A soft hand on my forehead woke me up from my sleep.

"Mmm..."

I groaned and twisted around when the hand started shaking me. I slowly opened my eyes and turned to the side to see a person sitting on a chair next to my bed. Her long hair was in a mess while her tie was loosened down as my mother looked at me quietly. Her unkempt clothes had creases on them, but I guess my family looked just good enough for such things to not bother us.

"Mom... You're back." I held in a yawn as I spoke to my mother, slowly lifting myself off the bed.

"Morning, Ralph."

"Uh hn, morning"

{Wow, she's really just ignoring the whole hospital thing, huh?}

The system really did not miss its chance when it came to snarky comments. I ignored the stupid window in front of my eyes and stifled another yawn.

"Are you doing better now?" she awkwardly asked, her eyes not meeting mine.

"Yes. It wasn't anything to worry about." I waved my hands and averted the topic.

My mother hesitated on her words a bit. She had always been like this whenever there was something she should be talking about. She easily had simple conversations with me but did this every time there was anything even mildly important as if I wasn't worth saying any of it to.

She gazed around my room when her sight landed on the envelope kept on my table. I could see her eyes tremble slightly as she picked the envelope in her hands and turned to me. "So, you've already seen this..."

"Right. Sister really did something unnecessary, huh?" I said. "She got the course wrong too, I guess I'll have to stand them up—"

"—No," my mother interrupted, her tone still weak and hesitant. "I asked her to put you in that course."

What?

She did?

Why would she, of all people, do something like that?

"I think, you should go to Agriche, Ralph." My mother clenched the hems of her work skirt as she said those words with a downcast gaze. "You are talented, you should cultivate it as you see fit."

"Hah."

A scoff left my mouth.

My mother raised her head in surprise and met my eyes.

This woman, what did she think of me? When she was the one who brought me here, she was the one who drove me into a world of crime with her ignorance to the point I ended up with a limiter placed on me, she was the one who said that I am dangerous, psychopathic, that I should try to live a normal life.

And now she says I should cultivate my talents?

Wasn't this just her way of abandoning me while having a morally high ground? I helped someone by dying, and this is what I get from my own family? She clearly meant that she will pay for my board and food so I should kindly fuck off from her sights. She was done with the normal life bullshit.

I had learned my lesson. These people, they don't care about me.

What kind of parent, what kind of family plays with their child's mind and heart like this over and over again?

"Ralph..." my mother continued. "I've talked for a raise and a promotion, that's why I've been working all the time these few days... You don't have to worry about those—"

"—Mother."

My mother's eyes trembled again as she stared at me, gazing into my scornful eyes. "Do you think I am some pet you can cage on a whim and set free on a whim?"

"Ralph, I didn't mean..."

Since the beginning, I've been looking for understanding in the wrong place. I've been seeking acceptance in the wrong place.

"I know very well what you mean."

I got off the bed and walked past my mother's chair to my closet. She remained seated there as she clenched her hands even tighter to the point they started to tremble. I looked at her from the side of my eye.

"I understand," I said. "I'll go. You should leave now, rest a little."

"Ralph—"

"—You must be tired, mother. We can talk later."

Finally bending under my insistence, my mother stood up from the chair. She sent a gaze at me, but I simply ignored her. Soon, she left my room, closing the door behind her.

When her footsteps were gone, I let out a big sigh and sat down on my chair.

{Host... Are you ok?}

The system's window opened in front of my eyes. He had been really quiet for a while.

"Yeah, of course. Why wouldn't I be?"

{Your eyes... are teary.}

"You imagine things."

I sighed and looked at the letter again. "We even got mom's blessings to go to Agriche. It's all good. There is no point looking for a normal life anymore, system. I am done hiding myself and my goals... I'll do it, I'll join Agriche's awakener course."

{You won't be relying on your mother... is there another way?}

"We have five days, I'll find a way to secure some funds for the academy. Living expenses won't be a matter, I had invested some money a while back, that'll get us through. And if I can't find anything, I can just—"

{Host, you talk about securing funds, but are you sure you will pass?}

My eyes narrowed at the startling words. I stretched my hands above my head as I chuckled at the system.

"Pass?"

"If I feel like it, I might just rank first."