The Dream That Never Ends
A lone mountain stood in the heart of an endless sea.
Ancient and majestic, it rose above the floodwaters that surrounded it like a forgotten island. Despite the sea swallowing its base, the mountain remained a sanctuary. Birds sang through the trees, gentle winds danced across the grasslands, and wild beasts roamed peacefully as though untouched by the outside world.
Hidden between two towering cliffs was a quiet valley.
There, side by side, rested two newly built graves.
The silence was absolute.
Then...
The sky suddenly darkened.
Thick storm clouds gathered overhead as thunder roared across the heavens. Every bird fell silent. Every beast turned its gaze toward the same direction.
Footsteps echoed through the valley.
Slow.
Heavy.
Painful.
A lone figure emerged from the mist.
He wore a long black coat that concealed his entire body. One hand clutched his side as though trying to stop unbearable pain.
Behind him...
The green grass was stained crimson.
Every step he had taken left a trail of blood.
The man finally reached the two graves.
He stood motionless.
For a long moment, nothing moved.
Then his legs gave way.
He collapsed to his knees before the graves.
His face remained hidden beneath the shadows, but his eyes...
They held nothing but endless despair.
A single tear rolled down his cheek before falling onto the cold earth.
The heavens answered.
Rain poured from the sky.
The man slowly raised his trembling head.
"I'm sorry..."
His voice barely escaped his lips.
"Please... forgive me."
"I couldn't keep the promise I made to both of you."
His trembling hands tightened into fists.
"You were right..."
"You were always right."
"But I was too stubborn."
"I believed I could change everything."
A bitter smile appeared on his face.
"And this..."
"...is the punishment I deserve."
His voice finally broke.
"All I can say now is..."
"I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry..."
"I'm... so... sorry..."
His body collapsed forward before the graves.
The rain suddenly stopped.
Silence returned once more.
Then...
A thick black mist began to seep out of his body.
It rose toward the heavens like countless wandering souls before merging with the endless floodwaters surrounding the mountain.
Within moments...
Dark gray clouds swallowed the entire mountain.
Everything disappeared into darkness.
---
Chris suddenly opened his eyes.
"Hah..."
His chest rose and fell rapidly.
Cold sweat covered his entire body.
He wiped his forehead with trembling hands and stared blankly at the ceiling.
"The same dream..."
He slowly turned toward the window.
Golden sunlight poured through the curtains as the morning sun rose beyond the distant mountains.
His silver hair reflected the warm light.
His violet eyes, however, carried only confusion.
"Why do I keep seeing it?"
"What does it mean...?"
No matter how many times he asked himself, the dream never gave him an answer.
---
Chris quietly walked downstairs.
Their house was small and old.
The wooden floor creaked beneath every step, while worn-out furniture filled the modest living room.
The smell of breakfast drifted from the kitchen.
Inside stood an elderly woman with long white hair, carefully preparing the morning meal.
Hearing the footsteps, she turned with a gentle smile.
"Good morning, Chris."
"You're finally awake."
"Go wash your face. Breakfast is ready."
"Okay, Mom."
A few minutes later, Chris sat at the dining table.
Today's breakfast was simple.
Fresh flatbread.
Potato stew.
Nothing luxurious.
But it was enough.
As he quietly ate, his mother packed another meal into a small lunch container.
"I think your father had work again this morning."
"He stayed at the military base all night."
"I'll bring him his breakfast."
She lifted the container.
Suddenly...
Her body staggered.
"Mom!"
Chris rushed forward and caught her before she could fall.
"Did you take your medicine?"
"I did..."
She forced a weak smile.
"I just felt dizzy for a moment."
Chris gently helped her sit down.
Only now did her face become clear.
Although she wasn't truly old, Mana Sickness had stolen years from her life.
Her once-beautiful hair had turned completely white.
Her eyes had become dull gray.
Even standing had become difficult.
Chris silently took a bottle of medicine from the nearby cabinet and handed it to her.
Then he picked up the lunch box.
"I'll take Dad's breakfast."
His mother lowered her eyes.
"But..."
"You haven't left the house since the Power Examination."
"And..."
"I don't want to become your burden."
A painful silence filled the room.
"If I wasn't sick..."
"...none of this would've happened to you."
Chris smiled softly.
He gently held both of her hands.
"Don't ever say that."
"This isn't your fault."
"What happened to me..."
"...was simply my fate."
His mother looked at him with tearful eyes.
Without saying another word, Chris picked up the lunch box and walked toward the door.
She quietly watched him leave.
Unable to stop him.
Unable to stop blaming herself.
---
Outside...
The village was as gloomy as ever.
Broken houses lined the streets.
Old wooden shops leaned dangerously to one side.
Dark clouds hung over the sky despite the morning sun.
As Chris walked through the village, whispers followed him everywhere.
"Look."
"That's Chris."
"I heard he hasn't left home since last week."
"His poor mother already has Mana Sickness..."
"What a miserable family."
An elderly man nearby sighed.
"Didn't you hear?"
"My son was at the examination."
"Chris failed."
"For the second time."
"And..."
"He doesn't possess a single supernatural ability."
The women gasped.
"Impossible."
"Could he have inherited his mother's illness?"
"Mana Sickness is hereditary, isn't it?"
The old man slowly shook his head.
"Who knows?"
"Either way..."
"...that boy is pitiful."
Chris heard every word.
But he never stopped walking.
Instead...
He quietly spoke within his heart.
My name is Chris Sara Park.
I am fifteen years old.
In this world, every child awakens a supernatural ability at the age of ten.
If they fail... they receive one final chance when they turn fifteen.
I failed both.
No one in history has ever failed twice.
Now everyone either pities me...
...or laughs at me.
They believe my mother's Mana Sickness cursed me before my power could awaken.
Maybe that's what they want to believe.
But...
I refuse to accept it.
As his thoughts ended, a massive fortress came into view.
The military base.
His father's workplace.
Chris stopped before its enormous gates.
Little did he know...
The moment he stepped inside...
His life would change forever.
To be Continue....