SPELLBOUND

"How about you, Your Majesty? What are you planning to do?" Leon had asked. 

"I'll make my way to another portal." He said after a few moments of silence, surprising Leon.

"You… know of the existence of another portal my king?" 

Gavriel nodded before turning his back and signalled his men to head off in a particular direction. 

Leon could only watch his back, his expression growing serious. How? How did he even know about the existence of another portal? 

There was a glint of suspicion in Leon's eyes now. Aside from the weird fact that his lord did not even ask any more questions after reading the letter from the queen, he was mystified at his sudden calmness and by that strange look that had surfaced in his eyes. It was as if he no longer needed to ask anything anymore. Was it because he already knew something about the matter? And if so, how much does he know? The bigger question to Leon was, how did he even find out and come to know anything? His Majesty seems to be getting more and more mysterious as time passes.

Raking his fingers through the mop of thick dark hair of his head, Leon sighed out helplessly. Knowing that he would only be getting more headaches if he tries to decipher anything from this. He knew better to let things be for now. With time, more will be revealed, and Leon was content to just allow things to progress as it should. When the time comes, he will find out if it was fated for him to do so. 

Looking behind him, Leon met Zanya's gaze and without a word, she just walked over to him with a slight smile. She could already see the words that were waiting to tumble out from his lips, causing the smile to bloom even more.

"If…" Leon started, "if the portal opens again, don't be reckless, you hear me? Don't forget about the monsters that are on the other side." He looked so serious as he nagged at her and Zanya could only continue smiling at him and nodding from time to time. She knew that he was behaving this way only because of his worry for her. And she could not help but feel a warm sensation bubbling from within her chest as the thought of someone who would worry for her wellbeing. It was a precious and somewhat alien thing to Zanya, that after thousands of years of being alone and having no one to bother about her, to now have this person showing care and concern about her.

Then out of the blue, she suddenly grabbed him and kissed him hard, not caring about all the eyes that were widened as large as saucers around them. 

Leon also could not help but respond to her by kissing her back. 

When their lips finally parted, Zanya whispered to him. "Don't worry about me, I'll make sure I won't be the one to be rescued this time. I'll do my best to stay safe and strong because you might be the one in need of rescuing soon. Since you're the reckless one between us." She said in a teasing tone, chuckling at his indignant look. Leon was just about to respond when someone suddenly grabbed him from behind.

"Damn you Leon. Stop the excessive public display of affection already! No more, flirting! Let's go!" Levy yelled at him and Zanya and other female light faes just laughed out lightly at Levy's exaggerated reaction. "How the hell do you get to be so god damned lucky? I need someone to kiss me too before I go into battle, damn it. This is so not fair! Not fair at all!" he grumbled like a kid throwing tantrum, not getting what he wants. "I haven't even kissed a single light fae beauty yet and you already… ugh! I hate you, Leon!" he continued his loud grumblings as they walked away while Zanya waved goodbye to Leon who stole a glance back at her again. 

…

Time passed and Zolan, Samuel and Luc finally arrived in the Middle Lands. Upon receiving the king's message, the trio immediately set off. Zolan had assigned one of the most loyal ancient vampire noble to be the acting ruler in the absence of King Gavriel. Of course, only the trustworthy officials knew about their king's journey. Since King Gavriel had eliminated all the possible enemies, there was really nothing major or anyone too threatening anymore to dare start another rebellion. And even if someone was foolish enough to start another rebellion in the King's absence, it would not be such big of a problem. When the king gets back, he will just need to take back his throne all over again. 

It was of course harder said than done as dealing with rebellion was such a pain in the ass, but Zolan knew that this was inevitable. Their King just did not seem to be a ruler who was born to sit still and stay in the palace, just leisurely sitting on his throne and whiling time away. He is a king that was born to fight in the battlefields. 

When they reunited with them, the original team was finally formed again. Gavriel, Samuel, Zolan, Luc, Levy, Reed, and Leon entered a cavern that Gavriel had led them to and proceeded to bring them in. The cavern was located in the far east of the Middle lands, the opposite location of the portal that Leon and Zanya had crossed, which was located in the far west. 

No one asked the King on how he even knew the existence of this place. And Gavriel himself, also remained very quiet the entire time, not volunteering any information on the issue. And when they reached the dead end of the tunnel, Leon was shocked because there indeed was another portal that was opened!

Gavriel stood before the portal and slowly, he lifted his hand to touch it. 

There was thick anticipation during the moments that Gavriel was doing so. When his hand touched the vortex, it passed through without any untoward incident. 

They saw him take a deep breath before turning over to look at his men and nodded at them. All of them pulled their swords out and then Gavriel stepped forward, right into the vortex.