The bull, now thoroughly cleansed of its furious spirit by the Queen's intervention, ultimately fulfilled its culinary destiny as the centerpiece of a massive beef hotpot.
Of course, with several tons of meat, there was no conceivable way Leon and his family of five could finish it all, even if they feasted for days.
Leon had initially, and rather foolishly, suggested that Rossweise simply transform into her dragon form to polish off the leftovers. He quickly reconsidered and closed his mouth when her silver tail swatted him with stinging precision.
In the end, they extended an invitation to the palace maids and several off-duty guards to join them for the unexpected feast.
The entire group gathered in the moonlit courtyard, eating hotpot, singing boisterous songs, lighting a cheerful bonfire, and sharing laughter under the stars.
Rossweise, having utterly exhausted herself during her intense training that afternoon, partook in only a small amount of wine. After eating her fill, she found a soft patch of grass away from the main noise and sat down, leaning back on her hands.
The cool evening breeze lifted her silver bangs, revealing her smooth, jade-like forehead. Her exquisitely sculpted face held a sleepy elegance; her lashes were long and dark against her cheeks, her nose small and delicate. With her gaze lowered and a hint of fatigue in her posture, she radiated a rare, unguarded, and mature charm.
Familiar footsteps approached and stopped beside her.
Leon glanced at the glass of orange juice in her hand and remarked, "Your Majesty doesn't seem quite herself tonight."
"Hmm? Why do you say that?"
"You haven't touched any wine."
Rossweise paused, then offered a faint, tired smile. "I'm just tired; I don't really feel like drinking."
Leon knelt in the grass beside her, his posture relaxed.
"Tired, huh?" he echoed softly. He knew that ever since she'd gotten the Soul Judgment manual from his master, Rossweise had driven herself relentlessly in practice.
He understood the reasons behind her fierce determination to grow stronger.
Having faced so many sudden, unexpected dangers, Rossweise was acutely aware that the world was changing rapidly around them. If they didn't adapt and strengthen themselves, they risked being swallowed whole by the shifting tides of their era.
The sheer intensity of her practice had worn her down, and that was one reason for her subdued mood. But Leon sensed there was something more…
"Still thinking about this afternoon?" he ventured.
"What about it?"
"That first attempt at Soul Judgment—the one on that stubborn bull. The one that seemed… less than successful."
Rossweise pouted and lightly bumped her shoulder against his. "You didn't have to remind me. At least give your wife a little face."
Leon chuckled but then his expression grew serious. "It's not about saving face. Think back to what I said to you just a moment ago."
Rossweise raised an elegant eyebrow, replaying his words in her mind.
After a thoughtful moment, she spoke, "You said… it seemed like it didn't work. Why emphasize 'seemed'?"
"Because this afternoon's test on the Furyhorn Bull revealed some subtle truths about Soul Judgment," Leon explained. "It operates on principles completely different from the magic we're familiar with, so the results are… well, less immediately obvious."
"Less obvious?"
"Exactly. Let's take a basic example: If your dragon flame can cause 100 points of damage, and my Skeleton Shadow can block 90 points, you'd end up dealing a net 10 points to me. But—"
"Hold on." Rossweise raised a hand, interrupting him.
"What?"
Leon thought she had guessed his next point and began to look pleased, but she continued, "Why am I only dealing 10 points? Are you suggesting my attacks are nothing more than a light graze to you?"
"...It was a hypothetical example; don't take it so literally." Leon muttered under his breath, "If we're being completely accurate, you wouldn't even scratch me—hey! Don't pinch me! I surrender!"
Rossweise released the skin at his side, a slight squint in her silver eyes. "Just remember, Cosmodeous, I have plenty of ways to deal significantly more than 10 points of damage to you, with or without magic."
"Yes, yes, Your Majesty is peerless and formidable. Now, can we return to the topic at hand?"
She gave a regal nod, indicating he should continue.
"To put it simply, traditional magic can often be measured by straightforward numerical estimates for effect—though reality is always more complex. But Primordial Magic, particularly a spell like Soul Judgment, can't be quantified so easily. The book states its power scales with the target's emotional intensity."
"That bull wandered into your territory by chance and then got tied up here. It was naturally brimming with rage."
"You saw it yourself. At first, it was roaring at you in pure defiance. But after you used Soul Judgment the first time, its agitation visibly decreased."
Rossweise's eyes flickered with realization as she mused, "Yes, and then it started making those… mocking sounds."
Leon couldn't help a soft snicker. "That's beside the point. Didn't you promptly transform into a dragon and scare the fury right back into it?"
"Mm… I didn't really pay full attention when you mentioned this briefly earlier," Rossweise admitted, a little embarrassed. "But… are you sure its mood shift wasn't just a result of me terrifying it?"
"I'm sure. The shift happened before you transformed."
Leon shrugged. "So… your practice was effective. You just have to learn to view the results through the unique lens of Primordial Magic, not the benchmarks of typical elemental spells."
Listening to Leon's calm, logical explanation lifted Rossweise's spirits considerably. She knew he wasn't just trying to placate her; Leon was always utterly serious when it came to magic, never offering hollow praise or false comfort. He understood better than anyone that in the world of Samuel, power—in all its forms—was the ultimate currency.
That had been his unwavering approach when training Noah, and now, acting as her own sparring partner and advisor, he was applying the same rigorous honesty.
"Alright," she said, her tone noticeably lighter and more resolved. "I understand."
Leon felt a wave of relief. "Feeling better now?"
"Maybe just a little," she conceded, her gaze drifting back to the crackling bonfire where their friends and daughters laughed.
