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There was once a suave and handsome gentleman that attracted the attention of many ladies from all over the Shaftlands. He chose a wife and they had a child, many of his suitors congratulated him but there was one who was jealous and vengeful.
She was a selfish witch who lived in a high tower that wanted a helper to do her bidding so she kidnapped the handsome man’s precious child. She lived on Sage’s Island which made it impossible for the child’s family to find him and the witch was delighted with her revenge.
The child was a pretty little boy with exceptionally beautiful and strong magical hair who was then locked in her tower to be her servant. Looking at him, the witch was reminded of the handsome guy who rejected her feelings.
Under the witch’s influence, the little boy had forgotten about the world outside and was content to stay in the tower where he was the fairest of them all. The only thing he could remember from his past was his name, Vil.
Oddly enough, the witch took care of him well and indeed, he grew into a gorgeous teenager with smooth, silky hair that the witch used to climb down the tower. The witch made sure he was hardworking and kept the tower spic and span while she was away and to ignore any stranger he sees, they were potatoes anyway and hardly worth his valuable time.
One day when the witch was preparing to run her weekly errands foraging for alchemy ingredients and terrorizing innocent villagers, she told the pretty boy, “I will be away for a week, if the Creek don’t rise. Ya know whadda do, and wait for me to come back.”
“Of course, who do take me for, I’m Vil,” he replied back confidently.
“Ah, getting snappy now, are we?”
“Just don’t put on too much weight, you’re getting heavier to lift,” Vil sneered as he heaved his locks of hair over the solo tower window.
The witch bit her lip, “kids these days…” she grumbled as she was let down the tower with his silky hair.
She shouted to him so he could hear, “and don’t talk to any strangers, they’re just unwashed vegetables!”
“I know, hardly anyone could be as beautiful as me!~” he smiled contentedly as he thought about it. The witch opened her mouth to speak then shook her head in silence, she really did not expect him to be that confident of himself.
“See you then,” Vil waved goodbye as he watched her tiny figure disappear into the distance.
He sighed, “all alone for a week. What’s she thinking? Of course I can take care of myself. But..”
Vil wondered to himself, he felt a little empty inside but didn’t know why.
He brushed it off, “I shall indulge in my favourite hobbies then,” and left the window ledge.
Down the tower, someone with lion ears and a tail silently stared at the window way up high.
Vil took out his potionology grimoires and concocted some new mixes, “I do love a grape smoothie.” He rolled out a yoga mat and did twenty different poses to get a good stretch, before changing into ballet shoes and twirling around the tower space. He changed shoes and started to jog around the tower space, up and down some small flights of stairs.
“Oh, it’s still afternoon,” he sighed when he saw the sun shining in the sky.
He took out food that the witch had taught him how to bake, it was pot pie today, that meant it had to go into the oven. Vil hummed as he donned oven mittens and slid the pie into the oven to bake, it slowly turned a crisp golden brown and had an amazing aroma.
“Smells tasty.”
Vil almost froze.
What was that deep voice?
He looked around the large room but there was no one.
“Hey, you heard me?”
It was not only deep, the voice sounded quite lazy as well.
“The window!”
Vil made a dash for the window and looked down. He saw a cat, no, a boy? A boy with round ears on top of his head and a tail swishing around. Maybe he was slightly older than him and that face.
Vil always thought he was the most beautiful person in the world. But this handsome dude, hey, how could he just show up like this?
“Hello? Can-you-see-me?” the stranger waved just a bit then his arm flopped down.
“I can see you just fine, and hello. Why do you look like that?” Vil felt annoyed by his lazy attitude.
“Huh? Because I was born like this?” the charming boy shrugged his shoulders.
They stared at each other for moments before the pot pie started smelling burnt.
“Ah, my pie! You distracted me!” Vil squealed before he ran back to the oven to rescue his meal.
“So we’re sharin’ it, right? I’m starvin’” Vil could hear the lazy voice from outside the tower.
Vil sighed in relief, the pie was only starting to get burnt and he could scrap off the charred bits. As he settled the pie on the table, he noticed a small injury on his hand from rescuing his food from the hot oven.
“Hey, ya alright?”
Vil winced from the pain but tried to hide it, “nothing of your concern, I can fix it.”
He took a deep breath and held his injured hand carefully, “mother had taught me what to do.”
The stranger’s ears perked up, he could hear Vil singing a song and his voice was beautiful.
