Facing Rachel's question, Leon chose to shift the topic.
"There's more important things to be concerned about." Leon turn to Lynne and traced his fingers along her long brown hair and lifted the strands of grey her for them to see.
"Your lifespan has been severely depleted. You only have 12 years left." Leon dropped the bombshell on her.
Lynne paled at the news. The regret lingering inside her intensified.
"12 years..."
Rachel was shocked. Regarding the cause of Lynne's illness, she was still in the dark. She only knew that something was wrong and not why. She didn't think the problem would be so severe.
Natural awakeners could live to ripe age of 100, but many awakeners have their years shaved off by taking the trashy awakening pills refined by the alchemists in the kingdom.
Lynne had taken one to reach the 1st step and added to her present condition, she would not live past 30.
"There's no need to despair... there are plenty of miraculous herbs that could extend life." Rachel tried to console her.
Some light appeared in her eyes before it faded again. She shook her head. How many years could these herbs extend her life? 3 months? 6 months? It definitely wouldn't exceed 1 year.
A lot of thoughts went through her mind and the others felt her mentality undergo a subtle change. There was no use crying over spilt milk. It wouldn't change anything.
She seems to have come to terms with the consequences of her reckless action.
There was no one to blame but herself. She should have known better. Leon's awakening pills were still a type of drug and local doctors have stressed to their patients over and over before that they should take their medicine as prescribed because too much of anything could kill you. Humans were that fragile.
"Thanks, but I'll be okay." Lynne gave Rachel a light smile.
Leon was a bit surprised at her subtle change. She seems to have come to terms with her situation a lot faster than he had anticipated or she was too good at hiding her true emotions.
His impression of her secretly improved. He thought she would at least be in despair and weep for a while, but she did not. Perhaps his impression of her had been wrong.
Thinking back, she wasn't quite the spoiled little princess of the Cromwell family he thought she was. She was just protective of her dear grandpa against an unknown stranger that time. Leon had yet to see her parents, but she must be closer to her grandpa than her parents.
"Come, I'll take you home first." Leon gestured.
"Mm"
"Leave me your address, I'll stop by later on my own."
"Alright, just mention your name to the guards at the gate when you arrive. They'll be notified of your incoming visit beforehand." Rachel handed him a note with her address. She thought she could tag along with them but it's fine this way. She would have time to dress up a bit and could try to surprise him.
...
"Thank you for taking me home.".
"It's what I should do."
They had arrived back at the Cromwell's villa by foot. Usually everyone apart from Lina and Leon would have a car prepared to take them to and from the campus. But today's training was cancelled unexpectedly, and the drivers designated to pick her up had not been notified beforehand.
The villa was emptier than usual. The Old Man and some servants were missing.
"Your grandfather went out?" The inside was completely empty. There were only some servants and guards outside.
"Seems that way." Lynne started fidgeting her fingers, while she seemed to be struggling contain something. There was only her and Leon inside the villa.
"What's wrong?" Leon thought she was having another episode of cold energy eruption and planned to check her pulsed, but he was taken by surprise when Lynne launched herself into his chest.
"Waaahhh." Lynne started bawling in his embrace. She didn't want to look weak when she was in front of Rachel and had suppressed her feelings. She did her best to appear that she accepted everything calmly because she didn't want to look pathetic in front of her. But now that she was alone with Leon did, she finally let suppressed emotions out.
Even though she understood she could only blame herself for her own foolishness, the price she had to pay was too great. She was still young and have yet to see the world. She was also very afraid of death.
"I'm scared." Her arms tightened around Leon. 12 years was neither short nor long, but the concept of death frightens her when it came so close.
Leon felt a pang in his heart seeing her like this. He could feel her body shivering. He wrapped his own arms around her and sighed as he waited for her to finish bawling and calm down a bit.
"Everything will be fine. I know how to extend your lifespan." Leon tried to stabilize her emotion. He was weak against a woman's tears. He didn't know how to define their relationship, but he didn't want to see her sad. He decided he would teach her about divine practice.
"Really...?" Lynne asked doubtfully.
"Yeah...whether you want to live another 100 years, 200 years or even a thousand years, it's not out of the realm of possibility." Leon assured as he pulled her away from his chest and wiped her tears with both hands.
"Hehe, how is that possible?" She found it hard to believe but felt she could trust him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and closed her eyes expectantly for a kiss.
She did not ask why Leon didn't say anything earlier if he had such a method. It must've involved some of his deeper secrets. She was touched that he decided to share his secret with her.
Hesitation could be seen on Leon's face. If he kissed out like this, would it be considered taking advantage of her weakness? He wasn't quite ready to start another relationship so soon. What would Aria think?
A while passed and Lynne opened her eyes and pouted. She gave him such a clear signal and the initiative, but he did not take it. Was she not attractive enough? Or had she mistaken his sympathy for affection?
Hmph! Fine. She would take the initiative instead. She was used to being willful. She mustered up her courage and pulled him in, planting her lips on his.
He was stunned by her daring action and his brain temporarily short circuited. Her sweet fragrance assaulted his senses as he tasted her soft cherry lips. The pleasure struck him like a tidal wave after long years of abstinence. His reasoning and restraints slipped away as he become increasingly aroused. His little brother stood up like raging dragon. He decided to stop thinking too much and indulge himself in the pleasure.
Her unfamiliarity reveals her lack of experience as the kiss was her first.
Leon placed one hand behind her head and the other around her waist as he gently guides her. His tongue pried into the opening between her small lips and like a predator, it played a game of cat and mouse until it caught its startled prey.
Their tongue intertwined and a long and passionate kiss was shared. Unknowingly, their clothes slowly slipped off one by one as Leon laid her down gently on the long sofa, while panting from a shortness of breath.
The exposure made her embarrassed, but she reached her hands out to welcome him bravely as infatuation colored her eyes.
"Love me."
Her arms wrapped around his back as his long bulging dragon thrusted into her secret garden and allowed it to blossom like a flower.
"Ahhh~" Her eyebrows scrunched together, and her fingernails dug into his back as a piercing pain threatened to tear her apart.
Leon's hand freely roamed her body as he utilized his heavenly massaging technique to soothe over her pain, but not too fast.
Lynne wanted to engrave the pain into her heart. The pain allowed her to remember that in this moment, she was still alive and very much happy. She wouldn't regret her choice even if everything Leon said was a lie.
The pain was quickly replaced by overwhelming pleasure as Leon took her to 7th heaven. Their bodies continue to tangle on the sofa as they enjoy the steamy hot session of love.
"Something is coming~"
They climaxed at the same time as Leon shot his pure yang essence into her secret garden.
Lynne laid exhausted on top of Leon and covered in sweat as he pulled a nearby quilt over them.
"You have to cherish me and you're not allowed to throw me away."
"Mm. Even if you want to run away, I won't let you. In this life, you can only belong to me." Leon said with conviction. He had lost himself in the vortex of pleasure, but he did not regret what happened nor did she. With the future unknown, one should live for the moment.
Although he did not expect things to lead to such an outcome, perhaps it was for the best. Only after Lynne had become his woman, could he share his deeper secrets with her without any misgivings. Their trust are built upon the unbreakable bond they are forging.
"Yeah..." Lynne rested her head comfortably on his chest as her consciousness slowly drifted off into slumber.
While looking at her adorable sleeping face, he laments that she was still too rash and rushing into things. He had yet to teach her the method to extend her lifespan and she had already given all of herself to him. He feared that she would easily be tricked if it was someone else. She could be naïve, but he viewed it as an innocent mind. A characteristic that was rare as people grew older.. He wanted to cherish and protect it.