At that, Mat grabbed the bag, pulled out a loaf of bread and ate it. This cheered Sam up, apart from the fact that Mat was no longer as depressed as before. Another few minutes passed. It was eleven o'clock at night. Mathias had finished eating his bread and...

- Hey, Sam...

- Yes?

- Can I ask you a question? - Mat said.

- ...Okay...

- Can you look over there? - Mat said, and pointed to the same place as the other time. - Do you see anything?

- No...

- Do you see something now? - Mat said and grabbed her left hand with his hand that had the mark on it, that is, the left hand.

- That is... WHAT?

Sam saw a huge tree reaching up to the firmament (it had a faint glow). Its trunk was thick, grayish and had huge leaves... Or at least they appeared to be huge leaves. It also had dirt on some branches, and they seemed to be like... Islands or something, hanging on those branches.

- W-what is that? - Sam said, startled, and let go of Mat. After that she couldn't see the tree anymore. - ...What?

- I don't know either, but... I feel like... I feel peace when I look at it from here...

- I-I understand, but... What is that tree, thing? I don't know. - Sam said and grabbed his hand again. She could see it again. - Ah... Sorry for asking the same thing again, it's just... Wow.

- Isn't it? It's amazing. That tree... Or whatever it is, it's not in any book or anything. It's like... It's like only me and the people who touch my mark can see it. Ah, that tree can be seen from different places, but from here it's better, don't you think?

- I-I guess.

"I'd like to know more, but... Mat doesn't seem to know more about that huge tree." Samantha thought.

- Well, Mat... Y-you're calmer now? Can we go?

- ...Yes, let's go. - he replied.

They both left the place. On the way:

- Hey, Sam.

- Yeah?

- ...And what am I going to tell my mother and uncle?

- ...I don't know, but I think... You should tell them everything that happened.

- You're right, I... I'm going to do it.

They walked together until they reached the village. There we are:

- We've arrived at your house. - Mat said.

They had arrived at Samantha's house.

- Y-yes...

- Well, I'm going home too. See you! - said Mat and started to leave, but Sam stopped him by pulling his shirt.

- Wait... You're not going... You're not going back there, are you? - Sam had a sad face for some reason. Well... She was like that because of the things she had talked about with Mat and because of the things she couldn't understand at the moment... I guess.

- Of course not! What do you think I think? Oh.

Mat noticed Samantha's expression and thought, "She's... I get it..."

- Oh, come on! Why the sad face? Come on, smile! - Mat told her and did, with his fingers, something like... Okay, he made himself smile with his fingers, I don't know how to describe it, okay?

- Pfft. - She seemed to think it was funny. She didn't look... Sad anymore. - That was... Pretty dumb, you know? Why did you do that? Besides, you're not supposed to make me smile. You're supposed to cheer me up... You know what? Just... Just forget it.

- Oh, well... Sorry about that. - Mat replied, feeling a little embarrassed.

- Thanks, anyway... See you tomorrow.

- See you tomorrow.

Mat went home. Sam stood there in front of his door and thought, "I'm going to get scolded." He seemed to be worried about that too. As he was thinking that, the door was opened for him:

- Sam? You're back, come in.

It was Andrew. He said her name and those words with a tone that was... Unconcerned, cold.

- Oh, um... Yes.

As soon as she entered, she heard her grandfather shouting at her:

- Young lady, what time is it to be back?!

- S-sorry. Wait, what time is it? - she asked Andrew.

- It's almost twelve o'clock.

- Ah... WHAT?

- Darling, come on. Come to dinner now. - her grandmother told her. - You must be hungry.

- I'm coming...

Sam, before going to sleep, started thinking about all the things he had talked about with Mat and... He couldn't sleep.

After the above account, Mat had arrived at the door of his house, but did not deign to enter.

"What am I going to tell them?" Mat was worried about the reaction his mother and uncle were going to have. "Sam told me I should tell them, but... How? Nah, never mind. I'll figure something out." He opened the door. In his living room were his mother and uncle. They were sitting around the table. They looked very worried... Although his mother was more so. He walked in.