“Heal what has been hurt… Save what has been lost…”
The curious onlooker wasn’t able to see the magic happen but Vil’s long, blond silky hair glowed and sparkles formed a little golden bloom over his injured hand. The flower glowed and melted slowly into his hand, taking the injury away with it.
“Ya doing good?” he asked, a little concerned that the room lit up all of a sudden.
“Alright, injury healed. Now, its time for-”
“Lunch.”
Vil frowned and looked out the window, “why should I share it with you?”
The gorgeous stranger made a wink, “because I know you wanna. Come on.”
UGH, why was he so infuriating!
“Fine! But I want to take a good look at you first before sharing the pie. How can someone else be good-looking like me?” Vil scowled as he let down his silky soft hair.
“What’s this? Your hair?” the boy ran his fingers through it and sniffed a handful of it, “hmm, smells good.”
Vil blushed and stuttered to speak, “y-yes, it is. Just climb it already!”
“Might be nice for my mane too,” the boy held onto the silky smooth hair and climbed the tower like an expert.
Feeling nervous, Vil loosened his grip on his long, velvety hair and startled the stranger, “hey, don’t let go, I’m almost there!”
“Ah, wait, nooo!” Vil stumbled as he tried to grasp his blond hair again firmly and he reeled in the boy too quickly.
“Oi!,” the mysterious boy came tumbling through the window and they fell into a pile together.
Their lips touching for the first time, the two boys that had just met each other.
Even though Vil had never been kissed before, his eyes slowly shut as the kiss continued and his cheeks flushed red.
Mmm, what is this fluttering feeling…
“Hey!” he snapped out of the dream and pushed the boy away, “what were you trying to do?”
“Kiss, make out and maybe-”
“Stop! Why would you want to do that? We just met,” Vil was astonished, “I don’t even know your name…”
The boy yawned, “Leona. ‘Cause we’re fallin’ in love? You think I’m hot and I like how your hair smells nice.”
“Oh, thank you for that. Wait, so you don’t think I’m hot? I’m beautiful!” stubborn purple eyes glared at Leona.
“Maybe I’ll find you more beautiful if we continue that kiss,” Leona sneered, his tail flicking about mischievously.
Falling for the bait like the innocent boy he was, Vil took a deep breath before he spoke, “fine, but you must promise me the best, Leona.”
Leona was definitely the happiest cat in the world and his tail pulled Vil in close to him until their noses tapped each other, “I’ll show you the time of your life, Vil.”
For that evening, it felt like their world only had both of them and that was all that mattered.
It was sunrise the next morning when Vil awoke and he did a satisfying stretch to start the day. Amazed to see Vil in a pose where his little toes could reach the back of his head, Leona peeked open a lazy eye, “whoa.. You a yoga master or something.”
“Well, this is part of my beauty routine,” Vil replied, moving on to another equally difficult pose that no ordinary boy could do.
“No wonder you’re so pretty,” Leona muttered, laziness taking over.
Vil blushed for the first time this morning, he had lost count the number of times the lazy boy had him blush the day before when they just met. “You, sigh, thank you for the compliment. Well, since you’re up, I can make us some breakfast.”
“Meat.”
Vil glared at him.
“Meat, pretty please,” Leona batted his eyelashes, “with sugar on top. Oof!”
A pillow thrown his way woke the lion up and he sat up lazily on the bed. He liked this bed, the bedsheets smelt like Vil and gave him a good night’s sleep. The lion glanced around and spotted the long fluffy hair near the bed, his tail flicked about happily.
“Oww!” Vil felt a tug on his hair, “what was that?” he turned to the culprit and saw Leona had magically braided his silky hair and was cuddling it like a favourite bolster on the bed.
I always thought the world outside was full of potatoes but Leona looks so different. I wonder if the outside world is more worth exploring?
“What ya starin’ at,” Leona eyed him gingerly and rolled to his side, continuing to hug the fluffy bolster to sleep.
Vil managed a smile before calling out to him, “breakfast is ready, lazy cat.”
“Hey, I’m a lion beastman alright,” Leona grumbled as he sat down at a quaint little table just enough for two people. Huh, so it’s just Vil and his witch mom here like I thought.
“Aren’t they alike? They are felines, right?”
Leona’s eyes narrowed as he growled, “joke’s over, Vil. Stop it.”
Vil had a bewildered expression, “I, was I wrong?.. About the outside world,” the atmosphere was becoming tense.
Realising that he had lost his cool, Leona took a deep breath and explained, “we’re different. I’m not trying to brag but out there you don’t find many lion beastmen like me. Even if you’re in Sunset City, you’d find plenty of other beastmen but not lions.”
