As the sun fell further behind the walls, the frigid winds intensified in temperature.
White specks of snow had begun to fall from the blue-grey skies, building up upon the grounds and ruins.
Desmond, with eyes closed shut and misty breath leaving his lips, focused with all his willpower to keep the Rougarou in place.
Having to constantly shift the energy between his legs, arms, and blade had made it nearly impossible for Leo to perform any concentrated attacks.
However, with Desmond's newly awakened Art restricting the Cryptid, he could take the opportunity to regain his Somnia and disperse it properly without distraction.
` This is your win, Desmond. `
With eyes solidified in refound confidence, Leo hunched down and took in a deep breath of crisp, cold air.
With an explosion of movement, Leo left a crater of concrete beneath his boots as he bolted forward.
The beast was left with no time to react as Leo flashed past it, leaving an enormous geyser of blood and surging flames in his wake.
The Rougarou immediately spun around as it tried to put itself out and rip the black whips from its body.
As its tail swung behind, another flash of red had passed it and left it in crudely cut segments.
Layered howls of pain bellowed from the beast's maw.
Snow and dust picked up, obscuring the vision of all in proximity.
With a small tap to his temple, Leo had activated his third Art: Gaze.
The world turned into a view of thermal signatures in that moment, outlining the Rougarou flawlessly for him.
Within this sight, Leo had taken note of the smallest imbalances of heat.
Oftentimes injured areas of the body were slightly warmer due to the influx of blood from the body's healing process.
This allowed for preferable targets.
With unparalleled precision, Leo blasted forward and carved vast, ruthless lacerations across the Rougarou's weakened parts.
Thunderous cries of agony emerged from the Cryptid as its movements grew slower.
A rumble released through the ground as it fell on a knee, struggling to hold itself up.
Just before Leo went for the throat, he felt his chest ache from the straining of his empty Eidcore.
As if the Rougarou could sense his exhaustion, it took the opening to snap its jaws around Leo.
With no Somnia to enhance his movements, Leo could only keep his vitals and head out of the way.
The Cryptid's gigantic maw bit down on his arm, crude teeth digging into his flesh.
As if a dog with a toy, the Rougarou shook Leo around rapidly before launching him away.
Leo slammed against the bricks as he tumbled and rolled several times.
He was in too much pain to make any pained sounds, only silent attempts at breathing leaving his lips.
After a few excruciating attempts, Leo managed to get a breath of air.
He turned his head to see Desmond still struggling to keep the beast in place.
He forced himself up and staggered towards the boy.
"I'm empty. It's up to you now, understand?"
Desmond turned to Leo with tense, squinted eyes.
"I… I don't think I can! I'm only able to hold it now because you weakened it!"
Leo stepped behind Desmond and put his hands beside his, guiding him.
"You can do it. I know you can."
Desmond's breath hitched as he continued his efforts.
Memories of sleepless nights studying flashed in his mind.
"I can't! I can't do it!"
Leo exhaled calmly, despite the pain that persisted in every inch of his body.
"I'm here with you. You can do it, Desmond."
Desmond's jaw trembled as his eyes fully opened. He witnessed the black vines whipping around the beast's body, consuming it and restricting it.
He was doing it. He had already been doing it. He just had to believe that he was. He had to believe that he was close to his purpose.
"Give it all you got, Desmond!"
With furrowed brows, the boy solidified his rage and allowed the Somnia from his Eidcore to pour out.
The shadows under Desmond's control had exponentially increased in power, growing to a point where the Rougarou's claws could no longer cut through the restraints.
Slowly, the Cryptid's limbs grew tighter and tighter, leaving hardly any room for struggle.
With a labored twist of his wrist, the vines around the beast's jaw and neck had begun to contort and twist.
With his teeth clenched and blood rushing from his nose, Desmond let out a coarse groan as he threw his hands apart.
The vines suddenly made a full rotation, spinning the Rougarou's head around.
The shadows retreated into the ground as the beast took a few, uneven steps before it came crashing down.
Desmond fell to his knees with wide eyes and blood drenching the bottom half of his face.
His breathing was erratic, exhausted, but most of all… excited.
Leo placed a gentle hand on Desmond's shoulder.
"Desmond Acker. The youngest Reveur to kill a Rhan-rank Cryptid."
Desmond looked up with open, confused eyes.
"But… I didn't do it. That was you, Leo. I was just backup."
Leo thought in silence for a moment before shaking his head.
"I'm not just flattering you. I ran out of Somnia just then. You were the only one who could finish it off. You're getting rewarded for this."
Desmond's chest felt light with recognition as he thought of the money or fame he might attain from this accomplishment.
However, something lingered within. A question that weighed heavier than anything else.
"What about you…? What do you think? Did I do good?"
Leo turned his gaze back to the boy with a blank, silent expression.
Slowly, a smile grew.
"You did amazing. Absolutely amazing. I'm proud of you."
Upon hearing this, Desmond let his shoulders fall as he exhaled in relief.
A moment after, he wiped his fist against his upper lip and saw the alarming amount of blood.
"Ah, yes. We should probably both get treated at the Headquarters."
Desmond simply nodded and stood back up, gripping Leo's sleeve as a support.
The two walked. Or, limped, more so.
Desmond had expected a bigger, longer talk to take place after the battle, but the silence wasn't unwelcome.
He had heard what he wanted to hear, so there wasn't much left to be said.
He opened his mouth and shut it a few times before hesitantly apologizing,
"I'm sorry for calling you that. It was… weird. It was just the heat of the moment and I wasn't thinking, alright?"
Leo looked down at the boy curiously before remembering that he had referred to him as "dad."
He thought for some moments in silence.
His best guess was that Desmond lacked a father or male figure to look up to or rely on. Several things would make sense if that was the case.
He thought of Maria. He thought of the urgency he felt when Desmond was giving it his all. He thought of what it meant to him to be a father.
And he simply grinned.
"If that's what you wish to call me, then I won't stop you."
Desmond's head went down at an angle to where his face wasn't visible.
He muttered quietly,
"Whatever."