After what felt like hours, Bennett finally took us to her office at the Ministry of Defense. Yolan, IM, Lili, Elang, and even Parker were there, all of us sitting in a row like children about to be scolded by their mother. The atmosphere was tense, and nobody dared to speak first.
Bennett paced back and forth in front of us, rubbing her temples in frustration. "You know you weren't supposed to—ugh, never mind." She let out a heavy sigh, then turned her attention to me. "But where are the Seers? What happened to them?"
I glanced away, avoiding her intense gaze. "Well... they, uh..." My voice trailed off, and I started fidgeting in my seat.
Her eyes narrowed. "Well, what?"
I took a deep breath, knowing I had to tell the truth. "I kind of... imagined them gone."
The room fell silent as everyone processed what I'd just said. Bennett's brow furrowed in confusion, as if she couldn't quite believe what she was hearing. "Imagined them gone?" she repeated slowly, her tone laced with disbelief.
"Yeah," I muttered, feeling a little embarrassed. "I just... imagined that they wouldn't be here anymore. And then... they disappeared."
Bennett stared at me for a long, tense moment, before sighing deeply. She pinched the bridge of her nose, clearly overwhelmed. "You just imagined them out of existence?"
"Uh, yeah..." I replied, sheepishly.
Bennett sighed again, this time with a mixture of exasperation and resignation. "Right... so what you're saying is, there are no Seers anymore?"
"Yeah, I guess..." I answered, not entirely sure of what I had done myself.
She shook her head, clearly at a loss for words. "Well, that's one way to solve a problem, I suppose."
Bennett sighed again, clearly grappling with the enormity of what I had just admitted. She paced for a few more moments before finally stopping and turning to face me. "Do you even realize what you've done?" Her voice was calmer now, but still laced with concern.
"I didn't want to kill them... I just wanted them gone," I said defensively. "They were too dangerous. If they stayed, who knows what they would've done next."
Bennett folded her arms, shaking her head. "But that kind of power... it's not something to be used lightly. You erased living beings from existence, Xian. That's not something you can just shrug off." Her eyes softened, her concern now more evident than her frustration. "You're playing with something dangerous here."
Parker, who had been silent the whole time, finally spoke up. "He didn't have a choice. We were all in danger—everyone was. The Seers could've destroyed the entire world."
Yolan nodded in agreement. "We saw it. If Xian hadn't acted, those meteors would've wiped us all out."
Bennett exhaled slowly, her frustration ebbing as she began to understand the gravity of the situation. "I know, I know... but still." She looked directly at me, her gaze unwavering. "You have to be careful, Xian. I'm not saying you did the wrong thing, but this kind of power can't be wielded without consequence. Imagine if that power ever went out of control."
Suddenly, the door creaked open, and the genius—Professor Hara—walked in, carrying his usual clipboard. He looked around the room, assessing the tension in the air, before speaking up in his usual nonchalant tone. "Well... at least I didn't see him do anything worse than what's already happened. Yet." His eyebrows raised slightly, as if the very thought amused him.
Bennett shot him a look, her frustration momentarily shifting. "Not the time, Professor."
Hara shrugged, leaning casually against the wall. "All I'm saying is, if Xian has the capability to imagine things out of existence, we need to figure out the limits of that power. Before something—" he glanced at me pointedly, "—unintended happens."
"Who is this?" I asked, eyeing the newcomer with curiosity.
Bennett sighed, clearly not in the mood for introductions but knowing it was necessary. "She's another genius we discovered—Hara. The daughter of the original genius we found."
Hara gave me a small, playful wave, her smile widening. "Hello~ Xian, I've heard a lot about your adventures. Seems like you've been making quite the impression."
I blinked, still trying to process her sudden appearance and carefree attitude amidst everything. "Uh… yeah. Nice to meet you, I guess?" I said, feeling a bit awkward with her casual demeanor given the gravity of the situation.
"Nice to meet you too," Hara replied, her tone light but with a sharp glint in her eye that made it clear she wasn't as relaxed as she appeared. "Let's just hope you don't end up erasing me from existence in the next few hours."
