The atmosphere in the dining hall was thick—not with smoke, nor tension, but something worse.
Expectation.
At the far end of the table, Estello sat, his usual calm and composed demeanor in place, but Richard could feel the weight of his gaze.
To Estello's left, Jack sat—grinning like a bastard.
He casually lifted his hand and made a mock throat-slicing gesture, his smirk practically screaming:
"You're gonna die, boy."
On the right, Anita sat with her arms crossed, her gaze piercing through Richard like he had just crashed a Lamborghini into the mansion.
She wasn't just angry—she looked like she was ready to strangle him.
"Shit."
Richard shifted uncomfortably in his seat, sweat already forming on his back.
This was exactly what he had wanted to avoid.
And yet—he saw it coming from a mile away.
After hoarding his stat points for two months and then dumping half of them in one night, he should've expected to nearly die in the process.
"Curiosity kills the cat."
No.
Screw that.
"Curiosity nearly killed ME."
And now?
He was about to receive five metric tons of nagging, interrogations, and life lessons.
He braced himself.
The Interrogation Begins
Estello leaned forward, his wrinkled but firm hands resting on the table.
"Richard," he said, his voice low but firm. "Why?"
That one word carried so much weight.
Richard didn't respond immediately.
It wasn't a simple "why did you do it?" question.
It was deeper than that.
Why push yourself to the brink of death?Why take such a reckless risk?Why hide it from them?
Anita spoke next, her voice sharp, her expression unreadable.
"Do you have any idea what would've happened if you lost control?" she demanded.
"You could've—"
She stopped herself, inhaling sharply.
Jack, ever the shit-stirrer, leaned back in his chair.
"Yeah, dude," he chimed in, grinning. "I mean, don't get me wrong, watching you go all Super Saiyan was cool and all—but I prefer my best friend alive, not self-combusting like some anime protagonist."
Richard exhaled, finally deciding to answer.
He told them—well, most of it.
Not the system.Not the stats.Not the literal breaking of human limits.
Instead, he crafted a story—one half-truth, half-mystery.
"Every night, in my dreams, a figure bathed in light takes me to a place beyond this world," he said slowly. "Each time, I come back… changed. Stronger. Smarter. It's not something I can control—it just… happens."
Silence.
Jack's smirk faded slightly, his eyes narrowing.
Estello didn't react at first, merely tapping his fingers against the table.
Then, he spoke.
"You've been gifted with something extraordinary," Estello said, his voice measured. "But great power demands responsibility."
Jack snorted.
"Bro, you ever heard the Spider-Man quote? 'With great power comes great responsibility?'" he quipped.
Estello shot him a side glance but didn't lose his train of thought.
"Listen carefully, Richard," he continued. "Whatever secret you hold, whatever strange phenomenon you encounter in the future—you tell us first. Do you understand?"
Richard hesitated. "I—"
Estello cut him off.
"This world is ruthless," he said, his voice hard as steel. "If the wrong people discover what you can do, they will hunt you down, experiment on you, use you for their own gain."
"You are not some comic book hero."
"You are not responsible for the burdens of the entire world."
Estello leaned in slightly, his eyes unwavering.
"The world does not need saving, Richard. It only needs to learn from its mistakes. If you try to be Superman, you will only destroy yourself."
Richard swallowed hard.
He hadn't expected… this.
He thought he'd get yelled at, maybe get grounded like a kid.
But instead, he was getting a cold, hard reality check.
"Their lives aren't your responsibility."
"Helping is a two-way street. You benefit, they benefit."
"If you let the world use you, it will devour you whole."
A deep silence fell over the room.
Finally, Estello leaned back, folding his hands.
"Do you understand?"
Richard met his gaze.
A part of him wanted to argue, to say that he could help, that he should help.
But another part of him—the logical part—knew Estello was right.
"Yes," he said quietly.
Jack exhaled dramatically, clapping his hands together.
"Welp," he said. "That's enough wisdom for one morning. Can we eat now?"
Anita sighed but nodded, standing up to prepare breakfast.
Richard sat there, lost in thought.
Because even though he understood the lesson…
That didn't mean he would follow it.
Estello leaned forward, his eyes sharp, filled with a mixture of curiosity and authority.
"Even though I don't want you to do it again…" he said, his voice measured. "Show me."
Richard's eyes widened.
He had expected his grandfather to tell him to keep it hidden, to pretend it never happened. Hell, he himself wasn't even fully aware of his own abilities—at least, not until they pointed it out.
