Is Mystere a separate character from Leo?

[jay_are]

I think maybe someone here can help me understand this.

[Sonic#]

That's like asking whether Luna is the same character as Fresca. Obviously not, superficial similarities in appearance and the fact they never appear side-by-side together aside.

[ShugoHanasaki]

They are the same character. Leo couldn't bring himself to show his true face to the heroes after his sense of justice was revealed to be wrong. He was ashamed after finding out he had been working for the wrong side.

[Kizyr]

Ok I don't have all my resources on-hand with me at work, but here's what it boils down to:
Lunar EB (Sega CD): Leo and Mystere are verifiably different characters.
Lunar EBC (Saturn/PS): It's not possible to determine if they're different, so I'm carrying across the same conclusion from Lunar EB.

Basically it boils down to this... Just before you rescue the last of your party members in Pentagulia, you can de-equip everything (but the mask) from Mystere. Then, when Leo shows up, he has all his equipment again. If Leo and Mystere were the same person, then the only way that'd be possible is if Leo went around stashing spare equipment in every single one of the other towers -- how would he know which person you were going to rescue last, and why would he expect you to take off all his equipment beforehand? Going down to get his equipment from his own tower isn't an option since Mystere is gone for only a moment before Leo comes in, so there wasn't enough time for that.

Ergo, Leo and Mystere are two totally different people.

Also they sound nothing alike. KF

[Sonic#]

They are the same character. Leo couldn't bring himself to show his true face to the heroes after his sense of justice was revealed to be wrong. He was ashamed after finding out he had been working for the wrong side.

That explains why Leo went away. It doesn't explain where Mystere came from.

Even Lunar needs a superhero.

[Shinto-Cetra]

Maybe Leo was the first Mystere, but some new guy has taken up the mantle. Terry McGinnis does this in Batman Beyond, and ex-Officer Robin Blake hinted to do the same at the end of Dark Knight Rises, and Batman and Mystere are both superheroes. Who is the new guy? Actually, appearances aside maybe it's a new girl...
Zophar has shapeshifting abilities, eg turning False "Althena" into a monster. Mauri drank Zophar's blood, and appears as her normal self dressed in Mystere's outfit in a bromide.That Bromide was probably taken post Ronfar's curing, but what if Mauri shapeshifted into her brother and put on the mask? But why would Zophar command Mauri-Mystere to do something that would weaken his goals? Did he want an epic duel or maybe even had some higher ideal like Ghaleon? Maybe we'll find out if Lunar 3 ever happens...

[Imperial Knight]

I'm still fond of the theory I put forth on the now long-defunct boards at LunarEB, that Mystere is in fact General Leo from FFVI in disguise.