"How could this be?! Your hand... how did it...?"
Faced with the sorrow clouding the young maiden's face and her rare display of vulnerability, Leon lowered his head and silenced her words with a kiss.
He had purposefully avoided informing anyone about his injuries, afraid it would cause her needless worry.
It wasn't until their indulgent, seemingly endless kiss — heedless of the onlookers around — ended, that he smiled to comfort the teary-eyed little lioness before him.
"It can be reattached. With my magic mentor here, what is there to fear?"
At these words... Olivia's heartache eased, if only slightly.
"Then... are there any other injuries? Are they serious? Did I unintentionally hurt you earlier?"
The girl was too worried to feel embarrassed by the public kiss.
She reached out cautiously, her gentle hands brushing against him as though afraid of touching any wounds hidden beneath his clothing, berating herself for her earlier emotional embrace.
