Leon's childhood farm had been rebranded as the "General Cosmodeous Residence," and the dragon-slaying academy where he had forged his skills was now a bustling tourist attraction. In this journey through memory lane, the only place that still felt authentically like home was the Cosmodeous Orphanage.
When Leon arrived with Rebecca and Martin, the evening meal was just beginning. The children had arranged long wooden tables in the courtyard, carrying over benches and deliberately leaving the seats at the head table empty.
"Those are for the teachers," one of the children explained earnestly.
Young nuns moved among them, carrying trays of simple, hearty food, placing the dishes on the tables for the children to share. Leon, Rebecca, and Martin stood at the entrance, quietly observing the lively, familial scene.
"Oh, perfect timing! We can score a free meal," Rebecca said, patting her stomach with a grin.
"Is food the only thing on your mind?" Martin retorted, sounding exasperated but fond.
Rebecca paused, pretending to think deeply before answering with exaggerated seriousness. "Food, sleep, play... and play..." She dragged out the last word, a mischievous glint in her eye as she baited him.
Predictably, Martin took the hook. "And what else?" he asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
"You," Rebecca teased, her smile turning sly.
Martin flushed a brilliant red. "I-I see! You're probably thinking about how to coordinate with me in combat, right?"
Rebecca chuckled. "Martin, the war is over. We don't need to fight anymore."
"Then... it must be for our daily patrols! Since we're partners?" he guessed, his words stumbling awkwardly.
"Nope. Just thinking about you. Purely and simply."
"Don't say such strange things, Rebecca!" Martin stammered, his lips trembling as the crimson spread from his face down his neck.
Leon watched his teammates' bickering with the weary amusement of an older brother, shaking his head with a knowing smile.
"These two... such close friends," he mused to himself, completely missing the romantic subtext vibrating between them.
—The Orphanage Reunion—
As the trio walked further into the courtyard, a few of the children finally noticed them.
"Hello! What brings you here?" asked a boy who was slightly older than the others, though not much taller. His large, innocent eyes held a mix of curiosity and shyness.
Rebecca crouched down to meet him at eye level, her smile warm and friendly. "What do you think we're here for?"
The boy studied her face thoughtfully before answering, "Well... Auntie, you look pretty young, so you're probably not here to adopt anyone, right?"
Rebecca froze. "A-auntie?"
"Yes, auntie. Why?" the boy replied, tilting his head in genuine confusion.
Behind her, Leon burst into unrestrained laughter, clutching his stomach and leaning on Martin for support.
"She hated being mistaken for a kid before, and now she's an 'auntie!' Rebecca Aa~untie~!" he teased, drawing out the title with glee.
Even Martin, usually her staunchest defender, struggled to hold back his laughter.
"Captain! Stop it! She's going to murder us both!" Martin whispered between suppressed chuckles.
Rebecca pointedly ignored their antics, turning back to the boy with a strained but patient smile. "Listen, little one, there's a big difference between calling someone 'auntie' and 'sister.' Can you guess what I should be called?"
The boy tilted his head again, his expression one of serious contemplation before he delivered his verdict. "Auntie?"
Rebecca sighed in utter defeat. "You really can't tell the difference, can you...?"
Before she could lament further, another voice called out, "Angie, come eat! I'll greet the guests."
"Okay, Sister Sharon!" Angie replied sweetly before scampering off.
The cheerful title "Sister Sharon" instantly rekindled Rebecca's indignation. "You clearly know the difference! You did that on purpose, you little rascal!"
Sister Sharon approached with an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, Miss Rebecca. Angie's just a bit nervous around new people."
Given Leon's very public profile, it wasn't surprising Sharon recognized Rebecca. As a core member of the Lionheart Society, Rebecca's face had been splashed across the newspapers not long ago.
"New people? My adorable, recognizable face was all over the news! How could I possibly be a stranger?" Rebecca protested, only half-joking.
Leon intervened, placing a calming hand on her shoulder. "Alright, alright, don't take it out on the kids."
He then turned to Sharon, his expression softening into a warm, familiar smile. "It's been a while, Sharon."
Sharon's eyes lit up with recognition and joy. "Brother Leon! I'm sorry, it's getting dark—I didn't recognize you right away!"
"It's fine," Leon reassured her.
Sharon, visibly excited, asked eagerly, "Did you come all this way just to visit us?"
Leon scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Well, I had some other business to attend to, but I made sure to include a stop here to see you and Teacher Carolyn."
