Chapter 37: The Honest Reunion

Chapter 37 – The Honest Reunion

The air inside the carriage felt still—heavy with something unspoken.

His quiet whisper was not heard by her as it was meant to be.

Leon sat quietly, his silver-white hair now loose, his hoodie pushed back, the makeshift mask gone. His mystic eyes—marked by that radiant white cross in the center and encircled by a prism of shifting colors—met hers without fear.

Seraphine Vael stared.

Her breath caught for a heartbeat.

’He...’

He was right in front of her—alive. Changed, yes. Taller, stronger, older in a way that didn’t make sense. His face no longer had the softness of a child, but the sharpened lines of a boy forced to grow too fast.

And yet—

Those eyes.

That quiet stare.

That maddening calm.

It was still him.

Still **Leon**.

The next moment happened without a word.

She surged forward, arms wrapping around him like a storm-made flesh, and pulled him into a fierce, crushing hug. Her face pressed into his neck. She didn’t say his name. Didn’t scold him. Didn’t ask questions.

She just held him.

As if making sure this time—**he wouldn’t disappear**.

Leon blinked in surprise at first.

Then slowly... let himself breathe.

Her scent hadn’t changed—cold steel, violet petals, and the faint burn of training oil. Her grip was just as strong. And her presence? That overwhelming command that used to make him stand straighter in fear—it felt like home now.

He didn’t pull away.

He didn’t make a sarcastic quip.

Instead, he wrapped his arms around her back and held her.

Tightly.

As if this time, maybe he needed it more than she did.

’So she really was that worried...’

He let out a slow exhale.

’Guess I really scared her.’

No words passed between them. None were needed.

Seconds turned to minutes.

And still—she didn’t let go.

Leon sat there, back against the cushioned seat, arms loosely around her, while Seraphine clung to him like she might lose him again if she so much as blinked. Her hold was firm, her breath warm against his shoulder, and her amethyst eyes—hidden from his view—were quietly wet.

He didn’t mind.

Not really.

But still...

’Is she... going to hug me forever?’

He tilted his head slightly, expression unreadable.

’She’s not even pretending to be composed anymore... and wasn’t she the one who used to scold me for being too clingy in front of the staff?’

His voice came out low, dry—but not unkind.

"Master... how long are you going to keep me like this?"

There was a pause.

Then, from somewhere against his collarbone, a muffled reply came out.

"Until I’m satisfied."

He blinked.

’...That’s not a real answer.’

She sounded like a stubborn child refusing to share her favorite toy.

Leon sighed softly, eyes drifting toward the covered carriage window.

’Well... I guess it’s fine.’

Even if her arms were a bit too tight. Even if his shoulder was going a little numb.

She had earned this.

’She probably thought I died in there.’

He let her be.

Just this once.

No teasing. No witty remarks. No questions about why her fingers were still digging into his back like he might vanish into thin air again.

He just sat quietly and let her hold on.

Because deep down, even if he didn’t say it—

He was glad she hadn’t changed.

Not when it mattered most.

Finally, after what had to be ten full minutes, Seraphine let go.

Reluctantly.

Leon felt the weight lift from his chest as she pulled back... only to immediately shift seats and sit down beside him instead—close enough that her shoulder brushed his. She didn’t say anything at first, just quietly wrapped both her arms around his right arm and leaned slightly into it.

’Seriously... is she planning to glue herself to me now?’

Not that he minded.

Her presence was warm. Familiar. The air felt lighter with her next to him.

Only then—finally—did she speak.

"Leon," she said softly, "how... how did your body change like this?"

He turned his head toward her slightly, listening.

"You were only about five feet tall before," she continued, almost pouting. "You barely reached my stomach. Now look at you."

Her hand lightly gripped his arm, as if checking again that it was real.

"You’re at least five foot five now... You’re up to my chest. And your build is different. Your shoulders—your proportions—it’s like you aged three or four years overnight."

She hesitated.

"And your eyes..."

Leon blinked slowly.

She leaned in slightly to get a better look, amethyst eyes narrowing in quiet awe.

"They were silver before," she whispered, "but now..."

Her voice trailed off.

He could feel her staring.

Like she was trying to memorize them.

"There’s... a white cross in the middle," she said. "And the rest—it’s not even one color. It’s like... all of them. Every single one, shifting around each other like they’re alive."

Leon’s breath caught for a moment.

’...A white cross? All colors?’

He didn’t know.

He hadn’t looked in a mirror since the merge. He’d felt the change in power—his body, his senses—but this?

’So even my eyes changed that much...’

He paused for a beat.

’Must’ve been from fusing with the Orb. Makes sense...’

He accepted it with a calm breath, though a flicker of surprise still lingered beneath his skin.

Then, casually:

"...You done staring?"

Her arms didn’t move.

"No."

She hadn’t taken her eyes off him.

Not once.

Leon could feel her stare drilling into his skin, unwavering and sharp like always. He sighed, knowing full well she wouldn’t stop until she got her answers.

’Should’ve known this was coming.’

"There’s a reason, Master," he said, meeting her gaze directly. "It’s because of the class I awakened into. That’s what caused the change."

It wasn’t the truth. Not entirely.

But he couldn’t tell her about the Orb—not yet. That part of his journey needed to stay sealed, for now.

Seraphine blinked once. Then nodded.

No suspicion. No doubt.

Only quiet trust.

Of course, she believed him.

But her curiosity wasn’t satisfied just yet.

"So... what rank?" she asked softly, her fingers still loosely clinging to his arm.

Leon paused, pretending to think, then shrugged with practiced nonchalance.

"High enough to trigger this," he said.

She didn’t push further. Not out loud, anyway. But in her thoughts, she was clearly piecing things together.

’He was five feet tall just three days ago. Barely reached my stomach.’

Now?

Now he was nearly eye-level with her collarbone. At least 5’5", maybe taller if he stood completely straight. His body had lengthened, sharpened—defined in a way no ten-year-old should be.

And those eyes...

They weren’t silver anymore.

They were something else entirely.

A white cross etched in the center, surrounded by irises filled with countless shifting colors—like stardust trapped in glass.

Even Seraphine had to admit: that they were beautiful.

Hypnotic, even.

And maybe it was just the emotion from earlier, but for a moment—even she had gotten lost in them.

She blinked the thought away.

’No. Not like that. It’s just... his eyes. That’s all.’

Still, she couldn’t help but think:

’He’s still cute. But now he’s handsome too. Dangerous combination. If the noble girls see him now...’

Chaos. That’s what it would be.

Seraphine’s hold on his arm tightened slightly.

She wasn’t ready to deal with that. Not yet.