Rohan eased himself onto the wooden chair, the legs creaking under his weight. His stomach felt like it was tied in knots. His parents sat before him, their faces serious. This wasn't going to be just any talk. Something big was coming.

“Son, we got somethin’ to tell ya,” Mary said, her voice shaking with emotion. “We’ve made a decision, and we hope you’ll understand.”

Rohan's mind was a whirlwind. Thoughts spun like crazy, bumping and crashing into each other. He tried to brace himself, to get ready for whatever his parents were going to say.

Finally, Mary’s voice broke the silence, her words filled with sadness. “Son, we had to let Betsy go,” she said softly. Her eyes showed the pain of their decision. “We sold her... so you could have a chance for that there magic school.”

Rohan’s eyes went wide in shock. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

The worn wood of the kitchen table groaned as his mom dropped the heavy pouch. It landed with a thud, sending air swirling in the morning sunlight that streamed through the window. She slowly untied the string and the pouch opened.

Rohan gasped.

Gold. A river of gold poured out, spilling across the rough wood. Coins clinked and sparkled. They caught the sunlight and threw dancing sparks of yellow across the walls. It was like a dragon's hoard from one of his dad's stories, too fantastic to be real.

Rohan had only seen a few gold coins in his whole life, usually tucked away in the village merchant's pouch. Now, they were here, a whole pile of them, right on his own table. It was more money than he could ever imagine, a king's ransom for a simple farm boy like him.

Rohan felt a huge wave of feelings crashing over him. This pile of gold wasn’t just money. It was a sign of the sacrifices his parents had made for him. They had given up Betsy, their dear cow and a part of the family, for something they thought was even more important: his future.

John’s hands, rough from years of hard work on the farm, rested on the table. “When we were young, just like you, we fancied goin’ to that there magic college,” he said. His voice was filled with a touch of old memories. “But life had other plans. Your ma fell pregnant with ya early, and we had to give up on our dreamin’. We had to settle down and become farmers to raise ya right. There wasn’t any coin for learnin’. But we worked hard, learned the value of toil and sweat.”

Mary looked at Rohan with warm and understanding eyes as she picked up where John had left off. Her voice was soft and soothing, filling the quiet room like a gentle song. “We dreamed, just like you do now. And we don’t regret a thing ‘cause it gave us you and your brother.”

She reached out across the table, her fingers lightly touching his hand. “But we’ve seen how you look at them magic books, how you wish for more. We won’t let our past stand in the way of your future.”

Rohan closed his eyes, and his mind suddenly filled with a clear memory from a long time ago. He was a kid again, peeking through a crack in his bedroom door. The room was dim, lit only by a flickering candle that cast long shadows on the walls. His mom sat hunched over, her needle flashing in the dim light as she carefully stitched up his dad's old coat for the hundredth time. The worn leather was more patch than coat, each one a testament to its long years of service.

Another scene flickered to life. Rohan was outside now, hiding behind a tree, the moon like a giant silver coin in the sky. In the distance, he saw his dad's outline, his movements slow and steady as he worked the land. Even under the cloak of night, his dad toiled tirelessly to make sure their small farm would survive.

Rohan opened his eyes, the memories still vivid. He could almost feel the bite of winter wind on his cheeks, hear it whistling through bare branches. He could almost see his dad out there again, a shadow working beneath the moon, doing whatever it took to keep their family going.

Rohan suddenly understood that his parents had always protected him and Noah from the harsher parts of their life. They never talked about the struggles. But the signs were all around, woven into their everyday lives. It could be seen in the tired lines on his dad’s face and in the quiet, strong look in his mom’s eyes.

Tears started to form in Rohan’s eyes as he began to fully understand all the things his parents had sacrificed for him and Noah. He remembered all the times he saw his parents exchange meaningful looks. Their faces would change a little whenever he talked about the magic college. Now, it all made sense.

The love he saw in his parents wasn’t the light, fluffy kind read about in fairy tales. It was solid and deep. It was in every coat they had patched up again and again. It was in every late night they had spent working out in the cold. It was in every time they had skipped a meal so he and his brother wouldn’t go to bed hungry.

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Their love was about giving up their own dreams to build a future they would never get to have, but one they wanted so desperately for their children.

Their belief in him felt like a heavy coat on his shoulders. It was as if their faith had carved a place in his heart, filling him with a gratitude so big it almost felt like too much. They saw strength in him when he only saw weakness. They saw promise in him when he was full of doubts.

But in the middle of that heavy truth, there was a glimmer of hope. It was like a small light shining in the darkest parts of his worries. Their sacrifices had made a path for him, a road that led to a future they believed he could create. A future even bigger than anything they had dared to dream of for themselves. It was their greatest gift to him, the legacy they were leaving behind.

