Layla Heartfilia had gone and done it again. Leo couldn't believe her ignorance. Her own bond was slowly killing her, yet she wanted to subject her young daughter to the same fate. A ten-year-old girl was hardly a match for the leader of the zodiac. There was no way in hell she would possess the amount of magical power to sustain the bond with him. He could feel her now as the bond tried to snap into place. He felt the agony she was in. Why in the world did Serio agree to this madness? And why did he have to be involved in it? He didn't want the young Heartfilia's blood on his hands. Plus, if this killed her, Aquarius would be tyrannical for the next thousand years. The mermaid spirit might make a fuss, but she loved the girl dearly, like one of her own. Cancer, as well, cared about the girl and would be inconsolable.
Leo stood in the grand atrium of the throne room, its ornate columns and gilded walls starkly contrasting with the dire situation unfolding. Starlight filtered through stained-glass windows depicting celestial beings, casting an ethereal glow over the polished marble floors. The scent of jasmine from the sprawling gardens outside wafted in, mixing incongruously with the tension in the air.
He felt the bond pulse and the silver mark etch into the skin above his heart. What the hell? The bond was taking. He felt another pulse of power and nearly fell to his knees. How could one girl contain this much power? It was almost overwhelming. No human had ever been strong enough to survive this process, but she was holding her own against his magic as the bond forced its way between them.
Leo's surroundings blurred as his focus shifted inward, battling the storm of magic swirling through the bond. He glanced around, noting the shimmering outlines of the zodiac constellations embedded in the ceiling, each one a reminder of the immense power he commanded—and the responsibility that came with it.
"Leo, she needs you, please don't let her die." He looked up to see Aquarius, her mermaid form radiant against the backdrop of the atrium's celestial murals. The mermaid spirit, usually so fierce and untouchable, now appeared vulnerable, her blue eyes pleading. Then he heard it—a call through the agony. Suddenly, the pain disappeared. The girl was summoning him, trying to shield him from the pain?
"Aquarius, how?" She looked at him, understanding crossing her face.
"It's just who she is," Aquarius replied, her voice echoing softly against the high domed ceiling. "I've never met a more powerful wizard than her, and she doesn't even seem to know or understand. She thinks of us as family, and I mean all of us, not just the spirits she's contracted to. Now go, she's waiting."
Leo nodded, feeling a surge of resolve. He followed the pull of magic, disappearing from the opulent atrium in a flash of golden light, reappearing in a small, cozy room that clearly belonged to a young girl. The walls were painted a soft pink, adorned with posters of famous wizards and constellations. Stuffed animals and dolls were strewn across a bed covered with a quilt decorated in bright, whimsical patterns. A small bookshelf against one wall held a mix of fairy tales and beginner's magic books.
Immediately, he cradled her, hoping to ease some of the pain the bond was causing her. Slowly, he pushed her blonde hair back to uncover her face and hoped the gesture was comforting.
"Shh, it's okay. I'm here now. I won't let anything bad happen to you."
The girl clung to him, tears running down her face. "It hurts. I can't."
"You can. It's almost done, just a little longer." The girl curled against him, trying to hide. What was her name? Come on, he should know with how much Aquarius complained. Lu-Lucile? No, that isn't it. Lu-lu-Lucy! That's it. Lucy. Lucy Heartfilia, daughter to Layla Heartfilia, the only wizard he knew crazy enough to try to bond with their king. Leo froze, drawn out of his thoughts by Lucy's stillness. The bond was fading.
"No, no, no, Lucy, come on, don't let this happen." Leo was panicking. What went wrong? She was fine a second ago; the bond was almost complete. Why was she fading now?
"No, I won't let you die. Lucy, come back to me, please." Channeling magic into the fading bond, he prayed it would be enough. "Come on." He waited, holding his breath. "Please." A pause, and then he felt the bond pulse and come back to life. Lucy stirred in his arms, pain etched across her face.
"It's okay, I'm here. It's okay. Accept the bond. I'm fine. This is fine. Don't fight it."
The hair on his arms stood up as the door to the room they were in opened. He turned and growled at the intruder, his protective instincts flaring to life.
"Don't touch her."
Layla blinked in shock, letting her hand fall back to her side. "I'm not the enemy, Leo."
Leo's heart pounded in his chest, a mix of anger and fear fueling his words. "Like hell you're not. Why would you subject her to this? Why not wait until she is a little older? You're insane."
"I have my reasons, Leo. You are the only one I trust to be able to protect her."
Leo's thoughts raced. Protect her? From what? The confusion and frustration were almost too much to bear. "Protect her from what? She's a child. What could she possibly need protection from?"
