WEAK

Leonel left the Segmented Cube to find Aina laying in bed with her palms over her belly, lost in thought. Leonel's sudden appearance startled her for a bit, but then she smiled. It was a sweet smile, almost careless in its formation, but deep and filled with love nonetheless. It left Leonel in a daze for a long moment. The way her hair spilled out onto the bed beneath her, the rosiness of her cheeks, the redness of her lips… even the way her nose scrunched up as though she was trying to tease him a bit with that smile of hers, as though she was well aware of just how beautiful she was. Leonel didn't know what to say, and he was at a complete loss for words. It was Aina who spoke first as though she knew he was stunned. "You've gotten shorter." Leonel blinked. "What? You want to divorce me now? Ai, the heart of a woman is so cruel." Aina giggled. "Have you decided?" Leonel asked, his meaning clear as he looked at her hand-covered belly. "It's a surprise!" Aina said with a brighter smile. She hadn't even truly become a mother yet, but she was so bright-eyed and happy that Leonel almost melted all over again. At the same time, he was kicking himself for withholding her from such a right for so long. Just seeing this smile made whatever hardships came later more than worth it. "Okay, keep your little secrets, then." Leonel chuckled and sat by her side, placing a much larger hand over hers. The two sat in silent peace, feeling one another's warmth. Leonel slowly traced his thumb over Aina's ring finger, feeling the burnt marks left behind by his soul brand. Even now, he couldn't quite figure out how he could fix this… But he had an idea. As for the baby in his wife's belly, it didn't matter to him. Boy or girl, it wouldn't make a difference so long as it was healthy and his wife was happy. "How long do you think?" Leonel asked. Under normal circumstances, it should take nine months; they were human after all. But the problem was that the two had long mutated away from normal humans. Aina's talent spoke for itself. As for Leonel, although he had seemed completely weak and fragile, other than his Dream Asura Bloodline, his seed should have carried everything else. In truth, he wasn't even 100% certain if his entire Dream Asura Bloodline was gone. After all, just logically speaking, his bone marrow hadn't been dug out and his genes hadn't been altered. Just because Leonel couldn't sense it anymore didn't mean that it wasn't buried deep within him in some shape or form. Even though his own bloodlines had been without a foundation, with Aina handpicking the perfect embryo to use, this obviously wouldn't be a problem. This was why Leonel didn't care whether Aina became pregnant before or after his transformation. Either way, what mutations were caused by their union would supersede anything regardless. Plus, what Leonel had done to himself was more like a technique than a change to his talent. If his children wanted to follow this path, he would easily be able to help them do so. His only role right now was to grow stronger. To grow strong to the point Aina could have all the children she wanted and it would change absolutely nothing. "I could speed it up… but I don't think that's best," Aina said softly. "Depending on the situation, two or three years, I think, is a good time." Leonel nodded. That wasn't a long time at all, not with the current span of their lives. "If you need any resources, let me know. I will get them all for you—." Leonel's gaze suddenly sharpened and he pressed a foot down on his living quarters. BOOM! The structure began to sway and shake, but Leonel had not only activated the protective formations, he bolstered them in the blink of an eye. Leonel Morales was back. All the Force Arts in the world were practically playdough in his hands. "Stay here." Leonel said softly. Aina was already trying to get up, but she could only pout when he spoke. However, her pout vanished when she could feel the life growing in her belly. Other mothers would need at least a baby bump before they could feel something, but Aina could practically feel every cell's movement. Although she still liked to fight, that was voided by her will to be a mother ten times over. She didn't even mind it and had already forgotten the commotion. Her husband could handle it. … Leonel walked out slowly. He looked up to find a dome of swirling runes above his head. Beyond this dome, there was a woman with long green hair that flapped about wildly in the wind. She was unlikely to be a Fawkes and had likely married into the family from one of the powerful emerging bloodlines of Earth. Earth had always been exceptionally talented, so with so many years of growth, many such lineages were bound to awaken. Not only that, but the Sparks that lit their Lineage Factors were very likely to still be alive as well. "RETURN MY SON TO ME!" Her screech caused a violent uprising of Force in the region. But it suddenly froze when Leonel appeared before her. At some unknown time, he had pressed five fingers to her chest, looking down on her indifferently. The green-haired woman froze in place. Didn't they say that Leonel was impossibly weak now? Even if he wasn't, wasn't he only in the Sixth Dimension? How… How could he be so strong? BANG! The woman was sent flying. "Weak." Leonel said lightly. These people were so sheltered, living lives of leisure while plotting the downfall of others. He didn't believe that his grandfather was so incompetent as to raise a family of complete fools. He knew Gervaise's tactics, and it was definitely almost a certainty that he had fabricated enemies for them even when there were none, forcing them to be tempered through blood and fire. If not, how could they stand tall here? But it was also clear… that there were many among them that had managed to escape this fate. She came here to flex her muscle… and yet couldn't withstand a single strike. At that moment, several powerful auras descended from the surroundings as Leonel's pale violet hair danced in the wind. All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.