lPreparations for the journey were swift, with the Mondell estate bustling as if a storm were brewing within its walls. Leon watched from the library window as servants rushed to ready the carriages and horses. His hands were clasped tightly in front of him, knuckles whitening with the pressure. The weight of the summons sat heavily on his chest, an invisible tether linking him to an uncertain fate.
Atlas entered the library, his stride purposeful but shoulders burdened by the situation. When he saw Leon, a flicker of concern softened his expression. "Are you sure you want to come?" he asked, his voice low and edged with worry.
Leon turned to face him, meeting his gaze without hesitation. "You're going. How could I stay behind?"
A silence stretched between them, filled with unsaid words and shared fears. Atlas closed the distance, placing his hands gently on Leon's shoulders. "I promised to keep you safe. This... this isn't safe, Leon. You know what facing the Emperor means."
Leon reached up to touch Atlas's wrist, his own hand trembling slightly. "I know. But this is my choice."
Atlas's jaw tightened, and for a moment, it seemed like he might argue, but he relented with a sigh. "Very well. But you stay close to me. No matter what happens."
Leon nodded, the weight in his chest easing just enough to let him breathe. He knew this journey would change everything; whether it would be for the better or worse, he couldn't say.
---
A few hours later
The carriages rolled out of the estate with a rhythmic clatter, leaving behind the safety of home. Edwin rode alongside them, a stoic guardian whose eyes missed nothing. The path wound through dense woods, the scent of pine and earth mingling with the crisp air.
Leon sat across from Atlas inside the carriage, the silence punctuated by the occasional creak of wheels. He studied Atlas's profile, the sharp angles of his face shadowed in the dim light. The determination in Atlas's eyes was unwavering, but there was something else there too — a vulnerability he rarely showed.
"You've been to the palace before?" Leon asked, breaking the silence.
Atlas's eyes flickered to him, softening at the sound of his voice. "Yes. Too many times to count. It's a place of gold and grandeur, but beneath the surface, it's a den of wolves."
Leon's chest tightened at the thought. He wanted to ask more, to peel back the layers of Atlas's past, but before he could, the carriage lurched to a sudden halt. Shouts echoed from outside, and Edwin's voice rang out, commanding and sharp.
"Stay inside!" Atlas ordered, his body tensing as he reached for the dagger at his belt. But Leon, unable to quell the surge of worry, peered out the small window to see a group of cloaked figures blocking the road.
A new danger had found them, even before they reached the Emperor's court.