The town gate stood tall and imposing, crafted from dark wood and adorned with intricate carvings that seemed etched by expert hands long ago. Its appearance was majestic, commanding awe. Yet, despite its grandeur, Ace found himself less preoccupied with the gate itself and more captivated by the two guards standing before it. The resemblance between them was astonishingly uncanny, as if they were mirrored images, repeated before the eye without the slightest variation. Even the fine waves in their unkempt, orange hair appeared identical, as though they spent hours styling it into that peculiar form.
Their faces bore an expression of stern resolve, their green eyes sharp and observant. Freckles stretched across their cheeks like a bridge over their noses, enhancing the sense of eerie symmetry. They looked, quite simply, like matching portraits brought to life.
Their physiques defied the usual expectations of town sentries. Neither were they burly nor muscular—instead, they were slender. But their appearance did not suggest weakness; rather, it hinted at agility and a strength rooted in speed and precision. Their lean bodies were partially hidden behind simple metal armor.
In their grasp were long spears, nearly double their height, with gleaming metal tips that shone conspicuously. In their other hands, each held a thick book, its pages yellowed as though soaked in years of dust and age. The leather covers were adorned with mysterious inscriptions, symbols that seemed to belong to an unfamiliar language. Ace couldn't help but wonder—how could two guards, supposedly on duty and in a constant state of alertness, be carrying books to read? Or perhaps those books held a significance that went far beyond mere pastime or personal pleasure? Could their importance be intertwined with the very essence of their role?
The moment the two guards laid eyes on little Emilia, their expressions changed dramatically. It was as if a hidden enchantment had been cast—sternness vanished in an instant, replaced by wide, gleaming smiles. Their bright white teeth stood out vividly against their darker skin. One of them stepped forward with a playful wink in his sparkling eyes and said teasingly:
"Oh, Emilia! Every time I see you, I remember that there are still sweet girls in this world."
His words carried a curious blend of cheerfulness and admiration, subtly conveying a deeper message. It was a delicate thread, balancing jest and respect. His gaze was laced with a gentle hint of irony, as if to imply that the girl's presence was the very opposite of some other young woman's behavior. Yet, that lighthearted atmosphere shifted abruptly—as though an invisible thread had twisted—when their attention turned to the young man standing beside her. The warm smiles faded, replaced by wary, suspicious stares.
In a single moment, they resembled hunters scrutinizing a mysterious prey. Their eyes scanned him thoroughly—from his worn clothing, bearing the marks of a long journey, to the look in his eyes that seemed to tell an untold story.
One of the guards positioned himself beside the young man, adopting a rigid stance, as if his very body were a barrier against any escape attempt. He crossed his arms over his chest and fixed his gaze on the stranger's face, studying him as though trying to peer into his hidden thoughts. Finally, he broke the silence with a voice that held a blend of caution and distrust:
"Your clothes, your appearance—you don't look like you're from around here. Are you a foreigner?"
Ace hesitated for a moment before replying:
"Yes, I've come from a distant land. Circumstances forced me to come here after my spa—"
He stopped abruptly, as if the words had caught in his throat, then quickly corrected himself:
"My… my carriage that I was traveling in!"
His words, though clear, failed to erase the doubt that had taken root in the guards' eyes. They exchanged a quick glance—one that needed no words—before one of them issued a firm, non-negotiable command:
"Hand us your bag. We need to search it."
This was not a simple request, but a crucial test—a pivotal moment that could turn everything upside down. Ace swallowed part of his tension, grabbed his bag, and handed it over. As soon as the guard took hold of it, he noticed its odd shape. He turned it over in his hands—it wasn't like any bag he had seen before. Its lightness was peculiar too, as if it contained far less than what one would expect from someone claiming to have traveled a long distance.
The guard lifted it slightly, gauging its weight, then tried to open it—but couldn't figure out how to undo the zipper.
Seeing his confusion, Ace reached out and unzipped it himself, revealing its contents. The guard leaned in, inspecting the bag's interior carefully. His hands moved with deliberate caution, as though searching for a tiny clue—a detail that might expose a hidden truth about the stranger.
Meanwhile, the other guard's face was tense, his eyes narrowing in intense focus, seemingly trying to pierce the veil between deception and truth. After a brief moment of contemplation, he turned to his brother, who was still bent over the bag, rummaging through its contents like someone seeking buried secrets, and asked in a tense voice:
"Is everything alright, brother?"
