I walked with slow steps while drinking the potions I carried in my bag.
The bitter liquid slid down my throat and, little by little, the pain that coursed through my entire body began to diminish.
It didn't disappear completely, but at least it stopped feeling like every bone was about to break.
At the same time, I felt a small part of my magic returning.
It was weak, unstable, like a flame about to go out, but it was there. And in that place, even a spark could make the difference between living or dying.
Even so, my vision remained a problem. Everything looked half dark, blurry, as if a shadow covered my eyes.
I blinked several times, trying to force my sight, but it didn't improve much. I could only make out shapes, distant lights, and slow movements.
I took a deep breath and kept walking.
Each step hurt. My legs were tired, my arms heavy, and my whole body seemed to protest against continuing forward. But I couldn't stop. Not in that place.
After a while, in the distance, I managed to make out a small light.
At first I thought it was an illusion caused by exhaustion, but as I advanced, the light became clearer.
It was a bonfire.
My heart felt a little relieved. I knew that if I reached there, maybe I could orient myself better or at least rest for a few minutes.
There was still a long way to go, I could feel it in my body, but the simple fact of having heat and light gave me back a little hope.
When I finally arrived, I carefully lit the bonfire and sat near it. The warmth of the flames began to envelop me, relaxing my tense muscles. I closed my eyes for a few seconds, letting the exhaustion drain out of my body.
But the calm didn't last long.
I heard strange sounds in the distance.
I opened my eyes suddenly and immediately drew my sword. My breathing became slow and silent while I observed the darkness in front of me. I waited… but nothing appeared.
Silence took over the place again.
I swallowed hard.
Maybe I was going crazy. I had spent too much time in that place, surrounded by danger, pain, and darkness. Or perhaps it was the effects of those candies I had bought from that strange man some time ago.
I didn't know what they really contained, or why I had eaten them without thinking too much.
I shook my head.
It made no sense to think about that now.
I stood up next to the bonfire and decided to keep exploring. I couldn't stay still too long; in that place, staying still was the same as dying.
I continued advancing through the path of the contaminated poisonous waters. The ground was damp and slippery, and the smell was unpleasant. Each step had to be taken carefully to avoid falling.
Then I heard them.
Jumps.
And a repetitive sound that pierced my ears.
—Croak… croak…
I frowned. They sounded like frogs.
The sound grew louder as I advanced, as if something were calling me. Without realizing it, my feet began to move in that direction, drawn by the noise.
When I was close enough, the scene in front of me became clear.
I saw a woman sitting on a purple throne. Her posture was relaxed, almost elegant, as if that dark and poisonous place were her home.
Around her, five green frogs were jumping nonstop, surrounding her like pets… or guards.
In that instant I knew.
That woman was one of the princesses I was looking for.
I took a few more steps forward, without hiding. She saw me almost immediately.
She rose from her throne quickly, observing me from head to toe with a curious, almost excited expression.
—Eh, eh, eh… you're a prince, are you a prince?
Her voice sounded childish, but there was something unsettling in her smile.
—I'm not —I replied without beating around the bush.
She blinked a couple of times, as if she hadn't heard correctly… and then smiled even wider.
—It doesn't matter, I'll still make you my prince.
Before I could react, she raised her hand and the ground trembled. Beside her appeared two enormous giant frogs. Their bodies were thick, muscular, and their eyes shone with a dangerous light.
At that moment I understood there was no way to talk to her.
I drew my sword just as the two frogs lunged at me.
The ground vibrated with their weight. They jumped with surprising speed for their size.
I stepped forward and attacked with all my strength, trying to split them in two with a single movement. But my sword clashed against something hard. Too hard.
One of the frogs stopped my attack with its arms, while the other violently struck my helmet.
The impact was brutal.
I felt my head spin and my body stagger back several steps. My legs began to tremble and I nearly fell. The world spun around me.
My strength was fading.
Even so, I couldn't fall.
Something kept me standing. Maybe pride, maybe fear. Or perhaps it was that strange magic the frog princess was using, an invisible energy that strengthened her allies and made them far more resistant than normal.
I clenched my teeth and lunged into the attack again.
This time I observed more carefully. The frogs' movements were slow, but powerful. Each blow could crush me if I lowered my guard.
I attacked again, knowing exactly what was going to happen.
One of them stopped my sword.
The other prepared to strike me.
But this time, seconds before they blocked the attack, I activated my magic.
The blade of my sword was covered in flames.
The fire roared with force, illuminating everything around me. The frogs let out a strange sound as they felt the heat. They could no longer hold the sword.
With a single movement, I pierced through the body of one of them, splitting it in two.
The second frog reacted instantly and lunged at me with fury, but I gave it no time. I spun my body and, taking advantage of the momentum, cut it horizontally.
Its body fell lifeless to the ground.
I breathed with difficulty. My arms burned and my legs barely held me up.
I began to advance toward the frog princess.
She kept smiling.
That smile… wasn't normal.
I raised my sword and attacked, determined to end it all at once. But just before the blade reached her, her body began to change.
Her skin turned green, her size increased, and in seconds, in front of me stood an enormous frog.
She seemed to be suffering. Her scream was high-pitched, desperate, almost painful.
I didn't hesitate.
With a single movement, I pierced her body and ended her life.
The scream faded, and her body began to vanish, as if it had never been there.
Silence returned.
Only one object remained on the ground.
A book.
I approached carefully and picked it up in my hands. On the cover it clearly read:
"The Frog Princess Tale."