Chapter 002: Maria, the queen of all vampires

"Alex..." I whispered in response.

I felt like her eyes were burning through my skin.

Maria's voice was very soft, and it seemed to have a soothing effect on me. I could feel a sense of trust and compassion.

"I see... So, Alex is your name, Right? Such an uncommon name here in Nimroa... Are you from Nazaria, by any chance...?" She gently asked me, with a lot of softness in her voice.

"Yes... I am from Nazaria." I replied.

"Alex... Your name sounds familiar... Have we met somewhere before?" She asked me curiously.

"Not at all... This is the first time i come here..." I answered.

I wanted to tell her about my mission and what i was supposed to accomplish but i was too afraid and suddenly i couldn't even feel my arms and legs anymore.

My body was completely numb.

I was petrified from those eyes which were burning through my whole being.

"Alex... Are you scaried of me? I can hear your heartbeat and i can feel your body temperature raising up..." She asked, while looking down on me and still licking her lips.

I was sweating profusely.

"Alex, please don't be afraid of me. I won't hurt anyone." Maria said.

I wanted to answer her, but even though my mouth was working, no sound came out.

She seemed to be so gentle and caring but despite that i started to feel scared again. Every fiber of my being told me that something was going terribly wrong.

But... I couldn't turn away.

I couldn't take my eyes off her.

I couldn't even blink.

I was mesmerized by the girl's beauty.

"O-Okay..." I whispered.

Then the girl standed up from the bed and walked towards me.

I looked down in embarassement or in fear, i don't remember.

She arrived next to me and she started caressing my cheek and then she put her hand under my chin, raising my head up.

"My poor little boy... I promise that i won't hurt you, so tell me. Why are you here?" Maria said, while our eyes were attached.

I saw her red eyes glowing like in a hypnotic way and my mouth started moving without knowing.

"I... I'm on a quest..." I whispered.

"Oh? And for what purpose?" Maria asked me.

"To kill all the vampires..." I replied.

"Ah... that explains everything." Maria said.

Her red eyes were burning in my soul. I knew that something wasn't right. I could feel it. But again, my instincts told me that she was a good person and that i shouldn't act rashly.

"I can smell your fear, Alex. Do you still think that i'm a scary person...?" Maria said, while caressing my cheeks. 

Her touch was so soft and relaxing. I felt like i was melting from her hand. I kept staring at her and finally managed to ask:

"Why are you so kind to me?"

"Because, you're way different from other people that came here before you... You didn't even try to lay a single finger on me... and i can see the color of your heart... it's white... It's totally pure..." Maria started caressing my chest while looking me with her bloody eyes and my fear started to go away.

I could feel her warm breath in my ear.

"You have a pure soul... That's why, there is nothing to fear... You are not a monster. You are just a lonely child who needs help... And i do not kill good people..." Maria giggled after her last words.

"Please... let me help you..." I heard the girl's voice in my ears again.

I was starting to feel safe. I felt protected. It seemed like everything was going to be alright... but suddenly.

"You look so... Delicious... Alex... I'm getting all excited..." She whispered into my ears with a very soft voice, i felt a shiver down my spine after she said those words...

My body was not moving, but i wasn't scared. I knew i shouldn't have move. I was trapped. I was helpless.

I was paralysed because of her enchanting eyes.

I was unable to move anything.

"I'm going to bite you now..." She said, while putting her hands on my shoulders and pushing me down.

"B-Bite...? Are you a..." I asked in fear. I couldn't move. My entire body didn't want to respond to me. I was paralyzed by some kind of magic.

I had never seen anyone like her before.

I was petrified by her beauty and strength.

"Yes... I'm a vampire... I drink human blood in order to survive..." Maria said, while smiling.

After her last quote, i knew that she was one of those creatures i had to kill... but somehow i knew she was way stronger than me. I had no choice.

My journey was about to end.

I was ready to die.

"Go for it, Maria." I said, without thinking.

"Oh... Aren't you going to kill me...?" She said, surprised.

"No... I trust you." I answered.

Maria slowly bent forward and put her lips near my neck.

I felt her cold tongue on my skin.

The sensation made me tremble with excitement and fear.

She was cold just like ice... She was licking my neck and i could feel her sharp fangs on it but strangely, she didn't bite me. Instead she said:

"Good boy... I knew you weren't like the others..." Maria got off me and i could move again.

After a second of shock , i stood up and looked at her.

