Leonard rose slowly from the bed, completely naked. His body, strong and perfectly formed in this new vessel, still felt slightly foreign to him. He walked to the large window and stood there, staring out into the night. The lights of the estate grounds stretched below, and beyond them the distant glow of the city flickered like dying stars. His long black hair hung damp against his back, and the cool glass pressed against his palm as he placed one hand on the window frame.
Behind him, Liora sat up. She pulled the silk blanket around her body, covering herself modestly. For a moment she simply watched him — the broad line of his shoulders, the tension in his stance. She knew that look. He was already drifting far away, lost in thoughts too heavy for any one man to carry.
Not wanting anyone to walk in and see him like this, she stood quietly, wrapped the blanket tighter, and crossed the room to close the door. The soft click echoed in the quiet space.
She picked up her phone from the nightstand, her fingers moving across the screen as she spoke gently.
"Before you drown yourself in thoughts again… you need to hear this. A human… a girl… unlocked a Bloodline power. Her name is Erica Elara."
Leonard turned instantly, moving toward her with surprising speed for someone who had just awakened. He looked down at the phone she held out. The screen showed a clear photo of Erica — young, black hair, dark eyes, a face that carried both determination and exhaustion.
"Which one?" he asked, his voice low.
"Nobody knows yet," Liora replied. "But we will soon find out. She is currently in the LOST Realm, attending the LOST Academy. She awakened the power during a heist — she was trying to rob a vault to save her sick brother. The Council is taking care of her adopted brother now, and she is being trained on how to use her abilities. There is no other status on her yet."
Leonard stared at the photo for a long moment. Then he whispered the name as if tasting it.
"Elara… a female surname…"
Shock rippled across his face. He turned away from her and walked back to the window, placing both hands on the frame. His knuckles whitened as he gripped the wood.
"Impossible…" he murmured. "One thousand years… and nothing like this has ever happened. There is something we don't know about Elara…"
Liora set the phone down and moved behind him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and gently turned him to face her. Her large eyes searched his, full of quiet understanding.
"She is a human," she said softly. "At least… she is one of us. Maybe, just like the Bloodlines had anomalies, humans have them too — athletes, engineers, scientists who broke the laws of the world. But this time… a human unlocked a Bloodline power."
She paused, then added with a small, sad smile, "My Leonard… I know I will regret telling you this, because you will lock yourself away and think, and think, and think. Are you going to go see the girl?"
Leonard's mind was already racing.
*(This changes everything… But first, the Realm of Men is burning from within. I need to put out the flames. I need to stop these rituals, the deaths, the endless sacrifices. I must change this world. But how?)*
He looked down at Liora and spoke calmly.
"I won't do that. I will focus on the upcoming orders and continue with what I was doing."
Liora studied him for a moment, then smiled gently, though her eyes showed she didn't fully believe him.
"I know you will still think about it… but thank you for trying to reassure me."
Leonard opened his mouth to insist he was serious, but Liora placed a finger softly against his lips, silencing him.
"This is the first night we have seen each other after 120 years apart," she whispered. "My Leonard… I won't ask you to do the impossible — to stop thinking and worrying all by yourself. But please… let all your thinking be about me. Just for tonight."
Leonard let out a long, heavy sigh. He leaned down and kissed her forehead tenderly, then pulled her into a tight, warm embrace. His strong arms wrapped around her completely, holding her close against his bare chest. For the rest of the night, he tried — with everything in him — to push the weight of the world aside.
He focused only on her.
On the softness of her skin.
On the sound of her breathing.
On the way she fit perfectly against him.
For these few hours, he gave himself permission to simply be with her.