“Leave and never return again!”
”Leo…mark my words! I will come and take away what you treasured the most!”
Omega broke out from his trap and vanished into the darkness.
”Begone, monster!” Exclaimed Bruce.
Leo put his sword back and assured the citizens with a confident smile.
“Thank you for saving us again!” They applauded and surrounded them.
”Great work, Leo!” Alan gently patted his left shoulder.
Helen held his hand and said, ”Let’s have a good tea time together then!”
”It’s my pleasure to serve the town. Now, may you all excuse me.”
Leo gladly walked out from the crowded as he had once again saved the day.
”We are so lucky to have Leo as our guardian!” Exclaimed the old man.
”Yea! Grandpa, I would like to become like Leo too when I grow up!”
Leo enjoyed hearing the sound of joy from his people. He proceeded to return to his home and take a good rest.
”Leo! I thought we are going to enjoy some tea!”
”Sorry but I would like some rest. See you later!”
”Haa…What a day…”
Leo laid down on his soft and comfortable bed, thinking about the times he saved his town and people. He always enjoyed the attention but he felt like he didn’t have any choices.
”I’ve always wondered…why am I the one saving them?”
”Why not Aaron, Bruce or Helen?”
”Everyday is just the same, with me helping the people and defeating Omega…”
”Is there anything more than this mundane provincial life…”
With that in mind, Leo slowly fell asleep.
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Leo…Leo…Leo!
“Huh? Who’s calling?”
Leo left his bed and checked around his house.
Nobody, nobody was here. He was confused but decided to go back to bed before a blue light ray shone in front of him.
”What’s this?” He followed the light to the west forest.
The light was originated behind a stone.
Leo put his hands on the stone and pushed it to the left. He saw a light coming from a hole.
He curiously put his head into the hole and seeing things that are not originated from his world.
”What…is this…”
In that world, a gentle old man sat in front of a working desk, with tons of paper placed on it. He was writing slowly on those paper.
”Dear, you should take a rest…” An old lady entered the study with a cup of warm rose tea in her hands.
”Honey…I have to finish this before this Saturday.” The old man continued to write “The kids are waiting eagerly for the book publication.”
”You have been exerting yourself too much! Please do take a rest.”
The old man kindly drank a sip of tea and sat on the bed with his wife.
The two took a glance of family photo on the bedside.
”Maria…honey…I…I wish Leo was here…”
”Oh Hubert…I am sure Leo is living happily in another world…”
The two signed deeply and Hubert looked at the handwriting on the paper.
”Yea…Leo is alive…just in another world…yea…”
Maria took a glance on his drafts and papers,” What are you writing?”
”A book about a young hero which devoted his life in saving and helping people in need!”
”Leo was a modest and kind boy…I hope his kindness can spread to much more people…”
”He had always been a sweet little angel…”
”If only that car accident never happened! I-”
”Hubert! Don’t blame yourself! We never knew that would have happened!”
He signed and hugged his wife, resuming his writing work.
He wiped away the small tear droplets at his eyes and focus on writing the next chapter.
”Wait…I AM the main character?”
Leo stepped back from the shiny hole and fell down out of shock.
”I am the…hero? WHY? I just want a peaceful and happy life…”
Realising all of events were due to him being the protagonist, he was overwhelmed and tired.
Leo realised that he had no other options than being a good and caring hero.
He would like an escape.
Escape.
Escape from his designed fate-that was his only thought in mind.
”Maybe he can help…”
”I don’t want to be a good guy anymore…”
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“Is this a joke?” Omega crossed his arm when Leo said he didn’t want to be a hero anymore.
”I want to be bad, just like you.”
”Look, kid…I don’t know if this is a joke or not…You are driving me crazy…”
”Please…I want to be the one to control my destiny!”
”My god…he must have hit his head…”Whispered the other soldiers.
”Silence! Leo…go home and-“
Leo bowed down and demanded, “Please! I would like to request your assistance!”
Seeing his determination in his eyes, he was reluctantly persuaded and allowed Leo to be his assistant.
“Okay…rookie, you know what we bad guys do, right?”
“Well…I have poisoned the water supply of the town…They will suffer sooner or later…”
”Well done…You know…I feel like we can make a good team, rookie.”
Leo smiled and returned to the town.
”Leo! Big trouble! The people are suffering from mild diarrhoea!”
”What! Why?” In order not to spoil the plan, he pretended to be the original hero he did before.
The gang rushed to the hospital and see the doctors and nurses frantically running from one room to another.
”Oh my gosh…” Exclaimed Bruce.
A woman ran past them with a sick baby in her hands, begging the doctors to save her child first.
“What a poor mother…” Sobbed Helen.
”Hey…guys…” Aaron was lying on the bed, waving at them weakly.
The three rushed to his bed side.
”Bud! Are you alright?”
”Ugh…do I look alright to you…”
The doctor came and did a simple check-up on him.
