Leon had one of the most memorable nights since awakening in Neo-Tokara.

When he woke up in the morning, he felt full of vibrant energy and vitality like a man reborn after years of a heavenly tribulation.

After weeks of dealing with slave traders, then terrorists, a Category 3 Neon Beast tide, and an invasion from the Omnicore Federation, nights where he spent thinking, analyzing, and creating blueprints, he finally had a normal night.

The morning arrived softly, filtering through the velvet brown curtains and the muted hush of the hotel.

For a moment, Leon didn't remember where he was, all he remembered was the warmth, steady rhythm of breathing against his chest and the faint scent of her perfume lingering in the sheets.

Stunned, Leon looked down and there she was, still in his arms.

Tyla snuggled perfectly in his arms as if the night never ended.

One arm was draped across him, her fingers relaxed and trusting while her long brown hair spilled over her shoulder in a dark, silken arc.

For a moment, Leon was mesmerized as he stared at her sleeping face in a daze. 'It really happened, huh?' He let out a quiet chuckle.

Yesterday night felt like a release of pent-up stress that had been accumulating for weeks, and now he felt light and energized, his thoughts flowing smoother than ever before.

The city outside was already waking up but this room time felt suspended, wrapped in a quiet afterglow where everything felt a little brighter, where the world felt a little more meaningful.

Leon exhaled.

He didn't want to stand up, he wanted this moment to last forever. This feeling, he could easily get addicted to it.

He shifted, taking her in as her body pressed against him. He admired the calm of her face in sleep and the small smile that suggested she was dreaming of something sweet.

Leon grinned as the memories of the night before flickered back in fragments- the laughter, the long conversations, the electric closeness as they danced and swayed to music, all of it was imprinted in his head.

And now, Leon already missed it.

The sunlight moved slowly across the bed, warming the both of them even as he gently moved strands of her hair behind her ears.

Finally, she stirred but she didn't wake yet as she nestled closer and for a few heartbeats, the world consisted of nothing more than shared warmth and memories.

Leon grimaced slightly. 'You're making it even easier for me to be lazy and harder for me to stand up'. He sighed.

In the end, he indulged himself in her embrace for a few more minutes before finally standing up reluctantly to go to the bathroom.

Leon washed his face with water and brushed his teeth within a minute.

By the time he returned to the bedroom, he noticed her already awake, her long eyelids blinking innocently even as her brown eyes focused on him.

Unlike what Leon suspected, Tyla didn't show any signs of being shy at all in his presence after waking up. Instead, she wrapped the blanket around her body lazily, staring at him with a vibrant sparkle in her eyes.

Leon smiled. "Good morning".

"Morning," Tyla replied in a dragged out manner followed by a yawn before standing up with the blanket still wrapped around her body and approaching him.

She pushed and turned him around before hugging him from behind in front of the mirror.

Staring at their reflection in the mirror, Leon smiled awkwardly. He was caught off-guard by her boldness after waking up.

Despite the blanket shielding them though, feeling her body press against him already made him start heating up again then Tyla suddenly leaned towards his ear and whispered. "Want to go another round?"

Leon froze.

She laughed. "Are you shy?"

Ever shameless, the moment she pointed him out Leon immediately improvised and chuckled. "Me? Shy?" He scoffed. "Just brush your teeth first and come let's see how shy I am".

Tyla chuckled, then she entered the bathroom to brush her teeth. By the time she came out, Leon already adjusted mentally and no longer felt awkward.

Her wet brown hair flowed down her shoulders in a sensual manner, the water making her look even more alluring as Leon's heartbeat accelerated.

She walked towards him and led him to the bed, then they quickly intertwined their bodies again amid passionate kisses, gyrating their bodies in rhythm to each other's beat.

Leon lost track of time.

…

Hours later, they both laid down on the bed filled with sweat even as they panted and breathed heavily.

Leon looked at the ceiling in a daze.

Tyla smiled and looked at him, then she suddenly asked out of the blue. "Are you willing to settle down?"

Leon flinched slightly at the question but he kept his gaze on the ceiling.

Tyla kept on looking at him. "It's been a long time since I visited my family. If you want, we can go together so you can meet my sisters, and my dad too".

Leon stayed quiet then Tyla finally asked. "What?"

"Nothing, it's just…"

"You don't want to settle down?"

"It's not that," Leon finally looked at her and exhaled. "I don't think I'm ready to meet your family now, there's so many things that I want to do".

Tyla quietly looked into his eyes for a few seconds, then she nodded. "I'm a bit hurt but I understand". She forced a smile.

"I can already tell that you want to leave soon, where will you go and what are you going to do after leaving Leviathan Quay?"

"I want to challenge the second Trial".

Tyla was taken aback. "Already?"

Leon smiled. "Do you think I'm too young to be a D Rank Ascended?"

"It's not that," Tyla said cautiously as she looked at him with worry. "It's just… the first Trial is already extremely dangerous for Ascended, but the second Trial is rumored to be even more dangerous, are you sure…?"

"Yeah," Leon interrupted her. "I already made up my mind".

"Men…" Tyla mumbled and sighed. "You really want to become powerful, huh?"

Leon nodded truthfully, then he looked at her. "What of you? Don't you want to become an E Rank Ascended?"

Tyla smiled in a bashful manner. "I've never had the courage to attempt a Trial till now," she looked at him again. "But I feel like I need to build up my courage now or else someone will snatch you from me".

Leon chuckled but he didn't comment on that, then he asked. "How long have you been a soldier?"

"This year makes it 4 years".

Leon nodded thoughtfully. "What year did you become an Ascended?"

"I became an Ascended during training camp, that's a year before I officially became a soldier".

"Then I think you're equipped to challenge the first Trial, you should have met the requirements already. Just be prepared mentally and physically to face any Trial that comes, I believe you can do it".

"Really?"

"Of course".

Tyla smiled. "I'll attempt it when I feel I'm adequately prepared".

Leon nodded, then they both stayed silent for a few dozen seconds, regulating their breathing before Tyla asked in a soft voice. "When will you leave?"

"I intended to leave today…"

"Spend today with me!" Tyla quickly interrupted.

Leon looked at her and chuckled. "Fine".

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