Mutant awakening: My evolution knows no bounds

Silas blinked at Sensei Josh's words, his face immediately reflecting surprise.

"Sir Dominic wants to see me in his office?" he blurted out, his voice filled with shock and disbelief.

"Yes, he does," Sensei Josh responded, his tone laced with disdain.

Sir Dominic wasn't the type of man who interacted with students. He rarely left his office, preferring to issue orders that were to be followed immediately. His presence was usually required only for missions that needed someone of his immense power. A man so disconnected from the student body suddenly wanting to see Silas in person?

That could only mean one thing.

'He found out. He knows I killed Caleb, Sammy, and Carlos that night. Damn it.'

That was the only explanation Silas could come up with. Getting summoned to Sir Dominic's office meant he had definitely done something wrong, and the only thing that came to mind was the cold-blooded murder of three students.

"Alright," Silas muttered after a few moments of tense silence. He stepped out of the room, pulling the door shut behind him.

"This way," Sensei Josh instructed, turning on his heel to lead the way. The two staff members accompanying him moved in to flank Silas, ensuring he wouldn't try anything reckless.

As they walked down the halls, curious eyes followed Silas. Whispers spread through the student body like wildfire, wondering what trouble he'd gotten himself into this time.

'What did he do now?' Angelica, who lingered near the corner, thought to herself as she watched Silas being escorted by the staff.

Even though Silas knew he was in serious trouble, his outward expression remained calm and composed. Internally, he was panicking, but none of that turmoil showed on his face. He kept a stoic demeanor as they walked, the quiet tension surrounding him.

After a brief but tense walk, they arrived in front of Sir Dominic's office. Sensei Josh knocked firmly on the heavy wooden door. A deep male voice invited them inside.

Josh pushed the door open, and they stepped into the vast, intimidating office.

As Silas entered, his eyes immediately landed on Sir Dominic, who sat behind a large, imposing desk with his arms folded. Sitting across from him was a woman in her early thirties, and behind Sir Dominic stood someone Silas recognized instantly—Kara.

Kara's expression was one of concern, and Silas quickly realized why. Sir Dominic had already briefed her on what Sensei Josh had reported, and it was clear that Kara was worried.

'If Mary reads my mind, she'll discover everything. The artifact, the power I've gained, the murders—everything.' Kara had worked hard to keep his secrets hidden, helping him cover his tracks the night of the killings. But it seemed her efforts had been in vain.

"Silas Griswold, correct?" Sir Dominic's voice broke through the tense silence after Silas entered. "Please, have a seat next to this lovely lady here," he gestured towards the chair beside the woman.

Silas, still glaring at Kara, reluctantly shifted his gaze and took a slow, measured seat next to Mary. His heart raced, but outwardly, his expression remained collected.

"Don't be afraid, Silas. We just want to ask you a few questions," Sir Dominic said with a smile that had a mischievous edge to it.

"I see." Silas nodded, his voice carefully neutral. "Questions about what?"

"Before we proceed," Mary interrupted gently, "please allow me to hold your hands." Her request caused Silas to whip his head towards her in surprise.

"What? Why?" he asked, clearly bewildered.

"Mary here is a Grade 4 mind ability user," Sir Dominic explained, his voice carrying a certain weight that made Silas uneasy. "She has the ability to read minds and detect lies. Additionally, she can delve into memories—recent events, past incidents, and anything that might be of interest. In short, she's very good at what she does."

The explanation sent chills down Silas's spine, and Kara's as well.

'A Grade 4 mind reader? If she gets into my head, she'll uncover everything. Damn it, I'm screwed,' Silas thought, swallowing hard. His eyes locked on Mary's outstretched hands.

"Please," she repeated, her voice calm and a warm smile on her lips. "Give me your hands so we can proceed."

For a few agonizing moments, Silas sat frozen in place. But finally, he extended his hands toward Mary, who grasped them gently, rubbing his palms in an almost comforting gesture.

"Now, Silas," Mary began, her voice soft but firm. "I want you to answer truthfully. If you lie, I'll know immediately. My ability will inform me." She closed her eyes, preparing to concentrate.

Then she asked, "What really happened in the Grade 5 mutant realm? What became of your teammates? And did you find the artifact that gave you the powers of the Apex Mutant?" Her voice was steady, but each word felt like a dagger pointed straight at Silas.

[Ding!]

[Alert! Someone is attempting to use an ability to extract information from you.]

[Would you like to block this ability?]

[Yes] [No]

A holographic screen flashed into existence before Silas's eyes after Mary asked her questions. He studied it closely, realization dawning on him.

'I can block her from reading my mind? The system must want to keep this secret, too, which is why it's offering to help.' Silas grinned inwardly, his attention fixed on the holographic prompt.

Behind Sir Dominic, Kara was sweating profusely. The room felt like it was closing in on her. Mary's questions had pushed her to the brink of panic.

'This is it. Mary's going to discover everything. There's no way to stop it. It's all over,' she thought frantically, her heart hammering in her chest. She glanced at Silas, who sat there unmoved, exuding a calmness that puzzled her.

'Why is he so calm in such a dire situation?' Kara wondered.

'I choose to block the ability!' Silas declared internally.

[Yes]

[Host has successfully blocked the mind reading ability.]

"""

A/N: Character art is now available in the character tab. Do well to check it out!

Also, vote with your Golden Tickets and Power stones for a mass release!