The celebrations outside the arena were growing ever louder.
Raven had become the center of everyone’s attention, with thousands of people shouting his name in adoration. The mysterious white sword hunter was in the finals, having won each and every battle using only a wooden training sword.
Yet Jennie didn’t hear any of that.
All the cheers, all the applause, all the chants sounded like mere background noise, drowned out by Jennie’s raging heartbeat.
Jennie was walking along the backstage corridor, her fists clenched by her sides.
Rudy was somewhere deep in the labyrinthine palace corridors.
But Jennie knew exactly where to go.
She opened the door of one of the private preparation chambers and stepped inside.
"Rudy."
The thief was sitting on a wooden table, swinging her legs idly. She was chewing on an apple, whose crimson flesh sparkled in the torchlight.
She looked up, her expression innocent. "Oh." She smiled. "The champion."
Jennie’s expression didn’t change; her eyes were hard and her jaw clenched.
"Why did you call me Leonis?"
Rudy took another bite.
Crunch.
Jennie’s eye twitched. She had just about enough patience for this nonsense.
"Rudy."
Rudy swallowed and asked calmly, "Yes?"
"Answer me."
Rudy studied Jennie’s face for several seconds, then sighed and slumped her shoulders.
"I knew you would come."
Jennie stepped closer and demanded harshly, "Then you should have waited for me."
"I considered running."
"Don’t."
Rudy laughed softly, but there was no amusement in that laugh.
"Still scary."
Jennie clenched her fists tighter, but didn’t say a word.
"I know."
For the first time Rudy didn’t joke or try to avoid the question. Her expression was serious and Jennie could see that her gaze searched for something.
Jennie stood right before her, her expression fierce. "Who is Leonis?"
There. Rudy’s expression changed for a split second; there was a flash in her eyes that wouldn’t be noticeable to others. But Jennie noticed. There. That hesitation. That little crack in her usual facade.
Rudy knew.
Jennie’s heart started beating faster, her pulse throbbing loudly in her ears.
"You know him."
Rudy looked down, her voice barely a whisper. "I know the name."
"That’s not what I asked."
"I know."
"Then answer me."
Rudy didn’t say a word, gazing at the floor.
Frustration and rage boiled in Jennie’s chest.
"Why did you call me that?"
Rudy stared at the floor and her fingers clenched around the half-eaten apple. "I didn’t want to say it."
Jennie froze and the rage fell down. "What?"
Rudy lifted her eyes and gazed at Jennie. "I didn’t want to call you Leonis."
"Then why did you?"
Rudy’s fingers clenched even tighter around the apple, its skin starting to bruise from the pressure. "Because I..." She hesitated, her voice choking.
Jennie waited for a moment.
Rudy shook her head. "Never mind."
Jennie hit the table and the echo of the blow resounded through the room. "Don’t do that!"
Rudy didn’t flinch and her eyes remained steady.
Jennie’s voice echoed through the room, harsh with emotions. "You’ve been doing this ever since the very beginning! You know something about me and every time I ask, you give me some stupid answer and run away!"
The playful expression of the thief was gone, and in its place there was something ancient and haunted.
Jennie continued, her voice trembling. "You called me Leonis as if you knew me for years."
Rudy said nothing.
"You knew what effect that name would have on me."
Silence.
Jennie’s voice grew quiet, her anger turning to desperate plea. "Why?"
Rudy looked at her. And Jennie understood.
Rudy wasn’t afraid of her. She was afraid of the answer.
Jennie stepped closer, her voice a whisper. "Who am I?"
Rudy’s eyes widened a little and her composure crumbled.
Jennie’s voice trembled. "Tell me."
Rudy looked away, her voice tight. "I can’t."
"Can’t?"
"I don’t want to."
Jennie’s anger came back, her voice hard. "You don’t want to?"
Rudy nodded, her expression hurt. "I didn’t want to say that name."
"Why?"
"Because you’re not supposed to remember."
Jennie’s body froze as if she got hit by something. The words cut deeply into her soul.
"What did you say?"
Rudy understood her mistake. Her eyes widened and she quickly looked away.
But it was too late.
Jennie’s eyes narrowed. "What did you say you’re not supposed to remember?"
Rudy jumped off the table, her movements sudden. "Forget it."
Jennie caught her wrist, her grip strong. "No."
Rudy froze, her body tense.
Jennie’s grip tightened. "You know."
Rudy looked at Jennie’s hand, then at her face. For several seconds they stood there, silent and motionless, the tension filling the space between them.
