Departure Under Athyst Skies
The eting ended.
The ancient bronze bell outside Erald Crest Division gave a slow, solemn toll as the gathered division masters dispersed one after another. Robes swept over old stone. Sleeves stirred the incense-thick air. Yet beneath the calm order, tension lingered like thunder hidden beyond distant clouds.
Out ca Leon, his face holding sothing off-kilter once more after stepping beyond the gates of Erald Crest Division.
A quiet tension pulled at his eyebrows, their arch slight but certain. Purple eyes lingered sowhere distant, tracing a path invisible to anyone else. Not quite searching - more like waiting for sothing half-rembered to surface on its own.
It was Maya who saw it begin. Frozen in place, she could not tell what Leon was talking about.
Her footsteps softened as she fell into step beside him, the breeze tugging at her pale blue robes. Sunlight slipped across the silver lotuses stitched along the fabric, glinting like quiet sparks against the air.
A slight lean of her head, then a grin that hinted at secrets. A quiet kind of playfulness shaped her lips.
"Junior Brother, is there sothing on your mind?"
Leon shook his head and said, "No, I was just thinking about sothing. I just don’t have a clue now."
He paused, glancing toward the descending cloud paths.
Then, almost casually, though his tone carried unusual care, he asked,
"By the way, Senior Sister, when do you plan to leave the mountain?"
Maya tilted her head and smiled.
"Tomorrow. I still have so things to deal with before I go down the mountain. How about you?"
"?" Leon thought for a mont.
A faint smile crossed his face.
Then,
"Imdiately..."
Maya blinked.
"Why are you in such a rush?"
"There’s no ti to lose. I have a feeling sothing big is going to happen."
His voice dropped on those last words.
Not dramatic.
Instinctive.
As if spoken from sowhere deeper than reason.
He looked at her.
For a heartbeat, the ever-unreadable Leon looked almost... concerned.
"Senior Sister, if there’s nothing else, I’ll go back first."
But before leaving, he hesitated.
Sothing rare.
Then, lower, gentler—
"Take care on the road."
Maya’s smile froze for half a breath.
Then curved wider.
"Oh? My cold Junior Brother worries for now?" she teased, stepping closer.
Her finger lightly brushed the athyst embroidery on his sleeve.
"Should I take that as concern... or affection?"
Leon gave her a dry look.
"You’re overthinking."
She laughed, bright as flowing water.
"And here I thought you might ask to stay."
Leon turned to leave.
But her voice ca behind him again.
"Junior Brother."
He glanced back.
Maya’s teasing softened.
"Don’t do anything reckless."
Leon only gave a faint smile.
"Reckless things usually co looking for ."
That earned a laugh from her.
After saying that, Leon hurriedly left the Erald Crest Division, leaving Maya with a back view that was gradually disappearing into drifting mountain mist.
"Sothing big is going to happen?"
Maya stood rooted to the ground, not knowing what Leon ant.
She shook her head and was puzzled.
But sohow... she trusted his instincts more than ons.
She simply stopped thinking and turned to leave.
Athyst Summit Division.
The summit had regained its quiet.
Clouds flowed beneath the cliffs.
Spirit cranes wheeled in circles over the pines.
The training hall sat bathed in late afternoon gold.
Leon called Rias and Harry Taylor over after returning to the training hall.
Selena was still in seclusion to break through to GrandMaster Realm, so she wasn’t present.
Rias arrived first.
Long crimson hair swayed as she stepped in, red silk robes hugging her graceful fra, dragon embroidery flickering in sunlight.
Harry followed not long after.
The young man looked curious.
Both imdiately sensed sothing unusual.
Leon was rarely solemn.
Today, he was too quiet.
"Teacher, why did you call us here?"
Rias was puzzled.
Leon had rushed to Erald Crest Division for a eting this morning.
When he returned, he had a solemn expression.
This was the first ti she had seen him like this.
After a long silence, Leon said,
"Rias, I’m preparing to leave the mountain for a period of ti. Your senior sister is still in seclusion. I’ll leave everything on Athyst Summit Division to you for these few days."
"Ah..."
It was a little sudden, and Rias couldn’t react for a mont.
Her crimson eyes widened.
After a while, she said,
"Why are you leaving the mountain? When will you return?"
There was clear worry in her voice.
And sothing softer.
Sothing she herself did not hide fast enough.
Leon saw it.
His gaze eased.
"Okay, don’t ask. I’ll co back when it’s ti to co back."
Rias lowered her head.
Her fingers tightened in her sleeve.
She looked almost wronged.
Like she wanted to protest.
Leon suddenly stepped closer.
Lifted a hand.
And with familiar ease—
ruffled her hair.
Rias froze.
Red strands slipped through his fingers.
"You’ve grown a lot," he said quietly. "I trust you."
Her breath caught.
The simple words hit harder than praise.
He continued,
"Protect the summit. Watch over Selena while she breaks through. Keep Harry from causing trouble."
Harry coughed.
"Teacher... why am I included in that?"
Leon ignored him.
Rias looked up slowly.
The earlier worry had turned into fierce resolve.
Almost pride.
"I’ll do it," she said.
Then more firmly,
"I’ll guard Athyst Summit Division until you return."
Her voice trembled only slightly.
But her eyes shone.
Leon nodded.
Good.
That was what he wanted.
Not dependence.
Growth.
And in truth... part of him deliberately left this responsibility with her because he knew she needed it.
To be trusted was also a kind of cultivation.
Rias suddenly smiled again, small but radiant.
"Teacher... if I do well, will there be a reward when you co back?"
Leon raised a brow.
"You’re bargaining now?"
She puffed her cheeks.
"A little."
Harry laughed under his breath.
Leon almost smiled.
"We’ll see."
That alone made her visibly happier.
As though handed treasure.
After saying that, Leon slowly stood up.
His robes stirred in the mountain breeze.
He glanced at Harry and said,
"Let’s go. This ti, I’ll bring you down the mountain to play."
Harry Taylor was stunned for a mont.
Then overjoyed.
His whole face lit up.
"Really?"
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