It's been a long time since a long time. This chapter: Leon is forced to have a proper conversation.

Though Leon was still captured in ice, the Speaker wasn't attacking him, at least. Time to see whether or not his actions had broken the enthrallment on her.

"I am Leon Belmont," he said, adding on, "This is my home."

The Speaker's eyes narrowed. "I am Sypha Belnades." She moved closer, eyeing him. "While I can see you before me, I have a hard time believing someone from Trevor's ancestry has managed to survive until this day. There is magic of a strange sort clinging to you, but..."

She shook her head, and Leon's heart dropped; The enthrallment wasn't broken. She clearly believed that hunter's story of being a member of the Belmont line. As if summoned by thought, the man came sprinting up the last flight of stairs, huffing but not winded, whip held at the ready.

When his eyes took in the scene, he relaxed. "Knew we could count on you, Sypha."

Leon's heart sunk.

"Of course," said the Speaker- Sypha. Her chest puffed out as she took in the praise. "I am the best magician in the world."

Trevor chuckled. Leon wondered. They both seemed so- so normal compared to what he was used to with enthralled victims-usually they were unreachable, acting barely aware at all. These two... did they really fall to the vampire's seductions?

Trevor moved closer to Leon, but still kept one hand on his whip. "I think we got off on the wrong foot."

Leon frowned but said nothing.

Sypha sighed in aggravation, drawing Trevor's attention. The hunter's head cocked to the side. "What's that?"

Sypha placed her hand on the necklace Trevor pointed at. "I was hoping you could tell me. He threw it on me," she said, nodding her chin at Leon. "There was a whole build up to it, as though he thought it was important."

Trevor moved closer and also touched it. Neither of them seemed to change. The necklace wasn't meant for breaking a vampire's enchantments then, or they weren't under one. The hunter, at least, seemed to recognize it with the way his expression darkened.

"It's meant to ward off evil spirits," he said, leveling Leon with a glare.

Leon glared back, even trapped as he still was, when Trevor marched up to him. They stared each other down for a few moments, Trevor with his hands and jaw clenched, Leon twitching his fingers and carefully controlling his breathing.

"What the hell were you hoping to do?" Trevor all but growled.

"I don't have to answer to you, imposter," Leon said.

Leon could practically see the man's hackles rise, his shoulders moving up and teeth bared in a facsimile of a smile. Not surprisingly-or maybe so considering they were working together-the Speaker stepped between the two hunters.

"Enough," she said, exasperated but firm. "Trevor, why don't you go find Alucard? He's been missing too long."

"Sypha-" Her stern look cut Trevor off. "...Fine. Bastard's probably just got distracted with an ancient coffin or something."

He stomped off, making his displeasure clearly known. Leon couldn't help but stare as his back disappeared down the stairs, taking the Belmont family crest with it. Leon sighed out through his nose, earning a huff from the Speaker beside him.

"Why are all Belmonts such handfuls?" It was clearly a rhetorical question, but Leon felt compelled to answer.

"How many have you met?"

Sypha tapped at her lip. "Personally? Only Trevor and you. If you can be counted."

Leon faced her again to better read the woman. "I can. The man you are working with is not of my clan."

"How do you mean?"

"He is-" Leon paused, and thought. If the Speaker was not enthralled, perhaps he could get more information from her. If he better understood, he could convince her to turn back to humanity. He nodded to himself. "I am a Belmont, and the only one of my line here, I am certain. My clan has dedicated itself to fighting creatures of the night, and would not work with a vampire."

The Speaker's face changed little, listening intently as Leon was used to from those of her own clan, yet several emotions hidden in her eyes worried him. She hummed.

"It's true, you do seem... solid." She reached up to pinch his cheek, startling a "Hey!" from Leon. "But there is some odd magic around you. And you couldn't possibly be the true Leon. He has already died."

Leon wrinkled his nose. "Why do you all think I've died? I can assure you I am no corpse."

Sypha nodded genially. "Of course not. I have fought those."

It was Leon's turn to blink in surprise, before a smile tried to surface. "Surprising for a Speaker."

