Chapter 72: When the Song Ends

Chapter 72: When the Song Ends As the final note of my song trembled into silence, I turned on my heel and walked off the stage. Not with the poise of a performer satisfied with their act—but with the urgency of a boy holding back a dam that threatened to burst. Each step I took was to escape the crowd, to distance myself from their cheers and applause. I didn’t want praise—I wanted solitude. I needed to hide the pain that was clawing at my throat, the tears that burned behind my eyes, threatening to explode. But fate had other plans. Standing right at the edge of the backstage corridor, leaning casually against a pillar as if she’d been waiting for this moment, was Cecilia. Her silver eyes narrowed with amused curiosity. "Looks like the guy with a heart of stone actually has emotions." I didn’t stop. I didn’t even look at her. I brushed past, hoping she’d take the hint and leave me be. Of course, she didn’t. "Today might be the best day of my life," she said with a mocking laugh. "First, Rayne gets knocked down by some nobody. Then a song completely hijacks the entire festival’s spotlight. And now I get to see you like this—Ashen, the strong, unshakable one, with tears in his eyes." I paused mid-step. She was goading me, enjoying the spectacle, but her words weren’t what stung. It was the truth in them. I was breaking. And that alone shattered the image I had worked so hard to maintain. I turned slightly, just enough for her to hear me clearly. "You’re wrong," I said quietly. "Men do cry. They just don’t let others see it. Because that’s how we’re raised, isn’t it? People say ’men don’t cry’ as if it’s a rule, a requirement for strength." I clenched my fists. "But I wasn’t weak because I cried. I cried because I’ve been strong for too damn long." With that, I left her behind in the hallway, her smirk faded into silence. — I found myself on the rooftop of the Academy, away from the crowds, the lights, and the noise. Only the wind whispered here, brushing across the open sky and tugging at my sleeves like a friend trying to comfort me. I leaned on the railing and stared at the stars. For a moment, I allowed myself to believe that peace could exist. That the sky, vast and unburdened, could swallow everything I felt. But peace never lasts. A flash of silver and blue light flickered behind me. I turned just as my mother—Selene—sprinted across the rooftop and threw her arms around me in a fierce embrace. "You did beautifully," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I was so proud, Ashen. And I always will be." I stood frozen, arms stiff at my sides. "You don’t have to carry all of it alone," she said. "You don’t have to pretend you’re okay. You don’t have to walk a path you never chose, Ashen. You’re allowed to cry. You’re allowed to rest." I didn’t say anything. My thoughts rebelled. ’That song wasn’t for you, stupid woman,’ I muttered in my head. ’Just leave. I need some air.’ But then the familiar chime rang in my ears. [System: Side Quest Received – "One Day Together" Objective: Explore the festival with Selene. Reward: Skill Unlock – Teleportation (Rare) Failure: All Attributes -1 for 24 Days.] I sighed audibly. ’System, not this again.’ But the reward caught my attention. Teleportation. A broken ability if used properly. It was the kind of skill that could change the game completely. Instant travel, instant escape. I, that meant near-invincibility. Still... I turned to her, burying the hesitation. "Mother, for the rest of today, would you... like to roam around? Like we used to?" Her breath hitched. Her eyes widened as if I had just gifted her the stars themselves. She nodded slowly, lips trembling. "I don’t need anything more than that," she said. "It would be... perfect." — The festival had shifted in tone after the performance. No longer just an Academy event—it had become something magical. Lanterns floated through the air, casting soft glows in the night. Booths lined the walkways with food, games, magical curiosities, and laugh-filled competitions. Students wandered in couples and groups, laughing and chatting, reveling in the energy. I walked beside Selene, hands in my pockets, face neutral. I was pretending, of course. Pretending to enjoy myself. Pretending to be the boy she remembered, not the one the world had reshaped. But even pretense had its moments. She tugged at my sleeve and pointed toward a booth where magical creatures were being painted by children. "Remember when you begged me for a fire ferret plush? You called it ’Sparkles.’" I gave her a side glance. "Yeah, and you said it would catch fire in bed." She laughed, warm and genuine. "You sulked for three days." We passed a sweetroll stand. Without a word, she bought two and handed me one. The warmth of the pastry seeped into my fingers. I took a bite—too sweet, just like always. We watched illusionary fireworks that formed dragons, phoenixes, and galaxies. She clapped with childlike wonder. I couldn’t help but smile. "Is it really so hard to just be here?" she asked, her tone soft. ’Yes,’ I thought. ’Because I’m not that boy anymore.’ But I didn’t say it. Instead, I asked, "Do you think I’ve changed too much?" Selene looked at me quietly. "You’ve changed. But not too much. Never too much." We wandered deeper into the festival. In a quiet corner, she pointed out an old mural on the Academy wall. A story of ancient heroes, painted long before either of us arrived. "I used to tell you bedtime stories based on these paintings," she said, her voice distant. "You always wanted to be the masked warrior. The one who never lost." "Guess I’m still trying," I muttered. Her expression turned solemn. "Just remember: that warrior didn’t win because he was the strongest. He won because he had people beside him." We walked until the crowds thinned. Music drifted from distant stages, lights floated overhead like stars that had come down to visit. Selene slipped her arm around mine. "I know you’re pretending, Ashen. You’ve always tried to protect me by hiding what you feel. But you don’t have to anymore. You can be broken, too." Something in my chest loosened. Not healed. But acknowledged. We walked together in silence for a long while. And in that stillness, I wasn’t a prodigy. I wasn’t a swordsman or a System-blessed anomaly. I was just her son. Pretending. But not alone. [System: Side Quest "One Day Together" – In Progress. 70% Completion.] We ended the night at a quiet overlook, watching paper lanterns being released into the night sky. I folded my arms, leaning against the railing. Selene lit a lantern and handed it to me. "Make a wish," she said. I stared at it. ’I wish I knew how to stop pretending.’ I let it go. We watched as it joined the hundreds above, dancing in the night. [System: Side Quest Completed. Reward Unlocked – Skill: Teleportation.] [Skill Description: Allows instantaneous movement within line of sight . Cooldown: 30 seconds] ’Broken, indeed.’ Selene smiled at me, and for a brief moment, I stopped pretending. I smiled back.