Leon sat in a daze within the flying ship, the tearful departure scene replaying in his mind every few seconds. His heart was warm with all the smiles and laughter he shared with his friends. Showered on all fronts with gifts and well wishes, Leon felt a twinge of regret as he looked back at the darkened path behind him with fond feelings.
In particular, his most dazzling memory of that very morning… was his tearful farewell with Ellahan.
It would likely be many months before they could meet in person again. While they could still communicate through messages and calls, it would be quite some time before either could leave their positions.
Ellahan was training hard to be the next Saintess, meaning her responsibilities would only deepen as time passed. She would also need to train doubly as hard to affirm her position and beat out the other candidates.
Meanwhile, Leon would need to blend into the Solaris House and learn the enigmatic Solaris Arts that was famed throughout Hyades. He would likely need to enrol in the Knight's Academy, making it infinitely harder for the pair to reunite.
Yet… Leon didn't feel lonely in the slightest.
Pressing on his forehead, he could still feel the warmth left behind by Ellahan's kiss. A faint blush crept up his cheeks as he smiled silly. He'd felt that as long as they were in each other's hearts, Leon could accomplish amazing feats, let alone survive in the Solaris House.
"Miss her already?"
Sir Arthur teased with a heartfelt smile, causing Leon to drop his hand in embarrassment. However, the youth wasn't as flustered as before. Instead, he leaned into the teasing and replied:
"Are you jealous, Sir Arthur? If my memory serves me right, you are still single. Did my puppy love tingle at your heartstrings?"
"Hoh? Did you become so cheeky after getting a girlfriend? Perhaps it was the right decision to dump you at the Solaris House then."
"Haha, perhaps you're right!"
The two joked in good fun, knowing neither meant what they said. The ride to the Solaris House had taken quite a long time, making them somewhat fatigued. Hence, they needed some banter to lighten the mood.
"You and Ellahan will make a great pair in the future. I'm sure of it. Perhaps you'll rival the infamous Fantasy Couple from the Solaris and Elune Houses."
"Fantasy Couple?" Leon raised his brow at the foreign term. "Who are they?"
"Oh? Are you unaware?"
Sir Arthur's face was coloured surprised. However, it didn't take long for his expression to calm down after reflecting on Leon's upbringing.
"Yeah, you have been focusing on training and guarding Ellahan. It's no wonder you know little about the outside world. Though, the story of the Fantasy Couple is rather fun, and you'll probably meet them in the Solaris House soon."
"Hoh? What do you mean by fun?"
"Haha, just sit back and listen."
Sir Arthur's face brightened up, and his posture straightened. Leon felt that it was odd how attached the Head Paladin was to the gossip of others, but honestly, it wasn't all that strange. As the Head Paladin of the Holy Church, Sir Arthur Pagiel had to keep tabs on all news in Hyades to identify problems that might affect Hyarum.
Be it unknown phenomena, natural disasters, disputes between two regions or factions, rumours of business dealings… They were all intelligence that would regularly go to Sir Arthur's desk.
The business partnership between the Solaris and Elune Houses was one such report. The union of two great Houses in managing a mana crystal vein sent shockwaves across the continent when the news first broke. And with Amon and Yue's engagement being a vital part of the partnership, it wasn't strange for Sir Arthur to hear about their relationship.
"Amon Solaris and Yue Elune, or what most people call the Fantasy Couple, are two prominent youngsters engaged to be married. If I recall correctly, they are only two years older than you. Yue Elune is the future heir of the Elune House and one of the most talented magicians of modern times. Her talent surpasses her grandfather's, and many speculate she will become the next Grand Mage in Hyades."
"Hoh, that's impressive."
Leon whistled with a tinge of awe. Although he didn't interact with magicians often, the young man was definitely aware of how dangerous they could be. While Knights were still the best combat force for one-on-one combat, a magician could influence the tides of an entire battlefield with a single spell.
So, for a young girl like Yue to receive such high praise, Leon could guess how powerful she was.
"As for Amon Solaris, he's a talented young Knight in his own right. He graduated from the Knight's Academy in record time, almost rivalling your father's record. After that, I didn't hear many reports about him, but it seems like he's become a full-fledged True Knight and is widely considered the leading powerhouse of the younger generation."
Leon's ears perked up at the information about Amon.
While he was impressed with Yue's accomplishments, ultimately, they were from two different walks of life.
However, Amon was a different story. Not only was he only two years older than Leon, but he had also walked the Knight's path. In particular, Leon took great notice that Amon matched his father's record in the Knight's Academy.
"So they are two impressive individuals… Is that why they are called the Fantasy Couple?"
"Well… That's not really it…"
Sir Arthur scratched his cheek with a blank smile. His face contorted as he recalled all the details of the pair, and he couldn't help but laugh.
"Yes, they are both talented individuals, but the real reason they are called the Fantasy Couple… is because of how they have been acting."
"How they have been acting?"
"Yes," the Head Paladin continued to laugh. "Apparently, they fell in love at first sight and eloped during their first meeting."
"... What?"
Leon furrowed his brows as if he'd heard something incredulous. No, it was a far-fetched tale. Why would anyone elope in this day and age? And they weren't a couple whose family objected to their relationship, so why did they even need to elope in the first place?
"Haha, surprised, aren't you? I heard they left a letter sealed by blood, too! And that wasn't the only time they eloped. Ever since they've been engaged, the pair has been eloping constantly. It has come to a point where both Houses don't even bother sending out people to find them."
"Wow… Why aren't they married yet?"
"Apparently, the Elune House isn't rushing to complete their marriage. They seem to be still trying to figure out their living arrangements post-marriage. After all, they wouldn't wish to lose their precious heir to the Solaris House."
