Leonardo's eyes fluttered open to the sound of knocking.
Bang. Bang.
The sound was sharp and insistent.
"Ugh…" He groaned, burying his face into the pillow. His mind was still foggy from sleep, but the persistent knocking was making it impossible to ignore.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
"Alright, alright! I'm coming!" Leonardo growled, dragging himself up from the bed. His hair was a mess, sticking up at odd angles, and his shirt was half-wrinkled from sleeping in it. He rubbed at his eyes as he stumbled toward the door.
He twisted the handle and pulled it open.
Lavinia stood on the other side, her usual bright smile plastered across her face.
"Good morning, Leo!" She beamed.
Leonardo squinted at her through the haze of sleep. "…Morning."
Lavinia leaned to the side, peeking past him toward the dark room. "You have to get ready Mr. Seath will be here at any moment."
Leonardo blinked. "…Shit."
Lavinia giggled, clasping her hands behind her back. She was wearing a grey skirt and a grey robe with a hood and Grauzauberer logo on it, and a pair of black leggings. Her long blonde hair was hanging loose, a few strands falling across her face.
"Did you sleep okay?" she asked, tilting her head.
Leonardo rubbed the back of his neck, glancing away. "Yeah, more or less."
He stepped back, gesturing for her to come in. Lavinia bounced into the room with her usual carefree energy, her blue eyes scanning the space.
Her gaze lingered on the floor where faint scorch marks and water stains were still visible from yesterday's "training session."
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Were you practicing?"
Leonardo shrugged. "More like testing a theory."
Lavinia turned toward him, eyes glinting with curiosity. "Did it work?"
Leonardo's smirk deepened. "Better than I expected."
"Give me five minutes so I can get ready."
"Okay," Lavinia said, her eyes wandering across the messy room.
Leonardo made his way toward the bathroom, shutting the door behind him with a soft click. He leaned against the sink for a moment, letting out a slow breath before turning on the shower. The cold water struck his skin like needles at first, but the shock faded quickly, replaced by a refreshing numbness.
It's refreshing…
It really did feel like he hadn't bathed in years—and technically, that wasn't far from the truth. The old Leonardo had lived on the streets for who knows how long. Even though Lavinia had used magic to clean his body when they first met, it wasn't the same as a proper bath. There was still that lingering grime, the stubborn feeling of dirt etched into his skin, like a permanent reminder of his past.
He scrubbed harder, letting the cold water wash over him until his muscles started to relax. His fingers trailed across his chest, down his arms, feeling the sharp lines of bone beneath thin muscle. His body was still scrawny—too thin for his liking—but there was strength beneath the surface. Strength that was growing.
Once the water ran clear, Leonardo leaned back, letting his head rest against the cold tile. His mind drifted as the water trickled down his face.
This body…
He turned toward the bathroom mirror, swiping a hand across the foggy glass.
A pair of unfamiliar eyes stared back at him.
Gray hair, messy and damp, fell over his forehead, sticking to his skin. His eyes were a sharp, unnatural shade of violet—too bright, too piercing. And beneath both of his eyes, a small mole rested just above his cheekbone.
Yeah… a very anime-like description.
His lips curled into a lazy smile. "Guess I'm truly in an anime world now."
His dark skin contrasted with the pale lighting of the bathroom, highlighting the differences between his old body and this one. His previous self had been taller and more built, with a hardened expression that came from years of surviving in a harsh world. This body… it was younger. Softer.
He chuckled to himself.
"Hell, with this face, I might end up being a ladies' man when I grow up just like Grandpa." His grin sharpened. "Not that it matters."
After all, in this world, you didn't need to be handsome to get girls. You just had to be a shameless pervert, and the women would throw themselves at you.
But with his short, scrawny frame? Yeah—no chance. At least, not yet.
Leonardo's gaze sharpened as he traced his fingers along the edge of the mirror. His purple eyes glinted beneath the dim lighting.
He stepped out of the shower, grabbed a towel, and ran it through his hair. The cold air bit at his skin, raising goosebumps as he dried off. He pulled on a fresh set of clothes—a simple gray ensemble similar to Lavinia's, but with pants instead of a skirt and a hooded robe draped over his shoulders. Comfortable, functional, and inconspicuous. Just how he liked it.
With a flick of his fingers, Leonardo conjured his glasses into existence. The frames materialized in his palm, dark and thin, with an almost unnatural gleam beneath the low light. Slipping them onto his face, he adjusted them by the bridge of his nose. The lenses shimmered faintly as the enchantments settled into place, distorting the natural flow of mana around him.
He let out a quiet exhale, the cool air brushing against his skin.
Lavinia was sitting cross-legged on the bed, humming softly to herself. She toyed with a strand of her long blonde hair, twisting it absentmindedly around her finger. Her blue eyes flicked toward him, sparkling with a mixture of curiosity and warmth.
"All done?" she asked, a playful lilt in her tone.