"Is this really happening?" I thought.

I was astonished by the fact that she didn't bite me.

She went away from me and smiled happily and then she properly introduced her.

"I am Maria, Queen of all vampires. The first and original vampire." She bowed to me.

I felt a bit confused. "Queen of all vampires...? Why is she so gentle ?" I wondered.

I looked around and then i noticed that the room was filled with books, pictures and paintings on all walls.

There were also a lot of statues.

There was a table full of food and drinks.

"How did you get here?" I asked.

"I have been here for a long time. I am already two thousand year old... Haha..." Maria answered.

The source of the evil vampires was in front of me. She was the one whom i was searching for. I knew that the mission was to kill every vampire in this land but... i felt she was different. I could sense kindness in her, even tough she said she was the original vampire.

"Two thousand year old?! Are you immortal?!" I asked, shocked.

"Of course! We are all immortal!" Maria answered.

"Hmm... How did you manage to live so long?"

"By drinking the blood of humans... But since i am the original one... i can survive without human blood and instead i eat "Human" things... I don't randomly feed on humans..." Maria said with a chilling smile.

"So... You're not a bad person... i knew it..." I said.

"Well... let's say that we have a lot to talk about." Maria replied, while offering me her hand.

"Come with me... i'll show you my castle." She smiled.

I accepted her offer and followed her. I couldn't believe how much power and magic was in her. She was so powerful and yet so gentle. But most of all, she was so beautiful. She could kill me almost in every moment because she's way stronger than me... Even tough i'm one the strongest vampire hunters in the whole land.

I was so enchanted by her beauty and strength that i couldn't even imagine that she would ever betray me.

We walked through the castle corridors, passing through a lot of doors, until we reached a big hall.

It was decorated in gold and silver, and inside there was a huge fireplace. A lot of candles were lit in every corner of the room.

Maria turned to me and smiled.

"This is my throne room." She said. "This is where i spend most of my time... Even tough i'm alone." Maria said with a sad voice, lowering her look to the ground.

"Can i sit down?" I asked.

"Of course." Maria answered, while sitting down on the throne.

I sat down in front of her.

"Do you mind if i ask you a question?" I asked.

"Ask away..." Maria said.

"Why don't you kill me? You seem strong enough to take me down with ease... Why don't you do it?" I asked.

"I already told you... I can sense your pure heart and i don't kill good people... But if you were a bad person, i'd have instantly cut your head and drank all of your blood, or even worse..." She said with an evil smile. "I would've made you a vampire, and made all of your existence a nightmare..." She giggled.

"That's horrible." I said.

"Hahaha... Don't worry, Alex. I won't turn you in a vampire. I'm not that cruel." Maria said.

"I hope..." I replied, with a little bit of fear in my voice. 

"And why didn't you kill me, Alex?" She said in curiosity. "I mean... i was sleeping... you could kill me or even worse... tried to assault me..." Maria giggled.

"I... I don't know..." I said honestly.

"Hahaha! Humans can be so funny." She laughed a little bit. "The last time i met a human was actually 1000 years ago. You're the first one in 1000 years to come here... It's been a lot..." She looked a little happy while saying this.

I then stood up from the throne. "H-hey! D-don't laugh at me!" I said. "Am i really the first one in 1000 years?"

"Well... you are the first *Human*... not the first person... All the people who came here tried to steal things from this castle or to kill or assault me... I killed all of them" She said with an intimidating tone. "This is the first time in 1000 years that i can finally talk with someone..." Maria smiled.

I felt like i was in the presence of something special. Not just because of her beauty or her power... But mostly because of her kindness... She had such a strange, calming aura, even tough she was the queen of all vampires.

"Now tell me, Alex... Why did you come into this castle?" Maria asked me with a serious tone.

The moment she asked me this, i remembered that i entered the castle without knowing her existence.

"Well... i was just curious. I tought that some filthy vampire was hiding here... but suddenly i saw a light from a window and then i heard a scream. That's why i entered the castle. I didn't expect to meet the legendary queen of the vampires and most of all i didn't expect for her to be so kind and gentle." i replied.

"Oh..." She giggled "You're pretty lucky, don't you ?" Maria later noticed the sword behind my back. 

"T-That sword... Is that sword "Xanderyl"? The legendary sword forged by God himself?" She then asked with a little bit of fear.

"Yes, my mother gave it to me when i was but a child..." I answered.

