𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝟎.𝟐

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Iliana was 8 years old when she encountered a 'God', she was sure that the man who had powers like her, had some weird god complex or something. But there was something about that man, something that she could never put her finger on properly. Maybe it was the knowledge that there was someone like her, or maybe it was the promise that they would meet again.

Flashback

In the park, it wasn't hard to spot a solitary child sitting on the grass near the marble fountain. She was busy trying to solve a Rubik's cube, occasionally jotting notes in her small notebook. This was her third attempt at the puzzle, yet she couldn't get it right. Frustration set in as one side always remained mismatched, and she yearned for something more interesting.

It was an autumn Sunday morning, and the park looked beautiful with the fallen leaves creating a picturesque scene. From a nearby bench, a well-dressed, tall man with raven-black hair slicked back past his neck and observed everything with strange, intense blue eyes.

Iliana, with a plan in mind, approached the man, her face wearing a smug and confident smile. Standing in front of him, she asked with an undeniable charm, "Can I sit here?"

The man wanted to refuse, to curse at the child for her audacity, but something compelled him to comply. "You can," he replied, his voice strained as if resisting an invisible force.

"Thank you, Mister," Iliana said, seating herself beside him on the bench.

He was stunned. How could a mere child command a god like him? Yet he sensed a familiar magic coursing through her veins and smirked inwardly. 

'Interesting,' he thought.

He took in the appearance of the child- long and straight raven black hair, fair skin, delicate face with a small sharp nose, captivating smile, and alluring almond-shaped eyes that held a hint of mischief in them.

"What is your name, Mister?" she asked her powers still at work.

"You can catch me off guard only once, little one," the man answered with a smirk that mirrored her own.

Iliana was momentarily taken aback. "I am Iliana. Who might you be?" She was curious and a bit fearful that someone was immune to her powers.

"I am a God, and that's all you need to know for now," he replied arrogantly. "What powers do you possess, little one?"

The girl, undeterred, answered truthfully, "I can persuade people, and I can look into their memories if I touch them."

The god expected her to flee at the first opportunity, but she didn't. Instead, she intrigued him more. Despite being a fragile human with powers, she was unafraid of him. He noticed she had yet to tap into all her abilities.

"Are you like me?" she asked, not meeting his eyes.

"I am much more powerful than you," he replied arrogantly.

"I will become much more powerful than you," she retorted with the same arrogance and confidence. He saw a hint of mischief in her eyes that mirrored his own. Amused, he stood up to leave.

"Then I will wait for you to become more powerful than me," he said, departing, "Until next time, little one."

 As much as he wanted to marvel at the child's powers, he knew he couldn't stay. Not when he knew how much he could ruin her.

"Until next time, Mister," the girl replied, waving her hand at his back. The man took a quick peek at her, a small smile resting on his face. He raised his hand to wave back.

‿︵‿୨📖୧‿︵‿

Persuasion is a dangerous power to possess. While it can manipulate people and make one the puppeteer of human minds, it can also twist the mind of the wielder in ways that a 10-year-old Iliana could scarcely imagine. Psychometry came in handy when she wanted to know more about someone, but she was unaware of another power lying dormant in her veins, waiting for the right moment to manifest itself.

As a 10-year-old, Iliana didn't have a permanent place to call home. She found it awful, having only read stories of the so-called 'home' without ever experiencing it herself. Her life was a series of foster homes, each one more temporary than the last.

When she was sent to the next foster home, something felt off. The place resembled more of a community—a mix of people of all ages living together, taking care of children and the elderly. From the outside, it exuded a homey vibe, but Iliana's gut feeling told her something was wrong. She didn't know how right she was, and how this place would change her life forever.


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