In the days that followed, Leo accompanied Furina as they traveled across the lands and waters of Fontaine.
One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Furina leaned against the trunk of a large tree, quietly watching Leo hunt not far away.
To impress her, Leo had fashioned a bow for himself, intent on demonstrating his strength before the Hydro Archon.
Hidden within the bushes, he drew the string back, channeling Cryo onto the arrowhead. His expression was calm, sharp—like that of a practiced hunter.
Soon enough, a large bird descended to a nearby pond, drinking and pecking at fish.
Time passed. Furina, growing impatient, glared at Leo, who was still crouched in the brush without releasing his shot.
It's been forever! How much longer is he going to "gather energy"?
But Leo was in no hurry at all. A true hunter had to remain patient.
Patience? In truth, he simply wanted to look cool.
At last, he fully drew the bow, aimed, and loosed the arrow.
The Cryo-charged shot streaked through the air, striking the bird cleanly in the throat.
Seeing his decisiveness, Furina clapped her hands, cheering with sparkling eyes.
"Amazing! Incredible! So precise!"
Standing tall, basking in her praise, Leo smoothed his hair back and struck a handsome pose. Showing off was only natural.
He retrieved the bird from the riverside and held it aloft like a trophy, waving it proudly.
Seeing his theatrics, Furina suppressed a laugh and played along, clapping in a mock-dramatic voice.
"Magnificent! Truly worthy of being my personal guard! You're absolutely splendid, Leo!"
After preparing the bird, Leo built a fire. Out here in the wilderness, a simple roasted meal was already a blessing.
These days of travel had made Furina uncharacteristically content. Resting her chin on her hand, she watched Leo handle dinner and allowed her thoughts to drift.
"What's wrong, Lady Furina?" Leo asked, noticing her silence.
"Ah? Nothing, nothing at all," she said quickly, shaking her head.
When the bird was finished, Leo tore off one of the legs, blew on it, and handed it to her with a grin.
"Here, try this. It's delicious."
Furina accepted the piece. The aroma hit her immediately—juicy, fragrant, laced with the spices Leo had gathered earlier.
She devoured it quickly, savoring every bite. The meat was tender, flavorful, and far too addictive.
When it was gone, she found herself glancing longingly at the other leg. But she restrained herself. A bird only had two legs, after all, and she wasn't selfish.
But Leo was no miser either. Catching her glance, he immediately tore off the second leg and handed it to her.
"Don't you want it?" Furina asked, caught off guard.
"Lady Furina, please—enjoy it."
She swallowed, then accepted it with only a trace of hesitation. Taking a light bite, she closed her eyes at the taste.
Then, smiling slyly, she brought the meat to Leo's lips.
"Your turn. Open your mouth and have a bite."
Leo froze, his face instantly burning red. He stared at her, embarrassed.
Perhaps Furina never realized how much her little gestures could fluster him.
Swallowing nervously, Leo opened his mouth and took a cautious bite.
The meat tasted the same as before—yet somehow sweeter, richer, simply because she had offered it.
Seeing him eat, Furina seemed more at ease and happily finished the rest of the leg as they chatted together.
When the meal was done, Furina washed her hands in the stream, stretched, and announced, "You clean up. I'm going to rest first."
She disappeared into the tent, drawing the flap closed.
Leo didn't mind the mess. He quickly tidied everything, then waded into the moonlit river to take a cold wash.
"This vacation really is comfortable," he thought.
In the past, his breaks had been spent with his master—drinking together, sharing stories. But this time, it was different. This time, Furina was with him. And that made it better than any before.
Tomorrow, though, they would return to the Palais Mermonia, back to the monotony of daily life.
He sighed, closing his eyes, enjoying the feeling of cool water rushing over him.
But the peace was shattered. A sudden thud-thud echoed through the woods. The earth trembled.
Leo sat up sharply. From the trees, two massive Hilichurl Lords burst forth with thunderous roars.
He didn't hesitate. He seized his sword and slashed, releasing a surge of Cryo that froze the river solid, raising an ice wall to slow their advance.
But Hilichurl Lords were fearsome brutes. The wall shattered after only two strikes, ice shards spraying into the night.
The noise drew Furina's attention. She peeked out from the tent, intending to ask what was happening—only for a giant ice spike to crash down beside her, narrowly missing her.
Stiff with shock, she raised her head and saw Leo locked in furious combat with the two towering Hilichurl Lords. Compared to their hulking forms, his figure looked small, fragile—yet he stood firm, striking and counterstriking.
"Lady Furina! Run!" Leo shouted when he noticed her.
Where there were Hilichurl Lords, lesser Hilichurls were sure to follow. And indeed, moments later, dozens of Hilichurls emerged from the shadows, encircling the campsite.
Leo could protect himself, but with Furina nearby, splitting his focus became perilous.
Furina ducked back into the tent, trembling. Run? But where could she go now? Her heart thudded with fear, yet her worry for Leo kept her frozen.
Members of her Melusine escort huddled close, trying to guard her against any who might break through.
By the river, Leo fought relentlessly, cutting down Hilichurls while holding back both Lords. But the numbers were overwhelming. A Mitachurl with a massive axe struck from behind, while archers loosed arrows from the treeline.
The battle raged. Furina peeked out again—only to pale at the sight.
The ground was stained red, Hilichurl corpses scattered everywhere—some decapitated, others frozen solid, others split apart entirely. The sheer brutality of it left her reeling, and she ducked back inside with her hands over her head.
Suddenly, a Hilichurl Ranger slipped through the chaos and charged straight at the tent.
Furina's legs gave way, and she collapsed to her knees.
"Don't kill me! Please don't kill me!"
But before the creature could strike, Leo hurled his sword like a spear. It flew true, skewering the Ranger mid-leap. The Hilichurl fell, thrashing before going still.
Yet the split-second distraction cost him. A Hilichurl Lord's massive fist smashed into him, sending him tumbling across the ground until he landed heavily beside the tent.
Coughing blood, Leo wiped his mouth, struggling against the pain clouding his senses. His vision blurred, but Furina's panicked voice reached him.
"Leo!" She grabbed his arm desperately.
Her touch jolted him awake. He shook his head, met her gaze, and forced a smile.
"Lady Furina, don't be afraid. I still have a trump card."
Staggering to his feet, he tore his sleeve away, revealing a hidden mark etched into his arm—the seal of Anemo.
Master… will your power really help me now?
The seal glowed faintly green. Wind rose around him, intertwining with snow and ice.
Furina stared, bewildered. She didn't understand the mark—but she could feel the storm building, the air growing sharper, colder, more terrifying by the second.
As the Hilichurls surged forward, a roaring vortex of wind and ice erupted around Leo, twisting into a colossal tornado that reached toward the heavens.
The monsters were caught and lifted helplessly, torn apart within the storm. Even the Hilichurl Lords were trapped, battered by countless Cryo shards that pierced their bodies.
Leo seized his fallen sword, raised it skyward, then plunged it into the frozen ground.
Above, the tornado condensed into a gigantic blade of ice that came crashing down, impaling the two Lords where they stood.
In barely ten seconds, the battlefield was silent.
The horde was gone.
Breathing hard, Leo dispersed the elemental energy. He swayed, his vision darkening, but managed a weak smile at Furina.
"Lady Furina… it's alright now."
The words left his lips, and then he collapsed face-first into the dirt, unconscious.
***
Ive started reading "The Empty Box and Zeroth Maria" LN would definitely recommend 🫡