After taking a bath, he felt rejuvenated. His skin gleamed beneath the sunrays as he admired his body.
This was the first time he had ever felt powerful—like the strength flowing in his veins finally belonged to him.
The aches of yesterday had vanished, replaced by a surge of energy that made his chest swell with pride. For the first time in his life, he wasn't merely surviving… he was becoming.
But after a moment of admiring himself, reality set in. Though he had inherited the original host's memories, it was still awkward to stand outside naked.
That was when it hit him—he had been too caught up in the moment. In his hurry, he had wrapped himself with the sheet, but the fabric was stained, stiff with filth, and reeked with a foul smell that clung stubbornly to the air.
Staring at the sheet, he could not bring himself to use it.
"Kara! Kara!" Left with no choice, he called out loudly.
Kara, who had gone back to prepare food, was startled by Leon's voice. The wooden spoon slipped from her fingers, clattering against the pot as she wiped her hands hurriedly on her dress.
"Leon?" she called back, her brow furrowed with worry. He had sounded urgent, almost desperate. Without a second thought, she rushed toward the back of the house.
She was greeted by the sight of Leon's naked body, the sunlight tracing the firm lines of his frame. Kara let out a sharp gasp and quickly covered her face with her hands—but the spaces between her fingers betrayed her.
Her heart thudded in her chest. He was the first man she had ever seen bare, and though she told herself it was wrong, her eyes lingered, curious and unsteady. A warmth crept up her cheeks, spreading until her ears burned red.
"What is the problem?" she asked sheepishly, her voice muffled behind her hands.
Leon shifted uncomfortably, torn between pride and shame at his current state. He scratched the back of his neck, his eyes darting anywhere but at her.
"The sheet is filthy," he muttered, kicking at the crumpled fabric on the ground. "I can't wear it… it reeks."
Kara peeked at him again through her fingers, then quickly dropped her gaze to the ground.
"I… I'll fetch you some clothes," she whispered, turning away in haste before he could notice her red face.
Leon watched with a smile as Kara ran away, her hurried steps almost tripping over themselves. He had seen her peeking through her fingers, and he couldn't help but chuckle softly.
"Like mother, like daughter," he murmured under his breath, shaking his head. The thought made his grin widen, a mischievous spark glinting in his eyes.
Moments later, Kara returned, clutching a neatly folded set of clothes. She didn't dare raise her head as she extended them toward him, her hands trembling slightly.
"Here," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
They were her father's clothes—plain but sturdy. The tunic was made of coarse linen, a dull beige that carried the faint scent of sun-dried cloth. Its stitching was simple, the kind done more for function than style, with patches at the elbows where the fabric had worn thin.
The trousers were loose-fitting, woven from the same rough cloth, and tied at the waist with a frayed cord. Together, they looked ordinary, the kind of garments worn by farmers, laborers, and villagers who spent their days working under the sun.
As he took the clothes, his gaze lingered on Kara's face. Her cheeks were still flushed, her lashes lowered as if she wished the ground would swallow her whole. With her shy disposition, she spent most of the time looking down, avoiding his eyes.
Leon couldn't help but smile. The contrast between her curiosity from moments ago and the way she now shrank before him was almost endearing.
The longer he looked, the more details he noticed. If she had been born on Earth, he was certain she would win every modeling competition without even trying. Her oval-shaped face framed by loose strands of dark hair, her large hazel eyes that seemed to hold a quiet light, and those pink, cherry-soft lips—each feature carried a natural beauty that didn't need embellishment.
For a moment, Leon almost forgot the bundle of clothes in his hands.
Pulling himself out of his reverie, Leon cleared his throat and forced his gaze away.
"How old are you?" he asked, his tone casual though his eyes still lingered on her flushed face.
Kara blinked, surprised by the sudden question. She tightened her grip on her dress, shifting her weight from one foot to the other before answering softly, "Eighteen turning nineteen next month… why?"
