Out of his memory, Leo sighed.
As Leo did so, his eyes closed in deep thought. He couldn't shake off the feeling that something was missing, a certain quality that he couldn't put his finger on. Tokita was growing stronger, that was certain, but there was something intangible that he lacked. He couldn't help but feel like he was missing a crucial piece of the puzzle.
While it was true, he saw something within Tokita on their first day, a determination that shined and represented his will to get stronger. But since that occurrence, nothing he did was bringing out that spark.
Tokita's skills with the blade had improved significantly since their training began, and he was a quick learner, but something was still missing. Leo watched him intently as he practiced his forms, each strike becoming more pinpoint and mechanical, but lacking that certain spark that Leo was searching for.
"You good?" Tokita asked, breaking Leo's concentration as he snapped back to reality.
"Oh, sorry about that. I was lost in thought there for a second." Leo said sheepishly.
"Leo...If you don't mind me asking, what are you trying to accomplish here?" Tokita questioned with a blank stare.
"Hmm?" Leo hummed.
"While I appreciate you helping me get better with the sword, I feel like that's not the real reason were out here." Tokita stated.
"Intuitive, I see." Leo said with a chuckle. "It's true, while sword skill is important, its not the real reason you're out here." He said, holding his hand out towards Tokita.
Tokita reached out, grasping his hand and pulling himself up.
"Being as frank as possible, the reason why you and Ian are going through this whole ordeal, is so you both can stay alive." Leo said morbidly.
"What?" Tokita asked, surprised.
"Every year, after every new Knight Initiation, the new Knights are given a single week as a grace period, afterwards, they're expected to be able to carry out mission in a duo, or even by themselves." Leo stated simply, his facial expression switching to serious, as his eyes began to glow with a light blue hue.
Tokita's brow furrowed, his expression one of confusion mixed with a tinge of fear. He hadn't expected Leo's response to his question to be so grave.
"Stay alive?" he echoed, the words feeling foreign on his tongue. "What kind of missions are we talking about here?"
Leo's expression turned even grimmer, his eyes gleaming with a fierce intensity. "The kind that only the most skilled and dedicated Knights can carry out. The kind that test your limits and push you to the brink of your abilities." He paused, his voice dropping to a low whisper. "The kind that can get you killed if you're not careful."
Tokita paused, his mind racing as he processed the gravity of Leo's words.
Leo continued, "Take Sir Charles as an example. He was a Silver Steel Knight like you, and his room was the one you're staying in now." His voice was heavy with the weight of the memories he carried.
"You know Charles?" Tokita asked, a slightly deprived look in his eye, one of guilt.
"He was one our most valuable, a key part of our family. Funny enough, the room you're currently staying in was his own," Leo said grimly, his tone making it clear that he regarded Tokita's presence there as an unwelcome intrusion.
"I...I don't understand. If you all knew Charles and his abilities, why would you let him go on such a dangerous mission?" Tokita demanded, his voice rising with anger and frustration, the volume even waking up Mitsugi who had been sleeping in the back.
Leo's expression softened slightly, as if he understood the pain and confusion that Tokita was feeling. "Like he might've informed you, the mission he signed up for was never supposed to be that bad. It had been reported as a wild animal attack. We could never have predicted a Cursed One to be there," he said, his voice tinged with regret and sorrow.
"Charles understood the risks. He understood the unpredictability that is this duty," Leo continued, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Despite his shortcomings, Charles was a good man. He had a hell of a lot of potential, awakening his Catalyst at a young age, and having above-average skill in the blade. He even went as far as to abandon his family name in service of his Kingdom."
"But..." Tokita stated, biting his lip.
"Charles was a prodigy in his own right," Leo reflected, a tinge of fondness in his voice. "He didn't have the potential, resources, or prestige of the Royals, but he had something far more valuable: the determination and the will to succeed. He inspired others around him with his work ethic and his commitment to his duty."
"He was the kind of person who could inspire others to be better," Leo said, his voice filled with nostalgia. "He was always pushing himself to his limits, never satisfied with where he was at. He would train for hours on end, sometimes even forgetting to eat or sleep."
"But in spite of his incredible skill and dedication, Charles had his flaws," Leo continued. "He was impulsive, sometimes making decisions without thinking them through. He was also a bit of a hothead, and could get into fights without much provocation."
Leo looked to the side, noticing that he had begun to trail off.
"My point is, even someone like Charles, who gave it his all, who was determined to grow stronger, eventually died in the line of duty," Leo stated, his eye blank of emotion. "Do you believe that you can fill the hole that Charles's death created?" Leo asked, his eyes creating an overwhelming pressure over Tokita's shoulders.
"I...I don't know if I can replace Charles. Hell, I don't even know if I want to." Tokita said, faintly remembering the man. "But." He said, the light of the sun illuminating off his face as he looked Leo in the eyes directly.
"I won't die just yet, there's something I need to do first," Tokita stated, his eyes full of conviction.
Leo's eyes widened, a sense of nostalgia hitting him. It reminded him of the past, when three years ago, his newest protege, Charles, stood in the same place where Tokita is currently, and said those exact words.
"That look in their eyes...It's the same." Leo thought to himself, his eyes widening. In the back of Tokita's eyes, in his very soul, a flame was ignited. Pure and utter determination.
Leo's smile returned, as he began to laugh lightly.
"That's a good look Tokita." Leo stated, unsheathing his Katana and pointing it at Tokita. "That feeling you're currently experiencing, hold onto it. If you wan't to gain true strength, you need to exist in that feeling."
Tokita nodded, taking a deep breath as he unsheathed his own blade, feeling the cool metal in his hands. He focused on the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves, the sensation of the sun on his skin, and the weight of the sword in his hand.
Leo chuckled to himself, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Seems like the Old Dog knew what he was talking about," he said, amusement clear in his voice. "We have five days left, and I intend to make the most of them. I'll push you to your limits and beyond, until your soul cracks open and your Catalyst is free."
Leo lowered his stance, his muscles coiled like a spring ready to pounce. Tokita had never seen him like this before. Leo's eyes gleamed with an intense determination, and his body language screamed that he was taking this seriously.
His grip tightened around the hilt of his blade, and he took a deep breath, steadying his nerves. He knew that the next few days would be grueling, but he was determined to push through and emerge stronger on the other side.
Leo's words had struck a chord with him, and he was eager to prove himself. He could something stirring within him, a strong sense of need begging him to release it.
"Let's do this," he said, a fierce glint in his eye as he prepared to take on whatever challenges Leo had in store for him.