"Leon... I know you. I know you so well. You're the kind of person who conceals your emotions and thoughts," Carl remarked, withdrawing his hand from Leon's shoulder. He wiped his face, his eyes still bearing the weight of sadness, but now devoid of tears. Continuing, he said, "So the fact that you've reached out to us like this, sharing this with us, there must be a hidden message behind it. What is it, my son? What have you been keeping from us? How much time do you have left?"Leon fell into a contemplative silence. It wasn't that he didn't grasp the significance of his father's question; rather, he needed a moment to gather his thoughts.Before long, Leon, his voice quivering, finally summoned the courage to respond to his father's inquiry. He paused briefly before admitting, "...Father, I may not be fortunate enough to see tomorrow."Carl's countenance contorted, a mixture of shock and grief washing over him as he absorbed the weight of Leon's revelation. The magnitude of the sit
A dense silence gripped the surroundings, with no one daring to break it, including Leon, who refrained from speaking given the current situation. His failed attempt at humor, which had earned him disapproving looks earlier, had taught him that silence was the most appropriate choice in this atmosphere. Not long after, the hurried footsteps of two individuals echoed, closing in on their location. Leon had a strong suspicion about their identities. "Likely Luis and Mother," he surmised. His intuition proved correct when, in the next moment, the two appeared behind the trees shrouded in darkness. And there, amidst the dimly lit woods, the figures of Luis and their anxious mother came into view. Their faces were a mixture of worry and relief as they finally reunited with Leon. Luis rushed towards Leon, embracing him tightly, unable to hold back his tears. "I'm here, Leon," he said, his voice choked with emotion. "I came as quickly as I could. We're all here for you." His gaze shifte
Greetings to all, it's Miss Q here. I've been absent from writing for a few months, and I must admit, leaving you all hanging without an explanation has surely been frustrating. So, here I am, addressing the situation. First and foremost, I want to express my gratitude to the readers who patiently waited for the story's continuation, and I sincerely apologize for the lengthy delay. The reason for my prolonged absence stems from the challenge of navigating the story after the conclusion of the royal event arc. Knowing what was about to unfold, I found myself grappling with how to eloquently depict the plot's subsequent developments. As I delved into writing this month's installment, I was repeatedly halted by overwhelming emotions, leading to tears flowing with each word I penned. The writing process became a genuine torment, and my heart felt like it was shattering with every sentence. There were moments when I needed to pause and collect myself, only to resume, and this pattern per
watching the events unfold. These observers, concealed in the shadows, remained unseen by the grieving family and servants.One of these shadowy figures, slightly shorter than the other, ventured to break the silence. "Are you absolutely certain about this?"A significant, meaningful glance was exchanged between the two figures. However, the second figure chose to remain silent, their focus fixated on the unfolding scene.The shorter individual persisted, a note of concern in their tone. "There must be an alternative, right? You don't have to let them go like this, Leon."At the mention of his name, the second figure, Leon, finally turned to regard the shorter one. His expression remained composed, the towel that had been provided by the shorter figure casually draped around his waist.
Upon his return from the grave, Leon wasted no time heading back home. Currently, he resided within a cabin nestled deep in the heart of the forest, all thanks to the assistance of Tania, the dragon.As he made his way home, he noticed the silhouette of someone seated on the bench outside his house. His eyes widened with recognition, and he quickened his pace. He knew exactly who it was."You're tardy! Hmph!"The person complained the moment they laid eyes on him. Leon couldn't help but smile at this and playfully retorted, "Who invited you anyway?"Leon's teasing words only seemed to ignite the person's annoyance further. They stood up, narrowing their eyes at him, clearly not in the mood for jests."I come all this way to welcome you back, and this is the thanks I get?" the person huffed, crossing their arms.Leon's smile widened, and he stepped closer, a warmth in his eyes."Nia, my little sister," Tania grumbled nonetheless, saying,"as I've told you, I'm not your little sister!
After their extended conversation, Leon saw Tania off. The following morning arrived swiftly, and as was his habit, Leon awoke early before proceeding with his usual routine.Upon its completion, he ventured outdoors, making his way to their customary meeting place. Today marked another journey to the town, yet Leon retained his consistent appearance—long hair shrouding his face, a scruffy beard, and clothes that hung loosely on his frame. His look exuded an air of dishevelment, and without fail, Tania would reprimand him whenever she laid eyes on him in such a state. Nevertheless, he paid her admonishments no heed.It wasn't a matter of lacking the ability to alter his appearance; in fact, he could readily do so with the aid of his artifact. However, a singular thought lingered in his mind, a sentiment that held him back."I can't bear to confront my own reflection."This was the reason he had never revealed his true countenance to anyone, steadfastly retaining the visage he had adop
"Is that meant to be a compliment or an insult?" Leon questioned, feeling somewhat disheartened by the statement.However, Tania quickly refuted, "No-No, it's a compliment. You've done an excellent job concealing it.""Is that right? Well, whatever then. Let's head to town now.""Alright~"With that settled, they both made their way to the town.Upon their arrival in town, the townspeople, who were familiar with them, greeted them warmly. However, today, more than ever, they couldn't avoid drawing additional attention to themselves as the townsfolk were clearly intrigued by someone among them."I suppose you're quite popular today.""Well, I didn't see this coming. Normally, they steer clear of me, except for you. But today...""They're engaged in quiet conversations, pondering the identity of someone.""Sigh... it's exhausting to be the center of attention like this."Observing Leon's weary expression, Tania attempted to lift his spirits."Isn't it all right?" She playfully grasped L
After conversing with his parents, Luis entered his office, quickly unfastening his collar. He then activated the communication orb resting on his desk.The orb gleamed briefly before revealing an image."What are you up to?" inquired Luis, addressing the figure that materialized."...sorting through some documents," the person replied, their gaze initially fixed on the paperwork before eventually shifting towards Luis. "It's almost that time of the year."Their eyes locked in silent understanding."...yes, it seems we'll be finally participating this year.""Indeed. Have you received another briefing from the Duke?" Luis nodded, albeit somewhat reluctantly."It appears the strategy has already been meticulously planned.""It shouldn't be too complicated, right? But it appears that this time, our focus is on the northern regions of the kingdom.""Yes, but..." Luis hesitated, seemingly lost in thought.Lately, his concerns extended beyond the immediate subject at hand and delved into m