This is it, huh..." he muttered.
Everything came crashing down—
BEEP.
The intercom cut in with a cold, mechanical voice.
"Approaching the last stop."
"This train has come to a stop."
He stepped off, dragging a dusty suitcase behind him. In his other hand, he held a photo his stepmother had given him. A bittersweet smile tugged at his lips as he scanned the unfamiliar platform.
"Ugh... I don't even know the old man's name. Jeez."
He scratched his head.
And then—
SLAP!
Out of nowhere, a palm smacked the back of his head, sending him stumbling forward.
"Ooo-woo-hoo! There you are, Josie-boy!"
"...It's Josen," he muttered, rubbing the back of his head, annoyed at how strong the slap was.
The old man grinned.
"Yes, yes. Josen. Come now, quickly."
With a casual flick of his wrist, the man used telekinesis to lift the bags and float them toward a rusty old car nearby.
Josen's eyes widened.
"Wha... whoa."
I thought defectives couldn't use special skills, he thought to himself, trailing behind the surprisingly fast old man.
"Hey—wait up!" he called out.
By the time he caught up and jumped into the front seat, his mood had changed entirely.
There was something new in the air. A strange, exciting feeling.
As they drove through the quiet streets, Josen leaned against the window, eyes wide.
The breeze hit his face as he stuck his head out slightly, tongue out like a carefree child.
It was the first time in a long while he felt... free.
"I wonder how Grandpa felt when he was kicked out."
"I was quite heartbroken," the old man suddenly said.
Silence filled the car.
His name was Augustus.
Josen hadn't asked, but somehow, he knew.
"Listen carefully," Augustus began.
"Over the next month, I'll teach you about this world—about the gods, the government, the Systems… and how to beat them."
Josen blinked.
"Wha—beat a system user? That's impossi—"
"No," Augustus said, firm and absolute, as the car pulled into the driveway.
Josen stared ahead, his thoughts spinning.
No way... there's a way to beat a system user as a Defective?
As he stepped inside the house, he instinctively slipped off his shoes.
"Go take a shower and change. Then come to the living room—we've got a lot to talk about," Augustus said.
Josen nodded slowly.
A strange new fire had begun to light in his chest.
"This isn't over"