Chapter 187: Spire Leon [2]

The men who had fought under Leon’s orders stood with their weapons hanging at their sides. Some had tears running down their faces. Others looked at the ground, unable to look at the man who had led them.

One soldier stepped forward.

"Sir Leon, please don’t leave us."

Another knelt down. Bowed his head "Please. We still need you."

More voices joined.

"Please, Sir Leon!"

"Don’t leave us!"

"We have not even thanked you properly!"

Leon listened. His eyes moved slowly over the faces around him. He knew some of them. They were the ones who had stood their ground, who had turned back even when they knew how strong Zeus was, who had shouted his name and trusted him.

His lips parted.

"I tried. I tried my best as a Spire."

Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. He looked up at the sky.

"But it seems this is as far as I could go."

Roselle clutched his arm.

Tears fell freely down her face.

"Leon. You can’t just..."

She could not finish.

Leon looked at her. He wanted to say something to comfort her, but only a weak breathless laugh came out.

"Why do you all.. care so much, sis?" He coughed and winced. "I am not even.. blood related to you."

"DON’T SAY THAT!"

Emilia’s scream cut across the battlefield. She took his face in both hands and made him look at her.

"Don’t you dare say that!" Her eyes were red from crying. "You are our brother! You are our family! You have always been our family!"

She pressed her forehead to his. Her voice broke completely.

"You are my brother, Leon. You are my big brother."

For the first time, Leon’s calm cracked. His eyes shone with tears. He tried to smile, but his lips shook.

"Emilia..."

He could hardly say her name.

Then he turned his head toward Alden, and their eyes met.

For a moment Leon forgot the pain. He remembered the first time they met. Alden had shown up in his life in the most ridiculous way, and Leon had thought he was bothering Emilia. He had been ready to start a fight before he realized he had it all wrong. Back then Alden was just a stranger, man of rumors he could not figure out.

But somewhere along the way that strange man became someone Leon respected. Someone he could trust with.

He felt Alden’s hand tighten around his own. He squeezed back with what little strength he had left.

"Alden."

Alden leaned in close.

"I am sorry to ask you something so selfish." Leon’s eyes drifted to Emilia. "Please make sure Emilia stays safe. I am leaving her in your care."

Alden’s eyes widened. For a moment he could not speak. Then his face twisted with anger and grief.

"Don’t say it like that, you idiot! You do not need to ask me that!"

He bent over and held Leon’s hand in both of his.

"Of course I will protect her! Damn it, I will look after her!" His shoulders shook. "So you just focus on trying to breath, okay?!"

Leon looked at him. Slowly his face softened.

"Thank you." He took a shallow breath. "Thank you, Alden."

The world around Leon started to grow quiet.

The soldiers’ voices faded far away. His sisters’ crying sounded like it was coming from underwater. Even the pain in his chest was drifting off. His eyes grew heavy.

’So this is it...’

He stared blankly at the sky.

’I guess this is where my journey ends... I tried my best.’

He remembered the battles, the people he had protected, and the times he thought he might finally become someone worthy of standing beside the people he loved. But he still felt like he had fallen short.

’I failed at everything...’

His thoughts drifted to a familiar face. A girl who shared so many of his childhood memories.

Aurelia.

He remembered her smile and her laugh and the way she used to look at him like he could do anything. He remembered the day she told him that being next to him made her brave. And he remembered the day he walked away from her and pretended he did not love her.

His chest tightened.

’I could not even be with the person I loved.’

A small bitter smile touched his face.

’What a failure I am.’

But then another memory rose up.

The warmth of a home. Drelan’s laugh. Althea’s gentle smile. Emilia’s endless complaining. Roselle’s teasing. Nicholas’s familiar face. The soldiers who had shouted his name. All the people who had welcomed him.

One memory after another filled the empty space inside him.

He remembered the day he first stepped into the Evercrest house.

He remembered being asked if he wanted to stay.

He remembered how it felt to have a family for the first time.

And he remembered the words that changed his life.

"You are home, son."

His eyes trembled.

’Ah...’

For the first time he understood something. Maybe he had not failed at everything. Maybe, even with all his mistakes and fears and everything he never managed to do, he had still done something right.

He had found a family. He had made friends. He had protected the people who mattered to him.

And he had been loved. Truly loved.

Leon turned his head slowly.

Emilia was still holding him, crying and begging him to stay. Roselle clung to his arm. Nicholas knelt with his head bowed. Adrian and Cecilia sat close by, unable to hide their grief. Alden still held his hand and would not let go. And all around them the soldiers watched in silence.

All of these people had come for him. They were crying for him. They wanted him to stay.

Tears finally gathered in Leon’s eyes.

’So I was not alone after all.’

He tried to speak. His throat was so tight and his breath so weak. But there was something he needed them to know. He looked at each face, trying to remember every one.

Then, with the last of his strength, he opened his mouth.

"Thank you."

His voice was so faint everyone leaned closer.

"Thank you for loving me."

Emilia shook her head. "No... Brother, please..."

Leon tried to smile.

"For wanting me."

His fingers tightened around Alden’s hand one last time.

"For giving me a place to belong."

His eyes slowly began to close.

"Thank you."

His voice faded to a whisper.

"Tha... nk... you."

And then his fingers loosened.

His hand slipped out of Alden’s grip.

For a moment nobody moved. Alden stared at Leon’s hand. His mind refused to understand what had just happened.

Then his eyes widened.

"Leon?"

He grabbed the hand again and held it tight as the horrible truth finally sank in. His face twisted.

"LEOOOOOOON!!!"