Well, this is the point. When I first learned about my power limitations, I was devastated. I was completely devastated, because for a long time I dreamed of becoming a strong hero—just like Grandpa Light and Grandma Star. And even though my power didn't have any offensive options, I still wanted to become like them, but everyone said the opposite.
They told me to focus on my ability, because my ability was powerful, but not in the way that I wanted. They said I should focus on it and become stronger the way it was built—or the way they thought it was the most logical way to become stronger with my ability.
But my family thought otherwise.
My family wasn't like the rest. They encouraged me to find my own path, and that helped me realise an important lesson. This is my power, and I'm the only one who gets to determine its limits, and what it can and can't do.
So, I trained hard with my abilities. I learned everything about it every single detail of what it can do, and I trained with it. I didn't give up until I reached the point where I created specific techniques, and explored those techniques to the point that I finally created a method to become stronger the way I want.
And the results… well, you saw the things I did.
So I'm gonna tell you this. The same thing I told myself:
This is your power. You're the only one who can determine its limits, and what it can and can't do.
It was like a thunderbolt just hit Ren.
What Cass said was so simple, yet so devastating—because she was right. He just gave up easily just because he hit a few road bumps. Heck, ever since he got on the island, he hit multiple road bumps, and he challenged them… and his situation only got better after it.
And not only did her words inspire him to not give up—what she said also gave him an idea. Something so simple, yet he completely missed it before.
Oh right, I forgot to tell you my power. My story might have missed some context without it, she said.
But before she could continue, Ren hugged her.
Thank you. You have no idea how much your words mean to me, and how much they help me, he said while hugging her.
He was so excited about the fact that now he has the chance to kick John out of his high horse.
He Didn't realise what he just did.
And with that, he ran away—not because of embarrassment, but because of excitement.
He has work to do.
Cass was just stood there, red-faced from the hug that Ren gave her. Why did he suddenly do that? she thought.
"Wooo~" a voice came from behind her, making her flinch.
She slowly looked back and found a girl shorter than her with black, shoulder-length hair and black eyes, but strangely, her black hair and eyes had a tint of blue in them.
This is Nova West, Cass's best friend.
"Nova, since when have you been here? And shouldn't you be with Kate?" Cass asked.
Nova just cheekily smiled and answered, "Well, I did go help Kate find the bathroom, and luckily it was very much nearer us, so it didn't take very long. So I decided to head back to you… but then I saw you talking to that boy."
Cass felt her heart drop. "How long have you been there?" she nervously asked.
And Nova's cheeky grin widened. "Why, the whole time. And I gotta say… I never expected you to move that fast."
"It didn't mean anything!" Cass responded quickly. "We were just having a nice talk, and I think the advice that I gave him helped him more than I thought or something. That made him excited, then he hugged me."
Nova just listened with her eyes closed, and when Cass finished, she opened her eyes.
"Well, if that's the case, why is your face completely red because of that interaction?"
"You know the answer," Cass answered quietly. "You know… I never had that type of interaction with a boy before," she said. Her face turned red and she looked down at the ground.
"Ooooo," Nova squealed, and then hugged Cass. "You're just cute when you get embarrassed, like you were as a kid."
Nova and Cass knew each other since they were kids, and she always teased her like this because she loved her cute reactions.
"Cass, you know you shouldn't be embarrassed so easily from a boy's touch," Nova said while hugging her, but Cass immediately got her away from her.
"Why are we even talking about this? We came here to have fun, so why are we spending our time talking about boys?"
Nova smiled and answered, "Well, I am having fun. And anyways, that guy… isn't he exactly your type?"
"Yes. So what if he's my type?"
"Well, you seemed comfortable talking to him, and considering he is your type, I could help you talk to him more," Nova said and Suggestively winked.
"No thank you." Cass turned around and walked away.
Nova, surprised, tried to follow her. "Wait, why not? You just said he was your type, didn't you?"
yes I did but even if that's true, that doesn't mean anything. I wouldn't go after a boy just because he's my type. I know nothing about him," Cass replied.
"Plenty of girls do that," Nova said, confused.
"And those are the same girls who end up single mothers and wonder what they did wrong," Cass said.
Nova wanted to reply, but she couldn't, because she couldn't think of a counter argument. Cass is kind of right. So she ignored the topic and continued teasing her along the way.
Back in the SIED office, Ren went into a private training room where no one is allowed to interrupt the one inside, and they can train fully inside on their own.
He immediately started doing research on his ability and research on his phone. Cass's words gave him inspiration, and he was going after it, but again, he needs to figure out some parts out with his own ability, and again research on his phone to help him reach the point that he wants.
And he didn't just research the whole time — he also trained with his ability, strengthening his shades and increasing the amount he can summon.
And he trained his physical body as well.
He spent days doing that, researching and training non-stop, even skipping school. Luckily, because of his position in SIED and the fact that he is in the hero course, he is allowed to skip a few days of school so he can train.
And luckily, his friends didn't bother him. After explaining a little about the fact that he is training by himself, they understood. Even if Kai insisted that he wanted to know what he was up to, he didn't bother him much after Ren said he wanted it to be a surprise.
After those few days of training were done, he finally achieved what he was going after, and then he went to their trio's waiting room, where he found Kai and John.