177 Aurora (Realm)
(3K Word Bonus Chapter)
After a few hours of flight, Roswiser and Leon arrived at the border between human and dragon territories.
She led Leon to the ravine where Taige had hidden back then.
Since they couldn’t confirm if Taige was still in the empire or had already left, it was always worth checking this place on the way.
Leon stood on the steep, dangerous cliff that was sheer as if carved by a kn*fe. He looked at the rushing waterfall and the deep canyon below, and couldn’t help but exclaim, “My master really hid here?”
Roswiser nodded, “Do you still think your master was just an ordinary farmer?”
Finding such a hidden place, living here for any length of time, those weren’t something an ordinary farmer could pull off.
That old guy, just how many secrets is he still keeping from him?
Once they met, Leon was determined to get everything straight.
Roswiser carried Leon deep into the treacherous ravine, found the waterfall from last time, and with a flap of her wings, displaced the water by wind pressure, creating an opening.
The two went through the gap, into a secluded cave.
Leon stepped in first, Roswiser followed closely behind.
The wooden furniture she saw last time she was here was still there, but…
Roswiser stood beside the table, lightly brushed off some dust with her hand—the layer of thick dust showed this place had been unoccupied for quite a while.
Leon of course noticed this as well. He took a look around the deeper parts of the cave, but found nothing, “Neither my master nor my master’s wife is here.”
He hesitated for a moment, glanced inside once more, and then added, “And the donkey is not here either.”
Roswiser remembered that Sherry mentioned once, before Taige left the empire to come to this remote place, he sold his farm and livestock, but took the donkey.
This meant the four-legged, long-eared animal, rare in being able to injure Leon, was indeed important to the family.
And now, the master and his wife were gone, the donkey was missing too…
“Then there are only two possibilities.”
Roswiser said, “Either your master solved the empire’s problem, took your master’s wife and the donkey, and is waiting for you at home; or…the problem wasn’t solved, and is far more serious than he anticipated, and he didn’t have the capacity to care for your master’s wife, so he temporarily moved her elsewhere.”
Leon nodded, contemplated for a bit, and said, “Let’s continue our journey.”
Seeing Leon’s urgent but forced calm expression, Roswiser opened her mouth, but hesitated to say anything.
Finally, she softly said “Mm,” unfolded her wings, and took Leon away from here.
On the way, the couple didn’t talk.
She could feel Leon’s tense, heavy-hearted mood at the moment,
and Leon noticed that she was suppressing some emotions.
Two people who normally bicker nonstop when they meet didn’t know what to talk about right now.
Only the rumbling roar of wind disturbed Leon’s spirit.
After entering human territory, Roswiser activated her invisibility spell, slowing down and getting cautious.
Human territory was naturally not a place to enter and exit carelessly. The closer they got to it, the more dangerous it became.
When Leon had just awakened, Roswiser brought him to the woods near the empire once.
After the torment, full of lingering excitement, she declared that every month, she wanted to do that to Leon here, completely shaming his dignity and beliefs.
But that was the only time they came here. Roswiser couldn’t really take such a huge risk just to torment Leon.
Unbelievably, the reason for coming to the human country again was completely opposite from last time.
From “keeping him with her forever” to “sending him back to his homeland on her own”… The difference between the two was just too great.
And the void in the queen’s heart… was also a bit too large.
After flying for a few hours, they finally reached the empire.
Roswiser landed in the forest from last time. From here, one could overlook the entire empire.
Leon stood on higher ground, gazing at his distant homeland.
The dazzling lights reflected in his pitch-black pupils, making him feel a myriad of emotions.
The hometown was still the same hometown, but was the ’empire’ still the same?
The last time he was here, the empire was Leon’s faith, a bottom line worth defending with his life;
but at this very moment, it resembled a sleeping beast, and no one knew whether it would wag its tail at Leon in docility or open its colossal jaws, roaring as it charged toward him.
Leon subconsciously clenched his fist, his breathing becoming heavier and harder to control.
He rarely feared tangible things.
Whether it was dragons, dangerous species, or anything else, Leon was never afraid when facing them;
but now, looking at the once sworn-to-defend empire, a kind of baseless fear grew in his heart.
The master had once said, “Tangible specters are not scary. What’s truly terrifying is the unseen, intangible human heart.”
