Hey everyone! its been a looong looong while, but I really wanted to post this silly gift I made for my dear friend @puowei!
Soft kisses with Leona for my favorite artist and bestie!
Okay so...these past few days I've been kinda digging into Leona stuff and then @meary-majo just found this gem I wrote 2 years ago.
OVERVIEW:
Dormleader of the persistent, stubborn and prideful Savanaclaw’s Dormitory. (Tenacity)
Became the leader in 2nd year due to needing to share a room with roommates (that were frightened of him) and annoyance in being a subordinate
Held back for 1 year // Is 2 years older than most cast because he enrolled 1 year after being “invited” - didn’t enroll immediately because he saw the school curriculum and thought it was too weak/ already knew everything. (More on it on “OVERBLOT - Novel”)
Seen as lazy in most characters POV.
PERSONALITY:
General traits commonly known are that Leona is witty, intelligent and arrogant.
But he is more than that.
I would like to especially mention that his interest in chess might have also reflected in his way of living and approach (Brains over brawn).
The mind of a chess player.
Strategic thinking (be able to find the plan holes and counter possible threats).
Patience is the key (Mental stamina)
Ability to focus
Adaptability (see 1.)
Assessment (on the pieces).
Mental stamina - Able to remain calm under pressure. Honorable example:
Playful Land event: Most of the cast is being persecuted but even after Ace almost gets caught, he is able to retrieve him easily and tell others to go without him. Does not panic when countering them, and treats it more like a “game”.
Apathy - His current self is mostly a result of his childhood. Never really accepted, never good enough.
There’s always something lacking in him.
Why is it ok if his brother isn’t as smart or intelligent as him, but inexcusable for Leona to be intimidating, rude, or act the way he does (why can’t his flaws be accepted?).
Years of training and studying. It was never certain that he would ever get the chance to be on the throne, but that became certain after the birth of his nephew, Cheka.
He has no ambitions left. What were all those years of hard work for?
“You could if you tried.”
No, you can’t.
I tried many times and failed.
After some time, I would say that “becoming a King” isn’t what he literally wants. What he really wants is how Kings are seen: admiration, respect, worth, acceptance.
But at the same time, there’s fear. What if he loses again? Is it worth it to invest in it again? To care?
And how do you counter fear?
With a defensive mechanism.
And what is that? Apathy.
How is it possible for one to get scarred when he doesn’t care anymore? When he doesn’t let anyone in? (Spiral of depression™)
Do you see the duality? Because I do.
STRENGTHS: (this part is unfinished lolll)
Assessment - Extension of “The mind of a chess player - 5th point”.
Be able to find the strengths in all pieces and how to use it to its max potential. Can easily point out everyone's strengths and faults (including his own).
Speech to Jamil (see in CHAPTER 6)
Comparing the Tamashimina characters to chess pieces and using them.
Excels easily in many areas
Creativity:
It’s not exactly mentioned, but it’s known that great magicians normally have high creativity. (It was also mentioned during the game (Crowley if not mistaken) that magic is more easily manipulated if one is able to imagine it, thus why they have creativity driven classes like arts or music for example).
Extras:
Physical strength
Mediator: Can be seen and is even mentioned to break fights at Savanaclaw.
Instructor: Might do it to stop one’s nagging or by goodwill. Apparently started to attend Club’s activities more often after his Overblot.
Art appreciation: Instead of just seeing a painting, he is able to convey or think about the story behind it. (Trey’s Platinum card)
Drives well
Sings: Almost sings on 2nd Halloween’s event.
Respect women culture: Women of Sunset Savannah are mostly even stronger than the male counterpart. Many even being royal guards. // Unable to refuse Falena’s wife requests (Eg: putting on Ceremony Robes and taking photos for them)
--
Hypocrisy
Inferiority Complex
Comparison of many between him and his brother, Falena.
Fear of being
King’s Roar: Born with this ability, Leona was feared by many
Loss of Hope: Never recognized or valued in his hard work in the past.
