Amidst the Dream and Death [LEON]

Leon continued his normal day though his mind was already attached to another world.

He wanted to become strong to support Noel and to counter the red-eyed shadow.

He wanted to explore that world more. He wanted to interact with Noel more.

With thoughts like this, his day went by.

In the evening, he receives a phone call.

As he glances at the phone, he sees that it’s a number he knows.

A bold voice of a middle-aged man emerges, “Hello, son. How are ya doing?”

It is Leon’s father.

“Dad.”

“Hah! Took you long enough. Thought you’d already forgotten your old man.”

Leon chuckled, shaking his head. “I should be the one saying that to you. How come you suddenly remember I exist?”

His father laughed heartily on the other end. “You wound me, boy. It’s just been a while, that’s all. Figured I’d check in on you.”

Leon smiles, leaning back. “I’m doing fine, same as always. Work, sleep, repeat. What about you? How’s Mom?”

“She’s doing good. Still worrying too much about every little thing.”

“That sounds about right,” Leon muttered. “And you? Still breaking your back at work?”

“You know me. Can’t sit still for too long.”

Leon smiled slightly. “You should take it easy sometimes.”

“Says the kid who’s probably been skipping meals again,” Leica shot back.

Leon couldn’t help but laugh.

Then, in the background, another voice called out.

“Mr. Leica! What do we do with these boxes?”

“Just stack them near the loading dock!” His father’s voice was loud but firm.

Leica sighed. “Well, duty calls. I should get back before these guys mess everything up.”

Leon nodded, “Yeah, I figured. Just don’t overdo it.”

“I should be telling you that.”

Leon hesitated, gripping the phone a little tighter. “…Thanks for calling, Dad.”

Leica chuckled. “Take care.”

The call ended.

Leon stared at the screen for a moment before setting the phone down.

He exhaled.

Then, after a quick dinner, he slept.

As usual, back to the dream.

Same world under the same skies and there stood Noel waiting for him.

“Welcome back, Leon” with a gentle smile on her face

“Yeah, I’m back”

The days of Leon in another world were also now organized as his normal day in his own world.

Breakfast. Adventuring, taking on quests, monster extermination, research on magic, and training with uncle.

“Leon, your stance is all wrong.”

Before Leon could react, a blunt smack landed on his back.

“Gah!”

He nearly fell face-first into the ground.

“Again.” The uncle’s voice was gruff but not unkind. “Hold your center. You’re too stiff. If you swing like that in a real fight, you’ll be dead before you know it.”

Leon exhaled sharply. “Trust me, I know what that feels like.”

The uncle shook his head, stepping forward and adjusting Leon’s stance. “Don’t force your movements. A sword should feel like an extension of your arm. Again.”

Leon gripped his weapon tighter.

Then, he moved.

A clean swing. A sharper strike.

Still not perfect. But better.

The uncle smirked slightly. “Hmph. You might not be a lost cause after all.”

A small smile crept onto Leon’s face.

This place was growing on him.

Dinner came and went by then the night came as usual. The Red-Eyed Shadow waited. Killed Leon and He is back to reality.

The days repeat. Both in his actual world and the dream one. Same day same work nothing special.

Days passed by. Nothing unusual happened in normal days, though he was making progress in his dream world.

His Days went by in this cycle.

The same world under the same skies and Noel was always there to welcome him. The feelings of both towards each other grew day by day. Adventuring, quests, and monster exterminations.

After quite some time of Learning magic. Leon could finally use magic. As Noel had said before he had a great affinity for fire magic. He could fire magic to a certain level. He was becoming proficient at that. The most shocking thing for Noel and others was that Leon was chanting less. He didn’t need to use chants or words to cast magic. It made him a bit special.

At first, Leon hadn’t realized how unusual it was.

He had always thought magic required grand incantations, the way Noel and the others chanted before casting spells.

But for him...it was different.

The first time it happened was when they were sparring in the woods.

Noel had been teaching him basic elemental control when she offhandedly said, “Imagine a flame and let the mana flow.”

Leon did.

And in the blink of an eye, fire burst from his palm.

Without a single word.

Noel’s eyes had widened. “…Wait. You didn’t chant?”

“Leon… do you have any idea how rare chant less magic is?”

Leon chuckles and says, "I guess that just means I'm lucky."

He continued training sword from Noel’s uncle.

Each day, Uncle pushed him harder.

“Again.”

Leon groaned, forcing himself to stand. His body ached, bruises covering his arms.

“Your stance is sloppy.” Uncle struck his wrist with the wooden sword. “Your feet! Plant them properly.”

Leon scowled. “You could at least go easy on me.”

Uncle smirked. “You want me to go easy? Then pick up knitting.”

After days and weeks of training, one day he could finally parry the uncle. He even had a talent for swords but was far from mastery yet.

The night came as usual. The Red-Eyed Shadow waited as always.

Sometimes, Leon would try to counter it. Sometimes, he would try to run away. Sometimes, he would plan for something but He was still not strong enough.

As always, he ended up being killed day after day and woke to his own world.

This had become normal for Leon now. Days turned into weeks, Weeks turned into months. Leon was evolving. Leveling up into a full-fledged warrior.

After a few months, Marquiss Redlaw made an announcement

“Attention, all.”

Marquiss Redlaw had risen from his seat, his goblet of wine raised in one hand.

“In the coming days, the Redlaw Estate shall host a grand banquet in celebration of my youngest son’s birthday. All esteemed houses shall be invited.”

Leon watched as Noel's expression remained unreadable.

The Marquiss smiled, though there was a weight behind his words. “…And I expect everyone to be in their finest form. A grand occasion awaits us all.”

The hall erupted in applause.

Leon, however, could sense something beneath the surface.

Deep in his gut, he had a feeling...

This banquet would be more than just a celebration.