The flashback dissolved and left Lou staring at the lake's still water. A memory as vivid as today: it left a bitter taste in his mouth. He'd been a coward and had made sure his own fear of embarrassment took precedence over his best friend's well-being. The weight of that choice pressed heavily on his heart, constantly reminding him of his past failings.

This doubled the anger inside of him, and feeling as helpless as he was at that time was not helping at all. His voice was raw with emotion, "If there is a god, he's showing me just how pathetic and selfish I am," he spat.

A cloud of self-loathing hung over the words. Lou had always been insecure, but it was all so different this time. Realizing that he wasn't the man he had always believed himself to be was a profound source of shame.

His eyes looked up at the sky, his brows furrowed in a search for answers. But all he saw was the cloud, which drifted lazily across the vast expanse of blue. "Maybe this is my punishment," he thought, and a harsh laughter escaped his lips. "The Power of Cringe—a daily reminder of how selfish I am."

The thought was sobering, but it also sparked a flicker of defiance in Lou. He wouldn't let this power define him. He wouldn't let it be a symbol of his weakness. He was going to use it, get it under control, and make something he was proud of.

With a stiffer tone, he stated, "I can't change the past, but I can change the future." I can become stronger, better. I can become someone Evan would be proud of. Maybe he can forgive me after that."

A newfound determination surged through him. He wouldn't let his fear control him anymore. He would embrace the cringe, use it to fuel his growth and become the champion he had always dreamed of being.

Lou stood and gazed out to the horizon where the sun set, casting long shadows across the land. He felt a great draft of air entering his lungs, enlivening him with a new sense of purpose.

"I'm not invisible anymore," he thought. "And maybe I never was. But anyhow, that's nothing I'm going to let myself down for. I'll just have to embrace who I am, cringe and all."

He patrolled the lake with steps that lacked determination contrary to his thoughts. He knew the road ahead was going to be difficult, full of hardships and bumps. But maybe he wasn't ready to tackle them head-on just yet. He had a power to master, a reputation to reforge, and a friend to win back.

As Lou walked, he thought about his Cringe Aura skill. It was, in fact, a double-edged sword. On one hand, he could level up rather quickly and accumulate a lot of power. On the other hand, this exact power rendered him a social outcast.

"But maybe," he thought, "I can increase my Charisma. That would make me less cringey and maybe even likable. Maybe this way I can be accepted again."

He kicked a pebble on the ground "But then I wouldn't be able to level up as fast. Maybe I can't level up at all."

Lou was torn. He desired acceptance as much as strength. He did not want to be that weird kid who cringes everybody. He wanted to be liked, to have friends, to be normal. After what happened at school, he knew that even if he wanted to, he couldn't be invisible anymore. Everyone still remembered him as the boy who let his friend drown.

But now maybe Lou had a chance. A chance for redemption. He had a unique power, and it was up to him how to use it. He either let it control him or he controlled it.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Lou’s inner conflict tormented him, it was a hurricane of clashing desires. There was longing for friends and acceptance—for a human soul that wanted warmth from friendship and normalcy in all its fullness. The remembrance of isolation, of averted gazes and hushed whispers, served as a constant reminder of the price he had paid for his unique power.

However, the path to normalcy seemed to demand a final sacrifice: the very force that made him unique, the force suffused with an unfulfilled promise of strength and potential to make his cherished dreams come true. Lou's heart ached through the conflict, his mind a battleground of conflicting emotions.

He had always dreamed of being a champion, and of facing his opponents in the Duel League arena. He had always visualized the roaring of the crowd, the feeling of victory, the admiration and respect in the eyes of his admirers. But it seemed so far from reality now—a mere long-lost mirage in the desert that he called reality.

Now the decision sat on him, heavy and oppressive. He saw himself walking through the hallways of the school, head erect, being greeted with smiles and friendly nods. He saw himself in the cafeteria, surrounded by gales of laughter and friendship—the sharing of stories, jokes, and foolery with friends of his own making.

But would it be worth it? Could he really sacrifice his dreams just for a momentary taste of ordinary life? Could he just stand living a life without power, purpose, and the beauty and creativity that his special talents afforded?

Lou shut his eyes against the picture of Evan's betrayed face. The memory was a sharp pang of guilt, a reminder of the consequences of fear. He couldn't let it happen anymore. He couldn't let his thoughts control him.

He remembered the feeling of invisibility, the isolation, the loneliness that had been his norm. He remembered how being mocked made him feel, how it humiliated him, how it hurt.

With a heavy sigh, Lou made his choice. He would choose acceptance, even if it meant sacrificing his dreams. He would become someone his friends and family could be proud of, someone who didn't make them cringe.

He opened his eyes with a newfound resolve in his gaze. He would embrace the path of normalcy, even if it meant leaving behind the allure of power and glory. He would focus on building relationships, connecting with others, and being the best version of himself that he could be.

Lou focused on his mental display, his fingers trembling slightly as he methodically allocated stat points to Charisma, one after another, until the counter reached a solid 5. A wave of warmth washed over him, a newfound confidence and self-assurance radiating through his being. He felt his posture straighten instinctively, his smile widening as a genuine warmth filled his voice.

As the final point settled into place, a familiar notification message shimmered into his system interface:

New Skill Unlocked: Fashion Sense!

Gain the ability to see the charisma values of clothes. Choose outfits to increase or decrease charisma as needed.

"This is perfect!" he exclaimed, jumping to his feet. "Now I can control my cringe even more precisely. Maybe I don't have to abandon my dream!"

Lou's self-confidence had led him back to the water's edge, where he kneeled and gazed into the tranquil water. He saw something different reflected back at him—an image that was missing earlier. What was the awkwardly hunched figure, ever casting its eyes from one side to the other, now was the image of a young man who stood a little straighter, with a smile a little brighter and a fire in his eyes.

He was, for a moment, lost in his reflection. He reached out with his hand, fingers stroking the surface of the water as if grasping for the untouchable essence of his transformation. A weird sensation came over him, an amalgam of fascination and discomposure. Under the layers of insecurity, a beauty and charm that had always been there shimmered like an illusion, and he seemed to see himself for the first time.

Seeing how ridiculous it was, all he could do was shake his head and laugh softly. Was this the experience of being attractive? Was this a person someone could actually want to hang out with?

He retreated his hand from the water, his reflection distorted by the ripples, standing and shaking the dirt off his knees; something new seemed to have fixed within him now—his path was set. He would not vacillate. Yes, he would use his newfound charismatic glow—his Impeccable Fashion Sense—to navigate the dangerous shoals he now found himself swimming among, but more than that, he would forge relationships, make friends, and show those around him, and really—he'd prove to himself that he was more than just a cringe kid with a weird power. He was going to make Evan forgive him.

But as he turned to leave, a hazy thought caught the corner of his mind. It was a whisper, a faint echo of a passion long lost—something that told him this was not at all what he was destined for, this banal life of monotony. He turned around, looking at his reflection one last time. There was a flicker in the spark in his eyes, only to be steadied once more. He wouldn't let his past define him or live up to anyone else's expectations. He would carve a path for himself, and that path would see him wielding the strengths that set him apart and the power of his newfound social infrastructure.

He nodded to himself, determined, and then turned to leave for the school, never looking back at the lake but walking confidently into a future full of potential. "It's time to go back to school to test my undeniable charm!"