Prologue: The Day the Prodigy Died
The door to the house opened, and a boy around five years old with black hair—Orn—entered the house.
"Welcome home. ...Hm? What's wrong?"
Orn's mother, Nicola, greeted him with a smile. However, noticing the tears welling up in Orn's eyes, she asked with a concerned tone.
"...Mom, am I not normal?"
Orn, struggling to hold back his tears, asked the question in response to Nicola's inquiry.
"What's the matter all of a sudden? You're just fine."
Although Nicola was taken aback by the sudden question, she made an effort to smile and denied Orn's words.
"But, everyone... no one wants to play with me. They say I'm not normal, and that I can't play with them because their parents told them not to... U... Uuuu..."
Unable to hold back any longer, Orn began to cry.
"I see... It's okay, it's okay. You just want to play with everyone, right? ...Hey, dear. Is there really no way to cast that magic on Orn...?"
While gently patting Orn's head and soothing him, Nicola pleaded with Orn's father, Lens, who had come over after hearing the cries.
"...But—"
"I know it's unreasonable. But, I want to help this child who's suffering now, rather than focus on an uncertain future. If there's a way, we should do it."
"..."
Lens seemed to be wavering at Nicola's words, yet he was unable to make a decision.
"I don't want to see my beloved child hurt and crying anymore. Don't you feel the same?"
"I feel the same way! Even now, my heart feels like it's about to break from the pain!"
"...Are you two fighting? You can't fight."
Thinking that Lens had raised his voice because they were fighting, Orn stopped crying and insisted that fighting was not allowed.
"We're not fighting, dear. Right, darling?"
Nicola gently denied the idea to reassure Orn, then looked to Lens for confirmation.
"Ah, yeah! Dad and mom are very close, you know!"
Although Nicola was smiling, there was a pressure in her expression that left no room for refusal, and Lens, sweating nervously, agreed with her.
"That's good, huh? I wonder if I can make someone as nice as Dad and Mom, a good friend too?"
Reacting to the word "close," Orn asked a question.
The question was enough to pierce Lens's heart at that moment.
"...! Of course, you can! You're a kind child. I'm sure when you grow up, you'll be surrounded by lots of friends!"
"Lots of friends...! I hope I can make many, many friends."
As Orn said this, he closed his eyes and began nodding off.
"...He's fallen asleep."
Orn, who had been subjected to cruel words from the other children and fearful looks from the adults, had suffered significant mental damage, and with the physical exhaustion from crying, he had drifted into unconsciousness.
"Damn it...! Why 'now,' and why 'this child'... I know I'll fall into hell after I die. I've already accepted that. If it's a punishment for me, then punish me personally...! Orn has nothing to do with it...! I know it's selfish. But I wanted Orn to experience a normal happiness..."
"...I feel the same. But that's not allowed. Orn has power. That's why, even if just for now, I want him to live like everyone else. ...Please, I beg you. Cast that magic—sealing magic—on Orn."
"...I see. If only for now, if it means Orn can live in peace."
Thus, Orn's physical abilities were restricted, and he could no longer construct advanced spells or higher-tier magic.
From that day on, Orn went from being a "prodigy" to an "ordinary person."
——.