Before long, Ankit and his father returned home.
Sore gently lifted Ankit down from his shoulders.
The moment the front door opened, Ankit’s mother came running out.
“You two are back!” “How did the test go?” She smiled as she looked toward Ankit.
But the very next second…
Her smile disappeared.
“…Ankit?” “My baby…” “Why are you crying?” She immediately turned to Sore.
“What happened?” “Did you say something to him?” Sore hurriedly raised both hands.
“W-Wait!” “I didn’t say anything!” “Then why is my son crying?” Sore let out a helpless sigh.
“It’s nothing.” “He’s just upset because…” “…he didn’t awaken any power.” For a brief moment…
His mother fell silent.
“…No power?” She gently picked Ankit up and held him tightly against her chest.
“So what?” “You are our son.” “We don’t need you to have any special power.” She frowned slightly.
“That examiner must have made a mistake.” Then she stroked Ankit’s head with a warm smile.
“So don’t cry anymore.” Inside his heart, Ankit was completely speechless.
…No one called me a disgrace.
No one laughed at me.
No one looked down on me.
Then…
Why did I ever think they would throw me away?
They’re my parents.
The people who love me more than anyone else.
His chest tightened with guilt.
I…
I was even thinking about dying again.
What was wrong with me?
If I had done that…
The only people I would have hurt were these two kind souls.
He slowly closed his eyes.
I don’t need anything from the rest of the world.
Mom was right.
I’m their son.
That’s all I need to be.
Even if the entire world laughs at me…
As long as I have my family…
That’s enough.
He looked up at his mother and spoke softly.
“B-But…
Mom…” Before he could finish, she gently placed a finger on his lips.
“Shh…” “You don’t have to say anything.” “So what if you didn’t awaken a power?” She smiled with absolute confidence.
“You were already the strongest child long before any magic entered the picture.” “And no crystal…” “…can ever measure the strength of your heart.” Just then, the front door opened.
Ankit’s grandfather and grandmother had arrived.
The moment they saw the atmosphere inside the house, they immediately understood what had happened.
His grandfather calmly spoke, “I’d like to talk to my grandson alone.” Without waiting for a reply, he gently took Ankit’s hand and led him into another room.
The door quietly closed behind them.
Ankit stood there with his head lowered.
Unable to meet his grandfather’s eyes.
His grandfather smiled gently.
“Why are you standing like that?” In a barely audible voice, Ankit replied, “…I didn’t receive any powers.” His grandfather nodded as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world.
“I already knew.” Ankit’s eyes widened.
“…What?” “Who told you?” The old man smiled faintly.
“No one.” “I’ve known ever since the day you were born.” Ankit froze.
“Since…
I was born?” “But…
how?” His grandfather chuckled.
“So…” “You’re finally old enough to start asking the right questions.” “Very well.” “I’ll tell you.” “But remember…” “What I’m about to say must remain our secret.” His expression became serious.
“Your grandmother and I were once among the greatest mages of our era.” “Together, we created an entirely new branch of magic.” “A spell that allows us to glimpse a person’s heart…” “And, to a limited extent, see fragments of their past and possible future.” “We spent years perfecting it.” “Later, I passed that magic on to only two students.” “One was your father.” “And the other…” “…was the elf who gave you your name.” “Rina.” Ankit’s pupils trembled.
So that’s why…
She already knew about me.
Not just her…
Grandpa…
Grandma…
Dad…
They’ve known from the very beginning.
His grandfather continued, “Do you remember what I told you a year ago?” “‘Power is never fixed.'” “That belief became the foundation of the magic we created.” “It was because of that idea…” “…that we succeeded.” He placed a gentle hand on Ankit’s shoulder.
“So never lose faith in yourself.” “No matter what happens.” Those simple words washed away the fear that had been suffocating Ankit since the test.
It felt as though a heavy burden had finally disappeared from his heart.
After a long silence, Ankit looked into his grandfather’s eyes.
“…Grandpa.” “There’s something I need to tell you.” “I wasn’t born in this world.” “I was reborn here…
from another world.” “In my previous life…” “I never received this much love from anyone.” “I became trapped in endless expectations and studies…” “And in the end…” “I threw my own life away.” His grandfather quietly listened without interrupting.
When Ankit finished, the old man simply nodded.
“I know.” “I couldn’t see every detail…” “But I could sense that your heart was still chained to your previous life.” “That’s why I understood at least part of your pain.” He looked at Ankit with warm, unwavering eyes.
“So…” “What do you want to do from now on?” Ankit lowered his head.
“…I don’t know.” His grandfather smiled.
“It’s alright not to know.” “But don’t ever stop searching.” He looked out the window toward the distant sky.
“Do you know something strange?” “I can’t see your future.” “I’ve searched for it many times…” “And every time…” “I find nothing.” He turned back toward Ankit.
“I believe that’s because your mind was shaped by another world.” “You carry ideas that don’t belong here.” “And because of those ideas…” “Your future can’t be predicted.” His smile grew wider.
“So don’t underestimate yourself.” “You may not possess magic…” “But you possess something far rarer.” “A way of thinking this world has never seen before.” “You’ve been mature since the day you were born.” “And sometimes…” “A single extraordinary mind can change the fate of an entire world.”