Carolyn, the nun who had raised Leon, had been a second mother to him. She was the one who had found him, an infant, on a stormy night over two decades prior and had instilled in him the values and principles that shaped the man he became.
"Oh, I see!" Sharon said, nodding understandingly. "Let me call Teacher Carolyn for you—"
"No need," Leon interrupted gently. "We'll go to her together."
—Carolyn's Chapel—
Sharon led them to the small, quiet chapel attached to the orphanage. Inside, Carolyn was kneeling before a simple statue, her head bowed in quiet prayer. It was her long-standing habit to eat only after all the children had been served—a principle she had upheld even during the war's most desperate days.
Hearing their footsteps, Carolyn turned, and her eyes widened in surprise and delight at the sight of Leon.
"Leon? What brings you here?" she asked, rising smoothly to her feet.
"I had some business in the Empire," he explained, "so I thought I'd stop by to see you all."
Carolyn's face softened into a warm, maternal smile. "Have you eaten yet? If not, you must join us."
Leon scratched his head bashfully. "I hope I'm still used to the orphanage food."
Carolyn chuckled, the sound warm and familiar. "Of course you are. You grew up on it."
She then turned her gentle gaze to Rebecca and Martin. "Miss Rebecca, Mr. Martin, you are both welcome as well."
After a round of polite introductions, the group settled into a comfortable conversation, catching up like old family.
"How have you been since the last battle?" Carolyn asked Leon, her eyes full of concern.
He offered her a reassuring smile and tapped his leg. "Fully recovered. No more wheelchair, as you can see."
"That is a relief to hear. And you've been living with... what was her name again, Sharon?" Carolyn asked, glancing at the younger nun.
"Rossweise," Sharon supplied helpfully.
"Yes, with Lady Rossweise?" Carolyn confirmed.
Leon nodded, a slightly awkward laugh escaping him as he heard the formal title. "Yeah... something like that," he said, the term 'Lady' feeling strange applied to his fiercely loving wife.
Sharon's eyes sparkled with mischievous curiosity. "Leon, is it true? Did you really marry the Silver Dragon Queen?"
"Well... after the Empire framed me, a lot of things happened," he explained, a complex history summarized in a single sentence. "It's a long story, but yes, I ended up marrying her."
Sharon gasped, her hands flying to her cheeks. "That's incredible!"
Rebecca, never one to miss an opportunity to stir the pot, chimed in gleefully. "And he's not just married—he's a father of three now!"
"Three?!" Sharon exclaimed, her eyes wide as saucers. "Are they... adopted?"
Leon shook his head, the simple gesture crushing her last shred of disbelief.
"Wait..." Sharon stammered, utterly floored. "Humans and dragons can... have children?"
—Carolyn's Memories—
Carolyn, holding back her amusement at Sharon's shock, asked if she could see pictures of the children. Leon pulled out the well-handled photos from his pocket—the same ones he kept on his bedside table—and handed them over.
"Oh, how adorable!" Sharon exclaimed, marveling at the images of the tiny dragonlings. "I always thought dragons were born fierce and intimidating, but they're so cute!"
Carolyn, however, was silent. She stared at the photos with a quiet, profound smile, her eyes growing distant with memory. After a long moment, she remarked softly, "They have your eyes, Leon. Just like when you were little."
Curious, Rebecca leaned forward. "What was the captain like as a kid? Was he just as stubborn and clueless back then?"
Carolyn laughed, a gentle, nostalgic sound. "Not at all. Leon was quite a clever child."
Rebecca's interest was truly piqued now. "How did you find him, anyway?"
Carolyn's expression grew soft and distant, traveling back through the years. "It was a stormy night," she began, her voice taking on a storyteller's rhythm. "The biggest I had ever seen. Thunder shook the very foundations of the orphanage, and lightning split the sky. When I returned from an errand, I found a small basket left at the gate. Inside was a newborn baby boy, wrapped in a simple cloth. He wasn't crying. He just lay there quietly, his eyes open, as if he were waiting for someone."
A fond, knowing smile touched her lips. "I had been reading a book at the time called The Lion's Voice. It was about a lion cub who was abandoned but never cried out in despair. The story said such a cub was destined for greatness." She looked directly at Leon, her eyes shining with a lifetime of pride and love. "So, I named the boy in the basket..."
She paused, letting the significance of the moment hang in the quiet chapel air.
"...Leon Cosmodeous."