Mom glanced at me, raising an eyebrow. "Felix, honey, are you okay? You're shaking a lot."
I forced a smile, trying to mask the excitement bubbling inside. "I'm fine, Mom. Just... really excited."
Dad, noticing my jittering, scratched his chin. "Oh, he's just nervous," he said, giving Mom a knowing smile. "I remember when I had my chip activated. I couldn't sit still either."
Mom nodded, her voice calm and reassuring. "It's a big day for you, sweetheart. You'll feel better once it's done."
I could barely contain my energy.
I'm not nervous. I'm... excited! I couldn't help but grin wider. I'm ready to see what kind of powers I'll get!
But all Mom heard was, "He's nervous."
"See, Ed?" she whispered, giving Dad a concerned look. "He's shaking so much. He can't sit still."
Dad smiled and patted me on the back. "It's fine, buddy. Everyone feels that way. You'll be good once it's over."
Relax? I thought. I'm about to get superpowers! But instead of saying anything, I just nodded and tried to settle myself.
Mom smiled softly at me. "It's okay, sweetie. Just take a deep breath."
'Yeah,' I thought. You have no idea what's coming... grinning maniacally.
•••••
Teary eyes...
Depressed...
Contrary to my initial excitement, I glanced at the holographic display of my stats, and the tears came without warning.
=======
{STATS}
• Strength: 1
• Perception: 1
• Endurance: 1
• Charisma: 1
• Intelligence: 1
• Agility: 1
• Luck: 1
• Dexterity: ???
• Innate Talent: The Dexterity Demon
=======
••••••
The proctor stepped forward, giving me one last glance before he pulled up the holographic screen, showing my stats to my parents. His voice was smooth, explaining the details with a clinical tone.
"At the age of four, a stat of 1 is quite normal. The chip hasn't fully kicked in yet, and depending on your parents' genetics, certain stats could be higher. For instance, a bodybuilder's child might have stronger physical stats, or a child of a celebrity might have higher charisma. Some scientists might pass down intelligence. Athletic parents could pass on endurance..."
He paused, glancing at my parents as if waiting for them to catch on.
"However, Dexterity—well, Dexterity is a bit different," the proctor continued, tapping the screen to show my stat.
"Dexterity," he went on, "is great for physical labor, crafting, or corporate work. It's a stat that helps with hands-on tasks, fine motor skills, and precision—perfect for building, working behind a desk, or excelling at jobs that require technical skills."
And there it was. Corporate work. The words hit me like a punch to the gut. My heart sank. I had hoped, no, prayed that this moment would reveal something incredible. But all I was hearing was that my best shot at a future was doing... office work.
My mind drifted back to all those days as a chat support agent, hunched over a keyboard, typing away at endless tickets. A rush of nostalgia hit me. I missed the familiarity of it—the fast pace, the sense of control, and the comfort of routine. I missed my colleagues, my friends, the small jokes we shared during breaks. I even missed the small victories after solving the hardest tickets. It wasn't glamorous, but it was mine.
The thought of being stuck in that world again made me feel like I was suffocating. Was that all I was meant for?
The proctor smiled, sensing my quiet disappointment. "With Dexterity, you can land a very good job—usually one with solid compensation. It's not a superpower, but it's a strength in its own right. Your son will do well in a corporate environment or fields like art, labor, or even tech. And that's a solid future."
Mom and Dad exchanged looks, nodding in understanding. They were reassured. But I couldn't stop staring at my stats.
=======
{STATS}
Strength: 1
Perception: 1
Endurance: 1
Charisma: 1
Intelligence: 1
Agility: 1
Luck: 1
Dexterity: ???
Innate Talent: ███████
=======
I blinked. That's it? The only thing I was good at was—what, typing? No super strength, no mind-blowing charisma... just Dexterity?
I fought the urge to frown, trying to keep my composure. Well, I guess it's fine.
But what no one can see, was the "Innate Talent: The Dexterity Demon," hidden from view. It wasn't something anyone, not even my parents, could know about. It wasn't something that could be spoken of—especially not by the proctor, who stuck to the stats on the screen. However, it didn't excite me one bit remembering my friend as a chat support.