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Ruggie leaned against the wall, observing the unlikely sight of Leona’s younger self.
He had gone through so much effort tracking down the Housewarden, only to find the kid version of him.
And now he was just... there, enjoying a chess game with Jack, of all people.
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It was strange
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This little Leona was both familiar and unfamiliar, almost like a ghost from a forgotten past.
As he watched, Ruggie’s expression softened.
Leona was showing Jack the basics of chess, occasionally pausing to explain the purpose of each piece.
It was almost hard to believe that this was the same Leona Kingscholar who was so bitter and withdrawn in his older years.
“Leona… is he really smiling?” whispered one of the other Savanaclaw students nearby.
Ruggie glanced over and noticed several of them watching in disbelief.
“I mean, he doesn’t look like he’s smiling, but he’s… not scowling either.”
“Yeah, it’s like he actually cares,” another one added in a low voice, trying not to disturb the young lion’s focus.
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He even could not believe it...
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Ruggie shook his head, feeling a pang of mixed emotions as he kept his eyes on Leona.
In all the time he’d spent with him, he had never seen this gentle, almost hopeful side of him.
The Leona he knew was complicated haunted by jealousy, resentment, and the weight of unfulfilled expectations.
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But this version was different.
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Truly different...
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The kid in front of him, with his ears flicking back and forth and his tail subtly wagging, was open, if even just a little.
Young Leona looked up from the game and caught Ruggie’s gaze, his green eyes wide with a curiosity that had long been buried in the older Leona.
For a brief moment, Ruggie felt the weight of something unspoken, something precious that had been lost to time.
“What’s up?” Young Leona asked, tilting his head.
“Are you waiting for your turn?”
“Nah, I’m good,” Ruggie replied quickly, shoving his hands into his pockets as he shrugged.
“Just… watching.”
Leona’s tail gave another flick as he returned to the game with Jack, who was clearly struggling to keep up.
Leona was being patient, more patient than Ruggie had ever seen him be.
When Jack made a wrong move, Leona would show him where he could improve, gently nudging the pieces into better positions.
“He’s teaching him,” muttered one of the Savanaclaw members, looking almost awestruck. .
“He’s actually taking the time to teach.”
Ruggie couldn’t help but smile slightly.
“Yeah, he is.”
The scene unfolding before him was almost surreal.
This Leona, open-hearted and kind, was worlds apart from the man who grew up feeling second best to his golden brother.
The atmosphere was calm, warm even.
For the first time, Ruggie felt like he was seeing the person Leona could have been if he hadn’t been crushed by the shadows of expectation and neglect.
After a few more turns, Jack finally managed a decent move, and Leona’s tail flicked again, his subtle approval shining through in his own quiet way.
Ruggie felt a strange pang in his chest, a mixture of sadness and nostalgia for something he had never even known existed.
If only Leona had been given the chance to hold onto this part of himself.
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But he had no chance at all...
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No chance to shine...
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As his light was turn off..
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“He’s… he’s just a kid,” Ruggie muttered under his breath, more to himself than anyone else.
“What was that, senpai?” one of the younger students next to him asked.
Ruggie shook his head, eyes lingering on Leona’s small, smiling form.
“Nothing, nothing. Just… seeing a different side of him, I guess.”
A tall, muscular figure approached Ruggie, stopping just a few steps in front of him.
The newcomer was a black panther beastman with sleek midnight fur and striking amber eyes, contrasting sharply against his jet-black mane that was pulled back into a tidy ponytail.
He wore the Savanaclaw dorm uniform neatly, his demeanor both professional and intense.
He inclined his head in a formal greeting toward Ruggie.
“Good afternoon, Housewarden Bucchi,” he greeted, his deep voice laced with respect.
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Oh...how he hate that title..
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Ruggie suppressed a groan. It still irked him to no end that with Leona out of commission, he’d somehow become the acting “housewarden,” thanks to Crowley’s brilliant decision to pass all the responsibility onto him.
The headmaster hadn’t even considered appointing a vice housewarden when Leona hadn’t bothered to, which meant every single problem in Savanaclaw landed squarely on Ruggie’s shoulders.