The guard lifted his head, his eyes gleaming faintly with curiosity, then dove back into the bag and muttered in surprise:
"Yes, but… this man's belongings are strange. Look at this."
He pulled out a small, clear plastic bottle of water—so transparent that the liquid inside appeared to float in midair. Tilting it slightly, the water shimmered inside. He held it up to eye level, and the image behind it warped and blurred. Despite its oddity, he didn't linger long. Setting it aside, he dug back into the bag and retrieved something even stranger: a rectangular box, its surface covered in vivid, intricate patterns in unfamiliar colors. It felt firm, almost as if made from an unfamiliar type of paper.
He gave it a gentle shake, and a muffled rattle came from within, as if small objects were moving around inside. At that moment, Emilia stepped closer, her eyes wide with curiosity as she stared at the box. Her small nose picked up a scent—sweet and rich, unlike anything she had smelled before.
As everyone exchanged puzzled glances, Ace stood nearby, fully aware that the small box could become a turning point. He chose to guide the moment with calm simplicity. With a quiet smile that carried a hint of confidence, he said in a casual tone, as if sharing a mundane fact:
"This box contains a special kind of candy, made in my homeland. The flavor is quite distinct. If you're interested, you're welcome to try it."
The guards exchanged glances, suspicion and intrigue flickering in their eyes. They stared at both the box and the young man, trying to penetrate his serene facade in search of deceit. And yet, all they could find in his expression was sincere calm.
Then one of them finally asked, still staring at the box:
"But… how do you open this thing?"
Ace couldn't help but let a small smile escape. With a smooth motion, he took the box from the guard's hands and, using practiced fingers, opened it. Inside was a fluorescent-colored pouch. The moment it was unsealed, an enchanting aroma wafted out—a mixture of sweet vanilla and fresh lemon, laced with a hint of fragrant spice.
The scent alone began to melt the guards' remaining caution. Ace noticed how their hardened expressions softened, how the invisible walls they had built started to crumble. One of them hesitated before asking, his eyes wide:
"W–What is this?"
Ace didn't answer with words. He simply opened the pouch and pulled out small, stuffed pieces of candy. They looked like sugar-crafted gems, glittering in vibrant hues—from deep red, to sky blue, to golden yellow. Their surfaces were lightly dusted with fine sugar that shimmered under the light, each piece resembling a tiny jewel. Ace extended his hand, offering them a taste. One guard hesitated, swallowed hard, then asked in a soft voice:
"Is… is it safe?"
Ace chuckled gently, his voice warmer than before, and replied reassuringly:
"Of course! It's just candy."
Still reluctant, both guards remained frozen—until curiosity triumphed over caution. One slowly reached out and chose a ruby-red piece. He studied it for a moment as though it were a rare artifact, then brought it to his mouth and bit into it hesitantly. The moment the flavor touched his tongue; a sensory storm erupted inside him.
At first, he froze, as if time had stopped at that first bite. Then, slowly, his jaw began to move, chewing cautiously, as though his mind were struggling to comprehend this sudden explosion of flavor.
In an instant, his face transformed like a painting receiving new brushstrokes. His eyes widened in astonishment, as though he had uncovered a long-lost secret. His lips trembled for a moment before a broad smile spread across his face. Every muscle told a story—his brows raised high, and a faint blush touched his cheeks out of sheer delight. The taste was a peculiar blend of sharp sweetness and an unfamiliar yet delightful flavor. He couldn't stop himself from exclaiming:
"What is this? This is incredible! I've never tasted anything like it!"
His words came out in fragments, as though his tongue couldn't keep up with his excitement. His voice carried that unmistakable tone of discovery, making anyone listening feel they stood on the threshold of something extraordinary. And indeed, his reaction ignited curiosity in the others around him. Emilia and his brother watched him, their eyes alight with the desire to know what he had just experienced, trying to taste the flavor through his expressions alone.
The second guard, who had been observing, could no longer restrain himself. He reached out quickly and grabbed a sky-blue piece, tossing it into his mouth without hesitation. As soon as the flavor hit, a wave of emotion swept across his face.
At first, his eyes widened as if he had witnessed a miracle. Then he shut them tightly, trying to hold on to that moment. A dreamy smile formed on his lips—a smile of someone lost in a beautiful daydream. When he opened his eyes again, they were fixed on the remaining candies in Ace's hand, as though he were staring at a priceless treasure.
