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..."

all his insane thinking speed

then heard Aina begin to giggle to herself, the soft bells of

her. The two sides Leonel knew were either the overly shy Aina

had no choice but to begin teasing Leonel like this. Before, it felt as though Leonel was always the one causing her to be flustered. Getting back at

that in order to tease Leonel like this, she had to play into the fact they were a couple. Who knows how she'd

back to

Do you think we'd ever grow

for Leonel, she didn't

a loaded question left

possible for you to grow distant

asked a

years. She couldn't help but admit to herself that she thought

that. They loved the chase, but the moment they got something, they would soon grow bored and leave it behind for

never really took much of her rants seriously, she had to admit to herself that thinking of this might have subconsciously been one

perpetual cycle where she never said yes but also

to these scars. It was even possible that the reason she hadn't shut down Leonel's line of

left her completely

I could grow apart from

world was collapsing at that very moment. Her mind swam, her

what she absolutely never expected was for a response to be able

was so real and undeniable that even

Like a twisting knife at her heart, it

blurred. But, it was hard to tell if it was due to tears or if it was

"... That's if and only

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

"Aina."

frowned, gripping

Leonel's arms off her. She used such force that Leonel was almost thrown across the room. But, he held onto her tightly, gripping the sides of her face and

up a [Light Refraction] spell. He hadn't expected Aina to react so

but Leonel didn't let her slip