Episode 29: Serena's Secret Work
In a quiet corner of the Elysium research institute, Serena carefully held a small bracelet in her hands. Unlike the usual tools and devices she handled in the lab, her touch today was unusually delicate and cautious. This bracelet was no ordinary ornament. It was a magical device designed to provide emergency healing for Leon whenever he was injured in battle—a gift she was crafting with her heart poured into it.
Each time she engraved a rune and infused it with mana, a faint smile crossed her lips. "May this bracelet keep him safe." Serena focused intently, working with devotion as the bracelet neared completion.
Just then, the familiar sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway. Startled, Serena quickly covered the bracelet and snatched up another piece of equipment, pretending to be absorbed in routine work. The door opened, and Leon stepped inside with a bright smile.
"Serena, there you are. I came by to see if you needed help today."
His warm voice drew an instinctive smile from her. "Oh? Welcome, Leon. I was just… prepping some equipment for experiments." She casually waved an empty flask in her hand, feigning nonchalance.
Leon looked at her for a moment, puzzled, but soon set his things down and began helping with the lab tools. Serena felt her heart tighten with nervousness—what if he noticed the bracelet? But thankfully, Leon showed no sign of suspicion.
As he silently organized the instruments, Serena found herself watching him, warmth welling in her chest. "Even at times like this, he makes time for me…" She caught herself staring, and when Leon glanced her way, she quickly averted her eyes with a faint smile.
Leon tilted his head. "Serena? What's on your mind?"
She forced a calm tone. "Oh, nothing. Just thinking how grateful I am for your help."
Leon chuckled. "Of course. Just tell me what you need. I'll do whatever I can."
Her heart skipped at his sincerity. She smiled softly. "Thanks, Leon."
After he left, silence returned to the lab. Serena carefully retrieved the hidden bracelet once more. Her face flushed as she recalled the moment, but she quickly regained focus, finishing the final enchantments. The runes shimmered faintly, signaling the bracelet's readiness.
"May this be a shield for you, out there on the battlefield." She whispered the wish in her heart, wrapping the bracelet in soft cloth and tucking it away, her spirits lifting at the thought of the day she would finally give it to him.
**
Episode 30: Serena's Gift and Mariel's Jealousy
With her precious gift in hand, Serena made her way to a quiet café. After weeks of research and testing, the emergency healing bracelet was complete—her way of keeping Leon safe during his perilous missions.
As she entered, she spotted Leon sitting at a table. But across from him, smiling brightly, sat another woman: Mariel. With her lively charm and captivating presence, Mariel was drawing Leon into cheerful conversation, doing her best to capture his full attention.
Leaning in, Mariel flashed a playful grin. "Leon, it's been ages! I heard you defended the town brilliantly the other night. But…" She tilted her head toward the door. "Who's that woman walking in? Care to introduce us?"
Leon blinked in surprise, then rose to his feet, his gaze immediately turning toward Serena. A warm smile lit his face as he waved her over. In that instant, Mariel realized his attention no longer belonged to her—it was Serena he was looking at.
When Serena approached, Leon introduced her with quiet pride. "Mariel, this is Serena. She works at the research institute and… she's been a great help to me."
Mariel quickly masked her brief hesitation with a polished smile. "Nice to meet you, Serena. I'm Mariel. Leon and I go way back." She offered her hand politely, but behind the smile a flicker of jealousy stirred.
After some small talk, Leon turned back to Serena, eager to continue their conversation. Mariel, despite her charm, could sense where his attention lay. With a graceful smile she rose. "Well, I'll leave you two to it. Enjoy your time." She left quietly, though a trace of bitterness lingered beneath her calm exterior.
Once Mariel had gone, Serena hesitated before drawing the bracelet from her cloak. She placed it carefully in Leon's hands. "This is for you. I made it so you'll have something to protect you in the field… it can heal wounds in an emergency."
Leon's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? You made this—for me?" His expression softened, filled with gratitude and wonder.
"Serena, thank you… This means more than I can say. Knowing you're looking out for me… it gives me strength."
Leon held the bracelet with reverence, and Serena's heart fluttered. Her quiet devotion had finally found its way into his hands.
**
Episode 31: A New Face at Serena's Laboratory – Adrian
One afternoon, Leon visited Serena's laboratory as he often did, tidying up the cluttered workspace while waiting for her return. The lab, constantly filled with half-finished experiments and scattered research notes, always seemed to need a hand. As he swept the floor and organized the shelves, Leon glanced curiously at the arcane tools and tomes Serena left behind, their strange symbols and faint glimmers of magic stirring both awe and mystery within him.
