Evolution begins with an ant colony

In the grand halls the Holy Empire’s Royal Capital, in prestigious Castle Academy, classes were in full swing. Students from noble families and gifted individuals gathered, eager to showcase their magical talents. Inside a secluded section of the Castle Academy, hidden from the prying eyes of the general students, was the Heroes Class.

A special program that gathered the summoned heroes, the class aimed to train and nurture the heroes for their future battle with the demon king.

Among the chosen few, Evan was finding it difficult to keep up with his classmates’ rapid progress. In the magical arts, he felt like an outsider, unable to tap into the same level of power and finesse as the others.

"What’s wrong with me? Everyone here is performing like they were born with magical gifts, and here I am, struggling to conjure a simple fire spell," Evan thought, his heart heavy with disappointment. "I can’t even keep up with Mina, who seems to be excelling in everything she does."

"Come on, Evan, focus!" he thought to himself, trying to channel his magic once more. But as he attempted to conjure a flame in his palm, nothing happened. No flicker, no spark, just emptiness.

His disappointment grew, and he looked around at the other students who were successfully showing off their magical talent. A sense of not being good enough washed over him, and he began to feel like an outsider among his talented peers.

As Evan sat in the Heroes Class, lost in his thoughts, he couldn’t help but think about about his past friendship with Akun back on Earth. They were once close friends, facing similar struggles at the bottom of the class hierarchy. He couldn’t shake off the guilt he felt for not standing up for Akun when he saw him getting bullied.

"Man, I was such a coward," Evan mumbled to himself, his expression clouded with regret. "I just stood there, watching him get picked on, too afraid to speak up and defend him. I let fear control me."

The memories of those moments haunted him. He wished he had the courage to apologize to Akun for his inaction and show him that he truly regretted his past behavior.

"When we got summoned by that goddess, I saw how Akun bravely spoke up for what he wanted—to go back home," Evan continued, a hint of admiration in his voice. "I wanted to do the same, but I was too scared of what others would think of me. I didn’t want to become a target of ridicule."

In that moment, Evan realized that he had been holding himself back, allowing his fear to keep him from being true to himself and his desires. He made a silent promise to change, to stand up for what he believed in, just like Akun did.

"I need to find the courage to do what I want to do, not doing something because everyone else is doing it," Evan had decided. "I won’t let fear hold me back anymore. It’s time to be a better person."

With a new path in mind, Evan decided to take the first step towards standing up for himself. As he watched his classmates continue their magic training, he realized that he simply didn’t have the aptitude for it. Magic wasn’t his path, and he needed to accept that.

"I’ve been trying so hard, but it’s just not working," Evan said to himself, feeling the weight of his realization. "It’s time to stop beating myself up over something that’s impossible for me."

With a deep breath, he stood up from his seat, the decision made. "Trying to force myself into something that doesn’t fit is just stupid," he declared out loud.

As he walked out of the Heroes Class, he felt relief. Leaving the class meant stepping away from the expectations placed on him and discovering his own path. It was both scary and exciting, but Evan knew it was the right decision.

"I need to find my own way," Evan muttered to himself, his conviction growing stronger with each step he took. "Maybe it’s time to focus on training my body or exploring other skills. I won’t give up on myself anymore."

As Evan suddenly left the Heroes Class, Mina couldn’t ignore the concerned feeling gnawing at her heart. She stopped her practice and quickly approached Miss Radina to request permission to go after him. With a nod of understanding, Miss Radina allowed her to leave the class temporarily.

Mina hurriedly made her way down the hallway, calling out to Evan, but he seemed to be lost in his thoughts, ignoring her calls. Not wanting to let him face this alone, she quickened her pace and finally caught up to him.

"Evan, wait up!" Mina called out, her voice filled with worry.

Evan, feeling agitated, turned to face her. "Mina, stop following me," he said, trying to keep his emotions in check.

Mina was slightly caught off guard by his harsh tone, but she refused to back down. "I won’t just let you walk away like this," she insisted, her grip tightening on his arm.

In the depths of his thoughts, he thought aloud to himself.

"Part of the reason I couldn’t stand up for Akun was... because of Mina. She’s always been a people pleaser, changing herself to fit in with the crowd. When she saw that being friends with Akun wasn’t benefiting her, she didn’t hesitate to join the bullies and mock him instead. It’s like she’s a completely different person, so fake."

In the heated moment, Evan’s anger and frustration bubbled to the surface as he confronted Mina. "Why did you always join the others in mocking Akun?" he demanded, his voice tinged with both hurt and anger.

Mina, taken by surprise by Evan’s direct question, replied angrily, "Why are you even talking about that loser who ran home and left us here? You’re bringing him up now?"

Evan’s voice rose as he yelled back, "That ’loser’ was my friend! He was my best friend, our childhood friend, but we abandoned him when he needed us the most!"

His emotions were raw as he admitted his own culpability in the situation. "I know I didn’t do the right thing back then, and I regret it. That’s why I want to change now, so that maybe someday, if I ever see Akun again, I’ll have the courage to apologize."

Mina’s anger seemed to soften as she listened to Evan’s heartfelt confession. She questioned him further, "Change? by leaving magic class?"

Evan’s voice became more serious as he replied, "Yes! by leaving magic class. I know I’m not cut out for it, and it’s not where I belong. I need to find my own path and figure out who I want to be."

Evan took a step back, a mix of frustration and sadness in his eyes. "Mina, I told you to go back to magic class. I need to figure things out on my own," he said firmly.

"No, I’m not leaving," Mina replied defiantly, wiping her tears. "I want to be there for you, Evan. I can’t just let you go like this."

Evan’s voice grew louder, "But that’s exactly what I need! I don’t need people like you around me, pretending to care! Just go back to your magic class and forget about me!"

Tears streaming down her cheeks, Mina cried, "I can’t forget about you! I did those things to Akun because of you, Evan!"

Confused, Evan asked, "What do you mean because of me? I never asked you to do any of that!"

Mina sobbed, "I did it because I wanted you to notice me," she then stutterd as she added, "T-to like me! I’ve always liked you, Evan!"

Evan stood there, stunned by Mina’s confession. He paused for a moment, closed his eyes trying to gather his thoughts. "Mina, I’m sorry," he finally said. "But I can’t return your feelings. My mind is a total mess right now, and I can’t think straight." n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Mina’s heart sank as she heard his words. She fell to her knees, crying her heart out, feeling the weight of her unrequited love and the pain of rejection.

"I’m so sorry, Mina," Evan said softly, his own emotions weighing heavily on him. "But I need to figure myself out first. Please understand."

With a heavy heart, Evan turned and walked away, leaving Mina behind, lost in her tears and emotions.

As he walked, Evan couldn’t help but feel torn. He didn’t want to hurt Mina, but he knew he needed space to find his own path. The guilt and pain of the situation weighed heavily on him, and he couldn’t help but question his choices.