Standing before his room, Leo was about to open the door when it swung open from within. He felt no surprise, only a faint wash of relief. It was Rina, the girl he'd grown up with, who had somehow become the center of his world.
"I thought you would be asleep already," he murmured.
"How could I, when you weren't here?" she asked. "I was waiting for you." She hesitated for a second before adding, "Can I sleep with you tonight?"
The old Leo would have flashed a grin and made a joke just to see her blush. But the Leo of tonight was weary, the day's events having stripped him of all levity.
"Sure, Riri," he said, his voice thick with gratitude. "I'd appreciate that. I'm not sure I can sleep on my own tonight."
Seeking a semblance of normalcy, he retreated to the bathroom for a shower. When he emerged in loose pajamas, he found Rina already in her pink sleepwear, her attention fixed on the drama playing across the big screen—a quiet, domestic scene that felt like a lifeline.
Rina patted the space beside her, a silent invitation he was grateful to accept. As Leo settled in, he rested his head in her lap, the gentle scent of her shampoo a quiet comfort. She changed the channel, bypassing the news networks—she had no desire to let the endless analysis of the fallen Flame Giant and his heir reopen his fresh wounds. He had endured enough.
Her fingers began to slowly card through his white hair, a tender, rhythmic motion. It was a wordless promise that she was his anchor, now and always. Though two pillars of his world had crumbled, and his grief was a palpable weight, life demanded he move forward. Rina knew his strength would see him through this darkness. And she would be there, unwavering, to help him carry the burden.
"It's strange I haven't seen Artur," Rina mused, finding it odd their friend hadn't come to offer condolences. Leo explained he'd given orders not to be disturbed, which clarified his absence.
"I see," Rina nodded, though a nagging suspicion took root. Given that she had refused Artur's advances just yesterday and was now with Leo, she couldn't shake the feeling he might be secretly gloating over their misfortune. She dismissed the thought, hoping it was just her intuition running wild, because the alternative—that a childhood friend could be so dangerous—was a deeply unsettling prospect.
After a moment of heavy silence, Rina finally spoke, her voice tinged with a mix of dread and determination.
"With the demons' advent, we have to prepare. Their arrival always heralds destruction. I can't wait to awaken my gift and depart for the Transcendent Academy to train properly."
"I can't wait, either," Leo replied, though his tone was more measured. "But whether I actually go to the academy will depend on the gift I awaken... and on my other plans."
His lack of enthusiasm was telling. To Rina, attending the Academy after awakening was a non-negotiable rite of passage. It was where you received the essential education and training to survive in the real world. The two-year curriculum forged individuals into knights or mages, and nearly every powerful figure in recent history had walked its halls—though there were always exceptions.
But the Academy's purpose wasn't solely about training; it was a crucible for alliances. The connections forged there could prove invaluable later in life. Simply put, heirs from prestigious clans went not only to become stronger but also to find loyal subordinates. Leo's own fallen brother and his sister, Skye, had both attended. He must have his reasons for hesitating, Rina reasoned.
Even if he chose not to go, she knew she had to. She would become strong enough for both of them. The thought of experiencing that chapter without him was saddening, but she comforted herself with a simple truth: if they missed those two years, they would still have a lifetime ahead to experience everything else together.
The reason for a high-level demon's emergence after centuries of silence was a mystery for another day.The signs, however, were piling up. A decade ago, it was another Void Monster: a hatchling dragon. Now, demons. This was no longer a series of isolated tragedies, but the unmistakable dawn of a troubling new age—an Era of Chaos. Their theory would be proven if the imminent global awakening ceremony revealed a surge of legendary gifts, as the world often bred its own antidotes to impending calamit.