Chapter 123: The difficult talk

As they left the house, Kai took charge of pushing the stroller while Jean walked beside him.

The weather was quite pleasant. The afternoon heat had finally begun to subside, and a gentle breeze brushed against them from time to time, making their leisurely walk all the more enjoyable.

As they passed several families strolling with their children, along with a few people enjoying some time by themselves, Kai couldn’t help remarking, "We should come out more often, too. Fresh air and interaction with the outside world are important for Elara’s development."

Jean hummed in agreement. "That’s true. If only our daughter showed some interest in the outside world, that is."

Kai hummed and glanced down at his beloved daughter, only to find that she was already half asleep in her stroller.

"Is she feeling all right? She was sleeping when I returned home, too."

Jean quickly reassured him. "She’s been active and playing all day. She was particularly interested in the back roller I was using earlier."

That reminded Kai of something. "You’ve started doing yoga? That’s nice."

Jean nodded. "I’ve realized a long time ago that the gym isn’t really for me. So I figured yoga would be the next best option." She sighed before adding, "Back in school, things were different. These days, I feel like I’ve grown old."

Kai turned to look at her, a thoughtful expression settling over his face.

"Could it be because of changes in your routine or diet? How have you been feeling lately? I mean, have you been feeling lethargic, or have you experienced any persistent pain in your body?"

Jean slowly shook her head, a little surprised that he was taking the matter so seriously. She hadn’t expected him to dwell on it to such an extent.

"No, nothing like that. But is there a particular reason you’re asking?"

Kai let out a long sigh.

He believed the time had finally come. He had already put off this conversation for far too long, and delaying it any further would only make things more difficult.

Before he could bring himself to tell her what was on his mind, however, he decided to ask her something first.

"Jean... back when you were living with your family, what did you dream of becoming after you awakened your mana?"

The question caught her completely off guard.

Jean lowered her gaze, her expression gradually changing as his words brought back memories she had spent years trying to bury.

"Well..." She hesitated, struggling to find the right words. "I used to feel equally excited and scared. Excited because I knew my potential would grow significantly after awakening my mana, but scared because..." She paused, letting out a faint, humorless laugh. "Well, the fear eventually won. You already know why."

Kai fell silent.

This was precisely why he had hesitated to bring up the subject for so long. He knew how deeply it was connected to her past, to the trauma and emotional scars she had struggled to overcome.

For as long as she could remember, Jean had been treated with love and respect by her family. Her father had placed great expectations on her, believing she would accomplish wonderful things once she awakened her mana. She had grown up surrounded by affection, with the knowledge that her family believed in her.

Then, in an instant, so much of that had been taken away from her because she had failed to accomplish something that had never been within her control to begin with.

It was cruel. And now, by bringing up those painful memories, Kai couldn’t help feeling that he was being cruel to her as well.

"Why do you ask?"

Jean took a moment to compose herself before turning toward him. Although she had managed to regain her composure, a hint of uncertainty remained in her eyes.

"I know you wouldn’t have asked me something like this unless you had something important to tell me."

Kai nodded before pausing and gesturing toward a nearby bench.

Jean followed him without a word. After securing the stroller’s wheels, Kai sat beside her and took a few moments to gather his thoughts, trying to find the right words to explain what he had in mind.

"Jean... what I’m about to give you is something I want you to have so you can protect yourself in the future. There are no other feelings attached to it."

Jean nodded slowly. "Sure... but why are you so nervous?"

Kai didn’t answer. Instead, he retrieved something from his Inventory and held it out to her.

Jean accepted the small, bean-shaped container and carefully opened it. Inside lay a tiny brown orb.

"This..." Kai began, watching her reaction. "This can help you awaken your mana core."

"!!"

Jean’s eyes widened in disbelief. She immediately looked up at him, searching his face for any hint that he might be joking.

But she knew Kai well enough to understand that he would never make light of something so deeply connected to her past. He knew better than anyone how much pain the subject could cause her.

Even so, she struggled to accept what he had just told her.

"It’s impossible, Kai. Once someone passes the age for awakening, there’s no known way to awaken their mana core."

Kai nodded. "I know. But trust me, this is something I acquired recently, and it’s completely safe. You just need to make sure you’re in the best possible physical and mental condition before swallowing it."

Jean turned silent hearing his words.

If he was being so sure about it, she found herself reluctant to continue arguing despite how absurd it sounded.

Kai exhaled a sigh knowing what must be going through her mind.

In a low voice he told her. "I won’t ask you to take it instantly. Take your time and then only make your decision. And even if you don’t want to eat it, I will understand."

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A/N:- Thanks for reading. If you have been enjoying the read so far, please leave a review.