"Did your mother have any kind of relation with vampires?" She asked.

"Not exactly. My mother was killed by the original vampire of this land, so she became a vampire and left me. His name was Legion. Do you know him by any chance?" I asked.

"Yes..." Maria was looking at me with curiosity and sadness, with a little bit of anger in her eyes. I could feel her killing instincts in the air. 

"Legion is... not an original vampire. He's one who escaped my prison." Maria said, while looking at me. "I can tell you more about him if you want." Maria added.

I nodded and said: "That would be great."

"His existence started thousands of years ago when he was imprisoned in this very place, and then he managed to escape and began attacking humans and other vampires, since he wasn't able to feed on them." She said. 

"Wait... what do you mean by *Imprisoned*?" I asked in curiosity.

"Well... Let's say that i have a sense of justice." Maria said in a very serious tone.

"I met a lot of very bad people in my eternal existence. I met killers, psychopath, corrupted people... And to all of them i gave a destiny that was way worse than death itself" She added. "I made them vampires and imprisoned them below this castle. They are still here, imprisoned and immortal. They are screaming right now but we cannot hear them" She added.

"Does that mean... your entire castle is a prison?" I asked in a bit of surprise.

"Yes... The castle is a jail for those who deserve it." Maria replied. "I'm here guarding that those people won't escape since they are vampires."

"But... Your castle has a lot of people..." I said.

"All of them are criminals, murderers, rapists... and many others who committed terrible crimes against humans and their own kind. If you think that this is cruel, you should meet them for yourself." She said.

"I didn't say that this is cruel. They probably are terrible person if you done that to them." I replied.

"You sound like you've never seen these people before..." Maria said. "They don't deserve mercy or pity. These are the worst monsters out there."

I didn't answer her and instead i remained silent, waiting for her to continue talking.

She then said : "Follow me" and guided me to the top of the castle, to see the full moonlight.

I've never seen anything so beautiful. It was so peaceful and serene... Even though i knew that it was a curse for the humans.

"Look at that beautiful sky..." Maria said, while gazing at the full moon. "I want to protect this sight... The moon is the only light who will guide you trough the worst darkness... That's why i still have my humanity, despite all the horrible things and wars i saw in my lfe..." She then looked at her me with her beautiful red eyes that now were shining into the light of that beautiful fool moon.

"Legion is the only one who managed to escape from my prison... He fooled me with his fake kindness..." Maria starts burning with rage and regrets. "He tricked me into thinking that he was a good person... so i let him go... after giving him a taste of blood and immortality. After that he disappeared into the night, laughing in my face." Maria closes her hands to form a fist and i could see a red aura surruonding her body. 

"Didn't she say that Legion escaped?" I thought in my mind.

"He fooled me and he made other vampires as his slaves and he is now killing people in all the region... He became strong. He kills without a real reason... I'll never forget myself for what i've done..." She said, with tears in her eyes.

"Hey... No need to cry..." I said, trying to calm her down.

"No... I'm crying because i feel guilty for what i've done. For letting him go..." She said, while opening her hand again. "I couldn't stop him. I have a curse on me since then. I cannot leave this castle... Otherwise all those vampires would escape and i would die for God's law."

The atmosphere changed dramatically. I felt goosebumps. This was the first time ever that a vampire was confessing to me about her past.

The first time i was speaking with a vampire.

"So... does that mean that you're trapped here forever?" I asked, while looking her wet, red eyes.

"Exactly..." She answered with a serious tone.

"What can i do to help you?" I asked.

"Nothing... I'm afraid that even if you wanted to save me, you won't be able to." She answered.

"Legion is too powerful and my curse is way stronger than your power right now. The only way to break this curse is..." Maria stops talking. "I cannot say it. Otherwise it won't work. You will figure it out yourself" She then smiled at me.

We were still under that beautiful moonlight and i was feeling grateful to fate for making me meet such a beautiful creature like Maria.

"Anything else i could do?" I asked.

"Just stay with me now. I needed some company." Maria said. "Forgive me for saying this, Alex... but i'm lonely. Since my mother and father died, i haven't had anyone to talk to. Just the screams of prisoners, the cries of the dead... It's been too long since i've talked to someone "Human"." She added while lovingly smiling at me.

I was touched by what she said. I could feel my heart being warmed by the sound of her beautiful words. 

"Y-yes..." I replied, while blushing a little bit.