“Soft-spot”:
- States that hate children, but still treat them well. (Probably because of how genuine, innocent and hopeful they are?)
- Says that doesn’t care when he cares. AND A LOT (“They have the potential after all” // "I want you to reach your best because I couldn’t” // “Don’t walk the same road I did”)
Rejected and even asked MC if they wanted all the presents sent by his family. Only opens and accepts the one he gets from Cheka.
Helped a little girl at the 1st Halloween event.
Drops life-lessons from time to time.
CHAPTER 6:
After not really showing many signs of new growth throughout the story so far, Chapter 6 finally lays new content to us.
Understanding the dangers of dealing with those who are clearly stronger than him and acting accordingly. (when STYX comes to take Leona)
Giving instructions and putting faith on Ruggie as sub Dormleader.
Sacrifices himself more than it seems:
Instead of using the spear of tartarus w/ Jamil, controls it all by himself (while other groups use them altogether) // after the speech Jamil gets the courage to help him.
His whole speech to Jamil. That also serves as a self assessment of his prior overblot self.
“No one has ever recognized me, but I’m actually better than everyone, they just didn’t judge me properly” -Leona take on how Jamil thinks
"No one understands me!" (Jami)
"And just because of that, you can make excuses and whine?" (Leo)
“Someone who acts without thinking is stupid, but someone that only thinks about the consequences is even more stupid” (Leo)
“Acknowledge your true ability, and think about how to use it” (Leo)
Afterwards gives an example of how Ruggie’s magic is simple, but because he knows it, he uses Leona. // Jack is stubborn but knows when to ask for help. (Basically they all know their weaknesses, and live with it instead of complaining/ running from it)
"Prove yourself to the world. You decided to not run away anymore after all."
Even though it is a self-assessment, why does Leona not improve if he knows that?
Differently from Jamil, who is a “commoner”; bright; hopeful, Leona 2nd prince status could never be changed, neither could his UM be. He’s hopeless. But that’s only a part of it. What about the rest?
Unwillingness to change.
Fear of change.
This is mostly wrapped on the next topic.
OVERBLOT - Novel:
If by enrolling to NRC Leona has no gains, why does he still do it?
"I grew tired of thinking, so I decided to enroll at Night Raven College, though I had no interest in it.”
To run away from his pain, fears.
Differently from Jamil that did that subconsciously (but opened his eyes after Leona’s TED talk) Leona did know that he was running from it, but still did it.
I would say that even though most of his hopes had already faded when he was 15~16 (16 is the age of most first years, but he probably got the invite from NRC before he reached that age), the remaining of the hope he had was crushed when Cheka was born (or so he thought). Instead of living in the palace, having to look at and be in a place where he never thought he would belong, isn’t it easier to just run from it?
It’s actually funny to think that Leona appears to never change himself for others or be influenced by others. But even after their defeat against Malleus, it doesn’t take long for Leona to notice that there are actually many people that still do entrust their hopes in him, and that if he let them, he would be inspired by it. And that scares him.
“But what seems to frighten Leona is not the pressure—enough to crush him—but something simpler. It is the Savanaclaw students themselves, right in front of him. Hands that never stop struggling no matter how many times he shakes free. Eyes filled with hope. Voices that call him Housewarden. With each and every one, Leona' expression contorts anew.”
Deep down his hope has actually never ceased.
He thinks that part of him is a hypocrite.
How can he still dream of hope after failing over and over again miserably? After giving up?
I see it as a subconscious tenacity.
FINAL CONSIDERATIONS:
Growth: Besides the counseling shown in “Chapter 6”, slowly we see Leona allowing himself to accept the love, hope, and to not be stagnant anymore:
Going back home at Chapter 4, when till then he would use all the excuses in the world to avoid that.
Going to intern at his homeland. (Throwback to that line in which Falena says that he could still contribute to his homeland in a way).
That's pretty much it! I'm very open to other people's takes on this!
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