The world was unfair.
Everyone knew it. Everyone accepted it. Everyone—but him.
Aren Valis stepped into the great hall, heart pounding. Today was the day his worth would be revealed—or dismissed.
"Next!" the examiner's voice boomed.
One by one, students placed their hands on the ancient crystal at the center of the hall. Flames danced in some, lightning crackled in others, and powerful auras radiated off those born with strength.
Everyone had something. Everyone except him.
"…You're trembling again," a familiar voice whispered beside him.
"I'm not," Aren muttered, lowering his gaze.
"You always say that," the voice said, a hand clapping his shoulder too hard to be comforting.
He forced a laugh. "Maybe I'm just… cautious."
The crystal's cold surface awaited him. One step. Two. Each step felt heavier than the last.
"Place your hand on the crystal," the examiner commanded.
Aren obeyed. Cold. Smooth. Nothing.
The hall fell silent.
"…Is it broken?" someone whispered.
"No reaction at all," another said.
The examiner frowned, tapping the crystal. Still nothing.
"…No ability detected," the examiner finally declared.
The words struck harder than any blade. Fifteen years of waiting, training, hoping—gone in an instant.
Laughter echoed around him. Not kind laughter. Cruel, shocked, mocking.
"Zero?" someone snickered. "Is that even possible?"
Aren pulled his hand back slowly. He wanted a flicker, a spark, anything.
Nothing came.
He turned away, moving through the crowd. No one stopped him. No one met his eyes. In this world, people like him didn't matter.
Outside, the cold wind greeted him. He drew in a shaky breath. And then… he laughed.
A quiet, broken sound that surprised even him.
"…Of course," he muttered.
Nothing left to lose. No power. No future. No place.
Yet, as he stared at the empty road ahead, he felt something strange: not despair. Not fear.
Curiosity. Determination.
He took a step forward.
Not because he had a plan. Not because he had hope.
Because standing still felt worse.
And for the first time, Aren Valis realized:
This wasn't the end. This was just the beginning.