Episode 17: Village Patrol and an Unexpected Encounter
That day, Leon's duty was village patrol. Though the village was peaceful, anything could happen during rounds, so he tried not to let his guard down. As usual, Leon and his partner kept a close watch, breaking up drunken quarrels, stopping petty thieves, and solving small disputes. The work was tiring, but it was vital to keep the village safe, and Leon carried it out with dedication.
While walking the main road, Leon noticed a woman looking around in distress. Her anxious expression caught his attention. He quickened his steps with his partner and approached her.
"Is something wrong, ma'am?" Leon asked gently.
The woman turned with a startled face. "My… my purse is gone! A thief stole it!" Her trembling voice made the urgency clear. Without hesitation, Leon and his partner began scanning the area and searching for the culprit.
As they made their way through an alley, they came across another woman surrounded by a group of thugs. Her attire was elegant, and despite her predicament, her face remained surprisingly calm. Leon didn't hesitate; he raised his voice firmly.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing? I'm Leon of the Elysium Guard. Step away from her immediately!"
One of the thugs sneered. "Tch, just a guard dog barking out of turn. Get lost before you regret it."
But Leon stepped forward, lowering his stance, his eyes steady and sharp. For a moment the thugs faltered, but one lashed out with a sudden punch. Leon dodged smoothly—training kicking in—before twisting the thug's arm and slamming him to the ground. With his partner's help, the rest of the gang was swiftly subdued.
When the danger had passed, Leon approached the woman. "Are you hurt?" he asked with concern.
She shook her head. "I'm fine, thanks to you. In fact, I saw those men running off with a purse earlier. I followed them here and ended up surrounded." Her composed tone surprised Leon; she radiated poise even after the confrontation.
Her face struck Leon as vaguely familiar, but he forced himself back to duty. "In that case, please avoid alleys like this. Use the main roads—it's safer."
The woman smiled faintly. "Sensible advice. Thank you, Leon." Then she walked away with graceful composure.
Even after she left, Leon couldn't shake the feeling that he had seen her somewhere before. But there was no time to dwell on it. He and his partner hauled the subdued thugs back, determined to return the stolen purse to its rightful owner.
**
Episode 18: Shopping with Serina and a Sudden Rescue
In her laboratory, Serina realized she was missing several ingredients for an ongoing experiment. At first she considered sending Leon alone, but after hours hunched over her desk she welcomed the chance to stretch her legs. "Leon, would you come with me to the market? There's too much to carry on my own," she asked with a smile.
The thought of going out with her made Leon's heart stir with a subtle excitement. "Of course. Just tell me what you need."
The market was lively, filled with colorful goods and bustling crowds. Walking side by side, Leon carried bundles as Serina selected herbs and rare plants. He found himself watching her with quiet admiration; away from the solitude of her research, she seemed brighter, almost carefree.
As they strolled, Leon spotted Mariel across the street with a group of friends. She noticed him as well—saw him walking alongside Serina—and her eyes flickered with surprise before she laughed something off with her companions and turned away. Leon offered an awkward smile, but Serina paid no attention, calmly finishing her purchases.
On their way back, smoke suddenly rose from a nearby row of shops.
"Fire!" someone shouted. Panic spread through the crowd. Then came another cry: "There's someone trapped inside!"
Leon didn't hesitate. "We can't waste time—someone's in there!" He sprinted toward the burning building.
Inside, smoke choked the air, stinging his eyes. Leon shielded his mouth with one arm and shouted, "Is anyone here? Answer me!"
A faint voice came from deeper within. "H-help… over here…"
Pushing through the smoke, Leon found a terrified shopkeeper collapsed in the corner. He lifted the man, bearing his weight even as flames licked dangerously close. Heat seared his arm, leaving a raw burn, but he pressed on, dragging the man out into the open air.
The crowd erupted in cheers. The rescued man bowed repeatedly in gratitude. Leon brushed off the thanks with a weary smile.
Serina rushed to his side, her eyes full of worry as she examined his arm. "Leon, you're burned! You can't just throw yourself into danger like that."
He waved her concern away with a smile. "It's nothing. Saving him is what matters."
As Serina fussed over him, another pair of eyes lingered from afar—Camilla. She had witnessed the rescue by chance. For a long moment she stood still, watching Leon with a gaze that carried both curiosity and a newfound respect.
**
Episode 19: Outpost Mission and Training with the Magic Amulet
News arrived from the frontier: bandits had been sighted raiding villages along Elysium's outer borders. Orders soon followed. Leon and a detachment of soldiers were to leave the capital for several days on a mission to suppress them.
The night before departure, Leon sought out Serina. He wanted to be sure he understood how to handle the magic amulet—especially if the upcoming mission turned harsh.
"Serina, I've been assigned to the frontier. If there's a safer way to use this amulet, would you teach me?" His tone was steady, but his eyes revealed the weight of responsibility.
