Leon arrived before the sanctuary where Kusanali was being held.
Built at the highest point of Sumeru, this sanctuary was like a sealed cage, a place where malicious people had imprisoned Kusanali.
"Who are you?! Stop right there!"
"This is the Sanctuary of Surasthana. No one is allowed to approach without the Grand Sage's orders!"
Several armed guards stood alert at the entrance when they saw Leon.
Leon looked at them with cold eyes.
Clearly, this was their king's palace, yet there were only a few people guarding it—and they were not knights protecting their ruler, but traitors who had harmed the girl inside.
"I order you to get drunk on wine, throw yourselves from the highest point in Sumeru, and die. Be grateful—this way of dying is far too merciful for you."
Leon issued the command for suicide without the slightest hesitation.
"I will obey! Thank you, my lord, for granting me death!"
"I will obey! Thank you, my lord, for granting me death!"
"I will obey! Thank you, my lord, for granting me death!"
Their consciousness altered by Geass, the guards abandoned their posts, preparing to find wine, drink themselves senseless, and then leap from a high place in a final act of devotion.
Leon paused briefly, slightly impressed by the strength of the sanctuary's defensive system. No wonder his subordinates had been unable to break in.
"But that's all it amounts to…"
Leon raised his hand and knocked on the sanctuary door.
In an instant, a spatial rift opened, and he stepped directly inside.
For Leon, who possessed the power to manipulate space, there was nowhere in the world he could not reach. No matter how formidable this cage-like sanctuary's defenses were, before him they were nothing more than useless decorations.
Then Leon saw it.
At the very center of the sanctuary, atop a cold stone platform, a magical barrier woven with delicate golden chain-like patterns imprisoned a girl, like a bird trapped within a cage.
"Damn it… this is really irritating." Leon frowned slightly.
Suppressing the urge to destroy the place outright, he stepped forward and leapt into the magical barrier. Only then did he clearly see the appearance of the Lesser Lord Kusanali.
She was a delicate-looking young girl, with white hair tinged with aqua-green hues, styled into long side braids and a ponytail. She wore predominantly white attire adorned with gold and green accents—loose sleeves and a dress reminiscent of leaves, embellished with touches of gold and gemstones, all evoking nature and wisdom.
At that moment, she was sleeping deeply within the cage, curled up as if seeking safety.
Leon was surprised—she was the complete opposite of what he had imagined.
He had never seen her with his own eyes before. Even though Lumine had told him she was young, Leon had assumed she would at least look fifteen or sixteen. He had not expected her to be so childlike.
"I'm getting more and more irritated with Sumeru's 'sages,'" Leon muttered.
"Everyone… don't leave me… sister…"
Leon heard her murmuring in her sleep and saw tears spilling from the corners of her eyes.
He found himself momentarily distracted.
Logically speaking, someone treated this way should feel disgust, resentment, and rage. If it were Leon, with his temperament, he would have executed anyone who dared harm him.
But the girl before him was different.
Dreams were merely the subconscious laid bare, and people could not lie within them. The words she whispered in her sleep were undoubtedly her true feelings.
This young girl, betrayed by her people, felt sorrow over her own suffering—yet she bore no resentment toward those who had treated her so cruelly.
Though it had nothing to do with him, Leon felt a pang of anguish. He raised his hand and gently touched the sleeping girl's head.
Wiping away the tears on her cheeks, his resolve to conquer Sumeru only strengthened.
"Mm… huh? You… who are you?"
At that moment, Kusanali opened her eyes.
Leon was certain he had not touched her roughly.
Perhaps after being confined for so long, she had become extraordinarily sensitive to any contact with the outside world.
At the same time, Leon noticed her eyes—truly remarkable.
Dark green irises, with light green pupils shaped like crosses, resembling four-leaf clovers.
"Hey, you're awake," Leon said with a smile.
Kusanali stared at him blankly, rubbing her eyes as if she could not believe that, despite being locked in a cage, she would have a visitor upon waking.
But soon, she found an explanation that satisfied her.
"So that's it… I haven't really woken up. I'm just having another dream. Is this what they call a lucid dream? Amazing… it's so vivid, so real."
"Hello, my name is Nahida. What's your name? Um… if you don't have one, would you like me to choose one for you?"
"This… this is the first dream I've ever had where I can control myself. Can you talk to me? I haven't spoken to anyone in a very long time."
Curiosity, surprise, and expectation filled Nahida's eyes. She knew she had been abandoned, and that no one would ever come to this cage where she was imprisoned, so she attributed Leon's presence to her dream.
Even so, it made her incredibly happy.
She thought that even if he were nothing more than an illusion, it would still be wonderful if she could talk to him.
Yet Nahida did not dare touch Leon—not out of fear, but because she was afraid her "lucid dream" would vanish.
"What an adorable misunderstanding…" Leon shook his head, stunned.
"My name is Leon. Hello, Nahida. Let me clear something up first—I'm not a dream. And this is proof."
He raised his hand and gently pinched her cheek. The sensation was so soft and pleasant that Leon found himself worried he might hurt her.
Nahida, however, was completely shocked.
Her green eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Leon, and unconsciously she raised her hand to hold his.
"This… this is real?"
She felt the warmth and pressure on her cheek, and her heart suddenly began to race. That was the body heat of another person—something she had not felt in a very, very long time.
Her body reacted almost instinctively, lifting her hand to keep his touch on her face just a little longer.
Leon looked at Nahida with pity.
Then he raised his other hand, resting it on her head and gently stroking her other cheek.
Nahida narrowed her eyes, overwhelmed with emotion, on the verge of tears.
At that moment, she was like a blade of grass growing in the desert, about to wither—while Leon was like a sudden torrential rain after countless years of drought.
She longed for him to give her even more warmth and moisture.
"Is this enough? Do you want me to stop?"
"Please… please stay like this a little longer… just a bit more… is that okay?"
"Alright, alright… hey, you look so pitiful—how could I possibly refuse? But is this really enough? Do you want a hug? It'll be warmer that way."
(End of the chapter)