[BL] Guardians of Fate
Chapter 103 - 22: A Feeling Beyond Rationality [8]

Chapter 103: Chapter 22: A Feeling Beyond Rationality [8]

Leon jerked awake, gasping for breath and drenched in sweat.

What... the hell was that?!

He jumped out of bed and panicked. He never had a dream like that before!

He started pacing around the room, trying to calm down his racing heart.

Why did I have such a dream? he wondered, breathing heavily.

His nightmares had consisted of tamer things compared to this one, mostly related to his father, the duchy, and his fear of people finding out who he really was.

He had heard about what had happened to those Otherworlder Summoners and Guardians in the past and even in recent years. They were not treated kindly at all. In fact, they were avoided as much as possible. Some even took to pretending to be ordinary humans instead, because they could not stand the constant whispering, the discrimination, and the way people blamed them whenever something went wrong.

His father did not care for such a ’curse’. In fact, he considered it more of a challenge. Come to think of it, it was probably because of the Duke that there wasn’t much bad luck or bad things happening around Leon. Duke Alfred made sure that things were taken care of quickly and efficiently.

Even though Leon didn’t like the way his father usually did things, he couldn’t deny that the Duke was indeed hardworking and meticulous. If possible, he would leave no stone unturned. He would think of all possibilities in his head and act quickly before someone else got there first.

Right... That’s exactly how Father thinks, Leon thought to himself, unconsciously biting his lower lip. Even I can’t possibly outsmart him.

What do I do?

I need to do something.

He lifted a hand and grasped his upper arm, feeling the mark still throbbing as if it were on fire.

That dream...

The city below me...

It looked so much like Angelbay City.

A city that was evacuated, with no people in the streets. A city that was surrounded by water.

Leon swallowed.

It’s like a vision or something. It’s like it’s telling me to go there. To go back.

But why?

As if in response, the mark burned even more, causing Leon to flinch.

Why is it being like this? Why?!

He lifted his head and saw his reflection in the large dressing table mirror. There, he saw himself looking ragged, still clutching his upper arm like a lifeline.

And his eyes were glowing a pale blue.

I...

I gotta go.

I need to leave.

I need to find him. My Summoner!

Leon stared at the door leading out of his room. The two guards from before were still there. He could feel it.

So how could he escape from here without alerting his father?

He began pacing his luxurious room once more, his frustration mounting by the second. If his father’s hunch was correct, the Calamity would probably show up in the morning. There was still plenty of time.

He gazed out at the direction of the open balcony, still deep in thought.

Stormhaven wasn’t as massive as Angelbay City, but it was home to a fair number of villagers. Even though his father, the Duke, could be cold-hearted and intimidating most of the time, he took his duties seriously. He made sure that his people were well taken care of. He trained his soldiers to the bone and fortified his defenses as best he could.

Even as a child, Leon saw little of his father. He was always on the move, attending to various royal duties here and there. Whenever Leon felt lonely and sought his father’s company, the Duke would often rebuff him and admonish him for not taking his studies seriously.

Whenever Leon used his magic as a child, he was severely punished by the Duke. Sometimes he would be locked in his room for days, alone with his thoughts and his insecurities. In times when he felt bored and a little rebellious, he would continue to use his magic and experiment with it.

The Duke had tried to make him wear suppression amulets, but they never completely blocked his powers. Any kind of disobedience from Leon was immediately crushed under the Duke’s heel, and even as an adult, he was under constant scrutiny.

During his teenage years, his tutors drilled into him the dangers of being a Guardian and focused his lessons on politics and economics. Leon had no friends his age, only the company of the castle staff. Most of them were indifferent to his silent suffering, while only a few showed him compassion and kindness against the Duke’s wishes.

So the only real friends he had in his childhood were Evan, Elyana, and Mathias. But even then, the Duke forbade him to spend too much time with them, lest they ’poison’ his mind.

When he left the White Castle that day, leaving his friends behind without so much as a goodbye, Leon felt as if a part of him had died.

The years in Stormhaven were boring and monotonous. He had to fulfill several duties as his father’s successor, memorize boring dates and names that he had no interest in, network with duplicitous nobles, and comply with the Council’s demands.

It was exhausting, so Leon found an outlet for his frustrations, and that was swordplay. He quickly discovered at a young age that he was skilled with it, much to the Duke’s satisfaction.

He would also find refuge in exploring the castle or wandering the grounds alone. He had no one to rely on or trust. Everyone was ruled by the Duke, and an act of disloyalty would cost them everything.

I’m like a trapped bird in a large cage, Leon thought bitterly.

His resentment of his father grew over the years, but he had no choice but to be passive and obedient. It wasn’t all bitterness, either. In a way, he still loved his father. Despite the Duke’s harsh tendencies, Leon believed that his father cared for him. In small ways, but the intentions were still there.

Like when the Duke insisted on celebrating Leon’s birthday every year, even if it was only with a small gift or a private dinner. He always remembered the date.

The Duke even commissioned a secret portrait of Leon’s mother and gave it to Leon on his 16th birthday. Although he was cold and distant most of the time, Leon could tell that her loss hurt his father as well.

On occasions when Leon was sick as a child, the Duke would personally check on him several times a day, even if he didn’t say anything or comfort him directly. The Duke also made sure that Leon had the best food, clothes, tutors, and other things. He spared no expense.

For Leon, his father was a complex man. The Duke channeled his frustrations through anger and punishment, but not out of pure malice or sadism, but rather to achieve his goal. He always had a reason for doing things, and it was never for his own pleasure. Leon liked to think that the Duke still had some semblance of warmth inside of him no matter how small.

Or perhaps he was just being too hopeful as always.

Leon walked to the balcony, the cool night air brushing against his face as he surveyed the scene below. From this perspective, he could see the intricate layout of the duchy’s streets and buildings.

Everyone below seemed to be buzzing with urgency as they walked back and forth. Soldiers, on the other hand, were directing the flow of people as horses and carriages filled the streets.

It seemed that the evacuation was in full swing, which meant the Duke had already sent out an order while he was asleep.

Leon’s eyes narrowed, and he took a deep breath. The mark on his arm throbbed once more, but it felt weaker than before, like a bad omen.

He gritted his teeth and clutched at it almost desperately.

Had something happened to his Summoner?

Damn... I need to go! I have to escape during this time.

He looked to the far left of the castle where the royal carriages were parked and guarded by soldiers.

And I’ll be taking that with me when I leave.