Burdens of Power and Bonds of Support

The sunlight filtered gently through the trees as Chris and I continued our run. With each step, I felt my muscles working in a rhythmic motion, the pace steady yet challenging. After a while, Chris, slightly winded, gestured for a brief rest.

"Go ahead," he said with a smile, leaning against a nearby tree. "I'll catch up soon."

I nodded, increasing my speed as I pushed forward. Alone now, my focus sharpened on the trail ahead. 

As I approached the second lap's midpoint, the scenery around me seemed to blur, my focus narrowing on the path ahead. My breathing was steady, the rhythm of my steps unbroken. But amidst the sounds of rustling leaves and distant footsteps, a subtle irregularity caught my attention.

Up ahead, I noticed a figure swaying slightly—a girl, her pace faltering as if each step cost her more than the last. It was the fainted girl, one of the classmates I'd seen earlier at the first checkpoint. She had already looked fatigued then, but now her condition seemed far worse.

Her movements were labored, her arms dangling weakly at her sides as if even the effort to swing them was too much. Sweat matted her hair to her forehead, and her breaths came in shallow, uneven gasps. Alarm bells went off in my mind as I closed the distance between us.

"Hey, are you alright?" I called out, quickening my pace.

She didn't respond, her head dipping forward. Her legs wobbled dangerously, her knees buckling as if the ground were trying to pull her down. Then it happened—she stumbled, pitching forward like a marionette with its strings cut.

Before I could say more, her body went limp. 

"E... sorry... just... dizzy," she whispered, her voice faint and slurred.

Even as she tried to speak, her head lolled forward, her body sagging further against me. I supported her weight, carefully lowering her to the ground as panic gnawed at the edges of my mind. I pressed my fingers to her wrist, searching for a pulse. It was there, but it was faint—too faint.

"Stay with me," I muttered, scanning the area. No one else was close enough to help; the nearest checkpoint was too far away, and waiting for someone to pass by wasn't an option.

Her breathing grew shallower, her complexion pale. The signs were clear—she was nearing her limit. A quick mental calculation confirmed what I already knew: I didn't have time to get her to the checkpoint, much less the infirmary, without intervention.

Carrying her to the infirmary was the only option, but the distance posed a challenge. Her condition could worsen before we arrived. My mind raced, weighing the consequences.

We were forbidden from using powers during this session, but there was no alternative. I couldn't stand by and let her condition deteriorate. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what I knew would come later.

"<Slot Five: Curative Mastery.>"

My palm began to glow, a soft golden light enveloping it. Slowly, I placed my hand on her forehead, letting the energy flow from me to her. The light spread over her body, starting from her head and flowing down to her toes, shimmering faintly before being absorbed into her skin. Her breathing steadied, her pulse strengthened, and her complexion looked healthier. Relief washed over me, though I knew I'd pay the price soon enough.

As the glow faded, her breathing evened out. The tension in her body eased, her muscles relaxing as if a heavy weight had been lifted. Relief flooded through me as I watched her color return, her pulse growing stronger beneath my fingers.

Adjusting her in my arms, I carried her like a princess, mindful of her unconscious state. Her head rested lightly against my shoulder, and her arms hung limp. The steady rhythm of my steps, now slowed by the added weight, became a grounding force as I focused on the task ahead.

Her small frame made it manageable to carry her, but the distance still loomed large. Every so often, I glanced down at her face, checking for any signs of movement or consciousness. She remained still, her breathing soft and steady—a small reassurance that my healing had stabilized her condition.

As I neared the field, I spotted the familiar figure of Mr. Alan in the distance, walking briskly toward me. His sharp gaze met mine, and I could tell he had seen everything through the CCTV. Before I could call out, another voice reached my ears.

"Brother!"

Alysha's urgent tone cut through the air as she rushed toward me. Her eyes darted between the fainted girl and me, quickly assessing the situation.

"What happened?" she asked, concern evident in her voice, glancing between me and the fainted girl.

"There's no time to explain," I said quickly, turning to Mr. Alan. "Sir, you can just handle the others. I'll take her to the infirmary with Alysha's help."

Mr. Alan nodded, his expression serious. "Go. She needs immediate attention."

Alysha guided me through the maze-like school grounds to the nearest infirmary in the extracurricular building. Unlike the main building's infirmaries, this one was managed by student volunteers. 

