The next day, in contrast to the previous night, silence prevailed. Everyone living around the clan leader’s house was sleeping soundly due to being kept awake until late by Dalton and Tomas.

On the other hand, Lucien was fully engrossed in reviewing his vision during breakfast. He had woken up a couple of hours earlier, but as the first one awake, he had to light the fire before he could cook anything, which took up some of his time.

Their house featured a simple, rustic stove consisting of a metal piece placed over an area where wood would burn, a design that was common in Taknoa. However, the method of starting the fire varied from place to place.

For instance, the mixers clan utilized a special plant that grew in their region, making the process fairly straightforward.

Upon waking up that morning, Lucien felt irritated about being the first one up, as starting the fire was always a bothersome task. He ventured outside to gather logs and sticks to begin the process, only to discover his front door was missing. 'Must have been Mom again, I guess,' he thought. Outside his house, beneath the stairs, he found some pre-cut wood or something similar, as his father preferred blasting trees instead of cutting them.

Lucien collected a few logs, sticks, and some pieces from his recently dismantled front door and returned to the kitchen. He arranged the wood with expertise, positioning the sticks so that they would catch fire first, igniting then the larger logs.

All that remained was to start the fire.

With a handful of sticks in hand, Lucien placed them on top of a peculiar red flower in a pot, which grew abundantly in the forest. This plant possessed a unique attribute that made it a fixture in all mixers clan homes: touching it made the plant ignite, aiming to frighten away predators.

Prodding the plant with a stick while holding the others above it, Lucien initiated the fire, and now all he had to do was wait.

As the fire kindled, he took advantage of the free time to jot down some notes about his vision. He made some notes about the classes he ‘attended’ and other interesting things he saw.

Later on, after consuming bread and eggs, Lucien happily greeted his parents, who had just woken up. "Good morning! I finished my breakfast a few minutes ago, and I've added a few logs to the fire, so it's already burning for you."

Artemis, influenced by her son's upbeat mood, smiled and replied, "Thank you, Lucien. I'll prepare my food and then join you to review your notes." With that, she headed to the kitchen.

Without saying much, Dalton greeted Lucien while ruffling his hair, his yawns indicating his lack of enthusiasm for mornings. He made his way to the kitchen as well.

Carrying a plate of food, Artemis settled in one corner of the table beside her son, while Dalton opted for the middle of the table, preferring to eat in silence. Mornings were never his strong suit, a fact that the family was well aware of.

Lucien's mother inquired about his vision, eager to hear what he had to share. "Anything interesting this time?" she asked, and Lucien promptly replied, "Well, nothing new in my daily routine outside of school – same house, same iron boxes for transportation, and the same people. But at school, I witnessed some new things. I didn't understand everything, though, and I also learned a few new words. Oh, and another thing, I got beaten up by the same kids again. No dream powers or anything like that, just some weak punches. I'm pretty sure these people don't have any kind of powers by now."

Concerned, Artemis inquired further, "Are you alright, Lucien? Did it hurt? I really hope the kid you're following in your vision finds a way to put a stop to this..." It hurt Artemis to witness her son getting hurt, even if it was just in his visions.

Trying to alleviate his mother's worries, Lucien shared some of his reality with her. "Mom, those kids in the vision punch like girls, really. It's just that the one my visions are following is even weaker. Compared to what I endure during training, those beatings in the vision don't even come close."

Artemis often pushed out of her mind what her son was enduring in his training, perhaps to shield herself from the pain of it all. But whenever she did remember, her heart ached. She hated that their world operated in such a way, and she wished her son could find his place and succeed, so she could worry less and he could suffer less. "Lucien, I know we've discussed this extensively... Do you still refuse to give up?" she asked, repeating a question she'd asked many times over the years.

Apologizing for her, Lucien responded, "I'm sorry, Mom. I know you don't like seeing me being roughed up by those other kids, but I won't give up. I won't give Dad the satisfaction of saying 'I told you so'!"

Having faced this response countless times, Artemis accepted her son's determination. In the middle of it all, Dalton chimed in, shoveling food into his mouth as he pointed his spoon at them, "Above all else, son, you're not a quitter. I'll give you that. You're as stubborn as your mother, and if you weren't, you would've lost our little bet a long time ago. Let's see how long it takes reality to knock some sense into your head."