Crowley’s ‘favor’ was definitely one he could do without.
“Is there news?” Ruggie asked, keeping his voice level.
“Yes,” the panther replied, glancing around to make sure no one else was listening before continuing.
“Word just came in that the other housewardens… have also been turned into children, similar to Housewarden’s current state.”
Around them, a few nearby beastmen gasped, their voices hushed as they murmured to each other in shock.
Ruggie’s frown deepened.
All the housewardens? This had officially escalated into something way beyond just an isolated incident in Savanaclaw.
He could only imagine what the other dorms were going through with their own housewardens suddenly reduced to childhood.
But before he could even begin to work out what this might mean for him and the other vice-housewardens, he caught a flash of unease on the panther’s face.
“What’s wrong?” Ruggie asked, his voice low.
The panther hesitated, shifting uncomfortably under Ruggie’s gaze.
“Well… Headmaster Crowley has informed the family members of each housewarden about their condition.”
Ruggie’s eyes widened as he snapped his head back toward Leona, who was still happily engaged in his chess game with Jack and a few other beastmen who had gathered around, laughing and chattering excitedly.
The young Leona actually chuckled at one point, a soft, unguarded sound that held no smugness or arrogance. It was just… pure joy.
The sight took Ruggie aback, and he noticed a few other Savanaclaw members were similarly dumbstruck, staring at their usually stoic housewarden, now a child enjoying a simple game.
But Ruggie’s mind quickly snapped back to the immediate problem. If Crowley had notified the family members, then that meant…
“Falena…” Ruggie muttered under his breath, feeling a surge of irritation rise in his chest.
He didn’t know Falena personally, but he’d heard enough from Leona to know the two had a complicated history, to say the least. Falena—the ‘golden child,’ the perfect prince everyone adored.
He wasn’t exactly Ruggie’s favorite person, especially with how his existence had left Leona feeling overshadowed and bitter all these years.
And now, Falena was likely on his way to NRC to see his brother… this version of Leona, so open and happy, was something Falena probably hadn’t seen in years.
Ruggie’s frown deepened. Falena’s arrival would mean trouble..
He didn’t want the current Leona, this pure, gentle version, to get hurt by someone who had been so indifferent to his older self’s struggles.
“Thanks for the update,” Ruggie muttered to the panther, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on him even more heavily.
“Guess we’ll just have to handle whatever happens next…”
He cast one last look at Leona, whose tail was still wagging as he showed another beastman how to make a winning move.
For once, Leona looked… at peace.
Ruggie clenched his fists, silently vowing to do what he could to protect this small, happy version of his housewarden from whatever emotional storm Falena’s arrival would bring.
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Even if he fight him..
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________________________________________________________
The next morning, young Leona was kneeling in the Savanaclaw lounge carefully watering one of Jack’s cacti.
He watched as the water soaked into the dry soil, tiny droplets clinging to the cactus’s spines as the sun caught them, casting small, glistening reflections.
For a moment, he was lost in thought, mesmerized by the scene.
Yesterday had been… strange. People approached him....not because he was “Falena’s little brother” but just for him.
They’d talked, laughed, even played games with him, making him feel like he actually belonged for once.
His tail wagged slowly behind him, betraying his happiness, though he’d never admit how much it meant to him.
But then, his thoughts drifted to something else, something that made his tail still.
He’d overheard Ruggie mentioning that Falena, his brother, had been informed of his situation.
The mere thought of it made his face scrunch up in irritation.
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He hate him...!
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Huh?
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Where did those thoughts come from?
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He still felt so conflicted about his older brother.
Deep down, he couldn’t deny there was anger, hurt, and confusion swirling inside him whenever he thought of Falena and their estranged relationship.
As he mulled it over, Leona couldn’t help but wonder about his future self.
He’d heard enough hints to know that he and Falena had grown even more distant over the years, that something must have happened that pushed them further apart.
Ruggie had even said that future Leona would go out of his way to avoid contact with Falena if he had the chance.
The idea was confusing. Sad, even. But what had changed? What had gone so wrong?