Serina led him into her study. Scrolls and crystal apparatus lined the shelves, their glow dim in the lamplight. She nodded. "The amulet responds to will and sudden focus. With practice, you'll move short distances almost instinctively. But never forget—it has limits."
Leon tightened his grip on the amulet. "Could it help me escape danger—or save someone else?"
Serina hesitated before answering. "Perhaps. But the amulet can only be used a few times each day. Force it beyond its range, and the strain may rebound on your body. Train to know your limits—only then will it serve you in battle."
So they began. Under Serina's guidance, Leon practiced stabilizing his breath, centering his will, and channeling that focus into the amulet. Each flash of displacement thrilled him, yet left his muscles tense, his senses sharpened. Serina's calm voice anchored him. "Steady… breathe. Don't fight the flow—let the space itself open to you."
Gradually, Leon mastered short leaps across the chamber: from one mark on the floor to another, and then to a further point near the window. Sweat beaded his brow, but his footing grew steadier. At last, Serina called an end to the exercise.
"You've done well, Leon," she said, her gaze warm. "You'll manage it. Just promise me—you won't push beyond what your body can bear."
Leon wiped his brow and smiled. "I will. Thank you, Serina. I feel more prepared now."
The next morning dawned pale and cold. Leon joined his comrades at the city gate, armor buckled, shield slung across his back. They moved out in formation, their faces grim. This was no routine patrol—the task was to root out the bandits and secure the villages.
As the capital receded behind them, Leon replayed Serina's lessons in his mind. Control, caution, resolve. The amulet pulsed faintly against his chest, a reminder of the strange new path unfolding before him.
He straightened his shoulders and fixed his eyes on the road ahead. Whatever awaited them beyond the frontier, he would meet it with steady resolve.
**
Episode 20: Camp at the Frontier and Time with Comrades
After a long march, Leon and his comrades finally reached the outskirts of the kingdom. As evening fell, Captain Kael surveyed the surroundings and gave the order:"We camp here tonight. At dawn, the hunt begins."
The soldiers swiftly set about their tasks—pitching tents, gathering water and firewood, and securing the perimeter. Leon busied himself with supplies and patrol, quietly steadying the tension that lingered in his chest.
When night settled, the unit gathered around a campfire for a simple meal. One of the men raised a cup and broke the silence."It's been a while since I've felt this on edge. But with all of you here, I feel safer."The circle nodded in agreement, their faces lit by firelight.
Leon joined in, chatting with his comrade Elan, trading jokes that lightened the mood. Then another soldier grinned and asked,"Leon, you never slack during training. What's your secret? Lately you seem sharper than ever."
Leon froze for a moment, but forced a smile—he could not mention the amulet. "No secret. It's just thanks to all of you. We push each other forward. Let's do the same tomorrow."
Captain Kael chuckled. "Well said. If we rely on one another, we'll all come back alive."
Cups clinked, laughter rose, and the night became a memory worth keeping.
At dawn, silence replaced laughter. The soldiers spread through the forest in formation, closing the noose on their quarry. Leon and Elan led the forward watch, when Leon spotted figures half-hidden in branches—bandits disguised among the undergrowth.
His signal unleashed the clash. The soldiers advanced in disciplined lines, shields locking, spears thrusting. The bandits screamed and swung their crude blades, but were pressed back step by step.
A sword slashed one soldier's arm; another took a stone to the brow, blood running into his eye. Yet both returned to the fight, driven by the formation's momentum. Leon himself caught a shallow cut across the arm—he barely registered the sting as he blocked with his shield and countered with a swift strike.
"Leon! Left side!" Elan's shout saved him from a sudden charge. Leon ducked, twisted his shield into the attacker's blade, and struck back. Together with Elan, he cut the bandit down.
Through the chaos, Leon glimpsed the bandit leader retreating at the forest's edge. Without hesitation, he clutched the amulet. Space blurred—and in an instant, he appeared behind the fleeing man.
The leader spun in shock, blade flashing. Leon braced, caught the strike on his shield, and twisted the man's arm into submission. By the time the others arrived, the bandit chief was bound at Leon's feet.
"Brilliant, Leon! With him down, it's over!" cried a comrade.
The last resistance crumbled. Victory was theirs.
Afterward, the soldiers tended to wounds, exhaustion etched into every breath. Elan wrapped Leon's bleeding arm with care."Your cut's deep enough. Don't push it."
Leon smiled faintly. "It's nothing. What matters is that we all came through."
As they prepared to return, shoulders leaned on shoulders, and laughter mingled with groans. Small scars marked them, but so too did shared triumph.
Leon kept the amulet's secret close. His comrades saw only his courage, not the hidden power that had turned the battle. Yet for him, the night's fire, the clash of steel, and the bond forged in blood mattered more than any hidden weapon.