It was a pleasant morning.
Our hero woke up late again, like the lazy boy he was. Around him, everyone was busy running, fighting, working hard to earn gold, gems, equipment, and weapons just to level up.
But he didn't care. He never did.
That day, his parents scolded him.
"Why don't you do something? Complete your tasks. Grow stronger like the others!"
He wanted to, but deep inside he already knew he couldn't keep up. His friends were leveling so quickly, while he struggled to finish even the simplest quest.
Depression weighed on him.
Worse, his friends and even his family laughed at him.
"You're a failure."
"You're not fit for this."
Their mocking voices cut into him like sharp blades.
"Haha… haaa… haa…"
Their laughter echoed, cruel and merciless.
It broke him.
That evening, he sat alone under a tree, his mind drowning in thoughts of failure. Tears slipped down his cheeks.
One fell to the ground.
!!!!!!???
From the quiet path, an old man slowly appeared, leaning on a stick as he walked. His steps were heavy but steady, and his eyes held something calm something different.
He stopped before the boy and asked softly,
"My child, why are you crying?"
The boy stayed silent, lowering his head.
Again, the old man asked, his voice gentler this time.
Finally, the boy whispered,
"Because everyone calls me a failure… even my own family."
The old man looked at him with kind eyes.
"Do not cry, my child. One day, you will be strong. One day, you will be a successful man."
The boy lifted his head, tears still on his face.
"How…? How could that ever happen?"
The old man chuckled quietly.
"Wait, my child. I will give you a task to complete."
The boy shook his head.
"I can't… I can't even finish the easy ones."
The old man smiled, firm yet warm.
"No one sees your true strength. Not yet. But I can feel it you are destined to do great things. For yourself… and for this world." 🌍
!!!!!!????