Episode 124: The Luminaria Reconstruction Festival, the Preciousness of Time Together
With the reconstruction of the Luminaria Kingdom complete and its basic functions restored after difficult times, the kingdom held a grand festival to commemorate the hard work. Leon's family was also invited. For Leon, this festival held a special meaning. His parents were born in Luminaria before they followed King Muscling to Elysium, and the fact that his own family could now be part of celebrating Luminaria's reconstruction and new beginning was deeply moving.
The festival began in the late afternoon. The streets were adorned with colorful flags and lanterns of all kinds, and the sound of cheerful music filled the air. Leon and Serena, holding their two children's hands, headed to the main square, their faces alight with excitement as they took in the festival's energy. Their daughter's eyes sparkled at the sight of the square filled with balloons, toys, and brilliant lights.
"Daddy, look! That big balloon is so pretty!"
Leon held his daughter's hand and said gently with a smile, "It is. Daddy will buy you a pretty balloon. You two can pick any color you want."
The daughter chose a blue balloon and the son a red one, both bursting into joyous laughter. The two children ran around excitedly, holding their balloons and waving them at each other. Serena watched them with a warm smile, and Leon, too, felt the preciousness of this rare, peaceful time with his family.
When they reached the center of the square, dancers were performing on a stage to lively music. Serena took the children's hands and began to sway gently to the music, and the children, growing more excited, started to dance along with their mother. Leon joined them, and they all held hands, spinning in a circle. Laughter flowed endlessly as they twirled together, and for a moment, it felt as if all worries and responsibilities had vanished.
Serena moved closer to Leon and whispered, "To think a day like this would come, where we can laugh together as a family... I'm so happy."
Leon nodded, taking her hand and replying with a sincere smile. "Yes, it feels like I've been working so hard all this time just for this moment. I'm so glad I have you all."
As the festival reached its peak, the children begged for cotton candy and other treats being sold in the square. Leon placed a blue cotton candy and a yellow lollipop in their hands, watching their happy faces with a fond gaze. His daughter took a big bite of the cotton candy, getting white sugar all over her mouth.
"Daddy, it's so sweet and delicious!"
Serena laughed and wiped the sugar from her daughter's cheek, while her son offered a piece of his lollipop to his mother, exclaiming, "You try some too, Mommy!" Serena took a piece and looked at her children's bright, innocent faces with love.
As evening fell and the sky grew dark, preparations for a fireworks display were underway in one corner of the square. "They're about to start!" Serena said to Leon, her voice filled with excitement. Soon after, brilliant fireworks shot up into the sky, illuminating the night. As the dazzling fireworks burst one after another, the children cheered, their eyes sparkling.
"Wow! Daddy, look at that! It's so beautiful!" his son shouted, waving his hands.
In that moment, Leon realized that all these moments were the result of the peace he had fought to protect. Serena gently squeezed his hand and said, "We've truly walked a long journey together. I'm so grateful that we can feel this new peace here."
Leon nodded and replied softly, "Yes, it feels like this is what I've been fighting for. Our family, and this peace, are so precious."
As the fireworks painted the sky with vibrant colors, marking the climax of the festival, Leon and Serena held each other's hands tightly. With each beautiful explosion, the children looked up at the sky with eyes full of joy, and Leon and Serena, watching them, made a silent vow for their future and the time they would share together.
As the festival was drawing to a close, Serena whispered quietly to Leon, "I hope our children can grow up happy for a long, long time in this peace."
Leon smiled and said, "Yes, let's make it that way, together."
As the night deepened, the festival calmed down, and Leon's family held onto the festival they had shared with their loved ones in a long-awaited peace, a special memory they would never forget.
**
Episode 125: The Start of a Decisive Battle, a Journey to Save Prince Rian
Emperor Muscling's command was delivered throughout Elysium, and a dispatch was decided upon to rescue Prince Rian, who was in crisis on the continent of Astralium. The Emperor ordered the most trustworthy Guardian Commanders and handpicked soldiers to embark on the rescue mission. Lisa, the Warrior Commander of Elysium, was appointed to lead this expedition, and under her command were warriors recognized for their skill and loyalty, including Leon.
When Leon heard the news, he was filled with a mix of tension and excitement. His heart pounded with the anticipation of heading into a major war, but he also worried about his family at home. Returning home that evening, Leon cautiously told Serena about the mission. Serena looked at his face for a moment, then smiled and squeezed his hand tightly.
"Leon, I know how much you've dedicated yourself to Elysium. I'll wait for you here at home with the children. So please, come back safely."
Leon drew strength from Serena's gentle encouragement. He said a warm farewell to his wife and children and began to prepare for his departure.
The next morning, massive airships and vessels gathered one after another at the Elysium port. As if to show the urgency of the situation, the airships and ships, after a final inspection, were loaded with soldiers and supplies. Each airship was boarded by elite soldiers, all of them taking their positions with tense faces, aware of the mission's importance. Leon boarded one of them, looking around and exchanging glances with his comrades.
Warrior Commander Lisa stood in the center of the airship and began to address the soldiers in a powerful voice. "Our Prince Rian is in peril. We will rescue him and uphold the honor of Elysium. I expect every one of you, as Guardians of Elysium, to fight bravely!"
The soldiers roared in unison, steeling their resolve. Leon also clenched his fists, renewing his own determination. 'I will rescue Prince Rian safely and return home, no matter what.'
As the airship ascended into the sky, Leon gazed for a moment at the landscape of Elysium, his home and family. As the airship cut through the sky, heading towards the continent of Astralium, he recalled his training and countless battles, steeling himself for the fight to come.
After a voyage of several days, they were finally approaching the continent of Astralium. Leon and his comrades prepared to infiltrate the enemy territory, discussing plans to rescue Prince Rian. The battle on the crisis-ridden land of Astralium was certain to be more fierce and arduous than any he had ever experienced.