“Is that somewhere in the Shaftlands? I don’t think I’ve read about it before,” Vil held a truly innocent expression that meant he was kept in the dark about many things.
“After this, it’s lesson time,” Leona munched on a delicious meat pie, leaving the salad behind, “ya gotta a lot of catching up to do.”
Though the blond was upset he couldn’t make Leona eat his daily dose of vegetables, he was astounded by the lessons he was taught about the outside.
Leona too was shocked to know that Vil had no knowledge about the world other than the Shaftlands. That witch must have planned to keep him ignorant of the world so he’d stay in this tower forever.
He kept his thoughts to himself as Vil spoke, “I never knew that, I have to tell mother when she’s back. I’d love to visit Sunset city, it sounds exotic.”
“Yeah, you’d look good in liongarb,” Leona nodded, already visualizing the blond strolling beside him in matching attire.
“I’d want to wear that, I know I’d look beautiful. Oh I can’t wait,” Vil hummed, “I’m sure mother will let me go.”
“They got great smoothies too,” Leona continued, seeing Vil’s enthusiasm building up, “lots of tropical fruit.”
Unable to contain his excitement, Vil held onto Leona’s hands and asked, “would you bring me there?”
Of course!!
Leona nodded casually, “yeah, sure thing,” but inside he felt like jumping like a cat with too much cat nip, “we can, ya know, go other places too. If ya want to.”
And maybe we could settle down somewhere nice…
“Beautiful me, going places,” Vil beamed, he never thought meeting a stranger would change his perspective so much. The lion watched him with much interest, his tail swishing quietly.
Vil stared out the window, his only view of the outside world. Then gasping all of a sudden, “oh my! It’s time to wash my hair!”
Leona blinked, “now? In the middle of the day?”
“Naturally, then there’ll be enough time for it to dry, it’s rather long if you haven’t realised,” Vil got up hastily and started to reel in his silky long locks in a bundle.
Leona snorted, “I’ve got eyes to see, alright. Whaddya need?”
Delighted that there was actually someone to help him with his hair, Vil smiled, “why, aren’t you helpful, you can get the bath tub ready.”
After filling an old but well maintained tub with clean water, Leona watched the blond scatter flower petals of various species and even a dash of honey before he gently submerged his amazingly long hair into the tub to soak for a bit before he did a good rinse.
Wow, he’s so detailed.
Leona’s tail swished about as he sat there, curious to see Vil at work shampooing his beautiful velvety hair.
“If you’re wondering why it smells good, it’s a recipe I created myself,” Vil beamed as he rinsed his hair and a pleasant aroma wafted in the air.
“Mmm…” Leona nodded, quietly observing everything Vil did.
Though Vil was busy washing his hair, he noticed Leona’s behaviour and couldn’t help but think, isn’t that what a cat would do?
He chuckled and continued to shampoo his hair, the lion narrowed his eyes a little when he heard that little laugh.
“Alright! Almost done,” Vil suddenly got up and to Leona’ surprise, he removed his clothing and got into the bath tub.
“W-what are ya doin’”
“Well I need to take a bath too after making this mess,” Vil replied innocently.
“Do ya just strip like that in front of-” Leona wanted to say anyone but there really wasn’t anyone besides his so-called mom so he stopped there.
Vil looked at him curiously.
I’m not gonna let anyone take him, Vil is mine.
Seeing Vil with his blond hair wet and dripping all over his fair, soft skin was too hard to resist, Leona tore off his shirt and reached over the tub, “there space for one more?”
He moved in until he was just a breath away from Vil, and with a face as charming as his, the blond gulped as he agreed, “yes, there is.”
“You smell so good…” Leona muttered as he trailed kisses down Vil’s neck.
Blushing a deep red that Vil felt he might pass out, Leona held onto his naked self that Vil stuttered, “mm, thanks..”
“We’re gonna have a nice time here,” hearing that Vil had to give in that he was probably blushing all over and replied to Leona with a kiss of his own.
They shared many tender moments that long afternoon.
“My darling lion,” Vil tenderly kissed Leona on the forehead.
Leona had a cheeky smile, “yea, my beautiful queen.” He carried his lover gently to the bed where they rested quietly together, his lion tail playfully wrapped around Vil’s waist.
These blissful days passed by quickly and it had reached the end of the week.
“Night already huh…” Leona grumbled to himself and he was just enjoying another quiet moment with Vil.
As a faint, halfmoon rose into the night sky, there was a long, deep, howling of a wolf.
