The sun was beginning to rise, painting the sky in soft hues of pink and orange as Leon made his way back up the mountain after a short stroll near the base. The cool morning breeze carried the faint rustling of leaves, and the quiet serenity of the forest surrounded him.
As he climbed the winding stone steps, his thoughts were still on the Mana Reed he had successfully fused the day before. Though it was a small step, the achievement had ignited a spark of excitement in him—a curiosity to explore his ability further.
His musings were interrupted by the sound of high-pitched giggles and shuffling feet.
Leon stopped mid-step, his gaze snapping upward to the source of the noise. A small group of children, no older than four or five, was running around the trail a few steps ahead. Their laughter echoed through the trees as they chased each other, their little feet kicking up dust and leaves.
The children hadn't noticed him yet, too caught up in their play. One of the younger boys tripped over a root, landing on his hands and knees. He pouted, tears welling up in his wide eyes, but before he could start crying, one of the older girls helped him up, brushing dirt off his clothes.
Leon couldn't help but smile at the scene. He cleared his throat softly to announce his presence, and all the children froze, their heads snapping toward him.
For a moment, they stared in wide-eyed silence, their mouths slightly agape. Then, as if on cue, they all dropped into clumsy bows, their tiny bodies swaying as they tried to balance.
"G-Great Relethis!" one of the boys stammered, his voice squeaky with nerves.
The rest of the children followed suit, murmuring similar greetings.
Leon chuckled softly, crouching to their level. "You don't need to bow. What are you all doing here this early?"
The children hesitated, exchanging nervous glances. Finally, one of the girls, her hair tied in messy pigtails, spoke up. "We were playing hide and seek, great one."
"On the mountain trail?" Leon asked, raising an eyebrow.
The girl nodded, her face turning red. "We didn't mean to disturb you…"
"You're not disturbing me," Leon said gently, his smile widening. "But this isn't the safest place to play. Why don't you come with me?"
The children exchanged confused glances, but their curiosity quickly overtook their hesitation. Nodding eagerly, they followed Leon as he gestured for them to come along.
As they reached the top of the mountain, the children's eyes grew even wider at the sight of Leon's house. Its grand structure, with its tall windows and intricate carvings, seemed like something out of a storybook to the young villagers.
But what caught their attention even more was the open park in front of the house.
The park was simple but inviting, with neatly trimmed grass, a few wooden benches, and a cluster of trees that provided shade. Small pathways wound through the area, and there was even a small clearing perfect for running around.
The children gasped in delight, their earlier shyness forgotten as they darted forward to explore.
Leon watched them with a fond smile, his hands resting on his hips. The sight of their excitement was infectious, and he found himself chuckling softly.
One of the boys, his face flushed with excitement, turned back to Leon. "Great Relethis, will you play with us?"
Leon blinked, momentarily caught off guard.
"Yeah! Play with us!" another child chimed in, her eyes shining with enthusiasm.
The rest of the group joined in, their voices overlapping as they eagerly pleaded with him.
Leon hesitated for a moment, then shrugged, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Alright. Let's play hide and seek."
The children erupted into cheers, their excitement reaching new heights.
Leon knelt down, covering his eyes with his hands. "Alright, I'll count to twenty. You all hide, okay?"
The children scattered instantly, their laughter ringing out as they darted in every direction. Some hid behind trees, others behind benches or bushes.
"One… two… three…" Leon began counting, his voice steady.
By the time he reached twenty, the park was silent save for the faint rustling of leaves. Lowering his hands, Leon stood and looked around, a playful smirk on his face.
"Ready or not, here I come."
He strolled through the park, pretending not to notice the small feet peeking out from behind a bench or the giggles coming from behind a tree.
"Hmm, where could they be?" he mused aloud, tapping his chin.
A fit of laughter burst out from behind a bush, and Leon turned sharply, pretending to be surprised. "Found you!"
The little boy hiding there squealed in delight, running out with his hands raised. "You're so good at this, great one!"
Leon chuckled, ruffling the boy's hair. "Go sit on the bench and wait until I find the others."
One by one, Leon "found" the children, each discovery met with laughter and playful squeals. By the time the game ended, all the children were gathered on the bench, their faces flushed with happiness.
Eron and Alric, the two guards stationed near the house, watched the entire scene unfold from their post.
"Can you believe this?" Alric whispered, his tone incredulous.
Eron nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Our god is playing hide and seek with the children."
"It's… nice," Alric admitted, his voice softening. "The kids will remember this forever."
Eron glanced at his companion, his smile widening. "And so will we."
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, painting the park in warm hues of gold, Leon clapped his hands to get the children's attention.
"Alright, it's time for you all to head back down," he said, his tone gentle but firm.
The children groaned in unison, their earlier energy replaced by reluctance. "But we want to play more!" one of the girls protested.
"You can come back another time," Leon said with a reassuring smile. "I'll play with you again."
Their eyes lit up at his words, and they nodded eagerly.
Leon walked them to the edge of the staircase, watching as they began their descent. "Be careful on the way down," he called after them.
"Thank you, great Relethis!" they chorused, their voices carrying up the mountain as they disappeared from view.
As the last of the children's laughter faded into the distance, Leon turned back toward the park. The quiet of the evening had returned, but the memory of their joy lingered in the air.
He sat down on one of the benches, leaning back and gazing up at the sky.