Father David subconsciously glanced at Leon Lake, noticing that he had stopped at the door.
With a kind smile, David stepped inside.
"Good morning, child," he greeted warmly.
He took a seat across from Gaea, facing her.
Gaea's soft eyes flicked toward Leon standing by the door, her deer-like ears twitching faintly.
"As always," David began gently, "I must remind you that, due to the nature of our situation, confessions here are not strictly confidential unless specifically requested. Even then, if necessary, our conversation may be reviewed by higher authority. Do you understand?"
"Yeah~" Gaea nodded obediently.
The audience watching the live broadcast collectively melted.
> "Aww, she's so sweet."
"She's too cute, I can't take it!"
David smiled kindly. "Very good. So, how have you been lately?"
"I'm fine." Gaea blinked. "An employee told me about Benedict yesterday. Is that true?"
David sighed softly. "Ah, yes. That's unfortunate—but understandable. He was already quite old when he took office. Knowing that he served the Church faithfully, he can now rest peacefully."
The audience could already guess that she was referring to the previous monastery she'd lived in.
Gaea looked a bit downcast but quickly asked, "Do you know who will replace him?"
"There's a lot of speculation," David said thoughtfully. "They may want a new face to represent the Church… or they might choose someone who's been devoted for years."
Gaea nodded lightly. "That's what I think too."
She then glanced again at Leon, fidgeting slightly, as if she wanted to speak but didn't dare.
Everyone watching felt a pang of pity for her shy, gentle demeanor.
David noticed her hesitation and looked at Leon, but before he could say anything, Leon calmly took off his shoes and stepped into the room.
Gaea's ears twitched nervously as she looked up curiously at him.
"Hello," Leon said with a warm smile. "My name is Leon. You can just call me Leon."
Gaea looked uncertainly toward Father David.
David chuckled. "Dr. Leon Lake is one of the Foundation's most respected researchers."
Hearing that, Gaea instinctively shuddered. Then she raised her head shyly and said in a small voice,
"Hello… my name is Gaea."
Leon sat down across from her, studying her quietly for a moment. Then he smiled gently.
"Can we talk about you—or maybe about your parents?"
"M–me?" Gaea asked timidly, like a startled fawn. She shook her head. "I don't really have a story. And my parents…"
Under Leon's calm gaze, she continued softly, "I never knew them. I was abandoned as a baby."
She hesitated, then quickly explained, "I mean, if they left me there, they must've known the nuns. But I don't remember anything. Just little fragments. They said some things about my mother, but then they stopped—like they realized they shouldn't say too much around me."
She paused. "I think they said… she was a goddess? But obviously that can't be true. She wasn't some spirit. It must mean something else—"
She gestured toward her small antlers and her deer-like ears. When she pointed at her ear, it flicked unconsciously.
Her voice weakened. "I remember overhearing the Mother Superior once. She told another sister that my mother did something wrong—something about a ritual that the others stopped. They said… she was dead."
The audience watching couldn't contain themselves.
> "Damn… such a sweet girl, and she's had such a tragic past."
"She doesn't know anything about Dr. Clef or Lily…"
"Maybe that's for the best. Ignorance can be a kind of mercy."
"True, but don't forget—she's still an anomaly."
"Man, this hurts."
---
S.H.I.E.L.D.
Even Nick Fury, usually cold and calculating, sighed softly.
He wasn't heartless—just jaded.
Leon, who knew Gaea's true background, bowed his head slightly.
"I'm sorry to hear about your mother," he said gently.
Gaea blinked. "It's okay."
"And your father?"
At that, Gaea hesitated.
"I don't know. I guess he was the one who left me at the convent… but why there? Why didn't he take me with him?"
Her voice wavered, tears forming in her eyes.
In that moment, she looked like nothing more than a lost, fragile orphan.
Leon's eyes softened. "I believe he had his reasons."
Gaea looked up, smiling faintly through her sadness. "Maybe. You know, they never talked about him. Not once. I must've asked the head nun a thousand times, but she never said a word."
The audience watching felt their hearts twist.
> "Of course they didn't. Clef's existence is classified."
"Even her existence is a secret!"
"If Clef hadn't saved her, the GOC would've killed her on the spot."
But Gaea knew none of that.
