Absolutely exhausted, Desmond was sprawled out across the floor.
The subsequent sparring matches were truly tiring for him.
This time around, he hadn't gone against Leo. Instead, several younger Reveurs had joined them.
Desmond had defeated most through sheer talent, but he wasn't so lucky with the more experienced ones.
With bruises and scratches across his face and arms, he spoke between heavy breaths.
"That was… really fun."
Leo cocked an eyebrow.
"Really? Even after getting your ass handed to you 3 times back to back?"
He laughed and nodded.
"I guess I'm just excited to have learned something so crucial. I thought I needed to use someone else's shadow to summon the tendrils, but I can pretty much use any source as long as it's dark enough."
Leo gave a proud smile at this.
To make such a big advancement within the first months of proper Somnia usage was practically unheard of.
"I don't think you've grasped just how much potential you have. I've never seen this type of growth before."
He stopped for a moment before continuing.
"Well, in person at least. I've heard about a prince from Etoilume, but Henrik says that country often lies for the sake of appearing strong. The point is, as far as I know, you've got the most talent in Somnia."
Desmond could hardly contain his excitement hearing this.
A big, proud smile growing across his face.
Leo laughed and waved a hand, dismissing whatever fantasies he had brewing in his head.
"Don't go thinking you're invincible, nor should you rely on your Art. Become too reliant and you won't survive any encounter against a Cryptid unaffected by it."
Desmond challenged,
"Oh yeah? And what exactly could escape these tendrils, huh?"
Leo hummed in thought, trying to pick one of the several that could easily bypass them.
"Well, for starters, anything with teleportation. Anything with Somnia nullification. Anything that sees you the same way you see a stick figure on paper. Anything that…"
Desmond put his hands up to stop Leo's rampant listing.
"Okay, okay. I get the point. I'm not the strongest."
Leo opened his hand, offering him it.
"Doesn't mean you can't be the strongest around yourself."
He took the hand, his eyes widening as he was launched back to his feet.
"Yeah. I'll surpass you someday."
Leo gave a simple, knowing smile at this.
"Caspian used to think that too."
Desmond gave him an incredulous look before letting out a mocking chuckle.
"You? Stronger than Caspian? That's funny!"
Leo stood there without an ounce of humor on his face.
Desmond's laugh had died down to silence.
"Oh, you're not."
He nodded.
"Yeah, no. I'm stronger. Don't tell him I said that though. He has a thing about it…"
Desmond questioned him with clear skepticism in his voice.
"Then how is he the Grand Reveur and you're not?"
Leo seemed a bit hesitant to answer. A subtle shift in his posture.
"Ah. Well… I left the force when I wasn't permitted to. Dishonorable discharge, in technical terms. Naturally, my right hand man was promoted to the position, so here I am as a mere Captain."
Desmond stood in uncomfortable silence for a few moments.
"Dishonorable discharge? I thought that was…"
Leo cut him off by continuing his sentence.
"Severe treason. Yes, it is. If I wasn't myself, I would've probably received the death penalty."
Desmond had grown quiet and slightly dejected.
The shift in conversation was too heavy to go unnoticed for them both.
Leo noticed this and laughed as his smile grew back.
"Don't be like that, Dessy. I'm here now and I'm not going anywhere. We missed your lunch break so let's go grab something to eat. A friend of mine introduced me to a place nearby."
Desmond just stood there as Leo had already begun walking towards the exit of the chamber.
"Don't we need Caspian's permission to leave the headquarters if it isn't strictly for a mission?"
"He may be my superior, but I'm going anywhere I damn please," Leo said in confident dismissal.
Desmond cracked a smile and jogged to catch up.
It didn't take much time for the two to leave the headquarters and begin their way through the streets.
Desmond silently walked alongside Leo while shooting occasional glances.
It was clear he had something to say, but he was having some trouble getting it out.
Leo had taken some time to notice this.
Eventually, he caught on.
"Something on your mind?"
Desmond simply sighed.
"When are you getting that new place?"
Leo thought with a hum while looking up to the sky.
A subtle orange hue had begun to seep into the vibrant blue vastness.
The early stages of sunset.
"There's been a few places that caught my attention."
He turned back down to Desmond with a smile.
"If it's stressing you that much then I'll go ahead and pick one. How does that sound?"
Desmond looked back to the ground and nodded.
"Yeah. I'd like that, I guess."
Just as the two approached the bistro, Leo's eyes widened as he turned to meet eyes with a familiar face.
There Rachel stood, her hair done in a professional bun.
"Hey, Rachel! What are you doing here? Isn't it Academy hours?"
The initial starstruck in Rachel's eyes quickly sobered.
"Oh! Uhm… Headmaster Alden released me quite a bit early. I'm not too sure why, but… I definitely wasn't going to turn it down! I take it you're here for a bite, too?"
She gestured towards the humble restaurant.
Desmond, who Rachel hadn't yet noticed, was looking up at the sign ahead.
Camille's Bistro.
He moved his gaze back to Leo. His eyes widened as he realized who Leo was talking to.
"Miss Rachel?!"
Rachel, with a slight jump, looked over to Leo's side.
Her face grew into a bright, warm smile.
"Oh, Desmond! It's great to see you! Are you two eating together?"
Leo nodded.
"We had quite a tiring sparring match earlier, so I thought I'd treat him."
She jokingly faked her offense and punched Leo's chest with a small, weak fist.
"Ah, so you'll skip work to take your students out but not me? How is a woman supposed to feel about that, Leo Morwyn?"
The two laughed as Desmond watched with even more shock.
"Are you two…?"
They turned to Desmond as their chuckles died down.
Leo gave a dismissive hand.
"Oh, no. Nothing like that."
Rachel similarly shook her head in dismissal.
Despite being a clear-cut answer, the chemistry in the answer only left him more confused.
"Yeah, sure. Whatever you guys say…"
Rachel turned back to Leo.
"Would you mind if I joined you two?"
Leo gave a simple smile.
"I'd love to have your company."
The two had suddenly become three as they all took their seats outside.
Leo and Rachel spoke for some time about various topics. Several things they had meant to catch up on.
The young dog, Bertram, had supposedly been properly adopted by a craftsman just down the street.
Rachel was to be given a sizable raise soon.
Finally, a woman appeared at their table to take their orders.
After this, Desmond joined the conversation, primarily talking with Leo.
Rachel had a peculiar look on her face as the two talked with clear familiarity and comfort.
Desmond caught this and returned the look.
"Why are you looking at us like that?"
She giggled.
"Oh, nothing. You two just look so similar. Like a son and his father."
Leo didn't react other than turning his eyes to Desmond.
Desmond however looked as if the whole world had flipped upside down.
He felt joy, embarrassment, pride, and reluctance all at once.
He hardened his face into a snarl to cover up the low red glow of his cheeks.
"We look nothing alike! I'm far more handsome than this hairy beast!"
He gestured to Leo with a frantic hand.
Leo barked out an obnoxious laugh. Rachel covered her mouth, trying to stay ladylike as she too laughed.
As their laughter subsided to near silence, the two had caught each other's eyes.
It felt as though time slowed as they held that eye contact.
A great, loving warmth shared between the two from a simple glance.
Her eyes subtly squinted from her smile.
The warmth didn't have time to leave her eyes before the windows exploded.
A concussive boom that split the ears of all nearby.