Warm sunlight streamed through the window, bathing the dining table in a cheerful, golden glow. Dust motes danced lazily in the bright beams, tracing quiet patterns through the air. Outside, the weather was exceptionally bright and sunny, but inside the house, a heavy, unyielding silence settled over the room.
Rohan sat back slowly in his chair, his gaze shifting back and forth between his parents. He had just asked them for critical guidance on choosing his future path, dumping the massive question right into the middle of their quiet breakfast. The unexpected inquiry had instantly plunged both Vikram and Anjali into incredibly deep thought.
Minutes ticked by in absolute, unmoving silence. Rohan felt the skin on the back of his neck grow warm as he waited. He nervously traced a light finger along the polished grain of the wooden table, listening to the faint, steady tick of the wall clock down the hallway.
Vikram finally broke the suffocating quiet, the wooden legs of his chair scraping softly against the floor as he leaned forward over the table. "It is best if you awaken your prana and become a martial artist," he said, his deep voice carrying a firm, unshakeable finality.
Anjali immediately stiffened, shaking her head in sharp disagreement before he could even elaborate. "No," she countered, her tone crisp and unyielding. "It's far better for him to awaken as a magician after converting his energy into magical energy."
Rohan looked directly between them, his gaze jumping from his father's intensely serious expression to his mother's fiercely determined eyes. A quiet wave of anxiety rippled through his chest. "I know both of your options are good," he admitted, resting his palms flat against the cool surface of the table to ground himself. "But I cannot choose one of them on my own."
He leaned in closer across the table, looking at them with wide, expectantly open eyes. "Can't you decide with your wealth of experience? It should be easy for the two of you."
Anjali glanced briefly at Vikram, her eyes locking onto his for a sharp, silent micro-second. She turned her full, undivided attention back to her son, her spine straightening. "I'm recommending the path of a magician because of your perfect control," she explained, her voice rapidly gaining momentum as the argument took root in her mind. "It will be remarkably easy for you to open your chakra and convert your mental energy into magical energy."
She tapped her index finger firmly against the table to emphasize each syllable. "With perfect control, remembering intricate spells will be completely effortless for you. That advantage alone will fundamentally increase your raw power."
"You can flawlessly memorize every single spell," Anjali continued, her eyes growing visibly bright as she visualized the limitless possibilities. "And because of your absolute control, you can actively use those complex spells without needing years of grueling, bone-breaking physical training. But that isn't even the most crucial factor I'm considering."
She leaned forward even further, her intense gaze locking directly onto Rohan's. "With the precise help of perfect control, you should be able to seamlessly combine your laser eyes superpower with magic. You must already know how incredibly powerful a person becomes when they successfully merge their natural superpower with magic."
Even as she spoke, the sheer scale of the concept hung heavily in the air, making the room feel suddenly smaller. Rohan and Vikram both sat in tight silence, easily picturing the terrifying, world-shaking potential of such a combination.
"After combining both," Anjali said, her voice dropping to a sharp, intense whisper that sent a literal shiver down Rohan's spine, "you should be able to release all kinds of spells directly through your eyes. Think about it, Rohan. There would be no need for chanting long spells, and no taking precious time to cast complex, hard magic."
She let out a slow breath, shaking her head in a mix of awe and absolute certainty. "It is a massive advantage that any master magician would willingly kill for. I can't even imagine the terrifying depth of raw power you could create after combining them. It is a straight, golden path toward the absolute peak of power."
Both Rohan and Vikram listened to her lengthy argument with absolute, laser-focused attention. Rohan’s eyes widened significantly, his pulse quickening as he looked deeply tempted by the thrilling vision of shooting high-tier, destructive magic straight from his eyes.
Vikram, however, remained entirely stoic, his rugged face as unreadable as carved stone. He deliberately waited a quiet beat to ensure his wife was fully finished before he offered a response. "You're right," he acknowledged calmly, his voice smooth and entirely unbothered. "But listen to my reasoning first, and then tell me whether he should truly awaken as a magician or a martial artist."
Anjali crossed her arms over her chest, leaning back slightly and throwing him a skeptical look. Her left eyebrow arched toward her hairline. "Alright," she muttered, her posture defensive. "What is it?"
"First, we must look at what magicians value above all else," Vikram said, his voice steady, carrying the weight of a seasoned warrior who understood the inner workings of energy. "It is insight and creativity. The strongest, most legendary magicians in history are those who created their own spells and forged their own entirely unique paths."
He shifted his gaze away from his wife, looking directly at Rohan to emphasize a fundamental, practical truth. "But what you're recommending is for our son to simply follow the footsteps of previous magicians. Rohan doesn't have the interest to spend his entire life learning rigid spells or reading endless piles of heavy books."
