Mutant awakening: My evolution knows no bounds

Mary, the grade 4 mind reader, stepped hesitantly into the office. Her eyes fell upon Sir Dominic, who sat across the room, arms folded tightly across his chest, his eyes dark and unwavering. The silence between them was thick and unforgiving, pressing down on her shoulders like a weight.

"Go wait outside, Kara. I need to have a serious conversation with Mary here," Sir Dominic commanded in a tone that brooked no argument.

Kara inclined her head slightly, giving a respectful bow before she slipped out of the office, the door clicking shut behind her. Sir Dominic's gaze shifted sharply to Mary, pinning her in place.

"Please, have a seat, Mary," he gestured to the vacant chair opposite him, his tone deceptively polite.

Mary obeyed instantly, lowering herself into the chair with a forced calmness, even as her heart began to thud uncomfortably in her chest. She swallowed, glancing at him warily.

"Is there… a problem, sir?" she asked, her voice slightly strained, betraying the tension crackling in the air.

"There will only be a problem if you don't answer my questions truthfully," Sir Dominic replied, his tone steely. Each word was measured, layered with a quiet intensity that seemed to squeeze the air from the room. "I want you to answer my questions truthfully, Mary. Can you do that for me?"

Mary's mouth felt dry, but she managed a slight nod. "Of course, sir. Go ahead—I have nothing to hide."

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Sir Dominic's eyes narrowed, a shadow of suspicion crossing his face. "Let's hope you don't." He leaned forward, his hands resting on the polished surface of his desk as his gaze bore into hers. "You remember a student named Silas Griswold?" His tone was cold, unyielding.

Mary's pulse quickened. "The boy you asked me to read a few days ago? Yes, sir. I remember him."

A faint nod from Sir Dominic. "Good. And was he… truly innocent? When you went into his head, did you find anything that would suggest otherwise?" His voice was dangerously soft, as if daring her to lie.

"Yes, sir." Mary swallowed, willing her voice to stay steady. "I couldn't find any memories of him harming Sensei Josh's son, or anything related to the artifact. He's innocent, sir."

Sir Dominic stood slowly, smoothing his suit as he took measured steps toward her. Each footfall echoed in the room, a reminder of his authority and her vulnerability. He stopped a mere pace away, looking down at her with an unreadable expression.

"Are you sure?" he asked, his voice a low rumble, each word weighted with expectation.

Mary's heart drummed wildly in her chest. She forced herself to keep her face calm, but she could feel the tension tightening around her. "Y-yes, sir. Silas… isn't guilty of what Sensei Josh claims he did," she murmured, her voice barely a whisper.

Sir Dominic's gaze lingered on her face for an excruciatingly long moment before he took another step, moving to stand just behind her. She felt the heat of his presence at her back, a silent, oppressive force.

"Are you telling me the truth, Mary? Or are you covering something up? Did your ability fail in any way?" His hand reached forward, fingers lightly grazing a strand of her hair. He twirled it between his fingers absently, the gesture so casual yet strangely unsettling.

"Why would I lie, sir?" Mary's voice was barely steady. "Besides, with Silas lacking an active skill slot, my ability couldn't have failed. I've never failed you before, sir."

Sir Dominic's fingers continued to twist her hair, each turn a subtle reminder of his control. "True. You've never failed me… yet. But with what's been happening lately, I'm beginning to question many things." He leaned closer, his tone almost a whisper. "When you entered his mind, I saw the look on your face. You looked… surprised. Can you tell me why?"

Mary was silent for a few agonizing seconds. The real reason for her surprise gnawed at her—Silas's mind had been a blank slate, void of any memory, as if he were newly born. She had never encountered anything like it before, and the mere thought of telling Sir Dominic made her stomach twist. He would never accept her inability to read the mind of a "worthless student," and if her failure became known, she could lose everything.

"Well, I was surprised because… there were some memories I saw that weren't very… pleasant," she finally said, forcing her voice to sound steady.

Sir Dominic's eyebrows arched, a flicker of interest sparking in his eyes. "What kind of memories?"

She took a steadying breath. "I saw him purchasing illegal items from the Blood Market. Energy pills, sir. It seems he was desperate to defend himself against the bullying he's been enduring."

"Energy pills?" Sir Dominic's tone sharpened. "So you're telling me he could've had a hand in Sensei Josh's son's death? Sensei Josh did mention something about Silas taking those pills."

"No, sir. I didn't see any memory of him harming anyone. Just that he… bought the pills, knowing the risk if he were caught." Mary's voice grew faint, her stomach churning at the half-truth.

They both knew the punishment for a student caught with Energy pills. The Jingling Bars, a notorious prison where offenders were forced into grueling labor and sent to mutant realms to serve as expendable muscle—a place no one wanted to end up.

Sir Dominic let out a heavy sigh, seeming momentarily defeated. He turned and walked back to his desk, folding his arms as he leaned back in his chair, watching her thoughtfully.

"Fine. We won't send him to the Jingling Bars. The academy still needs him, for now. But he will be punished for using those pills," he said, voice dark and final. "Mary, I'm choosing to believe you… for now. But if I find out you lied," his tone hardened, "I'll make sure your life—and the lives of everyone you hold dear—are turned inside out. I know exactly where your family is hiding, and it would take me no time at all to pay them a visit if I felt it necessary."

Mary felt a cold wave of fear sweep over her. She forced herself to stand, keeping her gaze low as she moved to the door, her heart pounding with each step. She could feel Sir Dominic's eyes boring into her back, like a shadow she could never escape. She slipped out of the room, hastening down the hall, the threat ringing in her ears, refusing to let her forget that her every move, every word, was under his watchful eye.