Back home, I told my father everything.

  How they treated me over the past year.

  How they acted at the graduation.

  How they gave my scroll like it was a burden finally off their shoulders.

  How they gave the speech to someone else, even though I had the best grades in the entire University.

  He didn’t get angry. He didn’t flinch.

  He just said:

  “You don’t owe them anything.”

  “They fear what they don’t understand. They envy what they cannot reach.”

  “Let them talk. Let them stare. You? You rise.”

  “You are my son. You were born for greatness.”

  Then, for the first time in a long while… he smiled.

  “Now that you’ve got your scroll, you can come to the caves with your old man.

  It’s about time you saw my greatness in action.”

  I hesitated.

  But he placed a hand on my shoulder and grinned.

  “Oh, don’t be like that. I’ve got a surprise.”

  “Guess who’s joining the team?”

  “That girl you like—Lilyan.”

  I tried to deny it.

  “Who, Lilyan? We’re just friends,” I said quickly, flustered, trying to wave it off.

  Then—slap.

  A light smack hit my back. I turned—and there she was.

  “Oh? So I’m not good enough for the talented man now?” she said mockingly.

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  “It’s alright, Mister Elion the Talented. I don’t care.”

  I blinked, confused.

  “Why are you here?”

  She smiled, proud and confident.

  “My father and yours are friends. He asked your dad to train me as an adventurer. He said there’s no one he trusts more to keep me safe.”

  “Don’t worry, by the way. He knows about the rumors. Doesn’t believe them. Actually…”

  “He says you’re one of his targets. He wants you to work under him when you’re ready.”

  I blinked again.

  “Why would you just say your father’s plans like that? You know what, I don’t care.”

  She splashed a glass of water in my face.

  “Because I’m the leader now. I can do whatever I want.”

  If it wasn’t obvious…

  I lied.

  I did care.

  I loved her.

  I just couldn’t say it.

  That night, I couldn’t sleep from the excitement.

  I’m about to go on to my first real mission.

  The next morning, I joined my father and Lilyan at the mouth of a jungle cave—our first real raid together.

  His old team was waiting. I can’t remember their names or even their faces.

  But I remember this:

  They had heard the rumors.

  And they chose to ignore them—because they knew my father, and they knew me.

  They laughed, joked, teased. It felt like family.

  But then… I noticed a new face.

  A familiar one.

  One of the boys from the University.

  One of the worst of them.

  The kind that mocked me, spat near me, scrawled things on my door.

  His name was Darren Blake.

  He didn’t say a word to me.

  I didn’t say a word to him.

  We entered the cave …..

  Inside the cave, we met the first wave of monsters. My father charged in like lightning, slashing through them with elegance and control I had never seen in the training chamber.

  He turned back to boast in front of me and the others.

  His old teammates knew he was showing off for me.

  They mocked him for being childish.

  We moved on.

  Another horde came. My father got ready to charge again—but this time, I moved first.

  I cast a Void Slash a basic spell , and the monsters were torn apart instantly.

  Silence.

  Even I was surprised.

  Then—cheers.

  His teammates clapped me on the back.

  My dad laughed, puffing with pride.

  “That’s my son!” he beamed.

  “He’s exactly like me.”

  Everyone cheered.

  Everyone… except Darren.

  He just stayed quiet. Watching. I didn’t know what is his problem back then so I ignored him

  The cave was cleared with ease. We returned home.

  And that night, they threw a small celebration for our first successful raid.

  Lilyan laughed beside me, sipping juice.

  “You were quite the show today.”

  “That’s how I like my man.”

  I turned red.

  “We’re just friends…”

  She burst out laughing.

  “You should’ve seen your face! You turned redder than a blood crystal.”

  My father was glowing with pride.

  His only son—on the path to greatness.

  For a while, life was good.

  Cave raids.

  Time with my father.

  Time with her.

  Learning new spells.

  Training harder.

  Living.

  But something was changing.

  Slowly. Quietly.

  The voice in my head… returned.

  It wasn’t screaming yet.

  Just whispers.

  “Learn it. Time magic. Awaken it. Remember what you are.”

  I ignored it.

  And the years passed.

  I got stronger.

  Lilyan stayed close.

  My father kept smiling.

  It was the life I wanted.

  The one I thought I deserved.