Vikram leaned back, turning his full attention back to Anjali. "Even if he can completely memorize every single book with his perfect control, it doesn't mean he can surpass those genius magicians whose innate magical talents are at the absolute top of the world."
He paused right there, letting the heavy weight of his next statement hang in the quiet room. "Tell me, can he surpass the Magic supreme's new disciple in magic?"
Vikram watched his wife closely, his sharp eyes catching every micro-expression on her face. "If your answer to that is an honest yes, I will not say a single word to stop him from pursuing the magical path."
Anjali went completely still. The energetic momentum she had carefully built up moments ago evaporated into a heavy, frozen silence as she stared down at the wooden table, visibly wrestling with the harsh reality of his words.
"I don't think it is possible for him to surpass him," Anjali admitted softly after a long, painful pause. Her shoulders slumped slightly, the fiery confidence draining from her posture. "That disciple's talent is in a completely different dimension compared to normal people."
"That is exactly my thought as well," Vikram said, nodding slowly as he validated her assessment. "But it is entirely different if he chooses the path of a martial artist."
Rohan shifted restlessly in his chair, his attention instantly snapping back to his father as a spark of curiosity lit up inside him.
"What martial artists value most is control over oneself, training the body, and consistently surpassing our own physical limits," Vikram explained, his eyes suddenly burning with an intense conviction. "And far more than discipline, willpower matters. A martial artist with less innate talent can surpass even the greatest geniuses if they possess an unstoppable, burning will to move forward."
Vikram smiled faintly, looking directly into his son's eyes. "Rohan's superpower of perfect control will give him unprecedented confidence. After all, with a power like that, he can master any martial art with absolute ease."
"Where other people struggle, hit walls, and break down, he can flawlessly surpass his body's limits and break all established conventions," Vikram continued, his voice growing stronger and more resonant. "This constant success will build an unbreakable confidence within him, and he will keep improving. Remember, prana is composed of physical energy and willpower."
He held up a single finger, pointing it slightly upward. "Will can also be called someone's core belief. If a martial artist loses their will, their path is permanently cut off, and they can never advance."
"But I am absolutely certain Rohan will never lose his will," Vikram stated with utter certainty. "The sheer assurance given to him by his power will prevent that entirely. For a martial artist, the superpower of perfect control isn't just a normal ability. It is a godly superpower."
*And who knows,* Vikram thought to himself, keeping the staggering reflection hidden behind his stoic expression, *he might even be able to surpass the ultimate limit of martial arts that all the top strongest people are currently stuck at.*
Rohan’s heart hammered violently against his ribs as a massive wave of excitement flared through his chest. The glorious vision of his own future left him temporarily breathless, a phantom heat swirling under his skin.
*I didn't know I could be so awesome,* Rohan thought, his mind racing wildly as he began to daydream right there at the table. *If the path of martial arts had existed in my previous life, I might have become the strongest being in the entire world.*
Anjali let out a long, heavy sigh, the sharp sound instantly breaking Rohan from his grand trance. "Alright, I will not stop him from pursuing the martial path," she said quietly. She stood up abruptly from the dining table, her chair scraping loudly against the floor, and walked away into the next room with a distinct huff.
Seeing her sudden, upset exit, Rohan instantly moved to stand up, his body reacting on instinct as he wanted to go after her and console her.
Vikram reached out a large hand and caught his arm, stopping him firmly in his tracks. "Your mom might look irritated right now, but she knows deep down that this is the best choice for you," he said gently, his grip warm and grounding.
Rohan looked back at his father, listening closely to the quiet reassurance in his voice.
"She left just because she didn't want to put any unnecessary pressure on you or your choices," Vikram added, releasing his grip on Rohan's arm and leaning back.
Rohan exhaled a long breath, the tight tension finally leaving his shoulders as he sat fully back down. "Alright. When are we starting?"
"We will start after your birthday party," Vikram replied, a sudden, mischievous glint lighting up his eyes.
Rohan blinked, caught completely off guard. "Why after the party?"
"After all, I don't want you to look like a beggar at your own birthday celebration," Vikram said teasingly, a broad smirk playing on his lips. He stood up from the table, looking down at his son with an amused expression. "How will you impress Riya if your clothes don't look good?"
The blood rushed straight to Rohan's face, a fierce, burning heat coating his cheeks. He scrambled out of his chair in utter embarrassment, his feet nearly tripping over themselves as he bolted toward the hallway, heading straight for the safety of his bedroom.