"Good. Now, let's get to know each other better... Tell me, Alex... How old are you?" She asked with a sweet voice.

"Twenty years old." I replied.

"Oh, you're pretty young! Haha!" She then laughed and sitted on a bench placed on the rooftop of the castle. She then invited me to sit with her. "Would you mind sitting here next to me?" She asked.

I sat down. There was no reason for me to refuse the invitation.

"Thank you." She said with a smile.

We then started talking about a lot of things, from our favorite foods to our hobbies and beliefs.

We also discussed a lot about history and culture, even though most of it was unknown to me.

Maria was constantly staring at me, with her bright red eyes. I could actually feel a strange, new feeling in my heart. It was giving me pleasure, happiness, warmth... i cannot properly describe what i was feeling but it was the first time in my life that i felt this way with someone. The strangest thing is that i was simpathizing with a vampire.

Maria then started talking how the world changed in all these years. Even if she couldn't leave this castle, she actually knew everything about the world outside her house. She said that magic wasn't discovered when she was a child. But since then... magic appeared and people got stronger. The world became different.

"Magic is a gift from God to help us through the hardest times. God created magic so that people may not only survive but even thrive during difficult moments." Maria said.

"It's true that magic has helped a lot of people." I agreed.

"I agree completely..." She said. "One of my favorites parts of magic is healing others." She said.

"Well... it's a bit strange that a creature born for hurting poeple like me actually likes healing magic, isn't it?" She giggled.

Her laugh was so cute and beautiful and sounded so innocent and pure.

"I guess it's because you're a good person deep inside." I said.

"I wish that were true, Alex." She said sadly. "If only you knew a little bit of my past..." She then looked away and sighed. "But you are right. I am a good person deep down... despite all the evil deeds i've done in my life."

"Can you tell me one of them?" I asked.

"Well... i already told you about my sense of justice... Let's say that when i became a vampire i used to kill everyone who was a threat to people, but you know, despite me being a vampire, i'm still a human and humans can do mistakes..." She said while sighing.

"Is that so? But killing people is always wrong." I replied.

"I know, but i didn't care. I was blinded by my sense of justice and i started killing every person i didn't like. If i had the suspect on that person, they were dead. I used to drink a lot of blood but then... Something unexpected happened" She then stopped talking and began to look at the sky.

"Something unexpected?" I asked.

"Yes, something unexpected..." She replied. "I met a human... he was an artist... he went deep down a forest..." She paused for a moment and then continued. "He was carrying a package full of his brushes and colours."

Maria paused for another moment and then continued. "He walked right towards my castle... but somehow, i couldn't feel any evil intensions in him. I waited him outside the entrance of this castle."

Maria paused again and continued. "He then arrived before me and after we met he smiled at me. It was the first time that someone was smiling at me" She paused for a moment and then continued.

"I thought that he was nice and that he wasn't a threat." Maria looked at the sky. "He said "Hello! You're gorgeus! Would you mind staying still for ten minutes?" And he drew a portrait of me with his brushes." Maria pauses for a moment.

"After he finished, he gave me the painting. It was so beautiful. It was the first gift i received from someone. But the most important thing is that... he wanted nothing in return." Maria said with a sad, loving expression.

"That's amazing!" I exclaimed.

"Yeah... it was. After that gift i started crying of joy and i started thinking about all the people i killed. He came to me, without fear and he embraced me. I could feel warmth for the first time" Maria said, with a tear in her eyes.

"His name was... Mark." She then paused for a moment. "Mark... My best friend. After that day he came to visit me everyday... I discovered how beautiful humanity was in such simple things like spending time toghether... But someday something horrible happened"

Maria closed her eyes and sighed.

"Mark suddenly vanished... I left my castle to go search for him" A tear fell in front of her face. "I managed to arrive into his village... I found out that he was about to get executed..."

She paused for a moment, then continued. "I didn't arrive in time... I saw Mark dying before my very eyes. They killed him because people tought he was a traitor but that was not true..."

She paused again for a moment and then continued. "I was helpless. All the humans around were screaming. Mark had been taken away... He was tortured and mocked... And then... he was burned alive."

Maria looked at the sky. "I was the only one who was silent. I wished that he hadn't suffered so much. That it wouldn't end this way..."

She then turned back towards me. "In that moment i felt a never ending rage and... i killed all the people in the village, including children."

She was shaking.

"How many people did you kill?" I asked.