Hooooooooooooooooowl!
Leona unfurled his arm away from Vil and got up, “crud, I know the howl anywhere.”
“Hmm, the wolf sounded mournful…” Vil slowly opened his eyes and glanced at the window.
“Yeah, he’s mournful about me going missing,” Leona grumbled, “I gotta go back. For a bit atleast.”
Vil blinked, “he is? and where are you going back to?”
“He’s my pup and he’s out looking for me since I’ve been gone a few days,” the grumpy lion reluctantly put on his pants and shirt, “we made a stopover at the village nearby.”
Vil wore a worried expression, “ah, the village. Mother likes to go there to scare the villagers it seems, she says they’re all unwashed spudlings.”
“... and she’ll be returning home soon…” Vil’s voice trailed off as he realised he wasn’t happy these moments with Leona were about to end. It was like the end of a sweet dream, he never thought he would have met a stranger that changed his perspective completely.
He didn’t want this to end and it made him upset, “why do you have to leave?” Leona felt two dainty hands tug at his shirt and didn’t know what to do.
“I’m coming back, I promise. And I’m gonna bring the chess set so you’ll finally get to try it,” Leona turned around and hugged Vil tightly, “I’ll miss ya.”
Vil unwillingly let go of Leona and gripped firmly onto his long blond hair as Leona slowly went down the high, lonely tower.
“I’ll miss you too,” he replied.
Even though it was a family heirloom, Leona pulled off the colourful bracelet he wore, “you have this while I’m away.”
Vil gazed at it fondly as Leona fitted it on his fair dainty wrist, “I can have it?”
“Yeah, you’re taking care of it until I’m back.”
Leona looked back at the windowsill where Vil stared at him longingly, “I’ll be back, promise.”
All at once, the tower room became very quiet. Vil had never felt this before, he was always content with a peaceful silence while he hummed and did whatever he liked. By himself.
And now he was by himself again.
Vil sat by the window, hoping to see if he could spot Leona but it was dark at night save for the faint light from the moon.
“Hmph, it’s not like me to mope in sorrow. If only I could see a little clearer, maybe a lamp?” Vil searched around the tower restlessly for a lamp of some sorts.
And he found an unused one, quickly lighting it with a simple spell his mother had taught him, and brought it to the edge of the window.
“Hmm, one isn’t enough, if only I had more of it, I could light up the whole sky and see where Leona went,” Vil mused and as he spoke Leona’s name out loud, he felt warm and fuzzy feelings wash over him.
“I can’t wait for you to return, Leona.”
“Cow-cow~”
“Is that a… seagull? Ah!”
A flustered seagull flew straight at Vil and knocked over the lamp.
“Cow~”
Vil would have shoo-ed it away but he was in need of some company and stared at the seagull apprehensively, “umm, what do you want?”
It looked up at him and hopped about on its skinny bird legs, before sticking out one of its leg, there was a tight metal tag that looked uncomfortable, “cow…”
“Oh, I see. Let me get it off you,” Vil knelt down and unfastened the tag before pulling it off the seagull. There was a name on the tag, which Vil read as, “Roo? Rook?”
“Cow-cow-cow~” the seagull jumped up excitedly and started to make sounds that sounded like he was laughing.
“Hi, Rook.”
The seagull hopped around Vil happily and made no attempt to stay silent. The blond laughed, “and here I was disliking the silence, thank you for coming to my aid.”
Rook nodded and skipped about, especially when he tried to answer Vil’s questions by pointing to murals on the wall, it was very amusing to Vil and it kept him entertained until they both felt sleepy and decided to turn in for the night.
The next morning, Vil awoke to the sound of a noisy sea gull.
“Cow-cow, cow!” Rook called out proudly, as though he was reciting poetry.
Vil stretched and greeted him, “good morning, Rook.”
The friendly bird perched on his shoulder and seemed to be smiling, if birds could smile.
“...Vil!”
The boy heard a familiar voice calling out to him. Rook started to ruffle his feathers, he could sense someone unpleasant.
It was… Vil’s mother.
Vil sighed and thought, ah that was fast, hope she brought back lots of presents for me.
“Boy, let down your hair for mother!” the witch shouted.
“Yes, yes, be patient,” Vil smoothened his bed hair and sauntered to the window before gently tossing his long, beautiful locks down. “Huh, Rook?” he felt the seagull spread his wings and fly around the blond before flying out the window.
He winked at Vil and flew off at top speed.
“Did a seagull just wink at me?” Vil pondered to himself before his mom called out to him.
