After embracing the cold frozen void of death like a long awaited friend, Leon finally felt a sense of serenity. No longer would he have to fight for his company, status, or fate. He could find peace in his existential wanderings through this void known to most as death.
As he continuously wandered through this endless terrain, he began to think and recall all the memories of his previous life. Not only had he failed his family, but he had his wealth and woman stolen right in front of his face. To make matters worse, it was his childhood friend, who he had raised under his wing when forming NXTech industries, that had completely betrayed him in the end.
As Leon pondered these past backstabbing events, he also felt a sense of anger and shame. How could he have not noticed these hidden intentions of the people he surrounded himself with. Leon felt he had decent people skills and was one of the best when it came to understanding others. However, this betrayal felt like a direct slap to the face that soon woke him up into the cold and heartless reality.
No longer did the sense of serenity remain in his wanderings and soon enough his vengeful feelings overtook him.
'As I swore in my last life... If I am given any chance at revenge, I will make them regret everything and repay them tenfold!'
As he continued to be lost in these vengeful thoughts, Leon almost didn't notice a small ray of light at the end of the dark frozen void. While still encompassed by his fury, he mindlessly approached it. The light which slowly had pulled Leon closer began to engulf fully into his vision.
Once the rays had fully enveloped him, Leon's body felt like an electrical shock had coursed its way through his lower veins until it finally sent a shudder through his whole body as it reached his head. Due to the uncomfortable feeling of this unknown phenomena, Leon had closed his eyes for a brief moment, but when he once again reopened them he noticed something strange.
He was no longer trapped in the void of death. As if he was just experiencing a nightmare, he lifted his head out from the crook of his left arm that he seemingly had fallen asleep on. Under his arms he noticed stacked books that were slightly opened and a paper that had been crumpled up in his right hand.
As he further looked around he was shocked to find himself in a bedroom that seemed to belong to a teenage boy. The bed across from him in the corner of the room was half made, with a blanket draped over the side and comics on top of it. Two small windows adjacent to the bed were slightly open from which a cool summer breeze lazily rolled into the room.
When Leon stood up and walked towards the opened windows he abruptly stopped as a he stared at the mirror he had just passed.
'What the hell! Is this me?'
While gazing at the mirror and studying his body, he discovered something truly shocking.
'I'm a teenager?'
As Leon suddenly came to a realization that he had been brought back to his teenage years, he rushed out of his room slamming the door. Which caused a glass to fall from a nightstand.
He was still unsure whether such a thing as returning to the past could actually be possible. But that wasn't the thought that brought him hope.
When the glass shattered he froze in disbelief as he heard a voice call up from downstairs.
"Leon what was that noise! You didn't hurt yourself did you?"
An anxious voice called up from the kitchen located beneath his room that startled Leon.
'It can't be...'
In order to confirm this wasn't a dream he immediately slapped the side of his face and rushed to the bathroom next to his room to splash water on his now youthful face.
As he stared into the bathroom mirror, he decided it didn't matter whether this was a dream or not, and began running down the stairs while brushing his fingers over the familiar old wooden banister. A surge of pleasant memories from his youth entered his mind as he reminisced all the cherished moments he had spent in this house.
When he finally descended to the lower floor he saw the worried expression on his mother's face and a small tear raced down his one cheek.
"Are you alright? I heard a crash from upstairs and was worried you injured yourself coming down the..."
Before his mother could finish, Leon rushed over and held her in a heartfelt embrace for what seemed like an eternity.
Slightly confused by this odd behavior his mother questioned her son who was acting strange.
"What's wrong it's as if you haven't seen me in years? Did you skip breakfast this morning? Don't tell me you caught a cold from lack of sleep! I told you to not stay out late with those no good friends of yours!"
The sudden questioning brought Leon back to reality, he hurriedly stepped back from the embrace, and stood in front of his mother with mixed emotions racing through his chest.
"Mother you know I rarely see my friends anymore due to how busy I am." His mother's expression then turned to a slight frown as she heard him reply.
"What are you talking about, you were just with them last night and didn't even come back till late in the night. You should be studying more to ensure your future is stable with a good job and money. Don't you want to get married someday? If you don't focus now there won't be any beauties waiting for you in the future, and your friends will have moved on in life without you!"
As his mother's frown deepened while Leon in contrast began to slightly smile.
'Right, even if it's a dream, I'll just play my part.' He decided while emotions welled within him after seeing his deceased mother once again.
With a charming grin that would make any man or women stare, he replied while chuckling softly.
"Mother with my charms what woman wouldn't fall for me already?"
After this joking sentence left his mouth his mother smiled through gritted teeth and jokingly punched his shoulder.
"How blessed am I to have such a humble son. If only the amount of time you spent on chasing women and hanging with your friends was devoted to your studies!"
Leon's playful expressions slowly turned serious as he remembered his father and brother.
"Where is dad and Jesse?"
A look of sadness appeared in his mother's face as she told him about the condition his father was in from an accident at work. After she mentioned the situation they were in, Leon began to remember the past events that had transpired with his family.
Due to an accident at the company his father worked at, his family experienced multiple problems after this event. With the current medical technology in this age, his father was unable to recuperate the internal injuries surrounding his back, rendering him utterly useless when trying to work.
Leon's younger brother Jesse had just started his studies in middle school when this happened, and together with Leon, they tried to release the stress and burdens placed onto their poor mother. In his last life Leon had given up on the hope of their family successfully recovering from this unfortunate situation. Sadly, due to his immaturity then, he had squandered what meager money he was given and earned to try and keep up appearances.
Thus, Leon felt partly responsible for the downfall of his family in his past life.
After seeing the real touch and emotion from his mother, he knew that this wasn't a dream. If he had returned to the past, then Leon was determined to change their outcome this time. He swore that he would raise his family above the stupid higher society that had casted them aside.
"Don't worry mother, you still have Jesse and I to rely on. Just because dad's position has been revoked, it doesn't mean the end of our family. I promise that once I gain success, our family will rise amongst the ashes and soar through the heavens like a phoenix!"
After Leon's heartfelt provocation against the powerful figures and families throughout the city was heard by his mother, she smiled despite her melancholy appearance.
The usual immature and haughty aura that surrounded her son had seemingly been replaced by a overflowing sense of devotion and maturity.
For a moment it almost seemed that her son was no longer a silly teenager but had taken on the image of a young lion. Who proudly protected its family while silently bearing hidden fangs that could frighten even the most courageous man.
While lost in this trance like state, Leon brushed past his mother in the hallway and gave his younger brother, who was sitting in a chair playing on his phone, a pat on the head which messed his perfectly gelled hair.
After seeing his family again Leon was content. But soon this content became anger, when he realized the terrible situation they were placed in once again. Thus, he decided to visit his father in the hospital as the first step towards a different future.