(Vhim's Point of View)
I didn't understand it.
Why didn't I awaken anything?
The pillar… the glowing light that was supposed to represent my soul nature—it never came.
All the other kids had theirs. Some were small, some tall, some red, blue, green… swords, beasts, flames.
Even Arjun… even he didn't get one.
I opened my eyes, and everything was quiet.
Too quiet.
No one said anything, but I could feel it. The way they didn't look at me. The silence that got heavier with each second.
The monks looked away. The other children smirked behind their palms. Their souls glowed with pride.
And mine?
Nothing.
Empty.
I stood up and walked out. Quietly. Without looking back.
My legs felt heavier with each step. Not because I was tired—but because I was dragging along shame.
What did I do wrong?
Wasn't I supposed to be special?
I always believed I would be. That if I just kept dreaming—if I just kept wanting—someday, the world would answer me.
But I guess I was just a fool after all.
An unwanted orphan, dreaming about becoming the best adventurer.
"Hah…" I tried to laugh. It came out hollow.
The villagers always looked at me like I was a stray dog begging for scraps. Like I was delusional.
But… Arjun never did.
He always listened. He never mocked me, even when I talked nonsense about fighting dragons or exploring Boshusuka. He didn't believe in the dream—but he believed in me.
And now… he didn't get a pillar either.
Was it because of me?
Did I drag him down somehow?
I sat near the temple steps, hugging my knees, trying not to cry.
Then I heard footsteps.
When I looked up, I saw Arjun walking toward me. He looked calm. Focused.
Not angry. Not scared.
Just… sure.
And then, something strange happened.
I felt a warmth… like something invisible wrapped around my chest and pulled tight, like a connection being formed.
And at that moment, I heard a voice in my mind.
> [You have been added to the Xaboss Family.]
> [Your bond has been acknowledged by the Family Head.]
My heart skipped.
What… was that?
I looked at Arjun. He didn't say anything right away. Just sat next to me.
For a while, we didn't speak. Just sat in the silence of failure.
Then he smiled faintly.
"I guess we're in this together."
I didn't understand what he meant, but…
Something inside me felt okay again.
Maybe I wasn't glowing. Maybe I didn't have a beast or a sword.
But for some reason… I didn't feel like nothing.
I didn't know what Xaboss meant.
.
.
.
(Arjun's Point of View)
I walked over to him slowly.
Vhim was sitting on the temple steps, knees pulled to his chest, staring at the ground like it had all the answers he didn't. For a moment, he looked like a kid who'd just had his dreams shattered.
Then again… I guess that's exactly what he was.
When he looked up and saw me, his eyes filled with questions.
I didn't let him speak first.
I sat down beside him and sighed.
That's when he tilted his head, still confused.
"What?" I asked, keeping my tone light.
He squinted.
"What is Xaboss?"
I raised a brow. He saw that too?
"My family."
He blinked. "So... I'm a family member?"
I nodded.
"Yes."
His voice softened, curious and careful. "How did you do it? You didn't have a pillar when I saw."
I smiled at that. I didn't know the full answer myself yet.
"Secret," I said simply. "I'll tell you when I know. But right now, all I can say is… we're probably small pawns in a huge game."
I looked up at the sky. The clouds were moving faster than I liked. A storm was always coming in these stories, wasn't it?
"We need to get powerful." That part came out without me meaning to. But I meant it.
Just then, something unexpected happened.
A transparent screen blinked into view in front of both of us. This one wasn't like the others. It wasn't part of the temple's ceremony.
It was the system—my system.
---
> [Loser's Lie Activated]
You have convinced another soul of something you don't fully understand yourself.
[Effect: Your family can undergo a second awakening once it is full—9 members total.]
---
I stared at it.
Vhim stared at it too.
Then we looked at each other.
His eyes were wide. He was still too young to understand what was going on—but smart enough to know it was important.
Me?
I felt something between dread and opportunity.
This wasn't my story.
But the fact that this system had acknowledged my lie... and rewarded it?
That terrified me more than anything.
Because it meant the world wasn't fixed.
.
.
.
"What is this Loser's Lie?"
Vhim and I asked in perfect unison.
I glanced at him, half amused, half unsettled. He looked just as puzzled as I felt.
But I shook my head.
"Ok. Whatever it is…" I exhaled slowly, focusing on what we could control. "Right now, we need eight more members. If I'm right, there are more people who didn't awaken during this ritual. We need to find them."
Vhim turned to me sharply, his eyes already lit with anticipation.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!" he said, nearly jumping to his feet.
But I reached out and caught his shoulder.
"Oi, I want a promise from you first."
He blinked, surprised. "What?"
I looked him in the eyes, serious now. This wasn't a game anymore.
"Until I tell you to speak the truth… you will tell everyone in our future family that you are the head."
His mouth opened, confused. "But why?"
I smiled, though it didn't reach my eyes.
"Because I want you to be the hero. And I'll be your loyal right-hand man."
It sounded strange even to me. But I meant it. If this world had roles to play, then I didn't mind stepping into the shadows—if it meant I could control the stage from behind the curtain.
Vhim was quiet for a moment. He was thinking, deeply. I could tell. Then he slowly nodded.
"Okay. I promise."
We shared a look that was more than just agreement—it was the start of something.
Right then, we turned to leave, ready to begin our search.
But before we could take even three steps toward the exit—
Someone else stepped out from the inner hall.
A boy.
Roughly our age. His head was low. His steps were heavy, dragging with every movement. His aura was… hollow. Like someone who just lost everything.
His expression was blank—but there was something strange in his eyes. Something deeper. Something still burning.
Suddenly, a golden ripple appeared in front of me.
---
> [Hero Rank Candidate Detected!]
---
I froze.
So did Vhim.
I looked at the boy.
Then at the message.
Then at Vhim.
His mouth was already half open. "That's our—"
"Shh." I whispered. "Let's not scare him off."
And deep inside, I wondered…
Just how many pieces were scattered on this board?