They headed to a tent close to the forest's edge.
Leo dragged his feet in his grieving state.
As he passed under the flap, he hardly noticed Ikia sitting on a beautifully adorned chair.
He went to a corner and sat down, dropping his sword to the ground beside him.
Sateria was in conversation with Ikia but stopped and looked over. She walked over and cupped her fingers beneath his chin. When she lifted Leo's face to look at him, the only thing she saw was a discolored blank stare in his eyes.
A fear tears gathered in the corners of them as he gazed upward. She leaned in and hugged him tightly, her lips getting just shy of his ear.
"My father was murdered. I understand," She whispered.
Leo choked up and wrapped his arms around her tightly.
"I'm sorry," he said shaken,"This is all my fault."
Jasper leaned his spear up in the corner of the tent.
"Kenjō was like a brother to me just as Leo is," He said.
"Thalmon, he was a good man," Leo said.
"I'm gonna kill them for what they did."
Sateria squeezed him tighter with a "shhh".
"Just try to relax for now," She said soothingly.
"Because if you think you're doing it on your own, You're crazy."
Leo stared at her in confusion.
"I don't want you caught up in this. They wanted me.
Not you."
Ikia stood up and walked over to him.
"Not you too," He groaned.
She flicked his nose and scowled.
"I gave you Twilight's egg for a reason, Saphire. The last thing I'm going to do is let you fight alone."
Leo wrinkled his nose from Ikia's finger assault. He stood up and looked at the fairy.
"What are you planning to do?"
She turned to look away.
"I'll have our soldiers trained and ready for combat when they strike again," She said.
Leo looked at her and then down at his boots.
"Alright," he said with a new resolve.
"Since you all won't take no for an answer, because I know you too well, fine. We will prepare for war if it means we can protect what we love."
"I hoped you would say that," Ikia said.
She smiled before hugging him.
Leo grunted as she wrapped her arms around him.
"You'll be alright," She whispered softly.
"We are all here for you."
She nuzzled his ear before releasing him from the hug.
Ikia moved out from the tent and Leo sat in utter silence.
"So this is where it all starts right?" He muttered to himself.
"Looks like I've got some training to do to prepare for a potential war...."