Timeless Assassin

Chapter 1053: Timeskip (3)

(A few hours later, Planet V-Star, Leo’s POV)

As part of his daily routine, when it was time to train in the laws of the universe, Leo returned to Planet V-Star and stepped into the small hut, where the projection of the Timeless Assassin sat cross-legged at its center.

A faint, almost nostalgic smile rested on the projection’s face the moment Leo entered, its gaze no longer carrying the cold, distant scrutiny it once held, but instead something far more relaxed.

Almost... friendly.

"So, how did the training with the children go today?

Are you satisfied with their performance?"

The projection asked, as he leaned back slightly, watching Leo with quiet curiosity, as he made small talk which was quite unlike their earlier relationship.

At first, the two of them were strictly master and disciple, however, over the years they had slowly developed a friendship, as Leo treated the projection less like a mentor and more like a friend, with whom he shared day to day grievances.

*Chuckle*

Leo let out a soft chuckle as he stepped inside, before lowering himself onto the floor opposite him.

"In a way, I am.

I can’t lie, they’re good kids.

Far better than what I was at their age.

And yet...

Somehow, I’m still not satisfied.

It’s an odd feeling to have.

I’m proud... but I’m also not."

Leo said, as he ran a hand through his hair and exhaled slowly, the contradiction evident even to himself.

The projection listened.

Then began to chuckle.

A low, knowing sound.

"Time has humbled you.

You’ve grown a lot in these past few encounters.

Every time I see you, you’ve changed a little."

The projection said, as his eyes carried a quiet sense of approval.

Leo smirked slightly at that, before nodding.

"Yeah...

I guess I have.

You know, when I was first starting out as a warrior, I had a serious problem with how the meditation manuals were written.

Yours, Kaelith’s, Soron’s... all of them.

They felt like the most prophetic nonsense I had ever read.

No answers were ever given directly, and everything seemed to be wrapped in vague lines and twisted meanings that made absolutely no sense to me at the time.

As you won’t believe how frustrated I was reading those things."

Leo said, as a faint laugh escaped him while he shook his head, recalling those earlier days.

"And honestly...

That frustration carried over when I first met you.

Because to me, it felt like you were deliberately making things harder than they needed to be."

He added, as the projection’s smile widened slightly.

Then Leo paused.

His expression shifting.

"But now...

Now I have students of my own.

And when I try to explain something like the Sevenfold Revelation Codex...

My younger son looks at me like I’ve completely lost my mind."

Leo said, as he let out a small breath, almost amused at the memory.

"Just yesterday he told me—

’Father, why do you always speak in this strange, prophetic language?

Just explain it normally.’

And that...

That made my blood boil.

Because in my head... I AM explaining it normally.

To me, it makes perfect sense.

Every word of it."

He continued, as his tone carried a mix of disbelief and reluctant acceptance.

"And that’s when it hit me.

That everyone walks their own path as a warrior.

You can pass down knowledge...

But you can’t pass down understanding.

As even if you give two people the exact same lesson, the exact same words... the lesson that they derive from it will be completely different, because interpretation depends on the individual.

On their mindset.

On their experience.

On where they are in their journey."

Leo said, as his voice grew calmer with each line, the realization settling deeper as he spoke it aloud.

"And that’s not something you can control.

No matter how clearly you think you’re explaining something...

If they’re not ready to understand it...

They simply won’t."

He finished, as a quiet silence filled the hut.

The projection watched him closely.

Then nodded.

Slowly.

Satisfied.

"That realization...

Is the beginning of true teaching.

And the beginning of true learning."

The projection said, as his tone carried a deeper weight now.

Leo exhaled softly.

"And that’s partly why my attitude towards you has softened so much over the years.

Because after becoming a father...

After becoming a teacher...

I finally understand just how difficult it is to guide someone without walking the path for them."

Leo said, as his gaze steadied.

"You can’t force understanding.

You can only point the way."

He concluded, as the projection’s faint smile returned.

"Good.

Then perhaps...

You are finally ready to learn properly."

The projection said, as a cocky smile appeared on its face, prompting Leo to let out a hearty laugh.

"Hahahaha!

No!

Don’t start with the cryptic lines again."

Leo said, as he shook his head lightly.

The projection smirked.

"I wouldn’t dare."

He replied, as silence lingered for a brief moment between them, before finally turning towards more serious topics.

"So..... Do you feel confident that you will master the law of time sometime this week?"

The projection asked, as Leo nodded in agreement.

"I think I will, I have already understood the gradient, the slope, the loop and the flow.

The only aspect of time that I still don’t understand is the anomaly.

I feel like I’m close.

Like the knowledge is at my fingertips.

And I have faith that if I continue studying it for the next week or so, I can finally comprehend it in full."

Leo said, as the projection nodded in approval.

"The law of time is closely associated with the law of space.

The law of space is closely associated with the law of gravity.

So once you master time, you won’t take long to understand the essence of space and gravity...."

"Two years.... Two more years at best.

And you will have mastered all three."

The projection encouraged, as Leo simply crossed his fingers and let out a deep sigh.

*Sigh*

"I certainly hope so old man.... I certainly hope so...."

Leo said, as he looked prepared to walk into the fourth dimension for today’s session.