He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms.
For the last hour, he had been thinking about how to solve this issue.
Searching desperately for a clue, a hint, or at least something that could help him.
But no matter what he thought.
No matter which plan he made to regain his former glory.
The result was always the same.
He would fail until he solved the issue related to the book.
The words written in the book repeated like a curse.
Flashing before his eyes until his head started hurting from the pain.
He threw his hands into the air in frustration.
He stood up from the bed and was now standing on the wooden floor.
His questions had no answers.
His anger only grew as time passed.
Ank was lost in thought, wondering what he could do next.
When suddenly the door opened.
An old man, wrinkled and thin, yet still carrying a spark of vitality in his eyes, stepped inside.
His white beard reached down to his chest, and though his back was slightly bent, his presence filled the room.
And something was different about him.
“Why were you shouting, boy?” the old man asked in a calm, steady tone.
And looked at Ank first, then at the hole in the wall.
He had been busy when he heard the voice, but work had prevented him from coming to see Ank.
Now he was free, but he was surprised to see Ank awake.
But the room was small, so his eyes automatically went toward the hole in the wall.
Ank’s irritation burst out immediately.
“Who are you?
And why are you questioning me?
You don’t know who I am.
I am thinking, so leave.” The old man narrowed his eyes.
“Oh, boy, have you already forgotten?
I am the one who saved you.
You are in my house.
And now you treat me like this?” Due to his anger, his attitude, or rather his ego as the Emperor of the Universe, started showing.
No one could question him.
But he remembered his condition and the words in the book.
He realized his mistake.
Ank quickly changed his tone.
“Sorry,” he muttered.
The old man slowly waved a wrinkled hand.
“No problem.
But at least tell me.
Why were you shouting like the world was ending?
And why is there a hole in the wall?
I remember there was no hole when I last came here.” Ank panicked.
He could not tell him anything.
And tried to make an excuse.
Before Ank could reply, the door opened again.
This time, a girl entered.
She looked no older than fourteen, with long orange hair as bright as a beautiful morning sky.
Her skin was pale, and her sharp, beautiful black eyes narrowed the moment they landed on Ank.
“Grandpa, I already told you this wasn’t a good idea,” she said coldly.
“You shouldn’t have brought a stranger into the house.” Her name was Maya Silvertone.
Unlike her grandfather’s calmness, Maya’s face showed nothing but hostility.
She crossed her arms and glared at him, clearly displeased.
“Grandpa, look at the wall.
He already destroyed it.” “Oh boy, do you know how much that wall cost?
Grandpa would surely punish you.” She narrowed her eyes.
Ank felt the weight of her stare.
And for a moment, he wanted to avoid her eyes.
But he did not.
The old man sighed.
“Maya, don’t be rude.” “Rude?” she repeated sharply.
“Grandpa, you and I live here alone.” She and her grandfather lived alone, relying only on his pension.
With Ank now staying here, their monthly expenses had increased.
And Ank had also destroyed a wall.
“You know, Grandpa, how difficult it has become to manage our expenses.
And now he has damaged the wall.
How will we repair it?” she said.
Her frustration was clearly visible on her face.
“Grandpa, why did you bring someone as weak as him into the house?
Maya wanted to kick Ank out of the house as soon as possible.
She had already spent eight months waiting for Ank to wake up.
Now she did not want to see him even for one minute.
Maya continued.
“He’s so weak that even a seven-year-old could kill him.
But I am surprised at how you cracked the wall.” Hearing this, Ank was shocked.
He did not hear the next words Maya said after insulting him.
Only one sentence echoed in his ears.
I’m weaker than a child?
The old man noticed Ank’s reaction and said, “Why are you so surprised?” And then his gaze landed on Maya.
“He’s only fifteen years old.
He still has time to grow stronger.” “And about the wall…” Before the old man could finish his words, Ank interrupted him.
“Fifteen years old?” Ank muttered.
Still not believing what he had heard.
Maya smirked at his confusion.
“Yes, you’re fifteen.
But honestly, you’re weaker than a seven-year-old child.
I could even beat you in a fight without any effort.” Her teasing tone stung even more than her words.
Ank clenched his fists.
Anger burned again, not at her, but at himself.
Desperate, he tried to punch the wall.
To check whether what they were saying was true or not.
He knew he had become weak.
But being weaker than a seven-year-old child was an insult to him.
For a moment, he forgot that he had somehow become fifteen years old.
His fist landed on the wall, and pain spread throughout his body.
Forcing him to cry out, but som ehow he stopped the tears from leaving his eyes.
First, that book.
Then fifteen years.
Now weaker than a child.