Chapter 25: A Father's Plight.
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Location: Bartfort Barony.
Omni POV (Leon Based)
Leon and Balcus stood side by side on a gently sloping hill overlooking the estate. The wind moved lazily through the grass, brushing against their clothes as the afternoon light began to soften.
Far in the distance, Zola's airship slowly drifted across the sky.
It moved in a steady, deliberate retreat like it wanted nothing more than to leave this place behind.
Neither of them spoke for a while as a silence had settled between them but eventually, Leon broke it. "I can't believe she had us refuel her ship just for this."
Balcus let out a short, amused snort. "Well… she originally planned to stay for a few days." He paused, watching the ship shrink further into the horizon. "But I suppose she got angry."
Leon's eyes stayed fixed on the disappearing vessel. "Angry?" He exhaled slowly. "Dad, she looked like she was ready to commit murder."
Balcus scratched the side of his cheek, visibly uncomfortable. "...Yeah."
That was all he said.
The airship finally became nothing more than a distant speck before vanishing completely into the sky.
Only then did Leon speak again. "What I still don't understand…" he said quietly, "...Is why you're married to that woman."
Balcus winced almost immediately. "I ask myself that question every day."
Leon glanced at him. "That doesn't really answer it."
"No, It doesn't," Balcus admitted with a tired sigh.
He leaned forward slightly, resting his weight on the wooden fence that bordered the hill. "Son… the first and second sons of most noble families don't get the luxury of choosing who they marry."
Leon raised an eyebrow.
"Political marriage?"
"Political marriage? More like contractual marriage" Balcus confirmed with a nod.
His gaze drifted toward the estate below.
"I was the heir to a remote farming territory. A place that barely registered in the eyes of the Capital." A dry chuckle escaped him. "The kingdom's laws are simple. First and secondborn sons of landed nobles are expected to marry women of status."
He looked down at his hands for a moment. "She needed a house willing to take her in." A pause. "And I… needed a wife to keep vultures away from our land."
His expression darkened slightly. "If she hadn't agreed, there's a very real chance the Crown would've absorbed the Barony outright."
Leon frowned. "That still doesn't explain why she controls everything."
Balcus immediately looked away. "…There's a contract."
Leon narrowed his eyes. "A contract?"
"Yep."
"What kind of contract?"
"The kind that gives me a headache every time I think about it."
Leon's stare sharpened. "Dad."
Balcus quickly dropped to one knee so he was at eye level with him. "Don't worry about it."
The response came far too quickly. Which, of course, made Leon worry about it immediately. "Isn't that the exact phrase adults use when I should absolutely worry about it?"
"Probably."
"Dad."
"I'm working on it." His expression softened slightly as he placed a hand on Leon's shoulder. "Just… trust me on this, alright?"
Leon held his gaze for several seconds.
Eventually, he sighed.
"…Fine."
Balcus let out a small breath of relief. "Thank you."
Leon crossed his arms again. "Now tell me what's really going on with this military stuff."
The warmth in Balcus' expression faded instantly. For a brief moment, something uncomfortable flickered behind his eyes, almost guilt.
Leon noticed immediately. "…Dad?"
Balcus exhaled slowly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Right." looking back. "Funny story."
Leon blinked. "…That's never a good start."
Balcus pinched his fingers together. "I may have exaggerated a little."
"How much is a little?"
"Technically, I lied when I said you had already enlisted. The truth is… you're going to enlist."
Leon's expression froze. "…What do you mean I'm going to enlist?"
"Leon." Balcus said the atmosphere shifted instantly. His voice dropped lower, heavier as ,ana began to seep into the air around him without conscious effort.
The pressure wasn't hostile but was overwhelming like standing too close to a storm that hadn't decided whether to strike or pass. "Something has been happening in the Barony."
Leon frowned. "What kind of something?"
Balcus didn't answer immediately, as silence between the two stretched. And in that silence, Leon understood, he wasn't going to get details.
Balcus finally spoke. "Something dangerous enough that I'd sleep better knowing you and your brother aren't here."
Leon's eyes widened slightly. "What about Mom, Finley, Colin?"
"I can protect them," Balcus said firmly. "Along with Jenna."
His gaze sharpened slightly. "It's you and Nicks I'm worried about."
A cold breeze passed over the hill, brushing through the grass as Leon's voice lowered slightly. "If the family is in danger… shouldn't I stay and help?"
For a brief moment, Balcus smiled but it wasn't a happy smile, it was more like recognition. "That's exactly what I would've said at your age."
