I walked up to the center of the clearing, trying to ignore the growing knot in my stomach. My turn. The rarest type, Electricity—this was supposed to be it. I was about to show everyone what I was capable of. For once in my life, I was ready to be the main character.

I felt the power bubbling inside me, like static coursing through my veins. Narkul stood nearby, guiding me through the steps, reminding me to focus on the mana. I took a deep breath, imagining the energy flowing from me and out into the world.

Except… nothing happened.

I blinked, trying to mask the immediate wave of disappointment. Okay, first try. No big deal. I tried again, this time with even more focus, reaching deep into the pool of power I could feel lurking just beneath the surface.

Still, nothing. Not even a spark.

I could feel my face getting hot—not from the power, but from embarrassment. I glanced over at Narkul, whose expression didn’t falter, but I could see it in his eyes—he knew this wasn’t good.

“Let’s move on to Air,” Narkul suggested, his tone calm but firm, guiding me toward my second affinity.

I nodded, determined to salvage this. Air wasn’t as rare as Electricity, but it was still powerful, right? I closed my eyes, trying to feel the air around me, to manipulate it the way Narkul had shown me.

Once again, though, when it came to actually controlling it… I faltered. The air didn’t move. I didn’t move. Nothing happened.

A heavy silence settled over the clearing as I stood there, feeling more like a statue than a wielder of rare elemental power.

Narkul finally spoke, breaking the tension. “Your affinities are strong, Haru. There’s no doubt about that. Electricity and Air is the most powerful of all the types. But...” He hesitated slightly, glancing down at his monocle before continuing, “your mana capacity is... lacking.”

He didn’t sugarcoat it, and honestly, I didn’t expect him to. The words stung, but they were the truth. I had the potential, but my mana wasn’t enough to back it up. At least, not yet.

I nodded, trying to keep my face neutral, but inside, I felt like I had just been sucker-punched. Low mana. Weak potential. I had always been the untalented one, the one with low expectations. My whole life, it felt like I had been fighting to prove myself, and now, even with this supposed rare power, I was still... me. Still the guy who couldn’t quite make it.

I could feel the disappointment tightening in my chest. I tried to push it down, but it was no use. It was like all the doubts and insecurities I had been holding back had rushed up to the surface at once. I wanted to be something more, but instead, I had just failed—again.

Just as I was about to wallow in my misery, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned to see Abel standing beside me, giving me a solid, reassuring look. Then Jiho joined in, clapping me on the back with his usual casual optimism. “You’ll get it, man. No worries. We’ve got time.”

Isak, of course, had to throw in his two cents. “Hey, at least you’re not turning into some weird debuff monster like me. You’ve got finesse, bro. We all know it.”

I couldn’t help but crack a small smile. Even though I felt like the world’s biggest loser, knowing my brothers were there, cheering me on, made it a little easier to breathe. They had my back, even when I couldn’t believe in myself.

I glanced over at Narkul, who, despite his earlier assessment, was giving me a small nod of encouragement. Even Anastasia, as stoic as she was, had a faint smile on her face, like she appreciated the brotherly bond we had.

Maybe I had failed today, but at least I wasn’t alone. And yeah, maybe I wasn’t feeling like the main character right now, but I had my brothers. That had to count for something.

As we piled back into the limousine, the atmosphere was a mix of anticipation and relief. I leaned back into my seat, running over the events of the day in my head—everything from the training to Narkul’s insights into our abilities. It was clear what we needed to work on.

Still, the big question remained: university. The thought crossed my mind again, and I figured it was a good time to bring it up. “So, Narkul,” I started, glancing over at him. “What do you think about us going to university to train? I mean, we’ve got these abilities now, but we need some proper guidance, right?”

Stolen story; please report.

Abel immediately chimed in, already backing his favourite choice. “If we’re going, we should focus on the Ironclad Martial School of Combat and Strategy. It’s the best place for us to hone combat skills, especially in this world.”

Isak wasn’t having it, though. “Nah, nah. If we’re gonna do this, we need to aim for the Arcane Institute of Boundless Wisdom. Magic, knowledge, and expanding our mana capacity—it’s the only way to get ahead.”

Jiho stayed quiet, probably weighing the options in his head, while I just waited for Narkul’s take on the situation.

He didn’t take long to respond. “Why not both?”

The limousine went quiet as we all turned to look at him, a little surprised. Narkul continued, his tone as calm and collected as ever. “I can pull a few strings and get you into both universities. You’ll split your time between the Arcane Institute and the Ironclad Martial School. It’ll take three years of commitment from you, though, and you’ll have to balance your studies with your... other responsibilities.”

Isak grinned, nudging Abel. “Ha! Told you we could do both. Guess you’re gonna have to put up with some magic classes, big guy.”

Abel, surprisingly, didn’t seem too annoyed by the idea. “If it helps us train, I’m in.”

Before we could confirm anything, Narkul added, “Before making a final decision, you should visit the universities tomorrow. See them for yourselves, get a feel for their environment, and meet some of the people. And while you’re at it, I suggest you visit The Nexus Academy of Techno-Science. Those three academies are the biggest in the world. You’d be wise to make some connections while you’re there.”