"Hundreds." She replied with a low voice.

I could hear a sobbing coming from her beautiful, soft lips.

"I didn't care in that moment. I only felt a great instinct to kill everyone after seeing Mark dying."

Maria said, while tears were falling from her eyes. 

"I then went near Mark's burned corpse and i cried for two hours. After that i remembered all the times with him and all the people i killed... he didn't want this."

Maria stopped crying. "From that day... i vowed to hunt down all the bad people who were responsible for Mark's death and... the legend of the bloodlust Maria has born until i got cursed by God himself."

Maria explained to me how her curse works and why she is unable to leave the castle. She told me how she always wanted to get rid of her curse and to live freely, outside the castle walls.

I could feel her sadness and pain in every word that came out from her mouth and i decided to listen to her..

"I'm sorry for all that happened to you, Maria. I'll help you in any way that i can... You surely suffered a lot, don't you?" I said.

"Thank you, Alex... I needed to speak with someone." She whispered. "You know, you have a beautiful heart... I can feel it."

That was the first time in 1000 years that Maria met someone to talk with. She waited this moment for so long. "All i needed was to find someone like you." She said, while looking at me in the eyes.

"Tell me... What does it feel like to be a human? I forgot what it feels."

"I don't really know... Let's say that... Uhm... You don't need to drink blood...?" I said laughing a little. 

Maria giggled, putting her hand on her mouth , covering it. 

"Well... Okay... Ahahaha!" She added.

"Now it's your turn, What does it feel to be the queen of all vampires?" I asked.

"Uhm... Let's say that i actually like to be immortal and control dangerous forbidden magic, but staying in this castle all the day is pretty annoying, you know? It's been a lot of time since the last time i left this place..." She giggled .

"But destiny actually gave me a beautiful surprise." She said, looking at me with a loving smile. "A human named Alex came here and showed me kindness and respect and we became friends."

She said while blushing. "I think he's the only human i know i can trust."

"Well... I guess that now we can call each other "Friends", right?" I said smiling. 

*Her mood change from a desperate and sad one to a happy one was rather... suspicious*

Her eyes widen and she seemed happy.

"Yes! I'll be happy to have you as my friend!" She then smiled. "I'm glad that you are here..."

She then hugged me, under that beautiful moonlight.

We stayed there for a while, feeling the warm breeze and just talking about our lives.

Maria told me about her early days and how she became a vampire.

"Did you know that I was once a human?" She asked.

"No..." I replied.

"About 2000 years ago... i was living in a small peaceful village in Yelrock" She said.

"Y-Yelrock?! You mean the country that now is dominated by demons?!" I asked. "People used to live here? I was told that demons lived here since the beginning of times..." I was shocked by that revelation.

"They were wrong... This area was once ruled by a great warrior called Ludovic." She said. "This man was a hero among heroes. He used to fight with monsters and demons in order to protect those poor people who were suffering from their evil presence." She added. 

"I was also told that Ludovic was only a legend. So did he really exist? You met him in person?!" I was so surprised after hearing all those things.

"Yes, he existed... and he was my father." Maria paused for a moment. "Ludovic and I grew up together... He taught me everything about power and magic. He was one of the greatest warriors ever known to mankind." She said, looking at the sky.

"May his soul rest in peace...". 

"So... you're the queen of vampires and yet your father is one of the greatest heroes of mankind?" I said in surprise. 

"Yes. Quite funny, isn't it?" She giggled.

"Anyway, my father used to fight demons for all his life and he kept us safe but sadly, he was a human, a mortal. He peacefully died at the age of 89."

She said. "I'm his oldest daughter. I was 22 when he died."

"And you suddenly became the queen of all vampires?" I asked.

"Wait, i'm not yet here." Maria paused for a second. "Well, one month after his death Yelrock got invaded by the demons." She said while looking down. 

"What happened next?" I asked.

"When people saw that, they were terrified and ran away from the city. The demons took over this region and killed anyone who fought them. They captured me and kept me as their slave." Maria started shaking. "They killed almost everyone in Yelrock and they took away my father's sword"

"Your father's sword?" I asked with wide eyes.

"Yes. It was called "Mandarius, The god's blade". Legends said that this blade was the only one who could purify demons." She said. 

"The god's blade? I already heard that name... In Nazaria a lot of people worship Ludovic." i replied.