“Boy, are you dreaming? Pull me up!” she demanded, holding tightly onto the hair, not even caring that it was shampooed and smelt great.
Vil took deep breaths as he hoisted her up, “Leona would have been able to climb up on his own and so quickly.”
“What?” the witch asked, uncertain about what Vil just said.
“Leona climbs so much faster than you, mom.”
The witch dropped the bags of groceries.
“YOU LET A STRANGER INTO THE TOWER?”
“Excuse me, why are you shouting like that? Mom, are you alright? ” Vil was suddenly taken aback, she never raised her voice like that.
Ignoring what Vil had said, the witch pulled his hair and sniffed him loudly, “you have… done something with him. And what's that ugly thing around your wrist?”
“Excuse me, its a beautiful bracelet. Well anyway, that’s what I was going to tell you, he’s not a stranger. Not anymore. I know him and he knows me. And I think you’d like him too. He’s not a potato like what you said outsiders are like.”
“I take good care of you and this is what you do?” the witch took out a sharp dagger and started to chop off Vil’s precious blond locks like a ruffian.
“No, mom, what are you doing?!” Vil struggled to pull free from the witch but she slapped his face hard and it turned red. Tears welling up from the shock, Vil wasn’t able to stop her from cutting his hair and he began to cry, “my hair, don’t you know how much care I put into it?”
Vil was in tears that his beautiful hair that he lovingly cared for and that Leona loved too was gone.
He was so shocked he didn’t realise the ends of his cut hair magically turned purple but it was so faint the witch didn’t notice either.
“This is your fault for letting a stranger in and doing whatever you wanted. And stop calling me mom, it’s been awful taking care of an ungrateful child like you, you’re just like your father. Choosing someone over me!”
“What..?” Vil couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
The witch dragged him to the window and pointed, “get out.”
“No, Leona’s coming back for me!” Vil snapped out of his confusion and struggled against the witch.
“Just get lost, seeing your face sickens me,” she pushed back.
Vil held his grip tightly with his teeth, “I won’t leave without him! He promised he will return for me.”
“He won’t, because I’m going to push him down like this,” the witch grinned creepily.
“What?” traumatised by her words, Vil did not even realise his grip softened. She gathered immense magical strength and with a huff, pushed the boy out of the window.
“!”
Vil could feel a gust of wind blasting beneath him as he fell and fell.
“Leona, …” holding the colourful bracelet fondly, he closed his eyes and accepted his tragic fate beautifully.
“...Vil!”
As Vil gasped at the voice he longed to hear, he felt himself land on a thick furry carpet, “ah, what?” He opened his eyes and he was in the arms of his one true love, Leona.
“Leona!” he cried out and hugged the lion beastman, fat tears rolling down his cheeks. “Why didn’t you come sooner?” he sobbed as he continued to hug Leona.
Leona allowed him to drench his shirt with tears and kissed Vil on the forehead dotingly, “I came back, didn’t I?”
He growled a command and the huge white wolf they were riding howled back. “Good boy, Jack. You jumped in time.”
Jack wagged his giant fluffy tail happily for doing a good job and made a little yip.
“Is this your dog?” Vil looked down at the wolf he was sitting on, Jack whined a little.
“Heh, he’s a wolf. He gets upset when people confuse him with a dog, he’s still a pup to me,” Leona ruffled its white fur and the wolf forgot its sadness immediately.
“Oh, pardon me then. Hi Jack, you’re a handsome wolf,” Vil patted him gently. The wolf made a long, gentle howl and wagged his tail, he approved of this human.
There was a sudden shrill, “you’re still alive!? And what’s that, a wolf?” the witch screamed from the top of the tower.
“That’s my mom, well, my fake mom,” Vil pointed moodily in her direction, Leona shook his head.
“Dang, I knew she was toxic but throwing you out like that… If I hadn’t reached in time…” Leona frowned, he didn’t want to imagine it.
The witch murmured a spell and started to crawl out of the window, “gonna get rid of you once and for all. You and your father don’t deserve happiness!”
“I’m already leaving, isn’t that enough?”
“No! I made him pay for rejecting my feelings, now you’ll pay too!”
Vil was taken aback.
Leona felt a headache coming, “huh, not gonna like this but…” he held out his hand up to the tower and chanted, “King’s Roar.”
Sssssssssssssssssssssss~
As the witch descended down the tower, the walls began to creak and slowly crumble into sand, “eek, what’s happening?”
