Chapter 117: The Covenant in Moonlight and the Call of the Ruins
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With joking teasing and shared smiles, Harper's sad self-consciousness started to dissipate. Every joke and every catch reminded him that his gift—differing as it was—was his, and something he had to be proud of.
Kent's encouragement and teasing by Nima and Auri transformed the painful ordeal of the day and constructed a stepping stone on to self-acceptance.
"See?" Kent was saying as he pulled in a wriggling fish, thumping Harper on the back. "Your superpower isn't something to be ashamed of. It's fantastic—and it makes you, you know, you. We're all here for you."
Harper's hearty, warm laughter echoed across the lake. "Maybe you're right, Kent. Maybe it's time I embraced the weirdness instead of keeping it on the down-low."
