Three stirred awake, blinking against the dim light filtering through his room. His head still felt heavy, as though the icy pond had followed him into his dreams.He rubbed his arms, remembering the numbing cold.
"I never expected awakening could be that frightening," he murmured. "I almost froze up… but luckily, Father was there to save me."
He swung his legs off the bed and stretched, the stiffness making him wince. Despite the chill of the memory, excitement stirred in his chest."Still… I should go ask them what kind of power I awakened. Maybe it's something cool—like space! Just like Grandpa." His lips curled into a hopeful grin. "That would be awesome."
The house was quiet as always. Being the only child in a vast manor made the silence heavier than it should've been. His mother was probably at the clan office, juggling paperwork and shouting at subordinates again.
He sighed, then stepped outside and made his way up the stone path toward his grandfather's residence.
When he reached the carved wooden doors, he stopped. Voices drifted from within—his father's deep and tense, his grandfather's low and thoughtful.Three hesitated, not wanting to interrupt, but before he could turn away, a familiar voice called out.
"Three, come in."
He froze mid-step. Slowly, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Sid rose from his chair, his expression soft but weary. "I hope you're feeling better, son. You were unconscious for two days. We thought it best to let you rest."
Three nodded, sitting on a nearby couch. His grandfather sat opposite him, a cup of tea growing cold in his hand. For a man who once stood at the peak of power, he looked… uneasy. His fingers fidgeted, tapping against the cup rim like he was stalling for time.
A strange heaviness filled the room.
Sid exchanged a glance with his father, then took a slow breath. "Three," he began, voice low and careful, "we have something to tell you. I want you to listen… and try not to overreact, alright?"
The boy blinked, a nervous laugh slipping out."O-okay? You both look so serious… what's going on? Did I awaken something weird?"
Inside, his thoughts raced.This atmosphere… it's strange. Don't tell me they're pretending to be gloomy just to surprise me with something amazing. Maybe I got something rare—like dual control or something!
He straightened up, trying to read their faces, but neither man was smiling.
Three blinked, confused by the heavy atmosphere. His father looked uneasy, and his grandfather—usually so calm—was strangely fidgeting, tapping his fingers against the armrest.
"What's… going on?" Three asked, forcing a nervous laugh. "Did I awaken something weird? Come on, you can tell me! Don't tell me it's like… mud control or something, right?"
No one laughed.
Sid rubbed his temples, avoiding his son's gaze. "Three… you didn't awaken anything."
For a moment, silence filled the room.
Then Three chuckled. "Oh. Haha, very funny. You're trying to prank me, huh? I get it—testing if I can stay humble, right?" He looked between them, waiting for someone to smirk, to wink—anything.
But his father just lowered his head. The old man's eyes softened, full of quiet regret.
"No, my boy," the grandfather finally said, his voice slow and heavy. "The ritual failed. Your body rejected the awakening. There was no resonance… no energy seed formed."
Three froze, his smile faltering.
"…Rejected?" He repeated softly. "That's… that's not possible. Everyone awakens, right? Maybe it's just delayed! Maybe it's because of the pond freezing—I just need to try again, yeah?"
Sid reached out, but Three flinched away.
"We can try again, right?" His voice rose, desperate now. "Grandpa, you have vials! You're the strongest in the world—can't you fix it?"
The old man's silence said everything.
Three laughed again, hollow this time. "No way. You're lying to me. You guys are lying. It's— it's some kind of test, right? Like, to teach me patience or something."
Sid stood, his expression torn between sorrow and helplessness. "Three—"
"STOP!" Three shouted, his small voice cracking. He clenched his fists, trembling. "You said the ritual was cool! You said the pond lighting up meant power—so why—why are you saying this now?!"
Neither man could answer.
The air in the room felt heavy, suffocating.
After a long silence, the old man finally spoke.
"I'm sorry, little one. You were brave. But… some threads are not meant to weave into the loom of power."
Three's lips trembled. His heart sank, but he forced a shaky smile anyway.
"…Right. Yeah. Sure. Maybe next time."
He turned toward the door, muttering quietly, "There's always… next time."
And before either of them could say another word, he left—his small footsteps echoing down the corridor, fading like a whisper swallowed by the mountain halls.
Sid exhaled heavily, his shoulders slumping. He stared at the closed door where his son had just walked out."Now what?" he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "The little guy's probably crushed. He tried so hard, Father… he was so excited."
The old man remained silent for a moment, his gaze distant. The light from the spirit lamp reflected in his silver hair, making him look older than he truly was.Finally, he sighed. "Even power has limits, Sid. There are forces beyond my reach, beyond anyone's reach. If the Guardian were willing to intervene, perhaps the boy's fate could change… but summoning them isn't simple."
He paused, eyes softening with regret. "And with me leaving this world in a week, I won't have enough time to even get their attention."
Sid clenched his fists but said nothing. The silence between them hung heavy—part sorrow, part helplessness.
The elder placed a hand on his son's shoulder. "Don't blame yourself. I'll speak to the boy. He deserves to know some things… and there's something he must see before I go."
Before Sid could respond, the old man vanished—his figure dissolving into faint ripples of light.
A heartbeat later, he reappeared in front of Three, who nearly jumped out of his seat.
"Grandpa! You scared me!" Three blurted out, clutching his chest. He had been lost in thought, replaying the freezing pond and the words his grandad said earlier again and again in his mind.
The old man gave a faint smile, though his eyes carried something deeper. "Forgive the intrusion, little one. There's something I must show you… and a few truths you're old enough to hear now."
Before Three could even respond, the elder reached out and gently took his hand.The world around them shimmered, colors bending and folding like liquid glass.
And in the blink of an eye——they were gone.