In Lucien's corner, Artemis defended both herself and her son from Dalton's banter. "Stubborn? I'd call it being dedicated to your convictions. And just so you know, Lucien, I'm rooting for you to prove your father wrong. From my perspective, you're the hardest working and most committed kid out there by far. You just need a chance. There are various ways to gain power, my boy, and you need to find yours. I won't ask that question again, but you have to promise me something."

Lucien was relieved. He disliked being asked the same thing repeatedly, whether it was by Sarah, his mom, or his friends. He'd agree to nearly anything to make at least one of them stop the questions. "Sure, Mom! Anything!" he agreed readily.

Artemis presented her conditions. "Promise me that you'll never give up and you'll keep pushing until you reach the top. Because I don't want you to endure all these years being treated like a punching bag only to give up later. Make it count, okay? And when you do reach the top, do something for your mom – beat up your dad in the hardest way imaginable to prove him wrong. Give him a taste of what he's been missing by not believing in your potential. Alright?" She concluded with a mischievous grin directed at Dalton.

Empowered by her terms, Lucien enthusiastically accepted, looking back at his father as well. "Of course, Mom! Wait for me, Dad, because I'm coming for you, huahahaha!" He attempted his best villainous laughter.

Dalton played along with his own response, sticking his spoon out like a weapon. "You can challenge me whenever you want, you wicked evildoer! I'll be ready, waiting for you at the top," he retorted, adopting his 'game on' expression. The family was poised to continue their playful hero vs. villain banter, but their conversation was interrupted by a joyous shout.

"FATHER, I'VE GOT IT!!! I'M INVINCIBLE!!! NOT EVEN THE DAMN DEATH BEAST CAN WITHSTAND MY POWER!!!" Tomas burst into the room, running and yelling.

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Rising from his chair, Dalton couldn't contain his excitement. "Don't tell me you've got what I think you've got, son?!"

With an even more triumphant tone, Tomas responded, "Even better!!! Not even you can defeat me!"

Chuckling, Dalton teased, "Hah, get in line, kiddo! There's a whole queue ahead of you, including these two villains," he pointed at Artemis and Lucien.

Tomas promptly sat down, his plate before him, and began eating while excitedly recounting his new dream. "First things first, it's just a dream, so no 'getting killed by my own powers' scenario! And now, let me tell you about my second encounter with God."

###

"And now let's move on to the part you'll remember," he stated (God in the appearance of Dalton).

God summoned a thin piece of metal adorned with strange blue symbols and runes all over it, and he began manipulating it with such speed that mortal eyes could barely track. "Let's examine your selected dream configuration... checking for any necessary adjustments... aaand done!"

Displaying more cryptic runes in front of Tomas, God began explaining, "Congratulations! You now possess the explosions you so much desired!" With that, he set off a confetti cannon, startling the young boy.

"Really? Seriously? Really?" Tomas questioned, his belief only half-formed.

"Allow me to clarify how it will operate," God said, triggering Tomas's second shock by deploying another confetti cannon. With a flick of his fingers, they teleported to a classroom. The room resembled a typical school classroom, equipped with tables, chairs, a large chalkboard, and all the other essentials. Though there was only one student in the class, the room was surprisingly spacious, capable of accommodating around fifty people.

Tomas materialized in one of the vacant front row chairs, while God appeared before the chalkboard. Picking up a piece of chalk, he began drawing impressively lifelike depictions of Tomas's parents, making it look effortless. Completing his drawing, he launched into an explanation, "As I explained in our initial encounter, you were fortunate, and your dream configuration will revolve around your parents. Some dreams will lean more towards your dad, others towards your mom, and in certain cases, like this one, there will be a fusion of both." After a brief pause, God queried, "Any questions so far?"

Although Tomas had planned to voice his queries, God anticipated his thoughts and decided to answer in advance, "I'm aware that your parents wield distinct types of power. She augments herself physically, while he goes boom. However, when I mention a fusion of powers, I don't mean you'll become a hybrid of a physical augmenter and a walking nuke. In this instance, you'll inherit your father's power but blend it with your mother's power concept. Understand?"

Confused, Tomas shook his head. After all, he was just twelve years old. Realizing his confusion, God adapted his explanation. "Let me illustrate a bit more so you can grasp it," he said, returning to the chalkboard.

God drew a cup of water beneath Artemis, a ball beneath Dalton, and two arrows connecting these symbols to a depiction of Tomas. Having completed his artistic masterpiece, he resumed his explanation, "You're familiar with your mother's power, correct? Think of it as a cup that gradually fills while she's awake and empties as she sleeps. She employs this 'water' to enhance her physical capabilities. If she chooses to exert herself fully and deplete her 'water,' she becomes vulnerable until her 'cup' refills somewhat. Pro tip: never deplete all your 'water.' Any questions so far?"

