The orphanage was never just a place where Mark lived; it was the first ground where he learned how to survive. Its walls were cold, its windows old, and at night the wind slipped through the cracks and filled the rooms. Children's voices never truly fell silent—sometimes crying, sometimes whispers. Mark learned to sleep with those sounds.
But within that crowd, there was one person who shaped his entire world.
Maddie.
She was one of the caretakers at the orphanage, but to Mark, she was always different from the others. Maddie was the first to memorize his name. She was the one he ran to when his knees were scraped, the one who stayed by his bedside through the night when he had a fever. In Mark's memory, Maddie's voice was synonymous with safety.
"I'm here, Mark. It's over now."
Those words were like a shield to him.
As Mark grew, his body began to develop differently from the other children. Even at four years old, his shoulders were broader, his bones denser. His muscles were naturally defined, as if his body was constantly preparing for something. He wasn't tall, but he looked solid. His posture was always straight—his back held firm by instinct and by the system's daily tasks.
His hair was white. Not pale, but striking—almost silver when sunlight touched it. Everyone at the orphanage noticed it. His eyes were deep blue, calm and cold, far too aware for a child his age. While the other children shouted and ran, Mark watched. Whenever Maddie caught his gaze, she felt something she couldn't quite explain.
This child… it's like he already knows, she would think.
Every morning when Mark opened his eyes, the same window appeared in his mind. The display was clear, emotionless.
Name: Mark
Age: 4
Quirk: Locked
Status: Daily tasks available
The tasks were harsh, but Mark never complained. He woke before sunrise. Behind the laundry lines in the back of the courtyard, there was a corner no one used. There, he did his push-ups, his squats, burned through his sit-ups, and then ran—ran until his breath failed him. His small feet struck the stone ground again and again, lungs screaming.
He didn't fully understand why he did it. But he was certain of one thing: power would be needed someday.
That day, the orphanage was far from ordinary. A small spring event had been organized by the city. The goal was to collect donations and give the children a "normal" day. Colorful banners were hung, tables were set up, and the street was closed off. Maddie led the children outside in groups.
"Today, we're having fun," she said with a smile. "No running off."
Mark held Maddie's hand. The crowd was larger than usual. People wandered between donation stands, children chased balloons, and music filled the air. Everything felt too lively. Too loud.
Mark felt uneasy without knowing why.
The road was supposed to be blocked, but at the far end of the street, there was a car. Something about it was wrong. It accelerated where it should have slowed. Mark's eyes locked onto it.
Then came a scream.
The car lost control. The wet asphalt offered no grip to the tires. As the steering wheel jerked wildly, the vehicle slid straight toward the crowd.
Maddie tried to push Mark away, but it was already too late.
For Mark, time slowed again.
His heart tightened in his chest. His thoughts scattered. Inside him, only one clear desire remained.
Bring her to me.
Mark reached out his hand.
The air grew heavy for an instant. An invisible force wrapped around Maddie and pulled her toward Mark. She lost her balance and fell in front of him. At the same moment, the car passed them by with only centimeters to spare, crashing into a stand and finally stopping.
Silence fell.
Then came the screaming.
Mark dropped to his knees. His breathing was uneven. He stared at his hands; they were still trembling. At that moment, the system activated.
Quirk awakened.
Push / Pull.
Type: Spatial Manipulation.
Status: First Stage.
Maddie regained her senses and immediately pulled Mark into her arms. She felt him shaking.
"Mark… are you okay?" she whispered.
Mark didn't answer. He only listened to her heartbeat.
That day, no one at the orphanage saw Mark reach out his hand. No one noticed how the air had changed. Everyone believed it was luck—a miracle.
But Mark knew.
And the system knew.
That was the day he stopped being an ordinary child.