Ctrl + Alt + "Reality"

Chapter 5: A Hidden Truth

"Why couldn't you tell me any of this before?" he asked, his voice low. "I could have understood. I could have been prepared."

His grandmother's expression softened, the lines of worry etched into her face deepening. "I was afraid, Mori. I thought that if you didn't know, you could live a normal life. But now... now that you've started to experience your abilities, I see I was wrong. You deserve to know the truth."

He rubbed the back of his neck, the tension coiling tightly around his thoughts. "So what do I do now?"

"You need to learn to control your powers," she replied, her tone grave. "If you don't, you risk becoming a target. The Architects are always watching, and they won't hesitate to intervene if they see you as a threat."

Mori nodded slowly, processing her words. "But how do I control something I don't even understand? How did Mom do it?"

His grandmother leaned forward, her hands clasped tightly together. "Your mother was a natural. She had a gift that came with great intuition. But she also trained, learning to harness her abilities. It won't be easy, Mori, but I can help you. We can figure this out together."

Hope flickered in his chest, battling against the shadows of doubt. "Together?" he echoed.

"Yes," she said, her voice steady. "But you must promise me one thing."

"What?"

"Promise me you'll be cautious. The world is dangerous, and there are forces at play that you cannot fully understand yet. Learning to control your powers won't happen overnight. You need to be patient."

"I promise," he said, though he wasn't entirely sure he could keep that promise. The weight of the truth pressed down on him, and he felt the urgency of his situation keenly. "But I also need to find out what happened to her. I need to know if she's alive."

His grandmother's expression shifted, a flicker of fear passing over her features. "Mori, that path is perilous. The more you dig into the past, the more you risk drawing attention to yourself."

"Do you think I care about that now?" he shot back, frustration boiling over. "I can't just sit here and do nothing. I have to know!"

"Please, Mori," she implored, her voice tinged with desperation. "I understand your need for answers, but you have to think about your safety. The Architects—"

"I'm not afraid of them!" he interrupted, his heart racing. "I refuse to live in fear any longer. I'm tired of being controlled by the shadows."

She looked at him for a long moment, her expression unreadable. "Then we must tread carefully. You may not fear them, but they are cunning. They will exploit any weakness."

Mori inhaled sharply, her warning echoing in his mind. Cunning. It was a word that felt all too familiar. Eri's presence haunted him, her unsettling confidence a stark reminder of the dangers that lurked in the corners of his life.

"I want to start training," he said, his voice firm. "I need to learn how to control my abilities. I can't let them control me."

His grandmother studied him closely, a blend of pride and concern etched on her face. "Very well. I'll teach you what I can. We'll begin with the basics and build from there. But you must promise me again—be careful. The Architects won't let you slip through their fingers easily."

Mori nodded, determination flaring within him. He felt the shadows of doubt recede slightly, replaced by the flicker of hope. "I won't back down," he vowed. "I'll find the truth about my mother, and I'll learn to control my powers."

With that, the tension in the kitchen began to lift, the oppressive atmosphere lightening just enough to breathe. They shared a moment of quiet understanding, the weight of their conversation hanging heavily in the air but infused with a sense of purpose.

As Mori prepared to leave the kitchen, he glanced back at his grandmother, her expression a mix of concern and resolve. "Thank you for telling me the truth," he said softly. "I know it wasn't easy."

She smiled faintly, the lines of worry softening on her face. "You're my grandson, Mori. You deserve to know your own story."

With a newfound sense of determination, Mori stepped out of the kitchen and into the world beyond. The sun was beginning to set, casting warm golden hues across the sky. He felt a flicker of excitement and fear mingle within him, the dual forces propelling him forward.

As he walked down the familiar streets, he realized that he was no longer just Mori Kiyoshi, a college student lost in anxiety and self-doubt. He was something more—an architect of his own fate, determined to uncover the truth about his past and master the abilities that ran through his veins.

The journey ahead would be fraught with challenges, but he felt ready to face whatever lay in wait. Each step he took felt like a step toward reclaiming his identity, toward understanding the legacy of his mother and the power he possessed.

I won't let fear define me anymore. With that thought guiding him, Mori looked ahead, determined to confront the hidden truths that awaited him and to reclaim the pieces of himself he had lost along the way.