Dimensional Descent

The next year passed by in relative harmony. Leo and Leah seemed to be growing more and more every day, and now their third birthday was approaching.

However, such times of peace could only last for so long.

Leonel looked up to the skies, seemingly sensing something before his eyes sharpened. By the time he looked down, his gaze had already softened considerably.

He gave a look to his wife, and she seemed to understand as well.

The both of them nodded.

”Come here, Leo, Leah. It’s about time we get out of this place.”

”Really? Really?” Leah skipped over, abandoning her bow practice immediately and nearly tripping over her own feet.

Leo rushed over as well, his little chubby face practically brimming with excitement. This large hall was all they had ever known. Their parents would show them the outside world from time to time, but that only made them anticipate it more.

They also wanted to taste this so-called ”food” their parents kept talking about. Sometimes their dad would tease them about how they had never tasted their mother’s cooking before when he had.

Leo had thrown more than one tantrum about that, but Leonel only laughed harder at his expense.

Now they finally got to go outside.

The two obediently stood as their parents helped them get dressed in little violet and gold robes.

Leonel couldn’t help but admit that he and his wife could truly make some adorable little creatures. The way their checks puffed out and their large golden eyes sparkled with anticipation was a better sight than Leonel felt he had ever seen in his life.

”Dad, why do we have to wear this?” Leo still couldn’t help but ask.

”What? What do you want to wear instead?”

”Sweatpants. They’re so much more comfortable. What is this? Who would wear this?” Leonel burst out into laughter. It seemed that his genes were quite strong.

”Sometimes, perception matters.”

”But you said to never care what anyone else thinks.”

”True. You shouldn’t care about what anyone else thinks... unless you’ve decided that you should.”

”Hm?” Leo blinked in confusion, and even Leah puffed out her little cheeks, not quite getting it.

”Do you not care about the opinions of me and your mom?” Leonel asked.

Leo’s eyes widened. ”Oh!”

Leonel smiled, ruffling his son’s hair before his wife slapped his hand away to fix it. Chuckling, Leonel straightened his son’s robes.

”Your father is a King. When I step out into the world in my official acting capacity as one, I’m no longer just representing myself, I’m representing everyone who’s put their trust in me. When it’s a time like that, I’ve decided that I care about the perception I give. Do you understand?”

Leo’s eyes glowed brightly in understanding as his father stood up before him. Suddenly, his dad felt much taller now than he ever remembered him being.

”Come, come,” Aina said, beckoning her son over and taking his little hand along with Leah’s.

A ripple came from Aina and Leonel, and suddenly they were dressed as well.

Looking toward one another, they smiled.

The last time they had worn these gowns, it had been for the Heir Wars. It had been so long since then that it felt like a lifetime ago.

His father had still been alive... his mother had come to watch him... the Morales family was still standing...

Since then, it felt like everything had changed.

But they had built their own happiness this time. They had enjoyed three years of peace and prosperity when most others didn’t have the chance to experience even

one.

Looking at his beautiful wife, Leonel’s heart couldn’t help but feel full.

Her violet and gold embroidered gown wrapped around her curves perfectly, but the radiance and elegance of a mother came from her face. She looked just as young, and yet so much more graceful and mature at the same time.

The rosiness of her cheeks, the delicate slope of her chin, those warm, inviting, golden eyes...

Leonel couldn’t help but lean over and kiss her.

”Ew!”

Leah giggled as Leo pretended to be disgusted.

Leonel pulled back from his wife’s softness, giving her a gentle look filled with his heart. Aina’s eyes seemed a bit misty, but she regained her composure quite well,

unhanding Leo for a moment to smooth his chest.

Leonel took a breath and felt that the power of a world was welling up inside of him. ”Watch closely,” Leonel said with a grin, waving a hand out at the air. ”Your dad is actually quite badass.”

Aina rolled her eyes, but this time, she chose not to scold Leonel for his word choice.

A radiant spear appeared in Leonel’s hand. It had a body that looked to be carved out of amethysts, its inner lining and body swimming with roaring golden dragons and soaring red phoenixes.

Its blade was large, split in two down the middle. It almost looked like a calligraphy pen’s tip from a certain angle, until the light caught it just the right way, and the SHILING! of a powerful sharpness echoed out.

Leo and Leah’s eyes opened wide, but Leonel had already taken a step out.

Soon after, Aina followed, pulling their children along.

When they appeared once again, they stood at the helm of a monument... a spear piercing toward the skies.

The world around them was a murky grey-black. The skies were dark, the statues were black, and the ground below was grey.

In this encirclement, one after another, individuals began to appear on their own

monuments.

But what was clear was that Leonel was entirely out of place. He was the one and only

true holder of the Spear Monument.

The world rumbled to life and the skies began to thunder.

Leo and Leah hid behind their mother’s skirt, feeling that the outside world was much

scarier than they were originally led to believe.

But at that moment, they caught sight of their father’s back... standing tall and straight in the face of the world.