Hector reached out and pressed his fingertips against the cool surface of the second Talent orb, causing the system text box to pop up. As he read over the words, a smile, small at first, grew on his lips.

  ————————————————

  ///: Shared Secrets (Passive) (Uncommon): The user can form a pact with up to fifteen people. The pact seals all past and present conversations about the pact, making them irretrievable if a pact holder discusses the topic with outsiders or if an outsider listens. However, this effect only extends to a fifty-meter range. Pact holders will all receive a mark signifying their participation in the pact.

  [??○] (2/3) Pact limit: 0/4

  Note: Further acquisition increases the number of participants by fifty percent of the current amount and the pact limit by 2.

  ————————————————

  The water at Hector’s feet sloshed as he stepped back and digested the text.

  This was how they did it. This was how they had made those Farmhands all keep the secret, and funnily enough, it was what had outed him and his friends when they were sneaking through the barn.

  This is perfect. If I can form a pact with everyone, I can protect my secret. Though I should keep the system itself to myself; but I should be able to at least tell them all about Talents and how we can grow stronger.

  “I’ll equip the shared secrets one for now; It could come in handy later.” He brought a finger to his lip as he regarded the shimmering green surface of the Talent. They had a lot to talk about later, and it would be a good time to try this new Talent out.

  He cupped his hands around the Talent and brought it to his chest, taking a deep breath as the orb pushed through a thin resistance and slipped into him.

  A wave of energy washed over him a moment later, and he let out a relaxed sigh while clenching his fist. With each new Talent, more and more options were on the table. He glanced around the Talent garden as he waved off the [Blazing Arsenal] Talent, sending it back into the air.

  He’d equip that one tomorrow when the manipulation timer had reset. Now it was time to get a look at these upgrades.

  “Hector, are you…” Mirae’s voice shook the void, sending ripples across his soul’s waters. “Stop meditating for a bit and come eat. We still have some plum flakes left over from yesterday.”

  Hector held back a groan as his gaze lingered on the pedestals. He’d have to go over the new upgrades after he’d finished eating. While getting stronger was important, it wouldn’t do to sacrifice his relationships.

  But today was good. These uncommon Talents had shown that the simple things he’d been doing so far were just the start. When he got several of his Talent to the level of rare. Oh boy, that would be something.

  —— —— ——

  Hector rested a chin on his hands as Mirae shakily plopped a slop of grim-grain porridge into his chipped wooden bowl. She hadn’t even been in the Farmhands’ hideout, and she was this shaken.

  “So is Harry doing alright?” She asked, sprinkling a few plum flakes into the bowl, missing most of it. “I mean, is he alive?” She then scooped the bowl up and walked over to Hector, placing the bowl down in front of him.

  Hector picked up the wooden spoon that rested on the table and sank it into the porridge. “He’s fine. Miss Clearwater said something about increasing his blood production, helping to heal his wounds. I didn’t understand too much of it.”

  He brought a spoonful of porridge, topped with two plum flakes, to his mouth and paused. Mirae unsteadily placed her bowl onto the table with a soft tap and huffed into her seat. Was she overreacting, or was he under-reacting?

  Hector brought the smooth, tasteless slop into his mouth and crunched on the sweet flakes, smiling a little at the burst of sweetness. A shaft of light speckled with dust illuminated Mirae’s bowl as she poked at her porridge.

  He swallowed. “Are you alright?” he asked, scooping up another mouthful.

  “I don’t understand, Hector. Why did you go there?” She shook her head and let out a sigh. “No, I know why. What I mean to say is, why the rush? Did you have to go straight away? You could have taken more time. I mean, you almost died, for heaven’s sake.”

  But I didn’t, though I doubt me pointing out that fact will win me many points with her.

  Placing his spoon back into the bowl with a plop, Hector rested his hands on the rough wood of the table. “I didn’t have to. But I felt I needed to, and I’m glad I did. What would have happened to Harry if we hadn’t gone? How many more people would they have hurt?”

  He paused, taking a moment. He didn’t want it to seem like he didn’t appreciate her concern—he did, but he couldn’t always play it safe, and she needed to understand that. “I know you want me to be safe. But I believe in my friends, and I had to do the right thing. I’m sure Dad would be mad if he found out, but I also think he’d be proud.”

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  Mirae sighed as she leaned back in her chair. She then raised a hand and combed her fingers through her long white hair, her purple eyes lingering on her bowl. “I know; I just feel you’ve been through so much danger in the last few days. At some point, you’re going to get hurt and bad.”

  Hector’s cheeks warmed a little, and he dropped his head. Though the burns had been bad, they hadn’t been life-threatening. Even so, it had been a good call to get the healing, even if it was just so she wouldn’t be even more stressed.

  “I know,” he said. “But I’m strong—best in the dojo, remember? And I’m getting stronger; what I need is to get you and our friends stronger—that way I know you guys will be safe.”

  She glanced up, holding his gaze. “I really think you should focus on making yourself as strong as possible by training more. Never mind us.” She turned her head to the side and glanced out the window as the tweets of birds drifted in. “You’ve spent so much time worrying about me and Dad that your cultivation has suffered. The world is getting more dangerous, Hector, and I can’t lose you.”

  “I love you, Mirae, but you’re wrong,” he said, then let out a heavy sigh. “We’re stronger together and can do more together. I’ll show you.”

  She nodded lightly and turned back to her bowl, picking up the spoon. “I take it you are going to meet up with everyone to split the money you got last night?” She asked.

  He nodded.

