Arthur led Leon to a secluded balcony on the top floor of the Varavium headquarters.
From this vantage point, the night sky stretched wide and vast. Twinkling stars dotted the expanse above a dark, endless sea of forest. A full moon hung perfectly round, casting a serene silver glow across the realm.
No one else was there. Only the two of them.
Arthur leaned against the balcony railing, gazing up at the heavens. Leon stood beside him, still feeling a slight air of awkwardness. He had no idea what Arthur intended to talk about.
"A beautiful night," Arthur remarked softly.
Leon nodded. "It is."
A brief silence settled between them.
Then, Arthur spoke.
"You know, Leon... I wasn't always the field leader of Varavium."
Leon glanced over. Arthur wasn't looking at him—his eyes remained fixed on the moon.
"Once, I was merely a lost young man. Purposeleless. Homeless. I lived purely to survive." He paused briefly. "And then I met Satan."
The name hung suspended in the night air.
And Leon felt it.
Something deep within his chest stirred—not a heartbeat, but a resonance far deeper. The Void energy that had long run through his veins suddenly pulsed, like a gentle ripple upon a quiet body of water. Faint. Nearly imperceptible. But unmistakably present.
"Arthur..."
The whisper—soft, barely audible—echoed for a fraction of a second, then vanished.
Leon swallowed hard. He said nothing. But he knew—Satan was listening.
Unaware, Arthur continued.
"Satan changed my life. He taught me about the world. About freedom. About standing against those who oppress." A subtle smile touched Arthur's lips. "He wasn't merely a leader. He was... everything. To me. To all of us."
Leon listened intently, refraining from interrupting.
"When he fell... when the gods struck him down... I thought this world had come to an end." Arthur exhaled deeply. "But I was wrong. He still endures. Wounded. Sealed away. Yet he remains. And I swore an oath... that I would resurrect him. No matter what it takes."
Silence returned, lingering longer this time.
Finally, Leon asked, "How long have you been waiting?"
Arthur blinked softly. "A thousand years. Two thousand. I stopped counting long ago."
Leon found himself at a loss for words.
Arthur eventually turned his head to look directly at Leon.
"Yet there is one thing you must keep in mind, Leon. Regarding the power you carry."
Leon tensed.
"That dark power... does not belong to you. It belongs to Satan. Every time you draw upon it, you grant him more room to awaken."
Leon fell silent. He had heard this before—from Satan himself. Yet hearing it voiced by Arthur carried a distinctly different weight.
"I am not telling you that you must never use it. But... exercise caution. If you yield to it too often, you may find yourself unable to return."
Leon clenched his fists tightly. "I... will be careful."
Arthur nodded. "Good."
"While you travel to the City of Dragons, I will take Zephyr, Sylphine, and the others to search for Satan's true body."
Leon blinked. "Where?"
"We don't know for certain just yet. But there lies a clue within the ancient temple ruins along the northern border." Arthur met his gaze. "We shall move in parallel. You seek The Forbidden Tome of Laws. I seek Satan's physical vessel. Two missions. One singular goal."
Leon nodded firmly. "I understand."
Then, Arthur smiled—an expression far gentler than his usual demeanor.
"And Leon..."
Leon blinked. "Yes?"
"Regarding Sylvaine. You love her, don't you?"
Leon didn't answer. Yet a warm flush rose to his cheeks.
And against his chest—the crystal pendant given to him by Sylvaine suddenly grew warm. Exceptionally warm. As though responding directly to Arthur's question. As though whispering: "Yes. He loves me."
Leon gripped the pendant in his hand. It remained warm. Radiating a faint, comforting glow.
Arthur chuckled softly. "There is no need to be embarrassed. I have walked that path before. Losing someone you love... it tears you apart."
Leon lowered his head. "I... feel like a failure. I failed to protect her. I wasn't strong enough."
Arthur shook his head gently. "You didn't fail. You simply haven't reached the finish line yet."
He looked back up toward the moon in the sky.
"Listen to me, Leon. Goodbyes are merely an illusion for those who love with their eyes alone. For souls bound by destiny and true devotion... separation does not exist."
Leon froze. The words struck a profound chord deep inside him.
"You love her with your entire soul, don't you?" Arthur asked softly.
Leon gave a quiet, firm nod. "I do."
"Then she has never truly left. She resides within you. In every step you take. In every battle you fight. And as long as you hold her in your memory... she will never truly be lost."
Leon clutched the pendant against his chest—the crystal pendant Sylvaine had given him that night at the festival. Still warm. Still glowing. Still connected.
"Thank you, Arthur."
Arthur patted his shoulder reassuringly. "Now, go. Get some rest. Tomorrow... your preparations begin."
Leon turned and stepped away from the balcony.
Reaching the corridor, he paused and glanced back—at Arthur still standing beneath the moon's silvery light.
"Goodbyes are merely an illusion for those who love with their eyes alone... for souls bound by destiny, separation does not exist."
He repeated the words silently in his heart, a faint smile gracing his lips.
Resuming his stride, he encountered Sylphine standing at the end of the corridor.
Sylphine was no longer wearing her mask. Her dark blue hair flowed freely down her shoulders. Her eyes—the very same violet eyes as Sylvaine's—gazed gently at Leon.
"Have you... finished speaking with Arthur?" she asked softly.
Leon nodded. "Yes."
Sylphine gave a quiet nod, offering no further questions.
Yet just before Leon could walk past, she called out, "Leon."
Leon stopped and turned around.
Sylphine offered a faint, bittersweet, yet deeply sincere smile. "We will save her. Sylvaine. I promise."
Leon looked at her, then gave a firm nod. "Yes. We will save her."
=== CHAPTER 56 END ===