[Current Time]
"I see… that was really sad," Leo said softly, her voice carrying a shadow of empathy.
"Yeah. That's why she acts rude to others… except me." Leo[Pride] muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets.
He glanced at her, voice low. "How long will it take to reach that portal you mentioned?"
Leo tapped her jaw thoughtfully. "Hmm… it's where I first came into this world. Outside the Shorein Kingdom."
"Then you should've said that before." His tone was dry, disappointment clear.
She let out an awkward laugh. "Haha… sorry. But we'll get there in hours."
"But I don't have the time to wait for hours," Leo[Pride] muttered.
Before Leo could react, he suddenly swept her up into his arms.
"Uh—h-hey! What are you—!!" Leo's eyes widened. The people along the road froze, staring in shock.
"Hey, Leo, are you okay!?" she stammered, squirming as she tried to break free.
"Just watch what I'm doing," Leo[Pride] said, his cold stare silencing her.
A bead of sweat rolled down her cheek. She forced an awkward smile. "U-um… fine…"
Whispers rippled through the crowd as they watched, wide-eyed. Leo[Pride] ignored them entirely, bent his knees, and leapt high into the air—so high his body sailed over the rooftops.
"Waaaaaahhh!!! What the hell are you doing!?" Leo screamed, clinging tightly to his arm and cloak.
"We'll reach it soon now," he replied casually, his tone calm as if nothing unusual was happening.
The wind whipped past, the sky stretching endlessly above.
"Wow… I didn't know you could fly like this," Leo said, staring at the horizon as the kingdom fell away beneath them.
"Why? Didn't you have that ability?" Leo[Pride] asked, eyes fixed forward.
"No… I don't." She shook her head, a hint of irritation on her face.
A sigh slipped from her lips. "…I feel uneasy."
Her thoughts turned bitter. Man… it's too hard for a man to be a girl like this.
Below, the kingdom sprawled out like a map, shrinking as they soared past its borders.
"Seems like we crossed it already," Leo said, glancing down.
"So where's the place? Have we arrived?" Leo[Pride] asked.
Leo scanned the land, then suddenly pointed ahead, her eyes lighting up. "Hmm… hah! There it is!"
Leo[Pride] raised a brow at her confidence. "You sure?"
"Of course I'm sure!" she shot back with a grin.
"Then fine."
He descended swiftly, boots slamming into the grass with a solid thud. The wind brushed against the wide field as he released her.
"Now, down." He let go—
BOOM!
"Aghhh!!" Leo collapsed onto the ground, face-first.
"Oii!!! What kind of manners are those!?" she shouted, springing up with rage.
"Hah. I don't understand manners. And your ass body is heavy," Leo[Pride] said with a disgusted look.
"Tch… you!!" she bit her lip in fury but sighed in resignation. "…Fine."
She walked toward a patch of grass where a single rose bloomed.
"I think it's here," Leo said, glancing at him.
"Good. Then summon it." Leo[Pride] stepped closer.
Leo knelt by the rose, closed her eyes, and tried to focus. But her thoughts spun in panic. I never asked Lucillia how to summon the Fragment World Gate… damn it…
"…Hey. Is this…?" Leo[Pride]'s voice faltered, a rare nervousness creeping in.
Leo opened her eyes, brow furrowed. "What, Leo?"
He pointed past her. "Look behind you. A large gate."
Her head whipped around—her breath caught.
The Fragment World Gate towered before them, massive and solemn. White stone shimmered with black stripes and golden rings, faint light pulsing as though alive. Mist curled around its edges, whispering like breath.
"Yes! This is it! The gate I wanted!" Leo cried, her face breaking into a bright, excited smile.
"I see. So this is where you came through," Leo[Pride] murmured, stepping closer to the colossal structure.
But… why did it summon without me doing anything? Leo wondered, unease flickering in her eyes.
"We shouldn't waste time here," Leo[Pride] said firmly, placing a hand against the gate.
"Yeah, you're right." Leo nodded, her expression sharpening. She stepped beside him.
The moment she approached, the gate shuddered and slowly creaked open. Thick, white mist poured out, swallowing the field in its glow.
"I see… so Lucillia prepared this for when I needed it. That's why it appeared on its own," Leo thought, a smirk tugging her lips.
"Let's go!" she shouted, raising her hand.
Together, Leo and Leo[Pride] stepped into the shining mist of the Fragment World Gate—and vanished.