chapter 19

On the way to the largest building within the settlement, Leonard and Sachi took notice of many changes that happened throughout the place, new shop setups, houses, and other public buildings, it was surprising how this place could change so much since the last time he was there, it baffled him.

Along the road, he saw goods from as far as the former Rosen territory and the Republic being displayed for sale, and townspeople going through their day being busy and all, no one paid much attention to them- only putting in some distance between their adversary due to the beasts that they were riding look terrifying and expensive.

"I wonder what's happened to the troops of the former camp, I mean...did they moved up further north and set up another border camp there?" he wondered.

It was until he noticed a familiar presence that was stalking him and Sachi that his thought was broken and went into alert mode.

"Sachi, stay close to me, don't be nervous, try to act as normal as possible." Leonard pulled Sachi closer to help while whispering into her ear.

"What is it Leonard?" she asked.

"Someone stalking us that's what...just play along with it for a little while."

"Uhmm." she nodded her head slightly and began hugging onto Leonard's arm.

"..." is this supposes to be normal? That was Leonard thought on Sachi action.

They quickly moved in a much more secluded part of the settlement, hoping that their stalker would follow them, so Leonard could do a confrontation and find out who it was.

******

Luminous was on her daily patrol, like usual after Leonard, her supposed master, vanished through that dark portal roughly a year ago.

She was lost on what to do, the church is pretty much done, for now, it is very unlikely that they would be able to build up again after they suffer so many damages.

With Leonard also disappeared, she was technically free, however- that feeling was quite strange for her, she had never experienced anything like this for a very long time.

It was through Ryan and the other girl...what was her name again? Ah yes, it was Mavis, the "demon" girl, when Leonard was around, he did not allow her to call Mavis a demon, as that was not the name of her people, he promotes the term "Elf" - much to the dismay of the long ears who kept reminding him that she is an Elswynian.

As Luminous was scurrying through the shadow of the alleyway, she picked up on two strange people, they were riding a species of horse that was called the Windshear beast, she saw them heading down the road, toward the direction of the town hall, from the power that they've been giving off, she could tell that the both of them are quite formidable, the level as Sirius- or perhaps even higher.

Yet, she also felt something familiar among one of them as well.

In the end, she quietly stalked them through the street of the border settlement.

So far, it doesn't seem like the two of them had noticed her just yet, she had to be careful, as this could get really dangerous- she also needs to quickly go find the important people of the settlement and inform them of incoming possible danger.

It was then that she noticed their movement became, strange- they seem to be heading into a secluded alleyway of the town through a narrow road.

"Could they have noticed me?" that was Luminous thought.

"Shit! I must not lose them!" she quickly followed them into the secluded street, void of any pedestrian, only empty house that was waiting for the inhabitant to move into and some house that was currently being built- but the workers had left and did not returned to finish it for the day.

Luminous saw that the two figure quickly rushed into a corner of a half-finished building with their mounts, seeing that she was about to lose the both of them, Luminous quickly rushed over- only to be greeted with something unexpected.

"Alright, who are you and why are you following us?" it was a young teenager, short blond hair, with a handsome face that still had a trace of immaturity on them.

It was a face that she had known far too well, even if a year had passed and his temperament had somewhat changed.

"L-Leonard? Is that you?" She stuttered as she slowly pulled down her black mask, revealing her beautiful face to him.

*****

Leonard and Sachi quickly navigated through the settlement, into a more secluded area that was still under construction, however, there was no one there because the workers either took a break that day or they had finished it all for the day and decided to return home, leaving it all unattended.

He quickly dragged Sachi and along with the Windshear Beasts right into a corner, blocked by an unfinished house- perhaps it was going to be a large hotel or inn since it was huge even if it was unfinished.

It was there that he and Sachi had that secret confrontation with their stalker.

And boy was he surprise by who it was after he started the dialogue.

"Alright, who are you and why are you following us?" his expression was that of a serious one and his tone was ice cold as he looked at the feminine figure in front of him.

What surprised him was the first thing that the stalker muttered.

"L-Leonard? Is that you?" the stalker asked

She slowly pulled down her black mask, revealing her beautiful face to him.

"Wait...is that you? Luminous?" he was shocked.

"You know her Leonard?" Sachi asked in surprise, the woman right in front of her was a beauty, and she seems to know of Leonard, the same could say for the latter!

"Young miss Ryan will be delight knowing your return!" Luminous quickly spoke up.

"Yeah, talking about Ryan, where is she? I heard from the lord of the Windstad family that she has been waiting here for me since the day I left."

"It is as you say, miss Ryan indeed was waiting here for your return, as a matter of fact, she's currently is the de-facto ruler of this settlement, as your brother- lord Vandal is currently in charge of excavating the Magic crystal mine that was located near our border with the former Holy kingdom."

"And where have you been? Miss Ryan said that the last time something like that happens, only a moment or so had passed even though you and everyone else, including her- spent close to half a year on the other side." Luminous then added.

"Accident happened on the way home." it was all Leonard could answer.

"That's fantastic, can you take me to Ryan now?" Leonard asked the former Church Inquisitor that had joined him, she happily agreed before subtly glanced at Sachi, who was standing next to Leonard and held on tightly onto his hand in an intimate fashion.

"Could she be…" she looked at Sachi warrily.

"well...I'm going to explain it all when we meet up with the other…" Leonard smiled at Luminous awkwardly, knowing what her gaze mean.

"hmmm...I too, want to know what your explanation is.." Luminous thought as she looked at Sachi with a complicated gaze in her eyes.