Leona and Kalim (pt1)

Leona discusses Kalim with Jamil during Book 6, describing him as someone who is, “not very bright or that adept with magic, but he points out that Kalim has something that Jamil does not: charisma, in the form of money:

“Money’s more tangible than magic. It commands a lot of power and has no uncertain or ambiguous factors. And Kalim is learning how to wield that immense power. It’s hard to predict how impulsive guys like Kalim will grow…for better or for worse.”

Leona and Kalim overlap over New Year’s (Leona: “At least the little rich boy’s having fun pretendin’ to work”), where Kalim recommends that Leona buy a kumade that Leona refuses on the basis of it being a “plain, boring thing” that would collect dust in the corner of his room.

This seems to inspire Kalim, who makes it “bright and sparkly” and then tries to give it to Leona for free. Leona refuses it again, but Kalim insists until Leona relents. 

Ruggie purchases a mystery bag for Leona that includes a tablet, and a rumor starts at the shop that buying one of the kumade that Kalim has made sparkly will help you get something expensive in a mystery bag, resulting in a sudden demand for them.

Leona reflects, “There’s no way sunshine-for-brains set it up on purpose…”

When the Cloudcalling group arrives in Sunset Savanna and Kalim says he should give Leona’s brother his regards and “tell him about all of the fun times (he’s) shared with his younger brother,” Leona responds, “What fun times?”

When Kalim coincidentally appears in the hall of mirrors before they set out Vil asks if Leona invited Kalim along with them.

Leona responds that of course he didn’t, as the tournament is an “unforgiving test of wit and strength” and “Kalim was practically raised in bubble wrap. He’d be no use at all,” but when Jack collapses from heat stroke these plans change to Leona telling Kalim that he will be joining after all.

(Vil: “But is Kalim our best choice?” – Leona: “It’s better than forfeiting. If we knew where Jamil was, that’d be one thing. But we don’t. Kalim is our only option.”)

When they arrive at the palace Kalim says that he should go inside and say hello Leona’s family (Leona: “Don’t.”).

When Kalim declares that he will be sitting next to Leona on their car ride through the savanna Leona tells him that he will be sitting in the back as he is so talkative that he will be too much of a distraction.

When Vil asks Leona if he thinks that Kalim “can actually get a draw” according to plan during the tournament Leona says, “He’s weak, and he’s got no instincts when it comes to fighting,” and that Kalim is the least suited to the tournament, “But he also took practice more serious than any of you. He really improved. I have to give him that.”

Leona teaches Kalim everything he knows abut defense and nothing about offense due to a lack of time, explaining that Kalim’s role will largely be to draw the match out until he earns a draw in order to give Vil and Lilia the opportunity to see what a real match is like before they need to compete.

Kalim’s opponent successfully goads him into abandoning Leona’s strategy, however, and he loses the moment he goes on the offensive, without Vil and Lilia getting much time to spectate (Vil: “If you’d stuck to Leona’s plan I imagine you could have gotten the draw”).

After Lilia is disqualified it becomes necessary for Kalim to win a match rather than merely get a draw, and Leona suggests having Vil distract Kalim’s opponent from the sidelines. Kalim is displeased by the idea of getting outside help and again abandons Leona’s strategy. 

The opposing team brings in a substitute athlete who is, coincidentally, the same person for whom Kalim bought a bus earlier in the event.

The bus driver refuses to compete against the person who saved his livelihood and forfeits.

With Kalim indirectly buying his victory in the form of a bus Leona reflects, “Kalim seemed like a pawn to me, not even a minor piece. I can’t believe he got us a win. Though when pawns reach the other side of the chessboard, they can be promoted…Guess that’s what happened,” and tells Kalim that he did well.