Blink leaned in closer to the screen, reading the bottom line again before speaking. "Indeed… your ability, Power Absorption, carries more worth than this Control skill. If we think about its potential, it's obvious. You can take anyone's strength, anyone's knowledge, even their life-force if you push it. No limit to whose power you can hold, no ceiling on what you could reach. That's not just one ability — it's every ability, waiting to be claimed."
Rogue closed her eyes, her chest rising and falling slow and heavy. What's the use of an ability this overpowered, she thought bitterly, if all it's ever given me is distance? Gloves on my hands, fear in every glance, and silence where touch should've been.
Her fists curled tight at her sides as she opened her eyes again, the glow of the contract reflecting in them. "Potential don't mean much when you can't control it," she said quietly, her voice rough but steady. "All my life, this so-called gift has only taken. Never given."
Blink's lips parted, her grip tightening on the key in her hand, but she said nothing. The weight of Rogue's words hung in the air, heavy and undeniable.
After a long silence, Rogue finally shook her head,"So… how do we make the trade equal?"
The Trader's smile was faint but certain. "We will speak of that later," he said smoothly. "First, confirm that Control does what I promised. Only then can the rest be decided."
The words settled between them like iron. The purple-golden hologram still glowed before Rogue, its options waiting:
[ACCEPT] — [DECLINE]
Blink glanced at her anxiously. "Rogue… this is your chance. If it works like he says…" She hesitated, searching her friend's face. "You won't have to live behind gloves anymore."
Rogue exhaled through her nose, her gaze hard on the contract. "Yeah… if it works", then lifted her hand and pressed the glowing glyph.
[ACCEPTED]
The golden light flared brighter, words shifting across the screen before vanishing into motes that sank into the air. At the same moment, a separate notification blinked into existence before the Trader's eyes alone:
[NOTIFICATION]
[ACCORDING TO THE TERMS OF THE TRADE CONTRACT, ANNA MARIE (ROGUE) HAS CHOSEN TO RECEIVE THE SKILL— CONTROL.]
[CLAUSE REQUIRES: "COPY OF SKILL GRANTED VIA WISH ACTIVATION."
DO YOU WISH TO PROCEED?]
[ACCEPT] — [DECLINE]
The Trader raised one eyebrow, a faint smile curving under the hood. So that's how it is… clever. It's not just a contract, it's turning the exchange into a wish. His thoughts lingered for a moment. Makes sense. That way, his mutant ability acts as the medium to grant it. Easier this way — he was planning to make her voice the wish herself, but this saves the trouble.
Without hesitation, he selected [ACCEPT].
At once, his Wish ability stirred, flowing outward like invisible threads weaving into the glowing contract. The terms were acknowledged, the pact sealed, and the fulfillment triggered.
—GRANTING SKILL: CONTROL TO CUSTOMER [ANNA MARIE (ROGUE)]—
The System's crystalline letters blazed for an instant before dissolving into Rogue's chest. She gasped, instinctively clutching at herself as a strange warmth spread through her veins. The ever-present hum of her power — that restless thrum that never stopped pressing at the edge of her skin — quieted.
Rogue froze, her breath caught in her throat. "…it feels different," she whispered.
Blink leaned closer, wide-eyed. "Different how?"
Rogue's hands trembled. For years, every movement had carried the same weight — the fear of brushing bare skin against another human being, the knowledge that a single slip could steal more than she intended. But now, for the first time, she felt a barrier, not one of gloves or cloth, but of her own will.
Her eyes lifted slowly to Blink, uncertainty and fear warring across her face. "Clarice… lemme try somethin'."
Blink blinked, startled, but after a beat she nodded. "…alright."
Rogue's hand shook as she reached out, her breath unsteady. Inch by inch, she drew closer until finally her bare fingertips brushed lightly against Blink's wrist.
Nothing happened.
