Dinner was simple—roast chicken, mashed potatoes, and vegetables—but it was exactly what Nash needed. As they ate, his thoughts wandered again: the system, his future, the subtle shifts taking place in his life.
He considered telling his parents about the money—how much he was actually making. But how could he explain it without revealing the system?
Not yet, he told himself, pushing the thought aside.
His gaze flicked toward the empty chair across the table. It hadn't been touched.
"Where's Nevaeh?" he asked, half-expecting her to barge into the room at any second.
His mother didn't look up as she adjusted the food on her plate. "She already ate. Told us not to disturb her...said she was busy with something."
Nash raised an eyebrow. "Busy? Is she scheming again?"
Equinox-00: A reasonable assumption given past data. Shall I prepare a risk assessment?
His mother smiled, a knowing curve of her lips. "Maybe. She's been quieter than usual, but it's not something serious this time."
Nash chuckled and shook his head. Nevaeh always had something up her sleeve. He just hoped it wouldn't drag him into trouble—again.
Later that night, Nash sat on his bed, a towel still draped around his shoulders, phone in hand. Freelance work had been slow lately, and that needed to change. More projects meant more income. And with the bank upgrade weighing on his mind, he needed steady cash flow.
He opened the system's store and began scrolling through the available perks. One caught his eye:
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Freelance Mastery (Advanced)Earn 15% more per project.
Price: $200 or 150 RP
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He chose the cash option—$200. It barely made a ripple in his account now, but the hesitation still crept in. Old habits were hard to shake.
Just a second's pause, then he tapped Purchase.
Equinox-00: Still thinking like someone who's broke. But noted—progress.
Nash rolled his eyes. "Hey, I'm just being smart."
Equinox-00: We'll see.
Nothing happened for a heartbeat. Then the screen flickered—just for a second. The progress bar jumped ahead, then froze.
Processing…
A faint pulse of energy rippled through him. It wasn't as smooth as before. His vision blurred. Fingers tingled. Then, just as quickly, it was over.
Equinox-00: Purchase Successful: Freelance Mastery (Advanced) Activated.
A quiet rush of confidence settled in his chest. Whatever that glitch had been, it didn't matter. The upgrade was live.
He flipped over to his freelance platform and started browsing. One listing stood out—a website redesign for an organic skincare brand.
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Budget: $1,500Scope:
Full UI/UX overhaul
Mobile optimization
Shopify integration
Revamp the brand's visual identity
Ten-day deadline
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With the new perk, the payout would jump to $1,725. A solid increase.
He hesitated. It was bigger than his usual gigs.
Equinox-00: If self-doubt is a requirement for application submission, you are excelling.
Nash exhaled through his nose. "I get it. I'm doing it."
He crafted his proposal carefully, highlighting his best work. The moment he hit Send, something inside him shifted. A quiet, solid determination took root.
This was it. The next step forward.
And he wasn't looking back.