The large screen flickered to life.
Words began to appear.
Status: Awakened
A pause.
Rank: —
Silence.
Power Type: No power detected
Another pause.
Core Trait: No core detected
Tia froze.
His fingers remained pressed against the orb.
No…
Not again.
His breathing stalled.
It's the same.
Exactly the same.
For a moment—
No one spoke.
Then—
Laughter.
"Hahaha!"
"I thought something big was happening."
"What a joke."
"No core trait?"
"At least you awakened."
"Move. Don't waste our time."
Even the officer sighed.
"What a waste."
"Next."
Tia stepped back.
Slowly.
It's fine.
It's okay.
Nothing changed.
A bitter thought rose.
Why was I expecting otherwise?
His fists tightened.
That thing brought me back…
For this?
His vision blurred.
I've felt this pain before.
So why—
Why does it still hurt this much?
His shoulders trembled.
At first—
No one noticed.
Then—
"Heh."
A laugh slipped out.
Soft.
Dry.
Broken.
"Heh… haha…"
It grew.
"Hahaha…"
The room fell silent again.
"Is he crying?"
"No…"
"I think he's laughing."
"Did he lose his mind?"
Tia wiped his tears.
A crooked smile formed.
But his eyes—
Were empty.
"…What a waste."
He turned.
And walked away.
Without looking back.
Later—
Home.
The door clicked softly.
"Ming?"
His mother's voice came from the kitchen.
"You're back early."
The smell of soup filled the house.
"Come."
"Help me."
She handed him gloves.
Raw meat.
A bowl.
Tia obeyed silently.
Water ran.
The kitchen filled with its sound.
After a while—
She spoke.
"You know…"
"Your father used to do this too."
Tia's hands slowed.
"When something bothered him…"
She stirred the soup.
"He'd come here."
"Help me cook."
"He said it made everything easier."
A small pause.
"If something is wrong…"
She glanced at him.
"You don't have to carry it alone."
Silence.
Then—
"Ma."
His voice cracked.
"I failed."
That was all.
Just two words.
But they shattered him.
"I failed again."
His head lowered.
"I failed both of you."
"I'm useless."
His mother stepped closer.
Placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Tia."
"Look at me."
He did.
"Failure hurts."
"it makes you think that it's the end."
A small smile.
"But that's just your beginning."
She brushed his hair back gently.
"You been alive is a sign that
your story isn't finished."
A pause.
"Your father used to say…"
"Late blooms often shine the brightest."
Tia said nothing.
But something inside him—
Shifted.
Later that night—
His room.
Dark.
Silent.
He sat on his bed.
Staring at the floor.
Failed again.
A bitter laugh escaped him.
Hope…
I thought I had it.
What a luxurious lie.
He lay back.
Eyes fixed on the ceiling.
How am I supposed to protect you?
How do I finish what I started?
Why was I brought back?
What am I supposed to do now?
A long silence followed.
Then—
His fingers slowly curled into a fist.
His voice barely existed.
"…Would it be easier…"
A pause.
"…to die this time…"
"..... again.
Silence.
No pain.
No noise.
Nothing.
Just silence.