Because of the work I’d been doing these past months, I was so tired that I barely had the energy to talk to my siblings at night. Not that I cared, though. I never really paid too much attention to them. Their futures were nothing like mine.

But now that my body was stronger, I could hear their family conversations more clearly in the dead of night. And when the year came to a close, I couldn’t avoid the inevitable talk of grades.

The first sound I heard was Carol’s shrill voice, and I could already picture the proud, greedy look on my dad’s face.

“Lucian, my baby! I’m so happy!” Carol squealed, wrapping her arms around him in a way that felt more like an investment than affection. I could almost see the dollar signs in her eyes. Her love wasn’t for Lucian—it was for what he could give her.

Lucian, with his perfect grades, was their shining star. It was obvious, even if no one spoke the words out loud.

“That’s my boy, I’m so proud,” my dad chimed in. But his words felt hollow—like the distance between us had only grown over the years. His praise for Lucian was the kind of recognition I would never get, not in this life or my previous one.

The words stung deeper than I wanted to admit. I wasn’t the one with perfect grades or the future they hoped for. I was the one who had to work hard for every inch of progress.

I glanced over at Rika. She was quietly standing in the background, unnoticed, her face betraying nothing, but I could read her like an open book. I knew how she felt—ignored, overshadowed by Lucian’s success. She wasn’t the one getting the praise, and I could see it in her eyes, the way she swallowed her emotions.

It was clear she was hiding her disappointment, pretending it didn’t matter. I wondered—did she still get her yogurt every day, like she used to? Or had that stopped too, just like the rest of the things that didn’t matter to Carol or my dad?

One night, I noticed Rika slipping out of the house under the cover of darkness. Curiosity tugged at me, and against my better judgment, I decided to follow her.

“What’s wrong? Feeling replaced?” I asked, my voice cutting through the quiet.

She stiffened, not turning around. “Why do you care? It’s none of your business.” Her voice wavered, but she was doing her best to hide it.

I wasn’t buying it, though. I could see it in the way she walked, the way she clenched her fists at her sides. “Well, don’t think I don’t feel hurt by my dad’s words,” I muttered, knowing she’d understand what I meant.

She stopped in her tracks, and for a split second, I thought she might say something. Then, her shoulders sagged, and she spoke, her voice thick with bitterness. “Who cares what your dad told you? You’re a nobody, and you’ll always be a nobody!” The words cut like shards of glass, and I saw the tears beginning to slip down her face.

I didn’t really know Rika—she wasn’t someone I’d ever gotten close to—but it was clear she was hurting.

I tried to find the right words, but they came out awkwardly. “Yeah, I get it. But don’t think it’s just you. I’ve been ignored too.”

"And you think I care ? Listen my future in jeopardize,". She think trying to regroup her words

"I don't have something against Lucian, but I feel my mom is too focus on him. Is kind of scary"

“Oh yeah? Well, if it makes you feel better, I wanted to be an adventurer, but look at me” I blurted out. It sounded foolish even to me, but at that moment, it was the only thing I could think of.

She snorted, a bitter laugh that quickly turned into a sneer. “An adventurer? Getting your hands dirty with the blood of monsters? Getting paid for risking your life? You really are a lost cause.”

Maybe she was right, but I wasn’t about to back down. I wasn’t as naïve as she thought.

“Yeah, maybe I am a lost cause. But at least I’m aware of it. I know I’m a nobody for now. But I’m also aware of my progress, my growth. And I’m sure—no, I know—I can become more than anyone expects. No one else can decide that for me.”

Her eyes flashed with something—maybe a little admiration, maybe skepticism—but her expression quickly hardened. She folded her arms, her lips curling into a smirk. “Then go ahead. Become an adventurer. Let’s see how far that gets you. I’m sure your Dad would love to hear it.”

I said it without thinking, the heat of the moment making my words come out sharper than intended. If my dad were here, I knew what would happen. He’d probably beat me down, literally and figuratively. But for some reason, that didn’t matter right then. What mattered was that Rika wasn’t crying anymore.

“I will,” I said, my voice firm despite the uncertainty creeping in. “Before next year is over, I’ll be out there, doing it.”

