Chapter 28: Unveiling Mysteries.

Kazuya stood in the middle of the training grounds the early morning light filtering him evidently. He was breathing heavily, as he focused on the task at hand. Toma watched him closely, determined to help his fellow member on improving his ability.

Nearby, was Shota who sat a large rock, absently petting his black and white cat, Luna.

"Focus, Kazuya," Toma urged, his voice calm but firm. "You need to feel the flow of time around you."

Kazuya nodded, closing his eyes and trying to sense the subtle shifts in time's current. It was a skill he had struggled to master, but under Toma's guidance, he had made significant progress. He extended his awareness, feeling the ebb and flow of moments passing by, each one a thread in the fundamentals of all existence.

After a few minutes, he opened his eyes, a flicker of understanding shining within them. "I think I've got it," he said, more to himself than to anyone else. He raised his hand, and the air around him shimmered slightly, a distortion that indicated his manipulation of time.

Toma smiled, a rare expression for the usually stoic man. "Good. Now, try to hold it steady. The key is not just to create the effect, but to maintain it."

Kazuya concentrated, his face a mask of determination. The distortion steadied, becoming more and more in control He could feel the power coursing through him, a mix of exhilaration and responsibility.

Shota glanced up from petting Luna, his eyes twinkling with amusement at Kazuya's brilliant display of his powers.

Toma chuckled softly, a sound that was almost foreign. "That remains to be seen. For now, you need to focus on mastering the basics."

Kazuya let the distortion fade, taking a deep breath to steady himself. He turned to Toma. "Toma, why do people have these abilities? Where do they come from, and why do I possess them?"

Toma's expression grew serious. "That's a complicated question, Kazuya. One that doesn't have a simple answer."

Kazuya was eager to hear what Toma had to say. Shota leaned back, still petting Luna but clearly interested in the conversation.

Toma began, "The Temporal Order refers to people like us as "outcasts" the reason why is because we don't fit into their neatly organized view of the world. Our abilities disrupt the natural flow of the world. But these abilities aren't random; they have a source."

He paused, collecting his thoughts. "Many centuries ago long, there was an event – a cataclysmic disruption in the fabric of reality. Some believe it was a cosmic accident, others think it was a deliberate act. Whatever it was, it caused a rift in our world. From that rift, certain individuals were imbued with powers that defied the natural order."

Kazuya listened intently, hanging on every word. "So, this rift... it gave us these abilities?"

Toma nodded while casually playing with junks of metal by swirling them around the air.

"But it wasn't just the rift itself. The abilities were passed down through generations, sometimes lying dormant until something triggers them. In your case, it was likely a combination of genetic inheritance and a specific event that activated your powers."

"What, but how?" Kazuya asked, his voice tinged with curiosity and a hint of frustration. "Did my parents possess these type of abilities?! Is that reason why I also have it? But I never seen them do anything like this! And they never even told me about these type of things....."

"Wait. Did they know I had an ability... if so, why didn't they tell me?!?! I have so many questions" Kazuya said as he kneeled down while holding his head.

Toma listened silently as he knew this was a sensitive matter to Kazuya.

After a while he spoke "I might not be the best person to answer your questions. But I might say this. Maybe they made the right decision to not tell you about your powers.

Kazuya gave Toma a questioning gaze

Toma continued "Look at it this way, let's say your parents knew you had powers but didn't want to tell you because they didn't want to associate you in this type of world."

"They might have wanted you to live a normal, happy life like other kids. It seemed they understood the madness of this world all too well. Your parents wanted to protect you, Kazuya. They loved you deeply."

Kazuya thought for while and asked. "Really?"

Toma answered. That's the only explanation to me. I think your parents were good people. In other cases, parents are more likely sell their kids away to the Chrono Reapers or Temporal Order to avoid casualties..."

Kazuya was shocked.

Toma nodded. "Yes, it's cruel.... My parents did the same when I was eight..."

Kazuya was even more shocked. "What?... Your own parents did that to you?"

Toma sighed deeply. "Yeah, my parents sold me to the Temporal Order, who offered them a significant amount of money in exchange. While I was being by their agents transported in a armored vehicle to the Temporal Order's headquarters."

"Then we were ambushed by a vigilante... The Temporal Order agents were overwhelmed and defeated in a matter of minutes. The vigilante was none other than Mousa, who saved me and was the one who brought me here"

Kazuya looked at Toma with sad eyes. "I'm sorry for making you bring up about your past."

Toma chuckled. "It's okay, enough about that now. Let's go back on our topic!"

Toma then looked at him, his gaze intense but compassionate. "As I was saying, Outcast's abilities are unpredictable, some believe it's destiny, others think it's pure chance. What matters is how you choose to use your abilities. The power you hold can shape the future, for better or worse."

Kazuya thought about this, the weight of Toma's words settling on him. "So, it's up to me to decide what to do with it?"

"Exactly," Toma said. "We may not have chosen to be outcasts, but we can choose how we live as outcasts. The Temporal Order seeks to control and suppress us, but we have the potential to change the world in ways even they can't imagine."

Shota chimed in, showing them handsigns. Toma smiled. "Shota is right, you're not alone in this, Kazuya. You've got us, and we've got each other. We're all in this together."

Kazuya felt a surge of gratitude for his friends and mentors. Despite the chaos and uncertainty, he knew he had found a place where he belonged, among people who understood him and supported him.