The hero

As the days turned into weeks and weeks into months, Leo's abilities only continued to grow. His swordsmanship was now comparable to that of a seasoned fighter, and his spellcasting was rivaling some of the more experienced mages. Caden and Selene couldn't help but watch in awe and curiosity, wondering if there was more to Leo's rapid growth than mere talent.

Caden had tried to push Leo a bit further, sparring with him more often, but every time he did, he was left speechless. Even as a five-year-old, Leo could now block nearly every attack without breaking a sweat.

"Are you sure you didn't secretly train with someone else behind my back?" Caden joked, though a part of him was still deeply impressed. "I've been training for years, and here you are, five years old and already better than me!"

Leo laughed. "I think you're just getting slower, Dad!"

Both Caden and Selene were proud, but they couldn't shake the feeling that Leo's rapid growth was more than just luck or hard work. They had never seen a child develop so quickly, and the thought of it both excited and worried them. Would Leo be able to control such power as he grew older? And where would it take him in this new world?

As they watched Leo train, a sense of pride and unease settled over them. Leo was special, that much was clear. But just how special, and whether it was for better or worse, remained a mystery.

Caden stood across from Leo, his expression focused but somewhat playful. He had been watching his son for a while now, impressed by his skills but also curious about how much more Leo could handle. He decided it was time for a real test.

"Leo," Caden called, gripping his sword tightly. "I'm going to attack you seriously now. Let's see if you can dodge this."

Leo, a bit confused, stood firm, gripping his own practice sword. He had never seen his dad so serious before. Is this a test? Leo thought. I'll be fine. I've been training for this.

Caden's movements were quick, far quicker than anything Leo had encountered before. He swung his sword in rapid, fluid motions, and Leo barely had time to react. The speed of his father's attacks was overwhelming, and before Leo knew it, Caden's sword was inches from him.

The next strike came with such force that Leo's eyes widened in shock. Caden's speed... it was far beyond what Leo had expected. The sword was coming down at him too quickly, and Leo panicked. His feet stumbled, and before he knew it, he was on the ground, trying to scramble out of the way, but it was too late. The next blow was aimed directly at him, and Leo thought it would be the end.

But just as the sword was about to strike, Caden shifted the direction of his attack at the last second, narrowly missing Leo. Leo lay there, stunned, his heart pounding in his chest. He had thought he was about to be hit for sure.

Selene, who had been watching from the sidelines, rushed over in a panic. She threw her arms around Leo, lifting him up from the ground. "Leo! Are you alright? What were you thinking, Caden? You could've hurt him!"

Caden chuckled softly, though there was an edge of seriousness to his voice. "I wasn't going to hurt him. I was just testing him. I wanted to see if he could dodge a real attack."

Selene's eyes widened in disbelief. "A real attack? You nearly gave me a heart attack!"

Caden grinned and shrugged. "Well, you never know if a kid is really ready until you push them a little. I needed to see if Leo could dodge a full-blown attack, not just practice swings."

Leo sat up, his mind racing. That was way too close. I thought I was done for. But as the tension in the air began to die down, Leo looked at his dad, eyes wide. "So, I'm... normal now?"

Caden nodded, a proud smile on his face. "Yeah, Leo. You're normal. You dodged it, and that means you're growing strong. You've got some special abilities, but you're still just a kid. You've got to learn how to control them."

Leo sighed in relief, then immediately turned to Selene, whispering, "Dad is weird."

Selene, still holding Leo protectively, couldn't help but chuckle softly. "Yeah, he definitely is."

As they were catching their breath and exchanging relieved smiles, a figure suddenly appeared at the edge of their garden. He was dressed in fine, noble clothing, with a sword at his side. His stance was confident, and there was an air of importance about him. Caden's face lit up with excitement as he spotted the figure.

"Is that—?" Leo began, his voice filled with curiosity.

"That's him," Caden said, a wide grin spreading across his face. "It's my old friend. I haven't seen him in years!"

The man walked over, and Caden immediately stepped forward to greet him with a hearty handshake. "It's been a long time, old friend. How've you been?"

The man, smiling warmly, clapped Caden on the back. "It's been far too long. I've heard about your son. He's already turning into quite the swordsman, huh?"

Leo blinked, looking up at the man. "Who is he, Dad?"

Caden turned to Leo with a proud smile. "This is one of the heroes from the capital. His name is Kael. He's one of the strongest fighters in the kingdom."

Leo's jaw dropped. "A hero?!" His eyes widened, full of amazement.

"A hero, huh?" Leo whispered to himself, his mind racing with thoughts of what that meant. He had heard about heroes before from his mother, but seeing one in person... this was something entirely different.

Kael smiled at Leo, a twinkle of amusement in his eyes. "So, you're the son of Caden, huh? I've heard a lot about you, young man. You've got some big shoes to fill if you want to be a hero one day."

Leo, still trying to process everything, looked up at Caden. "A hero... like the ones who fight witches and save the world?"

Caden laughed, ruffling Leo's hair. "Exactly, kid. Heroes like Kael here are the strongest people in the world. They're not ordinary men. They've got strength, magic, and blessings from the goddess herself."

