Nathaniel crossed his arms, his expression remaining calm even as he caught the shock in Alvano and Theo's eyes.
"If you don't believe me, that's fine," he said evenly. "At first, we also found it hard to believe that there were others out there who possessed powers like ours."
Theo stayed silent, but deep down, he couldn't deny Nathaniel's words. After regaining his memories, he knew that Alvano's grandfather also had powers. That meant the possibility of others existing wasn't impossible.
But Alvano, on the other hand, still couldn't accept this reality. He shook his head, disbelief clouding his face.
Seeing that, Nathaniel gave a small smile and said, "Then, how about I prove it to you?"
Theo stared into Nathaniel's eyes for a moment before finally nodding. He didn't say anything, but his gesture was enough of an answer.
Nathaniel raised his hand and tapped his finger against the table.
Tok.
In an instant, the atmosphere in the room changed drastically.
Alvano suddenly felt uneasy. His chest tightened, his mind went blank, and his heartbeat began to race uncontrollably.
Theo felt it too. Something was pressing down on his mind, a creeping unease spreading through his entire body.
Nathaniel calmly watched them both before finally speaking. "This is the power I possess."
He leaned back in his chair. "I can lock a person's mental state just by staring at them for three seconds. The rhythm of my heartbeat emits a frequency that the target unconsciously receives, disturbing their psychological balance."
Alvano began losing his balance, his body weakening as the effects of Nathaniel's ability grew stronger.
Theo, realizing his friend's condition, quickly grabbed Alvano's shoulders to steady him. "Hey, you okay?" he whispered.
Amelia, who had been silent the whole time, looked slightly shocked by the effect on Alvano.
Nathaniel sighed. "As you can see, it's quite a dangerous ability. That's why I don't use it for long."
Gradually, the pressure vanished, and the room returned to normal.
Nathaniel looked back at Alvano. "So, what do you think? Still want to deny it?"
Alvano clenched his teeth and shook his head. "I… can't control it properly."
Inside, a wave of anxiety overwhelmed him. This kind of fear could drive me insane.
Theo, still holding onto him, could feel it too. The aftereffects of Nathaniel's ability were truly intense.
Meanwhile, Theo couldn't help but wonder about Amelia's power. Unlike Nathaniel, who had easily demonstrated his ability, she remained silent, showing no intention of revealing hers.
Amelia crossed her arms, looking at Alvano and Theo seriously.
"Our organization, Velmont's Student Council, aims to gather everyone who possesses supernatural powers so that they won't be misused—and to guide them on the right path," she said calmly.
Nathaniel nodded, then added, "And what if the government ever finds out?"
His gaze was sharp as he spoke. "If one day they discover that humans with supernatural powers exist, wouldn't that be even more dangerous? Living out there without protection isn't safe. But if you join us, you'll have a place that can protect you."
He was trying to convince them.
Theo stayed silent, thinking about Nathaniel's words. He couldn't deny that the outside world was cruel. If ordinary humans learned about people with powers, they would probably hunt or exploit them.
Amelia continued, "If you join us, you'll be able to live your school life peacefully without worrying about being exposed. And beyond that, you can help us handle the school's internal problems."
She looked at each of them before adding, "We want to make Velmont a sanctuary for people like you."
Theo gave her a sharp look before finally saying, "Isn't that even more dangerous? If this place is truly a refuge for people with powers, then sooner or later, a threat will come."
Nathaniel chuckled lightly. "So far, we've managed this organization well without any outside threats," he said casually.
He folded his arms across his chest. "Besides, we always make sure none of our members act suspiciously outside school. That's why we've remained safe until now."
Theo turned to Alvano, his expression serious. "What do you think?" he asked. "I'll go along if you want to."
Alvano shook his head slightly, his eyes still a bit unfocused after Nathaniel's earlier display. "I can't decide right now. I need time."
Amelia nodded in understanding. "Alright, we'll wait for your decision."
Theo then shot Nathaniel a sharp look, his tone deadly serious. "And next time, be careful with your power."
His voice carried a hint of threat, but there was also sincerity in it. "Alvano's been through a lot lately. If you keep messing with his mind, sooner or later, you might end up destroyed by his hands."
Nathaniel didn't show fear. Instead, a faint, intrigued smile crossed his face.
After that, Theo helped the exhausted and dizzy Alvano up. Their steps out of the student council room were unsteady, and Theo had to support his friend to keep him from falling.
Inside the room, after they left, Nathaniel and Amelia exchanged looks.
"You really found someone interesting this time," Nathaniel said, leaning back against the table.
Amelia sighed softly. "Honestly, I don't like the idea of bringing them into this organization."
Nathaniel raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"They're dangerous." Amelia looked toward the door that had just closed. "Especially Theo. He outright defied us—even threatened you directly. I'm not sure he'll be a compliant member."
Nathaniel chuckled. "He's a pain, but I like the way he thinks. He's sharper than I expected."
Amelia frowned. "Don't let him become a thorn in our side."
Nathaniel nodded. "I know. But our mission remains the same—to build this organization before the real threats arrive."
Amelia fell silent for a moment before speaking again. "Theo already knows our intentions. That means he's been anticipating our moves. From now on, we need to tread carefully."
Nathaniel gave a faint smile, his eyes gleaming as if he was enjoying the new challenge ahead.
As they stepped out of the student council building, Theo was still supporting the weakened Alvano. His face was pale, his eyes hollow, and his steps heavy.
In the hallway leading to the elevator, they ran into Joshua, who was leaning against the wall playing with his phone. When he saw Alvano's condition, he immediately approached, his expression worried.
"Hey, what happened? Alvano, you look like you just fought a demon."
Alvano just let out a tired sigh, while Theo replied casually, "Oh, he was just reported for ruining the school's aesthetic because he's too antisocial."
Joshua stared at Theo in disbelief, then shifted his gaze to Alvano. "You're kidding, right?"
Theo shrugged. "Nope, unfortunately not. That's the official reason they called us in."
Joshua shook his head, then patted Alvano's shoulder sympathetically. "Good grief... Stuff like that actually happens in Velmont, huh?" he said in disbelief.