Departure

The day of departure was a little agitated, even if the three of them were adults, their parents always felt a sense of duty over protector. Their love poured intensely upon them, an inexhaustible source of power that wet our hearts.

The king hugged his daughter, wrapping her in a magical light, eager to drive away any misfortune on her side.

- You're going to be careful, my love, aren't you?

- I promise you, Father, don't worry. But remember, I'm an adult. I'm responsible for everything in my life now.

- My baby, if you're hurt or feel in danger, come home, okay? Tenderly advised the queen in turn.

- Yes, I'll come home right away, dear good mother. She replied, tenderly mockingly. But you have to start getting used to my travels and my absence.

- I know, but I'm always so scared. No mother ever loses her maternal instinct as long as she lives.

- I know you love me more than anything, so I'll be very careful, okay? Beside, you'll have my brother for yourself for sometimes.

-... all right. I love you, baby, have a good trip.

On the way to the airport, the three friends smiled at each other, accomplices and happy to share something that others did not have the power to touch.

But then, as they were about to enter the room leading to the tourist ship, a shadow passed by the princess. She jumped with fear and hope, thinking it was that horrible stranger who loved to blend into the night and silence. But it wasn't him. In her place, Ariadne saw an old lady as fragile as she was tiny kneeling behind her, busy picking up her scattered belongings.

Even if she didn't seem to be in her place, dressed in a long dress adorned with sparkling stone, Ariadne could not ignore her. So, dropping her bag, she knelt down to help her with her task.

- Thank you, young lady. I thought that nowadays, the younger ones were indifferent and cold towards strangers, especially old ladies like me, but I am glad to see that I was wrong.

Her voice seemed high-pitched and tinged with a rather disturbing vibration.

- Please, ma'am, it's nothing, my act is natural.

-... really? Then you're right, it's my fault.

When did Ariadne feel something was wrong?

Maybe to the second stone she was picking up. She slowly lifted her head up and noticed that the hall where they were standing had darkened. And even more terrible, all the people who had filled it in a few seconds earlier had completely disappeared, swallowed up in this bottomless darkness. Now there were only the two of them left, two women kneeling on the frozen ground, wrapped in a magic of unshakeable appearance.

- What... what... happened was she trying to ask. She slowly turned around to see even one person left, but was disappointed.

- Why did you stop, beautiful princess? Asked the old lady, as impassive as she was mocking.

Ariadne, totally amazed, felt powerless to look at the old witch, although an ancient magic was hiding her face from her.

Ariadne bit her lip and then threw herself.

- For the second time, a mysterious and dark stranger knows who I am, but they never told me anything about them, not even their names. They have never had enough politeness and even less affection to do so.

- I don't think it matters anymore.

And suddenly, she grabbed Princess Adegeor's thin, wonderfully white arms and lured her to her hidden face. She stared at it with her fierce, cold and bluish eyes like a mountain lake.

- It's a thank-you gift for helping me. Let me give you a little advice. Be careful of the monster of Venezia.

After a shrieking laughter, she fainted in a thick mist.

- Please, wait a minute! Cries Ariadne passionately. But it was too late, everything had returned to its place. The scene of normality unfolded again before the young sovereign's eyes as if nothing strange had ever happened, as if a simple dream had faded in a spring morning.

- Ariadne baby, what are you doing?

Her friends gently shook her and helped her to get up. Ariadne was so shocked that she didn't know how she managed to cross the corridor to the ship.

- We're almost there, my friends!

- Yes, only one moment in our long life of gilding when we would enter at the door of this empire where daily routine and wealth have no meaning.

This is the long-awaited moment when we, three women of the nobility of Adegeor, will finally mingle with the land, the unknown and the danger of a hateful world.

- The "whole" that defines the lives of ordinary people.

- What do you have to say, Ariadne? They asked, turning to her, with their glowing face.

- Absolutely nothing, she replied half-conscious. What words could I say better than you've already said.

-Well, then! That's true, but Ariadne, are you sure you're okay? They asked worried, feeling that something was wrong with their friend.

- I'm fine. I'm fine. She tried to reassure them. Why do you ask that question?

- Because you looked a little, or rather, so hurt. I would like to point out that we found you on the ground, kneeling like a fragile child, and strangely shocked as if you had met a monster or lost a loved one. Even now, your skin looks so pale.

Ariadne understood their concern and was deeply upset, but unfortunately, although she felt some guilt, she was still not able to explain what had happened. She could not speak of this foreign understanding, this wonderful familiarity found through such a lost woman. That time, her conception of reality had really shaken her. And moreover, the indelible taste of intolerable nostalgia swallowed her up like a vital suffering.

Her two friends softened by staring intensely at their princess. But the latter did not have a single word of explanation.

Accepting despite all this enigmatic silence, they asked for something else.

- Actually, we'd like to ask you, why did you finally accept this trip?

-...what? She replied well, even though she had heard the question perfectly.