Chapter 18 - 17: Recovery and A Week at Home
Leon wakes, having dozed off beside his mother. Outside, the sky holds a faint yellow tint. It’s almost evening.
Evenings bring a different rhythm. After his mother falls asleep, Leon slips into his room to access his system interface. The blue glow is carefully muted, invisible, in-case his mother pops in or has a visitor.
[Leon Graves - Level 7] [Available Stat Points: 12] [Vitality: 24 → 30] [Magic: 18 → 24]
Each point allocation sends a subtle warmth through his healing wounds. It’s not dramatic enough to draw attention, but the steady improvement serves him for whatever comes next.
He decides to eat but first he checks on his mother if she is still sleeping.
Leon studies her face. The gaunt hollows have filled out completely, and her hair now shines with natural strength instead of brittle fragility. The elixir’s effects are thorough—and permanent.
That evening, Leon prepares dinner in their tiny kitchen while his mother rests on the couch. The apartment feels warmer now, less like a shelter, more like a true home. Evening sunlight streams through the clean windows, highlighting dust motes that dance like tiny celebrations.
"You’re fussing," his mother observes, watching him adjust her tea setting for the third time.
"I’m being thorough."