The small apartment was warm, softly lit by the gentle glow of evening lamps.
Alex Blake stepped inside, closing the door quietly behind him.
Before he could even take off his shoes—
"Oi, boy… why're you smiling like that? Did you finally awaken something incredible?"
Kain Blake sat on the couch with arms crossed, his sharp eyebrows raised. His posture was calm, confident, even a little smug — the classic attitude of a thunder-type awakened warrior.
Alex blinked.
Oh, great. He's already in interrogation mode.
He walked over with a forced grin. "Dad, can't I just smile because I'm happy to be home?"
Kain snorted. "You only smile like that when you're hiding something. Sit."
Alex sat.
Kain leaned forward, fingers tapping his knee. "Alright. What did you awaken?"
Alex's heart tightened for a moment.
He couldn't tell them about the Dominion Core, the system, the puppets, the terrifying evolution potential… not yet.
So he cleared his throat.
"Well… I awakened a, uh… very special ability."
Kain's eyelid twitched. "Special? As in special good or special trash?"
Alex coughed lightly. "It's… complicated."
Kain rubbed his temples and groaned dramatically. "Just say it."
Alex tried to escape with a joke. "Dad… do you want the long version or the short—"
"The awakening result, boy!" Kain snapped.
Alex raised his hands. "Okay, okay! I awakened… Puppet Control."
The room fell silent.
Kain stared at him.
Alex swallowed.
Kain continued staring.
Alex scratched his cheek. "Dad… say something?"
Kain finally stood up with a deep sigh, pacing dramatically like a man who had just watched his entire lineage collapse.
"A Puppet… ability."
He shook his head.
"A puppet ability. My son. My son. Born from my glorious lightning lineage… awakened a Puppet Ability."
Alex opened his mouth. "Dad, it's not as bad as it sounds—"
Kain suddenly pointed at him.
"Traitor! How could a thunder user like me produce a son like you!?"
Alex nearly choked. "Why am I the traitor!?"
Kain held his chest like he had been stabbed. "Our Blake family lightning bloodline… destroyed! My friends will laugh at me for years!"
Just as Alex was about to argue back, a gentle but stern voice drifted from the hallway:
"Kain Blake."
Both father and son froze.
A woman wearing soft cotton pajamas walked down the stairs, arms crossed, eyes dangerously calm.
Alex's mother — Selene Blake.
Alex blinked in surprise. "Mom? Aren't you supposed to be at the Information Department tonight?"
Selene smiled warmly at him, then immediately glared at Kain.
"The moment our son awakens, you start yelling? Really?"
Kain pointed at Alex, desperate. "Selene, listen! He awakened Puppet Control! A father has the right to be shocked!"
Selene walked over and flicked Kain on the forehead.
Kain yelped. "Hey!"
She ignored him completely and sat beside Alex, her expression gentle.
"Alex, sweetheart… tell me properly. What did you awaken?"
Alex straightened up.
This time, he answered firmly.
"I awakened Puppet Control. But I'm not weak. My ability… will definitely grow stronger. I promise."
Selene's eyes softened even more.
"Good. That's enough for me."
She squeezed his hand. "No matter what you awaken, as long as you live, fight, and try your best — your mother will support you."
Alex felt his chest tighten. A warmth he had rarely felt in either of his lives spread through him.
"Mom… I won't disappoint you."
Off to the side, Kain blinked rapidly. "…He didn't say that to me."
Selene slowly turned her head toward him.
Kain straightened up instantly. "Ahem. I mean — good! Good! Son, I'm also very supportive. Extremely supportive. I was just… testing you. Yes, testing your emotional resilience."
Selene gave him a death stare.
Kain shrank back into the couch like a scolded child.
Alex couldn't help but smile.
This chaotic, noisy, warm scene…
For the first time in his two lifetimes, he truly felt like he had a home.