Bennett cut in, rubbing her temples again. "Hara, this isn't a joke."
Hara shrugged, unphased by Bennett's scolding. "Of course not. But still, Xian, you've got some remarkable power. I'm here to make sure we don't see a repeat of today… or worse." She winked, though the seriousness behind her words was impossible to miss.
The room fell silent again as I absorbed what Hara was implying. Maybe my imagination had saved us, but how much longer could I control something so dangerous?
"Ah, I need to meet Mira," I said, standing up as the tension in the room grew thick.
Bennett raised an eyebrow, clearly puzzled. "Didn't you erase all the Seers? That means Mira's gone too, right?"
I shook my head, already focusing my energy. "Not for her." I extended my hand, and a shimmering portal materialized in front of me, swirling with an ethereal light.
Everyone stared at the portal in silence, confused but also curious.
Bennett stepped forward, a mix of caution and concern in her voice. "What do you mean 'not for her'? You just erased the rest of them, Xian."
I glanced at her briefly before looking into the portal. "Mira's different. I didn't include her in what I did to the others. She's... still in the dimension I created for her."
Parker, who had been quiet, nodded. "You always had a soft spot for her."
I stepped toward the portal. "I need to see her." Without waiting for more questions, I walked through, leaving the others behind as the portal shimmered shut.
Mira blinked, processing my response. "Nothing?" she repeated, her disbelief clear. "You can't just leave me here, Xian! I've already been locked up long enough!" She crossed her arms, frustrated. "And what about my daughter? You know she still needs me."
I stayed silent for a moment before responding. "Your daughter is fine. She doesn't even know you're in here. The duplicate I made… she believes it's you."
Mira stopped pacing and turned to face me, her expression softening. "I'm not like them, Xian. I was only with the Seers to protect her. Everything I did was for her." She sighed, her shoulders slumping. "You have to understand that."
I stood there, unmoved. "Even if that's true, you were still part of their plans. The world was on the brink of destruction."
She bit her lip, her voice quieter now. "I know… but if there's any part of you that trusts me, even just a little, you'll give me a chance to see her again. She's all I have."
I hesitated. There was no denying the weight of her words, but could I really trust her after everything that had happened?
"So tell me, Imaginary, what are you going to do with me? Are you planning to keep me locked up in this prison forever, where I can't use my powers?"
I crossed my arms, contemplating her question. "I haven't decided yet," I admitted. "You're part of this mess, and I can't just let you roam free without knowing what you might do."
Mira narrowed her eyes, clearly annoyed. "Is that really how you see me?"
"How about this: I want you to teach the Unveiled how to use their true abilities."
"Really? You want me to teach them..."
"Or maybe not. If you refuse, then I'll make it so you can't see your daughter."
She grinned, baring her teeth. "Seriously? You're threatening me?"
I maintained my stoic expression. "It's not a threat, it's a promise. I need to know where your loyalties lie, Mira."
Her grin faded, replaced by a calculating look. "You think I'd actually help you after everything? You're not as intimidating as you think."
"I'm not trying to be intimidating. I'm trying to protect my world from people like you," I replied evenly. "So what will it be? Teach them, or remain here indefinitely?"
Mira's gaze flickered with uncertainty for a moment before she crossed her arms defiantly. "You think you can just keep me locked up like some kind of prisoner and demand my cooperation? That's not how this works."
I stepped closer, lowering my voice. "You're in no position to negotiate. You're powerful, and I know you have valuable knowledge about the Seers and their abilities. Help me, and I might consider giving you some freedom."
She scoffed, shaking her head. "Freedom? You mean walking around with a leash? I'd rather stay here."
"Then you won't find your daughter for the rest of your life."
Her expression shifted, the frustration in her eyes turning to a reluctant acknowledgment. "Ugh... fine, okay!"
"But I'm going to limit your power for the safety of my world," I said firmly.
Mira's defiance faltered, a flicker of desperation crossing her face. "Fine, I'll help you, but I won't be your puppet."