"Exactly! And it seems that they are right." She smiled. "Do you know what the symbol of that sword looks like?" I nodded. "It's a cross!"

"Oh... You know that then. Good boy." She giggled. 

"So, tell me , Maria. What happened after demons invaded Yelrock ?" I asked, trying to lighten up the atmosphere.

"Well... i was captured by them. I was still a human that time." She said with a serious tone. "Since i was Ludovic daughter they kept me as their prisoner and it was during this time that they made a lot of painful experiments on me. They saw that i had a talent for magic" Maria started shaking again, maybe in anger. "I went trough true pain for almost three years. Worst time of my life. I will never forget all the pain i've gone trough."

I gently put my hand on Maria's shoulder and said "If you don't want to remember, don't talk. I won't force you.".

"You're too kind, Alex. But i need to talk with someone. It has been so long." She smiled at me while shaking.

"Well... one day the demon lord Ashen, saw that i had an extraordinary potential to magic. He ordered his soldiers to bring me to a room and then he came in."

"What happened next?" I asked, feeling a bit scared.

"Well... He called his wife. He made me undress and his soldiers put me on a table. They perfomed a strange ritual while his wife was saying something in a strange language. I felt an unimaginable pain. I felt that every vein of my body was exploding. I could feel my skin burning..."

She started trembling.

"I screamed and begged them to stop. But they didn't listen. Instead... they brought out some sort of blade and cut some skin off my chest..."

Maria stops for a second and then talks again.

"Suddenly the pain stopped and i noticed a mark on my belly. After noticing it i felt a strange thirst but not of water... i wanted to drink blood."

Maria's eyes started glowing of a burning red. "The demon lord Ashen was laughing, satisfied of what happened. He then gave me a mirror and i looked myself. I noticed that my eyes became red and that my skin and hair became of a dead white." Maria said.

"So... You became a vampire because of Ashen?!" I asked.

"No, not exactly. I knew that something more was happening to me. A strange hunger came out and the thirst for blood became even stronger. My mind started to change. It was like... i was possessed by another personality. Ashen wanted to turn me into someone of his subordinates."

"What happened then?" I was scared to ask.

"After that, Ashen's wife finally finished her ritual and she touched me with her hands. That was when it happened. I changed into a monster. But..." Maria said while crying.

"Sorry, Alex. I'll tell you the continue of this story another time." She added.

"That's horrible...". I hugged Maria for a minute.

Even tough it was the first time that we met, she already told me a lot of things about her life.

I still don't know the reason of why she told me all these things.

And i still don't know

"Thank you, Alex." She said, while gently breaking the hug. "I have lot of things to say but i guess that now you should be tired. Do you have a place to return?" She asked.

"Well... Yes. I was staying in an inn two hours of distance from here but i guess that i'm pretty tired to walk until there..." I said.

After Maria said these words, i started to feel really tired and sleepy.

"Oh... You mean "The sleeping eagle inn"?" Maria asked.

"Yes, that's it." I replied. "How do you know that inn?" I then asked.

Maria smiles. "Well... Mark used to stay there. That inn is over 1000 years old, did you know that?" She said.

"Uhm... Uhm... Well... That makes sense." I laughed a little. "I guess you know a lot more than me..."

"I guess yes. You still have a lot to learn, Alex." Maria answered with a sweet smile. "Anyway... I'll take you to your inn."

"Uhm... Didn't you say that you can't leave the castle?" I asked.

"Well, yes. But..." Maria suddenly said something in a strange language.

"Sura, Aris, Kai" After she said these three words, a portal appeared before my eyes. 

"W-What is this...?" I asked, with a little bit of fear.

"This is a portal for the city of Lungi, where the Inn is. Do not worry, nobody will see you." Maria smiled at me and then she gave me a necklace.

"Take this necklace, Alex. Always wear it and whenever you want to come here or see me, just call out for my name. I will open a portal for you" 

"F-For real?!" I was actually curious.

"Yes. Consider this as a gift to our friendship." Maria smiled at me.

"Thank you , Maria." I smiled back, taking the necklace and putting it around my neck.

"Goodbye, Alex. See you whenever you want." She said, waving and smiling at me.

"Thank you, Maria. I'll come back as soon as i can if nothing bad will happen to me." I said.

"..." Maria stood silent for a second before speaking and then she nodded "Yes. I trust the fact that you will come back. Thank you. I know you will."

I then stepped into the portal and in a second i found myself in the main street of Lungi.