Leon stood frozen in place, the dim light from the old abandoned building casting long shadows across the walls. What he saw before him was far beyond anything he could have ever imagined. There, in the center of the room, was his little sister, Aliya, curled up and sleeping peacefully. But she wasn't alone. Beside her lay a beautiful, graceful woman, her presence commanding and otherworldly. The woman had horns that curved elegantly from her head and a long, slender tail that rested gently on the floor.
Leon's breath caught in his throat. The realization struck him like a thunderbolt—this was no ordinary woman. This was his mother. His dragon heritage, the secret that had been hidden from him until now, was embodied in this majestic figure. She exuded a warmth and serenity that contrasted starkly with the cold, harsh image Leon had held of her in the past.
Memories surged forward unbidden, slamming into him with the force of a tidal wave. He saw himself as Leon Alaric, the scumbag, standing tall and proud in the main family hall, accusing her of treasonous acts she had never committed. He remembered her silent tears, her bowed head, and the way she walked away without a word when he banished her from the main family estate. He had stripped her of her dignity, her home, and her rightful place, all based on lies and his own arrogance.
Leon stumbled forward, his legs shaky. His heart ached as he watched Aliya clutching their mother's arm in her sleep, a soft smile on her innocent face. He realized that Aliya must have been sneaking out to this rundown building every night, just to be close to the mother who had been wronged and exiled. The thought made his chest tighten painfully, guilt and regret crashing over him in waves.
Tears welled up in Leon's eyes. He bit his lip, trying to hold them back, but it was no use. They spilled over, streaking down his cheeks as he took another hesitant step forward. His mother stirred slightly, her eyes fluttering open. When her gaze met his, there was no anger, no hatred—only a deep, unspoken sadness that made him feel even smaller.
Without thinking, without planning, Leon's body moved on its own. He knelt beside them, his trembling hand reaching out to touch his mother's. Her skin was warm, and the simple gesture sent a jolt through him. She didn't pull away, didn't say a word. Aliya stirred in her sleep, her small hand reaching out to grasp Leon's shirt. He felt her warmth, her trust, and it was too much to bear.
Leon lay down beside them, his heart pounding in his chest. He felt the softness of the makeshift bed, the gentle rise and fall of his mother's breathing, and the comforting weight of Aliya's tiny frame beside him. For the first time since he had transmigrated into this world, he felt something akin to peace. The guilt and regret still gnawed at him, but in this moment, they were overshadowed by a profound sense of belonging and warmth.
As his mother's tail curled slightly around them, Leon closed his eyes. He didn't need words to apologize, to express the storm of emotions raging within him. The silent tears that fell from his eyes spoke volumes. And as he drifted off to sleep, he made a silent vow to himself: he would make things right. He would protect this family he had wronged, no matter what it took.