"Show him?"
Before he could even respond, a system prompt suddenly appeared before his eyes, the text floating in his vision like an augmented reality HUD:
[ System Successfully Updated to Level 2 ]
[ Achievement Unlocked: Mind Over Matter ]
Rewards Unlocked: New Skills Acquired
The text flashed before breaking down into a list of new abilities that made Richard's breath catch in his throat.
Minor Telekinesis (Kinetic Pulse)A weak telekinetic push, capable of moving small objects or creating a brief gust of wind.
Effect: Can push objects up to 2 lbs a short distance (5-10 feet) or create a brief gust of wind.
Usage: Useful for distractions, manipulating small objects, or creating airflow.
Sensory Amplification (Awareness)Enhances the user's senses, allowing them to perceive things beyond normal human limits.
Effect: Increases visual acuity, hearing range, and sense of smell temporarily. Can also grant a slight sense of danger or precognition.
Usage: Useful for detecting hidden objects, hearing distant sounds, or sensing approaching threats.
Mental Suggestion (Whispers)A weak form of telepathy that allows the user to implant simple suggestions into the minds of others.
Effect: Can plant simple, short suggestions, like "Look over there" or "Forget about that."
Limitations: The target must be susceptible, and the suggestion must be weak.
Usage: Useful for minor distractions, influencing simple actions, or subtly manipulating conversations.
Basic Psychometry (Echoes)Allows the user to perceive residual psychic imprints left on objects or in locations.
Effect: Can gain vague impressions of past events or emotions associated with an object or place.
Usage: Useful for gathering clues, learning an object's history, or sensing past emotional states.
Mental Shield (Mind Barrier)A basic mental defense that creates a barrier against weak psychic attacks or mental intrusions.
Effect: Provides slight resistance to telepathic probes or mental influence.
Usage: Useful for protecting against minor mental manipulation or distractions.
Richard gulped, his heart pounding in his chest.
"This is real."
He slowly closed his eyes, reaching inward, toward the energy that had been buzzing inside of him ever since the transformation. It felt like a persistent itch, something waiting to be used.
And now…
It was time.
The First Demonstration
As Richard tuned into his senses, he became aware of something new.
There was a faint glow, like threads of light weaving through the air—four distinct energies, flickering like flames.
Jack's energy was chaotic, restless, almost electric in its movement.
His mother's energy was calm, steady, radiating warmth like a gentle hearth.
Maria's energy was subtle, quiet, like a flickering candle.
Estello's energy was imposing, yet controlled—like a roaring fire, tightly contained within a furnace.
"Is this what Awareness does? I can see them…"
Then, he focused his intent on the plates Anita had placed on the table.
A soft breath escaped his lips.
He directed his will—not through force, but intention.
A soft ripple of energy extended outward.
The plates trembled.
Jack's eyes widened as the dishes lifted slightly, hovering just inches above the table, trembling in place.
Then—
They settled back down.
Silence.
A deep, almost deafening silence filled the room.
Jack was the first to react, his mouth slightly open.
"...What the fuck."
Maria clutched her apron, her face pale.
Anita's fingers twitched, but she said nothing.
Estello simply observed.
Then, finally, he spoke.
"Again."
Richard hesitated.
But he tried again.
This time, he pushed harder.
A slight whoosh of energy swept through the room as the plates lifted higher—three, four inches.
The air shimmered faintly, as if disturbed by an unseen force.
Richard could feel it now.
The energy wasn't just inside him.
It was everywhere.
The very air, the objects in the room—everything was connected.
With a final breath, he released his hold, and the plates settled down once more.
Estello finally nodded, crossing his arms.
"...I see," he said.
He studied Richard carefully, his gaze unreadable.
Then, slowly, he leaned back in his chair.
"That will be enough for now."
Richard exhaled, finally realizing just how much energy he had been holding in.
Jack, still staring, let out a nervous chuckle.
"Okay," he said, running a hand through his hair. "Dude. Dude. You actually have superpowers."
Richard didn't respond.
Because deep down, he already knew.
But now?
The atmosphere in the room had settled. Everyone acted normal, as if they hadn't just witnessed something that shattered their understanding of reality.
Anita and Maria moved smoothly around the kitchen, setting down plates of steaming rice, beef tocino, and eggs on the table. The rich, caramelized aroma of the tocino filled the air, mixing with the comforting warmth of freshly cooked rice.