Leo's eyes were wide with awe. A hero... just like in the books! He thought, feeling a new sense of excitement building inside him.

Kael chuckled at Leo's awe. "It's not as glamorous as you think, kid. But it's a good life. And you've got the potential to become a great one, just like your dad."

Selene watched the exchange with a soft smile. It was clear that Leo's future was going to be an extraordinary one.

Kael chuckled and straightened up, looking down at Leo with a more serious expression this time. "Alright, let me give you the real story, kid."

Leo's attention snapped to him, his eyes wide with curiosity.

"A long time ago, I was fighting a Demon Lord who decided to wage war on an entire country. The entire region was in chaos. Thousands were dying, cities were burning, and there was no end in sight. I fought the Demon Lord head-on, as best I could, but the real problem wasn't just him. It was the collateral damage — the innocent lives lost as the battle raged on."

Kael's tone turned somber, his expression growing heavy with the weight of his past. "I could hold my ground against the Demon Lord, but there were so many civilians in danger, so many families caught in the crossfire. And no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't protect them all. That's when your dad showed up."

Leo blinked, confused but intrigued. "Dad? How did he help?"

Kael sighed deeply, a mix of gratitude and regret in his eyes. "Caden wasn't some mighty hero like me, but he didn't need to be. What he did was something even more incredible: He ran into the chaos and started saving people. Caden wasn't fighting the Demon Lord directly, but he was saving everyone who was caught in the destruction — pulling people from burning buildings, helping them escape the battlefield, keeping people safe in ways I couldn't."

Leo stared, his mind racing. "Dad saved people?"

"Exactly," Kael nodded. "While I was focused on fighting the Demon Lord, Caden was there making sure the people had a chance to survive. And without him, the casualties would've been much higher. I may have taken down the Demon Lord, but it was Caden who helped everyone get out of there alive. He kept people going while I dealt with the demon."

Caden shifted uncomfortably, clearly not used to all this praise. "I was just doing what needed to be done," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "No big deal."

Kael raised an eyebrow, but his smile remained. "No big deal? You made sure this country wasn't completely destroyed. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to save nearly as many people as I did. So, yeah... I owe you big time."

Selene, who had been quietly listening, looked at Kael with a soft smile. "It's true, Caden did an incredible job helping. He was the unsung hero in that battle."

Leo's eyes widened, his mind racing with a new understanding. His dad had been the real hero, not just someone swinging a sword and casting magic, but the person who saved others when they needed it most.

"Wow," Leo whispered, looking up at Caden with newfound respect. "Dad... you really are a hero."

Caden glanced at Leo, a bit embarrassed by the praise. "I'm not a hero, Leo. I just did what anyone would've done."

But Kael, ever the enthusiastic type, grinned and clapped Caden on the back. "Don't sell yourself short, my friend. You made all the difference that day. And because of that, the people here still see me as a hero, but honestly, I think they know who the real hero is."

Leo looked up at his dad, who was busy trying to avoid all the attention, but he could tell. His dad had done something truly extraordinary, and Leo couldn't help but admire him even more.

"Thanks, Dad," Leo said, his voice soft but full of sincerity. "I'll try to be a hero like you."

Caden, finally accepting the compliment, ruffled Leo's hair. "Just remember, son... being a hero isn't about fame or recognition. It's about doing what's right, no matter the cost."

Leo nodded firmly, feeling that sense of determination solidify in his chest. Maybe he didn't need to be like Kael or his dad. But he'd find his own way to be a hero, one that would make them proud.

As Caden and Kael laughed and chatted like two kids who just reunited after years, they walked inside the house, completely forgetting the world around them. Their voices echoed down the hallway like an unstoppable nostalgia storm.

Selene turned to Leo, brushing off her hands and smiling softly.

"Leo," she said, "if you want, you can go out to the village for a while."

Leo blinked. "Wait... what?"

His eyes widened. "Can I really go!?"

Selene nodded gently, like a queen granting permission to her knight.

In his mind, Leo was already running through flower fields. She's finally giving me permission… does that mean she thinks I'm responsible now? Mature? Trustworthy? Heh… she gets it now.

He puffed out his chest just a little and started strutting toward the garden gate like a proud adventurer on his first quest.

But just as he stepped one foot outside—

Selene's voice suddenly boomed behind him like thunder on a sunny day.

"Leo! You're not allowed to step beyond the flower fence, don't touch the river, avoid old man Garon's house, and if you see a slime, run! Not walk — RUN!"

Leo froze in place.

I knew it… I knew she'd say something like that.

He slowly turned his head back with a dry smile.

"Okay, okay… I got it, Mom."

Selene raised an eyebrow and gave him the look.

He sighed dramatically.

"I solemnly swear on every leaf in this garden, I shall not poke slimes or swim in rivers or challenge old men to duels."

Selene smirked and nodded.

As Leo stepped outside, he whispered under his breath,

"Dad's weird. Mom's scary. And I'm supposed to be the responsible one?"

And with that… the great Leo Adventure Village Visit had officially begun.

He just had to survive the flower fence first anyway.