Leonora’s breathing was slow and steady.
Nameless Death stood in silence for a few moments, watching her.
"Wake up," he said. "I know you’re not sleeping."
Leonora didn’t react.
She lay beneath the silver-leafed tree, curled up with her face half-turned away.
Nameless Death clicked his tongue.
The reason he’d brought her into his shadow was simple.
’If Berserker won’t tell me how to access my Cosmos,’ he thought, ’then I just need to ask someone else.’
Leonora continued her little act. Her breathing stayed rhythmic. Her presence stayed passive.
"If you keep this up, I’m going to grab your head and use mind control to make you contact your mother," he said plainly.
Still no movement.
He took one step forward.
The next moment, water exploded in front of him.
A dense, high-pressure stream of spinning liquid burst from her palm, sharp as blades and twice as fast.
It tore through the air like it could split the world in half. It crashed into him—
And scattered harmlessly as soon as it touched him.
Leonora leapt back, eyes fierce.
"Stay away from me!"
She didn’t wait for a reply.
A flash of blue light surged behind her.
The lake rippled, the air thickened, and then the water surged upward as a massive shape emerged.
A gigantic whale made entirely of compressed water mana.
A Spirit of Water.
Its eyes glowed deep sapphire as it hovered unnaturally above the lake’s surface.
Leonora raised both hands. The whale charged.
The creature opened its maw and released a deafening roar as a beam of condensed water mana shot out, crashing into Nameless Death like a waterfall made of spears.
Again, nothing.
Nameless Death exhaled through his nose and looked up at the whale.
"Can we talk now? I’m not going to harm you."
Leonora’s breathing was heavy, but her hands didn’t lower.
"Stay away!" she yelled. "You brought me here to talk to the Supreme of Water, right? You want to form a contract with her! I’m not having children with anyone!"
Nameless Death’s lips twitched.
"I’m not planning to do that either."
She blinked, caught off guard by the answer.
"I only brought you here to talk," he added. "If there’s another way, I’d like to find it."
Leonora scoffed, still keeping her distance.
"The Supreme of Water already said she won’t accept anything else. What makes you think you can negotiate?"
Nameless Death didn’t reply. He simply stared at her.
Her expression twisted. She drew a sword from her mana, a narrow one with a silver-blue edge, and pointed it at him.
"Don’t come closer," she said. Her hands trembled. "I’ll kill myself if you take a step."
"What is wrong with you?" he said, exasperated. "I haven’t even done anything yet."
Leonora didn’t answer.
He sighed. "Look. I’m planning to give access to my Path directly to the Supreme of Water and her people. There’s no need for you and me to have children."
"No matter what you say," she began, "the Supreme of Water won’t—"
She stopped.
"What did you say?"
"I’ll give her access to my Path directly."
Leonora stared at him like he’d grown another head.
She lowered the sword slightly.
"You are serious?"
"Yes."
"....What are you planning? You refused before but you are saying you will give her the access to the Path?"
"Planning? Me? I’m not planning anything."
Nameless Death gave her an innocent smile.
Her eyes narrowed. That smile was enough to confirm the opposite.
"You’re definitely planning something."
They stood in silence, locked in a long stare.
Eventually, Nameless Death spoke again.
"Just call the Supreme of Water," he said. "Or I’ll force you to do it."
Leonora’s expression twitched.
She knew he was right. He could definitely force her to do that.
She also knew he had shown far more patience than he needed to. Given the difference in strength between them, she was lucky he hadn’t already done exactly that from the start.
She grumbled something under her breath.
Then asked, almost shyly, "You’re really not going to try anything? No... children?"
"No," Nameless Death said flatly.
She nodded, almost relieved. "Okay. I’m trusting you."
She closed her eyes.
A soft chant left her lips. Her voice was steady, even though her posture remained tense.
Nameless Death stood nearby, watching.
’She did the same last time. This must be how you contact a Supreme. Could I call the Supreme of Darkness too like this, if I tried?’
After all, he was her Loved One.
Part of him was sure it would work.
But another part—the instinct honed by every battle, every step in his fragmented life—told him not to.
Something about calling her felt dangerous. Not just for him. For everything.
So he hadn’t done it.
Yet.
Leonora opened her eyes.
"She’s not responding."
Nameless Death frowned. "What?"
"She’s not responding," she repeated, more firmly this time.
"Leonora," the gigantic whale beside her rumbled as it floated above the lake. "That should be enough. I don’t think he needs every detail."
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