Why does Radahn love his horse Leonard? An unbreakable bond forged in blood and magic
The legendary General Radahn is celebrated as the mightiest demigod and warrior amongst the Shattering heroes. Yet this ferocious figure‘s best friend and most treasured companion is his scrawny, unassuming horse Leonard.
Radahn and his beloved horse share a transcendent bond rooted in childhood, which compelled him to master mythical magic just to continue riding Leonard.
Radahn refused to abandon Leonard despite outgrowing him
According to illuminated manuscripts, Radahn and Leonard have been inseparable since early childhood. As the young royal was gifted in combat and matters of warfare, he took to training his first steed Leonard in Movement and Vigor from a young age.
Though just an average Golden Dappled Courser physically, Leonard demonstrated unwavering obedience and affection toward the boy. When Radahn outgrew his horse as adolescence hit, he staunchly refused offers of mightier mounts.
| Year | Radahn‘s Height | Leonard‘s Height | Weight Differential |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 4‘2" | 14 hands high | 100 lb |
| 16 | 6‘3" | 14 hands high | 270 lb |
Why cling to this unfit horse when legendary status awaited?
Radahn valued loyalty and spirit over cold strength. He would not discard Leonard after their many years together.
But the extreme size mismatch threatened to separate boy and beast…
Learning gravity magic – whatever it takes to ride together
According to the law of natural order, Radahn and Leonard‘s continued partnership was impossible.
Except the fierce young royal would not bow to nature‘s law. Not when it came to his most trusted friend.
"Leonard is my friend. Abandoning him would break that sacred covenant. I shall twist the stars themselves before letting him go." ~ Radahn at age 16
And so Radahn journeyed to the academy of Sellia, hub of mystical stellar research. He demanded to learn their gravitational techniques despite lacking sorcerous pedigree.
After 3 grueling years Radahn emerged a master of Gravity Magic – spells capable of suspending natural order to control unmatched weights.
| Magic | Description | Est. Lifting Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Gravity Well | Concentrates gravity into an area | 5000 lb |
| Collapsing Stars | Intensifies a target‘s gravity | 7500 lb |
| Meteorite | Harnesses cosmic matter | 10000+ lb |
Radahn could now share Leonard‘s burden and continue riding together. But his spells maintained; he never stopped working to increase their power as his own legend grew.
All so a boy and his steed would never have to part.
The Battle of Aeonia: Shielding Leonard at all costs
Radahn and Leonard fought countless battles side-by-side, carving out the fearsome general‘s mighty legend. Until the fateful Battle of Aeonia, pitting Radahn against his storied rival Malenia.
What happened that day is the stuff of song and fable. But chief in Radahn‘s mind: keep Leonard safe.
As Malenia unleashed her devastating Scarlet Rot, Radahn raised his gravity magic to wrench an entire floating landmass before him as a shield.
| Fighter | Losses Sustained |
|---|---|
| Radahn | Lucidity, mobility, resistance |
| Leonard | Minor wounds |
While many comrades perished from the Blooming Plague, Radahn absorbed the agonizing corruption so his beloved horse escaped mostly unscathed.
emerging from the battle a shattered ruin of his former glory. Only dim awareness and feral rage remained. But devotion to his horse still blazed true even reduced to madness.
This sacrifice captured Radahn‘s transcendent bond beyond measure. Not just words, but actions.
Conclusion: A formidable force that friendship can manifest
What compelled the storied general to reject peerless steeds for a middling horse? Why commit his early years to reality-bending magic instead of ruler‘s preparation? How could a singular bond inspire the sacrifice of mind, body and image in vicious combat?
Radahn and Leonard show that true friendship makes one defiant of nature‘s own limits. Through magical study bordering on lunacy and protective loyalty eclipsing self-regard, this formative relationship produced one of Elden Ring‘s most storied legends.
So next time you witness Radahn ignoring whole armies to nuzzle his horse, understand you are seeing an unmatched bond no rules – natural or man‘s – could sever.
A bond mighty enough to mark myth and magic unto the Lands Between.
Truly a friendship unmatched in power.
