Leo sat in a corner, his gaze fixed on the young man surrounded by admirers.
"That's Ray... Raylan Radiance," he thought. "My twin brother. The child of prophecy. The hero of light. The shining beacon everyone looks up to."
People gravitated toward Raylan, their laughter and conversation filling the room, as if his presence alone brightened their spirits.
"He's like a hero ripped straight from a novel," Leo mused. "Kind, adored by all, and undeniably handsome."
A sigh of relief escaped Leo as he leaned back in his chair.
"I don't need to search for a hero. He's the perfect candidate. Wherever he stands, he shines the brightest."
A sly smile crept across Leo's face.
"The brighter he shines, the easier it'll be for me to hide in his shadow."
A voice came from behind him.
"So, how's your day going?"
A gentle hand rested on Leo's shoulder. He didn't react—this man posed no threat, that much Leo was sure of. He felt the seat beside him shift as the man sat down.
Leo's thoughts wandered, analyzing the situation.
"This man… Rowan Radiance. My father. He's probably the only person I can trust right now. At least, Leo the previous owner of this body did."
Leo remained quiet, trying to gauge more about Rowan. He wasn't from this world, and his knowledge of this man was limited, but something about his presence felt… safe.
Rowan sighed deeply and began,
"Look, I get it, kid. You're angry, and I don't blame you. But trust me, banishing you was the best option we had."
Leo sat there, staring blankly, pretending to understand.
Rowan continued, "You know how Edward is... if it were up to him, you wouldn't be standing here right now."
Leo's thoughts churned. "Edward..." That was the emperor's name, right? But to hear Rowan say it so casually...
Leo glanced at the man beside him, a realization sinking in.
This guy... he's is the reason why Leo is still alive.
The emperor and my father fought side by side for decades, close as brothers. If not for him, I'd have been long gone.
Rowan looked away, his voice heavy.
"I did everything I could... but Edward... well, you know how he is."
Rowan let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through his disheveled hair before breaking the silence.
"Look," he began, his voice filled with an unmistakable weariness, "I've done what I can, but... I can't keep protecting you forever."
His words hung in the air, weighed down with the burden of years of strained loyalty and responsibility.
Rowan placed a firm but reassuring hand on Leo's shoulder, his grip steady, yet there was an unspoken finality in the gesture.
"Just... try not to make things harder. Stay out of trouble," he added, his voice softer this time, almost pleading.
Without waiting for a reply, Rowan rose to his feet. He glanced back once, his eyes lingering on Leo with a mix of concern and reluctance.
Then, without another word, he turned and walked away.
Leo remained seated, watching Rowan's figure disappear into the distance, feeling a strange mix of detachment and déjà vu.
**Another day slips by... just like that.**
Time passed in its usual indifferent way, and before long, Leo found himself back in front of his mansion—a place that, for now, served as his refuge in a world that wasn't his.
As Leo approached the mansion, a shadowy figure caught his eye—an old man, wrapped in a ragged black cloak that reeked of filth. The hood was pulled low, barely revealing a face hidden in shadow.
Leo grimaced, thinking to himself, "A beggar? In front of my place?"
He stepped closer, the smell hitting him like a wall.
"Hey, old man," Leo called out, crouching slightly to look him in the eye. "When was the last time you took a bath?"
The man didn't respond, his figure still as a statue. Leo sighed, shaking his head.
"If it's money you want, you're out of luck. I'm broke too," he added, a smirk playing on his lips.
But the old man stayed silent. He slowly rose, turning his back to Leo and shuffling away. Just as he was about to disappear into the night, his voice rasped out, breaking the silence.
"I didn't come for your coins," he croaked. "I felt... a strange magic here. I came to see what it was."
Leo's eyes narrowed, his suspicion flaring. Strange magic?
As the man took another step, Leo reached out and grabbed his arm, holding him firmly in place.
The beggar turned his head, just enough for Leo to catch a glimpse of his weathered face beneath the hood.
Leo's voice dropped, serious now.
"How do you know my language?" he demanded, staring hard at the mysterious old man.
The beggar glanced away, his tone cryptic, "I've lived longer than you think, boy… I speak many tongues, and yours just happens to be one of them."
Leo's grip tightened on the man's arm. His patience was running thin.
"That doesn't answer my question," Leo snapped.
The beggar chuckled lightly, his voice rasping with age. "Do you really have time to chat with me?"
Leo, confused, furrowed his brow. "What do you mea—"
Before he could finish, a deafening boom echoed from the mansion, the sound of an explosion. His eyes darted towards the building—smoke and fire billowed from the direction of his bedroom.