Leona sighed, setting the watering can down. Just as he pushed himself up to his feet, he heard someone call his name.
“Leona…”
At first, he thought it was Ruggie again, but the voice was wrong.
Familiar, but deeper. Older. He glanced up and felt his heart skip a beat, eyes widening.
Standing there, in the shade at the garden’s edge, was a tall figure he recognized instantly.
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Falena.
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It's Falena...
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Falena’s presence was almost regal, yet warm in a way that seemed to light up the surroundings.
His mane..a golden brown that matched the soft hues of the early sunlight—was wild and thick, cascading over his shoulders.
His amber eyes, which held a kindness that had once been a source of comfort to Leona, were now wide with shock as he took in the sight of his younger brother, transformed into a child.
The watering can slipped from Leona’s hand, landing with a quiet thud in the grass as he stared at his brother, too stunned to speak.
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Why are you here?
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________________________________________________________________
Leona had always idolized his older brother Falena.
As kids, they would run through the tall savanna grasses, pretending to be kings of their own little world.
Falena, the golden heir, was loved by all, and Leona, still too young to fully understand the weight of the crown, was content to stand in his shadow, knowing that his brother was his closest ally.
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Ohhh....
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How wrong he was...
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But as the years passed, Falena grew busier.
Their playful days together became less frequent, and Leona found himself yearning for the bond they used to share.
This year, the annual festival in the Sunset Savanna was something Leona had been looking forward to.
Falena promised that they would celebrate together, just like old times.
Leona waited in their favorite spot under the baobab tree, the sun setting in the distance.
He clutched a small gift he had prepared for his brother, excitement bubbling inside him as the sky turned gold and orange, thinking of the moments they’d laugh and joke like they used to.
But time ticked by, and Falena didn’t show. The sky darkened, and the sounds of laughter and celebration echoed from the city below.
Leona’s heart sank.
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Maybe Falena was running late.
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Like he always do...
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Maybe he was caught up in his royal duties.
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Like he always do....
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But hope faded as the hours passed, and Leona’s patience wore thin.
He picked up the gift, his small fingers clutching it tightly as frustration and sadness welled up inside him.
Finally, disheartened and broken, Leona trudged back to the palace.
As he approached, he heard music and laughter coming from the grand hall.
His footsteps slowed, and his heart clenched when he saw Falena..laughing, dancing, and celebrating with his fiancée, completely oblivious to the promise he'd made..
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He forgot.......
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The promise...
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We made...
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Why am I even surprised?
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Leona’s heart shattered, the betrayal cutting deeper than he’d ever imagined.
Later that evening, Falena came to Leona’s room, the look of guilt written all over his face.
"Leona, I'm sorry," he began, trying to explain how things had gotten busy, how royal obligations took over.
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Liar....!
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I saw you happy and dancing with them!
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While I was waiting for you!.
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You Liar!!!
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But Leona, his heart hardened by disappointment, refused to listen as tears started to well up in his eyes.
" I hate you...," he muttered coldly, turning his back on Falena.
Falena’s eyes widened before it softened with regret, but Leona wouldn’t let him get close again.
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Ever....
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As Falena left the room, Leona sat in silence, clutching the now-forgotten gift. As he then throw it away directly to the fire, he then watched it burn, a reminder of a bond that would never be the same again.
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I hate you...
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______________________________________________________________
Falena sat at his desk in the palace, immersed in paperwork.
The room was quiet, with only the sound of his pen scratching across the paper.
As he reached for another document, his gaze drifted to a photo framed neatly on his desk.
It wasn’t of his family as one might expect.
It was an old photo of him and a young Leona.
In it, Leona wore a rare smile, sitting proudly on Falena’s shoulders as they laughed together.
A nostalgic smile touched Falena’s lips. Those were simpler days, back when Leona had looked up to him, trusting him without hesitation.
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But now.....
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Things had changed, and not for the better.
Their relationship now felt like a faded echo of what it used to be, a painful reminder of time lost and promises broken.
Falena let out a quiet sigh, the weight of regret settling heavily on his chest.
He was about to return to his work when a knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.
