The wind was gentle that night, swaying the tall grass like it had a rhythm of its own. The brothers were winding down, sore from the spar but oddly energized. Lytharos had long since vanished again — typical of him — leaving them alone with their thoughts.
Then, from the shadows beyond the firelight—
“Well, well… they live.”
Towan sat up instantly. “Leon.”
Elliot blinked, then let out a breath. “Took you long enough.”
Leon stepped into view, his coat brushing the ground like always, his grin smug but strangely warm.
“Oh, I took long?” He crossed his arms. “I told you Lytharos was nearby. You were supposed to find him in a day. Two, max.”
Towan scratched his cheek. “…We got distracted.”
“By what, exactly? Trees? Rocks? A particularly mysterious squirrel?”
Elliot sighed. “We found bandits. Then a weird old lady who spoke in riddles. And a tree that might’ve been cursed—”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from NovelBin; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Leon held up a hand, chuckling. “I don’t even want to know.”
He sat beside the fire and gave them both a good look.
“Well? You found him. That part’s done. How’d it go?”
Elliot stretched his shoulder with a groan. “He’s terrifying. Calm, but terrifying.”
Towan added, “He’s strong. I couldn’t read him at first… but halfway through, it was like something clicked. My body moved before I could think.”
Leon raised a brow. “Instinct?”
Towan nodded.
“Good. That means your Essentia is waking up. Not just flowing — remembering.”
Elliot frowned. “What do you mean?”
Leon paused for half a second — just long enough that it felt like he was choosing his words.
“…It means the training’s starting to sink into your bones. That kind of movement can’t be taught by drills alone.”
Towan squinted. “You’re dodging the question.”
Leon grinned. “Am I?”
Elliot deadpanned. “Always.”
Leon leaned back on one arm, staring at the sky. “Let me ask you something first. Did you feel stronger fighting him? Or just… different?”
Towan thought for a moment. “Stronger, yeah. But it felt like… I knew what was coming. Like I’d seen it before.”
Leon’s eyes narrowed, just slightly. (So it’s starting. Even faster than expected…)
He stood up again. “Get some rest. You’ve done well so far — eventually.”
“Hey,” Elliot grumbled.
Leon smirked. “Took you two a week to find the man meditating on a boulder a mile away.”
Towan raised a hand. “Okay, to be fair, there were too many boulders that looked suspicious.”
Leon was already walking away. “Sure it did. Just don’t take a week when I tell you to find Kael.”
“Kael?” Elliot sat up straighter.
Leon waved a hand. “You’ll see.”
And just like that — he was gone again.