Cold, then warm. Time crawled forward from where it had been chained. Sunlight peeked over the trees for the first time in what had probably been decades, or even centuries. It filtered through leaves, casting dappled light over the man standing before the castle. Feeling the warmth after so much cold night was jarring.

Leon blinked. Then again. Soon he desperately fluttered his lids in a futile bid to keep the moisture at bay. The light of the sun heated his cheeks and he was sobbing, desperately and completely, as he sank to his knees.

Mathias. His best friend, his brother-in-arms, his confidant. The last person he had left in this world, and he was damned.

Before his foray to the east, Leon had worried over Mathias, afraid the illness he'd fallen into would lead the man straight to his wife's arms in heaven. Now, Leon was afraid the actions of his former companion would curse him to eternal suffering. Even if Leon managed to find and- and kill Mathias... Would his former-companion-turned-vampire be forgiven? Accepted into God's embrace despite his blasphemy? Even if he was, Leon wasn't sure he would be able to forgive himself; not for killing his two most beloved people. If he had cursed them both to eternal suffering...

Leon wailed, uncaring if he was heard. The monsters were long dead or fled the forest. The only human besides himself would understand his suffering and allow him to mourn.

"I won't leave it like this Mathias!" Leon screamed. He hiccuped and sobbed around his breaths. "I will not allow you to damn yourself!"

When the tears slowed, no longer flowing in full streams, Leon wiped at his face. He was certain he'd look a sight. His eyes felt scratchy and swollen, tracks of tears and snot sat drying on his cheeks and lips, and his skin felt flushed with the force of his emotions. Still, he had work to do.

With great effort, Leon managed to stand, legs wobbling like a newborn foal's. He was in no great hurry, so he allowed himself to wander the road in a daze, towards the alchemist's cabin. He would tell the kind old man the news-allow him to rejoice in the returned day and death of his family's tormentors-then he would move on.

The Belmont legacy would not build itself.

0-o-0

Leon leaned back on his heels, wiping the sweat from his brow. Building a home had been difficult, even with the assistance he had rallied from grateful townsfolk. Clearing the area of monsters-with a continuing promise to keep them clear-was enough to earn the loyalty of the small town and several farmsteads. Yet this portion, this he had to do with almost no help at all.

Some townsfolk had helped him start digging a "basement." Once it had gotten too deep for explanations-even for an eccentric monster hunter-he had continued with the assistance of a traveling group who called themselves Speakers. Leon felt blessed to have met them; They were more than happy to assist, once they knew of his chosen goal, and they used impressive magics to make the work quick. As they were a nomadic people, they left after only a week.

Still, one look around showed a good amount of space for the protective hold Leon had in mind. It might have to be expanded, in time, but what he had would do for the moment. He had but a few bookshelves in the large space, all displaying items he had gathered over his time in the castle, or during his travels as a hunter. He had texts as well; some he wrote, some he gathered, and some were from-

"Leon!" a bright voice called. He looked to see a stout man jogging over to him, a lopsided smile spread over his solid, squared face. "I have everything. Let's try it."

Trefor. He was the only one who had come with him from his old homeland, the only one here who knew what he had gone through. Leon was grateful to the man for traveling with him, and even more so for vowing to stay and help him with his quest. He smiled back at his partner, a small thing, but genuine.

"Thank you. I've just finished the etchings here." Leon gestured at the floor in front of him.

"Yes, I see." Trefor checked them over briefly. "Looks fine. Looked fine the last time, too."

"And the bookcase caught fire." Leon's smile widened as Trefor frowned.

"It sounded like a good idea. Look, all I did was provide the spell, I didn't say I could cast it."

Leon shook his head. "I know. And I did learn some of this kind of magic from the Speakers. Hopefully it's enough."

Trefor clapped him on the shoulder. "Don't worry. You can do it."

"Thank you."

"And the bookcase is empty this time." Trefor laughed and dodged an elbow to the gut.

"Just put the herbs down," Leon said, fighting a smile. "The sooner we perfect this, the easier I'll rest."

"We'll get it," Trefor said. His voice lowered, soothing. "No one's gonna forget what we've learned. What you've achieved."

"And what I've been trying to do." But may never accomplish in my lifetime, he finished in his mind. Trefor squeezed his shoulder once, then moved to finish the placement of his herbs.

Should they succeed with their spell, Leon hoped to preserve all his materials for future generations. Artifacts would stay new and untarnished, books would be crisp instead of fading and crumbling, and plants or other monster parts would not wither; all for the sake of his descendants. Leon sighed and pushed the thought away. Children were a problem for another time.

"Ready!" Trefor called.

Leon nodded and spread his arms out. He wore his enchanted glove, hoping it would allow him to better attune to the energies he needed. Though he was not a speaker magician, nor a wizard, Leon could feel how his intent altered things around him. Grasping it was an issue, so he spent several minutes 'feeling' around the symbols drawn on the ground and gathering what he needed.

"Move back," Leon said, eyes closed. "I'm trying it now."

Blue light flickered through his eyelids as he began, and for a moment, he felt it moving into place. Then, something snapped. A cold heat rushed around him, pulling and pushing him like a storm; Leon himself felt like a leaf blown about, unable to change course. The last thing he heard was Trefor calling his name.


I know I know, but I've been dithering about what to work on for so long that I realized something is better than nothing. And I was excited about this new work, so I'm posting this first.

Life is kinda beating me up right now. It's not super bad, but mental and emotional problems suuuuck, you know? They're difficult to work past, and it hurts my focus on writing.

I'll never quit you guys, never, but please be patient with me.

Aaaaaanyway, what did you think? I, personally, think there's not enough fic with Leon. And he's canon to the show as well so? Characterizing him after the events of the game is... difficult. I can't imagine that he stayed the same, not after losing the people he was closest to. And yet, he's still going to have to be recognizable as Leon. :/ Dammit man, I love you, but you make things so difficult!

Trefor is lovely though. It's... kinda unfortunate he was just there briefly. I have my own headcanons for him, but most of them probably won't play into the fic. :( Oh well.

Guys, please let me know how I'm doing and if everything makes sense. ( _ _)人 Please and thank you. (Also share your Trefor headcanons, I neeed.)