Leon’s pupils trembled slightly, an excruciating chill surged in like floodwaters, so heavy it made it almost impossible for him to breathe.
He instinctively stepped back half a step—it was an invisible fear he couldn’t bear.
But at that moment, warmth came from behind.
Leon was surprised for a moment, then slowly looked down, seeing delicate arms around his waist.
Behind him, softness and warmth came, instantly driving away all fear and coldness that Leon had faced before.
“Roswiser…”
He wanted to turn around, but was stopped by the person behind, “Don’t move, don’t turn around.”
Leon could feel Roswiser lightly placing her forehead on his back.
She wasn’t holding too tightly, whether because she “dared” not… or couldn’t.
Leon stared at the delicate hands that appeared before his abdomen. The backs were tender, the fingers slender, the nails gleaming with a faint pink glow.
He slowly raised his hand, hesitating for a moment, then gently covered Roswiser’s cool hand.
A gust of evening wind blew into the forest, rustling the leaves nearby, producing a soft rustling sound.
The cicadas chirped from the darkness, fireflies danced around the two, and moonlight spilled in through the gaps between the leaves, cascading onto her silver hair.
In front of Leon was a perilous empire, as well as the master he was eagerly awaiting;
but behind Leon was his former “enemy,” also his current partner in bed.
The silence stretched on, and Leon opened his mouth softly,
“Once I finish dealing with the trouble, I’ll…”
“I’m not waiting.”
Roswiser cut him off before he finished, like a girl sulking.
She has endured for so many days, even on their journey here, she held back her feelings.
Now, as she could count down the minutes until they parted,
she also wanted to be a little capricious.
Even if it was just for a few minutes.
“What am I to you… Why should I wait? I won’t, I can’t.”
Leon pressed his lips, his shoulders sagging, “I’m sorry.”
She held on tighter, her voice choking with sobs, “Don’t get into trouble… Leon, don’t get into trouble…”
Apparently, being capricious wasn’t suitable for her.
Leon bit his lower lip, gripping Roswiser’s wrists tightly, letting her feel his determination,
“I promise, Roswiser, I won’t get into trouble.”
She said nothing more, just continued to hold him from behind.
After a long while, Leon asked quietly, “What do we tell the daughters?”
“I’ll deal with them.”
Roswiser adjusted her emotions, “If you can’t resolve the issues of the empire with your master in a short time, then every three months, if you’re still alive, go to the ravine your master hid in back then. It’s at the boundary between human and dragon territories, relatively safer. I’ll explain to the daughters and take them to see you.”
It didn’t seem like a last-minute decision for her; given her character, she must have made up her mind to do this long ago, Leon thought.
“Did you hear?” She lightly nudged Leon’s back with her forehead from behind.
“Yea, yea, I heard.”
“Go every three months, no excuses, understand?”
“If you’re still alive, go there,” “Go every three months, no excuses.”
To Roswiser, this way of speaking was already straightforward enough:
She wanted Leon to live.
“I understand, I’ll be there on time.”
Roswiser closed her eyes and exhaled deeply,
“Lastly, let’s give our daughter a name.”
“Let me take the lead?”
Roswiser nodded, then quickly added, “No stars, no wild things.”
Just as the couple simultaneously chuckled at their unspoken joke,
she slowly turned her head, pressed her cheek against Leon’s back, and hugged him tighter. As evening winds blew, the two swayed lightly from side to side.
Leon thought for a moment and said,
“Let’s call her Aurora, it means ‘Aurora’ and ‘Dawn.’ She was also born at the break of dawn.”
“Aurora… good, we’ll use this name.”
The smile on Roswiser’s face slowly faded, she reluctantly let go of Leon, stepping back, looking at his back,
“Go, Casmod, do what you need to do.”
The man slowly turned his head, the moonlight illuminating his resolute profile. The evening breeze brushed the bangs from his forehead.
He nodded, then stepped forward, charging towards the silent beast far away.
The Silver Dragon Queen stared blankly as the figure grew distant, muttering,
“Leon, may everything go well for you.”
xx
Today’s bonus chapter task is complete!
The semi-finals at 24 to 12 are starting at midnight. Please give Brother Leon a boost! A smooth promotion means more bonus chapters!
PS: The Empire Arc won’t last long, there’s no tragedy, enjoy it with peace of mind!
