The Invincible Young Master

Chapter 180 - Talentless [2]

Failed!

The words struck like a blow, leaving the boy frozen in place. His hands lingered on the orb, as if willing it to reignite, but nothing happened. He glanced at the girl, who looked at him with a mixture of worry and helplessness.

The murmurs around them grew louder, a mix of pity and indifference.

He clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as he forced himself to move. Stepping back from the platform, he straightened his back, refusing to let his disappointment show.

As he walked away, his heart felt heavy, but he kept his head high. The boy did not look back at the orb or the elders; instead, he focused on the girl waiting for him, her eyes filled with unspoken questions.

The boy stood his chest heavy with a mix of emotions he could not quite name. Disappointment clawed at him, sharp and unrelenting.

As his gaze followed the girl rising into the sky, he saw, she was encased in a soft, glowing light, her figure almost ethereal as she ascended toward the elders above.

She looked like she belonged there, her presence radiant and full of brilliance. In contrast, he felt rooted to the earth, his dreams scattering like dust beneath his feet.

One of the high elders turned to the girl, his voice calm but commanding. "Come. Let us proceed to the main hall. Your unique constitution requires further examination."

The crowd below watched in reverent silence, but the girl hesitated. Her head turned sharply, and her voice broke through the stillness. "Wait, elders!"

The elders paused mid-air, their expressions shifting slightly, though none spoke.

Below, the instructor raised an eyebrow, intrigued but careful not to overstep his place. All eyes were on her.

The girl looked down at the boy, her gaze unwavering, her hands trembling slightly as she clasped them before her.

"Please," she said, her voice firm despite the emotion behind it. "Let him stay."

A quiet ripple of whispers passed through the crowd. The high elders exchanged glances, their telepathic conversation unfolding beyond mortal ears.

"Why does she plead for him?"

"His aptitude is nonexistent. Keeping him here is pointless."

"Perhaps, but her attachment is clear. Indulging her might secure her loyalty."

After a moment, one of the elders addressed the girl aloud, his tone measured. "Child, your talent is unprecedented. This school will provide you with everything you need to fulfill your potential. Why concern yourself with someone who cannot ascend?"

The girl's chin lifted, her determination visible in her stance.

"Because he's more than what the orb showed. He's strong in ways that can't be measured by light or numbers." She faltered briefly, then continued with a firmness that left no room for doubt. "And I won't join the school unless he's also allowed."

The crowd erupted in murmurs, astonished by her audacity. The boy's heart tightened.

Her words sent warmth flooding through him, even as doubt whispered cruelly in the back of his mind. He wanted to believe in her conviction, but what could someone like him possibly achieve in a place like this?

The elders regarded her with expressions both unreadable and faintly curious. One finally sighed. "Such stubbornness. Very well."

"I got it from my master," she said softly. "It should help you build your foundation."

He accepted the gift with trembling hands.

"Thank you," he murmured, his voice low. Yet, deep inside, a bitter truth gnawed at him: even the most precious treasures couldn't awaken a talent he simply didn't have.

As her visits continued, he couldn't help but notice the changes in her. She grew more radiant with every meeting, her presence commanding in a way that made the spiritual energy around her seem alive.

Enjoy new adventures from empire

Her movements became supple and fluid, carrying an ease born of mastery. She no longer resembled the girl who used to chase him through the fields of their village. She was transforming into someone destined for greatness, a figure he could only look up to.

"My master has been keeping me in seclusion," she said one day, her tone weary. "She says I need to meet certain criteria before I'm allowed to walk freely."

He nodded, forcing a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"You're amazing," he said, trying to sound encouraging. "You're growing stronger every day."

Her lips curved into a faint smile, though her gaze held a shadow of concern. "And you? How have you been?"

The question hit harder than he expected, but he quickly masked his feelings.

"Still training," he replied, his voice light. "One day, I'll catch up to you."

She didn't respond right away, her silence louder than words. When she finally smiled, it was faint, tinged with a sympathy that cut deeper than any rejection.

Then, like always, she left, her figure retreating into the distance until she was nothing more than a shadow against the backdrop of the sky.

Alone again, the boy stared up at the stars, his thoughts a storm of frustration and doubt. He clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging into his palms.

Would I ever catch up to her? Could I even stand beside someone destined to shine so brightly?

Her words, her presence, her unwavering faith, they all fueled his determination, but they also made the chasm between them feel impossibly wide.

She was climbing higher with each passing day, and he was left to struggle in the shadows, his progress painfully slow.

The promise he had made to follow her, to protect her, felt more like a cruel joke with every failed attempt to improve.

Still, he refused to let despair claim him entirely. He threw himself into his training, pushing his body and mind to their limits.

His hands grew calloused, his muscles sore, but the results were the same: nothing. No spark, no breakthrough, no sign that he could rise above the mediocrity that chained him to the outer sector.

Yet, somewhere deep inside, a tiny ember of determination refused to die. His path was steep, and his chances slim, but he knew one thing: he would not stop trying.

No matter how long it took, no matter how many times he fell, he would find a way. He had to for her, and for himself.

....

[A/N: Now this is getting longer, I intended to end it in two chapters, but it seem it will take few more.]