The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 185

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 185
Tiel ran her fingers over the Cushion, examining it. The Cushion had grown to the size of her bed now.
When she’d first entered this Subspace, the Cushion had been barely large enough for a small snow leopard to curl up on—it had grown tremendously.
“Sit here and rest. Once you’ve calmed down a little, I’ll take you out. I don’t want to keep you here long either.”
“Your Ability is still unstable, isn’t it?”
“Yes, but I think I’m beginning to understand why. Once I’m certain, I’ll tell you.”
Iandros placed his large palm flat against Tiel’s eyes. His big, warm hand settled gently over her face.
“Oh!”
“So rest for now. I’ll handle the Rowen situation. She’s definitely up to something strange.”
“But Iandros…….”
Tiel murmured, clutching his hand in both of hers.
“The moment my Ability was blocked, Rowen used her Ability. Can that really be coincidence? I…….”
“I don’t know what trick Rowen might have used on you. That’s why, in Nestian…….”
“Have you ever heard of a method for making another person’s Ability your own?”
…….
“Iandros?”
“No.”
“That’s what I thought…….”
“But one thing I’m certain of: they’ve definitely done something to you. Can you still not use your Ability? Try again now. Here, right now.”
Iandros spoke to Tiel. Her eyes remained covered by his palm.
Tiel brought her hands to her chest and spoke hesitantly, her voice trembling.
“I can’t…….”
“You mean you’re unable to?”
“No, I can’t bring myself to……. I’m afraid it won’t work. I’m terrified my Ability has disappeared completely…….”
“Tiel, come to your senses. Even then, your Ability didn’t completely vanish. When you absorbed those scattered Ability fragments, you were able to use it again.”
“But still…….”
“Try now. It’s all right. I’ll keep your eyes covered. And I won’t tell you…….”
Iandros whispered. He felt an odd tickle against his palm—Tiel’s eyelashes were brushing against his skin.
Beneath his palm, something felt damp. Was she crying?
Iandros felt an overwhelming urge to pull his hand away at once, to cup Tiel’s cheeks, see her face, and wipe away her tears. But he didn’t.
He had promised to keep her eyes covered.
This must be a tremendous shock for Tiel. Others would be shocked too, but the one most deeply shaken was undoubtedly Tiel Asterian.
In a single moment, her Ability had vanished before all the therianthropes of the Empire, and her cousin—her rival—Rowen Nestian had made it seem as though she’d stolen Tiel’s Ability.
How could she not be devastated?
Tiel’s fear about using her Ability made perfect sense.
Tiel had been crushed under mounting pressure for a long time. As the Day-Night Balance of Crasion began to collapse, the therianthropes of the Empire had blamed Tiel for it.
With help from Iandros and her family, Tiel had managed to share that burden.
But today, through Rowen’s actions, Tiel had been pushed to the very edge of the cliff.
Iandros clenched his teeth and made a vow. No matter what, he would not let Tiel fall alone from that cliff.
Even if he had to drag down with her all those who had pushed her to the brink, he would not let her fall alone.
In response to Iandros’s gentle encouragement, Tiel carefully brought her hands together and used her Ability.
Like she had as a child.
Just as she had when she first awakened her Ability, years ago.
Like when she’d used her Ability in the basement of Asterian, looking back at Cassius with such care and hesitation.
The palm of Iandros’s hand grew damp. Yet he did not remove it.
In that moment, a small light flickered in Tiel’s hands.
Salamander, who had been clinging to Tiel’s arms all along, seemed delighted by the reappearance of the light and nuzzled affectionately against the back of Tiel’s hand.
The small light glowed softly, illuminating the space around them. Through it, Iandros could see Tiel’s face clearly.
Transparent tears streamed down her cheeks, flowing past the eyes his palm had shielded. It was not his imagination.
Tiel couldn’t even bring herself to ask him to remove his hand. Instead, her voice shaking, she asked:
“Iandros……, I…….”
“Look with your own eyes.”
Iandros slowly pulled his hand away.
The moment he did, Tiel’s eyes widened as faint rays of light flooded in.
It was her own Ability.
The Ability she couldn’t use just moments before.
Tiel stopped crying and stared intently into her own hands for a long time.
Iandros took out a Handkerchief and gently wiped her cheeks.
Her cheeks pressed slightly under the soft fabric and her eyes closed, but he didn’t mind.
Iandros spoke.
“Your Ability hasn’t disappeared.”
“Yes…….”
“And it never will. Light never truly vanishes.”
The sun may set for a time, but it never truly disappears. After the night passes, day always comes. When day arrives, the sun rises once more to the center of the sky.
Iandros did not believe Tiel’s Ability would ever fade. No matter what scheme anyone attempted.
Tiel was light itself.
So it was for the Crasion Empire, for the black leopards of Asterian, and for Iandros himself.
As long as this land existed, and as long as therianthropes lived upon it, light could never disappear.
This was what Iandros wanted to tell Tiel.
Tiel understood all of it simply by looking into his eyes.
Her tear-glistened golden eyes reflected the small fragments of light, shining like gold, like amber, like the world’s most precious jewels, endlessly radiant.
Iandros brushed away the remaining traces of Tiel’s tears with his thumb.
“Don’t cry.”
…….
“I’ll certainly find those who did this to you. It must be the cunning scheme of this ‘Je.’ I’ll catch them and show them no mercy. I’ll punish them severely…….”
So don’t cry.
At Iandros’s earnest consolation, Tiel stopped her tears and pulled him into a tight embrace.
Iandros was startled by her sudden hug, but instead of pushing her away, he held her more firmly.
Drawing her close into his arms, he began patting her back. Her small frame seemed to tremble slightly against his much larger one.
Was his shirt getting wet?
He couldn’t tell…….
Iandros stopped thinking and instead brought his cheek to her hair.
Rubbing cheeks together was a gesture of affection among the feline therianthropes. Iandros loved and cherished Tiel with all his heart.
Tiel carefully opened her mouth.
“I, Iandros…….”
“I’m listening. Go ahead…….”
“Show me your Therianthrope form.”
At the unexpected request, Iandros pulled back to look down at her in surprise.
Tiel had lifted her head, which she’d been burying against him, and was now looking up at him with bright, eager eyes.
Tiel had shown Iandros her snow leopard form many times before, but he had never once shown her his.
It was true that Tiel was a special case in how frequently she revealed herself. Most therianthropes lived their entire lives without showing their transformed state.
Therianthropes only show their transformed form to the one they have promised their life to.
Iandros’s brow furrowed.
“You…….”
“I want you to comfort me, Iandros…….”
Tiel pleaded like a child seeking reassurance. Iandros initially thought it was unreasonable to show his form in this situation.
Yet somehow, he found he could not refuse her request…….
‘I have it bad,’ he thought.
Iandros set Tiel down from his embrace and spoke.
“Just this once. If I show you my transformed form, you’re not allowed to cry.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he snapped his fingers with a sharp click, and golden smoke spiraled up around his body.
Because Tiel was still using her Ability, she could clearly see the golden smoke wrapping around him.
And moments later.
Boom!
With a sound like something bursting, a massive golden lion appeared before Tiel.
Its fur and mane gleamed gold, and its emerald eyes—beautiful and luminous—gazed down at her.
Without hesitation, Tiel threw her arms around Iandros’s neck.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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