As Long As

Leonel's heart softened even more so than usual. 

Candle was just a teenage girl. After having her age frozen, she was even younger than Leonel in comparison to before. At that moment, Leonel couldn't see her as anything other than a little girl. And likewise for Vice, he was just a little boy. 

Just their age alone made it difficult for Leonel to work up the courage to harm them. But, their backstory made it even more difficult. 

"Is that all you want? To see the outside world?"

Candle nodded up and down, her forearm trying to wipe her falling tears away. 

Vice's eyes turned red, seemingly caught up in Candle's emotions. But, he simultaneously seemed quite detached from it all, almost as though he was just copying Candle rather than truly feeling the emotions she was.