Leonard returned to his room after a long day of training with Tyron. The courtyard had served its purpose well, but now he needed solitude to refine what he'd learned.
His muscles ached from the intense combat training, but his mind was sharp, focused on the intricate flow of aura coursing through him.
As he sat cross-legged on the floor, he entered a meditative state, training in the basics of Nen—Ten, Zetsu, Ren, and Gyo—honing his control.
"I remember Tsezguerra saying because he forgot about basics, he got hit by the ball when they were playing against Razor."
His thoughts shifted back to the battle simulations Tyron had run him through earlier.
Hand-to-hand combat is rough for me, but my aura control... it's my strength. I need to keep leveraging that while building my physical skills.
He practiced shifting between Ten and Zetsu smoothly, feeling the flow of his aura as if it were an extension of his body.
Outside, Alie leaned against a tree near the big wooden house, watching the setting sun. Tyron stood nearby, arms crossed, as they talked about Leonard.
"He's a complete beginner in combat," Tyron said, a hint of frustration in his voice. "No experience with fighting, no instinct for it. I had to practically walk him through every move."
Alie nodded, understanding the challenge of training someone so raw. "But his Nen?" she asked, her eyes flicking towards the house where Leonard was training.
Tyron's expression softened slightly, admiration creeping into his voice.
"That's the thing. His aura control is off the charts. He's got so much aura; it's already enough to manifest an ability. He's just holding back, trying to master the basics before jumping ahead."
He paused, looking up at the sky. "If he keeps training like this, he's going to be dangerous."
Alie smiled faintly at that, but her gaze drifted toward the mountain in the distance. It loomed over the island like a silent guardian, shrouded in mist and shadow.
"We're going to need him to be dangerous," she whispered, almost to herself.
Tyron followed her gaze, his face hardening. "The mountain? You think we'll have to go in there?"
Alie's voice was low and thoughtful.
"Not think. I know. Whatever controls Black Island, whatever keeps us trapped here—it's connected to that mountain. We'll need Leonard and more than just his strength."
They both stood in silence for a moment, the weight of the island's mysteries hanging over them. Alie knew the time would come when they would have to confront the truth. And when they did, Leonard's potential might be the key to their escape.
But for now, he needed to keep training. And she needed to keep watching.
Leonard sat at the small kitchen table, slowly eating his simple meal.
The vegetable soup wasn't much, but it was warm, and it gave him the energy he needed for his constant training.
He had been pushing himself hard, both physically and mentally, trying to grasp the intricacies of Nen and piece together fragments of his past that still eluded him.
The sound of footsteps behind him caught his attention. Kade entered the kitchen, his usual calm demeanor in place as he gave Leonard a nod and a small smile. "Hey," Kade said, leaning against the counter. "How are you doing?"
Leonard looked up from his food, shrugging slightly. "Training, mostly," he replied. "Trying to remember more about my past, but... it's not easy."
Kade nodded in understanding, his gaze thoughtful.
"Yeah, I imagine it's tough. This place messes with your mind." He paused before adding, "How are you finding the training?"
"It's... intense," Leonard admitted, setting down his spoon. "But it feels right, like something I'm meant to do. I need to get stronger if I'm going to survive here, and maybe—" He cut himself off, not wanting to dwell on uncertainties.
Kade's expression softened.
"You're on the right path. I can see you've got a lot of potential."
Leonard looked at him, curious now.
"What about you? How'd you end up here?"
Kade's face grew more serious as he sighed, his gaze distant.
"My father was a farmer. We owned a small plant shop—nothing special, just a family business. But one day, some kid—barely a teenager—came into the shop. He was connected to one of the princes of Kakin. I thought he could push us around, maybe take over the shop, or use it for his own gain."
Kade's voice grew quieter, tinged with bitterness.
"We refused. My father wasn't the type to be bullied by anyone, even someone with ties to royalty. But..." He trailed off, his eyes dark with old memories. "One day, I woke up here. No idea how it happened. I was just... here. Stuck on Black Island."
Leonard frowned, sensing the pain behind Kade's words.
"What about your family? Do you know what happened to them?"
Kade shook his head slowly.
"I don't know. I've been here for a while now, and there's no way to find out. For all I know, they're still out there, but I can't reach them." He clenched his fists slightly. "That's the worst part—not knowing."
Leonard sat in silence for a moment, processing what Kade had shared. "I'm sorry," he said quietly.
Kade gave a small, sad smile.
"It's not your fault. We're all stuck here, trying to figure out how to survive and maybe, just maybe, find a way out." He looked at Leonard with a more determined expression. "But if we stick together, we might have a chance."