Finally, Rudy whispered, her voice barely audible. "You’re going to hate me."
Jennie’s expression grew hard. "Try me."
Rudy’s expression turned sad. Pain showed in her eyes, pain which didn’t belong to her. "I don’t want to tell you."
Jennie’s eyes blazed with frustration. "You’ve already told me enough."
Rudy remained silent and looked down at the floor.
Jennie’s mind raced. The strange memories, the Divine Swords, the visions, the name Leonis... The way Rudy looked at her, the way she said the name — not like a stranger, not like someone she’d heard about. Like someone she knew. Someone close.
Then Jennie’s expression changed. An idea entered her mind. An idea so insane that she almost dismissed it.
She looked at Rudy, her voice a whisper. "Leonis...?"
Rudy froze.
Jennie looked at her carefully, her heart beating fast.
That was enough. The answer was in her eyes — the fear, the hesitation, the guilt.
Jennie’s heart stopped beating and the world tilted beneath her feet.
"No."
Rudy closed her eyes, her voice pained. "Jennie..."
"No." Jennie let Rudy’s wrist go and stepped backward. Then another step. She was out of breath and saw only dark spots before her eyes. "That’s impossible."
Rudy remained silent, confirming everything with her silence.
Jennie shook her head, her voice shaking. "I’m Jennie. I’m Jennie."
Rudy looked at her, her eyes filled with sympathy. "I know."
"Then why?"
Rudy couldn’t say anything. Her throat was too tight, her words locked.
Jennie’s eyes were wet with rage and confusion. "You called me Leonis , didn’t you?"
Rudy’s silence confirmed it.
"Jennie," she said with trembling voice. "I’m Jennie. I’m Jennie."
Rudy gave her a sympathetic look. "I know."
"Then why?"
Rudy couldn’t say anything – her throat was clenched, her words were stuck.
Her eyes became wet because of her rage and frustration. "Why do you call me Leonis ?"
Silence spoke louder than words.
Jennie started trembling in her fear and shock. All these memories began to surface in her head—a sword, battle, giant tree reaching sky. Woman weeping. Seven swords dancing in a circle. Someone calling her name... not Jennie. Another name.
Leonis.
She put her hands against her head. "Stop..."
Rudy approached her and extended her hand. "Jennie."
"Don’t!" Jennie’s voice broke.
Rudy froze with her hand in the air.
Jennie removed her hands, her face pale. "I remember."
Expression of Rudy changed; her eyes opened wide.
Jennie looked at her and said in her stead, even if her heart was breaking inside her. "I know you from the past."
It was a strange phrase, almost unreal. But when she said it, the Divine Swords in her body reacted recognizing her as Rudy, as the strange memories coming in unexpected moments, the way Excalibur responded to her presence. The way Rudy was looking at her with recognition.
Jennie’s bitter laughter echoed in the room. "So that’s why."
Rudy remained silent with unreadable expression on her face.
Jennie looked at her. "How long have you known?"
Rudy didn’t say anything.
"How long?"
"Since I saw you." She finally whispered.
Jennie gasped. "Since the very beginning?"
Rudy nodded and avoided her gaze.
"Then why didn’t you say anything?"
"Because I didn’t want to."
Jennie narrowed her eyes. "That’s not good enough."
"I know."
"You knew who I am while I was fighting with you."
"Yes."
"You watched me to get acquainted with my memories."
"Yes."
"And you said nothing."
"Because I didn’t want to take your life away from you."
Jennie stopped because of her surprise.
"You were happy. You had Roxy." Rudy looked in direction of the door. "You had Snow." Her gaze went back to Jennie.
Jennie’s expression softened a little hearing his name, familiar pain spreading through her chest.
"You had people who know you as Jennie." Rudy’s voice became softer. "If I would tell you that I know you are Leonis, what would happen?"
Jennie didn’t have anything to say.
"You would start asking questions." She approached to her and her voice sounded earnest. "Who am I? Why did I come? Who am I to you? What happened to everyone I left behind?" She shook her head and pained expression appeared on her face. "And you might stop being Jennie eventually."
These words hurt her unexpectedly, penetrating her rage.
She looked directly at her eyes. "I didn’t want that."
Jennie swallowed. "But you called me Leonis."
Rudy closed her eyes with regret. "I made a mistake."
"Why?"
Rudy hesitated and looked vulnerable. "For a second..." She opened her eyes and whispered. "...I forgot that you aren’t him anymore."