"By great Merlin! This isn't just candy—it's a masterpiece of pure delight!"
He said it in a muffled voice as he chewed, struggling to put the experience into words. But one piece wasn't enough. He quickly reached for another, and his brother followed suit. They began devouring piece after piece with the eager appetite of children unleashed at a candy fair. In moments, the candies were gone from Ace's hand. The two guards took a deep breath, staring at each other in astonishment, moments before bursting into laughter, the magical taste still dancing on their tongues, leaving behind a memory not easily forgotten.
At that moment, Ace felt a soft touch at his side—a gentle, familiar sensation. He turned to see little Emilia gazing up at him, her eyes glowing despite her shyness. Her slim waist swayed lightly, her small lips pressed together in a shy smile she couldn't quite hide.
She said nothing, but her eyes spoke volumes. Ace smiled—not just a fleeting expression, but a warmth that radiated from his eyes to his fingertips. He pulled out another box, opened it, and removed a glowing yellow candy, the same shade as the girl's eyes. He extended it to her, as if offering a tiny treasure, and said kindly:
"Here, I think you'll like this one."
Emilia hesitated, flushed with shyness, then carefully reached out with her small hands and took the candy, as if afraid it would melt before she could taste it. She lifted it to her nose and took in the sweet scent, closed her eyes for a moment, then placed it in her mouth slowly. The moment the flavor touched her tongue, she squeezed her eyelids tight, trying to process the sudden burst of flavors. Her cheeks blushed deeper, like rose petals blooming at dawn. Her eyes lit up with a quiet excitement. Each chew revealed a new taste—a sweetness she had never known.
Finally, after a moment of silence, she said in a voice quite unlike her usual tone—a voice tinged with childlike wonder:
"I can't believe something this delicious can be made! It's rich on the inside, juicy, and puffy on the outside—like it's filled with air. The flavor is… perfectly balanced!"
She turned her gaze toward Ace and asked with curiosity:
"Mr. Ace! Where exactly are you from?"
A smile crossed Ace's lips, and in a calm yet firm tone, he replied:
"As I said before, I can't disclose the name or location of my country. I hope you understand."
Her curiosity didn't fade—it only grew, her thirst for answers deepening. But before she could pose another question, one of the guards broke the silence, his voice a mix of hesitation and eagerness. He pointed a trembling finger at the candy box, as though it were a rare treasure, and said:
"C–Could I… could I have another piece… please?"
Then the second guard chimed in, his voice echoing with childlike glee, as if he'd been transported back to his youth—those days when even the simplest sweets were treasured luxuries.
Their glowing expressions revealed a longing they could no longer conceal. The small box in Ace's hands had become a source of both wonder and desire. Ace, however, remained reserved, his sly smile hinting that he was enjoying the game he had so carefully crafted.
"Of course!" he replied, his tone playful. Then he tilted his head and added, "In fact, you can have the whole box—if you let me enter."
The guards exchanged glances. The sparkle in their eyes dimmed, replaced by caution. One asked seriously:
"Are you trying to bribe us?"
Ace didn't respond immediately. Instead, he slowly returned the box to his bag, as if closing the door on the opportunity. Then he said, feigning indifference:
"Of course not. But if you don't want them, I'll just—"
He hadn't even finished his sentence when both guards cried out in unison, like children afraid of losing their favorite toy:
"No, no! We agree—give us the candy!"
"No, no! We agree—give us the candy!"
In a flash, their hands reached out eagerly, trembling with excitement. Once the box was secured between them, they exchanged a silent look of victory. One of them smiled broadly and said with a mix of jest and sincerity:
"Honestly, brother, we have no real authority to stop you—unless you were dangerous or suspicious. And you, my friend, don't seem like either. Besides, you've clearly earned little Emilia's trust. That alone is enough to be your ticket in."
Then, in synchronized steps, they stepped aside to reveal the town behind them. Without hesitation, they both called out in unison, their voices warm and welcoming:
"Welcome to the town of Shilda!"
"Welcome to the town of Shilda!"
At that moment, Ace stepped forward into the town, his steps tinged with hesitation as if preparing to cross the threshold of a new destiny. Emilia walked beside him, her small steps adding a gentle touch of innocence to the scene.