Soon afterwards, he began to follow. Close enough to keep an eye on her, but far enough to let her feel free.
Leo looked around, noticing how empty the library was. That was good.
Maria had a similar issue to her father. Eyes.
Although her issue was of different origin, being her wheelchair, the anxiety was there nonetheless.
That feeling when eyes could crush you.
He felt a small sense of relief due to the lack of people.
Not just for himself, but mostly her.
Not having much to do but follow, he thought of his students back at the academy.
` If I'm so afraid of eyes, then why did I look forward to the hundreds at the academy? I suppose it's about intent… `
Before the academy, every glare sent towards him felt like a plea.
A cry for help.
A demand for him to do the impossible.
With newfound knowledge that his incompetence had led to Rachel's current situation, this worry had become much more realized.
` Somnia. To turn one's dreams and hopes into reality.
How could it be described that way if nothing has ever gone my way?
If the only way I've ever known to manifest such was in the form of flames?
People hear the description and assume any half accomplished Reveur to be omnipotent.
Unable to make errors.
Maybe the knowledge of those errors is what has kept me from corrupting into a Cryptid.
But in that case, would corruption just be the act of shedding one's doubts?
Could I really view it in a negative light if all it ever meant was to grow wings? `
He stopped walking, contemplating that last thought.
He turned, looking towards Maria who seemed to have found her book.
She smiled weakly as she flipped through the pages with pale, skinny hands.
The thought of the belt in his room flashed in his mind.
…
` I have to see it as something negative for now. Until I can guarantee she'll be okay. Yeah. For her. `
He looked up to the endless array of titles, scanning through them to see if he could find anything familiar.
After a moment, something caught his eye.
A book exponentially thicker than the ones around itself.
He stepped to the side, around Maria, and pulled the book down.
Brushing the dust off its cover with a hand, he observed it for a moment in slight disbelief.
Prince of Axiom.
He wasn't too surprised to find the title elsewhere, given its supposed popularity.
What bewildered him was the state of the book itself.
The curling of the pages. The bump and tear of the top-right corner.
It was as if he was holding the exact book from those many years ago.
Excusing this feeling as nothing more than nostalgia for the title itself, he lightly tapped Maria on the shoulder.
She turned with a curious gaze.
"Hm?"
He held the novel out towards her.
"Have you read this before?"
She closed the book she had before and rested it on her lap before taking hold of the one he offered.
"Prince of Axiom? How on earth do you know about this?"
He laughed awkwardly.
"Oh come on, how stupid do you think I am?"
She replied with a deadpan expression.
"Yes."
He froze a bit in offense, letting her take the book.
` Oh. `
Flipping through the pages, she seemed to measure the thickness.
"So? Do you want me to buy it for you?"
She nodded after a moment.
"I've been meaning to read this one. I hear it's one of the best. Though, the length is quite intimidating..."
A smile grew on his face once more as he turned back to the shelves.
"That's exactly what your mother thought."
Maria fell silent for a moment as her face seemed to grow slightly annoyed.
Leo picked up on this almost immediately.
"Is everything okay?"
She sighed.
"Yes. I'm fine."
The two grew quiet for some moments.
Leo knew Maria didn't hold Charlotte in the same place he did, having never met her.
But it was really starting to seem as if she held a genuine disdain towards her.
Or, towards the idea of her.
He had a slight idea as to why she might've felt this way.
An invisible woman who stressed her father out.
Who kept her father from pursuing a financially stable career.
He might've felt the same.
They would have to talk about this eventually, but perhaps now wasn't the best time. Not on her day out.
Putting the thought aside for the moment, he took the book back into his hands.
"I'll go ring this up. Meet me at the entrance in a few minutes."
She pouted, trying her best to use the eyes that always seemed to hypnotize him.
The two remained silent for a moment, clashing through sheer gazes.
A moment later, Leo sighed.
"Half an hour. And then we get you back to your room."
She smiled widely as she quickly wheeled herself away.
"Thank you, father!"
Once again, he watched her go on her own.
It was a strange feeling to see her go.
On one hand, he couldn't help but feel anxious. Thinking of the worst that could happen, just as any parent would.
On the other hand, he hoped that someday he could see her truly go on her own.
To embark on her own journey. Chase her own career. Write her own story.
But then…
What if some brat tried to sweep her off her feet?
Suddenly, Leo felt an indescribable annoyance boil within his chest.
` Hell no. Not happening. `
Turning, he began walking to the front counter. He gazed down at the title once more.
Leo thought to himself, pondering about how and why she might like the read.
Whether Maria liked it or not, she shared many traits with her mother. Especially when it comes to their love for tragedies.
But then, another thought surfaced.
Perhaps, Maria would relate with the Prince's child.
Although we never hear a name for said child, we get to know them quite well.
We get to know and understand their yearning for freedom. That hunger for adventure that forever remains dormant due to their condition.
Sure, it's bitter that they never got to taste the outside world, but maybe Maria can find solace in that.
The fact that she could even be in the library right now was proof enough that hope wasn't lost just yet.
Things could be worse.
And things could get better.
Some time later after checking the book out, Leo leaned against the entrance of the library and waited for his daughter.
She appeared from between the shelves with an upsetting look on her face as she reluctantly wheeled herself towards him.
"Come on, don't give me that look. It's far past your bedtime anyways."
She slowly looked away as her silence grew.
After a while, she spoke.
"How could you know when I go to sleep if you're never there?"
His smile faltered for a bit, his chest feeling that familiar tightening once more.
She was right. He was hardly ever there.
The times he could afford to give her were only a few hours at a time.
And that wasn't to mention how distracted he might've seemed within that time spent with her.
Suddenly, she felt a warm hand atop her head.
"Things will get better from here. You hear me?"
She swallowed, wiping her face with a sleeve before nodding.
He took hold of her wheelchair.
"Now, let's get you back to your room before we get in trouble."
She giggled as he pushed her out the doors and down the street.
It had grown colder since they entered, she didn't seem to mind all too much.
She looked up, lifting a hand out.
A single, crystalline snowflake landed on her palm.
Many others followed after that, flurrying through her hair.
She smiled widely, laughing giddily.
"Father! Father! It's snowing!"
His eyes widened as he followed her gaze, looking up.
"Snow? This early…?"
She nodded excitingly.
Maria loved the snow. Nearly as much as she loved books.
Leo, on the other hand, felt a bit of trepidation at the sight, an anxiety swelling within him at the realization.
People walked by, minding their own business, blissfully unaware of what the snow foretold.
The Mortem Solstice was coming.
Every year, without fail, the Solstice would arrive on the first day of the new year.
For a single day, the sun would refuse to rise. No dusk. No dawn.
Even the stars that sprinkled the skies would be consumed by the sheathe of darkness.
It was as if the Celestials themselves turned their back to Terra.
Cryptid's thrived in this darkness.
Even the weakest ones of the Aezer rank would grow into hungrier, faster, sharper horrors.
Horrors that Leo himself wasn't entirely confident he could take.
And that wasn't to think about the Cryptids that were already formidable before the Solstice…
Leo refused to think about that for too long.
Most civilians were oblivious to the Mortem Solstice as a whole, as Henrik likely wanted to avoid any sort of panic.
Or, that's what he assumed.
Reveurs would be stationed outside the walls.
Only half would ever return.
He turned his attention back to Maria as his steps quickened.