Lucian's grin widened into something sly and calculating.
Leon glanced up at him from the floor, jelly still smeared on his cheeks, but kept munching innocently.
After a moment, Lucian dismissed the screen and stood up.
"Alright, Leon." He crouched down one more time, meeting the kid's eyes. "Be a good boy and don't leave the room. I'll bring you gifts when I come back, okay?"
"'Kay, Papa." Leon nodded happily, already reaching for another piece of bread.
Lucian ruffled his hair once more, then stepped back and opened a portal.
The swirling gateway led directly to the cove.
He stepped through.
The moment he emerged on the other side he saw Sera and Elira were there, of course, but so were Lyria, Kaelen, Zeri, Zenith, and Viktor...
The top prodigies from Silvercrest were one thing. But seeing the top two from Sovereign Academy standing there as well? That was... unexpected.
Noticing him sera walked over quickly, relief flashing across her face.