The door creaked open, and a man stepped inside. He wore a tailored coat of fine cloth, his posture elegant, his gaze calm and assured. Leon immediately recognized him: Adrian, a noble-born scholar who had ties with Serena's family. Unlike the rough-hewn soldiers Leon knew, Adrian carried himself with the kind of effortless refinement that only came from generations of wealth and learning.
"Ah," Adrian said smoothly, his eyes sweeping over the room before settling on Leon. "So you're the one keeping this place in order. Serena doesn't seem to be here at the moment?" His words were polite, but his tone—rooted in a noble's unshakable confidence—carried the faintest edge of superiority.
Leon steadied himself and replied, "No, she's stepped out for a while. She'll be back soon."
Adrian nodded and walked further inside, casually inspecting the equipment and books as though the place were his own. "This laboratory is impressive—so many instruments, so many notes. But then again, Serena is an exceptional mind. Few others could sustain research of this caliber."
Leon agreed quietly, though unease gnawed at him. Adrian's praise was sincere, yet the way he spoke implied a shared world between himself and Serena: a bond of knowledge, education, and status. Leon couldn't help but feel the distance.
Then Adrian turned to him, a curious smile on his lips. "You must be quite close to Serena, aren't you?" The question carried the weight of a test.
Leon forced a small smile. "Not exactly. I'm just a soldier… I help around the lab when she needs an extra hand."
"Ah." Adrian's smile deepened. "Even such devotion has its place, I suppose. I'm sure Serena appreciates it." His tone was courteous, but beneath it lay a faint condescension—reminding Leon of his place, reminding him of the gulf between a noble scholar and a common-born soldier.
Moments later, Serena returned. "Adrian! It's been a while," she greeted warmly. Her face lit up with ease as she exchanged words with him. The two slipped quickly into animated discussion, ranging from magical theory to the current affairs of the merchant families. Their conversation sparkled with shared references Leon couldn't follow, filled with terms and nuances that excluded him.
Leon drifted silently to the edge of the room, watching as they spoke with effortless rhythm. A heaviness settled in his chest. So this is the world she belongs to…
When Adrian finally rose to leave, he bowed politely. "Until next time, Serena. You never fail to impress." With a brief nod toward Leon, he departed.
Serena turned back with a warm smile. "Thank you for helping today, Leon. Having you here always makes things easier."
Leon managed a smile in return, though her words couldn't quite soothe the feeling that had taken root. He saw again the ease with which Serena and Adrian had spoken—the kind of ease he could not yet reach.
As he tidied up once more, he clenched his jaw in quiet resolve. If I want to stand beside her, I need to grow stronger. Not just as a soldier, but in knowledge, in spirit. I won't remain small forever.
The encounter with Adrian, though brief, became a turning point—a spark pushing Leon toward greater determination.
**
Episode 32: Heavy Steps, a Heavy Heart
The morning sun was bright, but Leon's stride toward the laboratory felt leaden. Each step carried the weight of a memory he couldn't shake: Serena and Adrian laughing together, their conversation flowing with effortless grace.
Adrian—the noble, the scholar, the man who fit seamlessly into Serena's world. Leon could still hear their voices, the lilt of ideas he could barely comprehend. It wasn't jealousy alone; it was the painful awareness that he was an outsider, a soldier clinging to the edges of her brilliance.
Even so, I have to go. She still needs my help.
The thought steadied him, but only barely. The path to the lab, usually a simple walk, felt unbearably long that morning.
Inside, Serena noticed the delay. She glanced at the clock, surprised he hadn't arrived at his usual time. When the door finally opened and Leon stepped in, she smiled with visible relief. "Leon! You're late today—I was starting to worry."
He wanted to return her smile with his usual easy warmth, but it caught awkwardly in his throat. He forced it, but the cheer felt hollow even to him.
"Sorry," he murmured. "Just… a slow morning."
Her brow furrowed slightly. "Are you all right? You seem different today. Did something happen?"
For a moment, Leon's chest ached with the urge to speak—to tell her about the heaviness, the doubt, the sting of feeling small beside Adrian. But he swallowed it, shaking his head with a strained grin. "No, nothing. Just tired. Don't worry."
Serena studied him, concern flickering in her eyes. She sensed something unsaid, yet she chose not to press him. Instead, she smiled gently. "If you say so. Just remember—you don't have to carry everything alone."
Leon nodded silently, her kindness both comforting and unbearable at once.
That day, the laboratory hummed with its usual work, but between them lingered an invisible weight—his unspoken doubts, her unasked questions.