Yoona had withdrawn into a cocoon of discretion. Since awakening to her telekinesis, she spent her days exploring this ability. Every free moment, every object within her reach became an improvised training tool. In her small room at Jisoo's place, she used the furniture as her testing ground. The bed creaked when she tried to lift it, the curtains trembled under an nonexistent breeze. Even the books stacked on a shelf vibrated when she lost concentration. But her main tool remained an old glass of water, which she struggled to move without spilling.
One day, as she attempted to lift multiple objects at once, her phone vibrated on the bedside table. She halted her exercise, feeling a headache coming on, and opened Kang Soo's message.
— "Any news on the mutants? Making progress?"
She rolled her eyes. Kang Soo rarely spoke to her. His messages were always short, direct, and strictly about the mutants or their mysteries. Yoona quickly typed a reply, half annoyed.
— "Still nothing concrete. And you? Got any useful info, or are you just checking in?"
As usual, no immediate response. Yoona sighed. She had gotten used to these frustrating silences. But despite her irritation, she knew Kang Soo was one of the few who understood the strangeness of her situation. She set her phone down and resumed her training. This time, she attempted to lift the remote control, a desk lamp, and a stack of books simultaneously. The objects trembled in the air, unstable, as if resisting her will. A dull pain built behind her temples, but she held on.
— "Focus..." she murmured, eyes narrowed.
The books crashed heavily to the floor, and she winced as dizziness washed over her. Through constant training, Yoona began to understand the unspoken rules of her telekinesis. The heavier or more complex an object, the more concentration it required. Keeping multiple objects aloft drained her faster. And the worst part was the migraines—an aching pulse that struck whenever she pushed her limits.
She mentally noted her observations. For example, she could lift about 30 kilograms with considerable effort, but it left her exhausted. Lighter objects, like a cup or a remote, required almost no effort.
Yet, she knew these exercises weren't enough. Lifting objects in a quiet room was one thing, but she doubted her ability to handle a real situation, where danger and chaos reigned.
One evening, as she meditated on her bed to ease the pain, her phone vibrated again. This time, she ignored it, focusing on her breathing. But after a few minutes, curiosity won out.
— "Don't slack off. Mutants don't forgive."
Yoona clenched her teeth.
— "Like I needed the reminder," she muttered, typing a curt reply.
— "Thanks for the advice, Master Yoda. Still as chatty as ever."
She hesitated, then added:
— "Do you really think this is enough? Training alone? These migraines… are they normal?"
Minutes passed without a response. Just as she was about to put her phone down, it vibrated.
— "It's normal. But be careful. Powers are like a double-edged blade. The more you push them, the more they can cost you."
Kang Soo's words lingered in her mind. She knew he was right, but the thought of giving up was inconceivable.
The next day, Yoona decided to push further. She waited for Jisoo to leave before training outside, in a small secluded clearing behind the house. There, she tried to replicate her indoor exercises but on a larger scale.
She gathered stones, branches, and even an old chair she found in the garage. The goal: lift everything at once while moving. She visualized the objects as an extension of her limbs, a delicate balance she had to maintain.
But exhaustion caught up quickly. As she struggled to keep a large rock in the air, her focus wavered, and it crashed to the ground with a loud thud. Yoona fell to her knees, clutching her forehead.
— "It's not enough..." she murmured. "I have to do better."
She took a deep breath, pushed herself up, and resumed training.
That night, Yoona sent one last message to Kang Soo.
— "What if I can't do it? What if I'm not strong enough?"
This time, the response came quickly.
— "You are. You've survived this far, haven't you? Keep going. But remember: strength without control is worthless."
Yoona stared at the screen, Kang Soo's words etched into her thoughts. She turned off her phone and fell asleep, her dreams haunted by visions of mutants and powers spiraling out of control.