Episode 33: Leon's Resolve and Serina's Quiet Support
After witnessing the conversation between Serina and Adrian, Leon resolved not to retreat but to grow stronger. To bridge the gap between himself and people like them, he began to study. Even amid drills and long hours of duty, he would steal moments to read, and after his shifts, he dragged his weary body home only to open his books again. His face grew gaunt from lack of sleep, but his will had hardened all the more.
A few days later, Serina began to notice the change. Leon still came to the laboratory as always, lending a hand, but there was a new fatigue in his eyes—one that wasn't just from training. When she asked, he deflected with a smile, "I just… found a few things I wanted to learn." But Serina could feel the truth beneath his light tone.
That evening, after Leon had left, Serina found a book forgotten on a bench. She picked it up and froze at the title: "Foundations of Magical Theory and Principles." He had been reading this all along. She closed the book gently, realizing just how earnestly he was striving to learn.
The next day, Serina quietly resolved to help. She began leaving useful books—on economics, society, and history—where Leon would naturally find them while helping at the laboratory. Little by little, she wove knowledge into his everyday life without ever making it obvious.
Soon after, she asked, "Leon, I need to go to the library to look for some materials. Would you come with me?" Leon, delighted at the thought of spending more time with her, agreed immediately. At the library, while gathering her own references, Serina steered him toward the shelves that held the basics he needed.
Gesturing to a row of neat volumes, she said casually, "These books explain the kingdom's economic system. Understanding this is useful, even for magical research." She handed him one, and Leon, intrigued, opened it on the spot. His growing interest made Serina smile to herself.
When he stumbled over difficult concepts, she would "coincidentally" bring up the same subjects in conversation, offering simple explanations: "You see, basic magic often interacts with broader social flows. Understanding those flows gives context to the practice itself." Her gentle voice made the learning less daunting.
Leon began to feel the path smoothing before him. Under her quiet guidance, his confidence grew. Serina, watching his progress, smiled softly. She never announced her support outright, but her silent encouragement wrapped around him like a shield.
**
Episode 34: The Patrol Mission and the Discovery of Intellect
Leon went out on patrol with his comrades. Ethan, his closest friend, had long shared guard duty with him, building trust. Alex, on the other hand, was more like a rival—his superior skill in battle always spurred Leon to push harder. The three of them being sent out together carried special weight for Leon.
As they walked the perimeter, Ethan glanced at him."You've changed, Leon. Even after training you keep studying. What exactly are you up to?"
Leon hesitated, then smiled. "Reading, mostly. Not because I have to… more because I realized I need a broader view of things."
Ethan raised his brows. "That explains it. Sometimes when we talk, you'll say something that goes right over my head. Feels like you've gotten… deeper somehow."
Leon chuckled awkwardly. "I just got caught up in learning, that's all. I still have a long way to go." Yet his eyes glimmered with a quiet pride.
Alex cut in with a smirk. "Study all you like, but in the end, books won't save you in a fight. Better to hone your sword."
Leon didn't rise to the bait. "True—on the battlefield, strength decides everything. But knowledge has its place too. Strategy, tactics, anticipating problems before they happen… all of that comes from thinking beyond the blade. Ever considered that?"
Alex scoffed. "So what, you've uncovered some great secret I don't know? Let's hear it."
Leon glanced at the terrain around them and said calmly, "Take this border we're patrolling. If I were the enemy, I wouldn't come the way we expect. I'd use that ridge to flank us—it gives better high-ground advantage. Most wouldn't see it at first glance."
Alex blinked, caught off guard. He turned his head toward the ridge, realizing Leon had a point. Ethan whistled softly. "He's right. I never thought about that. Leon, your perspective's changed. You're seeing things I missed."
Alex stayed silent, his jaw tight, but there was a flicker of reluctant respect in his eyes.
Later, as the patrol wound down, Ethan nudged Leon's shoulder. "Keep at it. Maybe it feels small now, but those insights will pile up. That's your real strength."
Leon felt warmth in his chest. He was no longer just a soldier with a sword—step by step, he was carving a path of his own.
As they returned from duty, he carried that thought like a quiet flame: that knowledge and camaraderie together could shape him into something more than he'd ever believed possible.
