Chapter 15: Unlocked Potential

The next morning, Maxim awoke with a strange feeling lingering in his mind. He couldn't quite place it, but everything around him felt sharper, clearer. His head was light, and there was an odd clarity that hadn't been there before. The events of the previous day replayed in his thoughts—the burst of power, the speed, the control he had briefly managed to grasp. But this felt different. It wasn't about strength or speed. It was something else entirely.

As he walked to school, he found himself thinking about random details—memories of conversations, places, books he had read. Everything came back with surprising ease, like a series of perfect snapshots. He could recall entire pages from textbooks, word for word, as if he had just read them moments ago. But that didn't make any sense. Maxim had never had a particularly good memory, especially not when it came to schoolwork.

By the time he reached the front gates, the sensation had only grown stronger. It was as if his brain was working overtime, processing information faster than ever before. It was unsettling, but at the same time, oddly exhilarating.

The day went on as usual, but Maxim couldn't shake the feeling that something fundamental had shifted. His first real test came during math class—a subject he had always struggled with. Normally, he would zone out after the first few equations, lost in a sea of confusing numbers and symbols. But today was different.

As soon as the teacher began explaining a complex algebraic equation on the board, Maxim's mind snapped to attention. He followed every step, each line making perfect sense. The numbers seemed to arrange themselves logically, almost as if they were guiding him toward the solution before the teacher even finished speaking.

Maxim blinked in surprise, staring at the equation. Was he imagining this? He leaned forward in his seat, gripping his pencil tightly, and started to work through the problem on his own.

The pencil moved effortlessly across the paper. His brain worked in perfect synchronization with his hand, breaking down the equation into its simplest components. For the first time in his life, math wasn't an impenetrable fog. It was clear. It was easy.

Within minutes, he had solved the problem. Maxim glanced around the classroom, half-expecting someone to notice, but everyone was still focused on the board. He checked his work, expecting to find a mistake, but the solution was flawless.

"What just happened?" he whispered to himself, staring down at the paper.

The rest of the lesson passed in a blur. Equation after equation, Maxim solved them all with the same effortless ease. His mind felt like a machine, processing the information at an astonishing speed. And it wasn't just math. In his next class, literature, he found that he could recall entire sections of the book they were studying with perfect clarity. He had read The Great Gatsby months ago, but now he could quote entire passages from memory, as if he had just finished reading it moments ago.

It wasn't until lunch that Maxim finally had a moment to catch his breath. He sat down at a table in the cafeteria, his head spinning. This couldn't be normal. Something was happening to him—something beyond just physical strength and speed. His mind was evolving, too.

Daniel and Lila arrived at the table shortly after, trays of food in hand. They immediately noticed the distant, thoughtful look on Maxim's face.

"Hey, you good?" Daniel asked, sliding into the seat across from him.

Maxim hesitated, unsure of how to explain what was happening. "I think… something changed," he said slowly, his voice low. "It's like my brain is working differently. I can remember everything—details, conversations, stuff I didn't even realize I knew."

Daniel raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Like, photographic memory?"

Maxim shook his head. "More than that. It's not just remembering things. It's like I'm processing information faster. I just… get it. Math, literature, everything makes sense all of a sudden."

Lila, who had been quiet until now, leaned forward, her expression serious. "You think this is connected to your powers?"

Maxim nodded. "It has to be. Ever since yesterday, I've felt different. Not just physically, but mentally, too. It's like every part of me is evolving."

Daniel grinned, clearly excited by the prospect. "Dude, that's incredible! You're like a genius now or something. Think of what you could do with that kind of brainpower!"

Maxim didn't share Daniel's enthusiasm. While the idea of having heightened intelligence was appealing, it also scared him. If his powers were expanding beyond just physical abilities, where did it end? What else was he capable of?

"Yeah, but what if it's too much?" Maxim said, voicing his concerns. "I don't even know how to control this. What if it keeps growing, and I can't handle it?"

Lila placed a reassuring hand on his arm. "You'll figure it out, Maxim. You've already made it this far. This is just the next step."

Maxim nodded, though the worry in his chest didn't entirely fade. There was no turning back now. Whatever was happening to him, it was progressing fast. And he had to be ready for whatever came next.

As they finished their lunch, Maxim's mind raced with possibilities. What if this newfound intelligence was only the beginning? What other abilities lay dormant, waiting to be unlocked? And most importantly, what would he do with this power once he fully understood it?

One thing was certain: his life was no longer normal. And it never would be again.