From behind him, the beggar's voice came again, eerily calm.
"You've made a lot of enemies, boy."
Leo whipped his head around, but to his surprise, his grip was empty. He wasn't holding anything. The beggar had vanished into thin air.
"What the—" Leo muttered, staring at his empty hand. He looked back again, scanning the area, but there was no sign of the old man. It was as if he had never been there.
"What in the sorcery…"
Before he could even process what had just happened, the roaring flames from the mansion snapped his attention back. Smoke twisted into the night sky, and the fire spread quickly through his room.
Leo sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, already weary of the night's chaos.
"Well… I guess I've got bigger problems to deal with right now."
After the fire had finally been brought under control, Leo stepped cautiously into the ruins of what was once his room. The air was thick with the smell of smoke and charred wood. Scorched furniture lay scattered, shattered glass littered the floor, and the walls were barely holding up.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair, "Alright... who's after my neck this time?"
His eyes were drawn to the far wall, where a large, circular scorch mark was burned into the surface. The pattern wasn't random—it was deliberate, precise. He narrowed his gaze, his usual nonchalant attitude shifting into something more focused.
Walking over to the window, Leo glanced out at the night. Then, he saw them.
Five figures, cloaked in black, standing atop a distant hill. Their faces were hidden under heavy hoods, but their presence was undeniable. Even from this distance, Leo could feel the intensity of their gaze, cold and calculating.
He stared back, feeling the weight of their silent challenge. They didn't move, didn't speak. Just stood there, watching.
*These are the ones who did this,* Leo thought.
The figures lingered for a moment longer, then, without a word, turned and disappeared into the shadows beyond the hill. It was almost as if they hadn't been there at all.
Leo let out a small, bitter chuckle.
"How many enemies have you made, Leo?" he muttered to himself, the reality of the situation sinking in.
This wasn't just some random attack. It was a message. A very clear one. And now, more than ever, he knew that the previous owner of this body had stirred up far more trouble than he initially realized.
The night passed in silence, with only the faint crackling of dying embers to remind Leo of the chaos that had unfolded. But now, the scene shifted to the bustling streets of the city. Daylight poured over the cobblestone roads, and Leo moved with purpose, his eyes locked on someone ahead of him.
His target was easy to spot. The man had nearly round glasses perched on his nose, his arms burdened with a stack of books. Leo smirked to himself, his thoughts running wild.
"Hmm… glasses and a walking library. I think I've found the perfect target," Leo mused as he quietly tailed the man through the crowd.
The man finally stopped in front of a grand building, its towering structure casting a long shadow across the street. Leo halted a few paces behind him, gazing up at the impressive architecture.
"Well, well," Leo muttered under his breath, his eyes scanning the enormous sign above the entrance. "So this is the Great Library Leo was always going on about, huh?"
He remembered the previous owner's words vividly. *If you want to learn more about this world, start at the Great Library.* It was a solid plan, except for one tiny issue.
As people passed by, they whispered amongst themselves, casting curious glances at him. Leo ignored them, his thoughts elsewhere.
"Still…," he thought, "I can't even speak this language, let alone read it. How am I supposed to understand any of this?"
Despite the obstacles, Leo grinned, a glint of excitement flickering in his eyes. He lived for this kind of challenge.
"That's what makes it fun," he muttered to himself, his smirk widening. "The thrill of figuring it all out."
Taking a deep breath, Leo stepped forward, his gaze locked on the entrance of the library.
"Alright then," he said aloud, his voice brimming with determination. "Let's go see what kind of secrets this place holds."
Leo barely had a moment to take in the sight of the library before—*wham*—the doors burst open, and he was violently thrown outside.
He hit the ground hard, rolling across the dirt until he came to a stop.
As he groaned and tried to push himself up, a firm voice echoed from inside the library.
"Don't come back! You're not welcome here!"
Leo coughed, dusting himself off as he staggered to his feet.
"Look, lady," he muttered, frustration lacing his words, "I don't know what the hell you're saying, but if you think that's enough to keep me out, you're dead wrong."
Without hesitation, he marched right back toward the entrance, determined to push through. But as soon as he stepped inside again—*wham*—he was thrown out, even harder this time.
Sprawled out on his back, Leo stared up at the sky, his breath coming in heavy bursts.
"Well..." he exhaled deeply, his voice filled with exhaustion, "this is definitely going to be a long day."
He closed his eyes briefly, mentally preparing himself for yet another attempt. This library wasn't going to give up easily, and neither was he.