"Ah, politics…"
Sir Arthur's words started to make sense to the young teen. Leon wasn't exposed to such odd political moves since he grew up outside the Great Houses' influence. Still, the fact that the Fantasy Couple were firmly in love and eloped to escape the two Great Houses' dirty clutches brought a comforting warmth to Leon's heart.
'I wonder what the Fantasy Couple is like?'
Unknowingly, Amon and Yue had made a good first impression on the story's protagonist without even realising it.
❖❖❖
"A-Apologies, the Lord isn't here at the moment. P-Please follow me; I will lead you to him!"
A few hours later, Leon and Sir Arthur were standing at the gates of the Solaris House, their presence greatly alarming the sentries on duty. After verifying Sir Arthur's identity, the guards rushed the pair towards the Lord's abode, only to be greeted by Alrock's vassal Knight.
Realising the severity of the situation, Sir Hawk instantly moved to bring Leon and Sir Arthur to the Hall where Amon's birthday party was held. It didn't take long for the pair to be greeted by the massive doors of the Hall. Sir Hawk asked the pair to wait momentarily as he rushed to get the Solaris Lord, leaving the two eagerly parked outside the massive chamber.
"The Solaris House really is impressive," Leon admired the infrastructure of humanity's oldest noble house with a low whistle. "This place is huge… It's almost as big as the Divine Cathedral."
"That's the Solaris House for you," Sir Arthur nodded in agreement. "I've visited here a few times whenever I had to meet your father, but even then, I can't get used to the immense size."
"... Do I really belong here?"
"Don't worry about anything. You'll fit in like a glove. I'm sure of it."
While Leon was worrying about adapting to the Solaris lifestyle, Sir Hawk had already gotten to the Solaris Lord, prompting Leon to focus all his attention on that massive figure. The young man's eyes brightened as he observed the aged warrior from the head down, from his indomitable golden eyes to his noble poise. There was only one man to whom Leon could compare the man to.
'He's just like Dad…'
There was no denying the blood relations between Alrock and Lucas. They looked so similar that one would be a fool to deduce that they weren't father and son. And for Leon, who inherited most of his father's features, his resemblance to the old man was uncanny.
'That's my grandfather…'
Leon's heart beat rapidly as he watched the Solaris Lord turn away from the masses and address his vassal knight. Unknowingly, the youth held his breath and briefly moved his attention away from Alrock to observe the surroundings slowly.
'There seems to be an event… I don't know what kind, though?'
Many participants were dressed smartly, with many donning their military uniforms. Leon scanned the room and picked out the participants one by one. Each of them had impeccable posture, and their abundance of battle experience was proudly worn on their bodies like sleeves. With just a brief scan, Leon could already pick out dozens of Knights who were stronger than him.
'Amazing… There are so many powerful Knights. They could match or overpower some of the stronger Paladins in the Holy Church. So this is the might of the Solaris House.'
"Hawk… Can't you see that I'm busy?"
"Y-yes, my lord! B-But, this is urgent!"
"Hah… What happened?"
"T-This… I think it would be better if you saw for yourself…"
As Sir Hawk said those words, the Solaris Lord's attention was now plastered on the main entrance, where Sir Arthur and Leon stood. Sensing it was their cue, the Head Paladin tapped Leon's frozen back and prompted him:
"Alright, Leon. Follow my lead. Don't be nervous; nothing will happen to us."
"... okay."
Leon followed his mentor into the Grand Hall with anxious steps. It felt like everyone in the chamber was staring them down, and it only amplified when Sir Arthur removed his hood and revealed his face. The whispers became full conversations, and all eyes were now plastered on the pair. Naturally, Sir Arthur took the full brunt of the attention, but a few eyes were staring daggers at Leon, too.
Mainly this one well-dressed young man who stood behind the Solaris Lord.
'Golden eyes and black hair… That's how a Solaris should look…'
Leon has been told he possessed half the bloodline of a Solaris all his life. However, with his blonde hair and blue eyes, one would be hard-pressed to identify him as a Solaris. Of course, Leon's father never pressured him to accept his Solaris heritage. In fact, he encouraged Leon to venture on his own path, independent of the Great House's shackles.
Nevertheless, Leon was still interested in what a traditional Solaris Knight was like. His interest was particularly piqued by the youth, who never once looked at Sir Arthur and continued staring at him as if he were trying to pierce Leon's soul.
Unfortunately, Leon didn't have enough time to do what he pleased.
"IMPUDENT!!!"
Alrock's voice echoed through the tall chamber, sending shockwaves flying in all directions. Leon's attention snapped back to Sir Arthur and the Solaris Lord bickering. Even though his mind had wandered briefly, Leon heard everything his mentor and grandfather said. Insulted by the Head Paladin's words, Alrock was ready to mete out divine punishment.
So before Alrock could smash his mentor's head in, Leon jumped in front of the man and shouted:
"Stop!!!"
"Scram!!!"
The Solaris Lord didn't falter for a second as he sent a shockwave flying in Leon's direction. It wasn't enough to kill or severely injure, but it was powerful enough to send an ordinary person flying dozens of metres back.
But Leon resisted.
His hood came flying off as he felt his entire body being crushed by the impact. However, Leon bit down hard and stood up to the goliath in defiance. If Alrock decided to send another blow, there was no doubt in Leon's mind that he would have lost consciousness. Luckily for him, the Solaris Lord could not do such a thing.
Why?
"... L-Lucas? I-Is that you?"
Evidently, Alrock could recognise his own flesh and blood. Alas, he was just one degree off the mark.
"No… My name is not Lucas Solaris."
Even with his entire body in pain, his mind delirious, and his heart, wrenching in agony after taking a blow from his grandfather. Leon stood tall. And with one final breath, he proudly announced his name for the world to hear:
"My name is Leon Bright!"