Jordan stopped midway down the stairs, the words hitting him like a blow. He blinked, unsure if he was still dreaming. His eyes flicked toward his family. They hadn't even noticed him yet, too engrossed in the surreal announcement.
Then, his father turned, finally registering Jordan's presence. His expression was one of pure shock, as though the world had been ripped from its axis. "Do you see this, son?" his father said, his voice hushed with disbelief. "People… they have powers."
Jordan forced a laugh, trying to dispel the rising dread in his chest. "No way, Dad. Those guys are just pulling some elaborate prank. I bet it's all fake."
His mother, however, wasn't convinced. Her eyes were wide, filled with both wonder and fear as she looked at him. "No, son," she said softly, shaking her head. "It's real. And it's closer than you think. Your sister... she gained powers a few hours ago, right when the rain stopped. She showed us."
Jordan's heart skipped a beat. "What?" He felt the ground tilt beneath him, his world narrowing to just that one moment. This couldn't be happening.
His sister, who had been sitting quietly on the couch, suddenly stood up, a playful grin on her face. "Watch," she said, her voice steady, brimming with confidence. She extended her hand, palm outstretched, and called out, "Aquafina, come to my call! Water Control!"
Before Jordan's eyes, the very air around her shimmered, the humidity in the room twisting and condensing into droplets of water. She waved her hand, and the droplets began to move, swirling and forming delicate patterns in the air. She grinned, clearly proud of her newfound ability, as the water danced at her command.
Jordan's breath caught in his throat. He stared, unable to comprehend what he was seeing. His mind raced, trying to catch up with the impossible reality unfolding before him. His sister—his own blood—was controlling water as if it were an extension of herself.
Shock rooted him to the spot. Everything he thought he knew about the world, about power, had just been shattered. This wasn't just happening to strangers in far-off countries. It was happening here. In his home. To his family. To his sister.
And yet, somewhere deep inside, a flicker of understanding began to stir. This wasn't an isolated event. He had felt it too. The monster. The voice. The knowledge of the powers that existed beyond comprehension. It was all real.
There he understood he had a choice to make, Tell his family he had powers too, or make them hidden, he chose to mantain them hidden
"Woow! That is so cool, Livia! Can you do other stuff?" Jordan asked, trying to match her enthusiasm, though the weight of everything he'd just learned still pressed down on him.
His sister flashed a smug grin, clearly reveling in her newfound power. "Hehe, of course I can. I'm amazing! Bow before me, you lowly rat, for I am—"
Before she could finish, Jordan playfully ruffled her hair, cutting off her grand speech. "Watch the tone, little brat," he teased, his voice warm despite the tension lingering in the air.
Livia scowled at him but then paused, her playful demeanor shifting to curiosity. She squinted up at him, her eyes locking onto his. "Wait… why are your eyes orange? Are you sick or something?"
Jordan stiffened for a split second, remembering the change in his eyes—the same change that happened right after the incident with the monster. He hadn't thought about it much since. Quickly, he forced a grin and waved her off, hoping to divert her attention. "Oh, these? They're just contact lenses, nothing special."
Livia's eyebrows rose in surprise, but she seemed satisfied with the explanation. "Hmph, weird," she muttered, but her usual mischievous smile quickly returned as she twirled the remaining water in her palm before letting it evaporate back into the air.
Their parents, seated on the couch, exchanged worried glances as they talked about what they'd seen on the news. Fear and uncertainty hung over every word. "What's going to happen to Livia now?" their mother asked, her voice trembling slightly. "What does this mean for her future?"
Their father didn't answer right away, his brow furrowed as he tried to make sense of it all. "We don't know yet. But this... this changes everything."
"Well i have to Work tomorrow soo i Will Go to sleep, its too much for today, ah and my bike got destroyed i have to buy another one" he got up the stairs and left them talking down there
At his Room, all the fatigue got to him, He didn't bother with anything else—no lights, no shower—just straight to bed. And tried not to think too deeply as he had just fallen asleep. A small light came from inside his clothes, as the wind murmurs quietly
"Maestry feature enabled"
[Small enhancement in the dharma detected]
As the sun rises, filling the room with soft light, Jordan's phone buzzes in his cabinet. Slowly waking, he reaches for it and scrolls through his social media and news. Everywhere, reports flood in about people gaining new powers. Rumors are also spreading about odd monsters appearing in remote areas, attacking isolated villages. The police are investigating these creatures, but no one seems to know exactly what they are or where they come from. A feeling of unease settles over Jordan
"So I wasn't Crazy after all, that monster was real alright, what am i gonna do?" He turned his phone off and went downstairs, finding his family at the kitchen having breakfest
As he entered the kitchen, the comforting scene of his family greeted him. His father, sitting at the table with a newspaper in hand, raised an eyebrow.
"Seems like he finally woke up," his father said, his words dripping with sarcastic amusement, a faint smirk curling his lips.
From the stove, his mother glanced over, her apron dusted with flour. "Do you want pancakes, sweetie?" she asked, her voice light and cheerful, carrying across the room.
His sister was also in the table eating with a tired face, eating her cereal like a zombie
Jordan, still rubbing the sleep from his eyes, stretched his arms and yawned. "I'm late for school. I'll skip breakfast today, thanks."
"Shit," Jordan muttered as he stepped onto the sidewalk. "If only I had my bike... I almost forgot how far school is." He glanced down the street, the long road stretching out ahead. "Let's test this new body."
With a burst of energy, he broke into a run, feeling the pavement beneath his feet. The wind whipped past him as he picked up speed, faster than he'd ever run before. His legs moved effortlessly, and the rush of the wind filled his ears, a thrill racing through his veins.
His sneakers barely touched the ground as he rocketed forward, faster than any human should.
"Hahaha!" he laughed, exhilarated by the speed. He tore through the streets at 70km/h, the city blurring into a streak of colors around him. It was unreal, like he was breaking the laws of physics. "I'm faster than I was with my bike! Maybe I'll get to school quicker than I thought," he was amused, his adrenaline pushing him forward
the familiar outline of his school came into view much quicker than he'd expected.
He skidded to a stop in front of the gates, barely out of breath. There, leaning casually against the wall, was Jack Minstrel, his best friend. Jack, with his usual laid-back demeanor, gave a lazy wave, his backpack slung over one shoulder.
"Hey, Jack! How are you, man?" Jordan called out as he approached.
Jack grinned, pushing himself off the wall. "Doing good man and you? You see the news?"
Jordan said "shit, of course i did, the world turned upside down and you thought i woudn't notice?"
They shook hands, and he responded laughing, "I was gonna keep this under wraps," Jack said, his eyes gleaming with excitement, "but since everyone now knows there are people with powers..." He lifted his hand to stomach height, casting a quick glance around to make sure no one was watching too closely. Then, in a low whisper, he chanted, "The shadows flee, by light's decree... Solstice."
"I was playing with it all night yesterday, but man, it wears you out if you use it too much. What do you think?"
Jordan stared at Jack's glowing hands, his surprise quickly giving way to curiosity. "That is so cool! What type are you? Innate? Dharma? Artifact? And what's the name of your ability?"
Jack blinked for a moment, clearly caught off guard by Jordan's sudden barrage of questions. Then, as if remembering something important, he nodded. "Oh yeah, the voice said something like that when it first happened. I think it said I was an Innate, and the name… yeah, it was Luminem Fragment."
Jordan's eyes lit up even more, his interest fully piqued. He opened his mouth, ready to ask a thousand questions about how it worked, what it felt like, and what else Jack could do, but just then, the school bell rang, cutting through the moment.