Jennie looked at her with aching heart.
Rudy smiled faintly. "You looked exactly like him."
Her heart tightened with pain. "Then tell me."
"No." Rudy shook her head firmly.
Jennie’s rage appeared again. "Why?!"
"Because you don’t need to know everything yet."
"That’s not your decision!"
"I know."
"Then stop deciding for me!"
Her expression hardened and voice was steady. "And what will happen when you learn everything?"
Jennie was silent, her rage fading in uncertainty.
"Will you still smile the same? Will you still travel with Roxy? Will you still laugh with Snow? Will you still think about the people you’ve met since your reincarnation?" She approached to her and looked in her eyes. "Or you will start chasing the life you’ve lost?"
Jennie gazed at her with surprise; these words were too familiar.
Rudy whispered with pain. "That’s why I didn’t want to say it."
Silence appeared in the room, heavy and oppressive.
Finally, she looked away, her eyes burning with unshed tears. She hated Rudy for knowing it, for not explaining everything. But mostly she hated herself for feeling relief; some part of her was scared to know everything.
The door opened; this noise cut through the silence.
"Jennie?"
They both turned.
Roxy was standing at the door, her face worried. She had obviously searched her, looking between Jennie and Rudy suspiciously.
"What’s going on?"
Jennie immediately straightened; her face brightened with artificial smile. "Nothing."
Roxy looked at her suspiciously. "Nothing?"
"Yeah." Jennie’s voice sounded too bright and unnatural.
Rudy smiled and her playful mask returned. "Just congratulating our champion."
Roxy’s eyes narrowed. "You two don’t look like you’re congratulating someone."
Jennie looked away; she couldn’t look at Roxy.
She approached to her and her voice was soft. "Jennie."
"I’m fine."
"You don’t look fine."
Jennie forced a smile. It didn’t reach her eyes. "I’m just tired."
Roxy didn’t believe her; she knew Jennie too well. She looked at Rudy and then at Jennie.
"What did she say?"
Jennie’s heart skipped and her voice sounded harsher than it should have been. "Nothing."
Roxy’s eyes narrowed. "Jennie."
"I said nothing." It sounded too harsh.
Roxy became silent; her expression was wounded.
Jennie instantly felt remorse; her voice became soft. "Roxy..."
Roxy looked at her; her eyes were searching.
Jennie’s expression became gentler; her voice was soft. "Sorry."
Roxy nodded slowly. "Okay."
But she didn’t go. She felt that something was wrong; she could feel it. Roxy had watched Jennie’s fights; she had seen Jennie angry, afraid, confused. But this time it was different. Jennie was hiding something, and what Rudy said to her, was important.
Finally, she turned to the door with resignation. "Come on."
Jennie looked at her. "Where?"
"Back to the inn."
Jennie hesitated – then nodded. "Okay."
Roxy went ahead; her footsteps echoed in the corridor.
Jennie stayed behind for a moment, looking at Rudy.
Rudy was looking at her silently; her expression was unreadable.
Jennie whispered, determined. "I’ll find out."
Rudy’s smile came back to her lips, gentle and understanding. "I know."
Jennie went out with Roxy.
The door closed behind them.
Rudy stood alone, her smile disappearing.
She looked at the door, her voice barely audible. "Leonis..." She sighed heavily and bowed her shoulders. "I didn’t want to say it."
Outside, Jennie walked next to Roxy.
They both were silent.
People in the streets of Seraiya continued celebrating the tournament, enjoying the victory of Raven. People laughed, danced, cheered for their champion. But Jennie seemed not connected with anything of what was going on there, as though she watched her life from another place.
She stared at her hands, feeling them shaking.
Leonis...
That was who she had been once. A Sword King, a legend, the name of whom would live even after his death. And now—she was Leonis, or maybe he was her. Jennie did not know how to understand it.
Roxy looked at her with some concern in her eyes. "Jennie."
"Yes?" Jennie responded.
"Whatever Rudy told you..." Roxy paused for a while. "You do not need to tell me."
Jennie was taken aback, her eyes widened.
Roxy’s smile widened a little, her voice was sincere. "Whenever you will be ready to talk..."
Her heart constricted with something that looked like fear. She wanted to tell her everything, but there were no words. At least, not now.
So, she could just smile. "Thank you," she said gently.
Roxy nodded and they went farther away from the celebration.
But Roxy was thinking about something, and Jennie kept thinking about the name, which she had spent all her life thinking of as somebody else’s.
Leonis.
The name she had buried.
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