Neveah limped forward, unsure of where she was heading, but only knew that she needed to ascend.
She climbed the outer staircase, although she wasn't quite sure of how long she had been climbing.
She didn't care about being sneaky anymore either, as her heavy sword dragged across the stairs as climbed.
Clanging loudly against each step.
She had gotten lost when she had awakened, as if she had been set inside of a closet to keep her safe.
In reality, she wasn't sure if she was dead or not, but she was damn close.
Climbing more and more, she began to whistle to herself, her armor had been completely ruined, and her body was covered in so many wounds that she had confused pain for warmth.
Leander used to whistle songs to her and the other children as they played in his office, he was always so kind.
When Neveah was little, she had lost her family, lost her name, but Leander had appeared out of no where, taking her with him to the academy and raising her along side all of the other students.
She always felt inferior to them for some reason, like she hadn't earned her place, and it was only a position of pity, so she made sure to train as hard as she could, learn everything she could about the biggest and strongest blade she could find.
She didn't know if it had ended up working out, but she prayed that Gabriel and Lithica had survived.
They were her friends, which were hard to come by now more than ever.
She also hoped that Chase, Michael, Poppy, etc. Had all survived as well.
She could die happy if she knew that Chase had secured the academy and taken back the kingdom that is rightfully his.
It was pretty funny actually...
If you would have told her on that morning that the boy that she had gotten in trouble by the teacher would have ended up becoming her king...
She would have laughed at the cruel joke.
Climbing step by step, she panicked, lifting her blade and delivering a crushing blow at the figure in front of her.
"Woah! Chill Neveah!"
Leo yelped, stepping out of the way of her mighty swing.
The sword lazily clanked against the ground, and Neveah felt her already bloodied face blush.
"S-Sorry..."
She mumbled.
Leo frowned, and stepped closer to her.
"You look terrible..."
She finally collapsed, but for some reason Leo had caught her.
"I'm sorry..."
She whispered.
"No no! It's fine, just rest."
He quickly said, helping her lean against the wall of the stairwell.
"I tried my best..."
She said with a sad smile, as Leo only frowned in response.
Then Leo sat down on the other side of the stairs, and only looked at her sadly as he crossed his legs and leaned back against the opposite wall.
It was cold, and Neveah was shivering, whether it was from the pain or if it was genuinely cold, she didn't really know.
"What's your favorite animal?"
Leo asked after an awkward amount of silence.
Neveah cocked an eyebrow and tried not to laugh at the stupid question.
"Shouldn't you be with your team?"
She asked quietly, unsure if she was smiling or not.
"Got lost..."
Leo mumbled, avoiding her gaze.
Neveah felt her heart start to slow down, and in a panic she spoke.
"I like doves!"
Leo raised an eyebrow, looking into her eyes with the sharp and beautiful topaz pair of his own.
He eventually just smiled.
"Would it be stupid if I said mine is a lion?"
He said quietly, after a moment of hesitation.
"Because they are prideful and arrogant like you?"
She smiled.
Leo only sighed.
"Well they aren't my favorite..."
Neveah tilted her head.
"Huh?"
He nodded slowly.
"I don't actually have a favorite animal... I sort of like them all equally, in a way they are all kinda just victims of human affairs..."
Neveah's smile curled downward into a pout.
"That's sad."
Leo smiled and pulled his knees to his chin, resting it on them.
"Yeah, you're right..."
Neveah let out a shaky breath, trying her best to stay sitting up.
"Thank you..."
Leo's eyes lowered, and his eyebrows trembled.
"Don't worry about it..."
Neveah tried her best not to cry, after all she could feel her heart slowly coming to a stop.
She didn't want to die in a mess of her own tears, but at least Leo was here to comfort her...
Somehow it was like the boy knew, and she doubted he wanted to say anything to scare her...
Death was a scary thing.
She had seen so many people die, and never once worried about herself being the victim to it.
"Make sure Chase becomes king... I know you don't really like him and al-"
"Don't say that."
Leo's eyes narrowed.
"Bu-"
Leo shook his head.
"I don't plan on becoming insignificant just because he is what everyone means when they say "Prodigy", I mean come on..."
He clenched his fists.
"But... I know that he is a leader, I have seen it myself... But I understand what he has seen, what we have all seen, felt, and witnessed... We were just kids when all of this started. So even if I wanted to help him, it can't just be me... I thought the name "Unity" was pretty stupid, but after everything we have been through... It means a damn sure lot to an entitled brat like me... Now, more than ever..."
Neveah tilted her head at the boy's strange hubris...
"Leo?"
He stood up, stepping in front of her, and looking down with pride burning in his eyes.
Neveah flinched, feeling her heart begin to race once more.
Then he held out a hand.
"I said I couldn't do it alone..."
She lifted her hand, but hesitated.
Leo only smiled, his eyes burning brighter than ever before.
In fact it was in that moment, that Neveah truly realized that Leo was the true heir of The House of Lion.
He was true nobility...
Neveah lifted her hand, letting Leo pull her up.
"Let's take back our home..."
He said proudly, letting her put her arm around his shoulder for support.
'Thank you Leo...'