"Well, now that you're happy, isn't your husband supposed to get some kind of reward?" he teased, leaning closer.
"Mm," she hummed, playing along. "I'll prepare a nice, warm basin of water for you to soak your feet when we get back to our room."
"...Not that kind of reward."
Rossweise slowly turned her head, a playful, knowing smile curving her lips. "Oh? Then, what kind of reward did you have in mind, pray tell?"
Their eyes met, his dark gaze locking with her luminous silver one. The intensity between them was palpable, like embers stirred to life by the heat of the nearby fire.
As the cool evening breeze wrapped around them, the contrast with their own rising warmth felt dizzying, intoxicating.
Slowly, almost imperceptibly, they leaned closer. He could smell the faint, sweet scent of orange soda on her breath.
"Mom! Dad!"
A child's clear, bright voice sliced through the intimate moment.
Rossweise flinched back, flustered, while Leon also withdrew his hand. But then he paused, a rebellious thought forming:
Wait… why are we always getting interrupted at the best moments?
No. Not this time. Tonight, I'm claiming that kiss.
Just as Rossweise began to pull away fully, Leon leaned forward decisively, one hand cupping the nape of her neck as he pressed his lips firmly against hers.
The Queen was caught completely off guard, only fully registering what was happening at the moment of contact. With their daughters' footsteps rapidly approaching, they shared a brief, daring, and exhilarating kiss, their hearts pounding in a synchronized, frantic rhythm.
Fortunately, they managed to separate just in time.
Rossweise's cheeks were flushed a deep rose as she subtly wiped her mouth, stealing a glance toward their approaching daughters. "You really are utterly fearless, aren't you?" she whispered, her voice a mix of scolding and awe.
"Just fearless enough to hope it convinces the Queen to take a proper break," he whispered back, a grin tugging at his lips.
"Shut up!"
"Mom! Dad~"
Muen and Aurora came running up, each scrambling unceremoniously onto a parent's lap.
Noah, ever the composed eldest, simply settled down gracefully on the grass between her parents, folding her legs beneath her.
The family of five sat together in a comfortable circle, savoring the simple joy of a rare weekend reunited.
Muen excitedly launched into a detailed recounting of the new spells and academic skills she'd learned during the week, while Aurora chattered animatedly about all the amusing incidents and peculiar students she'd observed.
Then, it was Noah's turn.
Their eldest daughter, who was always full of quiet surprises, brought up something entirely unexpected.
"The Young Dragon Division is hosting an original play contest," she announced calmly. "And I signed our team up."
Leon nodded, encouraging her. "That's great! Is it an adaptation, or a completely original script?"
"Of course it's original!" Noah said, a spark of pride in her eyes. "Helena wrote the script, and I'm in charge of casting and direction."
Leon's eyes darted from Muen, who was bouncing slightly in his lap, to Aurora, who was watching with a knowing sparkle in her eye. Judging by their calm acceptance, it was clear they had already been pre-cast in Noah's theatrical production.
"Muen and Aurora are already in," Noah confirmed, "but we still need two more actors for the lead roles."
Noah's wide, hopeful eyes lifted, shining in the firelight as she looked between her parents. "Mom, Dad… would you two like to join us?"
Leon pursed his lips and glanced sideways at Rossweise.
She seemed to hesitate just as much. To be fair, the two of them had a bit of a complicated, and frankly traumatic, history with stage plays.
They both recalled their first "date" in Sky City, where one of the scheduled "activities" had been attending a romantic play. To their mutual horror, they had been selected by the mischievous host to come on stage and reenact a classic, overly-dramatic proposal scene in front of a massive audience. The memory alone was enough to make them break out in a cold sweat.
And now… it seemed the wheel of fate was turning full circle, ready to put them on the spot once again!
"Well…" Leon didn't want to disappoint his daughter and decided to probe further. "What's the story about?"
"Oh, it's really quite amazing!" Noah began, her expression turning serious and scholarly. "It's about a brave knight who is tragically betrayed and then captured by his enemies. But then, he meets the beautiful princess of the opposing side, and against all odds, they fall in love—"
"Alright, alright, I get the picture. No need to say more." Leon covered his face with one hand, suppressing a internal groan.
Noah tilted her head, confused. "But it's an original story, Dad. How did you know the rest of the plot?"
Oh, sweetheart, if you hadn't mentioned it was original, I'd have thought you were secretly writing your father's biography…
"Then, at the very end," Muen added, clapping her hands with enthusiasm, "the princess falls into a magical coma, and it's the knight's true love's kiss that revives her!"
Leon felt his eye twitch. "You're telling me… there's a kiss scene?"
"Of course!" Muen chirped. "I thought you and Mom were perfect for the roles! Right, Aurora?"
Aurora: 🤩 — Absolutely!
Why else would I agree to be in this play, if not for a guaranteed front-row seat to all the delicious, awkward drama?
Leon scratched his head, feeling profoundly unsure. Rossweise looked equally, if not more, reluctant. The psychological scars from their last public performance still lingered, and another play? It felt like volunteering to have their entire relationship dynamic put on display for the entire academy's amusement!
Noticing her parents' clear hesitation, Noah's bright smile faded. She lowered her voice, trying to sound mature and understanding. "It's… it's okay if you two don't want to. I can always find someone else to fill the roles."
She paused, then added, almost as a wistful afterthought, "Well… Aunt Claudia did say she'd be disappointed, but she agreed to perform too if you joined…"
Leon & Rossweise: ?
The two adults exchanged a sharp, meaningful glance.
In that unspoken conversation that passed between them in a split second, one thought was perfectly clear:
Well, that changes everything. Now it looks like we have no choice but to join.