Leo met her gaze, his demeanor calm and composed. “I’d like you to distribute this information across all of Miravia,” he said coolly, reaching into his pocket and handing her a letter.

The group gathered around as she unfolded the parchment, their eyes widening as they read the contents. 

The letter detailed a call for volunteers to move to a new land, offering a fortune in gold as a reward. The reward would increase if volunteers brought their families as well.

“Is this legit?” the woman asked, raising an eyebrow as she looked up at Leo.

“Yes, it is,” Leo affirmed, his tone unwavering. “Make the deadline a week from now, and add that everyone should come to the Silverton port with the bare minimum of belongings.”

He reached into his pocket once more, producing a large bag full of gold coins and handing it to the group. Their eyes sparkled as they examined the contents, clearly impressed by the payment.

“I trust this is sufficient payment for the task?” Leo asked.

They all nodded vigorously, their excitement barely contained. With the task completed, Leo thanked them for taking the job and turned to leave, a satisfied smile on his face.

As he emerged back into the daylight, the sun beamed down on him, its warmth a welcome companion. Leo felt a renewed sense of purpose, knowing that everything was now set in motion. 

“I’ll be seeing you soon, my dear Auriella,” he thought, his heart swelling with anticipation for the reunion that awaited them.