But that didn't mean he had to give up on magic.
Later that evening, Rei sat at the dinner table, his mind still racing with thoughts of Ser Aldric's magical swordplay. He barely touched his food, his thoughts a whirlwind. Could he really be like him? Could he find a way to combine both his sword skills and magic?
His parents, who had always been supportive but quiet about his attempts at magic, exchanged looks across the table. Finally, his mother put down her fork and cleared her throat.
"Rei," she began softly, "there's something we need to talk to you about."
Rei blinked, looking up at her with wide eyes. "What do you mean? Is something wrong?"
His father, normally a man of few words, sighed and set his glass down. "It's about your magic, son. About why it hasn't been working like you hoped."
Rei frowned, his stomach tightening. "What do you mean? I've been practicing. I can feel the mana flow sometimes. It just doesn't... do anything."
His mother reached out, gently placing a hand on his. "Rei, honey, we've known this for a while, but we didn't want to tell you. We didn't want to hurt you."
Rei stared at her, confused. "Hurt me? What's going on?"
His father spoke up this time, his tone unusually heavy. "Rei, you don't have the amount of mana that most people do. Some people are born with it in abundance. Others... don't have much at all." He looked at Rei seriously. "You're one of those people."
Rei's heart sank. "So... you mean I can't use magic?"
His mother squeezed his hand, her voice soft but firm. "Not in the way you want to. You can still sense mana, and maybe use a little here and there, but you'll never have enough to cast spells like other mages or use it to the extent that knights like Ser Aldric can."
Rei's thoughts spun. He didn't understand. He had always assumed that if he kept trying, if he just practiced hard enough, then the magic would come. But now…
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" he whispered, his voice a little shaky. "I could've known, and I wouldn't have wasted all that time…"
His father leaned forward, his expression pained. "We didn't want you to feel like you were less than anyone else. You're still capable, Rei. You don't need magic to be great. You've got skills of your own."
Rei blinked, trying to hold back the sting in his eyes. "But I wanted to be a mage. I thought I could be more than just a knight…"
His mother smiled softly, her voice reassuring. "You are more than just a knight. You're a good person, and you've always been determined. That's what makes you special, Rei. Not your magic."
For a long moment, Rei was silent, the weight of their words sinking in. Slowly, the storm of emotions inside him began to calm. Magic had been his dream, but it wasn't the only path he could walk. Maybe it was time to accept that.
His father patted him on the back. "It's okay, son. We'll figure it out together. You'll find your way."
Rei took a deep breath and looked up at them, his heart heavy but also strangely light at the same time. It wasn't the answer he had hoped for, but it was the truth.
"Thanks," he whispered, his voice barely above a whisper. "I think I'm starting to understand."
As he looked out the window, a quiet resolve settled within him. He might not have the magic he dreamed of, but he would make his own way. With or without it.
[What's next for Rei? Will he become the first knight to rise with almost no mana, his every move fueled by sheer muscle, sweat, and the savage will to survive? Or will he be crushed by the weight of his own fate, bound to a life where magic is everything, and all he's left with is the broken, bloody remnants of his strength?]