And the one who helped him walk out of it, was Rossweise.
Though she wasn't good at expressing emotions, she understood Leon, knew how to step into the darkness deep inside him, and then pull this awkward, stubborn boy out of it.
Many times, many times, to Leon, she held the role of a "spiritual mentor."
After all, the queen's over two hundred years weren't lived in vain, her life experience was far richer than Leon's.
But now, what should Leon, troubled by longing and worry, do?
Without Rossweise, his heart felt twisted like a hemp rope.
Unable to untie, chaotic to smooth out.
He pulled back his downcast thoughts, took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.
Next, Leon reached out and gently pressed his hand on the crystal.
The crystal was cold, just like this depressing reality.
"I really... miss you."
If all went well, he could actually see her in just twenty-four hours.
But... who could guarantee everything would go well?
Leon rarely lacked confidence in anything.
Because he never feared failure.
If he failed, he could try again; fail once, try once more; fail countless times, try countless times. He was like a cockroach that just wouldn't die.
But his time was different.
If he failed this time, he might truly never be able to embrace his beloved again.
The pressure, like a mountain, piled on his chest, pressing him to the point of barely being able to breathe.
This was not just a game of racing against time, but a love that must be saved across time and space.
And he, could he really do it?
"It's already late, rest for a while."
Noah's voice came from behind, "Little Light said the reversal magic can be activated in a few more hours, you need to preserve your strength."
"No need, I feel fine."
Leon didn't turn around, still quietly looking at Rossweise. His tone had no fluctuation, but Noah could hear that faint trembling.
Noah hesitated for a moment, then walked to Leon's side.
Only then did Leon catch a glimpse of her from the corner of his eye, she was holding a delicate little wooden box in her hands.
Though it was delicate, from the outside it seemed to be quite old.
"This is...?"
Noah opened the wooden box. Inside were all kinds of seemingly unrelated little items.
A piece of black shard, a Rubik's cube, a note, an essay, and a family photo.
"These are things that are very important to me," Noah said.
Leon looked at those little items. He remembered, the Rubik's cube was something he made for Luna, and while at it, made one for Noah too. Back then, Noah was still very tsundere and didn't like to talk to him.
On the note was written 'Noah K. Melkvei,' probably written when he was teaching Luna to write, and wrote Noah's name on it.
The essay recorded the full process of his date with Rossweise in Sky City, and also, Noah's love for them.
No need to explain the family photo.
"I originally planned to collect many more things to eventually fill this little wooden box."
Noah said, "But in the twenty years after you disappeared, not a single new item was added to it. Every item has its meaning, but when tragedy strikes, those meanings become torment. So then..."
Dragonflame gathered in Noah's hand and ignited the wooden box she had preserved for twenty years.
Along with the items inside, Rubik's cube, note, essay, photo.
Only the black shard remained, gleaming within the flames.
Leon was shocked and rushed to put out the fire.
But Noah threw the box to the ground, letting it burn freely.
She grabbed her father's hand, eyes glistening with tears, her voice choked, "Whether we succeed or fail, I don't need it anymore."
"If you successfully change the past and restore the original timeline, the wooden box will return to me, and everything I care about will come back."
"But if we fail... then you and my sisters are all I have left."
"So go and do it boldly, Leon Casmodeous."
"No matter the outcome, you will never be alone."
A few months ago, when he was having a heart-to-heart with his daughter, her future self and past self gradually overlapped; and at this very moment, Leon saw the shadow of Rossweise in Noah.
That person who always pulled him from the abyss in his confusion and helplessness, seemed to have never truly left.
———
A few hours later, in the crystal room, Aurora prepared to activate the reversal magic.
The heart-protecting dragon scale floated quietly within the magic circle, providing energy for the entire spell.
Various complex and chaotic incantations gradually began to glow, the currents stirred by the array clashing within the room.
Aurora smoothed her hair, which had been tousled by the wind, turned, and looked at Leon, "Stand here."