I nodded, knowing I had gained some ground. "Good. But understand this: if you betray me, I'll make sure you never see your daughter again."
She clenched her fists, her frustration palpable. "You really think you can just limit my power and expect me to cooperate?"
I placed my hands gently on her forehead, focusing my energy. "Limited power... only able to use your abilities for five seconds each hour," I declared, channeling my imagination into reality.
A faint shimmer enveloped her, and I felt the weight of my intention settling around us. Mira's expression shifted, a mix of disbelief and irritation washing over her features.
"What did you just do?" she asked, her voice tight with apprehension.
"You can still use your powers, but only for a brief moment every hour. It's a precaution for both of us," I replied, stepping back to assess her reaction.
Mira narrowed her eyes, clearly unhappy with this arrangement. "So I'm a caged bird now? This is your idea of cooperation?"
"It's a start," I said coolly. "Help me understand the Seers and their abilities, and maybe we can revisit this arrangement later. Until then, this is how it's going to be."
"Let's go outside," I said, gesturing toward the portal I had created.
Mira hesitated for a moment but then stood up, brushing off her clothes. "Fine. But I still don't like being treated like a prisoner."
I stepped through the portal first, and as we emerged, I saw Hara, Bennett, Yolan, Lili, Elang, Parker, and IM all watching us. Their expressions varied from curiosity to caution.
"This is Mira, one of the strong leaders of the Seers," I announced, glancing at her to gauge her reaction.
"Mira…" Elang murmured, a look of recognition crossing his face. He clearly remembered her from his time within the Seers organization, his voice tinged with unease.
Bennett stepped forward, scrutinizing Mira closely. "So, you're the one causing all that trouble. We've heard a lot about you."
Mira crossed her arms, unbothered by the scrutiny. "I'm not here to cause trouble. At least, not anymore," she retorted, glancing at me with a hint of defiance.
"Right," I replied, feeling the tension in the air. "But we need your knowledge. If we're going to deal with the remnants of the Seers, you're going to have to help us."
"Boss Mira..." Lili called out softly, almost hesitant.
Mira turned her gaze toward Lili, recognition dawning on her face. "Ah, Lili. How's your power progressing?"
"W-Well... much better than when I was at the Seers organization…" Lili stammered, a hint of pride in her voice.
"Just as I thought," Mira replied, a smirk tugging at the corners of her mouth. "So this bastard is forcing you to learn how to use your full potential, huh?"
I felt a wave of irritation at her casual dismissal of my authority. "It's not just about forcing anyone," I interjected. "You're in a position to help everyone here, including Lili."
Mira's smirk faded slightly as she met my gaze. "I get it. You're trying to play the hero. But trust me, teaching her won't be as easy as you think."
"Then let's make it happen," I said, determined to move forward. "The sooner we get started, the sooner we can ensure that the Seers don't come back."
"They can't come back if they've been removed by your power," Mira mocked, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Yeah, yeah, I know," I replied, trying to brush off her comment.
Raising my hands, I opened a portal to pull out Lenna, who had been trapped in my dimension this whole time.
But nothing came out. "Huh?" I said, confusion creeping in.
"What is it?" Bennett asked, concern etched on her face.
"I was supposed to bring my junior back from my dimension, but why isn't she here?" I wondered aloud.
"Heh, no way you forgot, right?" Elang chimed in, a teasing lilt in his voice.
I shook my head, feeling a knot form in my stomach.
"The only ones gone are the Seers. No way anyone else could have disappeared too," Mira added, her expression smug.
My eyes widened as the realization hit me—it was a huge mistake. I had forgotten that Lenna was part of the Seers' family, but she didn't possess their powers.
Imagine, imagine... Lenna and her family coming back from erasure! I focused my thoughts.
Suddenly, Lenna stood before me, her face a mix of confusion and shock. "H-Huh... where—"
"Ahh... Lenna, you scared me!" I exclaimed, relief flooding through me.
Mira raised an eyebrow, her expression shifting to one of surprise. "Wait... you're my niece."
