TSFA l CH 99

Chapter 99

***

After that day, Alex stayed in a gloomy mood.
Even when we asked him to go out for some fresh air, he refused.
Sometimes he would just stare blankly into space while eating.

His self-esteem had already hit rock bottom.
It seemed like he felt left out and powerless.

And honestly… how could he not?
Out of twelve siblings, he was the only one without an ability.

Did I… did I get it wrong?

I started doubting myself.

Right after I came back in time and saw nine-year-old Alex,
I wanted to keep him hidden and safe no matter what.
I thought that was the best choice—
because awakening his ability had only brought him pain in the past.

So in this second life, if Alex was going to be happy,
I thought it was best to make sure he never awakened.
I even wanted to make sure he never found out about his own secret.

But now?

Does he look happy?
No—he’s completely sunk in despair and can’t pull himself out.

***

In the moving carriage, I kept staring out the window.
Kali noticed and asked with concern:

“Are you alright, young lady?”

“…No. Not at all.”

Ryan, sitting across from me, let out a deep sigh.

Right now, the three of us were heading to König—
planning to buy Alex a gift to cheer him up.

Kali asked:

“Does a ‘powerless person’ really exist?
In the Bassenberg family it’s always been hidden so well,
people like me can hardly believe it.”

Ryan answered casually:

“Yeah, they exist.”

Of course, Ryan believed Alex had simply not inherited an ability yet.

But the truth was—
Alexander Bassenberg was the first ever wielder of the “Blood of Immortality,”
an ability that could only awaken by dying.

Recently, Alex kept telling me:

“Why am I the only powerless one?
I feel so useless.
I don’t need a special-grade Blessing like Father’s—
I just… want to have something. Anything.”

Hearing that every day made me ache inside.
It made me want to tell him the truth.

But even if I said, “You’re actually an ability user,”
what would change?

The “Blood of Immortality” only awakens through death—
so it’s not something he can even use.
He wouldn’t be able to prove it unless he tried to kill himself.
And he might just think I was lying to comfort him.

It was frustrating.

Ryan sighed:

“The academy’s the only solution.
No bears there—it’s safer than home.
He’ll meet kids his own age, and it might help rebuild his confidence.”

Kali pointed out the cost:

“Can you even afford the tuition?”

Ryan groaned:

“For now, yeah… but I need to mine more stones soon.”

The magic stones we had stocked up were all used for research.
The miners were supposed to come back in March…
but they still hadn’t returned.

Why?

Because the mountains were overrun with wild animals—
bears and boars coming down from hibernation.

Ryan and our mercenaries had been going up daily to hunt them
just so it would be safe enough for the miners to work.

***

Meanwhile

From the kitchen window, Märchen saw Alex standing alone in the yard.

That poor boy…

Even though the family tried to comfort him,
his sadness wasn’t getting any better.

Märchen walked out to him.

“Alex.”
“Brother…”

He patted Alex’s head, making the boy smile faintly.

“Want to take a walk with me?”

“…Okay.”

They walked along the path behind the estate.
It was peaceful as always,
but not in Alex’s heart.

“You’ve been feeling down lately, haven’t you?”
“Mm… I just wonder why I was born without an ability.
It makes me sad.
Everyone in our family does something for each other,
but I’m not doing anything.
I feel bad about that.”

Märchen told him he didn’t need to prove anything—
that being the beloved youngest was enough.

But Alex shook his head.

“I can’t just freeload.
I’m even thinking of not going to the academy.
The tuition is expensive.
If everyone’s working just to pay for me,
it feels wrong for me to just study in comfort.”

Märchen told him not to think like that—
Ryan was legally his father now and had the duty to provide for him.

Then, as they were walking, Alex suddenly froze.
His face was drained of color.

Märchen followed his gaze—

A massive bear stood there, fresh from the mountain,
eyes glinting dangerously.

He had never seen a live one before.

It had spotted them.

Märchen quickly decided—
if they ran clumsily, Alex would die.

“If the bear starts chasing me,
you run back home.
And… tell Bania… there’s a monster in the forest.”

Without waiting for an answer, Märchen sprinted toward the trees.
The hungry bear roared and charged after him.