When we reached the infirmary, the door was unlocked, but the room was empty. The space was clean and orderly, with a few neatly made beds and shelves stocked with basic medical supplies. I gently laid the girl who fainted down on one of the beds, finally letting out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.

My arms tingled from the strain, and I flexed my fingers to shake off the stiffness. Alysha hovered nearby, her expression a mix of relief and lingering concern.

Moments later, the door creaked open, and a senior student stepped in, holding a small bag of canned drinks. She paused, taking in the scene before her.

"What happened?" she asked, her tone professional.

I quickly explained the situation—leaving out the part where I used my power. She nodded, setting her things down before approaching the girl who fainted. Placing a hand on her's forehead, her eyes briefly closed, and I felt a faint ripple of energy.

<Diagnose >

Those were the words I understood. Her power was similar to an advanced medical scanner, capable of assessing physical conditions instantly.

So this was her power. A very useful power suitable for her job.

The knowledge in my head was very useful, yes. Even though I often received information I didn't need. It also slightly violated privacy, I thought.

This was my power, sort of, not entirely, but it allowed me to know the power or skills of those around me. I couldn't control it, and it was like a passive skill in a game that would always respond to everything.

"She's okay," the senior said after a moment. "Just exhaustion. She needs rest, but she'll recover."

Relief washed over me. "Can we leave her in your care? I need to report back to the teacher."

"Of course," she replied, already busy checking the fainted girl's vitals.

When I arrived at the control room, many CCTVs were monitoring all areas. As I watched and observed, the place where I found my classmate was not visible on the cameras. Luckily, I brought her with me; otherwise, she might have stayed there until someone found her.

Because of that blind spot, I reported everything to Mr. Alan, but I didn't mention my power. This was something I had to keep covered as it would cause trouble for me.

"Okay, you can rest while waiting for the others," said Mr. Alan.

When I got to the field, several students had already finished their runs. 

I also saw Alysha on the sidelines with Chris. I went straight to them. 

On my way back to the field, the side effects of my power began to creep in—an ominous dizziness that grew sharper with each step. My vision blurred, and a wave of pain coursed through my body.

"Damn... not now..." I muttered, clutching my head.

I stumbled, my legs giving out as the pain intensified. Before I hit the ground, Alysha and Chris were by my side.

"Chris, use your power!" I managed to say through gritted teeth.

Seeing me a bit unsteady, Alysha and Chris approached me. They came at the right time.

Without hesitation, Chris knelt beside me. His hands glowed with a soft light as he placed them on my forehead. The pain ebbed slowly, replaced by an overwhelming fatigue. I felt my body relax, though I was drained of all energy.

This was similar to what I did earlier... no, it would be more correct to call mine which is more similar to his.

"Thanks, Chris," I murmured, forcing a weak smile.

"You've got to stop pushing yourself like this," he replied, his voice filled with both concern and exasperation.

After the light in my body disappeared, the dizziness and pain in my body also slowly followed. I could breathe a sigh of relief because the pain was gone. Although now I feel a bit weak.

With Alysha and Chris supporting me, I made my way to a shaded tree near the field. They helped me sit down, leaning me gently against the trunk.

This is sooner than I expected. Usually, an hour, and the longest was two hours, but it could also happen sooner than that. If I used it more than once a day, I would likely faint because the effects would stack and multiply.

Basically, every power had a weakness, but the side effects of using the power were almost nonexistent, but I had them. I also read this on a monument, but no risks were mentioned. 

Because of this effect, my family forbade me from using it unless it was an emergency. My father even scolded me for using it carelessly.

Fortunately, Chris was around me; otherwise, I might have collapsed on the ground, writhing in pain for a while.

I could heal it with my power, even better than waiting for Chris to use his power. However, the problem was that it would only cause a second effect that stack on my body and make it more troublesome and painful.

So when this effect reacted and there was no one with healing abilities around me, all I could do was endure the pain until it subsided. It's not something pleasant to remember how it felt.

Like yesterday, after I used my power to fight off thugs, at night I could only curl up waiting for the pain to subside.

"Sorry for troubling you guys," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Alysha shook her head. "You don't have to apologize, Brother. We're here for you."

Chris nodded in agreement. "Rest. You've done enough for today."

I felt very fortunate to have friends and siblings like them. Able to share joy and sorrow. It was quite amazing.

Under the tree, they gently leaned me against the trunk. I felt like an old man who couldn't walk anymore and needed help from others. Pathetic.