Months passed since the battle against the Evil Gods. Leo continued spending time with each of his women until they all became pregnant. However, he was annoyed, as the palace wasn't finished.

The house he had created was becoming cramped due to the presence of all the women. Roxy, Luna, and Bella appeared holding their bellies, smiling. The tanned beauty slumped down next to him as she handed him some ale.

She beamed while pointing at the palace. ''Look at this place, it's coming along nicely.''

''Still not finished though,'' he muttered.

The three young women laughed as Bella retorted. ''Well, you wanted more rooms, so they had to build a whole new wing, so there's the reason it's taking so long.''

Leo's eyes traced the movements of the redhead as she sauntered toward him. A mischievous glint danced in her blue eyes, and with ease, she slid onto his lap, her presence warm and electrifying.

Before he could speak, she leaned in, her lips grazing his cheek in a soft, teasing kiss that left a faint trace of her rose-scented perfume in the air. The moment hung briefly, charged with unspoken promises.

Moments later, Luna, her vibrant blue hair cascading like a waterfall, settled into the chair on his left. She leaned closer, her tone a hushed murmur, barely rising above the wind that washed across the land.

''It's so peaceful now that the fighting's stopped,'' Luna said calmly, as if she were savoring the rarity of the moment. ''We can finally do things besides training, maybe actually enjoy ourselves for once.''

Her words sparked a wave of laughter from the ragtag group sprawled around the house's porch. The sound was warm, unguarded, a stark contrast to the battle-hardened days they'd left behind, at least for now.

Leo's lips curled into a knowing smile as he wrapped an arm around each woman, drawing them closer. The redhead nestled against him, her fingers idly tracing the edge of his tunic, while Luna's quiet strength radiated at his side.

The weight of their love anchored him, a tether to something human amidst the chaos they'd endured during his transformation. The sun's glow painted their faces in hues of amber and shadow, highlighting the rare ease in their expressions.

''Peaceful, sure,'' Leo replied, his voice a low rumble, threaded with both amusement and resolve.

He leaned back, his gaze sweeping across his companions, their faces etched with the scars and stories of their shared battles. ''But don't get too cozy. The monster attacks haven't stopped; they're still out there, lurking in the dark. My Demon Knights are hunting them down as we speak, though.''

Leo chuckled, then continued. ''Once they've cleared the last of those beasts, we'll have more than a moment's peace. We'll have a chance to build something real.''

His words carried a quiet confidence, but a faint undercurrent of tension rippled through the group. They all knew the truth: the calm was a fragile gift, and the wilds beyond still teemed with threats.

Yet, for tonight, they let the nearby fire's warmth and the clink of their mugs drown out the distant howls. The redhead tilted her head, her lips brushing his ear as she whispered something that made him chuckle, while Luna's soft smile held a promise of hope.

Surrounded by his women, Leo felt the weight of their trust, their laughter, their shared survival, a bond forged in fire and now tempered in this rare. Following that, the three of them continued speaking as Astra appeared with a knowing smile.

''We have some more builders coming in the morning, they want to build the new Demon Gods' palace and are excited,'' she informed the group.

Leo let out a soft chuckle as his stepsister rose from her seat. She and Roxy started to head into the house, mentioning they were off to prepare some food. Bella called out. ''I'm putting the kettle on, everyone should be here soon!''

He nodded as Luna leaned forward and gave him a passionate kiss just like the other two did. Once he was alone with Astra, he looked at the Demon Queen and gave her a charming smile. ''How's things across the empire?''

The older woman slumped down next to him with a sigh as she replied. ''Going good, trade has almost increased fiftyfold. All the different races are getting on, and the skirmishes have stopped.''

Leo's nod was slow and thoughtful, as if piecing together a puzzle. Astra, her voice brimming with excitement, continued chatting. ''Whatever you did to the land, it's sparked a fire in the people. My advisors can't believe it; the crop yields have tripled, and the fields are bursting with life.''

He watched the Demon Queen beam. ''They're calling it a miracle, attributing it to the mana you unleashed.''

Leo leaned back, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. ''After the battle with the Evil Gods, I absorbed their powers,'' he revealed. ''I sent a surge of mana rippling across the land, hoping to restore what their corruption had scarred.''

He motioned to the land itself. ''Seems it did more than just heal, it's awakened something in the soil itself.''

His eyes sparkled with a mix of satisfaction and wonder, as if even he hadn't anticipated the full extent of his action's impact. Leo's laughter echoed softly, the sound mingling with the crackle of the fire.

Astra's eyes held a glint of mischief as she leaned back in her chair, her fingers still tracing the edge of her goblet. The air was thick with the scent of aged wood and faint traces of jasmine that seemed to follow her every movement.

''You're dodging the praise again, Leo,'' she teased. ''Dawnbringer or not, the people are weaving tales about you. They say the land itself bowed to your will.''

Leo shook his head, a wry smile tugging at his lips as he leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees. ''Tales grow taller with every telling,'' he responded. ''I didn't make the land bow, Astra. I just... gave it a nudge. The mana was a spark, not a command. The earth did the rest.''

His eyes flicked to hers, catching the way her gaze softened, though her smile remained sharp as she giggled. ''A nudge?'' she quipped.

Astra arched a brow, her voice rich with mock disbelief. ''Tripled crop yields, rivers running clearer than they have in generations, forests sprouting where there was only ash, that's more than a nudge. That's a reckoning.''

She set her goblet down, the faint clink punctuating her words. ''My advisors are beside themselves. They've been poring over ancient texts, trying to understand how one man could wield such power.''

Leo's smile faded slightly, his expression turning thoughtful. ''It wasn't just me,'' he commented, his tone quieter now. ''The Evil Gods left their mark, dark, twisted energy that clung to everything.''

He held up his hand and created a divine black flame that glowed all kinds of colors. ''When I absorbed their power, it was like... swallowing a storm. I had to release it, or it would've torn me apart. Channeling it into the land felt like the only way to make something good out of their ruin.''

Astra tilted her head, studying him with an intensity that made the air feel heavier. ''Most would've kept that power for themselves,'' she revealed. ''God's essence isn't something you just give away. Yet you poured it into the soil, the rivers, the people. Why?''

He shrugged, though the gesture was less casual than it seemed. ''Hoarding it didn't sit right. Power like that festers if you hold it too tightly. Besides,'' he added, a spark of humor returning to his eyes, ''I figured the people of this world could use a break. You've been fighting longer than I've been alive.''

Astra's laugh was low and warm, like a flame flickering in the dark. ''Careful, handsome. You're starting to sound wise.''

She rose from her seat, her obsidian gown trailing like liquid shadow as she moved toward him. ''My people have endured centuries of struggle, yes. But you've given them something they haven't had in ages: hope. Do you know what that means to a demon? To a queen?''

Leo stood, meeting her halfway, his height matching her commanding presence. ''I'm starting to get the idea,'' he replied with a chuckle. ''Though I suspect you're about to tell me anyway.''

Astra stopped just inches from him, her eyes searching his face. ''It means everything,'' she said softly. ''Hope is a weapon sharper than any blade. It's why my advisors are so excited, why the people sing your name. You've given us a future we didn't dare dream of.''

He held her gaze, unflinching, though a faint flush crept up his neck. ''I didn't do it alone,'' he said, his tone honest. ''Your forces held the line against the other races. Your wisdom kept me from blundering into disaster. If the land's singing, it's singing for both of us.''

Astra's lips curved into a smile. ''I like that handsome, but I like the way you've been looking at me since the war ended,'' she murmured, stepping closer, her hand brushing lightly against his arm.

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