The Truth I [NOEL]

As Noel entered her assigned room, she prepared herself.

She knows that the red-eyed shadow would come for her.

She glanced at the moon from the window.

In the blink of an eye, it appears.

Blocking the perfect moon. It floats in the sky with a long spear.

Noel ready her stance.

A red-eyed shadow is about to charge.

Then…It plunged towards Noel.

As usual, Noel has already prepared herself. Like many times, this time Noel just willingly thinks of accepting it. She extends her arms to accept her fate.

*Whoosh*

From behind Noel, another sound emerges.

As she turns behind, The red-eyed shadow shatters the window.

CRASH!

As the spear is about to pierce Noel…

Suddenly, She was quickly pulled sideways. Her body stumbled against another’s chest.

Noel gasped, blinking up at the one who had caught her.

"Leon...?"

She was saved.

By none other than Leon.

There he stood, breathless and burning with purpose. His arms were still wrapped around her as they crouched on the floor. There was something deeper in his eyes now. A subtle glow. An energy awakening from some forgotten.

“Thank God, I made it in time”

Noel’s mind was struggling to keep up, “Leon, why? How?”

“I think we can talk more comfortably later. Right now, let’s deal with our unwanted guest.”

He gestured toward the red-eyed shadow.

Noel still in awe, “You…Are you finally able to see it?”

Leon with a confident smile, “I guess you’re right”

Something has changed, Leon is visibly confronting the red-eyed shadow. He is finally able to see it.

The red-eyed shadow is silently observing the situation.

Leon, “Yo, Red-Eyed-Shadow. Should I say, long time no see? As silent as ever I see.”

Noel blinked, “Long time? What are you talking about, Leon?!”

Leon with a smirk, “No time to explain right now. It's coming…”

Then, red-eyed shadow launched its spear toward Leon.

He dodged and grabbed a curtain rod nearby without hesitation. The moment his hands wrapped around it, the rod burst into flames.

Leon spun and brought the flaming rod against the charging spear. Sparks and embers scattered. Noel’s mouth fell open.

She could hardly comprehend what she was seeing, “What is happening right now?”

Leon tries to parry the red-eyed shadow, yet it easily cuts through the stick. Leon throws it toward the red-eyed shadow.

Then, Leon quickly lifts Noel. A princess carry.

Noel’s breath hitched. Her cheeks flushed instantly.

“W-What are you doing?!”

Leon, “Please endure it for now”

Then, he jumps out of the window while carrying Noel in his arms.

They are falling from quite a great height.

Yet, Leon lands perfectly fine on the ground.

Noel’s eyes were wide in disbelief.

The waves of surprise after surprise hits Noel. She finds still hard to believe the situation.

Noel, “Where were we going?”

Leon, “I don’t know. I guess I wanted to put some distance from that thing”

As he looks back at the hotel window. He sees the red-eyed shadow glaring at them.

Leon, “Those glowing red eyes… Even now, they still send chills down my spine”

Noel, “Leon… you speak as if you know that red-eyed shadow. Please… tell me everything.”

Leon didn’t look at her just yet. His steps were steady but swift, dodging debris and turning into quieter alleys. The silence lingered before he finally answered.

“Noel… do you remember what I said before? About the missing fragments of my memory? I think… I think they’ve all returned to me. Every last piece.”

Noel widens her eyes.

Leon continues, “This might sound unbelievable. But what I’m about to say… it’s more complex than even Natsume Maruyama’s tale. I’ve crossed into the other world, Noel. Just like you have crossed into mine.”

Noel had somewhat expected this.

“And I’ve met you before… in that world.”

Her breath caught. “Huh?”

“I guess I have to say my past and perhaps your future.”

Noel, “What?”

“Even I didn’t know about this phenomenon until an unknown revelation struck my mind and everything became clear. Noel, I have met you in the past. We have gone on adventures together. We have laughed together.”

Leon gently looking at Noel’s face.

“We…have had moments together. I know this sounds really confusing but this is the truth. Let me tell you everything from the beginning”

“I was living the same mundane days as usual until that night came. I started traveling to your world in my dream. Just like what you are experiencing right now. The situation is really similar. You knew about me already. You welcomed me to the other world. You guided me. You helped me so much that it's hard to describe in words alone. I even met your father, brothers, uncle, and the triplet's knights along with the others”

Noel’s eyes flickered. It was as if the stars themselves stilled above.

“Your uncle trained me. He was a strict mentor, but fair. He taught me swordsmanship while you taught me magic. We explored the ruins side by side. We laughed, stumbled, fought together… grew together. Until one night-”

Interrupting Leon, the red-eyed shadow catches up with them. They are alert. It strikes at them.

Leon barely dodges it. They crash and fall down. Though, both are safe.

They get up and confront the red-eyed shadow.

Leon, “Basically, that’s almost all of it. So, I leave it to you how to comprehend this information. The flow of time differs.”

Noel stood still. Her gaze fell, shadowed by something deeper than fear. Something closer to a terrifying realization.

She whispered, “Then… if what you say is true… am I really the same Noel you knew?”

Leon is really taken aback to hear that, “Noel!!!”

Noel is startled.

Leon, “Noel is Noel. No matter which time or world. Whether it's you I met or you standing here now… you’re still you. And I’m still me. That won’t ever change.”

Noel looks at Leon’s eyes. There was no doubt in them. Just truth.

Leon, “We can sort the rest of it later. Right now, let’s just focus on this thing first”

Noel stepped forward. “One more thing. Leon… how are you able to use magic in this world?”

Leon blinked. “I’m not sure. But… I have a hunch. I think it’s connected to that comet.”

Noel furrowed her brows. “The comet?”

“We can unravel that later. Let’s handle this first.”

Noel nodded.

Together, they turned to face the red-eyed shadow.