Aryan let out a deep sigh, the weight of his shattered life pressing down on him. His existence had been bleak enough before, but now, with his legs useless and his future uncertain, that darkness seemed to consume him entirely. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to block out the overwhelming despair, but then a sudden thought crossed his mind. Without thinking, he voiced the question that had been forming in the back of his mind.
"Is there any Esper who can heal the sick?" he asked, his tone quiet but tinged with desperation.
Reva, sensing where this conversation was heading, tilted her head slightly and looked at Aryan with concern. "Are you asking if you can heal your legs?" she asked gently, though the implication was clear.
Aryan nodded, his expression resolute. "Yes. I don't know what to do with my life in this condition. I'm trapped, helpless, and I can't bear it." His voice wavered slightly, but the determination in his eyes was unmistakable.
Reva sighed softly, her expression softening. She could see the hopelessness in Aryan's eyes, the despair of a man who had been robbed of his future. After a moment of contemplation, she began to explain.
"Espers have a wide variety of abilities," she began, her voice calm and measured. "Their powers are often connected to their minds, emotions, or even their genetic potential. While some abilities are more common, others are extraordinarily rare. Let me explain a few of the most common Esper abilities."
She took a deep breath and continued, her eyes locked on Aryan's as she explained the many facets of Esper powers.
"First, there are Telekinetics," Reva began. "These Espers can move objects with their minds, manipulating physical matter without touching it. They can lift cars, bend steel, or even tear apart buildings with a single thought if they're powerful enough. But their strength depends on their level of mastery and focus."
Aryan nodded, listening carefully as Reva spoke. His mind was racing with possibilities, but he remained quiet, letting her continue.
"Then, there are Telepaths," she said. "They can read minds, communicate without speaking, or even influence the thoughts of others. Some of the more skilled ones can control another person's actions, though that's extremely dangerous and usually forbidden."
Reva glanced at Aryan, wondering if he understood the weight of what she was describing. The world of Espers was filled with immense power, but also great danger.
"Next, we have Pyrokinetics," she continued. "They can control fire, generating flames from nothing or manipulating existing heat sources. These Espers are often seen in combat situations because of the raw destructive power they wield. But controlling fire is difficult—it can easily burn out of control if the Esper isn't careful."
Aryan's eyes widened slightly at that, but he remained silent, absorbing the information.
"There are also Cryokinetics," Reva added, "who can control ice and cold. They can freeze entire environments, lower temperatures in an instant, or even create ice structures from thin air. It's a rare ability, but one that can be incredibly powerful when mastered."
She paused for a moment, giving Aryan a chance to process everything she was saying before she continued. "Electrokinetics are another type. They can manipulate electricity, generating it from their own bodies or pulling it from nearby sources. They can power machines, disrupt technology, or even use lightning as a weapon."
Reva's tone shifted slightly as she moved on to another category of abilities. "Then there are Technopaths. These Espers have the unique ability to communicate with and control machines. They can hack into complex systems, manipulate electronics, and sometimes even 'speak' to artificial intelligence as if it were another person."
Aryan nodded slowly, fascinated by the sheer diversity of abilities that Espers possessed. It was far more than he had ever imagined, and yet, none of these powers seemed to offer the solution he so desperately sought.
Reva continued, "We also have Teleporters. They can travel from one place to another in an instant, bending space to move themselves or even others. But it's an incredibly taxing ability and requires a great deal of precision."
She paused briefly, then added, "And then there are Shapeshifters—those who can change their appearance, alter their bodies to mimic other people, or even become animals. They're rare, but their ability to adapt makes them highly sought after."
Aryan's expression remained thoughtful, though he still hadn't heard the answer he was hoping for.
"Illusionists," Reva continued, "can create illusions so vivid they can fool all five senses. They can make people see things that aren't real, hear phantom sounds, or even believe they are feeling pain that isn't there."
She sighed softly before adding, "And then there are the more obscure powers—Espers who can manipulate gravity, control time in limited ways, or even generate force fields. The possibilities are vast, but as you can imagine, some abilities are more useful than others."
Aryan's heart sank a little. None of these powers seemed to hold the key to his problem. He didn't need illusions or telekinesis. He needed something far more tangible. "What about healing?" he asked, his voice tinged with desperation. "Are there Espers who can heal?"
Reva hesitated for a moment, her expression becoming more serious. "Healing is an incredibly rare ability among Espers," she said softly. "Most Espers have powers that are focused on the mind or external manipulation of the environment. True healing abilities are almost unheard of. There are some who can accelerate cell regeneration or reduce pain, but complete physical healing... that's almost mythical."
Aryan shook his head in frustration. "But is it possible? Are there any Espers who can truly heal others?"
Reva glanced at Sano, who remained silent but tense beside her. Then, she looked back at Aryan, her expression conflicted. "It's possible," she admitted. "But as I said, it's incredibly rare.
Aryan's eyes flickered with a glimmer of hope. "Your organization..." he murmured, as if the thought had only just occurred to him. "Do you not have any Espers who are capable of healing?"
Reva's eyes widened slightly in surprise. She hadn't expected Aryan to catch on so quickly. "How did you know we work for an organization?" she asked cautiously.
Aryan smiled faintly, though it was a smile tinged with bitterness. "People with your kind of power," he said, "don't usually operate alone. You belong to something bigger. There's always a system, a structure that supports people like you."
Reva exchanged a glance with Sano, who still hadn't said a word. She hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much she should reveal, but eventually, she nodded. "You're right," she said quietly. "We do work for an organization."
Just as Reva was about to explain further, Sano abruptly cut in, his tone sharp. "Reva, remember what we've been told. We can't disclose anything about our organization. Especially not information about healing Espers."
Reva nodded slowly, her eyes downcast. "I'm sorry, Aryan," she said softly. "But there are things we're not allowed to talk about."
Aryan clenched his fists, his frustration mounting. "So, that's it? You're just going to leave me like this? I don't care about your organization. I just want to be normal again. I want to be able to walk, to live my life."
Sano finally spoke, his voice firm but not unkind. "Look, Aryan, we understand your situation. But healing isn't something we can just offer you. Even if there were a healing Esper, it's not something we can guarantee. But we can offer you support in other ways. We can help with your day by day needs financial assistance, medical care. We can make sure you don't have to struggle just to survive."
Aryan let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping. "I don't want your charity," he said bitterly. "I don't want your organization's help. I want my life back. I want to be whole again."
Sano shook his head, his expression resolute. "That's not something we can promise. You have to understand that there are limits to what even we can do."
Aryan's eyes flashed with anger. "So I'm just supposed to accept this? To live the rest of my life like this? Trapped in a broken body?"
Sano's tone remained firm. "For now, yes. That's the reality you're facing. We can't change that. But we can help you live with it."
Aryan's heart sank. He had been holding on to the hope that these strangers, these powerful Espers, could offer him a miracle. But now, that hope was slipping away, leaving him with nothing but the cold, hard truth.
Reva, sensing Aryan's despair, stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I know this isn't what you wanted to hear," she said softly. "But we're not abandoning you. We'll do what we can to support you. And who knows? Maybe one day, you'll find what you're looking for. But until then, let us help you in other ways."
Aryan closed his eyes, trying to fight back the tears of frustration that threatened to spill over. "I just want to walk again," he whispered. "I just want to be normal."
Sano's expression softened slightly, though his voice remained steady. "We understand," he said. "But for now, this is the best we can offer."
Aryan didn't respond. He simply sat there, his mind racing with thoughts of what could have been, and what might never be.