The door creaked open, letting in the figures of a woman and two younger girls.
The older woman had long brown hair tied into a simple bun. Her beautiful face bore faint lines of stress, the kind etched from years of toil and sleepless nights, yet her natural beauty still shone through. Her eyes were soft, though heavy with fatigue, and her lips carried the ghost of a smile that had once been brighter. She wore a plain hemp dress, its rough fibers undyed, a dull beige-gray that sagged from years of use. The coarse fabric did little to flatter, but even so it could not fully hide that she was well-endowed in the right places. Her frame, though weary, still held a quiet dignity, the kind that refused to bow completely under hardship. She was his mother—Nicole.
The first girl beside Nicole had straight, shoulder-length black hair that framed her face neatly. Her features were delicate but defined, with bright, curious eyes that hinted at intelligence and caution. She wore a plain hemp dress, undyed and rough to the touch, tied at the waist with a simple cord. The shapeless cut did little to emphasize her frame, yet her tall, slender figure and upright posture gave her a quiet elegance. She was Clara, Leon's elder sister.
The second girl was younger, with wavy brown hair falling untamed to her shoulders. Her round face carried the softness of youth, and her wide eyes reflected curiosity and innocence as she peeked into the room. She, too, wore a patched hemp dress, rough and faded from constant use. The loose fabric hid much of her developing figure, but she moved with a natural grace that made her presence noticeable. She was Elise, the youngest of Leon's sisters.
"Nicole." Melina called out in surprise, trying to steady her voice, to appear normal despite the blush that was creeping on her face. She moved to the side to let them in.
As Nicole passed by, her eyes lingered on Melina's face, full of questions. The faint pink flush on her cheeks did not go unnoticed.
"There's something on your cheeks," Nicole said, reaching out as if to help her wipe it away.
Melina flinched and instinctively stepped back before Nicole could reach her, her hands moving up as if to shield herself.
Nicole froze for a moment, clearly surprised by the sudden motion. Her eyes widened slightly, and she pulled back her hand, letting it hover uncertainly in the air. "Melina…?" she said softly, her tone laced with concern and confusion.
Leon, peeking from the other room, watched with amusement, curious to see how she would handle the situation. He had expected her to falter under Nicole's gaze, but it seemed he had underestimated her.
"It's a new medicine I'm trying out," Melina answered confidently, her voice steady and calm. Yet beneath the surface, her mind was racing. Her heart pounded, and sweat prickled at her temples. She was panicking inside, trying desperately to maintain the illusion of composure in front of Nicole.
Despite the tension, Melina felt flustered and awkward. The situation, with Nicole, Clara, and Elise standing in the doorway, made her cheeks burn and her pulse race. She could feel every eye on her, the weight of attention pressing down. The mess on her face made her feel exposed and mischievous in a way she didn't fully understand, and she squirmed slightly, while hiding her embarrassment.
Nicole didn't push any further. She straightened her posture slightly, letting the moment of surprise pass. "How is he doing?" she asked, her voice gentle but full of worry.
Clara and Elise mirrored their mother's concern. Clara's sharp eyes softened slightly, and she leaned forward just enough to get a better look, trying to read the situation without intruding. Elise fidgeted nervously, tugging lightly at Nicole's sleeve, her wide eyes reflecting both curiosity and unease.
This was when it hit Melina—when she had left that morning, Leon could barely move, not even a finger. But now, he was standing on his own two feet, alert and steady.
Was he pretending? she wondered for a brief moment. But she quickly dismissed the thought—she had seen his injuries with her own eyes. Nothing about them suggested deceit.
Confusion settled over her, a tight knot of uncertainty in her chest. How had he recovered so quickly? Was it some hidden strength she hadn't known about, or had she simply misjudged him all along? She glanced at him, trying to read his expression, but it gave nothing away.
Her mind raced with questions, yet her body remained tense, every nerve alert. She felt a mix of relief, disbelief, and unease, unsure whether to trust what she saw or fear what she didn't understand.
Looking at Melina's reaction, Nicole, Clara, and Elise couldn't help but imagine the worst.
Clara's posture remained tense, her sharp eyes flicking between Melina and the rest of the room. She could feel the unease radiating off her mother and younger sister, and every subtle twitch or hesitation from Melina made her worry.
Tears trickled down Elise's face, and she instinctively pressed closer to her mother, her small hand gripping Nicole's sleeve. Her wide eyes shone with worry, reflecting the fear she felt but couldn't yet put into words.
Nicole's heart tightened at the sight of her youngest daughter in distress. She stepped forward slightly, her own concern deepening, and placed a comforting hand on Elise's shoulder. "Shh… it's okay, Elise," she said softly, though her voice carried the weight of unease.
"He is fine." Melina said in a hurry, realizing how her earlier flustered reaction had caused unnecessary worry.
Leon, who had been watching from the other room, couldn't take it anymore, especially seeing Elise's tears. He stepped out slowly, each movement hesitant, unsure of how to face them. His chest tightened, and for a moment, he felt the weight of the situation pressing down like a physical force.
Their kin was gone, and he was no longer the person they had known. He carried memories, experiences, and a different perspective that set him apart—he was both himself and someone else, and that duality made it even more complicated.
"Leon, you're okay?" Clara called out, rushing forward. Without waiting for an answer, she threw her arms around him in a tight hug, her concern spilling over.
At that moment, all the complicated feelings flew away.
Who cares if it was the other guy or me… I ain't giving this up, he thought fiercely.
A quiet determination settled over him. All the conflicting emotions—the hate, the love, the fear, and the guilt that had come with the memories of the previous host—finally fused into a single, unyielding resolve. He was no longer torn between past and present; he was fully here, fully himself, ready to face whatever came next.
Elise was next. She jumped on him and buried her face into his shoulders as quiet sobs escaped her. Leon instinctively wrapped an arm around her, holding her gently but firmly, letting her release the tension and fear she had been holding inside.
Nicole walked slowly toward him, her eyes carefully scanning his face and posture, searching for any sign that he wasn't truly okay. Her brows furrowed slightly as she examined him, concern etched in every line of her face. Satisfied that he seemed steady, she closed the distance and wrapped him in a tight hug.
"What were you thinking, trying to be a soldier?" Nicole admonished him as she finally released him from her arms. Her voice was stern, but the tremor in it betrayed more fear than anger.
Leon lowered his gaze, guilt tugging at him. He wanted to say it wasn't him who made that choice, that the recklessness belonged to the one before him—but that excuse caught in his throat. To her, to them, he was Leon. There was no separating the two.
"I… wanted to help," he said quietly, though the words felt shallow even to himself.
Nicole sighed, shaking her head, her tired eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Never do that again. You could have died." Her voice cracked at the last word, and for a moment, she looked far older than her years.
Leon forced a small smile and reached to steady her trembling hand. "Don't worry, Mother. I've learned my lesson," he said gently, trying to calm her down.
Leon forced a small smile and reached to steady her trembling hand. "Don't worry, Mother. I've learned my lesson," he said gently, trying to calm her down.
Seeing Leon's repentant look, Nicole's expression softened. She let out a slow breath, the tension in her shoulders easing just a little. "Good," she murmured, brushing his sleeve as though to reassure herself once more that he was really standing there.
Then, after a pause, her gaze flicked toward Melina. "Go on, catch up with your sisters," she said quietly to Leon, her voice carrying both warmth and authority. "I need to talk to Melina alone."
Leon gently took his sisters by the hand, leading them out of the house. Kara trailed behind, a little sheepish, casting one last glance back before slipping out with them—leaving Nicole and Melina alone inside.