- H-hello, I'm back.

- Mathias! - his mother quickly approached him and hugged him (he did the same), she was sobbing. - W-where were you?

- Yes, young man. You had us so worried.

- ...I'm so sorry... I...

His mother, still sobbing, said to him:

- D-don't tell me you left on a childish whim?

- I'm not a child anymore, Mom.

- Don't say that to us, young man, disappearing like that is very childish. - his uncle replied.

- Ah, that's... True.

- But at least you came back safe and sound. We thought something had happened to you and... Mat, please don't worry us like this. - said his mother.

He was quiet for a moment, and then he said:

- You see... Suppose... Suppose you're saving someone.

- ? - his mother and his uncle.

- And so... Suppose you have the power to do it, but you don't do it. It's not possible for you to do it.

- Mat, what's your point? - his uncle asked worriedly.

- What I'm getting at is that's what happened to me. - Mathias told them. - Power should be used to help others, right?

- Yes, that's right... - his mother told him.

- I... I couldn't save anyone even though I had the power to do so, supposedly. - he laughed. - After all, I'm just a normal person. Mom, I still remember you telling me that these powers were a gift, and...

- But Mat, I don't understand, what happened?

- Ah... Well, I'll tell you now.

Mat proceeded to tell them everything that had happened. He also told about Sam, but not the last part.

- I understand... - said his uncle.

- So that young lady got you to come back? - said his mother. - What a good friend you have, Mat, not like that Erin who...

- Yeah, Mom... - he got uncomfortable.

- I've known her for a while now, and that girl seems quite nice to me, she's even very dedicated in her studies. You should be more like her.

- I know... But... About the other thing... - Mat said.

- There's nothing that can be done anymore. - said his uncle. - You did what you could to help and, even though you didn't manage to save those people, you prevented more victims from emerging, just think about that, since... That's a good thing too. Oh, and sorry if I say it this way, but you seemed as if you had already assimilated that fact.

- I did, but... I still think I could have done more. - Mathias said. - And as I told you, I lost control of my powers at that moment and I don't know why.

- I think it was your emotions. - said his mother. - You were under pressure at the time. Well, that's what I think.

- I think that too. - said his uncle. - And so... In spite of everything, remember this: "power is a double-edged sword, one can use it to destroy, but also to protect others." And Mat, you did the latter.

- Yes, Mathias. - said his mother. - No matter how it ended, you did the right thing. I'm proud of you, son.

- And so am I, Mat. - said his uncle.

- Thank you...

Even after saying that stuff, Mat's family was saddened for what had happened to the Crowells...

- So... - said his mother. - You still haven't eaten, have you? Then come and eat. I saved a portion for you.

- Yes, Mom.

"Although... I've eat a bit before coming..."

- Well, I'm going to rest, it's a little late for me. - said his uncle and left.

Mat went to dinner. After that, he went to his room. He was already in bed:

"And to think that they would support and motivate me even though I had failed... Sam told me something similar, but... I'm very grateful to them."

At that, he left his room and went to his uncle's room, and thanked him again. He also went to his mother's room, who was already asleep.

- Mom. - he said, opening the door.

- ...Yes, Mat? - she had just woken up.

- I love you. - he said and went to hug her.

- I love you too, son. - she replied.

After that, he went back to bed, thought about various things and fell asleep, almost at two in the morning.

His uncle, despite everything his nephew told him, never told the church about it. Nor did he tell about his mark. He didn't because... That was going to be a dangerous thing. Anyway.

Mr. Crowell's funeral happened the next day (this time all his sons were there). Mat didn't show up. That same day was also Nicole's sister's funeral, but he didn't go to this one either. He couldn't bring himself to do it...

A month and a half later, he went with Erin and Samantha to Nicole's house (which was already rebuilt), to check on her and her family... Samantha didn't want to go because Mat was there, but in the end she went, she didn't say much the entire way and didn't seem to want to be there, but, at the same time, it seemed that, deep inside, she did want to go with him... Oh, and she felt awkward too, because Erin was going with them. As they walked, Erin asked Sam:

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

- And how did you find Mat? Tell me.