Leon paused, studying her as he pulled the trousers on. A faint smile curved his lips.
"Apart from me, have you ever seen another man naked?" he asked, his voice full of curiosity.
Kara's head shot up, her eyes going wide at his question. The blood rushed so quickly to her cheeks that even the tips of her ears flushed crimson.
"N-no!" she blurted out, clutching her dress tighter as if it could shield her from his words. Her gaze darted anywhere but at him, settling on the dirt at her feet.
Leon chuckled softly, the sound low and rich, enjoying the way she squirmed.
"I thought so," he said, fastening the cord at his waist. "That explains why you couldn't keep your fingers closed."
Kara's breath caught, mortified by his words. She squeezed the fabric of her dress so tightly her knuckles turned white, wishing the earth would swallow her whole.
Leon, noticing her distress, chuckled again but this time more gently. He tied the last knot at his waist and said,
"Don't be embarrassed. You're not the only one. I'm older than you, and I've never seen a naked woman either."
Her head jerked slightly, hazel eyes flickering up to him in disbelief before darting away again.
"Really?" She asked, her voice light and nervous.
Leon gave a small shrug, a half-smile tugging at his lips.
"Really," he said simply. "You know… many despise me for being weak. Where could I get a woman?"
Kara looked away with shame, of course she knew even though she pitied him there was little she could do.
Leon's voice softened, the usual hint of playfulness gone. "Can you do me a favour please?" he asked in a humble tone, his eyes steady on her.
Kara blinked, startled by the sudden shift. She hesitated, then gave a small nod, clutching her hands together. "If it's within my power," she whispered.
Leon drew in a slow breath, his gaze steady.
"Please… show me your body," he said.
Her breath hitched. The words struck her like a thunderclap. Heat rushed to her face so fiercely she thought she might faint on the spot.
"M-my body?!" she stammered, backing a half-step away, her arms instinctively wrapping around herself.
"You saw mine," Leon replied calmly, though a faint curve of amusement lingered at the corner of his mouth. "It's only fair you show me yours."
Kara's hazel eyes widened, her heart pounding against her ribs like a trapped bird. She shook her head quickly, her lips parting but no words forming. Shame battled against a flicker of something else—curiosity, the same restless spark that had made her peek through her fingers before.
"I… I can't," she whispered, her voice trembling. "It's not proper."
Seeing her reaction, Leon wasn't surprised. He had expected her to refuse.
A faint smile tugged at his lips as he leaned back casually.
"Aren't you curious," he asked, his voice calm yet teasing, "how I healed so fast?"
Kara froze, her lips parting slightly. The question struck true.
From the way her hazel eyes flickered, Leon knew he had touched a nerve. He had already noticed that Kara, much like her mother Melina, carried a restless spark of curiosity. And once that flame was lit, it would burn until the truth was laid bare.
"Show me, and I promise to tell you," Leon pressed, his voice low but steady.
Kara's breath caught. Her hands twisted in the fabric of her dress as her mind wrestled with itself. Shame clawed at her chest, but curiosity pulled just as fiercely, whispering at the edges of her thoughts.
She bit her lip, torn between the weight of propriety and the hunger to know his secret.
Kara's chest rose and fell quickly, her hazel eyes darting to his, then away again. For a long moment she stood frozen, her fingers clutching the hem of her dress so tightly it nearly tore.
Curiosity gnawed at her, louder than the shame. She wanted to know. Needed to know.
Finally, with a trembling breath, she nodded.
"O-okay…" she whispered, so softly it was almost swallowed by the breeze. Her voice wavered, her cheeks blazing crimson. "But… only if you keep your word."
Her heart pounded like a drum as the words left her lips, as though she had just agreed to something she couldn't take back.
Leon's eyes gleamed, satisfaction flickering in them, though he kept his expression calm. He gave a slow nod, his voice carrying quiet assurance.
"I promise."