The tavern doors burst open.
A wave of noise hit Leo instantly—laughter, shouting, mugs slamming against wooden tables, the thick smell of alcohol filling the air.
But Leo didn't care.
His eyes scanned the room.
Searching.
Burning.
Then—
He saw him.
Sitting in the far corner.
Slouched in a chair.
A bottle in hand.
Hair disheveled.
Eyes red.
The King.
His father.
Two knights stood nearby, watching over him.
Leo's fists clenched.
"…Damn you."
His voice was low.
But filled with rage.
*****
He walked forward.
Heavy steps.
Each one louder than the last.
"Why…?"
Some of the people turned their heads.
Sensing something.
Feeling the tension.
The knights immediately moved.
"Your Highness—"
But before they could stop him—
The King raised his hand.
"Stand down."
The knights froze.
"…Let him come."
They stepped back.
Reluctantly.
*****
Leo stopped right in front of him.
The King slowly lifted his head.
Their eyes met.
For a moment—
Silence swallowed everything else.
"What happened to your clothes?" the King asked, his voice rough.
"…What happened to you?"
Leo didn't answer.
His breathing was heavy.
Unstable.
Then—
"What are you trying to do…?" Leo said coldly.
The King exhaled slowly.
"I knew this day would come."
That was enough.
*****
Leo grabbed his father's collar and pulled him forward.
"You lied to me!"
The tavern fell quieter.
"You lied to Mother!"
His grip tightened.
"You thought hiding everything was a good idea?!"
The knights tensed again—but didn't move.
The King didn't resist.
"…Go on," he said quietly. "Let it out."
Leo's eyes trembled.
"Why…?"
His voice cracked.
"Why did you do it?!"
The King's expression hardened slightly.
"…Why are you so ungrateful?"
Leo froze.
"What…?"
"We gave you everything," the King continued. "A home. A name. A life."
"And you stand here like we gave you nothing?"
"I deserved the truth!" Leo snapped.
"You don't understand what we protected you from!"
"Protected me from who?!" Leo shouted.
"…From them."
Leo's brows furrowed.
"…Them?"
"That's insane!" Leo yelled. "Just tell me already!"
The King's patience snapped.
"Then shut up and stop asking!"
"I deserve to—"
"SHUT UP!"
*****
Something inside Leo broke.
His vision blurred.
His chest tightened.
And before he could stop himself—
He grabbed his father by the neck—
And punched him.
Hard.
The force sent both of them crashing to the ground.
Gasps erupted across the tavern.
The King lay on the floor.
Leo on top of him.
The knights rushed forward—
But—
"STAY BACK!" the King roared.
They froze.
Again.
*****
Leo didn't stop.
Punch.
Punch.
Punch.
"I'm not your son!"
Punch.
"You don't get to decide for me!"
Punch.
"I deserve to know who I am!"
His fists trembled.
"I deserve to know my past!"
The King didn't fight back.
Didn't block.
Didn't move.
He let every hit land.
Around them, whispers spread like wildfire.
"…Is that true?"
"He's adopted?"
"No royal blood…?"
The knights reacted instantly.
"Everyone out!"
They began forcing people out of the tavern, shutting doors, locking windows.
The noise faded.
Until only silence remained.
*****
Leo's fist stopped mid-air.
Blood dripped from his knuckles.
From his father's face.
The King coughed—
Then spat blood.
Some of it landed on Leo.
Leo froze.
Reality hit him.
"…I…"
His grip loosened.
He slowly stood up.
Stepping back.
"…Tell me," he said, quieter now.
The King struggled to breathe.
"You won't understand…"
"Why do you keep saying that?!" Leo snapped again.
"Because you were meant to live a normal life…" the King whispered.
"…Not this one."
"That doesn't make any sense!"
Leo's voice shook.
"Mother said… I'm not human."
The King closed his eyes.
Then—
"…You're not."
Leo's heart pounded.
"…Then what am I?"
A pause.
Then the truth came out—soft, but heavy.
"…You're a Divine being."
Leo's breath caught.
"You're… a Lightlock."
*****
Silence.
Leo staggered back slightly.
Then slowly sat down on the ground.
"…That's it?"
A hollow laugh escaped him.
"It took you this long to say that?"
The King pushed himself up, leaning against the table.
"I didn't want you to become something I wouldn't recognize…"
Tears slid down his face.
"I don't even understand what that means!"
Leo shouted.
"…Then listen."
*****
The King inhaled slowly.
"…During the tournament… against the boy from the Raven family…"
Leo's eyes sharpened.
"…You awakened your Lightlock blood."
Leo's mind raced.
"Then why did I wake up in my room?"
"I stopped the match," the King said. "You were about to win… but you lost control."
"I entered the arena… and brought you back."
Leo clenched his fists.
"You were overflowing with power," the King continued. "I had to restrain you… until you lost consciousness."
"…So I've always been strong?"
"No."
The King shook his head.
"A Lightlock only awakens when they're pushed to the brink of death."
Leo went silent.
*****
"Everyone believes Lightlocks are extinct," the King continued.
"Then why does no one know about me?" Leo asked.
"…Because I made sure they didn't."
Leo looked at him.
"…Why?"
The King's gaze darkened.
"Because the last time the world found out…"
"…It started a war."
*****
And then—
He told everything.
The lands.
The betrayal.
The war for power.
The fall of the Lightlocks.
Their sacrifice.
"…Three of them remained," the King said quietly. "Broken. Exhausted."
"They chose to end it."
"They sacrificed themselves…"
"…to create something new."
Leo's breath slowed.
"…Me."
"Yes."
*****
"You weren't born," the King continued.
"You were created."
"A Divine Light… formed your existence."
Leo's hands trembled.
"…Then how did you find me?"
"You were discovered at Ember Falls," the King said.
"Lying on a stone… surrounded by their bodies."
"There were words carved into it… but no one could understand them."
Leo lowered his head.
"…So that's why you hid me."
"To prevent another war?" Leo asked.
The King shook his head slowly.
"…Yes."
Then—
"…And no."
Leo looked up.
"…What do you mean?"
The King's voice softened.
"…I was carrying my dead son that day."
Leo froze.
"We went there… hoping the Lightlocks could save him."
"But they were already gone."
"…And you were there instead."
Silence.
"My son died that day…"
The King's voice broke.
"…And you were born."
Leo's chest tightened.
"…Leoruxion," the King whispered. "He was supposed to be your older brother."
Leo swallowed.
"…That's why you named me Leo."
The King nodded.
*****
"…How did he die?" Leo asked quietly.
The King closed his eyes.
"…That's a story for another time."
A long silence followed.
Then—
"…Alright," Leo said softly.
"I'll let it go… for now."
He stepped closer.
"…I'm sorry."
The King looked at him.
"…It's alright, son."
*****
The tension in the room finally broke.
The knights approached quietly.
One of them handed cloths to both of them.
They wiped the blood from their faces in silence.
"…Let's go home," the King said.
Leo nodded.
He helped his father stand.
The knights supported them both.
Before leaving, the King placed a heavy pouch of coins on the table.
"For the damages."
*****
And without another word—
They walked out together.
Not as King and Prince.
But—
As a father and son trying to understand each other.