- Huh? W-well... He was at his "special place"...

- His what?

- Uh... W-well, the place that's on the mountain.

- Ah, that one. I went there twice I think. - she replied to Sam somewhat nonchalantly. - I expected better, but I liked it.

- I-I see.

- Hey, Mat! Why did you run away from home that time? Huh? - Erin yelled at him.

- I... Wait, but I already told you, and Sam did too. - he replied.

- Right, but... If that's really why, then you're more immature and childish than I thought.

She hit him on the head.

- Agh! ...If I worried you, sorry about that.

- ...Huh? Of course you didn't, you idiot. - Erin replied, and blushed. Sam looked at her funny.

- A-anyway, come on. - said Erin.

After a while they arrived at Nicole's house.

- H-hello. - Nicole opened the door.

- Hi, Nicole. - said Erin.

- H-hello. - replied Samantha.

- So you finally showed up. - said Nicole, referring to Mat. He avoided her since that day.

- Ah, yes. - Mat replied, somewhat... I don't know, embarrassed I think. - So... How is Reina?

- Ah? Why do you ask? - she answered. - She's... She's recovering, I think. She came back from the hospitalization a few days ago and... She still can't move her arms well, and her legs don't support her weight very well... and...

She got sad again, she was tearing up a little bit. It seemed like she still wasn't over what happened with her other sister and... That.

- I see... - Mathias answered her. - ... Can I go see her?

- Y-you'd have to ask my parents...

- I see.

- But... What for? - Nicole asked.

- Yes, Mat, what for? - asked Erin.

- Huh? Well... What else for? - he replied.

- Hey, tell us then. It sounds suspicious for you to say that. - Samantha complained.

They went inside. Inside were Nicole's parents. They asked them if they could see Reina and they agreed to the request, due to the fact that... Well, Mat and Erin saved their daughters, but... That happened, you know. Regardless, they were grateful. The four of them went to Reina's room.

- Good morning! - greeted Mat, cheerfully.

- Hello - the other two did the same.

Reina was lying on her bed, looking up at the sky through the window to her left. Mat approached her and she turned to look at him. The others were watching him.

- Hello, Reina... Err... How are you?" she asked him. Reina didn't answer him. - ...I see.

Meanwhile, Erin said to Sam in a low voice, so that only she could hear her:

- Sam... Mat still blames himself for that, doesn't he?

- ...I don't know.

At that, Nicole jumped into the girls' conversation.

- H-hey... What do you think Mat will say to her? - she said this as if she was asking Sam directly.

- Uh... Well... I don't know.

Mat continued talking to Reina.

- Hey, err... Could you listen to me for a moment? I know that... Well, I couldn't save your sister, or anyone else, but... - when Mat said this, Nicole didn't understand why he said that. - At least let me help you.

- ...What? H-how?

- We're not close, I know, but... Trust me this time. - she said. - I'm going to help you heal.

Nicole then told him:

- H-hey! What on earth are you telling her? The doctors said that, even if she has treatment, she wasn't going to move like before, that she wasn't going to be able to go on with her normal life anymore...!

Everyone looked at her and the girl began to sob.

- I... I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that out loud... And I shouldn't have said it like that either, in front of my little sister... I'm so sorry, Reina... - she wanted to cry too.

Reina didn't know about that.

- But... Saying that to a sick child, all of a sudden, it's... Horrible.

- Hey, Nicole. - Sam approached her. - If Mat says he's going to heal her, I'm sure he's going to follow through.

- B-but Samantha, are you crazy?! How are you gonna...?!

- Nicole, Sam... She means it. - said Erin, who grabbed her shoulder. - But... Sam, are you an idiot?

- Huh? But...

Back to Mat and Reina.

- Yeah, I'm serious. Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. - he said and turned to look at Reina. - So... Trust me.

- ...It's ok. - Reina replied, sobbing.

At that, Mat created a PSI scalpel.

- H-hey, that... What are you...? - Nicole was frightened by what she had just seen. - That's a...

