The Obsidian Hand, realizing their intel had been compromised, grew bolder, their attacks becoming more direct and more arcane. They targeted the Queen family with unsettling rituals and dark magic, forcing Michael to subtly reveal more of his abilities to protect them.
During one such attack, a shadowy figure attempted to ensnare Moira with a dark binding spell. Instinctively, Michael reacted, a pulse of emerald energy erupting from him, shattering the spell before it could take hold. Oliver witnessed the display, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief.
"Michael! What was that?" Oliver demanded, his voice a mixture of awe and suspicion.
Michael hesitated, the carefully constructed veil of normalcy finally cracking. He offered a carefully edited version of the truth, admitting to a connection to the island's energy, a change that had occurred during his time there, but still concealing the full extent of his power and the Libriomancy.
"The island… it changed me, Oliver," he explained, his voice strained. "I can… do things now. Things I don't fully understand."
Oliver was stunned but saw the genuine fear and protectiveness in Michael's eyes. He began to accept the unbelievable, realizing the threat they faced was far more complex than he had imagined.
Michael, however, remained guarded. He knew revealing the full truth, especially the "conduit" implication, would put them all in greater danger. His power remained his carefully guarded secret, a trump card he would only play when absolutely necessary.