Leon took Eli's hand and walked her through the process of opening the paths;
"While it was fairly easy to awaken your first path, it was always hard to find a way to open the other two. The only known way to seek the open path was to have another open path to guide you.
This way may seem easy but was actually hard to execute in reality. It was because people with open paths are rare, it was harder for one to search for a person who could guide him through. It was like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Besides, people with open paths are most likely unaware that they possess one until they enter the realm of paths.
The new way was the one Wisey told you before when you had a premonition. In fact, it didn't make sense to me until you explained why you had to execute the blessings for my Father Emperor and Mother Queen, as well as the Crimson Blades.
No wonder, I was able to open one accidentally during my stint on the battlefield. Compared to what Wisey said, it seems that opening the paths entails one to accomplish a 'mission' that was bestowed on you.
That time for me was when I saved a certain batch of human slave captures, which you now know as the Crimson and Roaming blades."
"I see.." Eli was reminded of how Wisey persuaded her to do things such as giving blessings to other people.
Although she was not able to check if she had successfully opened her caster path after executing the mission, Wisey most likely confirmed that she could already use caster magic. But due to numerous reasons, she was not able to start checking out if she could really do it.
After contemplating for a while Eli looked at Leon and asked, "So was that particular time on the battlefield made you realize that you possess an open path?"
Leon gently brushed the baby hairs that were blocking Eli's obsidian eyes and replied with an expression that was akin to longing for someone who was already long gone;
"Yes, at that time, Teacher was so happy to know that I finally received justice from being treated like trash. I accidentally discovered that I have caster abilities.
After rescuing the blades who were still human slaves and experiments at that time, Teacher sneaked me through the northern territory and meet my grandfather - the Late Emperor Idelfonso.
That was also the time when I was able to get close to my grandfather. He was the only person from whom I can openly receive family love during that time. He was also the one who guided me to open the last path and to train the paths that couldn't be trained by Teacher."
His expression and tone seemed to express his fondness for his grandfather. Eli could tell that during the times when the Emperor and Second Queen were forced to turn from him with cold shoulders in order to protect him, the care he received from the late Emperor Idelfonso was what he longed for.
A stinging wave of pain pierced Eli's heart upon realizing that Leon was still less than ten years old during those moments. He was still a child trying to understand the decisions and actions of the adults around him at that time.
Because of his assessment when he was seven years old, he was forced to go to the battlefield and face both the Empire's enemies and his own enemies.
Leon sensed Eli's heartache, it made his heart feel really warm as he thanked the heavens.
He never knew he would still experience things like this - love.
To see someone love him without begging for it, nor fearing that the favor would one day be lost, was an incredible feeling!
"Don't be sad. Aren't I here now? I'm standing fine and I am even happy with you and Little Han. Everything happens for a reason." He couldn't help but pull Eli in his arms and embrace her, wanting as much as to make their bodies be one.
Caressing Eli's head, he whispered softly in a way that only two of them could hear, "If it wasn't because of those experiences, I will never be the man I am now. Also, if it wasn't for those experiences, I will never truly appreciate your and Little Han's value in my life."
He lifted Eli's face and kissed Eli's forehead lovingly, "At the same time, without meeting you two in my life, I will never feel proud and comfortable with the scars I received from my past. If these scars are what it takes for me to meet you in this life, then all of these are worth it."
ραпdα nᴏνa| сom Leon's words made Eli's heart flutter and tremble. Although the two of them acted rather loving privately, it was still seldom for her to see Leon take his heart out of his sleeves. Especially when talking about his feeling toward his past.
This very rare and precious moment made Eli's longing for Leon and Little Han intensify. She moved closer to Leon's body and tiptoed, gently pecking Leon's lips.
Leon, of course, didn't let this moment go to waste as he took Eli's lips into his. Both tasted the sweetness of each other's love. It was fiery and delicate, passionate and comfortable at the same time.
After the two shared a sweet moment together, they both reluctantly stopped and went back to the matter at hand.
"Shall we then check if you have truly opened the caster path?" Leon awkwardly asked Eli.
He was just thinking earlier about how he wanted not to make Eli lose a stable state of mind. But here he was, almost losing his cool over a brief moment of passion.
He was doubting if he could really control himself, once he and Eli officially married.
Will he be the kind of husband who would want to be with his wife at every moment possible?
That he didn't know, but he also couldn't wait to see what kind of husband he would be once they finally married.
"Yes, let's do it." Eli also nodded, blushing shyly. She was the one who initiated the kiss again, how bold could she be!
Leon took Eli's hand again and instructed her to close her eyes and focus.
On the outside, one could see that around Leon and Eli, there was an array slowly appearing on the ground where they stood. There are also speckles of mana gathering around them. They were like fairies bouncing and surrounding the two in a curious manner.
The image in Eli and Leon's minds was actually different from what the outside was showing.
On Eli's mind, she was standing in front of a translucent starry platform. She was like in the other space, where her surroundings were ridden with twinkling stars around.
From where she was standing, there was a river of light leading to something that her eyes could not see.
From a considerable distance, she could see that the river of light was slowly divided into two small rivers, both were leading in different directions which she could not fathom from where she was standing.
"This is the realm of paths, only the ones who possessed open paths could enter this realm and see." Leon stood beside her, holding her hand as she beckoned her to step outside the starry platform to go towards the river.
Ssssssshhhhh!
Eli heard a faint sound of water rushing beneath their feet the moment they stepped into the river of lights.
The river was acting beyond Eli's comprehension. Visually, it was light that she was seeing, but the feeling that the light gave on her feet was actually akin to water. Yet when she checked her feet and garments, it was dry, making her think that the cool sensation was actually just an illusion.
"You can see those two rivers of light there… they indicate that your two paths were already opened. However, notice that the other path was obviously smaller than the other." As they were walking towards the point where the river divided, Leon pointed toward the paths and explained to Eli what she was seeing.
Eli looked closely and immediately noticed the difference between the two rivers from a nearer distance. Indeed, the first river was livelier and wider than the other. The second river was wide however, the streams of light flowing from it were slow and faint
"This represents your second path, the caster path. Because you were still unable to train it, the river looked seemingly weak." Leon explained.
"I see.." Eli looked at the distance with understanding.
"Now let's go in that direction and open your third path." Leon led Eli in a certain direction of the main river.
There was a certain path where the flow of mana bounces back, they were acting like flowing water bouncing back because their path was blocked. A void blocked the streams of light, like a dam that hinders the waters to flow beyond the point.
"This is your third path, the devourer's path." Leon looked at Eli and explained, pointing at the dark scary void ahead.
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