"I am so sorry, daddy!" Leonie said sobbing in her father's arms.

"What for, my dear?" Rimodar asked.

"If I said anything to hurt you before you left. If I failed to appreciate you the way I should have. I am sorry that you died, and I fear it was somehow my fault." Leonie rambled on.

Rimodar broke their hug and gently put a finger to Leonie's lips, trying to stop the stream of words from pouring out. 

"Shh, you have nothing to be sorry for, my little doe. You are the best daughter any father could have. You were the one who brought me fresh water when I was sick and stayed by my side even when you did not fully comprehend my actions." Rimodar said.

"But..." Leonie started to say.

"No, no, let me finish. You never have to worry about what you say to your parents, because good parents always forget and forgive since they love their child more than anything and that is true for me, as well. I love you and forgive you for every little mistake the moment it happens. You were a child. Children make mistakes. Don't carry the burden of my death on your shoulders. I died because it is my destiny. If I had not perished, you wouldn't be ready for what will come." Rimodar said.

Leonie looked at him, in confusion failing to understand how he could talk so calmly about being yanked out of life, so suddenly and cruelly. His acceptance of death turned the tides in her heart and anger, that she tried to suppress, resurfaced.

"How can you be so calm? You died! You left us! Don't you even miss us?" Leonie yelled out.

"I am sorry. It was not by choice that I left you, but the moment I died, I understood why my death was a necessity. You see, in death, we can see all that was, all that is and all that ever could be. I've seen many possible futures, but the one in which I die is the only one that makes you strong enough to go through what is to come. I am ready to die a million more times if it means safety for you, your brother, and your mother." Rimodar said.

Leonie was embarrassed by her outburst. Instead of taking the opportunity to enjoy her father's sudden presence, she was yelling at him. However, it was not something she was able to control. She hurried to say what she truly wanted to before the beautiful dream scattered, and she was left only with memories of what was.

"I am sorry," Leonie said.

She was trying to stand tall, be the strong girl that the others had seen ever since her father died. After all, she felt she should not worry him with how weak and alone she felt after his death.

"Before I ask anything, I want to make sure that I tell you everything that I did not have the chance to say. I love you, daddy. I am grateful to you for everything you ever did for me. For being by my side, even when I was irrational and childish, for listening to all I had to say, and making me feel like everything I had to say mattered. Thank you for being an awesome father." Leonie said.

Rimodar hugged her in one of his bone-crushing bear hugs in which she felt at home. It was what she knew the best, what Rimodar often did when he had so many emotions that no words could express.

"I love you, too, my little lioness." He said as his tear landed in Leonie's hair.

"I am so sorry for everything that you will go through, but I believe in you. You can do everything you set your mind to." Rimodar added.

Leonie did her best not to start sobbing again at the familiarity of her father's hug, of his very presence. She wanted to hold on to him and never let go, but she knew that was an impossibility, so instead, she tried her best to commit to memory every precious second spent with her deceased father.

"We don't have much time left. Ask me what you are worried about the most, and I'll try to come to you again, if possible. The elementals don't approve of us who are all-knowing to interfere with mortal affairs, but I might manage to convince them to let me visit again." Rimodar said.

"There is only one thing I need to know to be truly able to accept my destiny. How am I supposed to do all that is expected of me when I am just a little girl? I might have grown emotionally, but I am no Warrior." Leonie said.

"Ah, my dear Leonie, that is a question I am not allowed to answer. What I can tell you is to trust your dragon, cherish your family, and do the best to prepare yourself for what is to come. As for you being a little girl, I would not worry about that. Time can sometimes be your best friend. The moment it turns its back on you, you will know. You will feel the winds of change sweeping over your heart. That's how you will know that the time has come." Rimodar said.

"I will do that, but I don't understand what do you mean about time?" Leonie asked.

"You will. When the time comes, you will understand." Rimodar said.

"I am sorry, my dear, but I need to go," Rimodar said, lifting her head to look into his daughter's eyes one last time.

"Can you give your daddy one of those bright smiles that can turn a rainy day into a shiny one?" He asked.

Leonie did her best to do so, although tears were streaming down her face. At the same time, she tried to remember her father's face, which kept escaping her, in the waking hours, and to enjoy the love that she could feel emanating from him.

"That's my girl. I love you as flowers love the sun, as waves love the moon, and as Nald loves his sweets." Rimodar said.

"I love you, too, as the sun is my witness, as waves are my strength, to the moon and back, as much as Nald loves the cake," Leonie answered, smiling brightly at her father, who started slowly fading away.

Soon enough, he completely disappeared, and Leonie started waking up, although she wanted to stay with her father forever.

The first thing she noticed upon finally opening her eyes was two huge eyes looking at her with worry. There was so much love and compassion that she had to swallow a lump in her throat to stop herself from starting to cry.

Crying would make Rim even more worried about her, and she could not allow for her dragon friend to suffer her pain. She had to embrace her pain and not let it hurt those around her for whom she cared the most.

"Are you alright?" Rim asked her.

Leonie was not sure how to answer the question. She did not wish to lie to her friend but was afraid the truth might be too painful for her, thus hurt Rim in the process.

"I just had a dream about my father, and I didn't want it to end," Leonie said as he started to get up from the dragon's warm embrace.

"I understand," Rim said.

Leonie could feel, through their bond, that he could understand her emotions. She was not sure if it had something to do with his dragon family or something else, and she did not wish to prod.

It was sure to be like putting salt on a fresh wound and knowing how much that could hurt, Leonie made the best choice for everyone involved, and change the subject.

"Are you ready for training?" Leonie asked, trying to sound cheerful.

"I am ready as I'll ever be. But no lake training this time. That water elemental is scary!" Rim said.

"We'll think of something," Leonie said as they headed for the portal, leaving the cave behind.