The Right Star's arrival shattered the mansion's morning silence. Richard's shout cut through the air like a knife, his desperation palpable.
"The Right Star is here!"he cried.
Leonardo remained sprawled on the couch, a dead weight of exhaustion. Richard's attempts to wake him grew increasingly frantic, each shake more aggressive than the last.
As Geoffrey crushed lavender and chamomile, the herbs released not just their aroma, but a sense of something breaking. The delicate leaves crumbled between his fingers like the last vestiges of their previous life.
"This will work," Geoffrey muttered—more to himself than anyone else. His voice carried a tremor of doubt.
Elara and Anna moved with synchronized tension. Their preparedness was a thin veneer over raw nerves. Elara's fingers traced the ruined edges of her dress.
"We can change later," Anna whispered, but the words hung in the air like a fragile promise.
Leonardo finally stirred, his nose blocked by the herbs Geoffrey had plastered on it. His consciousness fought through layers of a dream that clung to him like a second skin.
"I dreamt of something... of someone," he mumbled, the words catching in his throat. But the dream slipped away, leaving only a cold sensation of something unresolved.
"Everyone dreams. We're late," Anna said suddenly.
Leonardo nodded.
They waved goodbye to both Richard and Geoffrey. Anna and Elara hugged their uncle while Leonardo shook Geoffrey's hand. He smiled as he did it—a moment of respect between them.
The landscape outside transformed. Each mile carried them closer to safety, closer to home.
"Promise me you'll guide us," Elara said to Leonardo. But it wasn't a request. It was a demand wrapped in fear.
The words hit him like a brick. It wasn't just an agreement anymore—it was something beyond that. And the person inside Leonardo wouldn't allow him to say no.
"I will," he replied.
Elara's stare began to soften as the words reached her.
Leonardo looked out the window. The mansion was a speck now. He didn't think he'd come back here again—and that's why he missed it.
The train hurtled forward. As Leonardo glanced at the guards, it seemed that because of the explosion, security had gotten tighter.
"There's no turning back now," he decided, his eyes fluttering into a dream once more.