CHAPTER 50: MOMENT OF PEACE

With some time afforded to him while the others got much needed rest, he brought himself back to his room, though did not find himself resting as he sat on his bed. There was still a concept lingering on his mind as he swiped his hand, projecting the small-scale display of the mansion and the land directly around it.

[Mansion Expansion Module]

[Current Expansion Points: 29]

’Twenty-nine points...It must be directly tied to each level? Let’s see...’ He thought, focusing on the newfound ability.

[Current Expansion Options: Automated Cannon (3) | Lockdown Mode (6) | Steel Golem (5) | War Golem (10) | Ultima Cannon (15)]

The variety of options left him curious, able to see constructs of each of the possible additions to the mansion. With careful consideration, he made his selection, using every point available to him in preparation for the coming battle.

As he tapped on the cerulean interface shown only to him, the confirmation was set:

Outside of the quiet mansion, steel-born guardians were constructed from thin-air, set in inanimate slumber until they were needed.

He glanced out of his bedroom window, confirming the presence of the golems, as well as the larger cannons that sat atop the walls. The additional firepower was enough to ease him to accept getting some rest as he laid in his bed.

In the realm of dreams, drifting along a void of nothingness as his mind and body recovered, an offer presented itself to the slumbering lord:

[For your efforts, you have been granted a Boon of Gaia.]

[You may choose one.]

[...A gift of strength. One chance meeting with a hero at the eleventh hour, one who will devote himself to your household in respect of your actions. An invaluable comrade.]

[...A gift of foresight. Allowing one to peer past the veil of time as if wielding the authority of Chronos himself. An invaluable ability.]

[...A gift of ease. Beneath the watchful grace of the almighty unseen, the threat imposing itself on your land will be vanquished. An invaluable aid.]

In his mind fogged by the haze of dreams, the young man extended his hand, grasping the option that spoke to him at a most core level–"a gift of strength."

"Ah."

As his eyes opened, there was no morning light peeking through his window to greet him. A vast, quiet darkness only persisted, finding himself waking to a sight more absent of light than nightfall. Despite the circumstances, he felt more well rested than he ever had been in his entire life as he slipped out of bed.

He looked at his hand, staring at his own skin as though there was something off, something "foreign" about his own internal sensation.

’That dream I had...Was it real? I don’t feel any "gift" right now, but something is...different. Just can’t place my finger on it,’

he questioned.

There was hardly a moment of calm as he got dressed and left his room that a commotion was found in the halls. He went towards the noise, finding in the guest wing that a pair of men were at each other’s throats.

"I told you! It’s just a scratch! It happened while I was cutting wood, right before we all came here!" A man with a ginger scruff reasoned, holding his wrist.

Another with short hair shouted, jabbing his finger towards the other refugee’s face, "Liar! It’s a mark–you’re going to turn into a ghoul!"

"I’m not!" The accused reasoned.

Leon intervened, stepping between the men, whose families stood behind each of them in fear at a confrontation, "Enough yelling. What’s going on here?"

It was the man with short, dark hair in overalls that was more than happy to explain, "I saw it on his wrist! It was a mark left by a ghoul–I’m sure! If you don’t handle it, he’ll turn at some point and kill us!"

"That’s not true–!" The ginger man retorted, lunging forward as he grabbed ahold of the accuser’s tan overalls. "Grrrh!"

Right as both men prepared to punch one another, much to the dismay of the onlooking children and wives of the two, he stepped in, breaking them apart with a stern, but gentle push to them both. Though he restrained himself, the "light" shove sent each man harshly against the wall, but with just enough force to keep them from acting up again.

"Calm down, or next time I’m pushing you both out of my home," Leon reprimanded them before exhaling, looking at the accused man. "Let me see your wrist."

Hesitantly, the ginger figure held out his arm to show him. A close look at the supposed mark only discovered a small cut that looked like nothing more than a work accident. There was no sign of rotting flesh, only a wound that would need a mother’s kiss to heal.

"That’s not a mark. You’re alright," Leon assured.

"Wha–?!" The other man scoffed. "Did you actually get a close look!? He’s–"

"If you have a problem with my judgment, you’re free to look elsewhere for shelter," Leon sternly told the loud-mouthed guest.

It seemed his point was taken as both men silently moved on, accepting the conclusion as the lord was left to move on through the mansion. Through the servants’ wing, he found the silver-haired maid standing by the windows, staring outside.

He stopped beside her, looking out to the sight of the colossal cube that separated them from the army of monsters just beyond it. While there was no sunlight, a slight glow of a deep orange gave off from the barrier.

"Scared it’s going to go down at any moment?" Leon asked.

Iris looked over at him before her eyebrows furrowed with some guilt at the thought, nodding her head, "I know it’s disrespectful to Lady Beatrice, but..."

"No, I feel the same way. I mean, the second it falls, this moment of peace is gone," Leon said in agreement. "Even so, that’s just how life is, isn’t it? At any moment, anything can happen. So, while things are calm, you might as well accept it."

With a certain admiration in her sky-blue eyes, she looked up at him with a smile, "Mhm. You’re right–there’s no point in worrying about the future and not enjoying the moment."

"Exactly," Leon smiled with a wink. "Just something to remember."

Around the estate, the morale was high, even with some losses, it was a bittersweet initial victory, yet a triumph nonetheless. In the gardens behind the mansion, the paladin showed off his swordplay to spectating children.

Charlemagne moved his sword with such swiftness that it appeared invisible to the kids, "--See that? It’s a secret skill that you, too, can learn if you train hard enough."

"Teach me! Teach me!" A boy jumped up, waving his arms.

"I wanna know, too!" A plump kid begged.

Leon watched by the running fountain, unable to help but laugh at the sheer ridiculousness of Charlemagne’s theatrics in front of the children. If it was enough to distract them from what laid beyond the barriers, then it was worthwhile.