The Northern City Of Leal
As soon as they cleared all the necessary checks at the airport, Lena couldn't hold herself back any longer. She handed everything—bags, coats, and documents—over to Dylan and rushed toward the waiting area. Evelyn was standing there, scanning the crowd with that quiet patience of hers.
Dylan had known this would happen the moment they landed. He was already prepared to manage everything. Watching Lena dart through the crowd, he couldn't help but smile, shaking his head at her boundless eagerness.
"Eva!" Lena called out as she spotted Evelyn among the people. Without waiting for another heartbeat, she ran to her and wrapped her arms around her tightly.
"God, them," Dylan muttered under his breath, amused by the emotional outpouring. He wanted to laugh but instead just exhaled a little chuckle.
Lucky me, he thought, Gibbs is not like that. No, he's worse. Dylan smirked quietly, remembering his colleague's antics. Patience was one of his stronger traits, and he needed it often with these two.
After some time, Evelyn finally seemed to recall that Dylan was there too. She turned with a smile and asked warmly,
"So, Dylan, how was your journey?"
"Completely boring," he replied dryly.
"Why?"
Evelyn tilted her head, pondering, as they boarded the airport shuttle that would take them down to the parking lot in the basement.
"Ask her," Dylan said with a faint smile, pointing toward Lena.
"She fell asleep as soon as we took off. I had no one to talk to."
"Dylan!" Lena shot him a warning look.
"My bad, Eva,"
Dylan teased, raising his palms in surrender.
"Clearly, it was all my fault I was bored." He said it half-jokingly, half-seriously, his eyes carrying that familiar spark.
Evelyn laughed, a sound so rare that it caught Dylan by surprise. It was the first time since she had settled in Leal that anyone had seen her truly smile. The city itself seemed to notice, its whispers carried upward to the sky: How mesmerizing it looks, her smile.
***
They headed straight to Evelyn's apartment afterward. The warmth of the place welcomed them from the cold outside. They freshened up, shared small talk, and rested for a short while.
Soon, Dylan's phone buzzed with a message. The driver had arrived to pick him up. Duty, as always, waited for no one.
Grabbing his backpack, Dylan bid goodbye to the girls. At the door, Lena followed him to see him off. He bent slightly, whispering so only she could hear,
"Remember to keep your phone on all the time. And be good."
Snow was falling heavily outside, blanketing the streets in white, but the city of Leal carried on unfazed. People wrapped in heavy coats hurried about their daily routines, refusing to let weather dictate the rhythm of their lives. Dylan glanced once at Lena before stepping out, then slid into the waiting car.
"What's the emergency?" he asked, eyes fixed on the highway leading out of Leal.
"The Chief will explain," the driver answered shortly.
***
"Afternoon, Dylan," a deep, wise voice greeted as he entered the office.
"Afternoon, Chief." Dylan straightened instantly, saluting with crisp precision. "This is Sacred Major Dylan Al'Xander, reporting."
The Chief gestured for him to sit. "I heard you've been searching for a certain place."
Dylan leaned forward, interest sharpening in his eyes. "Yes, sir."
The Chief picked up a remote and turned on the screen mounted on the wall. A video played: a hidden valley high in the mountains. Snow clung stubbornly to the slopes, and in the middle of it all stood a lonely wooden cottage beside a frozen stream.
"What is this place?" Dylan asked, trying to place the memory.
Another clip rolled, this time in spring. Flowers had burst through the earth, and the stream ran freely again, glittering beneath the sun. Suddenly, Dylan remembered.
Years ago, Lord Heisenberg had shown him a picture of that very land. At the time, Dylan had been a boy, sitting in the old lord's lap, staring wide-eyed at the image.
"I want to go there someday," young Dylan had whispered.
"You will," Lord Heisenberg had promised, patting his hair with affection. "I'll take you there myself."
"With baby?" Dylan had asked, meaning Lena, even then protective of her.
"Yes, with my baby girl," Heisenberg had replied, laughing softly.
The memory surged through him, bittersweet. He exhaled slowly, grounding himself in the present. "Can I go there now?" he asked, voice lower than before.
The Chief shook his head. "Not yet. The weather in those mountains isn't forgiving this time of year. Snowstorms still rage. But in spring, yes—you'll be able to. We've kept that land under guard ever since his last visit."
Dylan nodded, jaw tight. "I see."
"Now," the Chief continued, "since I've shown you what you wanted, there's something we ask in return."
Dylan smiled faintly. He had expected nothing less. If one hand gave, the other would take. "I'm listening."
The door opened. Several uniformed men entered, and soon a briefing began. Maps spread across the table, coordinates flashing on the screen, voices low but urgent. Dylan leaned forward, the soldier in him taking command of his focus.
***
Back at the apartment, the air was filled with the scent of fresh vegetables.
"So, Eva," Lena said casually, watching Evelyn slice carrots with precise strokes. "I heard you've finally decided to settle here."
Evelyn paused for a brief moment, knife hovering midair, then resumed. "I was done moving around all year," she said quietly.
Lena walked over, pulled a knife from the stand, and joined her at the counter. "Let me help."
Evelyn raised her brows in surprise. "You cook now?"
Lena grinned. "Ask Dylan. He'll tell you how great I am."
Evelyn laughed softly, shaking her head. "No need. I trust you."
Lena's smile lingered, but her thoughts slipped back to Dylan, who was out there somewhere, swallowed by duty and mystery. The snow outside thickened, as if sealing the city in a hush. For now, they had warmth, laughter, and quiet companionship. But Lena couldn't shake the feeling that Dylan's path was leading him somewhere far deeper—and far more dangerous—than he had let on.