Sypha's eyes narrowed. "Why is that?"

"The caravans I've met have all shared core values, one of which is a sort of pacifism," he explained, shaking his head in amusement.

"Except I can do the best good for people by fighting." The Speaker held her head aloft, daring him to dismiss her.

Leon finally allowed a small curve to his lips. "I won't deny that. Not when I do the same."

Sypha waited for a moment as if judging his sincerity. "Then we can agree. But it doesn't answer the question of what you are."

"What?" Leon asked incredulously.

"Yes. Because you cannot be human anymore." Sypha held up a hand when Leon went to protest. "Leon Belmont lived a long time ago, and as far as Trevor has told me, he did not gain any sort of immortality. So you must be some sort of defense of the Belmont Hold, which Trevor stumbled into."

She rubbed at her forehead with her fingers.

Leon wasn't sure what he could do to convince her. In fact, he was beginning to worry, himself. Perhaps he had passed out from his-admittedly experimental-spell, but hadn't realized just how long? He was certain he would have woken more hungry if that was the case, though. For the moment, he cast aside those thoughts.

"What are you doing in this place?" he asked.

Sypha looked at him, eyes blazing with determination. "A test?"

Leon shrugged best he could while encased in ice. "You are working with a vampire, yet you break into a place meant only for Belmonts. Forgive me for assuming poor intentions."

Sypha snorted at his sarcasm, but her eyes did not lose their fire. "We are here to find a way to defeat Dracula. All of us."

"Dracula...?"

"I am surprised you don't know of him," Sypha said. "Belm- Trevor said it was the reason... well, the reason Leon Belmont moved to this country."

At that, Leon's heart nearly stopped. Could it be? "No."

"No?" Sypha repeated, brows raising. Leon tried to reign in his terror to explain.

"The three of you only, against one of the most powerful vampires in the region? In the world, perhaps?" Leon shook his head, desperation squeezing his chest. "You will lose."

"We will try," Sypha retorted, and her fire had only seemed to grow. "People are dying because of his actions, and we cannot leave them to suffer."

Leon stared her down, her conviction written in every terse line of her body. He sighed, and allowed himself to slump in the ice.

"You will not be swayed?"

"Never. Even if I have to do it myself."

It might be a better idea than trusting a vampire, but what Leon asked was, "Then why do you consort with his kind?"

"Alucard?" she asked. Leon could only assume it was the vampire's name. He needed to explain.

"Vampires are born of human greed and suffering. They are self-centered and selfish, and will betray you easily if it is for their own gain." Sypha shook her head. Frustrated, Leon tried to say, "It is better to cut ties now than allow for such a mon-"

"Enough." Clear as a bell, Sypha cut through his argument. "I tell you this because you know nothing of him, but I trust that man with my life. He is strong, and good, and we have already fought together while traveling here. If you speak ill of him again, I shall pull you to the ground by the ear."

Leon's stomach quivered, and he looked down at the ice covering him, then back up. Sypha wore an expression intimately familiar to Leon, one which Trefor would sometimes wear, meaning 'try me, see what happens.' How intimidating. It seemed to Leon his height meant nothing when so many of the people in his life who'd pushed him around were shorter than him.

But... he had to try at least one more thing. "Do you know why I placed that item upon you?"

Sypha palmed the necklace and brought it up again to get a better look. "No. It doesn't appear to have any spell on it. And it doesn't smell as bad as I thought it would, with all this withered garlic."

Leon felt a sheepish grin coming on and pushed through it to explain, "I had hoped it would break any enthrallment upon you."

Sypha seemed surprised.

"The Speakers are known for having strong wills, especially your magicians," he said. "I believed the necklace would help."

"It is true, our magics are controlled by our wills. Would that truly help with some sort of enthrallment?"

"I... had hoped so."

"Do you believe I am enthralled?" Sypha questioned, a spark of understanding in her eyes. "What can I do to persuade you otherwise? Our cause is good and important. We cannot be stopped here, and by a- a spell, or a man, who should be assisting us."

