Leon and Ricardo stared in shock at the person standing before them. Amelia crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow as she scanned their battered appearance.
"Why do you two look like you fought half the forest?" she asked sarcastically, motioning to their torn clothes and countless wounds.
Leon blinked several times before glancing at Ricardo. "Wait... how did we even get here?"
Ricardo, barely standing, suddenly felt an overwhelming dizziness. His head grew heavy, and before he could even process an answer, his strength failed him. His body collapsed.
"Ricardo!" Leon shouted, rushing to catch him before he hit the ground.
Amelia knelt beside him, placing a hand on Ricardo's forehead. "He's completely exhausted. He's lost a lot of blood. We need to get him to the city."
Leon didn't argue. With great effort, he lifted Ricardo onto his back, despite his own fatigue. Then he turned to Amelia. "Alright, lead the way."
•••
As they walked, Leon decided to break the silence. "Amelia, how do you know Ricardo?"
Amelia didn't answer right away. She remained quiet for a moment before taking a deep breath. "Ricardo and I... are siblings."
Leon stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening in shock. "Siblings?!"
Amelia nodded, her expression unreadable.
Leon couldn't stop himself from asking the next question. "Who's your father?"
But the moment he asked, Amelia's expression hardened. She averted her gaze and kept walking, refusing to answer.
Leon clenched his fists, frustration building inside him. "Why does everyone refuse to tell me who Ricardo's father is? What are they hiding?"
•••
When they finally arrived in the city, Amelia took Ricardo into her home and began treating his wounds carefully. Leon sat nearby, watching in silence, exhaustion weighing heavily on him.
Before long, fatigue overtook him, and he drifted into sleep.
•••
However, while Leon slept soundly, Ricardo's eyes suddenly snapped open. He stared at the ceiling, his heartbeat pounding in his chest. It wasn't just a nightmare that had awakened him—it was a realization.
He wasn't strong enough.
He sat up, clenching his fists. "I have to get stronger... I have to protect Leon."
Without hesitation, he began gathering his belongings, and grabbing his sword. He took one last look at Leon, who was still fast asleep, then turned away and silently slipped out of the house.
That night, Ricardo left—determined to find the strength he needed, no matter the cost.