friends

After Jake returned to his room, he closed the door and lay on his bed. Looking at the ring on his finger, he asked, "Nexus, why are they hiding my Heart Core?"

Nexus asked back instead of answering, "[What do you think?]"

"Maybe my parents fell in love with each other and then ran away from their families so that they could live together. Now, my Heart Core might be some kind of legacy core passed down in either my mother's or father's family. They might also have some kind of artifact or device that lights up if one awakens their legacy core. So now, thanks to me awakening this special core, their families might know about me and come after us," Jake said after a moment of contemplation.

Nexus responded, "[You are close.]"

"That's what usually happens in novels and other fantasy stuff," Jake shrugged, having read a lot of novels and manga.

"[Hmm, yes. Novels of your past world, but how do you think they come up with such stories?]" Nexus questioned.

"They are reincarnations of powerhouses now telling their stories," Jake remarked.

"[Perhaps you are right.]"

"Leave them. Tell me how to solve my problem," Jake said, dragging Nexus back to his concerns.

[There is no need actually. As I said, you weren't supposed to exist. So your Fate line is not something one can calculate in this world.]

"Not in this world, but it is calculable in a higher world," Jake said, catching the key point.

[Yes, but worry about it for now. You are most likely to acquire a powerful Authority related to fate to shield your fate line in the future.]

"Speaking of, what is this fate line?" Jake nodded then asked.

[You might have heard of the term 'Fated to' or something similar, right?]

"Yes, whenever something happens, people usually say it was his Fate or it was not in his fate," Jake replied.

[The Fate here is like a thread intervened in cosmic currents and is connected to reality itself. Each individual has a role to play, no matter how small or bigger. It's their Fate or what they will do in the future. On the other hand, Fate line is like a piece of paper that is continuously filled with everything they are doing. It's like a person's history is being etched on reality itself.]

[People with Fate-related power have the ability to read this fate line and learn the whereabouts of the person whom this Fate Line belongs to.]

Jake nodded and understood and then asked, "What about the future? Can it also be calculated like the fate line?"

[No, it's impossible to calculate one's future. Every action we or you perform creates different realities. Like you decided to step out of the room, and now you have many choices, such as jumping out of the window, kicking the door open, placing the left leg outside the door first, and many such choices. Infinite choices mean infinite possibilities which in turns means Infinite Futures, and this makes it impossible to calculate one's future.]

"So it's impossible to calculate one's future. Then what about those Seers and such people?" Jake asked.

[Seers actually just read your Fate Line and narrow down millions or fewer possible futures based on your past actions. That's also the reason their calculated future is sometimes right, but they also can't calculate one's future accurately.]

"Tch, and here I was thinking of acquiring an ability similar to Seers and learn all of the protagonist's future opportunities." Jake clicked his tongue in annoyance hearing Nexus's words.

[ you can calculate it.]

"How? Didn't you say knowing one's future is impossible? So why now I can calculate it?" Jake asked.

[If it's only about the protagonist's destined cheats, then it's possible.] Nexus

"You know what, you are literally confusing me now. One time you say it's impossible, then you are saying it's possible," Jake said with visible frustration on his face.

Nexus delved deeper into the concept, [I know it sounds confusing, but think of it like this: you are not controlled by anyone, so you are making your own choices. A protagonist, on the other hand, is a person whose choices are being controlled by the world itself. The world guides them to select choices that will lead to opportunities or any other beneficial encounters, aiding them in becoming stronger. This means their choices are already decided, which, in turn, shapes their future into a single, predetermined path, instead of multiple potential futures. This makes it easy to calculate their future.]

"So the world is making him both powerful and vulnerable at the same time by making him a protagonist, huh? I guess being a protagonist has both pros and cons," Jake remarked in understanding.

[You can think of it like that too.]

"When can I select my next Authority?" Jake asked, now thinking of finding a way to shield his future.

[When your Core fully matures at the age of 12 and you reach E rank.]

"So in 3 years. By the way, can I utilize the energies of my cores before maturation?" Jake nodded and then asked.

[If you want to damage your cores, then yes.]

"Okay, I understand. I will not use it. Sigh, I had to wait for 3 years before doing any magic," Jake sighed in defeat, he really want to use magic, he always admired those protagonists of novels where they use different kinds of magic.

