Author Notes:

Short but heartwarming chapter. Gonna release another chapter after when I'm done doing the Magical Conquest Chapter 12.

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"[Yves Altair], Limit: 100 Element: [Earth], [Fire], [Water], [Air], [Void]."

"Pfft!"

"HAHAHAHA!"

The whole room was filled with laughter. All of people inside the room laughed except [Eleonor] and Ms. [Dianne].

"He may have all five elements in his body, but its a waste since he couldn't use it! HAHAHA!"

All of the boys laughed. I feel dejected.

"Not so fast, people."

Ms. [Dianne] interrupted.

"Didn't I tell you that energy could be enhance as you train your body? His limit for now might be too ridiculous, but if he'll give his all to train his body, he might surpass all of you here. Remember, what matters here is your innate elements, not your present limits. These elements are inborn, cannot be changed even you train your body to its limit. He is a hero or a demon king material!"

[Charles] answers Ms. [Dianne] while smirking.

"That garbage will surpass us? Look at him! All that's left for him to do now is to piss on his pants because of fear! While the Demon King has his Dominance, the Hero has his Confidence, what about him? He has nothing of those qualities! What I see now is just a shaking piece of junk dreaming to be an adventurer!"

All of them laughed. I never felt so down like this throughout my whole life.

Then [Charles] taps my shoulder and whispers to me.

"So If you value your life, just give up on being an adventurer."

Then he smirks while walking back to his lackeys.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

I ran away from the classroom.

I want to get away from all of this.

I want to escape this life.

I want to... die?

I'm scared of dying. That's how cowardly I am.

Before I could go inside the [levitator], [Eleonor] grips my hand. It seems that she followed me.

"Don't mind what he just said. He'll never know what you're truly capable of."

[Eleonor] tries to cheer me up. But what [Charles] said was true.

"Its not like that. I know myself that what [Charles] said about me were all true. I'm just a pebble on the side of the road. Even I die, no one will ever notice that I existed."

Then [Eleonor] hugs me from behind. The students around us who saw that, has their faces full of astonishment.

"Whaaa--?!"

I was surprised because I didn't expect her to do that thing. Then she said to my ears.

"[Yves], if I were to describe you now, I would compare you to a [Geode]. You may look ordinary on the eyes of people, but I know that inside you is something precious that even stars will pale in comparison."

She continued.

"I liked you because I knew your value. Your life might be rough, but please never be discouraged. If you find your problem is heavy, please let me carry half of the burden. Even if its not because we're lovers, but because we're friends. I'll be your friend as long as you like it. I'll never leave your side unless you say so."

"But please promise me, that you'll never abandon hope."

What she said struck me. This is the first time, aside from my parents, that someone said those lines to me.

What I felt is relief. It looks like those are the words I wanted to hear. Still hugging me, [Eleonor] tries to calm me as I weep in silence.