Breathing in, Leonard felt the lightness in every ounce of his body. Breathing out, his legs connected with below, sensing every detail beneath his toes.
The coldness of his breath turned into warmth as he opened his eyes, feeling heightened awareness. Then, he saw Liam standing nearby, his eyes narrowed in awe. Leonard jumped off the logs and stretched, hearing the crack of a few joints.
"Did you manage to achieve your training goal?" Liam asked. Leonard paused, struggling to give a lighthearted response.
Liam's question felt out of character, but Leonard dismissed the thought and replied, "I guess? Why do you ask?"
"I want to learn what you're doing. It feels like your senses are heightened. Your aura seems different."
Leonard shrugged, unable to provide a clear answer, as he was still struggling with his own training. "I don't think I'm the right person to teach you."
He smiled as he passed by Liam, giving him a gentle tap on the lower back. Heading over to where Brian and Zeus were talking, Leonard's sudden presence startled Brian, whose wide eyes reflected surprise, if not something more.
There was an unreadable emotion in Brian's gaze—perhaps surprise or fear—but it was clear that Leonard's sudden appearance had caught him off guard. 'Is Zeus just messing with me?' Brian thought, glancing suspiciously at Zeus.
"Are you practicing stealth techniques?" Brian asked.
Leonard frowned, confused by the question. "Why do you ask?"
"I don't know. Maybe my senses are off, or maybe it's... something else?"
Zeus's words, which had seemed so convincing earlier, now filled Brian with doubt. Yet there was no denying that Leonard's aura had grown stronger, leaving Brian with regret and disappointment.
For a brief moment, Brian felt that something had definitely changed in Leonard. His aura was stronger, and he now seemed more profound, like someone who had achieved enlightenment in their training. Still, Brian's treatment of Leonard didn't change, though the fear gnawing at him regarding Zeus only deepened.
He knew Zeus had a motive behind the questions and sudden revelations. For someone as smart as Zeus, it wasn't likely that he was genuinely suspicious of anything. Yet, despite knowing he had done nothing wrong, Leonard couldn't shake his lingering worry.
Even if he wasn't in the wrong, he wasn't entirely sure he was safe with Zeus. A powerful being didn't need a reason to harm anyone.
"Let's go. What are we doing?" Leonard asked.
"The others are still sleeping," Zeus replied.
Leonard glanced around, and Zeus was right. Big Fred, Jane, and Yuna were all still asleep. However, one by one, they began to stir, waking up shortly after. Their groggy, disoriented expressions were quickly eased by Brian, who gave them a recap of what had happened. Soon, their worries were washed away.
Unbeknownst to them, someone had been eavesdropping the whole time—Yuna. While she pretended to be asleep, she had heard everything. Unlike the others, she was different. She held reservations about their words, having witnessed Leonard's true capabilities firsthand. To her, Leonard was still the savior who had saved her life. She respected him deeply, and there was something about him that drew her in, though she couldn't quite explain what it was.
Confused—totally confused—Yuna still didn't fully understand what Leonard meant to her. He was a goal, a towering aspiration, someone she admired. Yet, despite her internal struggles, she decided to treat him the same as always.
As the party settled in for the day and discussed various things, Leonard sensed a subtle shift in the atmosphere. It was different, even if they didn't show it outright. He approached Zeus, who had been keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings.
With a bonfire crackling in the center of the group, casting flickering shadows, Leonard tapped Zeus on the back. But before he could speak, Zeus turned slightly, already aware of his presence.
"What do you need?" Zeus asked.
"We're going to leave the party when we get to the nearest town. I assume you agree with me?" Leonard said.
Zeus's face twitched, clearly trying to contain a grin, but a second later, he coughed awkwardly, shaking his head.
"Ahem. I'd say we should leave them. They're hindering your growth."
Leonard raised an eyebrow. "You don't try very hard to hide your thoughts. Why do you say that?"
"Your newly acquired
Zeus wasn't wrong. Leonard knew it too. But there was something else weighing on his mind, something that had brought him to Zeus in the first place.
"I... don't want to depend on you, Zeus."
"I know that," Zeus replied in his usual uninterested tone.
"Maybe... I'll summon another creature. You... I don't know how to word this…" Leonard hesitated.
"I know that."
Leonard had feared how Zeus would react, but it seemed he had already expected this. After tasting the power of his new skill, it was only natural for Leonard to want to explore his independence, away from Zeus's guidance.
Hearing Zeus's unconcerned yet thoughtful response, Leonard lowered his head. His fists clenched at his sides, nails digging into his palms as he stared at nothing in particular.
'Why can't I decide well? So indecisive.'
For someone who had always been book-smart, relying on concepts from novels and series, Leonard now faced the real challenge of decision-making. He had never encountered such a wall before. Even when he had made decisions in the past, they had been logical and calculated, choosing what seemed the best option based on what he could observe. But now, the factors influencing his choices were different—unexpected emotions creeping in, guiding his thoughts in ways he hadn't anticipated.
Leonard had always thought he was emotionless, even after his parents in this world died. Yet Zeus saw right through him. He knew Leonard wasn't the emotionless person he pretended to be; he was human, full of intense feelings. More importantly, he was a child forced to act like an adult to survive in this fantasy world.
"Don't worry about it that much," Zeus said, his voice warm and reassuring. "How about this? I'll let you do what you want, but I'll still watch over you. I'm not comfortable letting you navigate this harsh world alone."
Leonard, despite seeing himself as mature, still struggled to shake off the natural emotions of a kid who wasn't as grown-up as he believed.
PassingNote: Honestly, I like Zeus more than Leonard.