Chapter 22: Is this really a second chance?
James touched Richard's shoulder."Are you alright?"He asked, confused by how silent Richard was. Well… more silent than he usually was.
The buzzing of the machine pulled him out of his thoughts."Yes… sorry."He returned to reality.
There were still traces of confusion on his face, but Amelia did not know him well enough to pry further. And James, ever since he had met him, had always seen him as someone somber, with thoughts that seemed to wander in another world.
"What you have to do now is hit with all your strength."Amelia gave a demonstration.
Her pale hands, delicate as jade, moved gracefully as she gathered momentum. But when her fist shot forward, the delicacy vanished. The air was dragged along like a hurricane, revealing how terrifying a full-fledged Awakened could be, in contrast to the perspective of an ordinary person.
The blow roared against the machine, lifting dust from the walls and sending an ear-splitting echo that rattled James' very ribs.
"Oh Lord, I hope you keep me in your embrace if she ever decides to punch me…" he prayed silently, almost dropping to his knees to beg never to provoke his best friend again.
The sound of the machine pulled him out of his prayers.
A red light began to shine from its core, more specifically from the artifact embedded inside. At first, it emitted small signals, like pulses indicating calibration. Then, the glow grew, projecting a beam that transformed into floating letters.
It was a tangible hologram, almost solid, that anyone present could touch. A technological miracle that showed just how far removed it was from current human science.
"You probably don't know the language, but it says…"Amelia couldn't finish.
"Threshold of Humanity, intermediate rank…" Richard murmured, his voice just loud enough for both of them to hear.
Amelia turned to him, incredulous."How… how do you know the language of that artifact?"
She took a step closer, her face reflecting a mix of surprise and urgency."We've barely been able to understand the basics… that it means reaching the rank of Awakened."
Her reaction was not exaggerated. Since the object had been recovered, more than a month ago, no one had been able to decipher the letters it projected. Not even with the combined efforts of the base's most prepared technicians, translators, and researchers.
The most embarrassing part was that only a week ago had they understood the true importance of that artifact. And it hadn't been through their own merit, but because the colonel, Amelia's father, had managed to Awaken.
The man had been the first to demonstrate it: when he placed his hand on the machine, it projected different symbols, symbols that aligned with the records of his new core. It was then that they realized the artifact was not some scrap from a bygone era, but a relic capable of reading and classifying the stages of human evolution against the very energy that had allowed it to evolve.
* * * *
"You have no idea how much we've struggled to find someone capable of reading this."Amelia's voice trembled with contained emotion. Her cold fingers closed around Richard's hand as if she were holding an invaluable treasure."Come on, I need to see if you can read the other machine."
She gave him no choice. She pulled him with the force of someone who had just made a great discovery."Don't forget me!" James followed them.
Richard didn't even manage to open his mouth. He was dragged like a prisoner toward his fate. He tried to plant his feet, to resist, but a dark instinct stopped him: a silent voice whispered that he would regret it if he refused to see what Amelia wanted to show him.
Could it be possible that one of his artifacts was here too?But if that were true… wouldn't it mean he had never actually traveled back in time?
The thought pierced through his skull like an icy knife. Everything had to do with the phenomenon of the temporal paradox. None of his artifacts should exist in this world. He was no longer walking the same path as in his past life.
He would no longer learn runes with Michael: that knowledge he already possessed.He would no longer study forging: those secrets were already carved into his memory. Richard already knew each piece of knowledge, and that meant the conditions for those objects to come into existence would never be fulfilled.
"What the hell is going on…?"
A sharp pain began to build in his temples. He felt that if he went too far with that conclusion, something inside him… would break.
Maybe, he thought, it would be better to live in ignorance. A fool, but a living fool.
Richard sighed tiredly.His mind had been playing tricks on him lately. It was as if his senses were warning him of something.
Amelia's voice pulled him out of his thoughts."Although, for the most part… well, we just go by the drawings that appear next to the text, since no one understands the symbols."
As she stretched out her hand, the machine reacted. A needle emerged from its side and pricked her index finger, drawing a drop of blood. Then it shut down in silence, as if it were thinking.
Seconds later, the runic language manifested again. Bright symbols, unknown to everyone except him. But next to the letters, a simple image appeared: a syringe. Indicating that Amelia's talent was medical.
"This machine has helped us a lot to better understand the abilities of the Awakened in the base."She explained, lowering her gaze."You know… in these times you can't trust anyone. My father has relied on this artifact to make sure no strange talent arises that could put us in danger."
Amelia took a deep breath, as if confessing something intimate."After all, only an Awakened can see their own talent. Until now… no one else has been able to observe the talents of others."
Amelia tried to generate pity.Richard perceived the attempt behind those words. She was trying to awaken his compassion. A clumsy tactic, too innocent. Perhaps in the future she would perfect that art into something closer to seduction, capable of opening any door. But now… it was almost childish. And dangerous. In a world like this, trying to manipulate the wrong person could mean ending up sold as a slave in the black market, or dead in a ditch.
"Don't do that."Richard nodded slowly."I will help in every way I can… as long as Emma is under your care."
It was the sensible choice. In any era, before the Day of Judgment or in the future, there were two kinds of people you should never antagonize: those who fed you and those who healed your wounds.
"Thank you." Amelia raised her gaze, and this time her eyes shone with an almost childlike glimmer. "I would like you to teach me how to read this."
She said it without a trace of shame."Come on, don't be mean."She spoke again, noticing Richard's reluctant look.
Richard stared at her coldly, his silence dragging on. She fidgeted, nervous, as if her words had hit a wall of stone.
Richard sighed."If you do everything possible to make sure Emma receives the best care… I will teach you some words."
Richard agreed, to Amelia's delight.
* * * *
"Are you sure nothing is going to happen to me?"James repeated the question for the third time, looking warily at the machine waiting in front of him.
Amelia rolled her eyes."I already told you: it's just a drop of blood… probably."
"Probably!?" James stepped back half a step, clutching the edge of his jacket."That probably is the kind of word you want to hear in a horror movie, not in real life."
Richard, leaning against the wall, crossed his arms."You're the one who insisted on going first. Stop complaining and endure it like a man…"
Amelia sighed."My God… I never thought I'd have to drag someone to a simple test. Do you want me to hold your hand?"
James straightened up instantly, offended."I don't need you to hold my hand! Just… well… if you want to offer moral support, I won't say no."
Richard couldn't help but show a half-smile.
Finally, James stepped forward. The needle emerged from the machine, pricking his index finger. The boy screamed as if his entire hand had been torn off."Aaagh! I knew it! I'm dying!"
Amelia raised an eyebrow, completely serious."Yes, poor you… half a drop of blood escaped."
The runic language appeared just like when Amelia had taken the test. As Richard imagined, James's talent was Lightning Control, Rank B. It wasn't the rare Lightning Domain, Rank S, that he had possessed in his past life.
He felt a little bad for him… though only a little, because thanks to that, Richard had gained a talent in this life.
The atmosphere changed immediately. James kept sulking in his corner, but Richard didn't move. He still wanted to know more about the artifact in front of him—if it was similar to the other, then the real object was inside.
Amelia crossed her arms, expectant."Come on, don't be shy. I want to see what kind of talent you're hiding."
Richard stepped forward, the needle glowing as it protruded from the machine. His hand rose, ready for the extraction.
"Stop!"
The voice thundered, shattering the silence.
"What are you doing here, daughter, in this room?"