Aciel [LEON]

“Uncle… Kill him.”

Leon’s heart stopped.

Leon is shocked upon hearing that. “Huh? What?! What are you saying, Noel? What happened”

Before he could finish or find out more.

Uncle, “Very well”

He unsheathes the sword and strikes on Leon.

Leon’s blood ran cold.

The blade flashed.

A silver streak cut through the air toward his throat.

He barely had time to react.

Uncle has a really extreme killing intent and right before the sword reaches Leon,

“Stop!” Noel shouts.

Just like that, the uncle stops. In an instant, the blade halted. It stopped just inches from his neck, unmoving.

Leon barely dared to breathe.

It wasn’t just skill. It was absolute mastery. The man stepped back, his lips curling into an amused smile.

Leon who was still shaken, turned to Noel.

Then Noel grabs Leon’s hands again and exits the training grounds.

Uncle smiles. “Hohoho, youths these days and their weird hobbies”

After exiting the training area, Noel confronts Leon.

Looking right into the eyes, “How do you like that? Huh? What about that killing intent? Much greater than a mere goblin, isn’t it? So, are you satisfied with your near-death experience?”

Leon was so taken aback that he couldn’t find the right word to respond.

Dinner came.

The air was heavy at the table. Leon could feel Noel’s gaze on him every now and then.

She clenched her fists. “Do you even realize how reckless that is?”

Leon let out a small sigh. “I was just trying to-”

“To what?” Noel’s eyes narrowed. “Test your limits? Figure out what it feels like to die?”

Leon fell silent.

She sighed, running a hand through her hair.

Leon felt his chest tighten at her words.

He simply nodded. “I’ll be more careful.”

Noel studied him for a moment before letting out a small sigh. “You better.”

With that, dinner continued in silence.

After a while, Leon goes to his assigned room.

Then the time had come.

Similar night, the same killer.

This time Leon was the one waiting. It appeared.

The Red-Eyed Shadow. It had intense killing intent.

Leon smiling, “Thought that the uncle had a great killing intent but it couldn’t even be dared to compare to this one.”

Leon invited the killer himself, “Now come!!! Kill me. I am still terrified but I guess I can handle it up to some extent.”

Then in a jolt.

Leon is pierced. Leon grunts, “I don’t know how many, days, nights, or dreams it takes to counter your blows but I shall uncover your secrets.”

After a blunt declaration, Leon’s world fell into darkness.

Leon woke up, back to his own world.

Same room, same bed.

Leon thought, “Why is this even happening to me? Am I going to see this dream or rather wake up in that world forever now? And what’s the secret behind that red-eyed shadow?”

After thinking for a while, he continued his normal day. All day he could only think about the other world and its secrets.

He was totally addicted to another world that was filled with adventure, excitement and yes there was a mystery behind the red-eyed killer but he couldn’t think of anything else other than that world.

Then there was Noel, to whom Leon was fully attracted. His affection was increasing without him realizing it.

End of the day Leon returned to his apartment, He had dinner and went to sleep.

Back to the dream.

In a world under the same skies there stood Noel waiting for him.

At first, it was Noel who was very happy to see Leon but slowly it was Leon who waited for Noel’s welcome.

“Welcome Back, Leon”

There it was.

A warmth spread through him.

“Yeah, I’m back yet again. So, what are the plans today?” “

For a moment, she hesitated. Then, in a softer tone, “Actually, I want you to accompany me somewhere today, is that fine?”

Something about the way she said it felt… different.

Leon’s brows furrowed slightly, but he nodded. “Of course.”

With that, Noel turned, leading the way.

The scenario changes to a burial site near Redlaw’s Mansion. Upon a hill point, there is a grave.

Leon’s gaze fell upon the name engraved into the stone:

Aciel Von Redlaw

The chiseled letters stood boldly against the worn stone, accompanied by dates unfamiliar to him, ancient and distant, yet preserved like a lingering whisper from the past.

Leon didn’t speak a word.

Noel had brought a flower. She placed the flower in the grave and kneeled down on both legs, clutching her hand, praying or something, and closed her eyes.

Leon stood by in the back. A slight tear fell down from Noel’s eyes but she had a gentle smile on her face. “Mother, I’m doing really fine. Today I wanted to introduce you to Leon”.

Noel finished up and stood up. She looked towards Leon. “My was very sick and passed away not too long ago, I’m just glad that I could introduce you to her even in this state”

Leon suddenly grabbed Noel’s hand with both of his own which surprised Noel a little.

Then he asks, “Noel, I’m also very glad to have met you. I don’t know what would I have done without your support. Therefore, as much as you’re helping me right now, I want to repay it too. So, I have a request, I want to train in your estate. I want to get stronger, I want to learn from your uncle”

Noel was a bit taken aback but seeing Leon’s determined eyes, she gladly accepted his request.

That day they didn’t go adventuring and just spent their day researching magic books.

Night came and both went to their respective rooms.

And as usual, the night was the same for Leon.

He glances at the window and it is already there, the red-eyed shadow.

“Ah, yes. Come on. End it quick.” Leon said while widening his arms provoking it to him.

It struck and darkness took over.

Leon woke up again to his own reality.