A new discovery.

Alice awoke to a beam of sun hitting her eyes. Apparently she had slept most of the day and the sun was about to set. She looked around and saw neither the queen or any evidence of their tryst. The room was cleaned. As Alice got up and put on her clothes she noticed a letter on the table. She picked it up and it was addressed to her.

Alice,

Forgive the note but I had important matters to attend to. I have ordered dinner to be brought to your room. Most of the entourage is off discussing with the Glotians, and I will be busy as well. Please feel free to entertain yourself.

Queen Diane,

Alice sighed. Well at least she wouldn't go hungry. She went back to her room and noticed a bowl of chicken and some soup and bread at her desk. All things considered it was a decent meal. The Queen was being generous. As Alice ate she started feeling sleepy again and afterward lied down and fell asleep.

In the morning Alice rose up and thought about what to do today. It seems she was alone again for today. She decided to go on a walk through the woods. After all these were the Queen's woods and they were exclusive and renowned for their beauty.

As Alice was walking through the peaceful forest, enjoying the rustling of leaves and the distant call of birds. The warm sun filtered through the branches, casting gentle beams of light onto the forest floor.

However, as she walked, a sudden shift in the air made her stop. A faint, tingling sensation coursed through her fingertips, and without thinking, she reached out to touch the nearest tree. The moment her palm connected with the rough bark, a surge of energy erupted from her hand, causing the tree to glow briefly with radiant light. Her eyes widened in shock. The tree itself seemed to almost hum in response, as if alive in a way she’d never experienced before.

"Wh-what was that?" Alice whispered, pulling her hand back in surprise. Her heart raced, and a sense of awe mixed with trepidation flooded her.

She glanced around, half-expecting someone to appear, but the forest was still and quiet. There were no answers in the rustling leaves or the soft breeze. The sensation was fading, leaving her only with confusion.

Her steps were hurried as she made her way back to the castle. The familiar comfort of her small, simple room awaited her, but it didn't feel quite as safe anymore. She shut the door behind her and sat on her bed, trying to collect her thoughts. Her fingers trembled slightly as she stared at them, still tingling from the strange event.

"That wasn't normal," Alice murmured to herself. "What just happened to me?"

She stood up and walked over to the small altar in the corner of her room, where a simple candle flickered softly in the dim light. She closed her eyes, breathing deeply as she reached out toward the candle with a hesitant hand. The familiar prayers she had once whispered now felt different, more urgent, more potent.

A spark of divine energy flared to life in her palm, and Alice gasped, startled by the brightness. She quickly closed her hand to extinguish it, but the warmth lingered, filling her with a sense of power and potential she hadn’t known existed.

She could use magic!! This is insane. Alice had tried for months to use magic when she was being evaluated. She had cried herself to sleep with frustration that no matter what she did her cleric powers never seemed to be unleashed. And yet here she was being able to summon divine power at will.