Anastasia, still maintaining her professional composure, nodded in agreement. “It’s a smart move. Each academy offers something unique, and it will be good for you to explore your options.”

I mulled over Narkul’s suggestion. Visiting the schools first made sense. It wasn’t just about the training, after all. We needed to understand the lay of the land—figure out where we fit in this world.

“Alright,” I said, glancing at my brothers. “We’ll visit them tomorrow. See what they have to offer.”

They all nodded in their own way—Abel with his calm certainty, Isak with his usual cocky smirk, and Jiho with that thoughtful expression he wore whenever he was seriously considering something.

“Three universities, though,” Jiho finally said, breaking the silence. “That’s... a lot.”

“Yeah, we’ll stick with two,” I added quickly, shooting a glance at Narkul. “We’ll visit The Nexus Academy too, but two universities is more than enough.”

Narkul chuckled. “Two will do. For now.”

The limousine hummed softly as we continued down the road, our future unfolding with each passing mile. Tomorrow would be the start of something new, and while I wasn’t sure what exactly that meant, I knew one thing for sure—we were just getting started.

As we entered the city, the darkness of the evening was gently illuminated by the glowing lanterns floating through the air. The sight had captivated me the night before, but this time, it was my brothers’ turn to witness the spectacle. Their eyes were wide, faces pressed against the limousine windows, watching as students filled the streets, enjoying the nightlife.

The glowing lanterns drifted lazily through the sky, casting a soft, golden light over the city. They seemed almost magical, as if they were alive, floating on some invisible current of energy that wove through the streets and over the buildings. I’d seen it before, but it didn’t lose its beauty. And judging by the look on Isak’s face, this was definitely his first time seeing something like this.

“Man, this place really is something,” Isak muttered, awe dripping from his voice. His usual bravado slipped away for a moment as he pressed his face closer to the window.

I couldn’t help but smile a little. “Yeah, it’s wild,” I said, watching the lanterns with him. They were mesmerizing in their own way, a weird mix of magic and beauty that I hadn’t quite gotten used to yet either.

Abel leaned back in his seat, arms crossed, trying to act like he wasn’t impressed. “It’s definitely not like anything back home,” he said, his eyes still glued to the scene outside.

Jiho, who had been quiet for most of the ride, finally spoke up. “This is... kinda unreal, huh? Feels like we’re in a different world entirely.”

I almost laughed at that. Typical Jiho, always stating the obvious. “Well, we are, genius,” I said, shaking my head with a smirk. “Kinda the whole point.”

He shrugged, not even bothered by the jab. “Still feels weird.”

The limo kept moving through the streets, passing groups of students laughing and hanging out under the lanterns. The mix of species was still a bit jarring—elves, demi-humans, dark elves, and humans all mingling like it was the most natural thing in the world. But then again, it was starting to become normal for us too. I guess we were adapting, even if it didn’t quite feel like it yet.

I leaned back in my seat, watching my brothers take it all in. It was a lot to process, but we were here now. This was our new reality, like it or not.

The city was alive, not just with magic, but with the promise of new experiences—something none of us had ever imagined back when we were stuck in our old lives.

As we got to the mansion, stepping out of the limo and into the grandeur that was now our home, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and unease. The place was enormous, practically a castle disguised as a house. You could get lost in here without even trying. I guess I should’ve been stoked—most people would kill for this kind of upgrade in lifestyle—but I had other things on my mind.

Like, how the hell was I supposed to flex in university when I had no magic power?

Sure, I’d never been the guy to chase popularity or anything, but I’d never felt so... overshadowed before either. It was weird. Isak and Abel were clearly on the fast track to being powerhouses, and Jiho wasn’t far behind. And me? Well, I was stuck with weak mana and a Type that, sure, could be powerful—if I ever managed to use it. The universe had dealt me the weakest hand, but hey, at least I had a front-row seat to my brothers’ successes.

Not that I was salty about it. Nope. Not at all.

I could hear Isak’s voice break through my thoughts as we walked into the house. “So, uh, UberEats is a thing here, right?” he asked, casually as if we hadn’t just walked into the biggest house we’d ever set foot in.

Jiho, always the one to know the random details, nodded. “Yeah, they’ve got something like that.”

Abel chimed in, ever practical. “Korean BBQ?”

Now that got my attention. “I’m down,” I said, already pulling out my phone. If nothing else, at least the food was good here.

I pulled up the app—yep, even in a new world, there’s still some kind of UberEats equivalent. Of course, because why not? But as I scrolled through the options, there was one tiny hiccup.

“Korean BBQ isn’t a thing here,” I said, frowning at the screen. “But there’s something similar... let’s see... ‘GrillMaster Ember Feast.’”

Isak, ever the optimist, grinned. “Close enough. Let’s get it.”

I placed the order, settling into the ridiculous luxury of our new life. Sure, I wasn’t about to become some magic powerhouse overnight, but hey, at least we had food delivery and a giant house. That’s something, right? Maybe I wasn’t on the same level as my brothers in terms of raw power, but I could appreciate the little things. Like the fact that none of us had to cook tonight.

I leaned back, watching my brothers argue over what toppings to get. Life had definitely changed in the weirdest way possible, but I’d be damned if I didn’t find a way to enjoy it—even if I had to sit in the shadow of these idiots for a while.