The following day dawned with a stillness that belied the tension simmering beneath the surface. Leon woke to the golden light streaming through his window, painting the room in warm hues. The quiet reminded him of the calm before a storm, and it made the hair on his arms stand on end.
Atlas was already gone, likely beginning his investigation into the suspicious merchant. The absence left Leon feeling unsettled, though he pushed it aside as he dressed and prepared for the day. He was to meet Edwin to assess the estate's defenses, but first, he needed a moment of solitude.
Walking out to the garden, Leon inhaled the crisp morning air, the faint scent of roses and dew calming his nerves. The garden had always been his haven, a place where he could escape the heavy expectations and whispers of the court. But today, even this space felt different, as if it, too, was holding its breath.
"Troubled?" a voice said, breaking the silence.
Leon turned to see Edwin approaching, his expression unreadable. Edwin's dark hair fell across his forehead, and there was a hardness to his gaze that hadn't always been there. He looked as if he hadn't slept, the weight of their plan pressing down on him.
"A little," Leon admitted, his voice soft. "There's so much at stake."
Edwin's jaw tightened before he stepped closer, placing a firm hand on Leon's shoulder. "We'll get through this. Together."
Leon nodded, but before he could respond, a sudden crash echoed from the far side of the estate, followed by shouts. Both men exchanged a quick glance, their muscles tensing as they ran toward the commotion.
They arrived to find guards struggling to contain a group of masked intruders. One of the assailants, tall and cloaked in dark fabric, locked eyes with Leon, and for a split second, a chilling recognition passed between them.
"Leon, get back!" Edwin shouted, unsheathing his sword as he lunged toward the nearest intruder. The clash of metal against metal rang out, blending with the shouts of the guards.
Leon's heartbeat thundered in his chest. He wanted to fight, but without training, he would be a liability. He retreated as Edwin fought fiercely, his movements precise and lethal. Yet the masked figure who had caught Leon's eye managed to evade capture, slipping into the shadows as swiftly as he'd appeared.
The skirmish ended as quickly as it began, the remaining intruders either captured or retreating into the dense forest that bordered the estate.
"Are you hurt?" Edwin panted, eyes scanning Leon for injuries.
Leon shook his head, but the question barely registered. His mind was still fixed on the intruder's eyes—dark, calculating, and achingly familiar.
"No," Leon whispered, an unease settling deep in his bones. "But I think this was just the beginning."