In the following week, the atmosphere in Blackstone City became extremely tense.
The guards conducted daily inspections door-to-door.
The once bustling commercial street turned eerily quiet as more and more people were arrested.
The residents of the city chose to stay indoors, afraid to venture out.
This high-pressure environment lasted for two full weeks before the tension gradually eased, and the inspections finally came to an end.
A month passed quickly, and Elric gradually adapted to life in George's Tavern, learning many useful skills.
At first, George had Elric start with basic tasks like washing dishes, serving food, mopping floors, and moving crates.
Over time, he began teaching him how to make coffee.
"First, grind the coffee beans into powder, then use a filter to brew it. Make sure to add water in small amounts, multiple times,"
Elric said, following George's instructions and skillfully putting them into practice.
George stood by, his usual stern expression on his face, but he nodded occasionally, clearly satisfied with Elric's progress.
After completing all the steps, Elric handed George a cup of coffee.
Watching George take a sip, Elric felt a bit nervous, his eyes fixed on him, waiting for his feedback.
After a moment, George finally smiled, nodding in approval as his expression softened.
"Not bad. Your coffee is now up to standard."
Hearing these words, Elric finally relaxed.
George was always strict with him while they worked, rarely tolerating any mistakes.
But in private, George was much more kind and easygoing.
During meals, George and Melissa would often save the meat for Elric, making him feel genuinely cared for.
In return, Elric worked even harder to repay their kindness.
During the day, he focused entirely on his work, and at night, he practiced his psychic abilities, working to improve his strength.
Neither George nor Melissa knew that Elric was a psychic.
Elric didn't want to disrupt the peaceful and happy life they shared.
...
"Hey, Little George, two beers with ice and a plate of roast meat!"
A bearded middle-aged man sitting at a table shouted toward the counter.
Elric immediately responded.
"Got it, coming right up!"
In the tavern, people had started calling Elric "Little George" as a joke at first.
Because of his close relationship with George, many customers thought he resembled George's son.
At first, George tried to correct them, but over time, he and Melissa gradually accepted the nickname, even treating Elric more and more like their own child.
Elric quickly brought the two beers to the bearded man's table.
"The roast will take a while,"
Elric explained as he set down the beers.
The bearded man, named Brown, and his thin friend, Charlie, were sitting at the same table.
They were both regulars at the tavern, and Elric had long since become familiar with their preferences and drink orders.
Both Brown and Charlie had sons with blue psychic abilities, who were currently studying together at Blackstone Academy.
They often talked about their children, clearly proud of their talents.
In Blackstone City, any child who awakened even a gray-level ability could attend the academy.
Exceptional students might even have the chance to meet the Blackstone Duke and be recommended for the Royal Academy of the Empire.
"George, why don't you take Little George for a test to see if he has the talent to become a psychic?"
Charlie asked with a smile as George brought the roast to the table.
Wiping the sweat from his brow, George glanced at Elric with a smile before replying.
"Becoming a psychic is dangerous.
Not only do you have to fight psychic beasts, but there's also the battlefield to worry about."
Brown nodded in agreement as he sipped his beer.
"True, the path of a psychic is not easy."
Hearing this conversation stirred something in Elric.
He glanced at George but remained silent, continuing his work.
...
As the day turned to evening, the tavern closed for the night.
Elric, out of habit, gathered up the leftovers from the customers' meals and dumped them into a large pot.
For George, Melissa, and himself, these scraps were their dinner.
Elric never complained, feeling grateful just to have enough to eat.
After all, he had often gone hungry in the past.
George took a piece of meat with his fork and placed it on Elric's plate.
Melissa added a piece of fish to his plate as well.
"Maybe once things calm down, we should take him for a test to see if he has the talent to become a psychic,"
George suggested to Melissa as they sat down to eat.
He had been considering this for some time, and hearing Brown and Charlie's words today had only strengthened his resolve.
Testing for psychic abilities required a visit to Blackstone Academy, where a teacher could perform the assessment.
However, the test wasn't free; it cost ten gold coins, a price too steep for many ordinary families.
"We've saved up some money,"
Melissa replied, pausing as she considered the idea.
They had originally planned to use their savings to move to a better neighborhood, something Elric had overheard by accident.
Now, they were thinking of using that money for his psychic talent test, which left Elric feeling conflicted.
"No need. I'm fine being an ordinary person. There's no need for me to become a psychic,"
Elric said, shaking his head.
He didn't want George and Melissa to spend any more money on him.
Elric appreciated their good intentions but didn't want to burden them further.
His maturity and consideration only made George and Melissa feel more heartache.
"Save the money for renovating the tavern. I don't want to leave you two."
Elric's words brought tears to Melissa's eyes, and George's nose stung with emotion.
Melissa gently placed her hand on Elric's head, her voice trembling.
"Silly child, our greatest wish is for you to live a happy life. You don't need to give up your future for us."
George turned his back, trying to hide his emotions.
After a long silence, he finally spoke, his voice low.
"Elric, go pursue your own life. We're getting old. We don't want to hold you back."
Elric lowered his head, wanting to say something, but all that came out was a sigh.
Just as he was about to speak again, an explosion suddenly sounded from outside.
Elric's heart skipped a beat, the explosion putting him on high alert.
The ground began to tremble, and the walls of the tavern groaned ominously.
Glass cups fell from the counter and shattered on the floor, their sharp cracks cutting through the tension.
More bottles of alcohol tumbled from the shelves, their aroma quickly filling the room.
George grabbed both Elric and Melissa by the hands, pulling them under the table and shielding them.
His breathing was rapid, and his face showed clear tension.
Elric felt the surge of psychic energy.
Someone nearby was using a powerful psychic ability.
The ceiling creaked dangerously as dust and wood splinters filled the air.
Then, with a deep, ominous rumble, one of the tavern's main support beams snapped.
The ceiling began to collapse toward them.
In the next moment, a white and green glow of psychic energy surged from Elric's hands.