The First Battle [LEON]

Leon woke up

But to reality and this time he was certain about one thing.

There was someone who killed him, or is it some phenomenon relating to his dreams.

“Whenever night falls in that world he is there to kill me. What’s happening? But it is the exact time when I need to wake up from the dream. When I have to wake I am automatically woken up. What’s happening to me? First the sweet dream for two days straight and some weird waking phenomenon. But will it continue? Or what?”

Leon was flustered but the excitement of such an experience won and continued his normal day.

In the afternoon, during his free time, he searched on the internet about such a phenomenon.

Different world? Isekai? Dream walker?

He also went to the library, and bookstore to find out but all he could find was fictional stories and all.

After a long day, he was finally at home.

He had dinner.

Now, all he was hoping for was to dream the same thing, the same place and the same world to explore and discover more.

He sleeps.

And yes, it happens again.

Same world along with the same skies and there she was waiting for him.

“Welcome back, Leon” Noel with a gentle smile.

“Yeah, I’m back.” Leon in a soft voice, “It no use asking you how and why you know about this as you will probably again say that I was the one to tell you about this” Leon sighed

“What? Did you say something?” Noel is confused.

It seems Noel didn’t hear what Leon said.

“Ah, nothing at all, just thinking what are the plans today.” “

Um… I don’t have anything particular in mind. Just taking some quests and stuff or do you have anything particular?”

“I’m fine with taking some quests. Though, I need training in order to become a full-fledged adventurer, and could you teach me about magic?”

“Of course, I will assist you with everything you want” She smiles “Just like you did before.” She whispered with a gentle blush and Leon was not aware of this.

“Huh? Did you say something?”

“No, let's go”

They went to have breakfast at a tavern and went to the guild to accept the quest.

This time they took a monster extermination quest. Leon had the basics down on the information as it was very similar to the books he read.

“What about the weapon?” Noel asked.

“Huh?” Leon.

“Let me get you a sword first” Leon agreed.

They go to the blacksmith. As soon as they entered, the smell of melted metal and burning coal filled the air. The hammer struck steel in a rhythmic way and produced sounds. Workshop was run by an old man.

The old man is alarmed seeing Noel, a daughter of a noble household in his ragtag workshop but simply tends to his customer. “What can I help you with, young man and miss?”

“We are here to buy a sword befitting for him” pointing towards Leon.

“Sword, is it?” The old man’s eyes studied him for a long moment. Not just his face, but his posture, his stance, the way his shoulders sat, a silent assessment. He didn’t ask for Leon’s dominant hand or measurements. He didn’t need to.

With slow precision, he turned and disappeared into the back of the workshop. Leon could hear the shifting of metal, the clatter of sheaths against stone. Then, after a moment, the blacksmith returned, carrying a single longsword.

“Just give it a swing”

“Ho..Light…The grip also feels natural as a baseball bat.”

“Baseball…?” the Old man questions.

“Ah, nothing” Leon responds. He gave it a swing with one hand and the weight and grip were very comfortable to him.

“It's perfect, it's like it was made for me specifically” Leon responds.

Old man, “Haha glad you like it.”

They purchase the sword and head towards the forest.

Noel gives basic instructions on how the sword should be handled. “A sword isn’t just for swinging recklessly,” she explained. “It’s about control. Precision. Footwork.” She stepped forward, adjusting his stance by tapping his foot into position. “Wider base. Keep your grip firm, but don’t clench too hard, you’ll waste energy.”

Leon followed her instructions as best he could. It wasn’t as easy as it sounded.

After a while in the forest, they encounter a dire wolf, their quest is to slay three of them.

Noel instructs Leon in the battle, and they engage.

Leon swallowed. His heart pounded a mix of adrenaline and hesitation. The novels always made battles seem easy. Swing a sword, land a hit, and win.

But now, standing before a creature whose eyes glowed with primal hunger, he realized something.

This was real.

The direwolf lunged.

A sprint by Leon too, grabbing the sword in both hands he swings at the direwolf.

It dodges the attack but Noel blocks it way and the monster is again engaged with Leon.

Another clash. Another dodge. But with each attempt, with Noel’s calm voice guiding him through the fight, he started to adjust.

After some struggle and proper guidance from Noel, Leon finally manages to slay the direwolf.

Similarly, they hunted down two more and the quest was complete.

In the evening Noel taught the basics of magic to Leon.

She said that he would probably try fire magic as she felt it would be Leon’s element.

“Fire magic? Out of nowhere. I don’t know why you think that but I will give it a try”

And yes, of course, he couldn’t just succeed in the first attempt. There was a long way to go.

Then the night fell, and after the dinner, both went to their respective room.

Leon remembered. “Oh my god. How can I be this dumb? Was I so immersed in the surroundings that I forgot about the important thing? About the red-eyed figure that killed me yesterday.”

As he was heading towards the bed. “Will it appear again today?”

He glanced at the window. There was nothing… Or was there?

In the blink of an eye, it appeared again.

This time he didn’t waste any time.

He knew about its speed so he jolted towards the door and tried to run away.

As he opened the door the figure appeared in front of him and killed him mercilessly.

Even though it was right in front of him, he didn’t see anything except the red eye.

What was happening? What is the identity of the red-eyed shadow? What is this phenomenon?

Leon woke up.

He remembers everything and is certain now that this needs to be investigated.

Same normal day then the night came and this time Leon was determined to find out more.

He was troubled as to whether to tell Noel about this or not. For now, he decided not to trouble Noel but to uncover it alone.

He sleeps and he returns to the other world.