As silence enveloped us, I gazed at Leo, my lips sealed shut. I found myself at a loss for words.
I wasn't good at these kinds of situations since I never knew what to say!
Amidst that fleeting silence, a single question escaped my lips, "So, what happened? What did you do?"
"I made the decision to leave," Leo responded. "I handed my resignation letter to Reynold. At first, he rejected it and tore it apart. He inquired about the reason behind my sudden interest to leave, but I couldn't have just told him.
"Besides, there was no need to say anything. He was like a brother to me. He knew me inside out. It didn't take him long to realize my affection for Yennefer.
"He said that I should've told him. He claimed that he would have never pursued her had he known about my feelings. But those words angered me.
"So, you would have pitied me and forsaken your own love for my sake? — I asked him. And like that, our conversation slowly escalated into a violent fight. We nearly destroyed the Morningstar mansion.
"But in the end, I lost to him once again. Reynold apologized for taking things too far, and I did the same. Yennefer scolded us for almost demolishing the mansion, and we both chuckled, just like the good old days."
"So, you two made up in the end?" I inquired, though deep down I knew that was unlikely.
"In the end?" Leo scoffed. "That wasn't the end by any means. The day after our fight, I departed. Even though I didn't show it then, I was infatuated with myself for losing against Reynold even after all my hard work. He effortlessly overpowered me, yet I couldn't even draw a drop of his blood.
"I went on a journey across the world. I enrolled in numerous martial sects and schools. I honed my skills with countless weapons and learned thousands of weapon arts, even creating a few of my own.
"I faced off against some of the mightiest and toughest fighters the world had to offer. The dojos where I had trained were no exception—I challenged them and emerged victorious. I went to the United Military and fought on the front lines again. Soon, my name became known far and wide.
"But that wasn't enough for me. I wanted more! My hunger for strength didn't stop. That's when I started learning some of the forbidden weapon arts—the kind which was banned by the Central Government.
"Still, even with all my accomplishments, I knew it wasn't enough to defeat Reynold. I was still weak. No matter how many powerful weapon arts I learned, I struggled to use them consistently because of my small mana pool.
"I wasn't born with a naturally high-ranking mana core potential. So, after years of searching, trial, and error, I created a technique to surpass my limitations.
"If the world wasn't fair, then I would make it. If the heavens didn't bless me, then I would shatter them. Using that technique, I found a way to break my potential wall.
"It didn't take long before Reynold and Yennefer tracked me down. They pleaded for me to return home with them, but all I desired was to defeat Reynold.
"It had become an obsession at that point. My insatiable thirst for strength had driven me too far. I challenged him to a duel, but he refused to fight me.
"I asked him again and again, relentlessly provoking him, but he didn't accept my challenge. He said that he could feel if we fought again, it would be our last duel.
"But I was beyond any reason at that point. Defeating Reynold was my only goal. So, I forced him to fight me. I went back to my father and requested him to make me his heir again. Given my reputation, he readily agreed.
"In accordance with the rights bestowed upon us by the Central Government, I challenged Reynold for control of the Western Continent. I knew that if I were to challenge him for his seat, he would have no choice but to fight me.
"Naturally, my actions left him feeling betrayed. I can't blame him—I would have felt the same in his position. But at that moment, such thoughts didn't come to my mind.
"Yennefer was in the midst of labor with twins that day, and Reynold asked for some time. But he didn't disclose the full reason, so I assumed he was trying to avoid the duel.
"I exercised my right to challenge the Overlord of the West and called a member of the Central Government to enforce it. Naturally, Reynold had no choice but to comply.
"On that day, unexpected complications arose, and Yennefer's life was on the line while giving birth to you and your brother.
"When Reynold heard the news, he was furious. He blamed me for not being there for his wife when she was fighting between life and death.
"That's when he finally told me about it. I was taken aback. I tried to apologize and urged him to leave and be with Yennefer. I realized that I had made a mistake and decided to step back from the duel myself.
"I couldn't bear the thought of what might have happened to Yennefer if she had died alone that day, with Reynold not by her side because of me. I don't know how I would have lived with myself.
"But Reynold merely shook his head. He declared that it was time to end it all. He said that it was a mistake to befriend me. He said that I was jealous of him and I couldn't accept the fact that Yennefer chose him over me.