Leonardo's eyes narrowed slightly as he studied her. She sat with an easy grace, her delicate features lit up by the faint glow of the room's overhead light. The way she smiled at him—it was so natural, so unguarded. Almost irritatingly so.
"Yeah." His voice was casual, but his gaze remained sharp. "You really created yourself a home here."
Lavinia grinned, not catching the sarcasm laced in his tone. "Of course."
Before they could continue, there was a sharp knock on the door.
Leonardo's gaze flicked toward the door. "It's time."
Lavinia stood up, brushing off her skirt. "Guess we shouldn't keep him waiting."
Leonardo opened the door, revealing Seath standing there with his usual stoic expression. His grey robe was pristine, the Grauzauberer logo stark against the muted fabric. His sharp eyes glanced over them briefly.
"I see both of you are ready. That's good," Seath said, his tone flat. Without another word, he turned on his heel and started walking down the hallway.
Leonardo and Lavinia exchanged a look.
Lavinia smiled sheepishly. "Well… here we go."
Leonardo sighed. "Yeah."
Shrugging their shoulders, the two young recruits fell into step behind Seath, trailing after him like a pair of young ducklings following mama duck. Seath's footsteps were crisp and steady against the wooden floor, echoing through the quiet hallway.
"Hey! I wanted to ask—why were you angry yesterday?" Leonardo asked as they trailed after Seath.
Lavinia's eyes widened slightly before she glanced away, puffing out her cheeks. "I wasn't angry. I was worried," she huffed. "I didn't want to lose my first friend, after all."
Leonardo raised an eyebrow. "First friend, huh?"
Lavinia nodded, her cheeks dusted with a faint pink hue.
Leonardo's grin widened. "I thought you were supposed to be my first friend."
Lavinia pouted. "I am!"
Her expression shifted, though, as her eyes narrowed. "Wait… what happened to your mana?"
Leonardo's smile didn't falter. "Oh? You finally noticed? I thought you wouldn't catch on."
"Did you really expect me not to notice when half of your mana is just… gone?" Lavinia's gaze sharpened. "Now spill it."
Leonardo's grin widened slightly. "What do you think happened?"
"It's because of those glasses, isn't it?"
It wasn't Lavinia who answered.
Both of them turned toward Seath, who had been walking ahead without saying a word. His cold, calculating gaze was fixed on Leonardo.
Seath had noticed it the moment he saw him earlier—but he hadn't said anything until now. After all, the sudden drop in mana was suspicious. But when he focused on Leonardo's mana core, it wasn't that his mana was missing. It was… hidden. Suppressed. And the source of that concealment was clearly the glasses Leonardo was wearing—something he hadn't been wearing yesterday.
Leonardo chuckled. "Oh! So you finally decided to join the conversation with us, mere mortals. I'm so honored, Mr. Seath the Scaleless."
Seath's expression didn't change. "Do you want to explain it or not?"
"You know…" Leonardo's smirk sharpened. "You could have said 'please.'"
Seath's gaze hardened.
"But as I am a generous person, I suppose I'll indulge you." Leonardo pushed the glasses up the bridge of his nose, light flashing off the lenses. "Yes, it's because of the glasses."
Seath's eyes narrowed. "And where did you get an artifact like that?"
Leonardo's smirk deepened. "Oh, I made them."
Seath's brow twitched. "You created them?"
"That's right." Leonardo's tone was almost too casual. "Turns out Annihilation Maker isn't just for creatures.
Seath's gaze darkened. "Creating self-sustaining artifacts isn't something you just… figure out."
Leonardo's smile widened. "What, no user before me ever tried to use Annihilation Maker like that?"
Seath's stare lingered on him for a long moment before he turned away. "What do you think?"
Leonardo chuckled. "No, then. Figures—guess no one can match my genius."
Seath's voice was cold. "Genius, huh? I don't know about that—but annoying? Definitely." His gaze sharpened. "But do you really think that's the only reason?"
Leonardo's smirk didn't flatter. "Oh! Thanks for the compliment, Lizzo. But what's that supposed to mean?"
Seath's eye twitched dangerously at the nickname. "That's for you to figure out… genius."
Leonardo's smirk deepened. "Oh, don't worry. I will."
Lavinia's gaze softened, concern creeping into her eyes. "Leo… Be careful, okay?"
Leonardo's expression softened for a brief moment before the smirk returned. "Relax. What's the worst that could happen?"
Seath shot him a dark look. "You really don't want me to answer that."
Leonardo laughed under his breath, adjusting his glasses. "Fair point."
Seath's eyes narrowed. "If you want answers, we have a vast library. You can put that genius to work."
Leonardo's smile curled. "Tempting… But it sounds like there's a 'but' coming."
"There is." Seath's gaze darkened. "Stop wasting time. You have others waiting for you."
Leonardo arched a brow. "Others?"
"Your teammates."