The day was warm, with a gentle breeze sweeping through the gardens of the Montclair estate. It was the first time Leon had managed to venture outside since his strange rebirth. With the help of a cane and a stubborn determination, he walked along the garden path, hoping the fresh air might clear his mind.
As he made his way toward a secluded corner of the grounds, he saw a commotion by the fountain. A group of noble youths, elegantly dressed, were clustered around a young man. He was tall, with dark hair and sharp features, his expression a blend of annoyance and boredom as he brushed off their attempts to engage him in conversation.
Leon recognized the young man from the descriptions in the novel: Atlas de Luna, the problematic heir of the Dukedom of De Luna. In the story, Atlas was known for his unruly behavior and his inability to conform to the expectations of high society. He was a figure shrouded in rumors—some said he was cursed, while others claimed he had powers that marked him as dangerous.
Just as Leon was about to turn away and leave the young noble to his affairs, a sudden shout rang out. One of the youths had playfully shoved another, and the unfortunate victim stumbled backward, crashing into Leon. Startled and off-balance, Leon's weak body couldn't handle the impact, and he fell. Instinctively, he reached out, and his hand brushed against Atlas's arm as he went down.
The moment their skin made contact, a strange sensation surged through Leon. It was as if a dormant part of him had awakened—a sudden rush of warmth and energy, tingling through his veins. It wasn't painful, but it was intense, like a burst of light behind his eyes. For a brief moment, he saw a flicker of something else—an aura of power surrounding Atlas, like shimmering shadows dancing around him.
Atlas's gaze snapped to Leon, his sharp eyes narrowing as though he, too, felt something unexpected. The air around them seemed to thrum with tension, as if an invisible force had just been set into motion.
Leon's pulse raced. What was that? He hadn't felt anything like it before, not even in the violent encounters of his previous life. It was almost… electric.
"You—" Atlas started, his voice low and suspicious. "What did you do?"
"I—I didn't do anything," Leon stammered, though even he didn't believe his own words.
Before Atlas could respond, the noble youths were already converging on them, fussing over the incident, and chattering away. Leon used the distraction to push himself back up, his legs shaking as he leaned on his cane for support. His hand still tingled from where he had touched Atlas, and something inside him seemed to stir—a recognition, as if some hidden part of him had awakened.
---
Later that night, as Leon lay in bed, replaying the strange encounter in his mind, the truth began to dawn on him. In Love in the Moonlight, there was a concept known as "Guides and Espers," where Guides could sense and stabilize the abilities of Espers. It was one of the rarest types of power connections, and it was believed that Guides could feel an Esper's presence through touch.
But it wasn't supposed to be part of his character in the story. The sickly younger brother had no such powers, and certainly no connection to Atlas de Luna. Then again, his very existence here wasn't supposed to happen either.
Leon's heart raced as he processed the implications. If he really was a Guide, it would explain the surge of energy he felt when he touched Atlas. But more than that, it would mean that Atlas wasn't an ordinary person, but an Esper—one powerful enough to stir something deep within him.
The thought brought a faint smile to Leon's lips. Maybe this new life had more possibilities than he had first imagined. And if he was truly a Guide, then perhaps there was a way to make this body useful—perhaps even powerful—in ways he hadn't considered before.