Chương 5: FIRST SKILL USE

He couldn't sit still. His heart was still beating fast from the golden ripple that had passed through him minutes ago.

'Telekinesis'. His first real skill. His first step forward. He needed to see it again.

"Status Window." The familiar pane unfolded; but this time, something new glowed beneath the stamina bar. ———————————————————————————————— 【STATUS WINDOW】 Name: Sam Jimin Age: 16 Rank: E Level: 1 HP: 250/250 STA: 120/120 MP: 100/100 PE: 150/150 STATS: STR: 5 AGI: 6 END: 5 INT: 8 WIS: 7 VIT: 5 CHA: 4 PSY: 11 LUK: 10 FREE STATPOINTS: 0 Unique Skill: Skillmaster Skills: Telekinesis (Rare) – Lv. 1 —-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"PE… Psychic Energy."

His eyes widened. It wasn't there before. But now; because of Telekinesis, another resource had appeared, like a secret gauge unlocked. He swallowed and quickly opened the skill window. ——————————————————————————————---------------------------- 【Skill: Telekinesis】 Skill: Telekinesis Category: Active Type: Offense / Control Rank: Rare Level: 1/50 Description: Manipulates objects at a distance. Consumes psychic energy and mana. Power, precision, control, and range increase with each level.

Scaling: • PSY → Lifting capacity, power, precision • INT → Range, control. Base Weight: 8 kg + (11 × 1) kg = 19 kg Range: 10 m + (8 × 0. 5) m = 14 m Cooldown: None Cost: Mana and Psychic energy consumption based on object mass Proficiency: 0% ———————————————————————————————-------------------------------- So it was real. Not an illusion. A skill he created. His throat tightened.

"I didn't imagine any of this…" He couldn't resist anymore. He needed to try it. His gaze drifted around the room until it landed on a paperback novel lying on his desk; a thin, worn sci-fi book he'd read dozens of times. Perfect weight. Not too heavy. He inhaled.

"Telekinesis." Nothing dramatic happened. No explosions or light. Just… a feeling. A strange, intuitive tug inside his consciousness, as though a new limb he'd never used before was finally waking up. He reached toward the book; not with his hand, but with his mind; grasping something invisible. The response was immediate. The book trembled. Jimin's breath hitched. It was like tightening an unseen muscle. Awkward at first. Shaky.

But familiar in a way he couldn't understand; as if this ability had always been part of him, buried under layers he couldn't access until now.

"Come on… slowly…" The book lifted. A few centimeters. Then higher. Steady, weightless in the air. He guided it forward. The book drifted toward him, moved gently by a force only he could feel. Inch by inch, until it floated right above his palms. He let it drop softly into his hands and he laughed. A small sound, half breath but full of something he hadn't felt in a long, long time. Joy. Raw, unfiltered, childlike joy. A notification chimed. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road.

If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. ———————————————————————————————— 【Achievement: First Skill Activation】 You have successfully activated a created skill for the first time. Reward: +200 LP Total LP: 810 ————————————————————————————————"What…? That's… that's HUGEEE!" Another alert appeared immediately afterward. ———————————————————————————————— 【Unusual Heightened Positive Emotional State Detected】 The Manaborn is experiencing an unusually heightened positive emotional state.

Reward: +50 LP Total LP: 860 ———————————————————————————————— He put a hand over his mouth to muffle the yell; but it escaped anyway.

"YES!!!" His voice echoed through the small room. Few seconds later; Knock, knock, knock….

"Jimin-ah?" Mrs. Han's voice, muffled through the door.

"What on earth was that? Are you okay?" He flinched, "Crap."

"Ah! Yes! Yes, I'm fine, Mrs. Han! I Just… uh…hit my foot on the bed!" There was a pause.

"…Hit your foot?"

"Yes!" Another pause. Then a sigh.

"Well, alright. If you say so. Umm… do you want your dinner now?" His stomach answered before he did, growling loudly.

"Yes, please!"

"Good. Give me a few minutes." Footsteps faded down the hallway.