Lenna's eyes widened as she processed the information. "Niece? What do you mean?"
Mira took a step closer, scrutinizing Lenna. "Your mother is Naura, right?"
"Y-Yeah...?" Lenna replied, confusion etched on her face.
"She's my sister," Mira confirmed, a mix of emotions flickering across her features. "That makes you part of our family, Lenna."
Lenna stood there, trying to wrap her mind around the revelation. "Ahhh! You're Aunt Mira! Wait, why are you here?" she asked, excitement bubbling in her voice.
"Ah, I just got caught by this bastard," Mira said, lightly kicking my foot.
"Ouch..." I muttered, but it seemed she had hurt herself more than me.
"Huh, so you're telling me there are Seers who also can't use their powers?" Bennett asked.
Mira sighed, "Well, like I mentioned the other day, there are Seers who can't use their powers because they haven't learned how. Seers need to train and study to fully harness their abilities."
Bennett nodded, absorbing the information. "Right. So, there's a whole group of them out there who might not even know their potential." She glanced at Mira, her expression serious.
"Now, Mira, I'll take you to your home. Lenna, you come with me."
***
Swoosh! The three of us arrived in front of Mira's house.
Mira looked around, a mix of nostalgia and apprehension crossing her face. "It's been a while. I need to find my daughter..."
She walked inside, eager to reunite with her child.
I followed her from behind. "Let's go, Lenna."
Lenna and I followed Mira inside, the atmosphere thick with anticipation. The house felt eerily quiet, as though it had been frozen in time since Mira had been away. Mira's footsteps echoed as she moved quickly from room to room, her eyes scanning every corner.
She suddenly stopped in the doorway of what appeared to be her daughter's bedroom. The room was small yet warm, filled with soft toys and a neatly made bed. Mira hesitated for a moment before stepping in, her breath shaky.
Just then, a small voice came from behind us. "Mom?"
Mira turned sharply, and standing in the hallway was a young girl, maybe eight or nine years old, with wide, curious eyes.
"Hey, I'm home..." Mira smiled and hugged her daughter tightly.
"Hmm? Why so sudden? Mama's always at home," her daughter replied.
I glanced around, knowing that for the last few days, the one who had returned home was not the real Mira, but her duplicate.
"Senior... is this world even worthy of having magic power?" Lenna asked suddenly, her gaze fixed on Mira as she embraced her daughter.
"Huh...? Umm... I don't know, maybe?" I replied, trying to gauge her feelings.
"Maybe, huh..." she said, her voice trailing off as silence enveloped the room. The weight of her question lingered in the air, and I could see the uncertainty in her eyes. "Did you think I could gain that power too?"
I paused for a moment, contemplating the possibilities. "You want to train with Mira?"
She looked up at me, her eyes shining with hope and determination. With an eager nod, she replied, "Yes! I want to learn!"
With a smile, I replied, "You can... and who knows? You might be stronger than me one day." I could feel a spark of inspiration radiating from her, igniting my own excitement. The thought of her unleashing her potential filled me with a sense of possibility, and I couldn't help but encourage her enthusiasm.
***
As day turned to night, I found myself spending another evening with my family, using my power to help the city fend off dangers. I was still far from my full potential, but I could feel it growing within me. I knew I could be stronger, but two things held me back: my own mind and IM, who had taken on a human form when he was supposed to be the Harbinger. They were both here to keep my power in check. If I ever had the chance to remove those limitations, perhaps I could transform into that mythical creature, a fool of a god.
And what about my relationship with Hanna? It was alright; we were still texting, and I hoped we'd soon transition into a more serious boyfriend-girlfriend dynamic. I didn't want to rush things or rely on my powers to manipulate the situation. Did I still stalk her? Well, with my abilities, I could watch her whenever I wanted without resorting to hacking. Thanks to Gilg, who was still undercover as an office boy cleaning the WRA Building, I had the inside scoop without lifting a finger.
This might feel like an ending, but as long as I could imagine, it wouldn't be the end. With that in mind, I conclude this novel… no, this story of mine.
< Volume 01 > Fin.