"His words pierced my heart like a dagger. Perhaps all he said was true, and that's what hurt the most… He was right.
"It was indeed time to bring an end to this. Yes, becoming friends with him had been a mistake from the beginning.
"Yes, I was always jealous of him and the way he shined so bright… like a star.
"Yes, I couldn't let go of the fact that Yennefer chose him instead of me. I was the one who introduced them! I was the reason they were together so why couldn't she have been with me?!
"Why did he have everything I wanted in life?! He had loving parents, innate talent that was blessed by the heavens, and he even took the first girl I loved!
"Yes, how could I not be jealous of him?! He was the protagonist of the story, while I remained a mere side character... destined to be the hero's faithful friend and nothing more. He was like a brother to me, and she was the girl I loved... while I slowly faded into the background… blinded by their light.
"We fought with no hold bars this time and with clear intentions to kill one another. With my strength, there was no way he could have defeated me. I was pushing him back this time. I was winning!
"So did you win?" I asked, knowing full well that he wouldn't be sharing this story if he had emerged victorious.
If Leo had won, he would be the one ruling over the Western Continent. But since my father held that position, it was clear who had prevailed.
A bitter smile formed on Leo's face as he shook his head. "We clashed on a chain of islands in the Southern Ocean. After demolishing those islands, we knew that this fight could only be settled by going all out.
"I unleashed my most powerful weapon art, my Heaven Splitting Sword, while he wielded his Dawnbreaker.
"We poured every ounce of our strength into those strikes. And in the end, I lost again. I was just a split second too slow."
Leo brushed his hand against the scar on the side of his face and spoke, "He spared my life but banished me from ever setting foot in the West. He said that if I wanted his seat, I should have just asked for it.
"But before I could explain that I had no interest in his seat whatsoever—truth be told, I wouldn't have taken it even if I had won—he simply walked away," Leo chuckled. "And just like that, my father disowned me once again. Since then, I haven't had any contact with Reynold or Yennefer. It seems Reynold was right. That was indeed the last time we fought."
...Wow, that was tough.
What a twisted origin.
I don't understand why it wasn't mentioned in the novel. It would've given Leo's character so much depth.
He was just a child when his father abandoned him because he couldn't live up to his expectations.
That must have traumatized him, driving his obsession to become stronger. But the person he aimed to surpass was far beyond his reach.
Eventually, he became friends with his rival.
However, the girl he liked chose his rival over him, reigniting his determination to grow stronger and overcome his rival.
That led him to make a foolish decision, causing a misunderstanding that jeopardized their friendship.
It was all because of his obsession.
But in the end, even after all his struggles, he suffered defeat.
A fate of a side character indeed.
But now I understand why he took me as his disciple.
Lucas and Leo share striking similarities in their origins. He must have felt a sense of empathy towards me.
"But it's hard to fathom, Leo Kurogami, one of the most renowned names in the world, fought numerous battles against Reynold Morningstar and never won once," I uttered, gently stroking my chin while deep in thought.
If Leo's story is on point, then he must have been at the peak of his prime when he faced off against my father for the last time.
And no one in this world, I repeat, no one in this world is capable of defeating Leo Kurogami in a one-on-one battle, apart from Nero in a few years' time.
In fact, even if the world's top fighters were to band together against him, Leo would give them a run for their money, maybe even killing a few of them.
So how exactly did Reynold manage to defeat him at the peak of his prime?
"Hey," Leo said, rising with a frown. "Are you mocking your master? Let me tell you, it was a close battle. Your father had to use the Dawnbreaker. I'm the only person in history who survived after facing the might of that weapon art, you know?"
I nodded, knowing his feat was nothing to scoff at. "So, if you were to fight each other again, who do you think would win?"
Leo furrowed his brows, contemplating for a few seconds before shrugging. "Even though I'm not currently at the peak of my prime, if we were to fight again, my blade would be at his throat before he could even react."
Of course. After all, in the novel, Nero had to utilize all seven of his Heavenly Swords to defeat Leo.
I know just how much of a monster he is.
"Well, enough reminiscing about my foolish youth," Leo patted my back and nudged me forward, urging me to continue practicing distorting the air with mana. "Now, tell me what's bothering you."