She let out a short, dismissive laugh, as if doubting me. “Ha, sure. Let’s see if that happens.”

I didn’t back down. “And you? Are you just gonna let Lucian take all of for you?”

She scowled, her eyes narrowing but did not say anything.

I took a breath, feeling the weight of my words. “ If you want to do something to happen, just keep going. Or you’ll end up like me—less than a nobody. Don’t you think?”

Her eyes flashed with annoyance, but there was something else there too—something fragile. She clicked her tongue and shook her head as if dismissing me altogether. “Don’t tell me what to do.”

She started walking away, her steps heavy with defiance. But then she glanced back, as if unsure whether she wanted me to follow. “I’m not staying out here all night, you coming or what” she muttered.

I smiled, more out of habit than anything else, and followed her back home.

----------------------------------------

The arm wrestling:

One night, after a long day at work, I stepped outside to the park for a moment of peace. The cool night air was a relief after a grueling day. As I walked, I saw a familiar figure in the distance.

“Pachesko, What happened to the whole partner thing?” I called out, my frustration bubbling up.

Stolen novel; please report.

“Daryn, your life is too boring,” Pachesko said with a playful grin. “I had to go out and explore this world. Don’t worry, I haven’t left the kingdom yet. We’ll have plenty of adventures when you finally get the balls to leave this place.”

I clenched my fists, my anger rising. Without thinking, I kicked him away with all my strength. “Then come back when I’m ready to leave!” I shouted, storming off.

I needed to be alone. But as I walked around the park, something caught my eye. A man was doing pull-ups—no, not just pull-ups. He was doing them with a twist, spinning in mid-air, his body completely controlled. It was incredible, almost like something out of one of those viral videos.

I watched, captivated by his strength and agility. He wasn’t just lifting his body weight—he was controlling it, like he had mastered every inch of his muscles.

Curiosity got the better of me, and I approached him. “Hey, what you’re doing looks amazing. What kind of exercise is that?”

The man stopped and flashed me a friendly grin. “Thanks! It’s called calisthenics. Great for strength, agility, and coordination.”

“Calisthenics, huh?” I said, scratching my head. “I don’t really do much exercise outside of work. I work in construction.”

“Cool, dude,” he said, nodding. “My cousin works in a construction site too, in a different city. I always wondered who’s tougher—the construction guys or the guys who trains like me.”

I hesitated, unsure where this was going, but then he challenged me. “Want to test your strength? How about an arm wrestling match?”

I blinked, caught off guard. I was fourteen, and this guy was clearly an adult. But he didn’t seem like he was underestimating me—he looked like he genuinely wanted to test my strength.

“Uh…” I hesitated, but something inside me pushed me to take the challenge. “Sure. Why not?”

We found a table nearby and sat down, preparing for the match. It was awkward at first—I’d never just approached someone for something like this, let alone arm wrestle them. But I knew I had to prove something to myself.

We locked hands, and immediately, I could feel the weight of his grip. This guy was strong, no doubt about it. My muscles strained, but I refused to give up.

“Ready?” he asked with a grin.

“I’m ready,” I said, my voice low and determined. Then he started count to three

At the moment he counted to three.

I could feel our muscles tense, and with a sudden jerk, the contest began. As both strained against one another.

He had the slightly weight advantage but I didn't given in any centimeter, i can only do but hum " hmph"

His grip tightened up, and he was doing all of his strength, making my hand move out of the middle.

“You are a good kid, but you need more training. Here is all my strength!” I was moved slowly close to the edge. But I realized he was doing all of his strength. I was doing a lot of strength too but I did not pass my limit.

With a shout I have been pushing in with more force than I accustomed to. Moving his hand away to the other side close to the edge. He wasn’t expecting such strength from someone like me, based on his look of worry.

I started sweating. Our hands become wet. Slippery but not one wanted to give up.

In the next couple of seconds I felt how I was slowly pushing in, no matter how much he was struggling, this was my victory.

Suddenly he released the grab.

Whoa,” he said, catching his breath. “That was a draw.”

“Yeah it is.” .

I let out a heavy breath, sweat dripping down my face. My muscles ached, but I felt a sense of pride I hadn’t felt before, I made him scared for sure.

