All-around teacher at the magic academy

Leon's steps felt as if they were weighed down with lead, each step appearing exceptionally heavy.

Night had fallen, and the moonlight cast a long shadow on him. He dragged his weary body along the quiet path, his heart filled with exhaustion and confusion.

He didn't know why he was so tired today. Maybe it was because too many things had happened, or maybe he had used up too much magic power. He felt like he could fall asleep at any moment.

Leon's vision began to blur. He struggled to focus on the familiar apartment building not far ahead, a cozy little nest with his soft bed—the place he longed for most at that moment. However, his eyelids felt as if pulled by an invisible gravity, growing heavier and heavier until they almost closed.

"Hang in there, Leon, we're almost home." He gritted his teeth and kept encouraging himself.

He shook his head vigorously, trying to dispel the overwhelming drowsiness. But his steps grew slower and slower, as if he were sinking into a quagmire, unable to extricate himself. He felt like a small robot whose battery had run out, on the verge of shutting down at any moment.

Just as Leon was about to reach the apartment door, his legs finally gave way, his vision went black, and he lost his balance.

...

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I apologize. This child is usually very well-behaved and would never start a fight." The woman's voice, tinged with anxiety and pleading, echoed in the empty corridor, sounding particularly jarring.

Her eyes were full of apology as she looked at the couple opposite her, hoping to gain their understanding.

"So you mean my son started it?" The man's voice was sharp and hostile, his brows furrowed, his eyes revealing dissatisfaction and anger.

"Who is it, making so much noise?" Leon's consciousness gradually cleared. He felt a buzzing in his ears, rubbed his temples in annoyance, and tried to get up from the ground. His body was still a little weak, but the noise made it impossible for him to continue sleeping.

"I'm sorry, I promise he won't cause any more trouble. You should pay for the medical expenses, and take the child to get checked out first." The woman continued to apologize, her hand gently placed on the boy's shoulder behind her, trying to offer him some comfort.

"Hmph, if he's hurt anywhere, I absolutely won't let him off the hook." The man sneered, his tone full of threat. He glared at the boy behind the woman.

The boy remained silent, head down, his fingers tightly clenched together. Even when faced with the man's scolding, he did not look up, but silently endured it.

Leon's gaze followed the familiar figure intently, his heart clenching as if gripped tightly by an invisible hand. Long-buried memories, like a floodgate suddenly opened, rushed into his mind.

His steps quickened involuntarily, almost as he ran towards the figure. His eyes were filled with longing and urgency; he wanted to reach out and embrace the woman, to tell her about his years of longing and guilt. But when his arms reached out, he only grasped air.

"Let's go home." The woman's gentle voice echoed in the air. Her hand gently stroked the boy's head, her eyes filled with tolerance and understanding. She didn't scold the boy for causing trouble; she simply enveloped him in the warmth of maternal love.

The boy nodded slightly, his voice so low it was almost inaudible, as if he was still feeling sad and guilty about what had just happened.

“What would you like to eat? We can buy it on the way, and Mom will cook it for you when we get back,” the woman continued affectionately, her eyes filled with tenderness. She knew that food was sometimes the best comfort, especially when a child's wounded heart needed healing.

The boy's steps were heavy, his head bowed, following behind the woman. His heart was filled with complex emotions, and unspoken words churned within him. Finally, after a long silence, he slowly spoke, his voice trembling and trembling with undisguised sobs: "Mom, I'm sorry."

These words seemed to have exhausted all his courage. His shoulders trembled slightly. Although he had remained strong and refrained from crying when the man scolded him and when everyone else criticized him, he could no longer suppress his inner vulnerability in the face of his mother's gentleness. Tears welled up in his eyes and were about to spill over.

Upon hearing the boy's words, the woman suddenly stopped in her tracks, then slowly turned around, squatted down, and looked the boy in the eye.

Her eyes were full of understanding and forgiveness as she softly said, "I know you didn't start it, Mom doesn't blame you."

After she finished speaking, she gently patted the boy's head, as if to tell him that no matter what happened, she would be by his side.

The boy looked up at the woman, his tear-filled eyes gleaming with deep dependence and love for his mother. He suddenly threw himself into her arms, hugging her neck tightly, and burst into tears. All his strength and restraint crumbled at that moment; he was just a child who needed his mother's comfort.

The woman gently patted the boy's back. She knew that the boy carried a burden far beyond his years, and all she could do was give him endless love and support.

Leon watched this scene from afar. It was when he was in elementary school. He had gotten into a fight because the other person had insulted his mother. He could tolerate any attack on him, but he would never allow anyone to insult his beloved mother. So, he couldn't hold back and punched the other person in the head until it bled.

He felt very regretful at the time, not because he hit the other person, but because his behavior had caused trouble for his mother.

He knew his mother had already worked very hard, and he didn't want to add any more burden to her. He thought his mother would blame him, but to his surprise, she didn't. She didn't ask why he had fought; she chose to believe him unconditionally.

That's why he cried at the time. It wasn't because he felt wronged, but because he felt guilty towards his mother, because his impulsiveness had worried her.

Leon's gaze followed the backs of the mother and child, and his steps followed them involuntarily, passing through familiar alleys and finally returning to the home filled with memories.

His heart raced, each breath filled with longing for the past. He wanted to reach out, push open that familiar door, and step back into that room filled with his mother's warmth, but as he tried, the door acted like an invisible barrier, keeping him outside.

He began banging on the door, his palms striking the door, but no sound came out.

His heart was filled with anxiety and helplessness, as if he were trapped in a transparent cage, unable to reach the outside world.

He wanted to go back, to see his mother's face one more time, to tell her how much he missed her, and to tell her that during the days he had suddenly disappeared, he had been thinking of her and worrying about whether she was in pain because of his departure.

Why? Why make yourself recall this memory, this memory of your mother, at this moment? He had already chosen to give up, to bury the past deep in his heart.

Leon felt an unprecedented helplessness. His body gradually lost strength, and he finally collapsed to the ground, leaning against his own front door.

.....

"Leon, Leon, wake up." Lean's voice was full of anxiety as she gently shook Leon's shoulder, trying to rouse him from his slumber.

Leon's eyelids fluttered a few times before he slowly opened them. Tears still lingered in his eyes, sliding down his cheeks and dripping onto his clothes. He looked at Leon's concerned face and said in a weak, hoarse voice, "You're back."

“I’m here, I’m here.” Lean’s voice was gentle yet firm. She knelt on the cold ground, gently stroking Leon’s head, her eyes filled with worry.

She didn't know what kind of nightmare Leon had gone through, nor why he was in so much pain, but at this moment, all she could do was offer him warmth and companionship as much as possible.