The red headed girl smiled up at him kindly, not quite able to sit upright. Leo was nervous even after she greeted him with such warmth. This was a first for him, not being nervous of course, but hurting someone he cared about, even if accidental.

“Are you doing okay?” Leo asked softly, voice laced with concern he couldn’t hide.

“Doing okay now, thanks to you.”

Leo’s face paled, the colour draining as he bit down on his lip, the words hitting harder than she’d meant them to.

“Wait, no, no, not like that!” Lena quickly corrected. “I mean since you caught me from falling and got me to Amy so quickly.”

Leo didn’t relax, even after she corrected herself. “So you’re not… angry with me for almost killing you?”

“It wasn’t your fault, dummy. I’m the one who used the spell. It probably would have happened no matter who hit the Soldier Antling. I connected way too many threads.”

Leo forced himself to breathe out steadily. “I still feel like shit, like I should have been more controlled. After, I… I almost made it worse.”

Lena nodded slightly from her prone position. “Amy told me. Thanks for getting so mad on my behalf.”

Leo tilted his head upwards, eyes closed. Why couldn’t she have just torn into him and gotten it over with like he’d expected. Instead she was just… kind.

“I’m sorry you got so hurt.” He paused. “Thank you for not hating me.”

She laughed, the sound deeper than he’d been expecting. “Hate you? You’re my friend. This whole world is chaos and you’ve been nothing but nice to me. I’m not going to hate you over something like this when we don’t even know why it hurt me so much.”

He forced himself to relax, giving her his first smile of the conversation. “Thanks, Lena.”

His old self came through and Leo couldn't help himself, eyes lighting up with wonder. “What kind of skill was that anyway? It was so cool, like a net of water spread across the entire battlefield. Was it your profession? Or a new class skill?”

The conversation drifted from there, Lena answering what she could about the skill while Leo listened, asking questions where he could and filling in the gaps himself where she couldn’t. Leo had found out she gained eight levels in her class just from that one attack alone and how it was probably the reason she survived due to getting some vitality.

After a little while, Leo was whisked off by Ashley, who said Cecelia needed a word with them all before the next wave of ants. He said his goodbyes to Lena, who waved him off happily.

Talking to her eased something in his chest, a tension he hadn’t realised he’d been holding onto until it finally started to loosen.

The usual meeting room was still intact, and Leo was the last to gather. Nolan, Gordon, Bjorn, Ron, Cecelia and Morgan were already here. Maddie and Marco had also joined this time, greeting Leo with a smile and a wave.

“First thing’s first,” Cecelia began. “What happened when you met with Cain? Nolan has relayed it to me, but I find it quite hard to believe.”

“Cain said he’s not interested in what we do,” Leo said honestly. “Didn’t care about anything other than the second Keep. Him and Ruby almost got into it big time before I… intervened.”

“Should have let them kill each other,” Nolan grumbled.

“Please, continue,” Cecelia said.

“Ruby was goading him like crazy, holding up half of the keystone she got from clearing the other keep.”

“She cleared it?” Gordon asked.

“Yeah, her and her party. I thought Cain was going to blow a fuse when he saw it. I tried to calm things down by showing my own half. But the moment I did, both halves pulled toward each other, snapping together before flying off toward the castle. Then the announcement hit.”

Cecelia nodded, speaking after a moment’s thought. “A trick by the system to perhaps avoid hoarding the items. It forced the tutorial to progress.”

“What happened after that?” Ashley asked. “We wanted to run straight out, come help, but someone didn’t let us.”

“It was for the best,” Cecelia said calmly.

“Best for you maybe!” Ashley retorted, anger rising.

“Easy now,” Bjorn said, interrupting the fiery gazes of the two women. “It’s worked out okay. The kid kept everyone safe, just like we hoped.”

Maddie punched Leo on his arm, giving him a smirk. Leo frowned slightly at that, unsure what to make of it.

“I convinced Ruby—more like Gareth, actually—to come and help us defend against the swarm. They accepted without much issue but I ran ahead.”

“It was a good thing you did, son. The woman might be a psycho, but she’s a monster,” Bjorn said.

“True enough,” Leo agreed. “I kind of… poked the bear a bit too hard and she left. Hoping it won’t be a problem down the line.”

“Problem?” Cecelia asked.

Nolan laughed. “He’s missing the part where he humiliated her.”

“Oooh, do tell,” Ashley said.

“I don’t think that’s—”

“Shush. Nolan. What did he do?” Ashley cut him off.

Nolan continued after Leo grimly nodded. “She was badmouthing Lena after the girl hurt herself with her own skill. Leo said he “Clamped down on her with his aura until she could barely breathe.” Then she attacked him, full on flamethrower point blank.” Nolan mimed like he was grabbing something tangible.

“He grabbed her wrists and forced them upwards, making quite the spectacle.”

“So that’s what that was!” Ashley said. “We thought some kind of volcano erupted…. Wait, she tried to do that to you?!”

Leo winced. “Yeah, like I said. Poked the bear. I shouldn’t have lost my cool like that.”

“More like poking the devil. You really know how to put your foot in it,” Ashley said, laughing.

