Chapter 9: The Fragile Ballance

His heart raced as he closed his eyes, remembering the heavy feeling of the bucket during his father's demonstration. He had poured too much water, and the cup had spilled over. This time, he needed control. Just enough energy—barely a trickle.

He took a deep breath and reached for the feeling, that internal sense of his energy. He imagined the bucket in his mind, full of his energy, and began to tip it, ever so slightly. He felt a subtle pull, like a thread unraveling from inside him, the faintest trace of his essence flowing into the ring.

At some point, Eli couldn't ignore the hunger anymore. It gnawed at his stomach, pulling him out of his deep focus. He opened his eyes halfway, blinking in the soft afternoon light that filtered through the windows. How long had he been sitting here? He stood up, his legs a bit wobbly, and wandered over to find his mother.

She was in her office, working through some paperwork when he appeared in the doorway, looking a little pale. Her brow furrowed with concern.

"Eli, didn't you eat before we came here?" she asked, worry creeping into her voice. He had eaten a full breakfast earlier, so why was he looking so weak?

"I did," Eli said, rubbing his stomach. "But I'm hungry again... really hungry."

His mother's eyes softened, but the worry didn't leave. She sighed and walked him into the break room, where she made him a sandwich. Eli ate it quickly, almost too quickly, as though he hadn't eaten in days. His mother stood by, arms crossed, watching him closely.

After finishing, he looked up at her with big, expectant eyes. "Mommy, I'm still hungry."

That's when her concern deepened. She guided him gently by the hand and led him back to her office. "Let's get you hooked up to an IV, just in case," she said, trying to mask the worry in her voice. "I'll keep an eye on your vitals for a bit."

She attached him to an IV drip and checked his vitals on the monitor, settling him into a chair in her office. Eli felt the soothing flow of fluids as his mother sat with him for a while, before reluctantly going back to work, checking in on him frequently.

He needed to fill it up again.

His mother came in and out of the room several times, checking his vitals and taking blood samples to ensure his health. Eli barely noticed—his mind was too focused on the delicate transfer of energy.

Eli didn't realize how much time had passed until he felt a hand shaking him gently. His eyes snapped open, and for a brief moment, he lost control. He felt the bucket tip too far, and a sudden surge of energy flowed out of him, more than he had intended. The ring pulsed in his hand, growing slightly too hot to touch.

He quickly stopped the flow, but the moment of panic had startled him.

Standing in front of him was a thin boy, maybe around his age, with messy hair and a curious expression. Eli's heart pounded in his chest as he quickly closed his hand around the ring, hiding it from view.

"Hey, you wanna play?" the boy asked, his voice full of energy. "School's over, and I'm bored. You've been sitting here forever."

Eli frowned, frustration bubbling up inside him. Why did this kid have to interrupt him right when he was so close? He grabbed a nearby pillow and threw it at the boy. The boy dodged with ease, laughing as he darted out the door, running down the hallway.

Eli shook his head, sighing in frustration. Why did people always show up at the worst times? He glanced down at the ring in his hand. It was still there, still glowing faintly, but the flow of energy had been interrupted. The careful balance he had maintained was broken.

The screen appeared in front of his eyes:

Item: Melted Toy Ring

Level: 1

Durability: 2/5

Attack: 1/6

Eli stared at the stats, frustration and relief mingling inside him. It wasn't perfect, but it was progress. The ring had leveled up, even though the process had been interrupted. He could feel the power inside it, not fully formed yet, but stronger than before.

But the interruption had reminded him how fragile that balance was. A moment of distraction, and everything could spill out. The key was to stay focused, to tip the bucket just enough without overdoing it.

He'd have to try again soon, maybe with something else. Something more challenging. But for now, he thought, smiling softly as the ring pulsed on his finger, this was enough.

Eli tucked his hands into his pockets, his thoughts drifting to the possibilities ahead. He was just getting started.