Layla's voice trembled, and Leo saw the vulnerability in her eyes. "I am not long for this world, Leo. I can't..." She hesitated as a tear slowly trailed down her face. "I can't leave her with him."
"With who?"
"Jude. He will destroy every good thing about her for his own gain. I've seen the beginning of it, and I know how it ends. I won't let that be her ending. These people look at her like she's meat, a thing to be coveted and kept, not a person, not a little girl. I won't be around to protect her, but you can, and you will. I know you, Leo. Your pride won't allow for anything else."
Leo's mind reeled. His frustration growing with the woman in front of him. He felt the weight of Layla's words settle on him like a heavy cloak. He thought of Lucy, the innocent girl who had just endured so much pain. His pride? No, it was more than that. He couldn't bear the thought of her suffering, of her being used and broken. "That's low, Layla. I am more than my pride. I will protect her. I swear it, but not because of pride, but because she needs my help and you have given neither of us a choice in this matter." At his words, Layla looked away with guilt plain on her face. He could see the remorse in her eyes, but it didn't change the fact that she had forced his hand. "I'm sorry."
"No, you're not."
Layla looked back at him. "No, I'm not."
Leo shook his head. At least she's honest. A strange mixture of respect and resentment welled up within him. Lucy was still in his arms, but only because she had fallen back asleep, exhausted from the ordeal they had just gone through. He felt a pull from his contracted wizard summoning him. "I have to go." Carefully, he shifted Lucy to lay her back on the bed and startled when she suddenly grabbed him, eyes wide with fear and confusion. He tried to fight the pull of his contract, but there was only so much he could do. He patted Lucy's head and, as he vanished, whispered, "It's nice to meet you, princess. You will never be alone from now on. I will protect you."
As he was pulled back through the celestial realm to wherever his current holder was, Leo's mind raced. The promise he had made to Lucy and the weight of Layla's trust bore heavily on his heart. He had to find a way to protect her, to be there for her, as much as he could. The bond they shared was more than just magic—it was a lifeline, a beacon of hope. He would honor it, and he would protect her with everything he had.
Six years had gone by since then, each one more daunting than the last. Now that he was bonded, his strength had increased dramatically, drawing on the power shared between him and Lucy. Their bond being one of the most sacred and powerful connections that could exist between a wizard and spirit. The wizard he was contracted to at the time had felt the pull of magic during the bonding. With the sudden increase in his power, the wizard had released him from his contract, unable to sustain his gate for any significant amount of time unless Leo supplemented his own power to keep it open. They had parted on amicable terms, but it wasn't long until his status as a bonded spirit without a contract made its rounds to different celestial wizards.
Despite the strength of their bond, Leo hadn't been able to appear before Lucy again. In the realm of celestial magic, the bond between a spirit and a wizard was indeed powerful, but it adhered to strict rules. One crucial rule was that a celestial spirit could not open their own gate; only their contracted or bonded wizard could summon them. Leo could feel Lucy's presence and emotions through their bond, but he was powerless to appear before her unless she called for him. This limitation was a constant source of frustration and helplessness for Leo, especially when he sensed that she needed him.
His situation was further complicated by the nature of his bond with Lucy. The bond had enhanced his power dramatically, making him one of the most sought-after spirits among celestial wizards. Yet, this same bond also acted as a barrier, as only someone immense magical power could summon him. Their connection was a blessing and a curse.
During the six years since their initial bonding, Leo had felt every emotion Lucy experienced, from her moments of joy to her darkest hours. The bond allowed him to sense when she was in danger, and while he couldn't appear to help her physically, he could still send her his strength and reassurance through their connection. This exchange of emotions was a lifeline for both of them, a way to maintain their connection despite the physical distance and barriers between them.
Leo had encountered many celestial wizards during those six years. Some had sought to exploit his power, while others had been genuinely interested in forming a partnership. However, the bond with Lucy made it difficult for any other contract to take hold with the immense increase of power he now held.
Eventually, Karen had sought him out. A powerful celestial wizard in her own right, not as powerful as Lucy, but he wasn't sure anybody could be as powerful as her. Aries was contracted to her and seemed to like the wizard, singing her praises whenever she returned to the celestial realm. If Aries liked her, she couldn't be that bad, and she seemed strong enough to be able to hold his gate open. So he accepted her contract, missing the human world.
At first, things were good. She was a decent wizard, seemed to care about her spirits, and just wanted to make a living as a wizard. Her fiancé, Hibiki Lates, was decent too. Hibiki tolerated him, especially with how close Karen tended to keep him. Most days, she summoned him to keep her company when Hibiki was away. Other days, he was summoned for his combat prowess, and the jobs Karen took on were never a challenge for him.