Tomas was well-acquainted with this concept, as his mother often stayed awake at night to remain strong and capable against potential adversaries who might think she was at her weakest. "They'll assume I'm at my weakest, only to find out I'm actually at my strongest," she'd say.

God, attuned to Tomas's thoughts, proceeded with his explanation. "I appreciate such a strategic approach. Now, how do we blend your parents' powers? It's simple! Apply the 'cup of water' mechanic to your dad's explosions, and that's your new dream!" With a theatrical gesture, God pointed to his own face.

"When you awaken, your body will begin accumulating energy, and when you release that energy, things will go BOOM! Just like your mother, the energy disperses during sleep. In my opinion, the advantages far outweigh the drawbacks. Do you like the idea?"

God assumed Tomas's enthusiasm, as his mind echoed with a single word: 'explosions, explosions, explosions...'. Reading his mind once more, God deduced his approval and offered a moment to compose himself.

Several minutes later, the question and answer session began.

"How powerful can the explosions be?"

"That depends on how long you can stay awake."

"Can I control the amount of energy I use each time?"

"No, it's one blast that utilizes all the stored energy. Perhaps you'll receive a dream in the future to help fine-tune this, but for now, it's a single burst that expends everything."

"Can I direct the explosion?"

"Somewhat, but it will require considerable practice."

After a myriad of questions, God finally decided to conclude the session. "Alright, that's enough for now. Farewell, kid. Be cautious!" With their goodbyes exchanged, God flicked his fingers, bending the space around Tomas in a way his mortal perception wasn’t capable of understanding.

The next moment, Tomas sprang from his bed and remembered his encounter with God, making his excitement grow even greater than before.

###

"And that's the whole story!" Tomas concluded.

"Collect your things, son. Let's put your dream to the test! There's no better time than now!" Dalton exclaimed, standing up. The morning training had never seemed so promising. Father and son wore silly smiles as they made their way to the door, forgetting even about Tomas’ breakfast. However, the most dreaded voice in the house intervened.

"Where do you think you're going, Dalton? Have you forgotten your commitments for today?" Artemis interjected.

Quickly recalling his obligations, Dalton immediately grumbled, "Damn it! Do I really have to meet those idiots? I wish I could make them wait until I've seen the little devil's power..." Today marked the first negotiation meeting with the Tamers Clan, primarily concerning territory and peace.

There was no way out, and he knew it. "Dear husband, our peace hinges on this meeting. You can't afford to be late for the first negotiation session on land division. So, I'll be the one to witness Tomas's powers first. Alright?" Artemis argued, savoring her victory. Who wouldn't relish being the first to witness their son's new power?

In an attempt to deflate her gloating, Dalton attempted to remind her of her responsibilities as the Clan leader's wife. "You realize you're supposed to join me at the meeting, right? As my wife, as a vital part of the council, as a powerhouse of the Clan – all of that."

Artemis's expression shifted to one of shock as she remembered her duties. Taking a moment to regain her composure, she responded with the utmost maturity, "I'd love to see you try to drag me to that dull meeting," coupled with her best spoiled-child expression.

Anticipating her resistance, Dalton had formulated an entire argument to get the best out of the situation. It was a brilliant strategy considering the circumstances. Artemis never attended a single council meeting, deeming them 'boring.' Surely, she wouldn't attend this one either, so his plan was to make her feel guilty for missing an important meeting and owe him one for letting her escape her duties.

However, his clever plan fell apart when Artemis conceded before he could present it.

"Fine, just this once, as a favor to you, I'll welcome the Tamers alongside your group to showcase our strength! Then, discreetly, I'll slip away from the meeting to test little Tomas's new dream. Okay? Am I not a wonderful wife? Remember, you owe me a favor!" Artemis looked at Dalton, expecting an enormous 'thank you' in return.

Caught off guard by her unexpected turnaround, Dalton accepted defeat with a grin and extended his praise, exactly as Artemis wanted. "I don't know what I'd do without you, babe. Thanks for deciding to join in. I understand how dull these formalities can be."

Unaware of his thoughts, Artemis headed to retrieve her formal attire/armor, elated by the idea that she'd granted her husband such a TREMENDOUS favor.