QUADRA ITERA

A young man walked dejectedly through a bustling street, too engrossed in his downcast mood to notice the vibrant atmosphere. The city was always like this – every corner pulsed with energy, displaying a plethora of sights, sounds, and smells. Towering buildings and imposing skyscrapers, though sparingly lit, reflected off the wet pavement through their windows and glass panes. Sirens wailed, traffic hummed, and chatting civilians gave off an aura of energy and life. Vendors called out their wares, from mystical items to technique books and fake treasures.

As dusk fell, neon lights on signs and billboards highlighted the sky, projecting a myriad of colors – though he thought it was the invisible barrier at work. The stars twinkled dimly but surely, scattered across the vast void expanse. In the city, desires were made and lost, and the melody of life was set by the vibrant beats of vast human ambition. Yet, all this energy only served as a repellent to Iguro, as he couldn't indulge himself in any of it.

Even if he tried, he'd either get rejected or have no means of accessing it. He walked towards the city gates and passed through unnoticed – or rather, ostracized, as the guards seemed to pay no heed to his departure. He walked a far distance before reaching a secluded valley, meeting a small forest.

As he always did when he arrived, he observed every detail. The towering trees with thick trunks stretched towards the sky, their leaves rustling softly in the cool, humid wind. Fully perceiving the sweet blooming flower scents alongside the strong earthy smell of damp soil, he walked down a long, winding road.

For fear of alerting wild animals or beasts, he carefully walked, though the sounds of leaves crunching could still be heard. Somehow, by barely walking, he felt like he was disturbing the forest's tranquility.

Night had fully set in, but the trees, packed together, formed a natural cathedral, their branches intertwining to create a leafy barrier. As he turned down the road, the sound of rushing water grew faintly audible. His breathing quickened, and he walked quicker.

Soon, the sound grew louder, and he parted branches to reveal a crystal-clear waterfall cascading down a rocky slope, creating a misty veil. The roar of the waterfall grew louder, but within its soothing melody spread, calming Iguro's emotions and uplifting his spirit.

__________

Iguro currently stood in front of a class with people his age, who all stared at him like some weird experiment.

"You're.....normal?"

"A normalian? Such people exist?"

"Well...."

"You have no ability to cultivate techniques, nor do you have an ability?"

"Um....yes."

"Then what the hell are you doing here, Mr. Normal?!"

At that remark, everyone burst into laughter, pointing at him in mockery or genuine spite. Despite doing nothing, he had become the class's most hated. The teacher remained silent, but Iguro could feel the disdain emanating from him.

Even amidst all this, Iguro thought, 'I'll persevere! Yeah! I'll shine one day!' So he stood silently, receiving ridicule from people not much older than himself.

________

"Sorry, I don't eat with normalians."

"Get away, you blank freak!"

"I wonder if your chastity is as plain as you are, hehehe....."

Quickly standing up on his own accord, he simply walked away and ate in class on his seat. Though he wondered why the cafeteria lady hadn't scolded him for taking trays outside the cafeteria, he shrugged it off.

________

"Iguro...."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Kaito, but the ridicule is getting out of hand! I got slapped this afternoon for mistakenly bumping into a girl. Not only that, she started crying and said I had caressed her ass!"

"Language, Iguro."

"Sorry sir. Point is, no one likes me here, and I would very much like to leave. I'm really grateful for all you've done, but it's hard for me to feel anything when everyone's constantly giving me eyes of disgust or plain hatred."

"It's not your fault, Iguro. The world today is built upon dominance. People believe in bullying the weak and fearing the strong. In your case, you're weak but have a powerful figure backing you up."

"Wow. Thanks." Iguro rolled his eyes.

"You little rascal." Mr. Kaito chuckled and continued, "When they see someone like you existing, they feel envious of your condition and feel inadequate. This brings contempt, making them feel stronger than you and take such a position. But they can't."

"You sure talk a lot, old man." Iguro pouted, folding his arms grumpily. With a huff, he jumped off the high chair and walked out.

Mr. Kaito smiled, seeing the talk take effect on the young lad.

________

"Maybe I had a behavior back then too." Iguro smiled helplessly. With his vision going dark, Iguro knew he was about to die. A feeling of regret slowly welled up from his heart, and he wished he had at least met the old man again.