Aiden stood in the dimly lit kitchen, staring at the envelope left by the mysterious law firm—documents that should not exist, signed by a grandfather who never lived, sealed by a reality that didn't belong to this world.
Reality was bending again.
And this time, it wasn't just a small convenience.
It was a full-blown rewriting of history.
Aiden took a slow breath as Emma sat at the table chewing on a slice of buttered toast, her feet swinging beneath the chair. She hummed a faint, cheerful tune, completely unaware of the weight crushing Aiden's chest.
"Emma," he said softly. "Can you come here for a second?"
She turned her head, crumbs on her lips. "Mm?"
He crouched down so their eyes met.
"What did you tell your classmates yesterday? Anything new?"
Emma blinked innocently. "Um… maybe. We were talking about families. I said you're the smartest brother, and then—oh! Mei-Ling said her cousin's dad is super scary and knows how to fight robbers, so I said you're even stronger and could beat ten robbers at once!"
Aiden froze.
"…Ten robbers?"
Emma puffed her cheeks. "Why? Did I get you in trouble again?"
Before Aiden could answer, a cold wind slid across the room.
A system notification shimmered into view.
[New Ability Manifesting…]
[Trigger: Emma Cross — verbal assertion: "My brother can beat ten robbers at once."]
[Ability Acquired: Enhanced Combat Reflexes]
[Secondary Ability Acquired: Pain Resistance]
Aiden exhaled shakily.
Every time she exaggerated, every time she tried to protect her pride… reality restructured itself around him.
He didn't want powers.
He wanted stability.
But the system clearly wanted something else.
And he had no idea how far it could go.
He ruffled Emma's hair. "You didn't do anything wrong. Just… be careful, okay?"
"I will," she chirped. "But Aiden, your face looks scary."
"Sorry," he muttered. "Just… thinking."
She shrugged, completely unbothered.
If only he could stay that carefree.
A Sudden Visitor
A knock echoed through their cramped apartment.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Aiden stiffened.
"Stay here," he whispered to Emma and moved to the door.
He opened it a crack.
And his heart stopped.
Two uniformed officers stood outside.
"Morning," the first officer said. "Are you Aiden Cross?"
His pulse thundered.
"Yes."
The second officer flipped open a small notebook. "There's been a robbery incident two blocks from here. Multiple witnesses claim a young man matching your description intervened and took down several armed suspects alone."
Aiden's blood ran cold.
That never happened.
But if Emma said he could defeat ten robbers—
Reality might have rewritten itself so that he did.
He forced a calm expression. "I think you've got the wrong person."
"Sir," the officer said gently, "we're not here to arrest you. Actually… you saved lives last night. Witnesses said you moved faster than humanly possible. You should be acknowledged for it."
Aiden's stomach dropped.
No.
No, no, no.
This was the worst possible outcome.
He bowed his head. "I really wasn't there."
The officers exchanged looks.
"Well," the second one said, "if you remember anything, please contact us. You're considered a public hero, Mr. Cross. People are already talking."
Aiden shut the door quickly once they left.
He turned around—
Emma stood in the hallway, eyes wide.
"Aiden… did you fight robbers?"
He shook his head. "No. I didn't."
"But the police said—"
"That wasn't me," he said firmly. "That was the system changing things again."
Emma's expression softened into worry. "Aiden… is this because I lie?"
He froze.
He couldn't tell her the truth.
Not yet.
"It's not your fault," he whispered. "You're my sister. I'll always protect you. But things are… complicated."
She nodded slowly but didn't look convinced.
Aiden felt a headache forming.
This couldn't continue.
He needed to learn how to control the system.
He needed to stop these random manifestations before one lie spiraled into disaster.
And disaster was closer than he thought.
Rumors Spread Like Wildfire
That afternoon, Aiden walked Emma home from school, keeping her close as they passed by neighbors who whispered and stared.
"That's him—the boy who fought the robbers."
"He's stronger than he looks."
"Someone said he used martial arts."
"Someone else said he used superpowers—"
Aiden quickened his pace.
This wasn't safe.
If rumors kept growing, someone dangerous might take interest. Someone who wouldn't stop until they uncovered the truth about him and, worse, about Emma.
That night, he tucked Emma into bed. She clutched his sleeve.
"Aiden… are people going to bother us?"
"No," he said firmly. "I won't let anyone hurt you."
"But what if my lies get too big?"
He hesitated.
"That won't happen," he said finally. "Because I'll be here. Always."
She smiled softly. "Okay."
She fell asleep quickly, her breath steady and calm.
Aiden sat beside her, listening to the slow rhythm of her breathing.
He looked at his hands.
Hands that had apparently fought criminals he'd never met.
Hands fueled by powers he didn't want.
Hands responsible for protecting the one person he loved most in the world.
A notification blinked softly above him.
[System Warning — High Exposure Alert]
[Public Recognition: Increasing]
[Reality Shift Threat Level: Moderate → High]
Aiden's heart pounded.
The system never warned him before.
And if it warned him now—
Something worse was coming.
He whispered into the darkness:
"I need to get stronger. Fast. Or everything will fall apart."
The system pulsed once, as if responding.
And in the next moment—
Emma mumbled in her sleep:
"My brother… is a hero…"
The room shook.
And Aiden realized:
Tomorrow would not be peaceful.
Not anymore.