The sun slowly rose over the castle towers, casting golden rays across the gardens still tinted red by dawn. The air smelled of fresh flowers and damp earth. It seemed like an ordinary day… yet Sofia knew it wasn't. Ever since she had met Miral and discovered the magic of the Itezista Forest, nothing had felt the same.
Most of all, she could not forget the two mysterious children — Alexandra and Vlad. Their shadowy faces still danced in her mind.
Dragoș was already waiting for her at the stone gate of the garden, holding a branch like a sword.— "Are you ready, princess?" he asked, laughing.
— "I'm ready, but stop calling me princess. Today I'm a brave traveler!" Sofia said, pulling on her boots and tying a blue scarf around her neck.
— "Then, brave traveling princess — let us depart!"— "Mud knight, lead the way!" she teased, and Dragoș burst into laughter.
The forest awaited them — quiet, yet alive. The leaves rustled as if whispering secrets, and the wind carried a soft, ancient melody. With each step, Sofia felt her heart open more to that mysterious world.
— "You know, Sofia," Dragoș said as they slipped between branches, "I think the forest likes you. When you enter, everything brightens."
— "Or maybe it's afraid of you," she laughed.— "Afraid? Of me? Never! I'm the friendliest knight who ever lived!"
Their laughter mingled with the rustle of leaves. Without noticing, they reached a clearing where the light refracted into shades of blue and green. The air shimmered faintly, like liquid glass.
Sofia stopped.— "Did you feel that?"— "Yes… as if someone were watching us."
A calm, clear voice spoke from nearby:— "Perhaps because we were waiting."
Sofia and Dragoș spun around. From the shadow of an old tree stepped Alexandra. She wore a black dress that seemed to move on its own, like smoke. Her silver hair glimmered in the sunlight, and her deep red eyes held a strange, unsettling beauty.
Beside her sat Vlad, leaning against a chest, arms crossed. His black hair was tousled, and though his gaze was cold, it hid a peculiar softness.
— "I thought you were only a dream…" Sofia whispered.
Alexandra smiled faintly. "And perhaps I was. But some dreams return, once you're ready to live them."
Dragoș took a step forward.
— "Who are you really?"
Vlad lifted his eyes.
— "Shadows. But not the kind that harm… the kind that protect."
Alexandra approached Sofia and lightly touched her hand. Her touch was cold, but not painful — strange, filled with energy.
— "The forest chose you, Sofia. It opened the path that leads to us."— "It chose me? For what?"— "For balance," Vlad answered.
— "The world needs someone who can see both light and darkness."
Sofia stared at him in amazement.
— "And Dragoș?"
— "He is your shield," Alexandra said with a smile.
— "Without him, the forest would not have accepted you."
Dragoș blushed, but lifted his chin proudly.
— "Then… the shield is ready!"
— "Good," Alexandra said.
— "Then let's begin."
— "Begin what?" Sofia asked, confused.
Alexandra smiled mysteriously.
— "Let's play."
Suddenly, the clearing burst into blue sparks. Leaves sprang into the air, swirling around them. A white bird flew through the trees, leaving trails of light behind it.
Sofia laughed and began to run, and Alexandra followed, gliding as though she barely touched the ground.
Vlad and Dragoș joined the chase — tossing spheres of light that struck tree trunks and burst into silver sparks.
Their laughter blended with the forest's echo. For a moment, it was pure joy — as if time had stopped just for them.
After a while, they stopped, panting, cheeks flushed, eyes glowing with light.Alexandra looked at Sofia — serious now.
— "We'll meet again, Sofia. But not yet. The forest still has much to teach you."— "And you?"— "We'll be there when the light calls you again," Vlad said, giving a brief nod.
Sofia nodded, trying to memorize every detail.Dragoș whispered, "Hard to believe they're just shadows."Sofia smiled. "Maybe they're not. Maybe they're friends."
As Alexandra and Vlad vanished into the rays of light, the forest whispered softly, like an ancient song:
— "Shadows never disappear completely. They wait. Until the light calls them again."