Dimensional Descent

"I think I will return now." Mordred said softly, motioning toward Crakos.

From start to finish, the #1 Demon Lord hadn't said a word and had simply observed things. Though he received many looks and several auras were constantly locked onto him, the Demon Lord always remained calm, restraining his own.

Leonel nodded lightly. He knew that Mordred had gone through a lot today. The wounds she had suffered in her past couldn't be cured so quickly, but Leonel felt content that they were going in the right direction.

He and Mordred practically knew everything about one another. In many ways, Leonel felt that he was closer to her than he had ever been to James. Seeing her slowly coming back to her family left him feeling happy.

"What's with that smile?" Mordred teased. "Is big sis very beautiful?"

Leonel coughed, not knowing how to respond. But, his predictable reaction left the Demon Empress giggling.

Just as Mordred was about to turn to leave, Leonel suddenly spoke out.

"Demo – Em, I take you to be one of my close friends now. I just wanted you to know that."

Mordred's steps froze, looking back toward Leonel with surprise.

Seeing those clear, pale green eyes and that handsome, charismatic smile, she felt her heart shudder. For some reason, she felt her tears well up in her eyes.

She quickly dried them with a subtle use of Force, not letting them fall. Then, just as quickly as she had almost cried, she smiled a charming smile.

"Big sis has more to teach you about women. Rule number one is to not make them cry."

Mordred strolled away under the escort of several guards, clicking her tongue as though she was still reprimanding Leonel. But, in response, Leonel only chuckled.

"You must be happy having such a beautiful friend, hm?"

Aina's voice disrupted Leonel's mood, causing his coughing fit to return.

"... It's fine, I'm pretty sure Em only likes women anyway." Leonel quickly recovered.

"So you mean that if she liked men instead you'd be happier?"

"Ah..."

checkmated once again. He didn't know how all his insane thinking speed and people skills couldn't

begin to giggle to herself, the soft bells of her laughter warming his

such a teasing side to her. The two sides Leonel knew

felt as though Leonel was always the

herself didn't realize that in order to tease Leonel like this, she had to play into

sighed, thinking back to

think we'd ever grow apart

she felt for Leonel, she didn't even believe she had

loaded question left her not

Is it possible for you to grow

a question

afraid of such a possibility. Leonel had pursued her so doggedly for years. She couldn't help but admit to herself that she thought he would have given up on her

those days, her best friends were Yuri and Savahn. Savahn especially used to always say that men were just like that. They loved

had to admit to herself that thinking of this might

where she never said yes

reality thanks to these scars. It was even possible that the reason

left her

I could grow apart

she felt as though her whole world was collapsing at that very moment. Her mind swam, her

never expected was for a response to be able to flip

that even she couldn't mistake what it

twisting knife at her heart, it tore her

if it was due to tears or if it was the foggy state her mind

"... That's if and only if you

as though she couldn't breathe enough air, as though there

"Aina."

frowned, gripping

panicked state, she tried to shake Leonel's arms off her. She used such force that Leonel was almost thrown across the room. But, he

point, Leonel had already put up a [Light Refraction] spell. He hadn't expected Aina to react so violently, but

but Leonel didn't