Leon stepped to the center of the magic circle.
"If all goes well, the reversal magic will be completed in ten minutes. That means... in ten minutes, you can see Mom again."
"Okay, got it."
The wind howled. Aurora stood in front of Leon, head slightly bowed, "Dad."
"What is it?"
"I... helped, didn't I?"
Leon was slightly stunned, not quite understanding why Little Light would suddenly ask this question in the final minutes.
"Twenty years ago, Little Light didn't have the chance to get your recognition, you disappeared before that."
Noah explained from behind, "So now... compliment your little daughter, okay?"
Leon understood.
So that's how it was.
He looked at Aurora, reached out, and ruffled her pink hair, "You did great, Little Light. You're Dad's most proud daughter."
"Really—"
"Ahem," Noah coughed twice and at the same time wrapped an arm around Luna's shoulder.
Leon quickly patched it up, "One of the most proud daughters."
Little Light smiled, took off her glasses, wiped the corners of her eyes, then put them back on.
"After going back to the past, remind me not to stay up late reading. I really don't want to wear glasses again."
"Mm, I'll remember."
Luna nervously clutched the hem of her clothes and quietly walked to Little Light's side. She looked at the glowing father. The usually lively girl didn't know what to say at this moment.
'Is this a farewell...'
'Or the beginning of a reunion?'
Luna couldn't figure it out.
But she knew—
"Dad, you... will definitely save the world, right?"
To her, her dad was a hero. A great hero who could do anything.
He was twenty years ago, and twenty years later, he still is.
"I will, definitely, I promise, Luna."
"Th-then when you get back, make more grilled steak for me... I love the steak you make the most."
"Okay, I'll make it with Mom for you."
"Mmhm!"
Little Luna's chatterbox opened. She had so much to say.
But she knew, the remaining time should be left for her sister.
Luna and Little Light both stepped aside, so Leon and Noah at the doorway could look at each other.
Noah crossed her arms, leaning against the wall.
She looked at those black eyes, then suddenly, smiled.
"I'll be waiting for you in the past, Dad."
———
Silver Dragon territory border, smoke filled the air, war flames flying everywhere.
Black Sun Dragon King · Bly and Disorder Dragon King · Jaggs stood side by side.
Bly looked at the three women in front, covered in wounds all over their bodies, dragging their exhausted bodies, standing in front of their queen and princesses.
"I don't understand, two maids, one scout, in order to protect a Dragon King who is about to fall, actually persist until now."
Bly looked at Anna, spoke faintly, "Not long ago, the Silver Dragon clan had already been disbanded by your queen, you could have flown separately in the face of disaster, although it would have had the suspicion of desertion, but at least could have saved your own lives, right?"
Half of Anna's face was already covered in blood and filth, her broken dragon wings behind her swaying precariously, her body on the verge of collapse at any time, but before completely dying, she would not yield even half a step.
"My life... belongs to Her Majesty, it's not up to you to worry about—cough cough—"
Just speaking loudly made Anna cough up blood.
She was already completely powerless to fight.
Now, as long as the two Dragon Kings opposite wanted to, with just a move of a finger they could take her life.
But so what.
As the head maid of Rossweise, she would never abandon Her Majesty and go survive alone.
"Hmph, still talking tough facing death."
Jaggs said leisurely, tone full of a victor's pride and boastfulness, "Your queen is already at the end of her strength, as for those three little brats... even if we let them go, how long could they survive in this chaotic world? Sooner or later they'll be—"
"You're not allowed to insult Her Highness the Princess!"
As the voice fell, maid Milan gathered magic, a condensed water ball gathered in her hand, and she threw it in the direction of Bly and Jaggs.
But the two of them didn't move in the slightest.
When the magic water ball approached, they just casually opened a spatial array, and easily dissolved Milan's attack.
"Just a spent force."
Bly yawned, as if already out of patience.
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