The shift in Karen's behavior was subtle at first. Karen had gained popularity among the public as a strong celestial wizard who was beautiful too. It went to her head. The adoration and attention changed her. Everyone whispered about how they were just tools for her to use—stepping stones to take her to the top. Men chased after her, and Hibiki looked the other way, unwilling to believe the woman he loved had changed for the worse.
She became more demanding, summoning Leo not just for company or combat, but for menial tasks that felt beneath the dignity of a celestial spirit. The townspeople's adulation fueled her arrogance, and she began to see her spirits less as partners and more as possessions. The final straw was the way she treated Aries. Aries, who had once sung Karen's praises, was now subjected to her capricious whims. Karen used Aries as a stand-in for unwanted suitors, forcing the gentle spirit into uncomfortable situations. The abuse Aries faced at Karen's hands made Leo's blood boil.
The day Karen threatened to force Aries to stay in the human world for a week was the last straw. Spirits were not meant to stay in the human world for extended periods without severe consequences. The magic that sustained them could become unstable, leading to unpredictable and dangerous outcomes. So he had taken Aries' place and refused to leave.
He sat on the stone steps in the cathedral and waited. The ancient structure was vast and echoing, its high ceilings adorned with intricate carvings and stained glass windows that cast fragmented light into the dim space. Dust motes floated lazily in the beams of moonlight that pierced through the openings in the ceiling, giving the scene an otherworldly feel. The cold stone beneath him did little to cool the anger and frustration wailing inside him. Why wouldn't she just let them go? They weren't any use to her like this anyway. It had been almost three months. She couldn't continue to go on like this.
He felt the mark on his chest pulse and a feeling of warmth pour over him. Even now, Lucy wanted to protect him, sending him strength through the bond. He knew she could feel what he was feeling. He looked up at the opening in the ceiling; it was pitch black with only the stars casting light upon him. She should be asleep. He placed a hand over his heart and sent back his appreciation while also willing her to go to sleep. He felt her slowly drift back to sleep. It had been this way almost every night. Lucy would send him her warmth through the bond as encouragement, and he would respond in kind, gently pushing her to go to sleep. He could feel the terror she sometimes awoke with. It concerned him, but as long as he was contracted to Karen, there was nothing he could do. He needed her to release them from their contracts, not just for his and Aries' sake, but Lucy's as well. After this thing with Karen was settled, he would look for her—nothing would stop him this time.
Morning came quickly. Leo was exhausted. This fight was going on for far too long. Hearing footsteps on the gravel, he looked up to see Karen barreling toward him in all her glory, green hair in disarray around her head and dark bags under her eyes. The light of dawn filtered through the stained glass, casting colorful patterns on the floor.
"Unless you are here to let us out of our contracts, I suggest you leave. I have no time for your false promises and lies."
"Leo, please stop this nonsense. You're a bonded spirit. I will never come across a spirit as powerful as you. I need you. I can't work. I can't eat. I can't sleep."
"Not my problem. Release our contracts, and you can go back to work."
"You piece of shit," Karen stormed up the steps to kick at him. "Ungrateful bastard, you better hope I die before you get sucked back into the celestial realm; otherwise, I am going to make Aries' life a living hell. Who are you to tell me how to treat my spirits? You're just tools for me to use." She spat at him before turning to leave. "As long as I live, I will never let you both out of your contracts."
With the last word, she stormed out of the cathedral. Leo sighed. Why must she be so stubborn? He could outlast her. On top of being the leader of the zodiac, he was bonded. He might be tired now, but he could stay in this realm for years before it would wear against him enough to send him back. The bond helped by allowing him and Lucy to share power between them, easing the effects of the human realm on him. He would outwait her. They would be free.
The cathedral echoed with the remnants of their confrontation. Leo leaned back against the cold stone, feeling the weariness in his bones. He brushed his hand over the mark on his chest, feeling the familiar warmth of Lucy's presence as his eyes slowly shut.
Leo jerked awake to something cold slithering across the bond. He sent a wave of power through the bond to alert Lucy to danger. He felt her reaction immediately and sagged in relief. Whatever was going on, wherever she was, it wasn't good, and she needed to get out of there. He had been pushing her to leave for weeks now. Call it a gut feeling, but something wasn't right. Early evening light streamed through the ceiling. She needed to leave tonight. He sent a sense of urgency through the bond, urging her to make the move. The bond pulsed back in acknowledgment. He wasn't sure she was aware of how much she projected through the bond. It had been disconcerting at first, being able to feel her constantly all the time, but never being able to speak directly, only through feelings projected through the bond. But he had gotten used to it and found it comforting to know there was someone on the other side. He felt her determination along with a bit of reluctance course through the mark. It was time. Night had come as quickly as the day had. He brushed his hand over the mark on his chest. "Come find me. I'll be waiting."