”What’s his condition?”
”Don’t worry, mild diarrhoea is self-limited. He will be fine after a few days.”
”Leo.” The mayor came and walked towards the gangs.
”Mayor! What can we do for you?”
”After the diarrhoea incident, we have checked the water supply system. We believe that it may be caused by the outdated pipes.”
”We have replaced them with new ones and in order to prevent similar incidents, patrols frequency will be increased.”
”Great thing!” Contented Helen.
”Yea! It turns out to have benefitted the town!”
Leo was shocked that his plan failed completely. He then saw Omega glaring at him with a furious expression.
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“I promise I won’t fail again!”
”You better be!”
The two placed a big rock on the top of the hill, ready to release the gate.
”Okay…time to suffer! Human!”
He ordered Leo to pull down the lever. The rock started to roll down the hill.
The two watched happily as the rock making its way to the town.
”Mayor, I suggest we construct a road here. This would make us easier to reach the hill.”
”Mr. Page, I understand your intention but building a road takes time.”
”We have to-“
The rock rolled past the pair and flattened the grass and trees.
”Oh look! The trees are gone! This saves us a lot of time!”
”Thanks, Leo!”
Omega sprinted towards him and grabbed his collar while Leo showed a helpless smile.
The rock continued its way to the town, aiming at the small old church.
”Father, we should rebuild the church into a big and new one.”
”I know, son.” Replied the priest,” Yet we must not overlook the funding and time.”
”But father! Look what we can do if we have a bigger church!”
”Yet-“
Bang! The rock crushed the church and stopped, leaving the two in fear.
”Looks like we can have a reason to rebuild one!”
”Look! It’s Leo!” Pointed the young boy “Thank you for your help!”
”By the way, how did he know we need assistance?”
”God must have blessed him with mighty power.”
The priest bowed at him and appreciated his help.
”LEO!”
”I didn’t mean that! I-“
“Shut up and I don’t want to hear your excuses!”
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“If you dare to fail me again, I will literally disown you!”
”Y-yes sir!” Leo stepped back a little when Omega pointed his finger at him.
He then ordered Leo to steal the legendary sword from the museum at night.
”You know what to do!”
Leo nodded and sneaked into the museum while the guard was sleeping on the chair.
He tiptoed his way to the deepest part of the museum.
”There are lots of guards…” He saw at least five men patrolling the hallway.
He then pulled out some gas bomb and threw them to another room, distracting their attentions.
“Intruders!”
The guards shouted and rushed to the opposite rooms.
”Easy peasy…” He gladly made his way to the legendary sword.
At the moment Leo put his hand on the sword, the guards shone light on him.
”Ack!”
”LEO? What are you doing here?”
Leo didn’t bother to explain and snatched the sword from the box.
”Is Leo trying to steal the sword?”
”No way…we all trusted him!”
Just when the guards were trying to apprehend him, the bookshelf behind them moved automatically, revealing a secret pathway.
”What is this place…”
Out of curiosity, they all carefully entered the secret tunnels and followed the pathway to a big underground library.
”Oh my gosh…Look! These are all the books that are left by our ancestors!”
The guards checked the books and the drawings on the wall. With Leo’s unintentional act, they made a great discovery.
”I always knew Leo will never do bad things!” Said the female guard.
”Me too! Leo is such a sweet and smart angel! I can’t imagine the town without him and his friends!”
“Hahaha! Great job, guys! Especially you, Leo!”
Leo quietly made his way out of the museum, only to be caught by Omega.
”I-I got the sword…”
”You piece of-”
”No! I-“
”You are not MY apprentice anymore! Leave at once! You are such a disgrace to me!”
Without listening to his explanation, Omega left with a livid look on his face.
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“Now…nobody will disturb me anymore…”
Being abandoned by Omega, Leo decided to hide in a cave to avoid getting everyone’s attention.
”Now I am not a hero anymore…”
He lied down on the cool and rough surface of the cave, not knowing what to do with his life.
He decided to take a long nap but after napping for a few hours, he was bored as he got no one to talk to.
”Ugh…now what am I gonna do…”
“I don’t want to succumb to my destiny but…why do I miss my old life?”
He started to remember the days where they were happily playing with one another: Bruce was participating in a competitive eating contest with other men; Helen was happily preparing cakes and tea for the children; Aaron was playing his lute in front of all the people.
”And for me…I am always helping with everything they need…”
“But they are in the past now…”
Leo continued to reminisce about his actions. Suddenly, he heard loud screams from the town.
He immediately jumped up and checked the situation.
”What’s going on?”
He saw Omega leading his army, trying to destroy the town again.
”Good thing that Leo will not be here to stop me!”
”You’re WRONG!” Bruce kicked away the monster and took in a fight stance.
”Then why did he choose to cooperate with me then?”
“He said he would like to be a bad guy just like ME!”
Helen gasped and looked at the others.
