I really like what Leona says to Jamil when they're on their way down to Tartarus to defeat overblot Idia in book six. It was really harsh and brutally honest. Leona essentially read Jamil's mind and called him out for all of his flaws and how wrong his way of thinking was. He made him aware of the unpleasant reality that he's not as great as he thought he was.
He said just because Jamil was held back his entire life and wasn't allowed to do his best, that doesn't make him the best at everything he does. You actually need to have experience in things before you can be good at them. Jamil was giving himself too much credit. He was doubting Leona when he had the strength to protect them both from danger.
And Leona was also right about Jamil thinking less about others and thinking they're beneath him. A lot of the ones that are with him including the housewardens have spent a lot of time to earn everything they have and the place that they are in now. But Jamil doesn't see it like that and still thinks he should have what they have even though that's not true.
What I love the most about this whole discussion is in the end, Jamil actually listened to everything Leona said and learned a lot from it. He took his advice and let Leona take care of himself. He realized that he still has a long way to go from here but he also has a lot of room to improve. I thought that was a great and eventful turning point for him.
I really did think they were going to go somewhere incredible with this. The scene itself was great so, I thought of course they would follow up on Jamil's plot with something even more impactful than this. I thought they couldn't possibly forget about this. They could make him train until he's finally the very person he's always dreamed of becoming.
But then I learned the agonizing truth that Jamil is actually a slave and isn't allowed to be amazing at all because he could put himself and his family in grave danger. I was so devastated when I learned that but I was also disappointed because it meant that the scene with Leona wouldn't be expanded on or touched on again. It wouldn't mean anything.
So, now I just feel let down. I still love that scene, but now, it just feels like a waste to have it in the story. Jamil is always going to remain stuck in the cage he's trapped in and no amount of pep talks or reality checks from Leona will ever change that. I just don't really understand what the point of all of it was. Looking back on it, it all just feels so mean.