To her, she'd simply been left at a monastery as a baby, later transferred to the Foundation—a lonely girl with nowhere to go.
---
In the containment room, Leon turned toward David.
"Father, please leave us alone for a while."
David frowned. "That's… irregular procedure, Doctor."
Leon met his gaze silently.
After a few moments, David sighed and stood.
"Sorry, child. I'll see you next week."
"Goodbye, Father," Gaea said softly.
"Goodbye…"
The door hissed open and shut.
For a brief, quiet moment, only Leon and Gaea remained.
Curious, the audience leaned forward, wondering what Leon would do.
He slowly reached into his pocket—
and pulled out a sealed envelope.
Under Gaea's puzzled gaze, he handed it to her.
Leon didn't explain, just smiled encouragingly.
"Maybe it'll be a nice surprise."
Her eyes brightened, her little ears twitching with excitement.
She carefully opened the envelope.
The live chat went silent.
> "A letter? From who?"
"Wait—did Clef ask Leon to deliver this?"
---
S.H.I.E.L.D.
Natasha Romanoff frowned. "That look David gave earlier… this is definitely against protocol."
Nick Fury crossed his arms. "Yeah. But if Clef made the request—Leon's probably the only one who'd agree to help."
Still, Fury couldn't shake the feeling that Clef's request was far from simple.
---
Gaea unfolded the letter.
As she read the first lines, her eyes widened in shock, glimmering like twin stars.
Her hands trembled, and the audience saw the letter appear on the screen.
---
> [Mellie,
When I met your mother, we were both just grown-up children.
She had hooves for feet and stars in her eyes.
She was beautiful, innocent—and I killed her with my own hands.]
---
The live chat froze.
Then, chaos.
> "WHAT?! Did Dr. Clef really write this?!"
"He's insane—why would he tell her that?!"
"No… he's just being honest. It was probably the only chance he had."
"Clef's a monster, but… he still loves her."
---
Tears welled in Gaea's eyes as she continued reading.
> Eden was never a place—it was a state of being.
They wanted to bring us back there, and I stopped them. I destroyed paradise again.
I have never regretted what I did that day—except for one thing: when you first opened your eyes, you saw your father put ten bullets into your mother's head.
I have no excuses, no explanations. You may not remember, but I'm telling you now, hoping you can understand… and maybe forgive me.
The audience fell silent again. In their minds, they could see it:
Dr. Clef, trembling, writing each word in pain.
> I love you.
I wish I could have done more for you.
The best thing I can do is leave you with good people who will care for you.
I'm sorry you couldn't stay with them. I'm sorry they sent you here. I'll do everything I can to keep you safe.
Happy 16th Birthday.
Love, your father.
---
Gaea's tears spilled freely. Her whole body trembled, the envelope slipping from her hands.
She looked at Leon helplessly. "This…"
Leon's voice was low. "He's sorry he can't come see you in person."
He paused. "Your father… is a hero."
At that, Gaea broke completely.
Her tears fell like starlight, her sobs echoing softly through the containment room.
She cried and cried—
until it felt like all her grief poured through the screen, touching even another universe.
The audience could only watch in silence.
> "Damn this world…"
"Clef's a bastard—but his love is real."
---
S.H.I.E.L.D.
Natasha turned away, discreetly wiping her eyes.
"This world is cruel," she muttered.
Even Nick Fury's usual composure cracked.
He said nothing—but his expression was heavy with sympathy.
He understood now.
Clef's love was twisted, tragic, but genuine.
And while the world mourned, Fury still remembered—
Clef's final request to Leon.
---
On-screen, Leon waited quietly until Gaea's tears subsided.
He handed her a tissue.
She took it with trembling hands, eyes still red and watery.
"Why can't he come see me?" she asked pitifully.
Leon hesitated. "Because… he wants to protect you."
"But I'm already protected, aren't I?"
Leon shook his head. His eyes looked distant, as though seeing things beyond this world.
"Because some disasters haven't happened yet."
Gaea wanted to ask more, but Leon stood up.
"Happy birthday, Gaea."
Before she could respond, he turned and walked to the door.
As he reached it, her voice called softly from behind him—
> "Thank you."
Leon paused briefly, then stepped out.
> "Thank you for the gift."
The screen lingered on Gaea's teary smile, holding the letter close to her heart.
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