“Well. This raises some potential security issues,” Cecelia said, pinching the bridge of her nose.

Leo spoke before he realised. “She won’t attack while I’m here.”

Cecelia questioned him with a look. Gordon voiced it. “Why?”

“Same reason Cain won’t. They know better.”

“Cool line,” Maddie punched his arm again, then grabbed his bicep. “Damn, you’re ripped.” Leo leaned away slightly, not quite sure how to respond.

Ashley slammed the table, hard enough that it cracked. “Sorry, fly.”

“There aren’t any flies here,” Gordon whispered.

“If you don’t want to end up squashed like one, you’ll shut up,” Morgan replied in a whisper.

Leo met Ashley’s gaze but she was smiling away happily. It sent a small chill down his spine.

“Right, well, let’s discuss the next assault and what we’re going to do,” Cecelia said, changing the subject. “The camp is nothing short of a mess, so we need all hands on defenses. The store having newer and more durable materials will help, but time is running out.”

She continued. “We need to get as many levels as we can before that castle opens. Not to mention, be at the gates when the timer expires. Waiting longer could be fatal.”

Nods all round and the conversation broke off into smaller chunks, some leaving to get started on help with defenses. Bjorn said he’d fix the wall he broke. Ron said he’d take watch. Before long there was only him and Cecelia left in the room.

The reason Leo had stayed was the look she’d given him when he’d made to leave. Everyone else clocked it, not saying a word.

She put her head in her hands the moment they were alone. “Thank you.”

“Hm?”

She looked up, meeting his eyes properly this time. There was a faint shine in her silvery eyes she didn't bother to hide. “Thank you for protecting everyone, truly.”

This wasn’t something he’d ever seen from her.

“I was dreading every minute after I chose to be… selfish,” she continued, her voice quieter now. “Every second I was gone, I kept thinking… this is it. This is when it all falls apart.”

Her jaw tightened slightly. “That my decision would be the reason people died.”

“Cece, I–”

She shook her head, cutting him off. “No, just…let me say it.”

Leo stopped.

“I’ve been losing myself lately,” she admitted, the words coming quicker now, like they'd been sitting there waiting. “Obsessed with getting stronger. With keeping up…” She let out a short breath. “With you.”

That caught him off guard.

“I’ve just been feeling so far behind,” she went on. “Watching you fight, watching you grow… and all I can think of is—what am I actually contributing?”

Her hands curled slightly against the table.

“Am I not good enough for this?” she asked quietly. “Am I just pretending I deserve to be here?”

Leo frowned. That wasn’t doubt, it was something deeper.

“You’re not a fraud Cece,” he said firmly. “You’re the reason this place hasn’t fallen apart already.”

Her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Their ‘leader’ wasn’t even here when it mattered.”

“You’re here now.”

“That’s not the same,” she replied immediately. “You were here when it counted. You always show up.”

She met his gaze again, steady despite everything else slipping.

“You should lead them.”

Leo blinked. “Are you nuts?”

The reaction seemed to catch her off guard more than anything else he could’ve said.

“I’m serious,” she pressed.

“And I’m not,” he shot back. “I have no clue how to organise people. Half the time I don’t even know what people are thinking, and I definitely don’t want to be the one making decisions for everyone.”

She studied him for a moment. “Is it the responsibility?”

Leo hesitated, then shook his head before nodding slightly. “Kind of. I don’t mind being relied on. I actually like it.” He exhaled. “But I want to be relied on for what I can do. Not for telling everyone else what to do.”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “Had a boss like that before. Thought being in charge meant he could do whatever he wanted—basically did. Didn't listen. Didn’t care. Just…made everything worse—for me at least.”

He shrugged lightly. “Guess I’ve been avoiding ending up like that.”

Cecelia watched him for a second longer than expected.

Then unexpectedly—

“Want me to have his family exiled from the country?” she said, a small smile breaking through.

Leo blinked. “I… somehow feel like you could do that.”

She huffed out a quiet laugh, some of the tension easing from her shoulders.

Her hand came up, brushing beneath her eye as if clearing something away, and just like that the moment shifted. The weight didn’t disappear from the room, but it settled.

“You will not speak of this to anyone. Understood?”

Leo glanced toward the door, wincing.

Cecelia followed his gaze and sighed.

“Ashley.”

“Leonidas, you grass!” the blonde woman said, barging into the room.

“Leonidas?” Cecelia muttered.

“You’re the one eavesdropping! And don’t call me that!”

“I was just… curious.” She twirled her hair absentmindedly.

“Well, I suppose some embarrassment is warranted after my actions,” Cecelia said, standing.

“I’m glad I heard it,” Ashley said seriously. “I was worried you’d gone past the point of realisation. Cece is still in there.”

Cecelia’s mouth twitched upwards slightly before striding from the room with purpose, back straightened.

Leo wasn’t sure if he’d helped, or just said enough to steady her for now. Basically just made himself seem worth less to make her feel better. Some of it he believed, some of it was exaggerated a bit to make her happy. Either way, she left with a smile and remained in charge so it couldn’t have been the worst pep talk.