"That was weird. Aren't I supposed to go to the dining hall and ask for food?" He failed to comprehend and gave up. Jimin exhaled, slumping back onto his chair. His gaze drifted back to the Status Window still floating before him. [MP: 98/100] [PE: 146/150]"I used 4 PE and 2 MP just to lift a book…? No, it's been a few minutes since I used the skill. So, a little MP and PE should have recovered. It means it was more than that."

"Reasonable maybe or maybe I was just clumsy with control. Either way, I'll need to train. A lot." He closed the windows for now. A few minutes later, another soft knock came.

"Jimin-ah, I'm coming in." He opened the door. Mrs. Han stood outside with a tray and his breath caught.

"Is that… bulgogi?" Not the expensive restaurant kind; but the simple, home-style, slightly-sweet version she'd made for him once on his birthday. His favourite. She smiled warmly.

"Of course. Today is your special day, isn't it? I thought you deserved something nicer." He blinked, strangely touched.

"Mrs. Han… thank you."

"You can show gratitude by letting me put this somewhere before my hands give up." She chuckled but her hands clearly trembled with the weight.

"Oh! Sorry! I'll clear the table; just a sec…." He turned, froze, and turned back slowly. The desk behind him was a disaster zone. Books everywhere. Chocolate wrappers. Crumpled notes. His face burned.

"I…. I'm sorry! Let me just…."

"Haaah. How long do you think I can hold this tray, Jimin?" she said, half amused, half scolding.

"Right, right! Give it to me…." She stepped forward, trying to balance the tray with one hand while reaching with the other. And in that split second; her wrist wobbled. The tray tilted. The plate slid. Without thinking, Jimin snapped: "Telekinesis!" The force burst out instinctively. The plate froze midair; not falling, not rising; just suspended, as though time itself had paused around it. Then, guided by his mind, it drifted smoothly toward the table and set itself down gently. He didn't breathe.

Neither did Mrs. Han. Her eyes went round, her mouth partly open in shock and… strangely… delight.

"My, my…" She blinked twice.

"Is that… is that a skill you awakened today?"

"Ah…y… yes?" he stuttered. A huge smile spread across her wrinkled face.

"Aigoo… our little Jimin has really become a Manaborn." He scratched the back of his head, unsure how to respond to that.

"I'm…uh… still getting used to it."

"I can see that," she laughed softly.

"I almost dropped your dinner. That would've been a tragedy." He shook his head quickly.

"No, that was my fault. I should've taken the tray earlier."

"Well…" she tried to change the topic. She scanned his room with narrowed eyes.

"You better clean this disaster before I report it to the administration." He froze. She smirked, "I'm joking." He exhaled in relief. They chatted for a little longer, her scolding him lightly about the state of his room, telling him to eat properly, reminding him to sleep early. Usual things. Familiar. Warm. Then she left with a "Good night, Jimin-ah. And congratulations again."

"Good night, Mrs. Han. Thanks again" When the door closed, he sat down, staring at the still-warm bulgogi. He gobbled up the whole thing, savoring every flavor. Another notification pinged. ———————————————————————————————— 【Hunger Satiated】 Reward: +10 LP 【High-Quality Food Consumed】 Reward (Extra): +10 LP Total LP: 880 ———————————————————————————————— He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

"So satiating my hunger gives LP… extra if it is a high-quality food. But the bonus only works once per food type." He nodded to himself.

"Good to know. But I don't know if it is permanent or it resets " He leaned back, staring at the ceiling. Telekinesis was incredible; but he could already feel the truth beneath the excitement. He wasn't strong. He wasn't fast. He wasn't durable. And he had no combat foundation.

"Just having a skill won't save me," he whispered. Not in a world where real monsters existed. Where strong Manaborns shaped society. Where Rift raids made orphans like him in the first place. He clenched his fists.

"I need to train. I need to build myself up. Even slowly if needed. Telekinesis feels useful but I don't know its limits yet. I don't know how long I can maintain it. I don't know the extent of my control. I've to test everything."

"Tomorrow morning," he decided aloud.

"Before anyone wakes up." A small smile touched his lips.

"Yeah… tomorrow." He cleaned up lightly, turned off the lights, and slipped into bed. His body relaxed. Sleep pulled him in slowly. And for the first time in years… He looked forward to tomorrow.