Awakened ring:
chapter 1 begins
The Rain That Didn't Wash Anything Away
In a small, forgotten village, a fragile boy was born.
Time:10:50Am
Day:1 August 2008
His body was weak. His voice—soft. His presence—ignored.
His father took care of him out of duty, not love. His relatives showed concern only when people were watching. No one truly cared... except his mother. She was the only one who held him close, called him strong, even when the world said otherwise.
But one day, something changed.
A small accident—nothing too serious—left him lying on the ground, bruised and cold. That night, something inside him snapped. Or maybe... awakened.
"I'm Jace... how are you all?" He used to greet people with a bright smile, but deep down, he was sinking.
He was once a cheerful, extroverted kid in Class 6. He had friends—or so he thought. Behind his back, his own two closest friends used to mock him, humiliate him.
And he? He said nothing.
Not because he was weak... But because he still believed in kindness.
Jace had always wanted to protect the helpless, to help those in pain—but his strength never matched his will.
They called him a fool. They laughed. They said he'd never become anything. But they didn't know...
The beast inside him had just opened its eyes.
THE BROKEN SMILE BUT SOMETHING HAPPENED BAD
It was a rainy afternoon in Class 6.
Jake: "Hey bro, what's up? Did you finish the homework Sir gave yesterday?"
Jace looked up, lost in thought.
Clara Voss: "Did you do the work, Jace?"
Jace: "…No, I didn't."
Clara (coldly): "Hmm. Figures. As always."
---
Student: "Good morning, Ma'am!"
Teacher: "Good morning, everyone. Now pass up your homework."
She walked around the class, collecting notebooks. Then her tone shifted.
Teacher: "Everyone's done their work—except Jace. Jace, stand up."
Jace stood, quietly.
Teacher: "Get out. If you can't respect time, this class isn't for you."
---
Jace (thinking while standing outside)
"Should I even call these people my friends...? They laugh with me one day... and throw me out the next. I've been listening, Clara. Dimin. Kun. You all pretend so well... but you were never my friends."
Back in class:
Dimin (whispering): "Hey, let's have fun with Jace again. He's such a loser."
Kun: "Make him do our work again... or else we'll spill all his secrets."
Jace overheard. He clenched his fists.
"Why did I ever trust them? Why did I ever think they cared?"
Kun (mocking): "Yo, motherf***er, go ask that girl for her notes. Cry if you have to."
---
Jace's Inner Monologue
"Every day is like this... School, tuitions, even at home... everyone either ignores or mocks me. No one... no one really understands me. Maybe it's better if I just sleep and dream... ...about a life where I'm loved. Where I'm not weak."
But Jace didn't know... That day—the day of rain, betrayal, and silence—was the last time he would be weak.
"The real story... was just about to begin."
One day, Jace had a strange dream. In it, he was in a completely fictional world full of magic and wonder. But when he woke up... it didn't feel like just a dream.
He looked around and realized—he was standing in front of a grand building... The Arcane Academy of Magical Arts.
He blinked.
> "Wait... this can't be real... is this still a dream?"
As he stepped forward, kids around him were laughing and showing off their powerful magic items.
Clara shouted,
> "Hey Donkey! Look! My dad bought me the latest Thunder-Water Sword!"
Kun jumped in,
"That's nothing! My dad got me a Fire Blaster Gun!"
Then they both turned to Jace, smirking.
"And you, Jace? What did your poor family give you?"
"Oh wait, nothing! Hahaha! Pathetic loser!"
Jace stood silently. He had nothing.
Even his teacher frowned.
> "Jace, get out of my class! You're useless. You don't belong here."
Lunchtime wasn't better.
Clara unwrapped her luxury lunchbox, showing off spicy fried chicken with mayo.
Jace slowly pulled out a simple tiffin — just eggs and plain lentils
"Eww," Clara said, "He even eats like a beggar!"
Kun added with a laugh.
Then came combat training.
Jace had to fight other students — but he lost every single match.
His body was weak. His skills were lacking.
That night, he walked home alone, his heart heavy.
But... hidden behind that sadness, a secret truth lived.
---
The Twist Begins
Jace... wasn't actually poor.
He came from an extremely rich bloodline. His father was powerful — not with love, but with money and magic.
He never cared much for Jace, but he once gave him a mysterious ring worth 10 billion credits.
Before disappearing, his father had said:
> "Son, this ring is not just jewelry. It holds a power that only awakens in one who trains with heart, suffers with purpose, and rises with strength. If you work hard, truly hard… this ring will unlock your true potential."
Jace stared at the ring that night.
He clenched it tightly.
> "You all call me weak? Poor? Trash?"
"Fine… But soon… I'll show the world what a real storm looks like.