Hiss…
Ash felt a dull heaviness as consciousness slowly returned. His eyelids fluttered open, vision blurry, and he noticed a middle-aged man leaning casually by the door.
"You're finally awake, kid. Almost thought you'd be out for a long while," the man said as he walked over and sat beside him.
"Who are—ugh!" Ash tried to sit up, but a sharp pain stabbed through his head, forcing him back down.
"Take it easy," the man said calmly. "You were close to death when you were brought here. Serious injuries, and heavy damage to your inner chi."
Ash blinked, disoriented at first, then quickly gathered his wits. "Thank you, mister… for saving my life," he said sincerely.
The man waved a dismissive hand, though a faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "No need to thank me yet, kid. I have my own reasons."
Ash studied him more carefully. The man looked to be in his late forties, black hair streaked with gray tied back into a ponytail. His face was striking—handsome enough to draw attention easily. His brown eyes were sharp, and a scar traced down his exposed forearm. Despite his relaxed posture, he radiated authority.
"Where… where am I?" Ash asked weakly.
"Well," the man leaned back in his chair, "you're currently in my humble abode. The name's Marcus—and I work for the government." He ended with a smirk.
Ash's face paled as memories surged back—Keal, the pit, the black flames, the bodies.
"I—"
"You don't need to worry, kid," Marcus said with a laugh, noticing Ash's reaction. "I'm not handing you over. Relax." His expression then turned serious. "But you do need to be wary of Keal's older brother. He's the real threat now."
"Wha—"
"But don't panic," Marcus added lightly, cutting him off. "You've awakened your superpower. With proper training, you'll be able to protect yourself."
Ash's mind reeled. The way Marcus spoke so casually mentioning murder, the government, training,it all felt unreal.
"My… my superpowers?" Ash finally said hoarsely. He stared down at his pale hands, remembering the black flames, the purple lightning, remembering the overwhelming force that course through him. "Was that… really mine?"
Marcus didn't answer immediately. He stood and walked to the window, gazing out at the modest apartment building across the street, city lights glowing in the distance.
"What do you remember about the awakening?" he asked without turning.
Ash closed his eyes. The memories flooded back with painful clarity.
"I was dying. In the pit. And then… I was somewhere else. A void. I was angry—desperate. I needed power. I wanted it so badly that my mind just… went blank." His voice wavered. "The next thing I knew, I was using black flames and purple lightning to—"
"Kill Keal and his gang," Marcus finished, turning around.
Ash stiffened.
"You experienced what's called a Desperation Awakening," Marcus continued. "Normally, talents manifest at a young age—sometimes even at birth. But in extremely rare cases, trauma, near-death experiences, or overwhelming emotional pressure can trigger a late awakening."
He crossed his arms. "You're ten years old, kid. Not too early. Not too late."
"Then why do I feel so weak?" Ash asked quietly.
"Instability," Marcus replied.
"Huh?"
Marcus sat back down. "Awakenings caused by desperation or trauma often result in a brief but explosive surge of power. The problem is, the emotional instability causes the talent to harm its user. In cases like yours…" He paused. "It would've killed you."
Ash swallowed, fingers tightening around the bedsheet. My own power… killing me.
"So I could've died just from awakening?"
"Easily," Marcus said bluntly. "If the flames didn't finish you off, complete chi exhaustion would've."
"Chi?" Ash latched onto the word.
"Yes. Every talent runs on chi, it's—," Marcus began.
"What's chi?" Ash interrupted, intentionally pushing.
Marcus didn't take offense. "Chi is the energy flowing through your body right now. It grows with training, recovers with rest, and fuels your talent. During your awakening, you drained every last drop of it."
Ash's breath caught. Cold crept into his chest.
"So… I used it all?"
"You didn't just use it," Marcus said dryly. "You emptied yourself. If I'd arrived even half an hour later, you'd be dead."
Ash went completely still.
Marcus noticed and softened his tone slightly. "Relax. I stabilized you and restored your chi. You're safe—for now."
Ash exhaled shakily, relief washing over him.
"So… what exactly is my superpower?" Ash asked, eyes glinting with curiosity.
Marcus stood and began pacing. "Talents are categorized by their fundamental nature—Elemental, Physical Enhancement, Mental, Transformation, Creation, and so on. Subcategories exist, but we'll skip that for now."
He stopped in front of Ash. "Your flames and lightning place you firmly in the Elemental category. And you possess rare innate qualities."
"Innate qualities?"
"They're the inherited traits of a talent," Marcus explained. "Take your flames. They aren't normal fire. According to my findings from the site, your flames don't burn—they drain heat. They're cold, and their effects linger far longer than standard elemental manifestations."
He rubbed his chin. "Your lightning is less abnormal, but still dangerous. High voltage, extreme piercing capability."
Marcus suddenly clapped his hands, making Ash flinch.
"That's enough for now. You need proper rest. I've helped restore your chi, but recovery still takes time."
Ash nodded. "I understand."
"I'll be away for a while," Marcus said as he headed for the door. "A maid will take care of your basic needs."
The door closed.
Silence settled over the room.
Everything felt unreal—his sister's death, his mother's, Keal's provocation, and his awakening. It had all happened too fast.
Ash exhaled slowly.
A knock sounded, and the door opened. A young woman in a maid's uniform entered, carrying a tray.
"Your meal is ready, young sir."
Only then did Ash realize how hungry he was. He smiled faintly. "Thank you."
---
Two days passed, and Ash recovered fully. Energy coursed through him as he hopped around the spacious room he hadn't left once during his stay.
The door swung open.
Marcus stepped inside, now dressed in a plain gray top and black trousers. Seeing Ash move about, he smiled.
"I see you've fully recovered."
"It's all thanks to your kindness, sir," Ash said, bowing.
Marcus waved it off. "Enough of that. Let's move on to the second order of business."
"What's that?" Ash asked, brows raised.
"Naturally," Marcus replied, a grin spreading across his face—one that didn't quite reach his eyes,
"we explore your superpower."