For one long, breathless moment, Leon looked at her, tried to clearly see Sypha, the Speaker magician. Sypha, who entered the hold with the goal of fighting Mat- ...Dracula. Who said her companions, the hunter and the vampire, were on the same mission. Who denied her enthrallment or any deception with bright, clear eyes, looking straight into his as she waited.

Then she said, in a voice like steel, "I do no harm, and I serve no demon."

Realization hit Leon then, and he nearly laughed. She was a kind, adventurous soul; Someone who, under different circumstances, he would have been glad to meet and even call friend. For his own foolishness, Leon lowered and shook his head.

"Well then, Sypha Belnades." Leon met her gaze once again. "Let us speak properly, and perhaps we can figure out what has happened."

With one finger tapping near her lips, she conceded. "Very well. But if you attack anyone I will freeze you again."

The emphasis on "anyone" made it quite clear who she was talking about. And Leon wasn't sure how he felt about that.

"I... understand." If the vampire made any threatening moves, Leon would simply have to attack him away from the magician.

Sypha raised her brows-clearly not taking him solely at his word-but she did make a motion with two fingers and pulled the ice away, allowing Leon to slip free. As a show of good faith, he gathered and hooked his whip back to his belt. He nodded his thanks, and attempted a smile, though he was sure his worry still showed.

"Thank you. Let us find somewhere to sit and-"

The unmistakable whoosh of supernatural speed sounded nearby; Leon-thanks to his experience and paranoia only-managed to raise a weak magical barrier before a long sword slammed into it. He felt lucky he did, because even with his reflexes he was flung between two shelves of books and straight into another. He grunted at the impact but kept his feet, glaring up at the intruder.

The vampire. Of course.

Yet no sooner did Leon's hand touch the whip at his belt than did a wall of controlled air buffet against the two of them.

"Enough!" Sypha called out. "Alucard, put away your sword. I have come to an agreement with Leon."

"With that bit of magic meant as a trap?" His voice was disdainful.

"Yes. And we don't know what he is yet." Sypha sounded stern, chiding.

"All the more reason to stay on guard."

Leon took note of the way the vampire attempted to stand between Sypha and himself. As a guard, perhaps. Still, Sypha grabbed his elbow, and once receiving his attention, shook her head.

"No, it is reason to gather more information. We will talk this through."

The vampire, it seemed, was not foolish enough to doubt her with anything but a sigh and acquiescence. And when she turned to Leon, he too nodded and stood in a-slightly-less hostile way.

It seemed they would all be talking. Awe, fear, and mild anger all danced within Leon.

Trevor, self-proclaimed Belmont, came running up the stairs for the second time, puffing great gusts of air. When he reached the top, he looked around, lowered his whip, and said, "Well, at least I can thank God for Sypha."

"Please do not," Sypha said. "Speakers are the enemy of God."

Leon stood in stunned silence. At least the talk wouldn't be boring, he mused.

Leon: Were they really seduced by the vampire?
Alucard: *tosses golden-blonde curls over one shoulder while casually moving an entire bookcase*
Sypha: Yes.
Trevor: ...No...?

Sypha is not here to compare fighting techniques (she knows she'd win anyway haha), she came here for knowledge and dammit she'll get it! (ง •̀_•́)ง I think Leon's rather impressed by her, though not so much by the boys. ^^;

This one is moving a bit slower, partially because I'm still working out Leon's personality. It's not exactly like the game because of where he is in his own timeline, so... yeah.
Hopefully, shoving him at the trio for totally calm talking time will help me flesh him out.

So yeah! It's been a bit. Though considering world-wide events, I think I've done well dealing with my own personal anxiety. I've seen a lot of very kind comments on my fics, and other authors catching up on their older projects, and it's been really inspiring.
So thank you! Please keep telling me about anything and everything you think about when reading through my fics, they make me so happy. And I believe in you! ٩̋(ˊ•͈ ꇴ •͈ˋ)و Whatever projects you're working on, writing or otherwise, they'll be fantastic because you put in that extra effort during such a weird time.
Anyways, see y'all next chapter