Icarus went home that day not uttering a single word. He didn't know what to feel. Red Rank. Average. A person of high status like him had no talent at all. He wondered why out of everyone it had to be him.
Now he realized that maybe he was a Husk. It wasn't just that his Essence hasn't manifested yet; he never had in the first place.
He quietly cried in his room for hours until the locked door was suddenly slammed open.
"I heard what happened in school today," Icarus mother, Yanne, stood by the door with arms crossed. "Claude's father told me."
"Yeah... you're home early."
"Of course, stupid. I'll always be there for my son."
Yanne climbed into the bed and cuddled with Icarus. The boy hugged back and cried some more.
"Mom, I don't want to train with those two anymore," whimpered Icarus.
"I refuse."
"But why?!! I suck compared to Claude and Violetta. There's no point. I can't catch up even with all the extra training I do with you. I'd rather stay in and play video games or read a book."
"Oh, you don't want to see Violetta anymore? I'll be sure to tell her that," smiled Yanne.
"Wha—No! I'll still hang out with them. I just don't want to train with them. Don't you dare say that to her!"
"Then come train. I don't want to hear any excuses. Those who don't work hard get anything. You think I got strong by complaining."
"What does it take to be as strong as you, Mom?"
"You can start off by awakening your Essence?" suggested Yanne.
"I hate you."
Icarus always wondered the limit of those at the top. The best of the best were known as the Empyrean Hundred, a ranking system of the best current Vessels on the entire world. The rankings always changed but his mother has been known as Tenth Empyrean Vessel ever since he could remember. She was always full of secrets
Finally, Yanne got up and headed for the door.
"Ike, It doesn't matter to me if you're not as good as the others. You don't have to be a Vessel and make me proud. But I at least want to pass down everything I know to you. Maybe if I have a grandchild someday they'll probably want to follow my footsteps and I won't be around then," she reminded. "It is for your own good too. People will come after you just because you're my son. I'm teaching you everything I can just as your grandpa did to me.
"...Guess I'll have to suffer some more, then," sighed Icarus. "I'll go be a lawyer or businessman instead. If I get really rich and make a name for myself my status will be worthy enough for me to ask Violetta out one day even if I'm a Husk.
"Hehe, that's my boy. Go and get rich. You may be lacking in combat prowess but you were born intelligent. You'll be very successful in the future," assured Yanne. "Well, I'm out. I have to do something for tonight. There's food on the table."
Then, Yanne hurriedly left, leaving her son alone for the night. She felt bad doing so, especially when her son was going through such a heart-shattering crisis. But that is why she loved her son so much. He was very understanding of her circumstances and never complained about her absence in his life.
Icarus, on the other hand, felt bad for his mom. She was a single mother and they have never spoken about his father. He knew how raising a child alone was hard enough let alone being one of the most powerful people in the country. His mother never lacked in caring for him. Yanne always tried to make up for the lost time with him and provided him with everything he needed. Even when he was a Husk and an untalented son, she ignored it.
Other nobles were always obsessed with producing more powerful offspring to ensure their prosperity in the future. They would have as many children as they could and only provided for those who showed promise. The rest were cast away like some they were born defected.
Icarus got up and washed his face in the washroom. He looked towards the mirror and meticulously rubbed his swollen eyes from crying so long. He took a long look at his face. Icarus always wondered how he was related to his mother. She was very beautiful but he only looked decent. His looks were lacklustre compared to Claude. She was blonde yet his hair was a dark shade of purple. His mother was obviously very built but his physique was different and required a lot of effort just to maintain in shape. At least he had his mother's verdant eyes.
After that, he made his way down towards the kitchen. Their mansion was very small. It only had two floors and was only slightly bigger than a suburban home. However, their front and back yards were very vast in comparison. They hired a gardener to tend to it every morning. But the reason why they were huge had something to do with his mother wanting training grounds.
When he got there, a plate of takeout poutine was waiting for him. It wasn't his mother's cooking but she at least compensated by ordering his favourite food from his favourite place.
As he munched down on the fries, he cringed at the thought of coming to school the next day. Other children were obviously going to look for trouble now that they know his an average lad for a noble. Also, he was embarrassed to face Violetta and Claude. They promised each other when they were small that all three were going to become the next Pillars of Vallia.
Claude and Violetta were definitely set in the future. Claude's father definitely wanted his son to succeed him. Violetta has caught the interest of another member of the Pillars. As for Icarus, it was nothing but a shattered dream.
Out of nowhere, Icarus remembered something he had completely forgotten about, overshadowed by the disappointing results of his soul force. It was his brand new copy of the Essence Databook that was handed out after school.
Immediately, he rummaged his bag for the book and wasted no time in finding information about Violetta and Claude's Essences. He looked for "Lugh" first and found it quite fast.
"Lugh, a god of light, representing the Celtic Mythology. Also known as the Master of Skills, Lugh had a talent for everything, especially in fighting and wielding weapons. Rank S."
"Bro...."
At this point, Icarus wasn't even surprised at the rank of Claude's Essence. Next, he looked for Violetta's Essence Rank.
"Ymir, the ancestor of the mighty race of monsters known as Frost Giants. A primordial being that had supreme control over ice. His strength rivalled several gods. Rank SS."
"BRO..."
Now Icarus was really surprised. Having an A-rank Essence was impressive enough but those two were overkill. Icarus felt discouraged just by looking at the book so he put it away.
If there still a deity of destiny that still exists, Icarus would like to talk. But at the same time, he realized. They were probably all dead.
"Oh well, I guess back to school."