“Enter,” he called, setting his pen aside.
The door opened to reveal Kifaji, an old family confidant and loyal friend to his late father.
The blue-feathered bird beastman held himself with the dignity and grace of his age, but today, a look of tension marred his usually calm expression.
“Kifaji,” Falena greeted, gesturing for him to take a seat.
“Is something wrong?”
Kifaji didn’t respond immediately.
Instead, he extended a letter, sealed with the unmistakable crest of Night Raven College.
Falena raised an eyebrow, already expecting the worst.
"Did Leona do something again?" he asked, half resigned to hearing of some new mischief or disciplinary matter.
Kifaji sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Much worse, I’m afraid.”
Curiosity piqued, Falena took the letter and quickly scanned its contents.
His eyes widened as he read....his brother had somehow been transformed into a child.
He looked up at Kifaji, who only shook his head, confirming that this was no jest or mistake.
Falena set the letter down with a sigh. Of all the things he’d anticipated, this certainly wasn’t one of them.
The palace advisor studied him for a moment, then finally spoke.
“What do you intend to do, Your Highness?”
“I… don’t know,” Falena admitted truthfully, glancing down at his hands.
There was a time he would have rushed to Leona’s side, but things weren’t so simple now.
Silence settled between them until Kifaji, with a gentle firmness, advised,
“Perhaps, young sire, you should go to Night Raven and check on him yourself.”
Falena looked at him, mixed feelings surfacing.
His hesitation wasn’t from lack of concern but rather from fear...fear that seeing him would only make things worse between them.
Leona had grown increasingly distant over the years, and Falena knew his younger brother resented him deeply.
He thought back to their rare, tense conversations, to how Leona barely spent time with him whenever he returned to the palace, often dodging him and only staying because of Cheka, his son.
If he was honest, he felt a pang of jealousy whenever he watched Leona and Cheka together.
Cheka could freely hug and cling to Leona without hesitation.
Even if Leona grumbled and complained, Falena knew his brother cared for Cheka in a way he no longer did for him.
If Falena so much as tried to share a room with Leona, his younger brother would become wary, the tension between them too palpable to ignore.
It hurt more than he cared to admit.
Falena’s gaze drifted back to the photograph on his desk, lingering on his younger brother’s carefree smile.
The memories it stirred finally tipped the scales, and after a moment of contemplation, he made his decision.
The next day, Falena arrived at Night Raven College dressed in formal attire.
Convincing Cheka not to accompany him had been a challenge.
Yhe boy had thrown a fit, insisting he wanted to see his beloved “Unca.”
Luckily, Kifaji had managed to calm him down, but Falena couldn’t shake the nagging feeling of guilt.
He wanted Cheka to see Leona as he remembered him, and not as a confused, vulnerable child in an unfamiliar place.
Taking a steadying breath, Falena stepped forward into the imposing entrance of Night Raven College.
He wasn’t sure what he would find here or how Leona would react to seeing him but he was determined to face it, hoping that, somehow, he could at least ease his little brother’s confusion.
Perhaps this unusual situation might even give them a chance to mend what had been broken between them so long ago.
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He hope so...
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______________________________________________________________
Falena stepped into Night Raven College’s grand foyer, where he was greeted by the headmaster, Crowley.
The man welcomed him warmly, though his smile seemed more professional than sincere.
As Falena scanned the area, he noticed other visitors...parents and family members..who were likely here for the same reason he was.
Some looked anxious, others confused, and one woman, a striking redhead, appeared ready to burst into an angry outburst.
Her frustration was clear in her clenched fists and sharp gaze, but the headmaster shot her a stern look, silently quelling any protest.
Falena watched this exchange, feeling an odd sense of discomfort in the woman’s presence.
She radiated a certain harshness, something that set him on edge, as if a storm was hidden beneath her polished exterior.
Crowley continued with his explanation, keeping things brief but clear about the strange phenomenon that had affected the housewardens, turning them into children.
Once the initial shock settled, the visitors were introduced to the temporary overseers of each dorm, and Falena’s attention shifted when Crowley gestured toward a young hyena beastman.
