Fate To Fake: Loved by the Fallen; Fated to Kill the Divine
Chapter 86: Family shouldn’t hold secrets, right?

Chapter 86: Family shouldn’t hold secrets, right?

"... Do you believe in magic?"

When Raphael heard that strange question fall from Leo’s lips, she stared at him for a few seconds completely dumbfounded.

Her brows furrowed, her lips parted slightly, and her head tilted as if trying to understand whether she’d heard him right. Her expression quickly twisted into one of concern, as though she were trying to figure out if he’d recently hit his head or perhaps hadn’t slept in days.

"Are you serious?" she asked softly, her voice carrying both worry and disbelief.

"Figures..."

Leo muttered under his breath, catching her reaction even before she spoke. He wasn’t surprised. It was exactly how anyone would react. Still, he gently shook his head with a faint chuckle and slowly looked up at the wide, open sky. The clouds drifted lazily, the sky a perfect blue, calm and silent—so unlike his heart. His gaze softened as he spoke again, this time more thoughtfully, as if trying to convince even himself.

"I know it sounds insane... unbelievable, even. I used to think the same. I laughed at the idea too, once. But then... after everything that’s happened... I can’t laugh anymore."

His voice trembled near the end, and though he tried to wear a smile, the sadness behind his eyes couldn’t be hidden.

Raphael’s chest tightened. There was something in his tone and heavy that made her heart ache. She reached out instinctively and placed her hand gently on his cheek, her fingers soft, warm, grounding.

"You’re my only family, Leo," she said firmly, her voice steady with conviction. "And I believe in you. No matter how crazy it sounds... if it’s coming from you, I’ll believe it."

Leo’s eyes widened a little at her words. He looked at her hand resting on his cheek and then up into her eyes. Slowly, a weak, almost broken smile crept across his lips.

"I guess... this is what it means to have family, huh?" he whispered. Then, like a child seeking comfort, he leaned forward and rubbed his cheek gently against hers, letting out a soft sigh. "It feels nice..."

Raphael smiled, warm and quiet, her heart squeezing with tenderness.

Leo took a long breath, like preparing to open an old wound. He knew he had to tell her everything now. There was no point in hiding anymore. She was the only person left who truly mattered.

So, he began.

"It all started that night at school..."

He began unraveling the story—piece by piece, detail by detail. He told her about the glowing stones, the legends, the strange powers, the other champions, the battles, and the war that unfolded beneath everyone’s noses.

And then, he said the word Raphael hadn’t expected.

"Death."

That one word echoed in the air between them like a final breath. She listened, her body frozen. With every word that followed, her expression began to shift—from confusion to disbelief, from disbelief to horror.

The way he spoke... it wasn’t just a story. It wasn’t fiction. It was something he lived through.

By the time Leo finished, her lips were trembling. Her breaths had gone shallow, and she hadn’t even realized she’d been holding her breath until he stopped speaking.

Her voice came out barely above a whisper.

"U-Unbelievable..."

Leo looked at her and gave a soft, knowing smile.

"Yeah."

He nodded slowly, as if the word itself had been echoing in his head all this time too.

Raphael’s eyes darted all over his face, as if trying to find some crack, some evidence that he was joking or lying. But there was none. She could see the guilt in his eyes, the weight of loss, the pain he tried so hard to hide.

He wasn’t pretending.

She was a doctor. A woman grounded in facts, logic, medicine, science. Not fairy tales. Not fantasy. Magic didn’t belong in her world.

Yet here it was. And not from a stranger. From Leo.

Her nephew.

And the fire at the school... the strange reports on the news... the sudden change in Leo’s behavior...

Everything started to connect.

Her hands clenched into trembling fists, her voice breaking as she looked at the small, peacefully sleeping girl nearby.

"O-Oh my god... what in heaven’s name..." she whispered, her eyes wide. "T-Then this girl...?"

"Yeah..." Leo answered, glancing at Ophis with a softer tone. "She’s a Master too."

He reached forward and gently pulled one of Ophis’s small twin-tails, letting it slip through his fingers like silk.

Raphael blinked, her whole body rigid. Her face was still frozen in horror, but now laced with confusion and—most of all—fear.

Not just for Leo, but of what he had been dragged into. What if things had gone differently?

He told her about Cael... the champion who died protecting him.

Would Leo have died too, if not for her?

The thought pierced her like a blade.

"I... I... ah... I..." she stammered, her breath quickening, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Her whole body trembled, and her eyes darted like she was about to panic.

Seeing her spiral, Leo quickly reached out, cupping her cheeks firmly between his palms.

"Raphael. I’m fine—"

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN, ’FINE’!!"

She exploded. Her voice cracked as it rose, filled with fury and terror that had no other place to go.

A few people nearby looked over in concern. She instantly flinched, realizing the attention she was drawing. Her hands curled tightly as her fingernails dug into her palms.

She leaned closer, her voice hissing in frustration,

"You nearly died! You were in a war! What kind of bullshit are you spouting saying you’re ’fine’?

My only family could’ve been killed in some... some insane magical war! And you expect me to just sit here?! I—I’m calling the police. You need protection, we need help, and—"

But before she could continue spiraling into fear, Leo gently pulled her closer again. His forehead pressed softly against hers.