[3 years, not 6. The ??? Foundation art can refine your core to perfection in just 3 years. It's just that it won't break the natural order. Despite having a perfect core, you can only step into E Rank at the age of 12, but yes, you can utilize the stored energy after achieving a perfect Core.]

"Hmm, I really want to thank the creator of the Unknown Foundation art." Jake smiled and said, hearing Nexus's words.

Jake then stood up and went outside, saying, "Mom, I am going to play with my friends."

"Make sure to come back before dinner," his Mom responded back.

"Okay, Mom." Jake strolled through the village, making his way to the park in the center. As he arrived, he spotted his friends Jimmy, Mark, and Emily playing near the swings.

Jimmy, with his lively and energetic nature, noticed Jake first. He bounced up to Jake with excitement, exclaiming, "Jake! Bro, imagine the cool powers we're gonna get! My Core's gonna shoot energy or something; I can feel it!"

Emily, always calm and composed, looked up from where she was sitting on the grass. She greeted Jake with a serene nod and said, "Hey, Jake. I sense something unique about my Core too. It's like this heightened awareness thing. I can feel the energy around me."

Mark, the typical, easygoing kid, joined the conversation. "Oh, hey, Jake. I was thinking about it too. Maybe my Core will let me control something cool, like fire or water. That'd be awesome, right?"

"Mine feels like lighting too," Jake too joined the conversation as they started speculating about their cores. At first, Jake didn't want to make friends; his mature mindset always contradicts the playful nature of kids until he found the Jimmy, Emily, and Mark trio.

All three of them are not childish like usually kids supposed to but instead they are lively, calm, and easygoing. In this unusual friendship, Jimmy's liveliness, Emily's calm demeanor, and Mark's easygoing nature and Jake's mature mindset created a harmonious blend. Their differences seemed to complement each other, forming a dynamic and supportive group that would soon embark on a journey filled with mystery, discovery, and the unveiling of their extraordinary abilities.

"Man, I can't wait for us to turn 12. I really want to know what kind of core I got," Jimmy said leaning on the tree.

"These six years are important, brother," Emily said. They are twins, but one is too lively, and the other talks only occasionally.

"I know, I know, but..." Jimmy pouted and said, only to stop seeing Emily glaring at him.

"Hehehehe." Mark laughed seeing Jimmy while Jake also smiled a little.

"Laugh all you want; the moment I get to use my Core, I will use it on you," Jimmy yelled at Mark.

"Hehehehe."

"Pfft~~."

"Hahahaha."

Hearing Jimmy, Mark laughed out loud, and Emily and Jake joined too.

"By the way, guys, do you have any better Core Refining Art?" Mark said grabbing everyone's attention, and the lively atmosphere turned serious.

"My Dad gave us one, but it can only refine our core to Green level," Jimmy said, and Emily nods too.

"The one I got can only refine my core to yellow level," Mark sighed and explained. The most pitiful among Jake's group is Mark as he is an orphan and can only learn the art available in the Orphanage.

"I'm sorry; we can't give it to you ours," Emily said apologetically, and Jimmy said sorry too.

"Why apologize? after all, It's forbidden to share one's family secret," Mark waving his hand, told his friends not to worry.

"What about you, Jake?" Jimmy asked.

"I don't know; father told me I can relax all day, and from tomorrow, my training will start," Jake replied.

"Training? What kind of training?" Mark asked puzzled, as during these three years, most people focus on improving their grade.

"Weapon Training," Jake.

"Woah, are you talking about swords and such weapons? How cool," Jimmy excitedly came to Jake and holding his hands exclaimed.

Jake looked at his friends looking at him with their cute eyes and understood what they want. "I will ask My dad to train you guys too."

"I knew it; I can always count on you." Jimmy hugged Jake and said.

"Thank you, Jake," Emily said with a smile.

"I will surely train hard and do my best to repay you," Mark said with seriousness in his eyes.

'Sure enough, orphans are different,' Jake though looking at Mark's determined expression.

"There is no need to; we are friends after all." Jake smiled and said.

"Yes, we are friends." Jake's friends shouted in unison and started laughing