My Unique Adaptation Skill in Another world-Chapter 36 - 35: Home

The carriage moved through streets Leo had walked just hours ago, they looked different now. Imperial soldiers at every corner, moving coordinatedly, with focused vigilance.

Buildings showed damage, scorch marks, broken windows, collapsed walls, but already, workers were clearing debris. Mages reinforcing structures. The city repairing itself with methodical efficiency.

Bodies had been cleared. The dead collected, identified, processed. Order had been restored, all that was left was morning.

Leo watched through the carriage window, trying to process the scale of the entire event that had gone down.

They passed a plaza where cultists knelt in rows, hands bound, and energy-suppressing shackles glowing faintly. Imperial guards standing watch. Maybe thirty prisoners or more as far as Leo could see.

All captured, all defeated.

In another district, he saw elven delegates gathered around covered bodies, mourning. Their western stands had taken the worst of the initial explosion, the grief on their faces was raw.

Nearby, dwarven warriors were organizing themselves, discussing, making plans and moving forward. That was their way of dealing with loss by building, fixing, continuing.

Human nobles clustered in protected groups. Looking shaken, and lost. Guards surrounding them like they might shatter without support.

Everyone processing in their own way.

The carriage rolled on.

"She’s pretty," Iori said.

Leo blinked. Turned from the window. "What?"

"The elf, Aria." Iori’s expression was neutral. "I think she’s very pretty."

Something in Leo’s chest tightened. "I— I mean, yes? I guess?"

"Why was she bringing this up now?"

"You risked a lot for her," Iori continued, watching him. "Broke formation? Jumped head first into danger, and everything."

"She needed help. There were wounded students—"

"I’m not judging, don’t worry," Iori’s tone was hard to read. "I was just making a keen observation"

Leo swallowed. "Are you... upset?"

"Upset?" Iori tilted her head slightly. "Why would I be upset?"

"I don’t know. I just... I left your guys, and went after someone else, you’re saying she’s pretty, which wouldn’t mean much if we didn’t have something going on, and now you’re—" He gestured vaguely. Couldn’t find words.

Iori studied him for a moment, then she smiled, warm, and genuine.

"Leo." Her voice was gentler than he’d heard it all night. " Trust me, I’m not upset, if I were you would know, besides, I’m more so impressed."

"Impressed?"

"You saw someone in danger and acted, you didn’t hesitate, didn’t calculate odds, I mean it could have gone very bad" She leaned back against the seat. "But that’s who are and exactly who you should be."

Leo felt tension he hadn’t known he was carrying ease slightly.

"And for the record," Iori added, "I approve."

"Approve? Approve of what?"

"Of her... And your choice to help her." Iori’s smile stayed. "Do you know who she is?"

"Aria Lightweaver, which she happily screamed, ah, she’s a student at the academy, econd year, I think."

"She’s more than just that." Iori looked out the window briefly. "Aria Lightweaver, she’s a High Elf royalty, a princess, third child and second daughter of the high elf king, possibly even a Saintess candidate, given her abilities, although the saintess part is rumours mostly."

Leo stared at her. "What?"

"Yeah that’s the girl you risked your life to save," Iori looked back at him. "She’s exactly the kind of person who should have around you"

"I didn’t— I didn’t know she was—" Leo’s mind was reeling. "I mean I heard you call her a princess back at the tent, but she seems like a bigger deal than I thought."

"Clearly." Iori’s amusement was evident. "It’s understandable that you wouldn’t know, especially since it seems you didn’t know her family name, you just saw someone who needed help and acted."

"Wow"

Leo sat back, trying to process the new information, "so she’s a big deal princess, possibly Saintess, what even is a saintess?." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"The Lightweaver family," Iori said, her tone more educational now, "is one of the oldest high elf lineages, with a the strongest direct connection to the World Tree, if she’s a Saintess candidate, then you possibly just made one of the best connections you could make."

"But she seemed..." Leo struggled for words. "She seemed more like a regular person the way she handled herself, going the long way to help others too, She didn’t act like royalty."

