The problem is that he couldn't shake that at all. No matter where he went, someone would compare them.

He could have easily done something else with his life, but this was his passion. So he decided he would be the best player on his own merit. And it worked. He became someone to admire in his own town and through Spira during another pilgrimage.

What I'm getting at is you're not going to be able to avoid the comparisons. The thing you have to decide is how you're going to let that affect you. You could decide to just push everyone away and let Leon take over. Or, you could be better than Leon in everything. Or you could make friends with the guy. I don't claim to know how many friends you have here, but I'm pretty sure they wouldn't be too happy that you gave them up because some other guy is running around that's similar to you.

Leon wasn't the one who offered to fight me when I first got here and I was still trying to figure this place out. That was you. I might make friends with Leon, but I can't picture myself playing ring toss with him. Or making fun of Captain Friendship.

[This might actually be the most Auron has talked to anyone in Empatheias at one time. He has to drink water.]