That morning, the air still felt cold when Alvano opened his eyes. The alarm on his phone hadn't even gone off yet, but his body was already used to waking up early. He turned to the digital clock on the nightstand beside his bed. 4:20 a.m.
Instead of lazing around, Alvano got up with enthusiasm. Today, he was determined to improve his training, especially in controlling his Telekinesis power.
Without wasting any time, he put on his workout clothes: a thin black shirt and training pants. After making sure his shoelaces were properly tied, he stepped out of his room and headed to the spacious yard.
The fresh morning air greeted him right away, piercing the warmth that still lingered on his skin from the thick blanket that had wrapped his body earlier. But Alvano liked that sensation.
He began with light stretching to loosen his muscles. Afterward, he started jogging around the road near his house. Every step he took felt steady. His breathing was rhythmic, unhurried, following a stable tempo.
Although the surroundings were still quiet, occasionally he passed by others who were also exercising. Some merely nodded, while others gave him a faint smile as a greeting.
Thirty minutes passed.
His body started to heat up, but Alvano didn't want to stop there. After returning to his yard, he immediately did push-ups and sit-ups alternately. His muscles began to tighten, but he enjoyed it.
After about a hundred push-ups and a hundred fifty sit-ups, he decided to move on to the main training—Telekinesis control.
In front of him were several small objects: an empty cup, a marble, and a thick book. He closed his eyes for a moment, regulated his breathing, then started lifting the marble first.
The small object floated slowly, without the usual vibration. He smiled faintly, then raised the difficulty. Now, he tried to lift the book and the cup at the same time.
At first, the cup trembled slightly, but Alvano calmed his mind. As time passed, his Telekinesis movement grew smoother.
I'm starting to get used to this… he thought proudly.
After training long enough, his body felt tired and covered in sweat. He exhaled deeply, then went back into the house.
Without being called, his grandfather was already awake. The old man was preparing breakfast in the kitchen.
"You're so spirited today, Vano," said his grandfather without turning around.
Alvano just chuckled softly. "Of course! I want to get stronger."
His grandfather smiled but said nothing more.
After chatting for a while, Alvano went straight to the bathroom. He turned on the cold water in the tub, then plunged himself in.
The biting cold sensation immediately enveloped his body, but that was exactly what he wanted. After the intense training earlier, soaking in cold water felt incredibly refreshing.
After soaking for a while, Alvano stood up and let the cold water flow all over his body before rinsing off the remaining soap with clean water. He wiped his face, feeling the freshness return to his body after the heavy training session.
He grabbed the towel hanging nearby, quickly wrapped it around himself, and stepped out of the bathroom. The morning chill still lingered on his skin, but he liked it. With his hair still slightly wet, he walked to his room, opened the wardrobe, and put on his casual clothes before heading to the dining table.
When he arrived at the dining room, the aroma of warm food greeted him. On the table sat a plate of rice with simple side dishes, enough to fill his energy before leaving for school. His grandfather sat across from him, calmly sipping hot tea.
Alvano looked at the clock on the wall. 5:35 a.m. There was still plenty of time before leaving.
As he started to scoop up his rice, his grandfather glanced at him briefly and asked casually, "What time did you get home last night?"
Alvano chewed for a moment before replying, "Around 7:10 p.m. You weren't home at that time."
The old man simply nodded slightly, showing no excessive curiosity. Then, without saying much, he poured a glass of milk and slid it toward Alvano.
Alvano accepted it with a small smile. "Thank you, Grandpa."
He sipped the milk slowly. He had initially wanted to tell something—about Theo, who had mysteriously recovered and returned to normal so quickly. But somehow, the words got stuck in his throat.
In the end, he chose not to bring it up. Maybe later, when the time was right.
After finishing his breakfast, Alvano helped wash the remaining dirty dishes before returning to his room to put on his school uniform. He made sure his hair was dry, then quickly adjusted his tie. Once everything was ready, he grabbed his bag and said goodbye to his grandfather.
"I'm heading out."
"Be careful on the road."
Alvano stepped out of the house, feeling the cool morning air envelop his body. The sun was still reluctant to rise too high; its light was soft, shining on the dew-wet sidewalks.
On his way to the bus stop, Alvano felt a bit playful. He gently moved his fingers, trying to use his Telekinesis on small objects around him.
A small twig by the roadside suddenly floated, spinning once before dropping back down. Alvano smiled faintly. He reached toward a small stone on the road and made it float a few centimeters in the air before letting it fall again.
He was becoming more and more accustomed to his power.
Next, he spotted a plastic bottle cap lying near the sidewalk. With a little effort, he lifted it and made it spin like a top in midair.
However, when a passerby walked nearby, Alvano quickly stopped his action and let the bottle cap fall silently. He didn't want anyone to notice what he was doing.
Although this small practice seemed trivial, for Alvano, it was proof that he was starting to gain better control over his power.
His steps grew steadier toward the bus stop, where several other students were already waiting. Today, he felt more confident.
The bus moved at a normal pace along the still-quiet road. Alvano sat by one of the window seats, watching the city view slowly come alive with morning activity. Some passengers were busy with their phones, while others just sat quietly, enjoying the ride.
But the calm was suddenly disrupted.
Without warning, the bus braked abruptly!
The tires screeched loudly against the asphalt, the sharp sound echoing inside the cabin. Everyone in the bus lurched forward. Some passengers screamed in surprise, while others clutched the handles tightly to avoid falling.
A middle-aged woman standing near the back door lost her balance. She fell to the floor with a loud thud, startling those nearby.
Without a second thought, Alvano immediately stood up and approached the woman.
"Are you okay, ma'am?" he asked, bending down and offering his hand to help her up.
The woman looked a bit pale, probably from shock. Carefully, she grabbed Alvano's hand and stood back up.
"Thank you, dear… I'm fine."
Meanwhile, complaints and protests started to fill the bus.
"Oh my God! Why the sudden brake?!"
"I almost fell forward!"
"Driver! What's going on?!"
The driver, still gripping the steering wheel with a tense expression, turned around and bowed his head slightly.
"I'm sorry, a car suddenly crossed from the other lane. I didn't have time to see it."
Some passengers were still grumbling, but they eventually returned to their seats.
Meanwhile, Alvano turned toward the window, narrowing his eyes as he searched for the car that almost caused the accident.
In the distance, he saw it—a black car with a barely visible license plate speeding away.
Alvano tried to memorize the numbers and letters he could see, but part of it was obscured by dust and reflected light.