The Sorcerer [ON HOLD]

Chapter 8

[Leo POV]

It had been a week since Robin first took him to that small, stuffy kitchen, and it had been a week since Leo had given him the complete floor plan and security details to get to the restricted areas of the main headquarters. Since that day, he hadn't been chained or tied up once. In fact, he was introduced to more members of Robin's team, and allowed to sit in on and contribute to strategy meetings. Robin even brought a mattress down to the basement, and although he locked the door behind him, leaving Leo inside whenever his "assistance" wasn't needed, Leo was still grateful for the relative comfort and freedom of movement. Any guilt he felt was suppressed by the promise of Maria's safety.

He sat at one such strategy meeting, hoping he wouldn't be forced to reveal any more information, when there was a knock on the door.

Robin, who was in the middle of speaking, looked annoyed. "What is it?"

"It's Darren," a small voice came muffled through the door, "I came with a message."

Leo had met Darren a few days ago. He was a young and shy kid who worked mostly as a spy, due to his ability to blend into the environment around him. Robin sent him out multiple times to verify the information Leo had given was accurate.

"Well, come in then," Robin replied impatiently. Leo had seen plenty of his temper over the past week and soon realized it wasn't exclusively for him.

Darren opened the door and came in slowly. "Basically," he said, "I got seen."

"You were seen? You didn't use your mana?"

He shifted back and forth on his feet. "I did mostly, but while I was inside I let it off for a bit. Lately it's been more difficult for me to keep it up for a long time and I-"

"It's fine," Robin cut him off. "Everyone's been feeling weaker since the boss left. It's not your fault."

Leo's ears perked up at the mention of the Shadow King. Was his presence somehow linked to the power of his followers?

"What do you have to say?" Robin said, returning to his usual impatient self.

"Well, basically I was cornered completely by this frightening woman with red hair... even though she could have turned me in to her boss, she didn't."

Leo immediately recognized the woman he described as Maria and he felt an ache in his chest at the thought of her.

"Instead, she told me to come back and tell you that, well, basically she is willing to work with us. She said she'll lead us to the boss. If we give her someone named Leo Morelli..."

After Darren finished talking, whispers began to surge throughout the room. Only Robin, Darren, and Leo remained completely silent, each deep in thought.

In Leo's brain, alarm bells rang. Maria. The spy had seen Maria. And she was looking for him. If Robin agreed, he could see her again...

He quickly looked back to Robin, who now stood sure, the contemplative look having vanished completely from his face.

"The idea is tempting I'll admit," he began, and Leo took a sharp breath in as suspense tightened his chest.

"But...," Robin continued, "I've grown quite fond of Leo here. He's served us well. I don't see a need to get his sweetheart involved, especially when there is no reason for us to trust her. For all we know she's just looking to lure us into a trap.

"Besides, there's no way we could send our friend Leo back where he came from. He's seen far too much, don't you agree?"

Any hope Leo had allowed himself to feel immediately dissipated at Robin's words. From a logical perspective, all of his reasoning was completely sound. But that acknowledgement didn't provide Leo with any comfort.

"I agree," Lisa, one of the other upper tier members of the rebellion that Leo had been introduced to recently. "There's no harm in a fair trade, but this one isn't worth the trouble, especially when we can get what we want without giving up anything."

"Well that's settled then," Robin said conclusively. The meeting continued, with no further mention of Maria.

Later that night, Leo paced back and forth across the basement, his mind racing. He couldn't shake Robin's words from before.

"there's no way we could send our friend Leo back where he came from. He's seen far too much."

Robin was just using him for information. Once he had nothing more left to give, he'd be discarded like an old tool. This had always been his reality since he got himself captured. Leo knew it all along, but it was easy to forget in the midst of it all, and today had been a harsh reminder. When he thought of Maria, searching for him desperately, his heart ached in knowing that desperation would not be enough for them to see each other again.

Was this how he would go? Captured by the enemy and forced to betray his country? Powerless to stop the enemy who he had helped? Would he die here in this filthy basement a traitor? A disappointment?

All of the stress that Leo had been carrying collapsed upon him, and for the first time in his life, he felt completely helpless.

A/N
Poor Leo! I hope you enjoy this chapter- if you did please help me out by voting, commenting, and sharing this story with your friends! Thank you for reading!
Next chapter will be the end of "part 1" of this novel!