“This is Ruggie Bucchi, the acting housewarden of Savanaclaw in Leona’s absence,” Crowley said with a wave of his hand.
Falena’s gaze settled on Ruggie, his expression carefully neutral.
He recognized the name from letters Leona had sent over the years, though his brother had never offered much detail about the hyena.
Ruggie appeared relaxed yet sharp, his eyes glinting with a keen intelligence that Falena hadn’t expected.
Ruggie bowed slightly, introducing himself with a casual but respectful tone.
Falena gave a nod, still feeling a twinge of doubt.
He wasn’t sure how much he trusted Ruggie with Leona’s care, but for now, he had no choice but to trust the arrangement.
After brief instructions from the headmaster, Ruggie led Falena to a tall, ornate mirror..the Mirror of Darkness, a portal to each dorm within the college grounds.
The mirror pulsed with a soft, eerie light as they stepped through, and Falena felt a strange tugging sensation as he was transported to Savanaclaw.
The moment they arrived, Falena’s breath caught.
The dorm was like nothing he had ever seen, a beautiful, untamed savanna stretching out under a painted sunset sky.
It reminded him of home, of the warm, amber light of dusk as it draped across the savanna plains.
For a moment, he felt like he was back in the Sunset Savannah, walking through fields of golden grass.
“Leona’s in the loungr” Ruggie explained.
“I’ll leave you to it.”
Falena thanked him quietly, nerves stirring in his chest.
He walked through the dorm alone, passing by groups of beastmen students who eyed him with curious glances before bowing respectfully and leaving the halls.
He appreciated the gesture but felt a flicker of unease..he hadn’t come to intimidate or demand respect; he was simply here for his brother.
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Like how a big brother should...
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Finally, he reached the common hall, pausing at the door to collect himself.
He took a deep breath, steadying his heart, then gently pushed the door open.
Inside, he saw Leona, standing small and young, holding a watering can and carefully tending to a cactus by the window.
The sunlight filtering through the glass cast a soft glow on him, illuminating his innocent expression as he focused on the plant.
The sight hit Falena like a wave, and he felt his heart skip a beat.
It was like seeing a memory come to life...a memory he thought he’d lost forever.
In that moment, every emotion he had buried, every regret and painful memory, surged forward.
He hadn’t seen Leona look this… happy in years.
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And he was one of those reasons...
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There was no bitterness in his expression, no hard line of anger or resentment. Just pure, simple joy.
He fought back tears, but his chest felt unbearably tight.
The scar he remembered, the bitterness that seemed etched into Leona’s features as he grew older..none of it was here.
For the first time in so long, Falena was seeing Leona as he once was, as the little brother who had once idolized him, clung to him, followed him around like a shadow.
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It hurts....
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It hurt so deeply, realizing how much he had taken that love for granted, assuming it would always be there, even as he’d failed to truly be the brother Leona needed.
The memories of that fateful day flashed through his mind..the day Leona had looked him in the eyes and said, “I hate you.”
It had felt like a blade through his heart, a wound that never truly healed.
Falena had known then that he’d let Leona down, that their bond had fractured in a way he couldn’t repair.
And over the years, that distance had only grown wider.
But now, seeing Leona like this, he wished more than anything that he could turn back the clock, undo the neglect and misunderstandings that had driven them apart.
He had been so blind, so caught up in his duties, his image, his kingdom, that he’d missed the pain in his little brother’s eyes.
He had foolishly believed Leona was strong enough to bear it all alone, never realizing that strength didn’t mean he didn’t need love, comfort, and understanding.
His hands trembled as he clung to the doorframe, his gaze locked on his brother’s happy, innocent face.
How he wanted to reach out, to hold Leona close, to tell him he was sorry and that he would never leave his side again.
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But he was afraid
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Afraid to break this delicate moment, afraid that even in this younger form, Leona might still push him away.
For now, he would just stand here, watching over his brother quietly, waiting for the right moment to finally speak.
He hoped, deep down, that this strange twist of fate would grant him a second chance to be the brother Leona had always deserved.
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" Leona... "