*Swish*
In a ripple of spatial energy, Leon materialized on the first floor of the dungeon. The mont his feet touched the cold stone, the massive gates groaned open on their own, ancient chanisms grinding to life as if welcoming their master ho.
"Why the hell aren’t these doors opening u—Ahhhhhhh..."
*Clank-Clank-Clank-Clank*
The heavy doors had barely parted when a skeletal figure ca tumbling through, rolling down the short flight of stairs in a chaotic clatter of bones. Rees ca to a halt re inches from Leon’s boots, sprawled in an undignified heap.
"Hello, Rees." Leon’s lips curved into a faint, amused smile as he gazed down at the lich.
"Sir Leon... I greet you." Rees scrambled to his feet with surprising grace for a being made of bone, then bowed deeply, his empty sockets fixed respectfully on the ground.
"It’s been a while... Where have you been?" Leon’s expression shifted to neutral, though a hint of curiosity flickered in his eyes.
"Haha... You see, there was—"
*Step-step*
The sound of light footsteps echoed from beyond the gates. A woman stepped into the dungeon’s dim light, her presence carrying the faint scent of blooming flowers and ancient forests.
Leon’s eyes widened in genuine surprise. Standing before him was none other than dina—the forr Mother of Fairies herself—her ethereal beauty undimd, beautiful hair cascading like moonlight.
"I greet the Dungeon Master." dina offered a warm smile as she bowed gracefully to Leon.
"Well, well... If it isn’t the Mother of Fairies." He returned the smile, his tone laced with playful recognition.
"Not anymore..." dina’s cheeks tinted with a soft blush as she straightened. "I have decided to give up that title. Now, I am just Mr. Rees’ wife."
"Eh...? EHHH...?" Leon’s composure cracked entirely. His gaze darted back and forth between the Rees and the ex-fairy mother, confusion etched across his features.
"It’s true, Sir Leon. I have married dina, and now we are a married couple." Rees rubbed the back of his smooth skull in a remarkably human gesture of embarrassnt, as if scratching an itch that no longer existed.
Leon stared for a long mont, processing the absurdity of it all. "I have so many questions... But I’m only going to ask two. When did this happen? And where are the people from the village?"
dina’s smile brightened, her eyes sparkling with quiet joy as she explained. "When you left the forest, I had intended to give up my powers entirely to relinquish my title. But Sir Rees... he offered a better way. A way to step down without losing everything."
She glanced fondly at Rees who was now standing beside her. "A Fairy Mother cannot marry. The mont she does, the title is stripped away, but most of her powers remain. And so... we got married. We sealed our vows at the Pool of Life and Death, under the ancient waters that bind souls eternally."
"That’s why it took us so ti to return," Rees added, his bony fingers intertwining with dina’s delicate ones. "When we ca back to the village, the people were happy. The fairies had begun teaching them magic, real magic. After long discussions, the villagers decided to stay. They’re now building a new ho deep in the heart of the forest, together with the fairies. A place where humans and fairies can live peacefully."
Leon listened in silence, his face betraying none of the storm raging inside.
’Fucking hell... All those fuckable won, gone just like that. An entire village of opportunities went up in smoke. Damn it, I should’ve at least brought back that one girl... the one with no gag reflex. What a waste.’
His expression twisted into one of profound regret, brows furrowed and lips pressed into a thin line.
"Sothing wrong, Mr. Leon?" dina tilted her head, concern creasing her flawless features.
"Can you still read my mind?" Leon asked quickly, a touch of alarm in his voice.
"Oh no, no..." She laughed lightly, shaking her head. "That ability was taken with the title. My thoughts are my own now and everyone else’s are safe from ."
"Good." Leon exhaled, relief washing over him. Then, a mischievous glint returned to his eyes. He raised both hands, making exaggerated, unmistakable gestures, the universal sign for having sex. "Say, now that both of you are married... How are you going to... you know..."
"Hmm...? What does that—" dina began, genuine confusion clouding her expression.
"It’s a spiritual wedding, Sir Leon," Rees cut in smoothly, his tone firm as he looked at Leon, "We don’t require a physical relationship to prove our bond."
"Oh well... She’s your wife. Do whatever you want with her." Leon shrugged with a wicked grin, placing his hand over Rees’ shoulder. "But if she ever needs so physical satisfaction, you know where to find . Just two floors down."
"Oh, do I still live on floor eighteen, Sir Leon ?" Rees asked.
"Yes... but for now, you’re coming with . Elis will show dina to the eighteenth floor." Leon’s voice returned to its usual commanding neutrality.
*Swish*
A soft distortion in the air, and Elis materialized behind him like a shadow given form. She bowed deeply, her movents precise and elegant.
"As you command, Master. But... for so reason, I can’t teleport her to the floor. She is protected with so kind of magic."
"Ah... Try now." dina gave Elis a knowing smile, her aura shifting subtly as so invisible restriction lifted.
*Swish*
In an instant, both of them vanished, leaving only the faint scent of dina’s floral magic lingering in the air.
Leon turned to Rees without missing a beat. "Take a look at this." He flicked his wrist, tossing a dark, pulsating core toward him. The core of the Gillian Hound, still thrumming with otherworldly energy.
*Catch*
Rees snatched it mid-air. He held it up, staring in silence for a long mont. Then, with a soft tap against his own skull, a thin red beam shot from his left eye socket, scanning the core like a machine analyzing data.
"Huh... This is not from this realm, is it?" Rees finally said, his voice low.
"Nope." Leon smirked as he started walking toward the dungeon’s exit, the cool night air already beckoning.
"May I ask what realm this is from?" Rees followed close behind, the core still cradled carefully in his bony palm.
"I don’t rember." Leon glanced upward as they erged into the open. Dark clouds raced across the sky, driven by a restless wind that whispered through the trees. "All I know is that tonight, I’m consuming it. And we’re going deep into the forest for that."
"Sir Leon... The mana in this thing is abnormal." Rees’s tone carried genuine caution. "From what I can detect, it will flood your body and mind with violent bloodlust. Uncontrollable, perhaps."
"I know that as well." Leon’s smile didn’t waver.
"And... I suppose you’re still going to consu it?"
"Yes. And I want you there to watch." Leon replied with a neutral expression. "If I lose control or if I try to do sothing stupid, you will have to contain . Hold in a magic barrier or sothing until I’ve absorbed every last drop of its power."
Rees shook his head, a dry rattle echoing from his jaw. "Always doing sothing crazy... You are truly one strange human. It’s like you have no fear of death."
Leon chuckled softly, accepting the core back and slipping it into his inventory. "Sotis it’s better to die strong than to die weak. And believe , I’ve died weak before. It’s not good."
As they walked deeper into the shadowed woods, a warm, ethereal blue light suddenly bathed the world from above. Both of them stopped and looked skyward.
Two brilliant full moons hung in the clear night sky, their azure glow washing over the forest like a gentle benediction as the dark clouds vanished completely from the sky.
"Looks like we’ve survived the winters successfully..." Leon murmured with a smile.
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