"Huh?!" Aca's jaw dropped, her eyes wide with surprise.
"Woah..." Irune's mouth formed a perfect 'O', her surprise evident.
Ratu remained silent, her face pale as she struggled to process the sight before her.
"What?!" Yolan exclaimed, her voice filled with disbelief.
"Hmm... why aren't you inside Xian, then?" Vill asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.
"Heh, I'm not like your Harbingers," IM replied, his voice smooth and confident. "I'm not bound to remain inside the Unveiled user. I am a Harbinger who can take on a human form, if I choose."
I stood up, staring at him in astonishment. "So... you're the same Harbinger who was wearing a dark robe and had that creepy smile?" I asked, still trying to wrap my head around this transformation.
"The one and only," IM confirmed, a smirk playing on his lips.
"What should I call you now? IM?" I asked, still unsure of how to address him.
"Yes, IM," he replied. "Pronounce it like 'eem' if you want to get it right."
Dove approached IM, her eyes wide with wonder. "This is phenomenal," she breathed. "I've never seen an evolved Harbinger take on a human form before. Usually, they merge with the Unveiled user..."
IM looked down at his body, flexing his fingers. "With this form, I can be seen by ordinary humans," he explained. "I'm no longer bound to the shadows."
My eyes widened. "...So you can't pass through walls anymore?"
"Hmm, let me test it," IM said, walking towards a nearby tree.
We followed him, curious to see what he was about to do.
IM stood before the tree, its rough bark a stark contrast to his smooth, pale skin. He raised his hand, placing it against the trunk. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, his form began to shimmer and distort, as if he were trying to merge with the solid wood.
But instead of passing through, he collided with the tree with a dull thud.
"Oof!" IM stumbled backward, rubbing his forehead with a sheepish grin. "Well, that didn't quite work as planned."
I couldn't help but laugh. It seemed that even evolved Harbingers had their limitations.
"So much for being unbound by the physical world," Yolan teased, a playful glint in her eye.
IM shrugged, a hint of amusement in his voice. "It seems this new form comes with a few... adjustments, but I'm sure I'll master it in no time."
"So... are you going to live with me now?" I asked, curiosity piqued.
"We are bound to each other, Xian Ying," IM replied, his voice echoing with an otherworldly resonance. "I am you, and you are me."
Dove shook her head, a look of weariness on her face. "This is all so overwhelming," she sighed. "But well, let's head back to the motel. We should get some rest and start fresh tomorrow."
"You, Eem... or IM, whatever," Dove said, gesturing towards the SUV, "come ride with us."
IM nodded and followed her towards the vehicle.
I walked beside him, my curiosity piqued. "So," I asked, "what is my power, exactly?"
He glanced at me with a cryptic smile. "I'll give you a hint," he said. "Something you can imagine, but doesn't exist."
I tilted my head, puzzled. "Something I can imagine, but doesn't exist?" I repeated the words, trying to make sense of them.
We reached Dove's car, and I climbed into the backseat, lost in thought.
Something I can imagine, but doesn't exist... The words echoed in my mind, a riddle waiting to be solved.
We all piled back into the SUV, Dove and Vill in the front, Ratu and I in the middle, and IM alone in the back. The atmosphere was a mix of excitement and anticipation as we drove towards the office.
"Something I can imagine..." I repeated the Harbinger's words, my mind churning through possibilities.
"Heh, can't you figure it out? The hint is all around you," IM chided from the back seat, his voice a teasing whisper.
I looked around the car, searching for clues. The air conditioning hummed softly, the GPS guided us through the city streets, and Dove's fingers tapped rhythmically on the steering wheel.
Everyone was silent, their curiosity piqued by IM's cryptic statement.
"Running fast?" I ventured, recalling my recent training sessions at the gym.
"No, Try again," IM replied.
I glanced around the car, my eyes lingering on the dashboard, the steering wheel, the plush leather seats.
"The car?" I ventured, a hopeful note in my voice.
IM scoffed. "No, you idiot. Think about what you did back at the warehouse."
I racked my brain, replaying the events of the previous night. The gun... the watch... the sudden manifestation of a weapon from thin air.
"You mean... creation?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
"Precisely, your power is the ability to manifest objects from your imagination." IM confirmed.
A wave of awe washed over me. It was an incredible power, one that could be used for both good and evil. The possibilities were endless.
"But... how do I control it?" I asked, my voice filled with a mixture of excitement and apprehension.
"That," IM replied, "is what you need to discover. Your training has only just begun."
A comfortable silence settled over the car as we continued our journey. I couldn't stop thinking about my power, the possibilities it opened up, and the responsibilities it entailed. I knew that this was just the beginning of a long and challenging road, but I was ready to face it head-on.
Silence filled the car for a moment, the only sound the hum of the engine and the soft whir of the air conditioning.
Suddenly, Dove gasped, her eyes wide with surprise. "Wait a minute, Didn't you say your power was called Imagination Manifestation?"
"What?!" Vill shrieked from the front seat. "What kind of power is that?!"
Ratu's jaw dropped, her face a mask of disbelief.
"Kekeke, yes, that's my name, from Imagination Manifestation," IM replied with a chuckle.
Hmm... so I can imagine anything, and it will appear? I thought to myself. I need to be careful with this power.
"This power is easy to use, Xian," IM assured me.
< Chapter 078 > Fin.