Miles had great reflexes. But when his hand got empty all of a sudden, while he was holding the orb over his face, while twirling with great force, he couldn’t help but freeze. The red orb abruptly liquified, splashing on his face.

His face, especially his eyes, had been covered in red fluid. He then felt a burning sensation all over his face. His skin went red with the liquid unwiped.

With the burning sensation on the skin came a scorching pain in his eyes. However, it did not stop there, no. He felt the pain even deepening inwards to his optic nerves connecting to the brain. In a matter of seconds, his head was on fire.

He couldn’t even open his eyes due to the scorching pain he felt. But thankfully, he was used to pain. And with the help of using two Strengthening Serum before, he could still think.

Miles quickly ran to the bathroom to wash his face with running tap water. However, as he washed, he didn’t feel the red liquid was getting any less.

“Coin, describe what you see!” Miles said, withstanding the pain he was feeling all over his head.

“The red liquid gathers at your eyes. It is as if the liquified orb is moving on its own." Coin said as it had witnessed what had happened.

He then continued his observation, "Even though your eyes are closed, I can see them somehow." Coin thoroughly analyzed, "Miles...your eyes... Your eyes are changing! Like the shining eyes of that vampire!"

"What!"

"Miles, your eyes have changed!" Coin exclaimed.

Shock dawned upon Miles. He was afraid to lose his eyes. He was struggling as he was because his condition disallowed him to awaken his powers. If he were to lose his sight, he couldn’t go back to hunting ever again. Washing his face was for naught. It cooled his pain a little, but the liquid wasn’t getting off his face.

Giving up on the thought, Miles blindly returned to bed with a wet appearance. He couldn’t do anything about it and could only wait. He thought of going to the doctor in the stronghold but also gave up on the thought.

Miles wasn’t an apple knocker. He knew that doctors in the stronghold were only good for patching wounds at best. Most of them didn’t have superpowers required in the infirmary. Those who do have these kinds of superpowers only worked for famous strongholds and were best at healing.

Healing type superpowers were much sought after by the military, criminal organizations, functions, and great families because of their rareness. Everyone would like to have someone who can heal their injuries in battles. Thus, all of the aforementioned organizations would recruit healers with great incentives.

There were even many cases where children with healing powers got abducted. After countless such cases, the military started a new program where they recruited children with healing powers and trained them until they arrived at age. Then, the military would offer them jobs, and they would be free to take the offer or go to any other organization. That way, at least they would prevent children from getting abducted and forced to work for criminal organizations. It was not foolproof, but it was better than how it was before.

On the other hand, the doctors in strongholds were regular people trained in the military. At best, they would have support type superpowers that can help them with healing.

As for Miles's condition, it was different. An unknown type of orb liquified and got absorbed in his eyes. Miles didn’t think a regular doctor could heal him.

After 15 minutes, Miles felt the pain had subsided. But he was unsure if it was because he was getting numb or the pain was getting lesser.

He tried to open his eyes, but he couldn't. It was as if a sticky liquid, a remainder of the liquified orb, was covering them and preventing his eyelids from opening. He wasn't blind though. Miles still has his vision. However, what he was seeing was nothing but black.

Seeing nothing and seeing black were two different things. A blind person would see nothing. Unable to see temporarily was like a black screen blocking the eyes. Because Miles's eyes were closed, the brain would create a black room.

“The sheen is getting less and less. Also the volume of the liquid lessened considerably.” Coin was nervous as it was watching with his hologram body. He was also informing Miles every 5 minutes.

As time passed, Miles got a lot calmer.

‘What had caused the orb to melt and ooze into my eyes? Was it coincidence, or was it intentional?’

He started to think about what had happened. He was holding the orb over his head, and when he twirled it, he saw a reaction in the orb. But what had caused it to melt wasn’t his strength. It was probably that weird warm feeling that traveled from his heart to his hand. Even after all those pains, he didn’t forget what he felt.

Miles felt the burn in his eyes. It was like the time he stayed awake all night to read articles about superpowers, only many times worse. But there was also another sensation he couldn’t recognize. His eyes felt freer, somehow. He wasn’t sure though. He was mostly anxious, and in pain.

“Coin!” Miles called his companion, “I felt a warm feeling traveling from my heart to my hand. I think it caused the orb to change its form.” Miles said. Even though it sounded absurd, he was sure of his conjunction.

“How can that be?” Coin said, “It is not possible for humans to activate orbs, unless they have electricity based superpowers. You know as much as I do that you don’t have any such power, and I am positive you haven’t used the armor orb.” Coin explained.

“It wasn't a superpower or orb. It was something else.” Miles wanted to explain but didn’t know-how. “It was like a form of energy.”

“Wait!” Coin said, and a document appeared across the room. “I found an article Mother wrote. At first I didn’t know what it meant, but it may be the thing you had experienced.”

Miles swung his hand in front of his eyes and said, “Can’t see, remember?”

“Ah, right. Let me read it for you.”

"Experimenting on Inner Source

Evelyn Cross

Are humans incapable of breaking their shackles? Or is it because some conditions haven't been met yet?

From time to time, we hear news about cases of crises— humans overcoming their limits and lifting things like helicopters, trucks, or heavy concrete to save people.

There are many theories to explain those events, but are they the facts, or could it be that we haven’t found the real reason yet?

The theories vary from using a higher percentage of the brain to removing the limits in muscles protecting us. The theories, of course, are not without any reason, but all of them have something that they lack. They are abstract.

We have no way to measure limits on muscles or brain capacity. That is why, we cannot prove or disprove them, which is why they are still theories waiting to be proven.

But what if the reason is something else entirely?

This may sound like a fantasy or thoughts of a daydreamer, but can it be that the energy we cannot control is the key to a sudden spike in strength?

There are many stories about people using strange energy to do what they do. Such as, jumping much more than a human normally can, lifting heavy things a human shouldn’t be capable of, or predicting an accident.

Two decades ago, no one would believe humans would one day awaken superpowers. But now, almost every person walking on the globe has one. So, what if we have this weird energy in our body, but simply are not able to use it?”

“Wow, Mother wrote this?!” Miles remarked after Coin read the article. He then asked “When was this written?”

“The date is the 3rd year of the monster invasion.” Coin said.

“Mother might know something. It has been more than a few decades since then, and they might have discovered something.” Miles said as he thought about what Coin read to him.

“Let’s leave the stronghold and give them a call.” Coin said and added, “Also, the red substance is no more. Can you open your eyes? Can you see?”

In that moment and with great effort, Miles tried to open his eyes.

“Oh, I can see now.”