"The best ones don’t." Iori’s expression softened. "She looked she’d gone through a lot helping those wounded people, even though she didn’t have to, that’s the mark of someone worth knowing."

The carriage hit a rough patch of road, which jostled them slightly.

Leo looked out the window again, they were passing through a merchant district now, shops were closed, damages were visible but contained, imperial forces securing buildings.

"I saved a princess, might as well be prince charming" he said quietly, letting out a soft laugh, still trying to believe it.

"You did." Iori sounded pleased. "And she’ll remember that."

Something in her tone made Leo look at her. "What do you mean?"

"Nothing." Iori’s smile was knowing. "Just know I approve, that’s all."

Leo didn’t fully understand, but the warmth in her voice, the genuine approval, whether it was for his actions or something else felt good regardless.

They rode in comfortable silence for a while. The city passed by outside, broken, with smoke rising up into the sky but recovering.

The First House estate appeared ahead, walls intact, guards at the gates, barriers glowing faintly, extra security that had been activated after the attack.

The carriage slowed, then stopped.

The door opened.

Leo climbed out first. His legs stiff, every muscle ached, exhaustion was catching up now that the adrenaline had finally faded.

The second carriage pulled up behind them. Akane, Yuki, Takeshi emerged, all looking as worn as Leo felt, Takeshi’s high had faded away now.

The estate’s staff rushed out, Servants, everyone mobilizing to help.

"This way, my lady—"

"The injured need attention first—"

"Rooms are prepared—"

Iori raised one hand, silence fell.

"Thank you." Her said warmly. "Just prepare a bath for everyone and a meal, it’s been a really long night, we just need rest."

The staff bowed, scattered to obey.

Iori looked at her group. "Rest, all of you, tomorrow we’ll properly deal with everything relating to today."

Akane was already being helped inside by Yuki. Takeshi followed, looking ready to pass out.

Leo stood there, centering himself, Iori approached him, close enough that he could see the blood on her clothes up close, and the subtle exhaustion in her eyes.

"You did well tonight," she said quietly. "Really well."

"I just tried to survive while helping someone in need."

"You saved lives, and protected the vulnerable." She met his eyes. "That’s what strength looks like, not just power but character, also you really need to do away with looking down on your actions and results"

Leo didn’t know what to say to that.

"Go." Iori gestured toward the estate. "Rest. Recover and we’ll talk more later."

He nodded. Started walking.

Made it three steps before she called after him.

"Leo."

He turned.

She was smiling, tired but genuine. "The princess likes you, I could tell."

Heat flooded his face. "I— we just— it wasn’t"

Iori laughed, actually laughed, soft and warm.

"Good night, Leo."

She walked past him toward the estate. Left him standing there, flustered and confused and somehow lighter.

Leo’s room was exactly as he’d left it.

Clean, quiet, and safe.

He stood in the doorway for a moment, just taking it all in. Hours ago, he’d dressed here for the Jubilee, nervous, excited, not knowing what was coming, now he was back, covered in blood and dust, exhausted beyond words.

He walked to the bed, and sat down heavily. His shoulders screamed, his legs burned, is mind was still trying to process everything, the things he had filed away, the attack, the tunnels, Aria, Iori, Daichi’s suspicious behaviour and disappearance, the empire’s overwhelming response. It all bubbled up in his mind now that he felt safe and he was all too tired to start unraveling it all.

Then someone knocked softly. A servant with water and simple food, bread, meat, fruits.

Leo thanked them, ate like he’d not eaten in days and drank until the water pitcher was empty, then he just sat satisfied

Outside, the night was quiet, the capital was once again secure, the immediate crisis over, they’d survived, all of them, even the wounded students, and Aria too, she’d be resting somewhere in the academy by now,

Leo stood, moved to the window, and looked out at the city.

Lights were back on in full, work was actively going on to bring things back to normal.

Tomorrow would bring it consequences for those involved, questions, and some decisions.

But tonight? Tonight he was alive, safe, and at home.

Leo turned from the window, stripped off all his clothes, didn’t even bother washing, just collapsed onto the bed, and sleep took him just as quickly as he hit the pillow, and for what felt like the first time forever, he rested.