"There’s no need for that, Raph... it’s over. The war ended. My champion died... and we’re not part of it anymore."

His voice was low, sincere, and aching.

Raphael’s lips trembled. Her eyes, glossy and wide, searched his face for hope.

"B-But... I... I..."

"It’s really okay. We’re normal now," he continued, his thumbs brushing lightly across her cheeks. "Everything’s over. No one’s coming after us. But if anyone else hears about this... if it reaches the Mage Association, they might see you as a threat. They could hurt you. Or worse... come after both of us."

Raphael’s body jerked slightly as she gasped, then immediately covered her mouth with both hands, eyes shaking. She slowly shook her head, the horror finally sinking in.

Leo gave her a small, fragile smile.

She looked so helpless in that moment—like a child caught doing something wrong, scared and confused.

He leaned in slightly and pinched her nose gently.

Raphael blinked at the gesture. It broke the tension just enough for her to come back to herself.

Realizing just how close they were, her face flushed deep red, and she quickly pulled back, stammering,

"I-I need to go to the restroom..."

She turned and rushed away, leaving Leo watching quietly as she disappeared into the restroom.

He smiled faintly, exhaling the breath he didn’t know he’d been holding.

"Are you sure about it?"

Leo looked down and saw Ophis staring up at him, her sleepy gaze now sharp and oddly focused.

"She is my only family..." He answered softly, almost like a whisper meant for no one else but himself.

Ophis stared at him for a few more seconds before letting out a quiet sigh and closing her eyes again.

Honestly, she was surprised—again. He had told Raphael the truth, just like that. And more than that... he didn’t mention anything about her past. He never said she was once his enemy. Not even a hint.

He could have told the truth—all of it. But he didn’t. He protected her. Even though she was once someone who stood against him, who nearly brought harm to him.

He knew if Raphael found out, she’d likely fear her, maybe even hate her. But Leo didn’t want that.

The past was the past... He’d left it behind.

’He is... an idiot,’ Ophis thought, puffing her cheeks with a small huff. A faint blush bloomed on her face, subtle, but there.

Ring~Ring

Leo flinched as his phone suddenly rang, the shrill sound cutting through the quiet air. He fumbled for a moment, pulling it out of his pocket and glancing at the screen.

He blinked.

The caller ID showed a familiar name.

A slow smile spread across his lips as he accepted the call and brought the phone to his ear.

"H-Hello? Senior?"

A hesitant, almost nervous voice responded from the other end.

Leo’s smile grew warmer as he replied, "Hello, Sakura. It’s been a while. How are you?"

"Hmph! Now you remember me?" Her voice instantly turned into a playful grumble. She sounded like a girlfriend who had been pouting for days, abandoned by a careless boyfriend. "I’ve been waiting for your call, you know? How could you leave your sweet little girlfriend all alone?"

Leo let out a soft chuckle, "I’m sorry, really... Haha... I’ve been kind of busy these past few days. Please forgive your boyfriend, my lady."

"..."

There was a pause.

"Sakura?"

"Oh... yeah. I was just... taken aback, I guess... by your words," she murmured, her voice suddenly small and bashful.

"My boyfriend... hehe..."

Leo smiled warmly, a strange warmth blooming in his chest.

"Anyway... I’m standing in front of your house, but it’s locked. Where are you right now?"

Leo blinked, caught off guard. "Oh? Sorry, I’m kind of out of the city right now..."

"... With who?"

Her tone changed in an instant. It dropped in pitch—suddenly darker, less playful. There was a sharp edge hidden beneath her words.

"With my aunt," Leo answered, blinking slowly.

"Oh? Your aunt? Haha..." her voice immediately lifted again, overly cheerful now, like flipping a switch. "I almost worried you went with that bit—ahem—with Valra... ahaha... haha... ha..."Her laugh turned increasingly sharp and jagged, almost unsettling by the end.

Leo gulped, a nervous bead of sweat forming near his temple.

’P-Possessive girlfriend, I suppose...’

Still, something about what she said made him frown. His brow creased.

"Wait... how do you know where my house is?"

"..."

"Sakura?"

"... Cough, cough... shit. Luna found me!" she suddenly blurted. "I need to go now. Next time, please be home! I’ll meet you later! bye... I.. I l-love you!"

Beep.

She cut the call just like that.

Leo stared at his phone in stunned silence, then let out a soft, tired laugh. He shook his head with a weak smile, still processing the whirlwind that had just passed through his ears.

"Who was that?" Ophis asked, her expression curious, her head tilted slightly.

Leo looked down at her and chuckled, a teasing smirk forming on his lips.

"My other girlfriend."

"... What now?"

Meanwhile, back in the restroom...

Raphael sat on the closed toilet lid, her body hunched forward, hands clutched tightly around her head. Her breathing was shallow and uneven. Sweat glistened on her brow.

"Aargh!"

She groaned loudly, the pain in her voice raw and real, like something was hammering against the inside of her skull.

Her thoughts were a mess.

Everything she’d heard was crashing over her again and again, memories flooding like waves with nowhere to go.

Magic. Champions. War. Death.

Her nephew.

Her only family.