**
Episode 35: A New Side Revealed Among Comrades
On a rare evening off, Leon found himself in the company of his fellow soldiers at a small tavern in town. The air was warm with laughter, the clatter of mugs, and the simple joy of a shared meal. Conversation turned, as it often did, to tales of daily life and—much to Leon's discomfort—romance.
Aaron, his closest friend, grinned and raised his cup. "Leon, you've been buried in books lately, but what about love? Planning to stay a shy bachelor forever?"
Leon chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. Before he could reply, another soldier chimed in with a teasing tone. "Even Mariel knew you had your eye on her once. Maybe you were just too quiet for your own good?"
The table erupted in good-natured laughter. Leon smiled along, deflecting the banter, but inside, another face surfaced in his thoughts: Serina. Unlike Mariel, Serina felt impossibly distant, a figure of intellect and poise. Yet his heart had begun to drift toward her, step by step.
Just then, the tavern door swung open. Leon looked up—and froze. Serina had entered, accompanied by a senior scholar from the research institute. She greeted Leon with a bright smile, raising her hand in a small wave.
"Good evening, Leon," she said warmly.
Caught off guard but pleased, Leon returned her smile. The others exchanged glances, curiosity sparking in their eyes. Serina lingered only long enough to exchange pleasantries before departing with her companion, but her brief presence altered the tavern's mood.
Aaron elbowed Leon with a wide grin. "Well, well. Who knew our Leon was friends with someone like her? That's something to brag about!"
Another soldier leaned in with a laugh. "So that's the secret you've been keeping. You say you've no experience in romance, but maybe you've just been hiding the truth."
Leon laughed it off, though his ears burned. Yet beneath the teasing, he could feel something genuine in their gazes—support, even pride. For the first time, he sensed that his comrades truly believed in him, not just as a soldier but as someone worth more.
That night, as he walked home beneath the quiet stars, Leon carried their encouragement with him. He was still far from the man he wanted to become, but he vowed to keep growing—so that both his comrades and Serina would one day look at him with pride.
**
Episode 36: Lessons from the Farm
At the request of the Elysium Research Institute, Leon's unit was dispatched to guard a farm on the outskirts of the kingdom. Serina was involved in the mission, which filled Leon with anticipation. But when he noticed Adrian among the party, that anticipation dimmed under the weight of unease. Adrian was not only a distinguished mage but also a scion of an old noble house—a rival Leon could not ignore.
The farm seemed peaceful at first, with researchers cataloging herbs and grains. But suddenly, strange creatures burst from the earth. Instinctively, Leon raised his shield and started toward Serina, but before he could reach her, Adrian unleashed a brilliant blaze of fire magic. The monsters were incinerated in seconds.
"Nothing to fear," Adrian said smoothly, brushing ash from his cloak. His confident tone drew a nod of reassurance from Serina.
Leon hung back, torn between admiration and frustration. Adrian's power was undeniable. 'If men like him are always by her side,' Leon thought bitterly, 'when will my chance ever come?'
But the matter was far from over. The farm animals, startled by the commotion, broke into chaos—lambs bleated for their mothers, hens scattered in panic. Adrian attempted to calm them with a charm, but the frightened animals only grew wilder.
Leon stepped forward. "Let me try."
Without magic, he moved slowly and steadily, his voice low and calming. He scooped up a lost lamb and returned it to its mother, guided the chickens back to their coop, and restored order with patience born of experience. His movements were unhurried but sure, each gesture rooted in familiarity with such work.
Serina watched with quiet admiration. "Leon, you really do have a way with the land. You make it look so natural."
Even Adrian, observing from the side, gave a small nod. "Unexpected. It takes more than magic to manage creatures like these."
Leon bowed his head modestly. "It's nothing special—just something I grew up doing. Old habits stay with you." Yet even as he spoke, he felt a rare swell of pride.
By the end of the day, the fields were calm again. Leon hauled a stack of hay to one side of the farm, sweat and dust clinging to him. Serina approached softly, her eyes warm. "Leon, it may not be flashy, but what you did today mattered. We couldn't have finished without you."
He blushed faintly, smiling. "I'm just glad I could help."
Serina's gaze lingered on the dirt and sweat on his hands. "That's your strength, Leon. Don't forget it."
As they departed the farm, Leon carried with him a newfound confidence. He had no firestorms to conjure, no noble lineage to boast of. But he had shown that even without magic, he had a place—one defined by quiet resilience and steady hands