Chapter 7 - Magic and Despair

The night that just passed, Shiro and I spent in my bed, as Shiro's bed was still covered in blood. He kept as much distance as possible. At one point, he even fell out of the bed.

The recovery was quick. At least for me. Shiro, on the other hand, had to rest longer. His arm is still heavily bandaged, and he winces every time he has to move it.

As for me, I feel almost like myself again after just one day. The doctor also mentioned that a simple Mana exhaustion doesn't last long as long as you get enough rest.

At first, I thought Shiro was just exhausted and that's why he was so distant. But over time, I realize that there's more to it. He doesn't talk openly about it, but he can't hide his caution towards me.

He avoids me and speaks less to me than usual. I also know why, and I understand him. For him, magic is an unknown force. It's completely natural for people to be afraid of the unknown.

But little by little, I can't bear it anymore that my own brother is afraid of me. I have to make this right.

I sit up and glance over to the other side of the bed. Shiro is no longer there.

Oh, he must have gotten up earlier than me. Surprising. I'm usually the one who wakes up first.

I sit at the edge of the bed and stretch my legs out, ready to get up. But as soon as my feet hit the floor, I step on something soft.

"OW!"

I jump and look down, confused.

"Shiro?!"

He's lying right next to the bed on the floor, without a pillow, without a blanket and I'm standing right on his injured arm.

"WHAT THE HELL, SOTA?!" he gasps and yanks his arm out from under my foot.

I blink at him. "Uh...?" I'm at a loss for words. "Good morning?"

Shiro glares at me as he holds his aching arm. "Why did you kick me?!"

It was an accident. I didn't mean to kick him.

"Why are you sleeping on the floor?!" I counter.

He looks away, embarrassed. "I wanted to leave space!"

I look at him, confused. "Shiro, the bed is big enough for three people of our size."

He massages his arm and looks offended.

I sigh. At least he's awake now.

This is the perfect opportunity to talk to him. "Listen, Shiro."

Shiro turns his gaze back to me. "What is it?" he asks, annoyed.

"You don't have to be afraid of me." I address it directly.

He flinches and shakes his head quickly. "I'm not afraid of you."

That's obviously a lie.

This is getting us nowhere right now. He probably still needs some time.

I fall back into the bed. There's not much more I can do at the moment.

But my parents clearly think differently.

Two days pass, and suddenly a stranger is standing at our door. It's a magician.

He's older, maybe in his mid-forties, wearing a long, dark green robe, with sharp, observant eyes. He immediately seems unpleasant.

"So, this is the boy?" His voice is calm, but there's something off about it.

My father nods. "Yes. Sota. We'd like to know what magic lies within him."

The man steps closer and looks at me. "Good. Then let's begin."

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. 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 common."

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

The magician furrows his brow. "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."

I understand. 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 pocket. "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?