After days of intense training with Scott, Leon returns to town feeling stronger than ever. His magic has improved significantly, and his level has risen to 25. He can't wait to show off his progress, and who better to witness it than Ricardo?
A New Mission Begins
Upon arriving at the adventurer's guild, Leon finds Ricardo leaning against a wooden post, arms crossed.
"Took you long enough," Ricardo remarks.
Leon smirks. "I was busy becoming stronger. You might not even recognize me in battle now."
Ricardo raises an eyebrow. "Oh? Did you finally learn how to hit a target?"
Leon glares. "You'll see!"
Before they can argue further, the guild master assigns them a mission: eliminate a group of goblins terrorizing a nearby farm. It seems simple enough, and Leon is eager to test his new skills.
A Not-So-Smooth Start
As they reach the farm, Leon confidently steps forward. "Stand back, Ricardo. I got this."
He raises his hand, preparing to cast Lightning Strike—but instead of a controlled bolt, a massive surge of electricity bursts out, missing the goblins entirely and setting a nearby haystack on fire.
The farmer watching from afar screams. "MY HAYSTACK!"
Leon freezes. "Uh… Oops?"
Ricardo sighs. "Remind me why I let you come with me?"
Before Leon can defend himself, the goblins, now panicked, rush at them.
A Battle with Unexpected Twists
Ricardo draws his sword, cutting down goblins with swift precision. Leon, determined to prove himself, casts Invisibility to sneak behind the enemies.
It works—for about five seconds.
Then, his magic flickers, leaving him half-invisible and half-visible. A goblin stares at him in confusion before smacking him on the head with a club.
"OW! That's cheating!" Leon yells, staggering back.
Ricardo laughs. "Stealthy as ever, I see."
Leon growls and, out of frustration, summons Lightning Strike again. This time, the spell lands perfectly, electrocuting several goblins at once. He grins triumphantly.
Ricardo whistles. "Alright, I'll admit—that was impressive."
Leon beams. "Told you! I'm a pro now."
Unfortunately, in his excitement, he forgets one small detail: the electric current also spread to a nearby fence… which catches fire.
The farmer screams again. "MY FENCE!"
Leon slowly turns to Ricardo. "Let's… just say it was part of the plan?"
Ricardo facepalms.
A Serious Conversation
After dealing with the goblins (and promising the farmer compensation for his burnt property), the two head back to town. Along the way, Ricardo notices Leon looking unusually thoughtful.
"You seem… different," Ricardo says. "Stronger, but also quieter."
Leon hesitates before sighing. "Yeah. I guess… I've been thinking about some things."
Ricardo glances at him. "Like what?"
Leon takes a deep breath. "It's about Jack."
For the first time, Ricardo sees a hint of seriousness in Leon's usual carefree expression.
Leon continues. "He wasn't just some enemy I ran into. I used to know him. He… trained me when I was younger."
Ricardo's eyes narrow. "So you were his student?"
Leon nods. "Yeah. But let's just say our relationship didn't end on good terms. And now, he wants me dead."
Ricardo remains silent for a moment before smirking. "Well, that explains a lot. I was wondering why he seemed so obsessed with you."
Leon snorts. "Yeah, well, I'd prefer not to be the main character in his revenge story."
Ricardo chuckles. "Too late for that."
Despite the heavy topic, Leon feels relieved to finally share a part of his past.
As they reach the guild, Leon stretches. "Alright, let's go get our reward. And maybe find a job that doesn't involve me setting things on fire."
Ricardo smirks. "No promises."
With that, the two walk off, ready for whatever chaos awaits them next.