The room was covered in a heavy silence until John finally spoke. “Rohan, we got your back,” he said, his voice strong and sure. “We know you can be a fine magic man, make this old world a better place. We’re behind ya all the way, even if it means lettin’ go of what we hold dear.”

Rohan looked at his mom and dad, seeing their faces filled with hope and bravery. A lump formed in his throat, making it hard to speak. “I... I can’t,” he said. His voice was shaky and tears rolled down his face. “I’m not good enough. I’ll just fail and let you down.”

John looked at him, his eyes shining with a belief that seemed unbreakable. “It don’t matter if the school doubts ya, or if you’re doubtin’ yourself. We got faith in ya, Rohan. We always will.”

Rohan tried to speak, but his words were all tangled up in his feelings. “But how can just believing in myself change anything? What if all I do is disappoint you in the end?”

Mary reached over and gently placed her hand on his, offering comfort and support. “It’s okay to question yourself, Rohan. But you won’t know what you can really do if you don’t try. We want ya to chase your dreams, be happy.”

Rohan's stomach shook like a stormy sea. His parents' words, meant to comfort, were lost in the roar of emotions crashing over him. Their unwavering belief in him, normally a source of pride, now felt like a heavy stone pressing down on his chest.

Unable to bear the weight any longer, Rohan quickly stood up. He ran from the house, a choked sob escaping him. Legs pumping, he ran, not knowing where he was going, just needing to get away. Away from the swirling mix of gratitude, fear, and the crushing weight of responsibility.

His feet pounded a familiar path, leading him to the barn, his haven, his escape. Yet, today, even this safe space felt different. His hands shook as he fumbled with the latch.

With a rusty groan, the old wooden door swung open, shattering the morning calm. Rohan stumbled inside, the door slamming shut behind him with a bang that echoed through the empty barn. The familiar smells of hay and the musty air did nothing to slow his racing heart. This place, usually a shelter, now felt more like a prison. It seemed to be closing in on him with every shaky breath he took.

Rohan slid down against the wall. He covered his face with his hands, his body shaking with quiet sobs. Tears rolled down his face, each one showing just how mixed up he was feeling inside. He was crushed under the weight of his own doubts, scared of letting himself and his family down.

The words of his parents echoed in his head. “We believe in ya, Rohan. You can change the world.”

But how could he live up to such high hopes? Doubt ate at him like a hungry beast, biting harder with every thought of what lay ahead.

Then, he thought of his little brother. Noah looked up to him like a hero, the amazing mage they all dreamed of. Rohan wanted so badly to be that person and to deserve that kind of admiration. He didn’t want to let down the little brother who believed in him more than anyone.

But the fear of failing Noah, of ruining that image of the strong, capable older brother, was crushing. With a heart full of pain, Rohan let himself fall onto the hay-covered floor of the barn.

As he lay there, it felt like his very soul was breaking apart. Every regret he had was like a hammer hitting him deep inside. He felt the pain of the rejection letter. He felt the heavy weight of self-doubt. And he felt the fear of letting down the people he loved.

In this dark moment, it was like Rohan’s spirit shattered into pieces. Each piece reflected all the things he wished he had done differently and all the ways he felt he had failed. His life seemed to be falling apart around him. It left him in a pit of despair so deep that it felt like it was going to swallow him whole.

Rohan's heart felt as heavy as a stone, his hope dwindling like the last embers of a dying fire. Just as he thought all was lost, a flicker of white caught his eye. A feather, so pure it seemed to glow with its own light, drifted down from the barn's rafters. It twirled and danced in the air, putting on a graceful performance as it slowly descended.

The moment the feather touched the dusty floor, the barn exploded in a kaleidoscope of light and color. Golden and silver spirals of magic danced around the room. Their swirling patterns cast shadows that seemed to twist and come alive on the walls.

Before Rohan could even blink, a warm feeling covered him like a cozy blanket. It was like the sun's gentle kiss on a crisp spring morning. A soft, magical hug surrounded him, lighter and more comforting than anything he had ever felt. Feathery touches, as light as a summer breeze, brushed against his skin, sending waves of calm washing over him. The air filled with the sweet scent of lavender, calming his worries and lifting his spirits like a beautiful melody.

As Rohan let himself relax into this close embrace, everything else seemed to fade away. It was just him and this feeling of being held, of being cared for in a way he couldn’t even put into words. Time seemed to stand still, giving him the chance to enjoy this connection that was both brand new and strangely familiar.

Then, a voice that sounded like it was coming from the stars themselves spoke to him. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Rohan.”

Rohan, feeling completely amazed and overwhelmed, looked up. “Who… who are you?” he asked in a voice so quiet it was almost a whisper.

The mysterious figure gently let go of him and floated back, as if being carried by an invisible breeze.

image [https://i.imgur.com/YGZNw3I.png]