“Such a womaniser,” Ashley said, clicking her tongue.

“How am I a womaniser?”

She gave him a look like he was an idiot. “You walk around with your sexy arms and jaw out, being all nice to everyone and not batting an eye at all the attention.”

“Wha— what the hell are you even saying? How does someone have their jaw out?” Leo stuck his bottom jaw out, achieving the stupid look he was going for.

Ashley laughed at his antics. “You should keep doing that, it would make things easier.”

“Easier, how?”

“I also have to thank Lena for those trousers you’re wearing,” she said, dodging the question. “Those, combined with the rest of you, is a woman deterrent.”

“You... You’re making fun of me!” Leo said, blushing.

Ashley turned and started to leave, shaking her head like he was a lost cause.

Leo paused, watching her. Then a thought struck, like a memory being uncovered.

“Did you carry me around the camp like I was a duffel bag?!”

Her haughty laughter echoed throughout the halls.

~

“We can’t stay here,” a woman said, speaking softly but sternly.

Cain grunted in disagreement.

“Look around, boy, the place is a wreck!”

Cain’s camp had been reduced to ruins. The stone wall surrounding the camp had been torn down in so many places it couldn’t be called a wall anymore. Shacks and tents were barely more than the material they were constructed from. Small fires burned where things hadn’t fully gone out.

The bodies of ants were strewn everywhere, but so were the bodies of people.

The ants had attacked them brutally in such a large number. Cain couldn’t keep everyone safe while also himself, despite how hard he fought. A lot of his fighters didn’t fight for him, or for the other people here. They’d focused on themselves over a proper defense. Survival of the fittest. It led to many deaths where no one would risk their lives for one another.

“We should go to that boy Leo’s camp.”

Cain growled. Deep and rumbling. “No.”

The woman clicked her tongue, unbothered by the aggression. “Don’t be so selfish. The next wave could come in a few hours. By the time the Queen’s castle opens, all that will be left is you.”

“I don’t care.”

“Don’t you lie to me, boy.” She flicked him on the forehead. “I’m not one of those tattooed fools you can boss around with your scary face.”

A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. He liked this woman. She reminded him of his mother.

“If we all want to survive, getting to their camp before the next wave hits is our only option. They know how to find us, we can’t hide,” the woman continued.

“Not him.”

“You need to get over it, sweetie,” she said with care. “Don’t let all these people who rely on your protection down. Be the bigger man.”

Cain took a long time to answer, unmoving.

The woman waited patiently, eyes never leaving him. It was like the threatening gaze of a scolding mother. It instinctively made him want to say yes.

“Fine.”

“Excellent, I’ve already made the preparations. We’re ready to go right now.”

“You…” Cain muttered, shaking his head.

She grinned. “No one says no to me forever, sweetie.”

~

Leo was watching the city from a rooftop outside camp, Ellie dashed around behind him like she had the zoomies. Then she suddenly stopped still and sniffed the air.

“What is it?” Leo tried to pick up the scent, and was picking up something familiar, but couldn’t place it. He wasn’t that good with his nose yet.

She growled and swiped a few times in the air, then ran towards the direction, it was roughly toward the Cinder Bastion. Taking a closer look with his enhanced vision, he saw… people?

And not just anyone. His eyes met the half-bestial eyes of a predator. They looked directly at him and they didn’t look friendly. Not that they ever did.

“Ellie, equip, let’s go.”

Leo and Ellie launched themselves from the rooftop to the next, making up the ground between them and the incoming group quickly. After leaping from the last rooftop, Ellie vanished into a bright glow, coating both Leo’s arms and legs in draconic elegance that oozed pure power as he landed hard.

His Fire Stance was in full effect, giving him a burning visage that caused people to step back in fear as he stared down the shaggy haired man.

“Why are you here?” Leo asked, voice cold.

Cain’s hatchets appeared in his hands and Leo was about to strike, hard. He couldn’t afford to hesitate.

*Slap*

Cain’s head tilted forwards slightly as someone struck the back of his head. Leo was stunned, completely baffled.

“Sorry, petal,” the woman said, it was the same woman he’d met back at the other keep. “This boy’s a handful. But you knew that already.” She laughed to herself, a small chuckle.

“I’ll keep it simple. Our camp is ruined—burned to ashes. Our people have been killed.” She gave him a sad smile. “We need help.”

It didn’t seem like a trick, that wasn’t Cain’s style. He didn’t have that kind of subterfuge in him, but this woman could. Leo would not be so instantly trusting. Not after last time Cece had read him the riot act. Although it ended up being fine.

“Tell him,” the woman said firmly.

Cain growled, deep and aggressive. His mouth forced the word like he was vomiting.

“Help.”

Leo’s mouth dropped open. His hands hit his sides as he stared directly at the man. Cain didn’t break his angry glare, nor did he look embarrassed.

Ellie popped out after Leo dismissed the skill and ran up to Cain and the woman at the front. “Hello precious,” the woman said, stroking Ellie without worry.

Leo just shook his head. “I’m not qualified enough to deal with this. Let’s go find Cece.”