Five years before Leon's return to the Solaris House.
Hyarum.
The Capital of the Holy Church and the most sacred land in Hyades.
Numerous religions have existed throughout humanity's history. Some worshipped ancient Dragons, and others worshipped Demon Lords from the outer realms. However, the Holy Church was the most prevalent religion that has always stood the test of time.
Why?
Because the deity they worshipped was none other than Hyades herself.
Blessed by the Goddess Hyades, followers of the Holy Church could channel divine powers, capable of performing feats beyond any magician's imagination. They were the executioners of the Goddess' will, the arbitrators who enacted justice, and the planet's defenders against extraterrestrial threats. Even the Solaris Saint, said to be the most powerful human being of all time, once served under the Holy Church, worshipping Hyades as they worked hand-in-hand to repel the Demon Invasion.
As humanity's oldest religion, the Holy Church possessed endless resources and wealth.
Gold-plated cathedrals, diamond-encrusted statues, platinum walls which repelled any intruder imaginable… The list of resources the Holy Church possessed was endless.
However, even within Hyades, some places were more beautiful and ornate than others. Two young figures could be seen frolicking about the inner sanctum, a mysterious holy ground that only a handful of individuals would ever see.
A young boy, with his tousled locks of blonde hair and eyes as blue as the summer sky, dashed through the flowerbeds with boundless energy, a mischievous grin lighting up his face. Light on his feet, the boy waltzed through the intricate garden like a fish in water, expertly manoeuvring such that he didn't damage a single blade of grass.
Behind him, a young girl was trailing behind. Her light brown hair brushed against her shoulders like a broom, gently dusting on her white cassock. Her face was flushed, probably from all of the running she had done. The redness in her cheeks starkly contrasted with the captivating emerald green in her eyes, tingling the hearts of any adults watching her.
Huffing and panting, the young girl hugged her knees and scolded the boy:
"Leon! You're running too fast!"
"Haha, that's the point of Catch, Ella! You're supposed to grab onto me! That's how you win the game!"
"But… you're too fast…"
Tears were forming on the young girl's pristine cheeks, sending an arrow flying into Leon's heart. The kind-hearted boy couldn't take his new friend's outpour of emotions and casually moved forward to rub her cheeks.
"Okay, okay! Don't cry! Here, you caught me, alright?"
"... CATCH!!! I got you, haha!!!"
The young girl quickly tagged Leon's wrist and immediately turned away, running in the other direction. Leon stood motionless for a few seconds, only to realise he had been played like a fiddle. All this time, the girl called Ella was feigning crocodile tears just because she wanted to win the game.
"Okay… I won't show any more mercy!"
"Hehe, I'm going to win the game!"
Ella ran with everything she had, sprinting until her legs got sore and she lost breath. But even with her best efforts, she could see Leon gaining on her through the corner of her eye, causing her to lose focus and panic. That slight miscalculation caused the girl to trip on her heel, spiralling her body onto the grassy floor.
The impact came as a surprise to the ten-year-old girl. It took a moment for her to register the pain before real tears came flowing out from her crystal-clear emerald eyes. The young girl grabbed onto her affected knee, only to feel a viscous liquid gushing out. Twisting her body around, Ella saw the abrasion she'd gotten, and her fingers trembled with fear.
"Ella! Are you alright?!"
Without wasting a second, Leon dropped to his knees with genuine worry in his cerulean eyes.
"L-Leon! It hurts!"
"Okay, don't worry! Leave it to me!"
The first thing the young boy did was calm the sobbing Ella. Brushing on her luscious green hair, Leon reassured the ten-year-old before he tended to the wound. Reaching into his pocket, Leon got a handkerchief and carefully wiped the blood off. Fortunately, it wasn't a severe injury but a minor abrasion.
Through some magical means, water dripped from Leon's fingers as he carefully washed the injury like his mother had taught him. Then, he followed it up by wrapping the handkerchief around Ella's knee, tying a bow cutely to appease the crying girl.
"Don't worry, it's over now! All we need to do is bring you to the clerics, and they'll fix you right up!"
"Really? It won't hurt anymore?"
"Hehe, don't worry! Even if it does hurt, I will be here all the way!"
"Really?"
"Yeap! Are you able to walk?"
"Mmmm…"
Ella shook her head, unsure whether she should stand on two feet. While the pain had subsided quite a bit, the shock of falling remained with her. Not understanding her silence, Leon simply smiled and lifted his chest.
"Okay! Not to worry! I'll carry you, then!"
"W-Wait!"
Before the young girl could say anything, Leon pushed Ella onto his back and lifted her carefully in a piggyback carry. Standing firm and tall, the young boy ensured that the injured critter was nestled in before saying:
"Okay, hold on tight! We'll be at the cleric's in no time!"
"L-Leon! A-Aren't I heavy?" Ella questioned, a blush staining her cheeks as she looked at the side profile of his face.
"Haha, how could you be heavy?" The young boy laughed merrily. "Compared to the weights Dad used to train me with, you're as light as a feather!"
"I-Is that so?"
"Hehe, I never lie!"
Leon declared from the bottom of his heart.