  “Good, I’m coming too. It’s better than sitting here worrying about you,” she said before placing the spoon full of porridge into her mouth.

  Hector cupped a hand to the side of the bowl, his eyes tracing the bumps in the porridge. He’d made both Mirae and his father worried. Mirae was right, the world was getting more dangerous, but that’s why he needed them strong. Mirae, his friends… and when the time was right, his dad too.

  The two ate the rest of their meal, with few words passing between them as chatter from the street outside drifted in—they chuckled from time to time at the complaints of those who walked by. The slums could be a funny place if you just stopped and listened.

  As Hector was finishing up and getting ready to clean his and Mirae’s bowl—she’d done enough already—a knock came from the door. “Hector!” Lincoln called. “Are you up?” Dirt scrunched outside, and a moment later, Lincoln was standing at Hector’s window, waving.

  “Oh, great,” Lincoln said. “Nyx and Emela are here. We are going to pick up Jodie and Marcus now.” Hector frowned—did they have to do it so early? He glanced back at Mirae, who raced towards her room in a hurry, her hair bobbing behind her.

  Hector sighed, twisting the tap and cutting off the water. “Alright, give me a second. Mirae and I will be with you in a second.” He then turned and left the kitchen. He’d have to look at the upgrades for his system later. Hopefully, they didn’t have to spend too long in the brewery today.

  —— —— ——

  “I’m sorry, Hector, but you’ve already used a good chunk of your resources to pay for your healing.” Jodie sat across from Hector on a sturdy crate, her hands resting on her knees as her ginger hair swayed gently. The wind whistled in the half-destroyed rafter of the brewery as it came in through the missing section of the roof.

  Hector glanced at the others. Emela pursed her lips but shook her head as she tapped the side of the crate on which she sat. Nyx was at her side. Emela didn’t come to the Farmhands’ hideout, so she couldn’t exactly weigh in. But Nyx could.

  The black-haired girl held his gaze for a second. But before she could speak—if she had planned to, Lincoln cut in. “I actually agree with her, for once. I’m sorry. It’s just that we all put in so much work, it would be wrong—”

  Jodie scoffed.

  Lincoln glanced at her but lowered his head, muttering something under his breath. He then cleared his throat, his fist clenching at his side. “It all has to be fair, right? I don’t mind loaning you some, but you can’t just take…”

  Lincoln trailed off, turning to Mirae, who had her hand raised. He glanced at Hector, but Hector rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. A loan—what kind of joke was that? He was trying to save his dad, not complete a business venture. Lincoln then sighed, signalling for Mirae to speak.

  “I don’t get it,” she said, turning her head to Marcus and Delworth. “Do you two?”

  “What do you mean?” Marcus asked.

  Mirae sat up on her crate, brushing a white strand of hair behind her ear. “From what you guys have said about what happened last night, Hector and Jodie did a lot of the heavy lifting. It might even be fair to say they were the reason that you guys made it out alive.” She said, turning from Lincoln to Nyx.

  “Mirae,” Jodie said, “That’s not—”

  “She has a point,” Emela interrupted, nodding at Hector. “From what Nyx has told me. I think a four-way equal split isn’t quite fair.” The morning rays bounced off Emela’s blond hair, almost making it as white as Hector’s own.

  Hector cleared his throat and nodded at Emela with a tight smile. At least he had someone’s support in this mess. He took a breath, and the scent of stale dry alcohol from the broken tankards slithered up his nose. Swallowing, he chose his words. It wasn’t like they’d get nothing out of giving him more of the loot.

  Besides, as my lovely sister pointed out, Jodie and I kind of did all the work. But I get where Jodie is coming from—we can’t hoard everything just because we are the strongest.

  “I don’t want you to give me the money for free,” He said. “I want you to consider it as an investment. Not only in me, but in yourselves.” Hector levelled his gaze at Nyx before turning to Jodie. “As most of you are aware, I have a secret that I’ve been keeping from you.”

  Mirae tugged on his sleeve, and Hector rested a hand on hers, stroking it and mouthing the words, ‘Trust me’. He then turned back to the group.

  They all nodded at him, all of them aside from Marcus and Delworth. The two of them looked noticeably confused; both of them sharing a look that spoke volumes.

  “I can tell you what it is, and,” Hector glanced at Mirae, her purple eyes shimmering in the sunlight. “I can also help you achieve something similar.”

  Mirae’s brows tightened, and her head tilted slightly. His words wouldn’t make sense to her, not with what he’d told her before about his Talent. But with the [Shared Secrets] Talent, he could say a bit more without worrying they’d tell the wrong people.

  Lincoln leaned in, the crate underneath him creaking under his weight.

  “Hector, what are you saying?” Emela asked, throwing a sharp glance at Nyx. The black hair girl bit her lip and frowned, while Emela brought a hand to her mouth.

  “I’m saying I can help us all. There is just one slight problem?” Hector said, letting out a sigh.

  Well, I’ve come this far. I just hope they won’t take this the wrong way. I need that money, and I need them to trust me if we are all going to get stronger. We have to work as one.

  “And what’s that problem, Hector?” Jodie asked, her eyes moving to his right hand.

  “Well, do you remember what happened to that Farmhand when we tried to question him?”

  “Don’t tell me,” Jodie said, shooting up off the crate, her eyes wide as she stared at Hector. That wasn’t a good sign.

  Hector’s face dropped, and he held Jodie’s gaze. “It’s not what you think. I just want to know if you’d be willing to form a pact?”

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