Richard, still processing everything, mechanically picked up his fork.
Then, Estello spoke.
"You must be wondering why I am not surprised," he said calmly, scooping a spoonful of rice before taking a bite.
Richard froze mid-chew.
Jack, already shoveling food into his mouth, paused as well.
Maria and Anita exchanged glances but said nothing.
Estello placed his spoon down and reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a small, triangle-shaped pendant—a strange amulet, aged and worn, yet somehow ominous.
At its center was an eye, unblinking and watchful, surrounded by intricate rune-like inscriptions carved into the metal.
Estello set it on the table.
Richard stared at it, his stomach suddenly tightening.
Then, as if on instinct, he tuned his senses.
His vision shifted.
For a moment, the room dimmed. The pendant, seemingly ordinary before, now radiated energy—raw, overwhelming power.
It was so intense, so concentrated, that it sent a shockwave of panic through Richard's body.
His chest tightened.
His instincts screamed:"Step back."
Before he could even think, his body reacted on its own—he jerked away from the table, heart pounding.
Estello let out a deep, hearty laugh.
"That bad, huh?" he said, amusement laced in his voice.
Richard swallowed hard, his eyes still locked onto the pendant like it might spring to life at any moment.
"What… the hell is that?" he finally managed to ask.
Estello leaned back, fingers tapping lightly on the table.
"A gift," he said. "From my father. Given to me during the Japanese occupation."
Richard's breath hitched.
Jack, now fully interested, set his fork down.
"You're saying that thing is from World War II?" Jack asked, pointing at the amulet with his fork.
Estello nodded.
"When I was a young soldier," he began, "we were assigned in Sulu to hunt down insurgents. Dangerous mission. The jungle was thick, the land unfamiliar. You never knew if you'd step on a booby trap or take a bullet from the shadows."
His fingers lightly traced the edges of the pendant.
"But some of us had… help."
Richard frowned. "Help?"
Estello's eyes gleamed.
"Amulets," he said simply. "Just like this one."
A heavy silence settled over the table.
Richard's mind raced.
"Amulets…?"
"He's not talking about regular charms or lucky tokens. This is something else entirely."
Estello smirked at their expressions.
"I wasn't the only one," he continued. "Several soldiers had their own. Each one with different abilities. Some could make you invisible. Others made sure you never died—even if you were shot point-blank, you'd just wake up later, good as new."
Jack's eyes widened. "No way."
Estello gave him a knowing look. "You think I'm joking?"
Jack gulped. "Uh… no, sir."
Richard, still shaken, kept his focus on the amulet.
"And yours?" he asked quietly.
Estello's smirk widened.
"Mine?" he repeated, tapping the pendant lightly. "Mine made sure that every bullet fired at me… never touched me. They would simply veer away."
Jack choked on his food.
"Excuse me, what the fuck?"
Estello simply chuckled.
"But," he continued, his voice turning serious, "these amulets aren't toys. They're older than any of us—passed down for generations, long before the Spaniards ever set foot here."
Richard felt his hands clench into fists under the table.
"This is real. It's not just me. There have been others—long before I even existed."
"And before you ask," Estello said, giving Richard a pointed look, "yes, curses are real too."
Richard's breath caught.
"Nowadays, most amulets are simply curse-proof," Estello continued. "People use them like shields because, believe it or not, you can get cursed just as easily as buying something from a store."
A chill ran down Richard's spine.
Jack shook his head in disbelief.
"So you're telling me," Jack said, rubbing his temples, "that people can just… get cursed? Like, some guy could just wake up one day and decide, 'Hey, I don't like that dude, let me just hex him real quick'?"
"Exactly," Estello said casually. "Some families still practice it. Some have it in their blood. If you cross the wrong person, well…"
He made a simple slashing motion across his neck.
Jack's face paled.
Maria, who had been silent all this time, spoke up, her voice quiet but firm.
"He's not wrong," she said. "I've seen it happen before."
Richard exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples.
"First, I find out I have powers. Now, apparently, magic artifacts and curses exist too?"
Estello watched him, his expression unreadable.
"You're not the only one with power, Richard," he said. "Yours is unique, but you're not the first to have something… extraordinary. We've been dealing with this for a long, long time."
Richard stared at the pendant one last time.
The energy radiating from it was still overwhelming.
But now?
He understood.
This world…
It was far bigger, deeper, and more dangerous than he ever imagined.