The prophecy echoed in my mind, haunting and ominous.

“One day, the Crimson Phantom will rise… a traitor, who will betray the world and bring about its destruction.”

But I wasn’t scared. Not one bit. Because no matter how grim that prophecy was, I knew one thing for sure.

“Don’t worry, Grandpa! I’ll stop him, ‘cause I’m the mighty hero, remember? Haha!” I declared confidently, puffing out my chest like the brave warrior I imagined myself to be.

Grandpa smiled softly, his weathered face filled with warmth. "You've always had that fighting spirit, kiddo." He reached out, patting my shoulder gently. "But today’s not about prophecies or heroes. It’s your Day of Awakening."

"Oh, right!" My heart sped up with excitement as the realization hit me. Today was the day I’d receive my Grace. The power that would shape my future. Every kid in the world waited for this moment—your Grace was everything. It determined your strength, your potential… your destiny.

"Now go on, or you’ll be late," Grandpa reminded me, his voice kind but firm.

"Yeah, yeah, I’m going!" I gave a quick wave and rushed out the door, adrenaline pumping. This was it! My destiny was just around the corner.

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The Awakening Hall was packed with other kids my age, everyone buzzing with excitement or nerves as they waited for their name to be called. One by one, students stepped forward to receive their Grace. Some got Control, others Physical, a few lucky ones even got the Unique grace.

Finally, the official called, "Number 13. Min Yoon."

That’s me! I stepped forward, my heart pounding in my chest. This was it—the moment I’d been waiting for. The moment I’d find out what kind of power I had.

The official looked down at his device as it scanned me. Suddenly, his expression changed. His brow furrowed, and his eyes widened in shock.

“Oh… oh my...” he muttered, almost too quietly for me to hear.

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“What? What’s wrong?” I asked, suddenly feeling uneasy.

“You’re… graceless,” he said, his voice carrying an edge of disbelief, followed by a mocking laugh. “Hahaha! What a useless child.”

The room erupted in whispers and snickers. My face burned with embarrassment, but before I could even process it, the next name was called.

“Number 14,” the official called out, and another kid stepped forward. The scan was quick, and the official’s laugh returned, louder this time. “Oh, you’re also graceless! Two useless children in one day! What are the odds?”

I stood frozen, the word graceless echoing in my ears. Graceless? Me? No way. This had to be some kind of mistake. How could I be the hero in the prophecy if I didn’t even have a Grace?

As I walked out of the hall in a daze, the whispers of the other kids followed me like a shadow.

“Isn’t that the graceless kid?”

“Yeah, what a loser.”

“Oh, he’s perfect practice for my hounds!”

Suddenly, I heard a snarl behind me. I spun around just in time to see two massive, snarling hounds barreling toward me. My heart leaped into my throat. The kid who summoned them stood smirking in the distance. “Hounds, go!”

The beasts lunged. I didn’t even have time to think—I sprinted away as fast as my legs would carry me. I could hear their growls getting closer, their hot breath practically on my back.

But then, out of nowhere, the hounds froze mid-pounce. They were suspended in the air as if time itself had stopped.

“Grandpa!” I gasped, skidding to a stop. There he was, standing between me and the frozen hounds, his face calm but stern.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his eyes scanning me for any injuries.

I nodded, still panting from the sprint. “Yeah… but what did you do to them?”

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he gave me a soft, knowing smile. “Let’s talk at home.”

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When we arrived back home, I couldn’t hold my curiosity any longer. “Grandpa, please explain! How did you stop them like that? And what does it have to do with me being graceless?”

Grandpa sat down and looked at me with a serious expression. “Just like you, I was graceless,” he began, his voice low and thoughtful. “But many years ago, a friend gave me this.” He held out his wrist, showing me an old, simple-looking watch. “This watch has a unique ability. It can stop time for ten seconds, once a day.”

I stared at the watch, eyes wide. “Wait, you’ve been using that all this time?”

He nodded. “It’s not much, but it’s enough. I’ve managed to live a long life without a Grace thanks to this little device.”

“But... why are you telling me this now?”

“Because, Min, I’m passing it on to you,” Grandpa said, unstrapping the watch from his wrist and placing it in my hand. "The world sees you as graceless, but this watch will help you carve out your own path."

I looked down at the watch, feeling its weight in my hand. I wasn’t born with a Grace like everyone else… but maybe, just maybe, this watch was the key to something greater.