Hearing the young boy's words, Ella could feel her pulse intensifying, beating much higher than usual. Her face was getting hotter, and her body felt lighter. She felt embarrassed, yet the girl didn't want to separate from her good friend. Instead, Ella clung onto Leon like a vine to a sturdy oak, making her grip so tight that moving was uncomfortable. However, Leon didn't complain. He was content to be her steadfast protector and, more importantly, help lighten the burden of her heart.
As Leon carried Ella further away from the garden, two individuals watched intensely at their departed backs. Particularly Leon's.
Both individuals were about the same height, one slightly taller than the other. And surprisingly, the shorter one was a familiar face. The man who had recently been promoted to the position of Head Paladin and as well as the strongest Knight in the Holy Church… Sir Arthur Pagiel.
"You have raised a good son, Lucas. Leon is more noble than many Knights twice or thrice his age."
"..."
The red-haired man tapped on his friend's shoulder, who only stood solemnly as he watched his son walk further away. His black hair, which should have been entirely pitch jet, showed strands of silver. Was it old age? Or was it from the stress he'd been undergoing? Perhaps it was a combination of the two? Nevertheless, the once indomitable black hair that was the signature of the Solaris House was now thinning out.
But his golden eyes remained ever so bright. Glowing fiercely with the light of an entire Sun, the middle-aged man indicated he wasn't out of his prime just yet, as the atmosphere around him was no weaker than when he was called the Lion of Solaris.
Lucas Solaris sighed and turned to his bosom friend.
"Arthur… I'm sorry that I had to burden you with my troubles."
"Hey, don't worry! I know what you've been through! I can't imagine this decision is easier for you than me."
The two shared a brotherly moment as they locked eyes. Lucas looked defeated as he leaned onto a pillar. Gazing up at the sky, he couldn't help but remark.
"Thank you, Arthur… I can't reveal myself yet, not even to the Solaris House. Aluria and I didn't want to do this, but we had no choice. And there are few people we can trust; amongst them, only you have the power and influence to protect Leon."
"... Have you at least told Leon?"
"We have prepared him… The child may be eleven, but he's much more sensible than his age suggests."
Lucas attempted to rationalise himself, but his bosom friend could hear the despair hidden within his voice. Any father with a heart wouldn't abandon his children, even if it meant giving an arm or a leg for them. Alas, Lucas was forced to this point.
"Aluria was crying, not willing to part with Leon. But he was the one who kept comforting her. Isn't it funny? We are the ones being bad parents, and yet, we were the ones being comforted?"
"Haha, I wonder who the real adult in the family is?"
"..."
Lucas remained solemn, but his gaze never once left the exit door. It was as if… he was saying one final goodbye to his beloved son.
"If we don't return in five years, send Leon back to the Solaris House. My old man may be pig-headed, but he has a heart of gold. If you tell him that Leon is his grandson, as stubborn as he is, he won't reject him."
"Okay, what about his training?"
"Fortunately, Leon is talented as a Knight. I've already trained him in the basics of the Nine Suns Heart Mantra. Plus, he's picking up on swordsmanship well. The only thing that we can't teach him yet is the Solaris Mystic Arts."
"That's why we must bring him back to the Solaris House…"
Arthur Pagiel nodded in agreement. There were several reasons why the Solaris Knights are considered an unparalleled force. Their dragon-blessed bodies were a big reason, but the actual reason why a Solaris Knight was almost certainly more powerful than a regular Knight was their ability to utilise the Solaris Mystic Arts.
Even Sir Arthur Pagiel, the most eminent Paladin in the Holy Church, was jealous of their blessed lineage and powerful martial arts.
"Well, that's not the only reason."
"Hmmm, what else is there?"
"Sword Garden."
Lucas replied with a little bit of playfulness in his voice.
"All Knights of the Solaris House will have to enter the Sword Garden when they come of age, and it's a ceremony that only comes once every five years. Leon is too young to participate this year, but five years later, he will be just above the minimum threshold to enter Sword Garden."
"Ahhh… I can see why you would want him to return then…"
The Head Paladin gave a knowing nod. Arthur may not be a member of the Solaris House, but even he knew about the prestigious Sword Bestowment Ceremony the Solaris House conducted. Twice a decade, the Solaris House would bestow promising Knights who were coming of age with treasured swords from the world's greatest sword vault.
Sword Garden.
Precious swords of all shapes and sizes were stored there. Historical swords from heroic figures who shaped their generation. Powerful swords that were sharper than anything a blacksmith could forge. And mythical swords that only appeared in legends.
They were all being kept in Sword Garden.
"Like any Solaris Knight, Leon has the right to pick a sword from Sword Garden. My incompetence shouldn't rid him of that right."
"I understand…"
"In the meantime, I will hand him over to you."
"Haha, don't worry! After all, the Archbishop has been seeking a friend for his precious granddaughter! Leon's arrival comes at a perfect time!"
Lucas recalled the young girl he'd met previously and her bright smile while playing with his son. But more importantly, he remembered Leon's bright smile when he played with her.
"No, I'm the one who should be grateful…"
The former Lion of Solaris warmed up, slightly smiling as he shook his head. With his sharp claws retracted, the middle-aged man looked like a tamed cat lovingly doting on his son.
"If Leon could remain this happy for the rest of his life, I would be content."