In the worldline where Leon did not exist, she had stood alone for six months. She was the loneliest queen on her throne, and the most heartbroken wife.
Right up until the moment she fell into her coma, did she still believe… that Leon would return to save everything?
During these months, Leon had come here almost every night, spending long hours alone with Rossweise.
He said nothing. He did nothing. He simply sat in silence, watching his wife sleep.
But…
Every time he entered this room, Leon needed to mentally prepare himself.
He felt fear and anxiety. Sometimes, his legs would even tremble.
At first, Leon's mindset had been somewhat stable.
But as time passed, especially in these final days, he became more and more reluctant to approach Rossweise, to look at her, to speak his heart.
He was, in truth, a person with delicate and sensitive thoughts, but he was not good at managing his negative emotions.
It was like long ago, when Duke, the deputy Dragon King of the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan, had told him, "The Dragon Clan will take everything from you." That time, Leon had fallen into deep self-blame and doubt.
Back then, he had overcome it.
And the one who helped him through was Rossweise.
Though she was not good with words, she understood Leon. She knew how to enter the darkness in his heart and pull him out.
Many, many times, she had been Leon's "spiritual guide."
After all, the Queen had lived for over 200 years. Her life experience far surpassed Leon's.
But now, with worry and longing eating away at him, what was Leon to do?
Without Rossweise, his heart was tangled like a knotted rope.
Impossible to unravel, a mess.
He pulled back his downcast thoughts, took a deep breath, and slowly let it out.
Then, Leon reached out and gently pressed his hand against the crystal.
The crystal was cold, just like the heavy reality.
"I really… miss you."
If everything went smoothly, in just twenty-four hours, he would see her again.
But… who could guarantee that everything would go smoothly?
Leon rarely lacked confidence in anything.
Because he never feared failure.
If he failed, he would try again. Fail once, try again. Fail countless times, and he would keep trying. He was the unkillable little cockroach.
But.
This time was different.
If he failed this time, he might never hold his love again.
The pressure was a weight on his chest, nearly suffocating him.
This was not just a race against time; it was a love that had to be saved across time and space.
Could he do it?
"It's very late. You should rest for a while," Noah's voice came from behind him. "Little Light said the reversal magic will be ready in a few hours. You need to save your strength."
"No need, I'm fine," Leon replied without turning, his eyes still fixed on Rossweise. His tone was calm, but Noah could hear the faint tremor in it.
Noah hesitated for a moment, then walked over to Leon.
Leon saw from the corner of his eye that she was holding a small, exquisitely crafted wooden box.
Though finely made, it looked like it had seen many years.
"What's this…?"
Noah opened the box. Inside were various, seemingly unrelated items.
A black shard, a Rubik's Cube, a piece of paper, an essay, and a family portrait.
"These are things that are very important to me," Noah said.
Leon looked at the objects. He remembered the Rubik's Cube was something he had made for Muen, and he had made one for Noah too. Back then, Noah had been a little proud and hadn't paid him much mind.
The piece of paper had "Noah C. Melkvey" written on it, likely from when he was teaching Muen to write and had written Noah's name as an example.
The essay recorded the entire story of him and Rossweise's date in Sky City, and also Noah's love for them.
The family portrait needed no explanation.
"I originally wanted to collect many more things to fill this little box," Noah said.
"But in the twenty years since you disappeared, nothing new has been added. Each item had its meaning, but when tragedy struck, those meanings became a torment. So…"
Noah gathered dragon flame in her hands and set the box she had kept for twenty years on fire.
Along with it, the Rubik's Cube, the paper, the essay, the photograph.
Only the black shard remained, glowing in the flames.
Leon was startled and moved to put out the fire.
But Noah threw the box to the ground, letting it burn.
She grabbed his hand, tears in her eyes, her voice choked.
"Whether you succeed or not, I don't need these anymore."
"If you change the past and restore the original worldline, the box will return to me, and everything I cared about will come back."
"But if you fail… you and your sisters are all I have left."
"So go on, Leon Casmodeus."
"No matter the result, you will never be alone."
A few months ago, during a heart-to-heart with his daughter, her future self and her past self began to overlap.
But now, Leon saw in Noah the shadow of Rossweise.
The one who always pulled him from the abyss in his moments of confusion and helplessness seemed never to have left.
.
.
.
A few hours later, in the crystal room, Aurora was ready to activate the reversal magic.
The Dragon Heart Scale floated quietly within the magic array, powering the entire spell.
Complex and intricate runes began to glow, and the air in the room swirled as the array activated.
Aurora tucked her hair, blown by the wind, behind her ear and turned to Leon.
"Stand here."
Leon stepped into the center of the array.
"If everything goes well, the reversal magic will be complete in ten minutes. That means… in ten minutes, you'll be able to see our mother."
"Okay, I understand."
The air howled. Aurora stood before Leon, her head slightly lowered. "Dad."
"What's wrong?"
"I… did I help?"
Leon was taken aback, not understanding why Little Light would ask this in the final few minutes.
"Twenty years ago, Little Light didn't get your approval before you disappeared," Noah explained from behind.
"So now… can you praise your little daughter?"
Leon understood.
So that was it.
He looked at Aurora, reached out, and ruffled her pink hair.
"You did great, Little Light. You're my most proud daughter."
"Really—"
Ahem. Noah cleared her throat, then wrapped an arm around Muen's shoulder.
Leon quickly corrected himself. "My most proud daughter… one of them."
Little Light smiled, wiped her eyes, and put her glasses back on.
"After we go back, remind me not to stay up late reading. I don't want to wear glasses again."
"Got it, I'll remind you."
Muen quietly walked to Little Light's side, looking at her father bathed in light. The normally talkative Muen was at a loss for words.
Was this a farewell… or the beginning of a reunion?
Muen didn't understand.
But she knew—
"Dad, you… will save the world, right?"
To her, her father was a hero, an invincible hero.
He had been twenty years ago, and he would be now.
"I will. I promise, Muen."
"Well, then you have to make me more grilled steak when you get back… I love your steak the most."
"Okay, I'll make it for you with Mom."
"Yay!"
The little chatterbox had started, with too much to say. But she knew the remaining time should be left for her sister.
Muen and Little Light both turned away, letting Leon and Noah look at each other.
Noah crossed her arms and leaned against the wall.
She looked into those black eyes, and then a gentle smile touched her lips.
"I'll be waiting for you in the past."
The magic light flared, its intensity growing. The moment of departure was imminent.
Noah's composure finally cracked. A single tear escaped, tracing a path down her cheek. She uncrossed her arms, her lips parting as she took a half-step forward. The word she had refused to speak for twenty years, the title locked away in her heart, now broke free in a choked, heartfelt whisper.
"Dad!"