14 days after the victory on Nemo, Leo and Veyr finally left the planet together to head back home, as Veyr delegated the remaining duties to secure the planet onto a Legion Commander, while Leo instructed Su Pei to stay back and guard the planet for at least a month more to come.
"Oh man, I can't wait to get back home and try that new restaurant the soldiers were talking about that serves Fried Manduini Shrimps. The men have hyped it up as the greatest thing they have ever tasted, so I'm kinda excited—" Veyr said, as he wiped a line of drool from his face, clearly restless to try the new dish out.
"Well, you can go there alone, I just want to go back home and cuddle with Amanda for a night or two. You know, destress a bit before heading off to Juxta," Leo said, as Veyr chuckled at the cute comment.
It was rare to see Leo talk about wanting to spend time with his girlfriend, since most of the time he was solely focused on training and getting stronger.
"Man... you're lucky to have a girl. Although I get female attention, there's no one in my life who can quite make my heart flutter.
Not like Amanda makes yours flutter at least..."
Veyr said, letting out a sigh that sounded heavier than he meant, causing Leo to laugh softly in return.
"Yeah, I've been pretty lucky with Amanda, she's terrific. Sometimes I feel like it surely can't be easy for anyone to be with a guy like me, who is so rarely around, or whose life is constantly in danger.
I'm sure it takes a significant psychological toll on her whenever I head out for war.
Yet, whenever I'm back she almost never shows it. She's just so happy to have me back that she doesn't complain at all, which makes me so happy to be home." Leo said, as listening to his words Veyr felt a hollow ache in his chest.
Being raised an orphan, he yearned for this sort of love. Yet he had never received it.
"My lords, we will be landing in a couple minutes on Tithia," a soldier informed at this moment, interrupting their conversation, as Leo and Veyr dropped their talk and instead looked out of the window toward the vibrant blue-green planet below them.
The carrier pierced the upper atmosphere, its hull trembling as the clouds gave way to a dazzling sight—the capital hangar bay sprawling across the plains of Tithia, its landing platforms already surrounded by seas of bodies.
The closer they drew, the more distinct the sound became—a rumbling chorus that shook the air itself.
Cheers, chants, and roars of approval thundered upward, striking the hull like waves crashing against stone, as thousands of citizens gathered to welcome their victorious Dragons home.
The carrier doors parted, hydraulic steam venting as the ramp extended downward, and for a moment the crowd fell into a hush, all eyes fixed on the shadowed interior.
Then, as Leo and Veyr appeared shoulder to shoulder, the silence shattered into a roar that rattled the very walls of the bay.
"Lord Dragon, Lord Shadow Dragon!"
"Lord Veyr! Dragon Veyr!"
"Mighty Skyshard!"
Names surged together, chants overlapping into a single storm of devotion, as children climbed onto shoulders to wave dragon army banners, and commoners stamped their feet together like drums of war, their pride exploding in a frenzy that made the hangar floor vibrate.
Leo and Veyr walked side by side, the noise rolling over them like a tidal wave, and though Leo wore a faint smile and Veyr raised his hand to wave, both could feel the weight of devotion pressing on their shoulders, heavier than any blade they had ever carried into battle.
The level of faith that the commoners had towards them was unbelievable, and although they had seen this phenomenon repeat itself several times over the past year, no matter how many times they experienced it, it was a hard feeling to get used to.
As they literally perceived them to be Gods and Saints instead of the warriors that they really were.
As the two of them walked further, the soldiers guarding the perimeter parted slightly to reveal a figure waiting for them with his arms outstretched—
It was the first elder, with his face hidden behind a ceremonial mask of silver and gold, and his posture the very picture of dignity and grace.
"Behold our heroes!" his voice boomed, carrying through mana amplification, that sounded thick with feigned warmth that rang hollow to those who knew him well.
However, to the unknowing crowd, his words were a spark to cheer louder, which they did, as the First Elder smiled behind the mask, his eyes cold even as his gestures radiated false enthusiasm.
"Welcome…. Welcome home victorious champions of the Cult!"
He said, as he hugged Leo first and Veyr next, displaying a closeness to the Dragons in front of the people that was not entirely true.
The crowd erupted at the gesture, mistaking it for genuine affection, their voices climbing even higher as chants of "Long Live The Cult!" rolled through the hangar like thunder.
To them, it was a sign—the Elders and the Dragons, bound together as one, leading the Cult into a brighter future.
Leo accepted the embrace with a faint smile, seeing it only as a formal courtesy, while Veyr returned it with his usual warmth, raising a hand to acknowledge the crowd as cheers surged louder.
For the duo, it was a welcome ceremony, nothing more, their focus still half on the battlefield they had left behind and half on the homes they longed to return to.
But to the First Elder, it was a theatre where every gesture, every embrace, every amplified word was carefully calculated to draw the people's devotion away from the men beside him and redirect it toward the mask he wore, and towards the Council he represented.
Afterall, behind the gilded façade of warmth, his eyes were cold, watching not Leo nor Veyr, but the thousands who cheered, as he already began to plot how best to twist their worship into obedience, and how to ensure that the glory of the Dragons became the glory of the Elders themselves.
(More chapters in Buyers club for TMT)