Dominique's POV:
When I opened my eyes, I was already in my room. I was still quite sleepy and confused as to what happen, how much time has passed and where is everyone.
After about a minute of coming back to my senses, Chloe entered the room with probably a jug of water. After she noticed that I have already awaken, she quickly came to my bed.
"Young Master, you are already awake, how are you feeling? Is everything good? Does it hurt anywhere?"
As she nervously bombarded me with questions about my well-being, I slowly got up from the bed: "I am fine, Chloe, thank you for worrying about me." I smiled, being happy for being cared and also trying to cheer Chloe up a bit.
"Young Master, when lady Cecilia came back with you asleep it didn't worry me that much, but when she later told me about what happen during your trip, I couldn't help but worry. Also your Father was pretty excited and even fascinated after hearing about it. As he was happy that you're fine, as he was thrilled about your adventure."
"Wow, it was really quite the adventure, but for now I am fine without any more of this. By the way, where is my Mum?"
"Last I saw her, lady Cecilia was with lord William discussing some matters about a lord William's work in his office. But it was quite a while ago, so, unfortunately, I don't know."
"Okay, thank you, Chloe. I will go look for my Mum." I said while already nearly running out of my room.
"W-wait, young master! You'd better not run!" Chloe shouted from the room to me and her voice was becoming farther and farther away.
I didn't waste any time and headed straight to my Dad's office. At least I would find him there, right? After a few minutes I already was in front of the doors and knocked: "Dad, it's me!"
He answered: "Oh, and who is that "me", I wonder." His tone was quite cheerful and so was mine.
Then I opened the door and happily shouted: "It's me, Domi!" With a big smile on my face, I rushed to my Dad and he picked me up in his arms.
"Oh my, you are so vigorous. Did you have a good sleep?" He said with a gentle smile, that made my mood even better.
"Yes, I indeed had a good sleep, Dad! By the way, you are working now, right? Am I not distracting you?" I was curios as I was too inattentive and this thought slipped out of my mind and only now did I realise it.
"Don't worry about it. I will always a a minute or two for you, Domi. Anyway, I am curious to listen from you about your recent adventure with the young lady. Can you tell your Dad more about it?"
"Oh, this, okay, sure." And I proceeded with the story. After spending quite a lot of time retelling the story with as much details as I could remember.
"Mm-hmm, so that's how it was. Interesting, really interesting. But I am happy that everything ended well and no one was harmed and moreover, I am really proud of you, Domi. You didn't hesitate to jump in the river and saved Alice, you did an incredible thing, well done."
"Thank you, Dad. I couldn't even think about anything else besides saving Alice, but I was scared, really scared to jump in the river, yet my body moved on its own… I don't think that if it is to repeat, I will ever be able to do the same again…" My Dad's words really gave ma a warm and calming feeling inside, but…
"Don't worry about it, this is completely normal. When a person is brave it doesn't mean that he isn't scared, rather brave person is scared to do it, but he overcomes his fear and does what he has to do instead. So, do not blame yourself for fear, instead you have to overcome it. Got it?"
"Yes, Dad. I understood it!" It… really opened my eyes for this and relieved this feeling off of me, at least partially.
"Anyway, let's discuss it a bit later. You were probably looking for your Mum, she is in the garden right now, so you can go. And don't forget to eat something, I am pretty sure that didn't eat anything yet."
"Oh, that's exactly what I wanted, thank you, Dad. Let's talk in the evening, I will go see Mum now, see you later!" And as such I was on my way to our garden. It was a warm sunny day, so it was pleasant to walk around.
I wasn't in a hurry and enjoyed this cosy peaceful moment after that dark and cold night. After a few minutes I was in front of my Mum on a path paved with large stone slabs between bushes of different vivid and colourful flowers and trees between them.
"Hey, Mum!" I was excited to see her again, so after calling her I rushed as well to her.
"Hey, my Sweetheart! How do you feel? Did you sleep well?" As came close she picked me up in her arms as well.
"Yes, Mum. I am fine and energised! But I wanted to ask what happened after we came out of forest? How is Alice? And what about sir Lucius?"
As we continued to walk around the garden, Mum answered: "I am glad that you are fine already. Alice is fine as well, she fainted out of exhaustion the same as you did, but she was unharmed, so don't worry about her. About Lucius, you were very fortunate to meet him here and in such a critical moment. I wanted to thank him somehow but he refused. He said: "I don't need any reward, I was just passing by and they just so happened to be there.", so after our reunion he continued on his journey."
"Uh-huh. Then huh, I am happy to hear this!" I was finally at ease, it felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. But there was one thing I became curious about.
"Mum, do you know sir Lucius?" I somehow felt, that she was familiar with him after speaking about it.
"Yes, you are indeed sharp, Darling. I did know him before, but your meeting with was completely accidental."
"Wow, could you tell me more about him then?!" Her words only fired up my interest.
"He is very strong and powerful with a relatively good character. Also, he is of my own kind but is relatively young, so I didn't know him that long, but what I can say with certainty is that he is a good person. His deeds and reputations exceed his traveling, might say that he is quite well-known. But for sure he has a really prominent future."
"Uh-huh, uh-huh, woow. This is incredible!" I was amazed.
He really is a good person after all. I will tell this to Alice next time we meet!
"Now then, Darling. Tell me more about how do you feel after this little "adventure" and retell me how everything happened this way. I am reeeally curious."
As such, I retold the story again to my Mum as we continued walking down the garden. After this nothing extraordinary happened. In a few weeks' time we met again with Alice, this time we still played in park, but more carefully and walked through a city as well. We greatly spent time together and our bond only strengthened after that night. After this meeting there were a few more, but one day she told me that we will have to part ways.
At first, I was shocked, I was in disbelief, but she explained that her family will now move to another city in another country. I was… heartbroken, she was the only friend I had and we had to part ways after such a short time…
On the day of their last meeting when it was already time to say "goodbye" to each other:
"Domi, don't be so upset. Even though we will be far away in different countries, it doesn't matter that we can't meet. Here, give me your hand." Alice extended her hand waiting for me to do the same.
"Here, take my little finder with your little finger and let's make a promise."
I was still upset, but watching her trying to encourage and cheer me up helped a bit. I did what she wanted and was holding her little finger with my little finger. "What exactly do you want to do, Alice?"
"Make a promise, of course. Promise, that we will meet again in the future, when we would be old enough!" She was super enthusiastic about this idea. It didn't seem like a bad one and I quite liked it.
"Okay, that sounds good. Let's do it!"
After making a promise with Alice, I promised something for myself. Her words about getting older gave me an idea.
I promise, that when I will become older, I would be strong enough to protect Alice from anything! And also protect my Mum and Dad!
That's how we parted ways, with a promise made with our hearts and goal for the future.
Present day:
And that's how I made my very first friend and also promised to become very strong, that is driving me forward today, in the past and in the future.
To be continued…