“You’ve got some serious strength, kid,” he said, a grin spreading across his face. “I wasn’t expecting that. You’ve got a future in you.”

His words resonate in my mind, those words made me feel proud of myself, maybe I am strong enough already.

“ You can come when you have time in the nights, and we can train together I can teach you calisthenics if you interested”

“ What good is learning that?”

“ Calisthenics will give you an improvement in burn body fat, agility, body coordination and strength. Is not just about building muscle.”

“Sounds awesome. Sure If I see you, I would like to train with you”

“Good, see you around… huh, what is your name?”

“Daryn”

“Cool, Daryn. My names is Mortaz” he said while he left running in the pavement of the park.

From that day on, 3 days per week I went with Mortaz to do calisthenics.

----------------------------------------

Another lesson:

The morning sunlight poured through the cracked window as I sat at the breakfast table, staring at the same bland porridge as always. My siblings chatted idly, but their voices were a blur. My hands, still aching from the training with Mortaz, clenched under the table. I couldn’t stop replaying last night’s arm-wrestling match in my mind. If I could push Mortaz to his limits, then maybe—just maybe—I could finally defeat my dad.

No, not maybe. I would.

When breakfast was nearly done, I spoke. “Dad, can I talk to you? Alone.”

He glanced at me, eyes narrowing. “What’s this about?”

“Just come to the backyard,” I said, keeping my voice steady.

He grunted, standing up. My siblings fell silent, exchanging looks. They probably thought I was asking for another beating. Maybe I was.

We stepped into the backyard, the sunlight now glaring and harsh. The dirt underfoot was dry and cracked, just like every inch of this place. My heart pounded, but I steeled myself. This wasn’t just about strength. It was about proving I wasn’t the same weak kid anymore. Not here, and not in the life I left behind.

“Dad,” I began, staring him in the eye. “I want to become an adventurer.”

His response was immediate and predictable—a punch aimed straight for my face. But this time, I saw it coming. I slipped out of the way, my movements quick and precise, and backed up before he could follow through.

“I’m not the same as before, Dad,” I said, my voice steady despite the adrenaline surging through me.

He smirked. “Huh. Let’s see then.”

He charged at me, his fists flying in sharp, practiced jabs. I dodged to the side, weaving around him. His movements were strong, deliberate—but they were also predictable. I’d seen this pattern countless times before. His knees came up, aiming for my ribs, but I managed to block them with my arms. The impact stung like hell, the force reverberating down to my bones.

“What’s wrong, old man? Getting rusty?” I taunted, gritting my teeth to hide the pain in my arms.

His eyes narrowed, his confidence unshaken. “You sure you’ve got time to run your mouth, brat?”

In a blur, he swept his leg behind mine, knocking me off balance. My back hit the ground hard, the air rushing from my lungs. Before I could recover, his boot connected with my side. Pain exploded through my ribs, but I gritted my teeth and forced myself to stand.

“You’re tougher than before,” he admitted, cracking his knuckles. “But you don’t know yet what a real fight is.”

I steadied myself, preparing for his next move. But I didn’t see it coming—the dirty handful of dirt he threw into my eyes. Grit and dust blinded me, and in that moment, I knew I was done. His fists connected with my stomach, then my face, and I crumpled to the ground.

Through the haze of pain, I heard his voice, sharp and cold. “You’re strong. I’ll give you that. But you don’t know how to fight, all those weaves you did, you just memorize the pattern but as soon I gave you something knew, you are incapable to react”

I coughed, tasting blood. “You… fight dirty.”

“No enemy plays by the rules,” he said, standing over me like a mountain. “And you’d better learn that fast if you’re serious about this adventurer nonsense.”

He threw me onto my back with ease, the impact rattling through me. Then, as if to hammer the lesson home, he turned his back on me and walked away. “Tonight, you’re sleeping outside. Let this knock some sense into you.”

As he disappeared into the house, I lay there, staring at the sky. My chest burned with every breath, and my body screamed in protest when I tried to move.

For a moment, I felt it—the doubt creeping in. Why was I doing this? Why not just accept this life? The construction site wasn’t so bad. I could work, eat, and exist like this forever. Maybe that was all I was meant for, no matter how many second chances I got.