Xander strode into the great room, his gaze sweeping across the opulent setting. The long table in the center was laden with delicacies, and his family members were already seated around it. His father sat in the middle at the head of the table, with Xander's mother on his left. Xander's designated seat was supposed to be on his father's right, but it was positioned far away, closer to the end of the table.
Xander's mother was visibly irritated, but she refrained from causing a scene. Xander's uncle, Barnet Von Grandstar, occupied the seat on his father's right. Xander's two cousins, both of whom were well-liked by the family, sat closer to his father than he did. It was clear that Xander was not held in high regard by his family.
Despite this, Xander made an effort to be polite. "Mother, I wasn't late this time," he said as he approached their seats.
"That's good," his mother replied with a forced smile.
"I bought a new cane while we were out," Xander continued. "The seller said that it belonged to a wizard who had passed away."
His announcement was met with laughter from the other guests, with Xander's cousin Layton laughing the loudest. "Hahaha, you fell for that old trick? You got scammed, cousin!" he jeered.
Xander's expression soured as he regarded his cousin. "No one was asking for your opinion," he retorted coldly.
Layton harrumphed in response, and Xander turned back to his mother with a forced smile. "I also bought some interesting books," he said. "One of them is called 'Magical Botany,' and it's about the uses of plants and flowers."
Xander's announcement was met with further mockery. "Aren't you a flower boy, haha!" someone sniggered, and the other guests laughed once again.
Xander's father's eyebrows twitched with shame, and Xander's mood darkened as he heard the voice in his head mocking him. "They're all laughing at you, Xander. They'll never take you seriously," the voice taunted. He could feel a coldness growing within him as he locked eyes with his cousin Layton, who was still snickering at his expense.
"Hmph," Xander harrumphed coldly before retreating to his seat. 'Just some kid, why should I bother?' he thought to himself. 'No wonder the old Xander didn't like family meetings.'
As he sat down, the voice in his head continued to taunt him. "You'll never fit in with them. They'll always see you as weak," the voice persisted. Xander tried to ignore it, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was brewing deep within him.
Xander couldn't shake off the voice in his head. It was becoming more and more persistent, urging him to take action against those who had mocked him. He knew that it was just a voice, but it was becoming harder to ignore.
He tried to focus on the dinner and engage in some small talk with his family, but he couldn't shake off the feeling of being an outsider. It was as if he was always the odd one out, never quite fitting in with his family.
As the dinner went on, Xander noticed that his cousin Layton was intentionally bumping into him whenever he walked by. It was a small thing, but it annoyed Xander to no end. He was about to say something when his uncle Barnet spoke up.
"Xander, I hear that you've taken an interest in magic. That's quite an unusual hobby for someone like you," Uncle Barnet commented, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Xander clenched his fists under the table, trying to remain composed. "Yes, I find it fascinating," he replied, forcing a smile.
"Oh, is that so?" Layton chimed in, a smug grin on his face. "And have you managed to do any magic yet, cousin? Or are you just playing with your toys?"
The room erupted in laughter once again, and Xander felt his face burn with humiliation. The voice in his head grew louder, urging him to lash out, to prove them all wrong. Xander closed his eyes, struggling to maintain control.
Just then, Xander's mother intervened. "That's enough, everyone. There's no need to tease Xander about his interests. We're all entitled to pursue our passions, after all," she said, her voice firm but gentle.
The laughter subsided, and the conversation moved on to other topics. However, the damage was done, and Xander couldn't shake off the feeling of resentment that had settled in his chest.
As the evening wore on, Xander couldn't help but dwell on the taunts and ridicule he had faced. The voice in his head continued to fuel his anger, urging him to take revenge on those who had belittled him. Xander knew he needed to find a way to prove them all wrong, to show them that he was not the weakling they believed him to be.
And so, Xander vowed to himself that he would do whatever it took to become a powerful magician. He would hone his skills and develop his magical abilities, until one day, he would be the one laughing at them. For the first time in his life, Xander felt a sense of purpose and determination, fueled by the voice that had once tormented him.
But little did Xander know that the voice in his head was not just a figment of his imagination. It was the first sign of his true power beginning to awaken – a power that would forever change the course of his life and the world around him.