“Don’t listen to him, Helen!” Aaron casted a fire spell using his lute ”Leo will never betray us!”
”Yea! He is just trying to trick you!”
“Everyone! Please evacuate immediately! Women and children first!” The mayor shouted at the plaza.
”Don’t worry! Leave Omega to us!”
“I trust you all can handle it!”
”If only Leo is here too…he always give me the confidence we need…”
Leo watched them giving their best effort to fight against Omega, pondering about his decision.
”Guys…They are all the main characters of the story…yet they never complain…”
”I am such a selfish boy…”
At this moment, he remembered the conversation between the old man and his wife.
”Leo was a modest and kind boy…I hope his kindness can spread to much more people…”
“What was I thinking!”
He then grabbed his sword and rushed downhill.
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“Too bad! I’m not done with you yet!” Omega howled as he watched Bruce lost his balance and fell.
”Bruce!”
”Get outta my way, witch!”
Helen was pushed onto the ground while Aaron cast spells on him.
”Water attack!”
Water balls appeared as he strummed his lute. Omega dodged his attacks and shot arrows at him.
”Ack!” An arrow hit his left arm, causing him to drop his lute.
”Take this!” He then received a big punch at his stomach.
Omega watched as the last fight fell on the ground.
”Finally! Victory is MINE! Muhaha-Ouch!”
Leo sprinted towards him and gave him a fist to his face.
”Leo! You’re back!”
”Sorry I’m late!”
”You want a knuckle sandwich or what?” Leo stretched his arms before grabbing his sword.
”You! Aren’t you tired of being nice?”
”No!” Leo pulled out his sword and pointed it at him.
”Even though I’m destined to be a hero, I can still choose to become the person I want to be!”
”There’s no one I’d rather be than me!”
”Foolish boy!” He shot arrows at him. Leo quickly dodged the three arrows and sprinted towards him.
He smoothly swung his sword and landed a few attacks on Omega.
Omega looked at his slice-opened wound, “Just a scratch!”
He took out his sword from his back and the two started their battle.
Despite being a skilled sword fighter, he was still no match for Leo.
When he attempted to land his attack on Leo’s neck, he smoothly turned around, dodging his attack like a piece of cake.
”Take this!”
Leo sliced his thigh and made him fall on his knees. He then pointed the sharp tip towards his neck.
”Go on, aren’t hero kill bad guys?”
”Leave. I don’t want to kill you.”
Although the two are enemies, Leo was a soft-hearted person and refuse to take someone’s life.
”Maybe we should kill him!” Said Bruce who got up with the help from Helen “We don’t have to worry about our people’s safety anymore!”
”I agree.” Aaron nodded.
”It’s a bit too cruel…guys…”
”I agree with Helen…We don’t have the right to take someone’s life…”
Leo put his sword back and demanded Omega’s departure.
”Guys, we-“
”FOOL! DIE!”
Omega regained his strength and decided to sneak attack Leo from behind.
”Huh?”
Bang! The knife blade was broken by balls of flame casted by Aaron in the nick of time.
”That was close…”
Seeing his plan failed, Omega grunted and vanished immediately by waving his cape.
Leo was petrified by the close attack and soon recovered from it.
”I’m sorry…I let my guard down…”
“I told you! We should have just finished him!”
Leo remained silence while Helen gently patted his shoulders.
“I’ve always admired your strength and kindness, Leo.”
”Me too.” Praised Leo.
”Well…it’s all in the past, right?” Bruce smiled eagerly "Let big bro give you a big hug!"
"Hey, Bruce!" He squished the three tightly in his big arms.
"Just get used to it, Helen..."
Leo looked at the smiles on their faces, sighed relievedly.
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"Leo! You sure you want to leave the town?" Cried Helen.
"Bring us too!"
"Helen, if we all leave the town, who's gonna protect the people?" Asked Aaron.
Leo nodded and replied, "Besides, I would like to see more of this world and help more people in need."
"This is my destiny."
Aaron smiled and padded his shoulder, "Good luck then!"
"And, don't worry. We will protect the town if Omega dares to come back."
"Waa...Big bro will miss you..."
"Bruce, I will be back once a month. When I am back, I am going to share everything I see outside the town."
Bruce smiled, " Well I will be looking forward to seeing your return then!"
Leo nodded and waved goodbyes to all the people in the town.
"Safe journey, Leo." Waved the mayor.
"Remember to write us some letters too!"
Leo gladly embarked on his journey to travel around the world.
"I was created to give hope...but not cry and sadness..."
"Even though I am destined to be a hero, I can still choose to enjoy my life and live my life to the fullest."
"Once I have fulfilled my destiny, I can be a normal boy again...with you guys again..."
He remembered the smile from his creator, wishing him to help more people, just like his son Leo.
"Mr Hubert and Ms. Maria, I am sure Leo will be proud of you!"
"I will be the living legacy of your son!"
After taking a deep breath, Leo's figure disappeared into the wood.
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