From Rock Bottom To Hero

Magic And Despair

My parents lead us to the dining room, and I sit across from the magician.

He places a small, crystal ball on the table. "Place your hand on it."

I do as he says. At first, nothing happens, but then, the crystal starts to glow. First in a soft green, and shortly after, brown mixes in.
"Earth and wind. Interesting." The magician nods. "Not rare, but also not too common."

Then the light changes again. Three small, pulsating golden lights appear.

The magician furrows his brow in surprise. "Three Singular Magics?! That's extremely... unusual."

My father raises an eyebrow. "Is that problematic?"

"Not necessarily problematic." The magician answers, his expression thoughtful.

"It's rare, yes. Normally, those who possess Singular Magic have just one. Two is already rare, but three?! That's something only a few can achieve. There are a few with four, but I've never seen anyone like that."

I pull my hand back. "What are Singular Magics?"

The magician smiles slightly as he tries to explain simply. "Singular Magics are special types of magic." He says in a gentle voice. "There are many different kinds of magic, but anyone who has a Singular Magic has one that only they can use."

Got it. A kind of magic that only I can use, and I have three of them.

"Can you also find out what kind of Singular Magics they are?"

The man shakes his head. "No. Only the number can be determined. They can be anything. Some remain hidden for a lifetime because the bearer never finds out what they are."

I let the words sink in. Three Singular Magics, with wind and earth as the main elements. Not bad at all.

My gaze drifts to Shiro. He's been silently listening to the entire conversation, but his expression isn't just fearful anymore. It's also thoughtful.

"Well." The magician finally says. "That means you have potential. A lot of potential. But whether you use it or not is up to you."

Meanwhile, Shiro quietly slips through the back door. I notice it and secretly watch him. The door closes behind Shiro.

"So, my work here is done." The magician stands up and leaves the room without another word.

"Where is Shiro going?" I murmur. My curiosity is too strong, and I can't help but follow Shiro.

I can't find him at first, so I just walk around the house. Then I hear a voice.

"Wait!" I suddenly hear Shiro call.

When I finally peek around the corner, I see Shiro running after the magician.

"I want to know too!" Shiro calls, looking anxious, his voice a bit uncertain. "Can I try it too?"

The magician stops and turns to him.
"You want to know if you also have magic?" the magician asks in a calm tone.

Shiro nods, keeping his gaze on the magician. "Yes! I want to know if I have something like Sota."

The magician shakes his head. "Sorry, but I don't sense any mana in you. No magic."
"What?!" Shiro can't believe it. "That can't be!"

The magician sighs and pulls the crystal ball out of his bag. "If you don't believe me, then convince yourself." He extends the crystal ball.

I stay in my position, crouched and well hidden, continuing to eavesdrop on the conversation.
Shiro hesitates for just a moment before placing his hand on the ball. A few seconds pass, but the crystal stays dark and motionless. No glow, no reaction.

The magician looks at him calmly, as though this is nothing new. "I'm sorry, but you're not able to use magic."

Shiro stands still for a moment, staring at the crystal, as if he wants to try again. But the magician puts the crystal away.

"You might understand it someday." The magician says. "But now I must leave."

The magician turns and walks away. Shiro stands there, watching him go, then looks down at the ground in disappointment.

"Why don't I have magic? Everyone else has at least something. Only I don't."

Shiro clenches his fists and starts to cry. "I'm nothing, just a swordsman."

You can hear the despair in Shiro's voice, and I feel a pang of guilt. "I shouldn't be eavesdropping on my brother. I should leave." I whisper to myself, but I remain silent, hidden behind the house, continuing to listen.

Shiro steps back a little and then sits on a rock. "No one will ever take me seriously. I can't achieve anything. I can never be as strong as Sota." His voice is broken. "It's just not fair."

At that moment, I know I need to do something to help Shiro. But what?