Chapter 199

A comfortable silence settled over the room as the trio gazed out the window, watching children chase each other across the grassy expanse, their laughter echoing faintly through the glass. In a quiet, almost contemplative moment, Alex glanced at Aris, a flicker of amusement in his eyes.

"Well, since we're here and it's family," Alex said, giving a slight shrug. "I thought I'd share something with you both."

Amelia looked over, curious. But before she could ask, Alex raised his hand, and with a subtle concentration, a small flame flickered into existence, hovering above his palm. The flame danced with an ethereal glow, shifting through shades of deep orange and blue as if alive, pulsing gently in the center of his hand.

Amelia's jaw dropped, her eyes widening in disbelief. "Alex… Are you—?" Her voice trailed off, clearly struggling to process what she was seeing.

"An ability user?" Alex finished with a small smile. He let the flame swirl and twirl around his fingers, forming intricate shapes in the air, before allowing it to flicker out. "Looks like it runs in the family now, doesn't it?"

Aris exhaled, visibly relaxing. The guarded tension in his posture softened, and a relieved smile spread across his face. "I— I don't know what to say," he admitted, sounding genuinely stunned. "This…well, I thought… I mean, given your role with PowerGen…"

Alex chuckled, holding up his hand. "Trust me, I get it. But the truth is, I've only been looking out for Amelia's happiness. That's all that really matters to me." His gaze moved between his sister and Aris, warm but laced with a hint of something more intense. "And, Aris, as long as you treat her well, you'll have nothing to worry about. But if you don't…"

Aris gave a small nod, his face turning serious. "Understood. I'd never give you a reason to feel that way," he replied, his tone earnest. "Amelia means the world to me."

Amelia was still staring at Alex, a mixture of awe and bewilderment on her face. "All this time, you've… been one of them? I knew you were up to something, but this?" She shook her head, laughing softly. "You never fail to surprise me."

"Just wanted to make sure you knew I'm not some overbearing big brother," Alex teased, leaning back in his chair. "If anything, I'm glad you found someone who understands what it's like to be…different. And to navigate all this, well, craziness."

She smiled, a soft, grateful expression crossing her face. "Thank you, Alex. I was…well, I was nervous about how you'd react to Aris. But knowing you have your own abilities… It's just hard to believe."

Outside the window, a group of people were gathered for a small picnic, laughing and passing food around. Alex glanced at the scene, feeling a rare sense of calm as he turned back to his sister.

"This world is changing fast, Amelia," he said, his voice quiet. "And we've all had to adapt, some of us faster than others. I've had time to think it over, and honestly, I'm glad you're finding your place here, too. Ability or not, you've always been able to handle yourself."

She took his hand, giving it a small squeeze. "It's still a lot to process, but…thank you. Really."

Aris watched the siblings, a warm smile on his face, clearly moved by their exchange. "I know I've told Amelia before, but seeing the two of you… I feel incredibly lucky to be part of this."

Alex nodded. "Then keep her happy, Aris. That's all I ask." He glanced at Amelia, his expression softening. "Family is all we have, after all."

They sat in companionable silence, letting the moment settle over them as they watched the simple joys unfolding in the park outside—friends meeting, parents playing with children, strangers sharing smiles. For a brief time, it felt as if all the complexities of their lives had faded into the background, leaving only the bond they shared.

--

A comfortable silence enveloped them as they continued watching the lively park scene outside. But after a few minutes, Amelia broke the quiet, unable to keep her curiosity at bay any longer.

"So, Alex," she started with a playful, almost innocent grin, "what about that gift you promised? I mean, unless you were just teasing me?"

Alex laughed, shaking his head. "Couldn't hold it anymore, could you?" he teased, leaning back with a grin. "Alright, alright—guess I'll put you out of your misery."

From his bag, Alex pulled out a sleek black box. With an amused smile, he handed it over, letting her anticipate the surprise a little longer.

Amelia's eyes sparkled with excitement as she opened the box, revealing an elegant necklace. It was a delicate silver chain with a pendant shaped like a small, vibrant gemstone, shimmering with hues of deep green and blue as it caught the light.

"Oh, Alex…" she breathed, clearly taken aback. "It's beautiful. It looks so expensive!" She reached out, letting the pendant rest on her palm, admiring its exquisite craftsmanship. "I mean, I love it, but you really didn't have to go this far."

"It's nothing but the best for my sister," Alex replied, genuinely pleased by her reaction. "You deserve it."

As she admired the necklace, Aris reached into the box, noticing something else nestled at the bottom: a small, unassuming book. Curiously, he picked it up, flipping through the pages until a particular passage caught his eye.

"Wait…" Aris murmured, his eyes widening as he skimmed the text. The book was filled with diagrams and passages about frequencies, techniques, and light manipulation. Recognition flashed in his gaze as he looked up at Alex, his voice barely containing his surprise. "Is this… a frequency technique? And not just any—an illusion frequency technique?"

Amelia, still admiring her necklace, looked up sharply, a mixture of surprise and intrigue crossing her face. "What?" She leaned over, peering at the book. "Alex, where did you…how did you get your hands on something like this? Aren't these supposed to be near impossible to find? Governments have been trying to get a hold of these!"

Alex just smiled, a hint of mystery in his eyes. "Let's just say I know a few people." He leaned back, enjoying their astonished reactions.

Aris was practically glued to the book now, flipping through the sections with barely contained excitement. "This…this is incredible. This technique could be revolutionary for ability users! I've heard rumors about this kind of training on the Stargazer forum, but I thought they were just rumors. And this—" he pointed at a particular page, his voice almost reverent, "—at level 5, it says you can connect to the parameters that govern light itself. This is a serious ability, Alex."

Amelia looked at the book, then back at Alex, awe mingling with curiosity. "You've really outdone yourself. Not only do you have your own powers, but you managed to get a technique like this? Just who are you meeting with, Mr. PowerGen Major Shareholder?"

Alex chuckled, enjoying the effect his gift had on them. "I thought it might be useful," he said simply. "And I thought it might be something that resonates with both of you. After all, it's one thing to have power—it's another to know how to use it well."

Aris nodded, clearly moved. "Thank you, Alex. This technique—it's something I'll never take for granted. And you have no idea what this means to us." He looked over at Amelia, his expression one of pure appreciation. "This…could really change things."

Alex leaned back, watching their reactions with a satisfied smile. Seeing the joy and surprise on their faces made every bit of his effort worthwhile. He didn't need to say anything more; they all knew the weight of the gift he had just handed over. And as they sat there, each caught up in their own thoughts about what the future could hold, they shared a quiet, unspoken understanding that their family was stronger, and perhaps a bit more formidable, than ever.