Rossweise was right. This was not the first time she had expressed her feelings on the matter.
Leon always agreed with her in principle, but whenever a real enemy appeared, he would instinctively push Rossweise behind him, trying to shield her from the fight.
When he thought about it, the number of times they had truly fought side-by-side was surprisingly small. Only two major instances stood out in Leon's memory:
The battle against the space rift, when Dragon Kings like Star and Ravi laid siege to the Silver Dragon Sanctuary.
The assault by the first, stitched-together version of Constantine, during their visit to Isabella's home.
Leon never doubted Rossweise's power or her ability to help him. In fact, during that first fight with Constantine, if it hadn't been for her primordial magic, Leon might not have survived at all.
His reluctance to let her join him on dangerous missions stemmed from a deep-seated guilt over her shared fate and the traumatic memory of having already lost her once in the catastrophic future. The mere thought of losing her again was unbearable. This was also the driving force behind his relentless hunt for Shadow across the continent.
But things were different now. The threats they faced, like Shadow, were beyond what he could handle alone. To better protect his entire family, he needed help. He needed his partner.
Moreover, Rossweise had grown deeply frustrated with Leon's habit of carrying every burden himself. If he didn't start including her soon, she would have every right to be genuinely angry.
After a moment of silent reflection, Leon finally nodded.
"Alright," he said. "I understand."
"Hmph. Don't just pay me lip service this time," Rossweise replied, her tone sharp but her eyes softening. "When the next battle comes, I don't want to hear any excuses for pushing me away."
It was clear his past hesitation had built up some resentment. But now, he had truly made up his mind. He would let his wife, his queen, fight by his side. It was the only way to truly appease her.
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She made a token effort to pull away, but soon relaxed into his embrace.
Leon rested his chin lightly on top of her head, one hand holding her fragrant shoulders, the other gently stroking her silver hair.
"From now on, no matter what enemy or danger we meet, we'll face it together. Please take good care of me, Your Majesty."
"You scoundrel," Rossweise murmured, her voice losing its edge as a rare, gentle smile touched her lips.
He had finally said what she needed to hear. She could no longer maintain her stern facade.
"Alright. Together, then."
Under the warm, amber glow of the lamplight, the couple leaned against one another, listening to the steady rhythm of each other's heartbeats and sharing a quiet, comforting warmth.
.
.
.
Half a month after the incident at the Flaming Valley ruins, Leon had fully recovered and was preparing to visit the Sea Dragon Clan. His goal was to investigate Shadow further.
The cryptic words spoken at the ruins hinted that Leon's very existence was tied to some grand, sinister plan—that he was a pawn to be eliminated once he served his purpose.
This was a lead he could not ignore. He decided to seek answers, hoping that the knowledgeable Sea Dragon Princess, Claudia, might have some insight.
"So, you're leaving? How is your magic recovery progressing?" Rossweise asked casually as he prepared to depart.
Leon rubbed his chest and replied, "I've recovered enough to fill one Dragon Mark. It's sufficient for now."
His magic recovery had accelerated dramatically. What once would have taken months now took only half a month to fully recharge one of the marks Rossweise had inscribed on him.
Hearing this, Rossweise arched an eyebrow and crossed her arms, a playful smirk on her face.
"Oh? That fast? It seems you haven't been slacking off in 'turning in your assignments' lately after all."
Leon chuckled. He had wondered about the reason for his swift recovery. Rossweise offered the explanation:
"It's because your Heartguard Dragon Scale has been adequately nourished. It no longer needs to siphon off as much of your personal magic for its own maintenance. The surplus energy can now accumulate directly into your Dragon Marks."
A realization dawned on Leon. "So... does that mean once the scale stabilizes completely, I'll recover magic at my original, pre-scale speed?"
Rossweise nodded. "In theory, yes. But the nature of the scale makes the final stages of stabilization a long and gradual process."
She stepped closer, raising a slender finger to press lightly against his chest.
"So, don't even think about tossing my heart aside so easily. You're stuck with it, you scoundrel."
"Your Majesty is as fond of double meanings as ever," Leon replied with a warm smile, taking her hand in his. "I understand, Your Majesty. I'm off now."
"Alright. Come back soon."
Since this was just a fact-finding mission to allied territory, there was no need for Rossweise to accompany him.
Leon turned, formed his fingers into an "O," and let out a sharp whistle.
A moment later, an orange blur shot from the forest, landing gracefully before him.
The Six-Winged Dragonhawk had officially become Leon's loyal mount and companion.
This was, in part, inspired by Constantine's dramatic entrances. Leon had long considered how a majestic mount would enhance his image, and now he didn't need to pretend. The dragonhawk gave him speed, style, and convenience all in one.
Leon vaulted onto its back, gave a final wave to Rossweise, and with several powerful wingbeats, the dragonhawk soared into the sky, carrying him away from the sanctuary and toward the horizon.
.
.
.
After hours of flight, they reached the waters bordering the Sea Dragon Clan's territory of Atlantis by dusk.
The Six-Winged Dragonhawk was incredibly fast, rivaling a mid-tier Silver Dragon, but Leon had made several stops along the way to rest and feed his loyal companion.
Now, the dragonhawk stood beside him, its sharp, intelligent eyes scanning the surroundings like a vigilant guard.
Leon patted its feathered wing reassuringly.
"Relax. We're at a relative's place. There are no bad guys here."
Though it didn't understand his words perfectly, the creature sensed his calm demeanor and relaxed its posture.
The path to the undersea Sea Dragon Sanctuary required guidance from a clan member. Without an escort, any intruder would be crushed by the immense deep-sea pressure or lost forever in the lightless ocean trenches.
As the blood-red sun dipped below the sea, Leon scratched his head and muttered to himself.
"I sent a letter to the Elder yesterday. Why hasn't anyone come to greet me yet?"
The dragonhawk tilted its head, listening.
"Could it be that I freeloaded too much last time, and she's decided she doesn't want to see me anymore?"
The dragonhawk tilted its head to the other side, a silent question in its eyes.
"Yeah, that must be it," Leon concluded with a sigh. "The Elder has gotten stingy."
Just as the words left his mouth, a familiar, cool female voice spoke up directly behind him, without any warning.
"Oh? Did I just hear someone call me stingy?"
The dragonhawk instantly froze, its feathers ruffling in surprise.