No surge of memories, no flash of stolen energy, no draining rush that left people gasping. Just the warmth of skin against skin.
Rogue's eyes widened, her lips parting as she stared at the contact. "Ah… Ah swear… it didn't take."
Her voice cracked on the last word. She jerked her hand back as if afraid the miracle would shatter, then slowly reached out again, this time pressing her fingers firmly against Blink's wrist. Still—nothing. Just warmth.
Her breath hitched, and her throat closed around a sob she hadn't expected. "Ah… I'm really touchin' you."
Blink's own eyes were wide, her lips trembling as she placed her free hand gently over Rogue's. "You are. You really are."
The dam broke. A wet laugh slipped out of Rogue, half-choked, half-shaken, as her vision blurred. "All these years… gloves, distance, pushin' everyone away. And now—" She shook her head, tears slipping free, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Now I can finally hold someone… without fear."
Her shoulders shook as she clutched Blink's hand tighter, as if terrified it would vanish if she let go. For once in her life, her skin wasn't a weapon — it was just hers.
From the side, the Trader watched in silence, his face unreadable behind the hood. Only the faintest curve at the corner of his lips betrayed his satisfaction. The contract had been fulfilled.
Even after a few moments, Rogue barely managed to compose herself. She kept wiping at her eyes with the back of her sleeve, but the tears wouldn't fully stop. Her other hand never left Blink's, clutching it as though letting go would bring the curse rushing back.
Her chest rose and fell unevenly, each breath shaky but growing steadier. "Ah… can't believe this is real," she murmured, voice thick with emotion. "Touchin'… and not takin'… It feels like somethin' I've dreamed of my whole life."
Blink's grip tightened in return, her own eyes glistening. "It is real. You've got control now, Rogue. You're free."
Rogue let out another choked laugh, swiping away the fresh trail of tears slipping down her cheek. "Free…" She whispered the word like it was foreign, as if she'd never expected to say it about herself.
----
After calming herself, Rogue finally lifted her head, her hand still wrapped firmly around Blink's. Her eyes, red-rimmed from tears, locked on the hooded figure standing in quiet silence.
She drew in a long breath before speaking, her voice steadier now but thick with meaning. "Trader… it worked. Ah can feel it clear as day. My power… it ain't runnin' wild anymore. For the first time, it's mine to command."
She squeezed Blink's hand gently, as if proving the point. "So… what happens next?"
The faint smile under the Trader's hood deepened by a fraction. His tone was calm, deliberate. "Now comes the true decision. You have tested Control, and from your looks, I can see that you love it, don't you?"
Rogue nodded quickly, not hiding it.
"Good," the Trader continued. "Now there is only one thing left for the contract to be complete—balance. To make our trade equal. So… what do you want?"
Rogue's eyes went back to the glowing screen, the words of the Fairness Clause burning bright. Her voice came out steady. "So it's on me… I decide what makes it fair."
The Trader inclined his head. "Exactly. Name it."
Rogue's fingers tightened around Blink's hand, her eyes flicking between the glowing contract and the hooded figure. Her lips trembled before she forced the words out. "I… I don't know what to ask." Her voice cracked, raw from everything she'd just felt. "This is the first time I've touched someone without fear. My head's a mess. So… you recommend anything?"
The Trader regarded her in silence for a moment. Then his voice cut through steady and clear. "How about this… a promise to fulfill any one of your medium-level wishes. Remember, the six hundred million… and her pocket dimension—" his gaze shifted briefly toward Blink—"those both fall under low-level wishes."
Both Rogue and Blink froze, their eyes going wide.
Rogue's mouth went dry. "You… you call that low?"
Blink clutched the crystalline key tighter to her chest, disbelief etched across her face. "If a whole dimension is low, then what the hell counts as medium?"
Trader didn't say anything but smiled widely.
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CHAPTER:- [109- KNEELING BEFORE THE THRONE] IS AVAILABLE ON MY P@TREON