- H-hey, Mat, what's that for? - Erin asked, a little frightened.

- You'll see. - said Mat- then he said to Reina. - Please, don't be afraid, this? It's going to hurt a little.

Reina was scared to see Mat with a scalpel, but she trusted his words. Mat started to bring the scalpel closer to Reina's shoulder when:

- Wait, Mat! - Sam shouted.

- Huh?

- ...Seriously, what exactly are you going to do?

- I'm going to heal her. - he replied.

He continued with his "operation" and cut Reina's shoulder, it was a small cut from which some blood came out. She moaned a little in pain. Mat did the same with her other shoulder and her legs. After that, he cut his index finger of his left hand, it was a big cut, at least five centimeters. It was bleeding.

- H-hey! - Erin shouted.

- What the hell are you doing? - Nicole exclaimed.

- M-Mat! - shouted Sam.

- I'm fine, just stay there.

He spilled his blood on Reina's cuts and turned her over afterwards. After that, he made like an injection and put it in her... On the top of her neck. With the injection he put some of her blood there too. Her cuts healed quickly and... They didn't leave any marks. There was no pain anymore either. They all looked stupefied.

- That was it. - Mathias said. - Here, try to get up.

- O-okay. - Reina answered.

Reina tried to do it and... She did it normally. She got up as usual.

- I... I can do it. I can do it! - she said, and got out of her bed.

Reina was overjoyed at what Mat had done. At that, she ran to Nicole and hugged her:

- Nicole, look, I can walk! - she said sobbing.

- I, I... Reina! - she hugged her tighter and started to cry a little.

"What did just happen?" thought Sam. Erin was dumbfounded as well. Mat, looking at that scene, sighed in relief.

Sam approached Mat and asked him:

- Mat... H-how did you do that?

- I saw it in a dream and tried to do it. It turned out well in the end.

- Wait, I mean... If it didn't work out... You would have been giving false hope to a sick child and, besides, you would have hurt her!

- But it turned out fine. - Erin told them. - Besides, you're the one who told us to trust him.

- Well, I did, didn't I? But... Ugh, never mind. - Samantha thought, "But... This looked like... What was the name of that disease? Never mind, but... How did Mat know where to cut and stuff? Furthermore, if that's what it was, why did he cut off his limbs? ...I'd better not think about this anymore." - But... Yeah, it went well.

- Although... Mat, you're an idiot! How can you listen to your dream?! - Erin complained.

- S-sorry, but... Now the thing is to explain this to Nicole's parents. - said Mat.

|||||||||||

- Hey, this... What just happened? - Eliah asked. - That was really weird.

- Yeah, uncle. - Alaya told me too.

- Besides, was there a need to do all that? - she asked.

- No, not really. - I answered.

- I see... But anyway, I don't understand. My blood doesn't do that, and I'm thankful that it doesn't. I mean... What the heck?

|||||||||||

After a while they gave the news to their parents, who... Cried of happiness... Yes. Mat told them about his powers, and about how he had healed her. They didn't doubt his word, but he still proved it by using Erin as an example (he picked her up with his PSI Creations without her consent, she yelled at him). Nicole's parents thanked him profusely for this fact, and promised not to tell anyone about him.

Days later, when Nicole's parents gave the reports to the doctors, they were shocked. It was as if she had never had anything. They continued to examine Reina, but... It was in vain. As I said, before, it was as if she had never been sick.

After a while, Mathias and Samantha started dating, yes. After getting to know each other better. Needless to say more... I think.

Ah! When Erin found out about it, half an hour after they "formalized" it (which was on November 28th), she got depressed and didn't talk to Samantha for a week, nor to Mathias, although... She didn't speak to Mathias for a month. Now they are friends again.

.

..

...

...After all this, the mark glowed again several times, but it didn't get out of control like that time, and Mat tried to improve his mastery ... Or at least he thought about doing so... Until Sam forced him to. He also tried to help others. But the thing is that... He couldn't get any more information about being the "Hero", and he didn't have those dreams again. And nothing unusual happened after all of this.