After the awakening ceremony ended, Ivan's parents called him into the living room.
When he arrived, his mother, father, and both sisters were already seated, waiting for him.
He walked in and greeted them stiffly, his tone almost mechanical.
"Hello, Father. You called for me?"
"Come in, son," Hugo said gently. "We have something important to discuss with you."
Ivan sat down on the sofa across from his father, his posture perfect, his expression unreadable.
"What is it that you wish to talk about?"
Hugo took a deep breath, his face turning serious.
"Son, as you know, we are one of the top ten noble families in the nation. That status comes with wealth, power—and enemies."
He leaned forward slightly.
"We've built extensive business networks and forged connections with countless other noble families. But in the world of politics and power, there are no true friends—only eternal interests."
"Do you think all the nobles who were trying to curry favor with us today did so out of kindness? No—they did it because they sensed your potential and saw opportunity."
"But if the day comes when you no longer serve their interests, they'll abandon you without hesitation. Worse—some may try to harm you, to eliminate you as a threat."
"Over the years, our family has earned great profits... but also just as many enemies."
He looked Ivan dead in the eyes.
"And now, those enemies have a reason to act—you."
"You see, we've already given birth to two geniuses—Yuna and Lina. Both awakened S-rank talents, and both are likely to break through the Mortal Realm into the Extraordinary Realm in the future."
"Because of that, our enemies have tried to assassinate them more than once. They survived thanks to powerful spiritual artifacts—and their own exceptional talent."
"Do you understand what I'm telling you, Ivan?"
Ivan nodded solemnly. "Yes, Father. I understand. But… what should I do now?"
Hugo sighed deeply. "I know it's early, far too early... but we have no choice. For your safety—and the future of our family—we've decided to send you away."
At that moment, Elena burst into tears, covering her face with her hands. Lina, who had always doted on Ivan the most, began to sob beside her. Yuna, though more composed, had tears welling up in her golden eyes.
Hugo remained calm, but the sorrow in his eyes was unmistakable.
Ivan, meanwhile, just stared. He didn't understand. He could sense their emotions, but he couldn't feel them. It was like watching a play—real, yet distant.
His father noticed.
"Son," Hugo said softly. "We know emotions are hard for you. In these five years, you've never smiled… never laughed… never even cried. You show no emotions—no expressions."
"We've tried everything—healers, soul specialists, spirit doctors. But no one could fix it."
"From the moment you were born, you were shrouded in mystery. It was as if the heavens themselves had sent you here with some greater purpose... some unknown mission."
"But despite your strangeness, despite the unknowns surrounding your birth… we never stopped loving you."
"We didn't care what secrets you held. We only ever wanted you to live as a normal, happy child."
His voice trembled slightly.
"But now, we can't even give you that."
Just then, a sudden chirping sound came from the window. Everyone turned.
A white bird had landed on the windowsill, carrying a small black box in its claws.
Hugo's expression darkened. He rose from his seat immediately.
"It's a message."
He walked over and gestured toward the bird. The box opened on its own, and a small black stone with glowing runes floated into his hand.
He poured spiritual energy into it and enveloped it with his spiritual sense. The runes lit up, and a surge of information poured directly into his mind.
It was a Shadow Stone—used for urgent, encrypted communications.
As Hugo processed the message, his face went pale.
"The situation is worse than we thought," he said grimly. "We need to act immediately."
He turned to Ivan.
"Come with me. We're sending you away tonight."
Elena sobbed even harder, her voice cracking with pain and despair.
"Why… Why is this happening to us?"
"Why does my child… my baby… have to suffer so much, at such a young age…?"
No one answered.
Because everyone in that room already knew the answer—and none of them could change it.