Kayn felt a surge of emotion. It seemed like hope, though it felt almost too good to be true. Doubt quickly set in.

"You're not tricking me, are you?" he asked, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.

"Of course not. What do you take me for? Do you really think I’d make something like this up just to make you feel better?"

"Well, let’s say what you’re saying is true." Kayn adopted a tone that bordered on mocking, irritating his father slightly. "If I form a bond with a Sacred Guardian, could I become a bonder?"

"It’s not as simple as it sounds," Galen said, fixing his son with a serious look. "Sacred Guardians are incredibly powerful, and the labyrinths they inhabit are filled with trials and dangers. Plus, there are only twelve of them in the entire world."

"Twelve?" Kayn repeated, visibly disappointed. "I thought there’d be more."

"There aren’t." Galen shook his head lightly. "When I was young, five had already been completed, but I have no idea how many remain now."

"Then they could have finished them all."

"I doubt it," Galen said with a heavy sigh. "Many have entered those labyrinths, and most either died or were rejected by the guardians. I was one of them."

"You?"

"Yes," his father admitted, a melancholic smile crossing his face. "When I first heard the stories, I was filled with excitement. I joined a group that ventured into a nearby labyrinth. The trials were grueling, and some of my companions even lost their lives. After much effort, I reached the end, but... I was rejected by the Sacred Guardian."

"And why are you telling me this now? Do you want me to feel better knowing you failed too?"

Before Kayn could react, Galen gave him a light tap on the head, signaling he had misunderstood.

"Don’t be an idiot. I’m telling you this so you see that all is not lost," Galen said firmly. "And for the record, this wasn’t my idea. Professor Rolland suggested I tell you. Do you think I wanted to explain all this to your mother?"

"Rolland? The one who conducted the ceremony?" Kayn asked, confused.

"The same," Galen nodded. "He believes you have potential. And, honestly, he probably felt a bit sorry seeing how excited you were about not getting a guardian."

Kayn averted his gaze. While hope lingered, doubt gnawed at him.

"I think I’d better forget about it. If I couldn’t bond during the ceremony, there’s no way I’ll succeed with a Sacred Guardian," Kayn said, his negativity surprising his father, who leaned down and ruffled his hair with a paternal gesture.

"Come on, where did all that positivity from this morning go? You’ll never know until you try. Didn’t you say you were going to be the best bonder?"

"Well, yeah, but..." Kayn muttered as Galen looked at him, his smile unwavering. After thinking for a few seconds, Kayn lifted his head and spoke with determination. "Fine, I’ll do it. I’ll bond with a Sacred Guardian and prove I can become a bonder... even better than you."

"That’s the spirit," Galen replied, laughing with pride. "But let me tell you something: you’ll need much more training if you plan to face a labyrinth."

"What do you mean? I’m great with a sword! And besides, I’m only thirteen; it’s not like I’m heading to a labyrinth right now."

"I’m not denying it," Galen said, crossing his arms. "But you still have much to learn. Wielding a sword isn’t the only thing you need to be strong. You’ll need to learn to control your anima."

"What are you talking about? I can’t do that without a guardian."

"You see, anima..."

"Tell me tomorrow," Kayn interrupted, dropping the wooden sword to the ground. "I’m exhausted."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and headed back into the house. Galen watched his son’s back as he disappeared through the doorway, leaving him with unspoken words.

As Kayn entered the house, he made his way to the stairs to head up to his room. But as his foot touched the fourth step, the memory of his mother’s almost tearful face hit him with a wave of guilt. He froze in place.

"I should apologize to her," he told himself.

He stepped back down the stairs and walked to the living room, moving slowly toward the kitchen. When he reached it, he found her sitting at the table, her fingers idly tracing the pattern on the tablecloth. Her gaze seemed lost, fixed on some distant point beyond the window. Kayn felt his heart pounding in his chest as he approached, unsure. Maybe she wouldn’t want to talk to him, and it would be fair, given how he had acted.

"Mom..." he whispered.

She slowly turned her head, visibly surprised. Her eyes met her son’s. Though there were no tears on her face, the sadness in her expression was unmistakable.

"Kayn..." she replied with a faint smile, the one she always used to reassure him, though this time it seemed forced. "How was training with your father? Did it help clear your mind?"

He nodded, but the words seemed stuck in his throat. He lowered his gaze to the wooden floor, searching for a way to express what he was feeling.

"I’m so sorry," he finally murmured, his voice heavy with regret. "I shouldn’t have yelled at you. You were just trying to help me, and I..."

Before he could continue, he felt his mother’s arms wrap around him, pulling him into a warm, comforting embrace. And then, the tears he had been holding back finally began to flow.

"Don’t worry..." she whispered, gently stroking his head. "I know you didn’t mean it. It’s not easy to accept when things don’t go the way you wanted. It’s normal to feel so upset."

"But even so..." he sobbed, his voice breaking, "that doesn’t justify yelling at you." He clung tightly to her arms. "You’ve always been there to help me, and all I did was take it out on you. Forgive me. I don’t want you to hate me."

Thalia let out a soft laugh before responding, causing Kayn to look up and meet her warm gaze.

"What are you talking about, Kayn?" she said tenderly. "How could I ever hate you? You’re my son. I couldn’t hate you, even if I tried. Even if the whole world were against you, I’d always be here to support you."

He nodded, swallowing hard as the warmth of her words lifted some of the weight off his chest. For a moment, he thought that maybe he deserved to carry the guilt, as a reminder not to let her down again.

"I promise I’ll never talk to you like that again," he said at last, his voice trembling.

Thalia smiled and hugged him even tighter, wrapping him up as she had when he was little. Kayn felt his body relax, allowing the exhaustion and frustration to melt away.

For a few moments, they stayed like that in silence, until the embrace naturally came to an end. Kayn stepped back, wiping the lingering tears from his face with his sleeve.

From a distance, Galen watched the scene with a wide smile on his face. Without saying a word, he turned and began to climb the stairs.