Chapter: 0.124: The Leonhardt Family
The bell chimed across the academy corridors, signaling the end of class. Nox stood abruptly, the clang still echoing in his ears. Beside him, Ethan, Lilia and Leona moved to gather their belongings. Rena, seated with a look of focused detachment, ignored them deliberately—her breaths measured, aura calm. Jin was nowhere to be seen; he'd vanished as quickly as he had appeared.
Nox glanced at his friends, their expressions neutral. No invitation to lunch; they proceeded without him. Brushing off the silence, he led the way.
---
They entered the bustling dining hall. A long table near the window invited them with steaming trays of hearty food. The four settled into their seats; steam rose from plates of grilled meat, fresh vegetables, and mana-infused broth.
Leona nudged Ethan, her silver-blue ponytail swaying.
"Ethan," she said softly, "what do you think about a sparring match?"
Ethan's eyebrows lifted. "A spar? Sure—but go easy on me, okay?"
Lilia giggled. "Ethan, you're top of our class! Why would she go easy on you?"
Ethan shrugged, cheeks creasing. "Being first means you're the benchmark... but the challenge isn't just physical—it's written tests, theoretical mastery."
Leona tapped her fingers on the table, steel in her smile. "True—but strength counts too."
Nox cracked a half-smile. "Yes, my muscle-head sister may lack academic sharpness, but she's strong."
Leona slammed her fist on the table, though gently. "Don't you dare call me dumb, Nox!"
Nox grinned. "I'm just stating the obvious."
Leona rolled her eyes, lips curling. "Okay, Mr. Genius… how about you fight me?"
A playful spark lit Nox's eyes. "Me? Fight you? Impossible, muscle-brain."
"Are you afraid, dear brother?" Leona taunted, leaning forward.
"Not afraid," Nox said evenly, eyes meeting hers. "But I don't want to break any bones."
Nox leaned back, folding her arms. "Fine. Why don't you fight Jin, then?"
The table fell still. Ethan and Lileah exchanged glances.
"I fought Jin once… and lost," Leona said flatly.
"Incredible," Nox noted, voice soft with an edge. "So you lost. But guess what's hilarious? All three of us—me, Ethan and Lileah—got beaten by Jin two days ago."
Lilia nodded, serious for once. "That's right. Jin's on another level, and we lacked coordination as a team."
Their eyes momentarily drifted to a nearby window, where Rena's calm silhouette appeared—stood still with bone-white belt of mana around her wrist.
Leona stared down at her plate. "Regardless, he's a force."
---
A few bites later, Nox found himself staring at his sister. Her focused composure disturbed him. There had been a time when sibling rivalry was play. Now? It gnawed at him.
She had beaten him... in spirit, if not strength. She had fought Jin and survived. Meanwhile he had faced defeat in more subtle ways, too—self-doubt, academic stumbles, the chill of inferiority.
*Leona's growing confidence... my success keeps sliding.* He pushed his food away. The cafeteria's bustling noise dimmed inside his head.
He stared at his plate, appetite gone.
Leona caught his gaze and offered a reassuring nod. "You okay?"
Nox forced a small smile. "Fine."
Inside, a burning jealousy kindled—bitter, heavy. It pulsed with a silent recklessness.
"I should train harder," he thought. "Not just for myself... but to stand above the rest."
...
Ethan leaned over. "You alright, Nox?"
"With you all tomorrow?" Lilia asked softly.
"Yes." He cleared his throat. "Sorry, just tired."
He gave Leona a brief, genuine smile in reply—a silent token of shared strength. But behind the mask, something had shifted.
As they finished lunch, Nox's steel retreated. He saw in his sister not competition, but inspiration—and a challenge he'd now embrace.
They stood, plates scraped clean. The four of them walked out together, shadows lengthening in the late afternoon sun.
When they passed the academy's central courtyard, Rina slipped past, her posture calm, a solitary bloom of self-assurance. Nox caught sight of Jin's portal—now collapsed—but the memory of Jin's position remained heavy in the air.
---
Nox paused for a heartbeat.
"Leona... maybe training tomorrow after classes? Just you and me?"
Leona smirked and adjusted her hair. "Sure. But if Jin's there, I'm sparring with him again."
Nox nodded, not from fear but hope.
He would no longer be victim to envy. He would use it—forge it into purpose.
As they ascended the stairs toward their next class, he felt the subtle stir of ambition—a quiet promise to himself.
**Chapter Reflection:** In the heat of rivalry and unspoken comparisons, the Leonhardt siblings face internal storms. The spark of jealousy may burn dark—but sometimes, it ignites transformation.
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Heat: Now it's time for us to go to another family and another story. It's time for a flashback
I just need some time to wrap up Leona and nox's past.