Leon thought of the warm moments with his family and made a firm decision. 'No matter what dangers I face, I will definitely return.'
**
Episode 126: The Confrontation in Astralium
As the vast highland plains of the Astralium continent unfolded before him, Leon held his breath. This place was different from Elysium or Luminaria. No single kingdom boasted hegemony here, no great power had established its rule. However, a massive fortress rose abruptly from the highlands, a stark disharmony against the chaotic tranquility of the continent. It was the fortress of the faction known as the 'Order of Light,' and its presence, utterly out of place with the surrounding nature, was both alien and intensely imposing.
Following his commander's orders, Leon found himself facing this formidable fortress. A palpable tension hung in the air between the Order of Light and the Elysian army. Soon, the battle began. The paladins and the soldiers of Elysium fought without end, as if they could not tolerate each other's existence. The soldiers of both sides clashed in a fierce battle of swords and spears, magic and tactics. The battlefield overflowed with agonizing screams and raging fires, with blood and sweat flying through the air. The earth was stained red by the ferocity of both armies as they tried to break through each other's lines.
In the midst of the battle, Leon's gaze turned to Prince Rian at the front. Rian was the Prince of Elysium and the next emperor of the Luminarian continent, always seen as a figure destined to rule as the continent's sovereign. But his appearance now was not that of a mere crown prince. He was a warrior, sacrificing himself on the front lines, fighting the enemy with all his might. Watching him, Leon's heart burned, feeling the true measure of a hero.
The fierce battle continued, a deadlock with neither side yielding an inch. Just then, a thunderous roar echoed from the sky as a massive airship appeared. This colossal airship, emblazoned with the symbol of Elysium, was a powerful vessel that symbolized their military might. Everyone on the battlefield lifted their heads to the sky.
From the forefront of the airship, the voice of Lisa, the legendary warrior and Warrior Commander of Elysium, cut through the sky and resounded across the battlefield.
"You damnable followers of the ancient god, witness the wrath of Elysium!" Lisa shouted, her powerful voice capturing the attention of all.
No sooner had her cry ended than a massive bombardment began from the airship. Terrifying cannonballs fell with ferocious momentum toward the Order of Light's fortress, and under the impact, the fortress shook violently and began to crack. The aerial bombardment shook the very foundations of the earth, and the enemy was seized with terror. The fortress walls began to crumble, and the Order of Light was increasingly pushed into a defensive corner.
Leon felt the aerial attack turning the tide of the war. The enemy was thrown into chaos, and seizing the opportunity, the Elysian army raised its morale and launched an offensive. Leon quickly commanded his unit to hold the defensive line while simultaneously harassing the rear of the Order of Light. As the battle raged on, Leon truly felt the power of Elysium.
However, the paladins of the Order of Light did not give up the fight. Their defense and counterattacks were remarkably organized, seemingly based on a powerful conviction. Their struggle was a testament to their will to protect the fortress, and they proved to be a difficult foe for the Elysian army.
In this battle, Leon hardened his resolve even further. Realizing that war was not merely a contest of strength but a stage where beliefs and wills were tested, he pushed forward into the enemy lines.
**
Episode 127: A Moment of Decision
With Lisa's arrival, the atmosphere of the battlefield changed in an instant. Under her command, the Elysian soldiers quickly fell into formation, pressing the Order of Light with disciplined movements. The Elysian army was composed of well-trained soldiers, and they swiftly regrouped and launched their attack upon Lisa's command. The air on the battlefield grew sharper, and the Order of Light began to be pushed back.
"Now! Advance!" Lisa's voice rang out across the field, and following her command, the Elysian army broke through the front lines. Leon, keeping pace with this command, ordered his own troops forward, putting even more pressure on the fortress's defenses. The Order of Light counterattacked with strong conviction, but they had no choice but to retreat in the face of the tactics deployed by the Elysian soldiers.
As the battle's tension reached its peak, Leon's gaze turned to the front line commanded by Prince Rian. Rian was breaking through to the heart of the fortress, fighting fiercely with the paladins of the Order of Light. As a crown prince and an outstanding warrior, Rian fought on the front lines with his comrades, giving courage to the soldiers who followed him.
For a moment, Leon imagined himself fighting alongside Rian, breaking into the fortress's center. It would be a glorious thing to fight side-by-side with the Prince of Elysium, and the thought sparked a strong yearning within him. However, he soon returned to his own position and made a decision.
'The place I need to be right now is not by Prince Rian's side, but here on this front line with my comrades.'
Leon looked around, picturing the faces of the soldiers who trusted and followed him. His true duty was to fight to the end by their side, protecting this battlefield. He gave a firm command to his men.
"We hold our defense here to the last! Do not fall back, defend our position!"
His men nodded at him, their faces filled with confidence as they reformed their ranks. In the heart of the battlefield, Leon and his comrades fought fiercely against the Order of Light. As spears and swords clashed and the cries of battle rang in his ears, Leon fought on without a single step back.
Under Lisa's command, the Elysian soldiers strategically pushed the front line and finally broke through the Order of Light's defenses. Leon and his men, by holding their ground, had played their part in leading Elysium to victory. The battle was long and arduous, but in the end, the Order of Light had no choice but to kneel before the unified power of the Elysian army.
As the battle concluded, Leon lowered his weapon and took a deep breath. In the silence of the battlefield, he felt a renewed bond with his comrades-in-arms. He hadn't fought side-by-side with Prince Rian, but his heart swelled with the pride of having done his best in the place where he was needed.
Leon made a resolve. Whenever and wherever, for the sake of Elysium, he would never retreat from any battlefield as long as he was with his comrades.