“Vil, we’re going off now, the tower’s gonna collapse any minute,” the lion held tightly onto his love and motioned to Jack to sprint off as fast as could.
Crashhhhhhhhh~!
When they returned to the site of the tower crash, there was dust and rubble everywhere.
“Ya sure you wanna find her?” Leona sounded apprehensive, but he still followed Vil to search around the ruins.
“Eew, dust,” Vil frowned, ”yes, she mentioned my father. My real father, I’d like to ask her myself.”
“Cow-Cow~” a sea gull flew a circle around Vil then settled himself nicely on his dainty shoulder.
“Hi, Rook,” Vil tickled it under its chin. Leona snorted, “heh, that nosey bird.”
“...Aughhhh…”
There was a groan coming from a pile of rubble and bits of broken stones rolled away.
“Mom..?” Vil had instinctively called out to the witch, even though she no longer called him her son.
“... Is that, Vil?” a meek voice cried out, “come help mother out of this…”
Leona narrowed his eyes as he watched Vil innocently reach out to the witch. Other than dust on her face, she had protected herself well and seemed slightly bruised only, something was wrong.
“Let’s get you out of this, then you can tell me more about my dad,” unaware of danger, Vil held out his arms to help her.
“Oh, you sweet child…” the witch smiled and pulled Vil closer to herself, Leona saw a sparkle.
“Oi, Vil!” he rushed to the blond’s side and pushed him away, blocking him from a fatal dagger wound.
“Leona!” Vil screamed and grasped onto Leona.
“Hehehe, now I finally have my revenge. If I can’t be happy, NO ONE can!” the witch rose up and cackled. She took a step forward before-
“Grrrrrrrrrr!” an angry giant wolf knocked her down and disarmed her. “Ahhh, get off me, you fur-”
“Cow-cow!” came violent knocks on her head from a vicious sea gull.
While the witch was swiftly dealt with, a teary eyed Vil held onto Leona, whose breathing became shallow from the mortal blow.
“Why did you protect me?.. Now you’re hurt…” he gently stroked Leona’s fluffy hair, “how.. How are you supposed to take me to all these places? To your home…”
“Heh, I’m fine… I just need a longer nap…” the beastman wrapped his hand around Vil’s warmly though he felt very weak inside.
“No, Leona! Don’t close your eyes,” Vil cried out to him and pressed his head against Leona’s, “please don’t… go...”
“Heh… …”
“Noooo… Leona..” the tears couldn’t stop rolling from Vil’s eyes and he hugged his loved one dearly. He sniffed and sobbed, “no, I won’t give up.”
Still crying, he tried to clear his throat and began to sing, “heal what has been hurt… save what has been lost… bring back what once was mine…”
The tears that fell on Leona’s cheeks glowed and bloomed into a majestic purple and gold flower over his wound and breathed life back into him.
“Ughh.. Nap’s over I guess” Leona grumbled as he regained consciousness.
“Leona!” Vil hugged him tightly and didn’t want to let go, his precious lion had returned to him. He smiled fondly at Leona and showered him in loving kisses, Leona remained cool and silent but his tail wrapped around Vil lovingly.
Their love had prevailed against all odds.
A while later.
There was a knock on the door. Vil and Leona waited outside nervously.
A handsome, matured man got up from his reading chair and opened the door.
“Yes?” Eric looked at the gorgeous couple standing out his door with a curious seagull and a giant wolf sitting obediently behind them. The boy with velvety blond and purple ombre hair made him pause a little, “hmm, can I help you?”
“Cow-cow!” the seagull called out and flew in front of Eric. Leona clicked his tongue and yanked the seagull back, resting him on the wolf’s head. Jack made a soft whine.
“Guys, it’s alright, I got this,” Vil smiled at them.
He turned back to Eric and bowed before asking politely, “we’re looking for Eric Venue, does he stay here?”
“...Vil?” the matured gentleman’s eyes widened, the son he thought he lost so many years ago had returned and Eric could recognise him straight away.
Eric hugged his son dearly and patted his head, “my boy, I’m so happy to see you!”
“Me too, dad!” Vil called out to him like the happy child he was, Leona nodded knowingly.
They had managed to find Vil’s father with some help from Jack and Rook, and some of their animal friends. He had moved to a remote village in the Shaftlands after losing his son many years ago.
Eric was overjoyed to have them so they stayed with Eric to catch up and soon after Leona brought Vil to Sunset City to meet his family.
With many blessings, Leona and Vil got married and raised many children of their own. Leona kept his promise to Vil to explore the world together and they shared many wonderful memories for many years to come.