Leon frowned. "Then why are you against it?"
Balcus didn't answer with words. Instead his mana erupted outward with the air itself growing heavy.
Leon's body reacted before his mind could, his knees hit the ground, the world got heavier with his breathing became harder.
Balcus looked down at him calmly. "Because of this. What's happening here requires strength, strength you don't have yet."
At the instant the pressure vanished Leon gasped for air, pulling in a sharp breath as his lungs finally worked properly again.
Balcus extended a hand to help his son onto his feet. As Leon steadied his breathing, still recovering from the pressure. "…Yet?"
Balcus's expression softened as he nodded. "That's why I want you to go."
He stepped back slightly. "Join my old unit."
"Learn."
"Grow."
"See the world beyond our lands."
"Some of the best years of my life were spent in the military." His gaze drifted somewhere far away. "…Maybe it'll be the same for you."
Leon stared at his father for a long moment. Then, his vision wavered.
The weight of everything had finally caught up and slowly, his consciousness slipped away. "...Dad?"
Balcus caught him just before he fell completely. Then sighed. "…Shit." He scratched the back of his head, staring at the unconscious boy in his arms. "I might've gone a bit far here."
"…Luce is going to kill me."
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Later that Afternoon.
The atmosphere inside the Bartfort household had become noticeably heavier.
News of Leon's impending departure had spread through the family, and while some understood the necessity of it, that did little to lessen the pain.
Luce sat beside the bed where Leon had been placed after Balcus had accidentally overwhelmed him with mana earlier.
She gently brushed a hand through her son's hair as he slept peacefully, completely unaware of the conversation happening around him.
"Does he really have to go?" Luce asked quietly.
Her voice was soft, fragile even.
Balcus stood near the window, staring out at the fields beyond the manor. "You know it has to happen, Luce," he replied gently.
Luce's hand tightened slightly. "But my baby was supposed to stay home." A sad smile appeared on her face. "Nicks and Jenna have already left."
"And now Leon too?"
Her eyes remained fixed on her sleeping son. "He was supposed to be the one who stayed."
"He was supposed to be here."
"What's changed?" Luce asked quietly.
For several seconds he didn't answer and when he finally did, his voice sounded older than before. "Trouble."
Luce slowly looked up but Balcus continued staring out the window. "I'm sorry, my love." His hands clenched into fists. "I'd give anything for him to stay."
"Anything." His voice lowered. "But there are people moving in the shadows now."
"People who wish harm upon our sons."
Luce's expression stiffened.
"And as much as it hurts my pride to admit it..." Balcus lowered his head. "I'm not strong enough to protect them anymore."
Silence filled the room.
The only sound was Leon's steady breathing.
Eventually Luce reached out and took Balcus's hand. "Then promise me something."
Balcus squeezed her hand gently. "Anything."
"Promise me you'll finish this quickly." Her voice trembled slightly. "I don't want to lose any more time with my children."
Balcus looked down at her.
Then at Leon.
Then back to her.
"I promise." He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "I promise, my love."
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That Night.
The Bartfort estate slept beneath a blanket of darkness.
Moonlight illuminated the fields while distant insects filled the air with their nightly chorus.
Most of the household had already retired for the evening.
Most, a lone shadow slipped silently from the Lord's manor.
Its movements were practiced, deliberate. Almost impossible to notice unless one knew exactly where to look.
The figure crossed the estate grounds before disappearing into the streets of the nearby town.
No lantern.
No horse.
No escort.
Only darkness.
The shadow moved swiftly through narrow alleys and silent roads before finally arriving at an old building tucked away near the edge of town.
A single lantern burned behind one of the shutters.
The figure approached the door and knocked three times.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Silence.
Then a voice came from inside. "The sun rises..."
The shadow immediately replied.
"...to bring on a new dawn."
Several seconds passed for a while.
Then a folded letter was pushed beneath the door.
No further words were exchanged.
The shadow quickly picked up the message.
Verified it, then immediately turned and vanished back into the night.
As if it had never been there at all.
Far above, hidden behind drifting clouds, the moon silently watched it all.
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I am writing my A Levels this year so I'm already stumped and if you add the time I use writing I think I'm entitled to POWER STONES sooooooo give them to me, I mean by 6 I'm going to school, 1300hrs I'm going to extra lessons and I only get to come back home at 1900hrs, and after that I still need to study on my own, so help me stay motivated.
P.S
Let it be known that the Story is undergoing a Rewrite, hence if you read the unedited chapters its on you, they are no longer part of the story.