After the day of her awakening, Trụ’s life was far from easy.
In the eyes of others, she was only:
“the girl with the weakest lightning ability.”
The children who once played with her slowly changed their attitudes.
Some mocked her openly.
— You seriously think you can become a hero?
Others intentionally asked her to use her power just for entertainment.
Whenever the tiny spark of electricity crackled weakly before disappearing, laughter would echo around her.
But Trụ never gave up.
Every single day, she trained alone.
In the early morning, she ran around the town.
In the afternoon, she practiced controlling electricity.
At night, she read books about combat and elemental abilities.
Even though her progress was nearly nonexistent…
she still continued trying.
Once, the electricity from her hand was so weak that it only made her own hair stand up.
Her father burst out laughing when he saw it.
— Well, at least your power can create a new hairstyle.
Her mother secretly prepared medicine for small burns because Trụ often injured herself during training.
Even so, neither of them ever told her to abandon her dream.
Years passed.
Trụ grew older under the doubtful eyes of everyone around her.
Yet through unbelievable hard work, she eventually passed the extremely difficult entrance exam to:
Astra Academy.
It was the most prestigious academy in the northern region.
Many famous heroes and adventurers had graduated from there.
The day she received the acceptance letter, Trụ nearly cried.
She ran around the house excitedly.
— I got in!
I really got in!
Even her father, who rarely showed emotion, had to turn away to hide his proud smile.
Her mother hugged her tightly.
— I knew you could do it.
The night before enrollment, Trụ could barely sleep.
She imagined:
magic classescombat trainingnew friendsand the life of a true hero.
But reality…
was nothing like her dream.
On the very first day in class, Trụ realized the enormous gap between herself and the other students.
Some students could create fire with a snap of their fingers.
Some froze entire desks instantly.
Others released enough energy pressure just by walking to shake the air itself.
Meanwhile…
she only had a few weak sparks of electricity.
During the first ability evaluation, when it became Trụ’s turn, her tiny spark had barely appeared…
before the entire classroom burst into laughter.
— That’s seriously her ability?— Even children’s toys are stronger than that.— How did she even get into Astra?
The loudest voice belonged to:
Lạc Thiên.
A famous rich heir within the academy.
He possessed a high-level fire ability and was constantly favored by the teachers.
Lạc Thiên looked at Trụ with complete disdain.
— With a power like that, you should go back to your village and grow vegetables.
The classroom erupted with laughter once again.
Trụ simply lowered her head silently.
But that was only the beginning.
Over the following days:
her belongings mysteriously disappearedher desk was vandalizedher food was thrown awayand nobody wanted to work with her in group activities
During combat training, the noble students intentionally hit her harder than necessary.
One time, Trụ’s hand was injured badly enough to bleed.
Yet the instructor only coldly said:
— Become stronger if you don’t want to lose.
Little by little…
the academy she once admired became a nightmare.
Every morning, Trụ felt afraid of going to class.
She endured it for nearly an entire year.
Until one day.
During a combat practice match in front of the whole class, Lạc Thiên intentionally unleashed an overwhelming blast of fire and forced Trụ onto the ground.
Then he laughed loudly.
— Weak people like you should disappear from Astra.
Nobody defended her.
Not a single person.
That night, Trụ sat alone outside the academy for a very long time.
Finally…
she quietly submitted her withdrawal form.
On the day she left the academy, heavy rain poured from the sky.
Trụ stood before Astra’s giant gates and looked at the massive building one last time.
Her dream of becoming a hero…
seemed to end there.
Many years later.
Trụ became an adult and lived an ordinary life in the city.
She worked many different jobs before eventually becoming a delivery driver.
The job was exhausting:
working under burning sunlight and heavy rainstaying awake late at nightdealing with rude customers
But at least…
nobody expected her to become a hero anymore.
Her weak lightning ability slightly increased her movement speed, making deliveries a little easier than for ordinary people.
Slowly, she got used to that life.
Until one stormy night.
Trụ accepted her final delivery order in the outskirts of the city.
Rain poured so heavily that the roads were almost impossible to see.
As she crossed an intersection—
BOOM!!!
A truck lost control and crashed directly toward her.
The sound of impact rang violently.
Everything turned black.
…
When Trụ opened her eyes again, she was lying in a hospital bed.
Her entire body ached.
Bandages wrapped around nearly every part of her body.
Instinctively, she raised her hand and tried to use her lightning power.
But…
nothing happened.
She tried again.
Still nothing.
Eventually, the doctor informed her that her energy nervous system had been severely damaged in the accident.
Her ability…
had completely disappeared.
Trụ froze in silence.
Even though it had been weak.
Even though it had caused people to mock her.
It was still the final remaining piece of the dream she once had as a child.
That night, she sat alone beside the hospital window under the dim lights.
Her eyes were empty.
Then suddenly— she noticed something strange.
The small flower pot near the window…
was moving.
The leaves slowly turned toward her.
A tiny vine quietly stretched outward as if trying to touch her hand.
Trụ stared in shock.
She had never possessed a plant-type ability before.
But the moment her fingers touched the leaf…
a strange energy spread throughout her body.
It was not violent like lightning.
Instead, it felt:
warmdeepancient.
And beneath her palm…
a glowing green leaf slowly appeared.
~ End ~