System Discord

At the dinner that night, Evan sat at his usual chair with his mom and dad. They both looked confused at the berries that he had brought back, the same best quality ones he had done in the past two days.

"I think you've mastered picking the berries. And just in two days time without me checking on you." Erwin says. He watched as Sylvia inspects each one from the container to another.

He sounded really impressed, since Evan didn't seem to really help out with picking them whenever they go through the forest before.

They were already done with their dinner, with their plates washed and their leftovers covered with other plates so they can eat the rest for the next day.

Sylvia finished after a few more minutes, in awe that she didn't have to separate any more berries that couldn't be mixed into the jam she was planning to make. 

She usually would separate them before, since neither father or son knew how to do pick them right. Sylvia had her work in the market starting in the early mornings after breakfast so she couldn't pick up the berries herself. She did in the past, but after picking up the market work, she didn't have the time.

At least, Erwin knew how to pick them a bit after some tips she managed to find out herself were taught to her husband. Now, she's looking at the berries her son picked up, looking like the best quality she has ever seen, and it isn't the first time!

"Wow! Three days in a row! My little star is learning very quickly!" Her smile is bright as she hugs her son.

Evan hums and hugs back. "I'm not doing anything special, just following what I saw dad did before." 

It was not a complete lie, but not a complete truth either.

He hasn't told his parents about the watch and the Simulation Zone that had been helping him pick the berries. It feels like he was cheating, but it really is just a tool of sorts... Or is it just his ability now?

They didn't seem to be asking about the watch anymore, location or otherwise either. Evan asked his mom if she had seen it before he even heard of Iva's new voice. But after that... nothing.

Evan trusts them with his entire being, but he knew that he didn't have the courage to tell them what the Simulation Zone is yet, because he didn't know what exactly it is either. Not to mention he has a voice talking to him inside his head too. He will just sound crazy.

One day, he knows he will mention about the watch and Iva. But for now, it's a secret he'll keep. It's not like he can keep it hidden forever from them anyway.

"In a different topic, Terrien told me he knew some folks who would want to buy our jam. He's been saying that ours taste better than the ones in the market." Erwin says. 

Sylvia smiles. "We have our little lucky charm here to thank for then."

Evan pulls away from the hug before pointing at the jam. "If it sells really well, maybe I can help you both with the money while I'm here. I can pick berries and if mom teaches me how to make jam, I can add it to my daily routine while you both are doing work. That way, mom, you don't have to make the jam anymore. I can take care of that."

The couple looks at each other before turning back to him. "Buddy, we talked about this. Let us worry about the expenses."

Evan furrowed his eyebrows slightly. "But I want to help."

"And you don't have to." Sylvia placed a hand on Evan's head. "You haven't been visiting Samuel in a while. You used to sneak to get there and now, you're usually just here at home."

"Your mother's right. The only things you do here are the routines we can do when we get back." Erwin sighs. "By the time we get back, sometimes, we see you asleep in your room. We're worried about you."

Evan sees the worry in their expression. They were saying the truth. He hasn't been outside too far, just far enough to reach the first part of the forest to grab the berries. But other than, there really wasn't anything that he has done that his parents have noticed.

Sure, he had been trying to train his hold onto the Simulation Zone, if that could be called training.

Truth be told, he had only been trying to throw things at the ability and hoping that something works. So far, he only has half ideas and none that seems to be working or something might have been and he's just not sure. It was all a mess.

"I know..." Evan finally says. "But if it helps, just even a little bit, I really want to help. Please let me?"

Sylvia pursed her lips to glance at her husband before nodding her head. "Okay then, come here and help me set this all up. You can watch for now so you'll have an idea on how to make this."

Evan eagerly jumped up to the challenge.

Just as Evan was starting to help make the jam, Sylvia pulls back an Erwin attempting to make an escape. "And that includes you, mister."

"But-" Erwin's protest was just drowned by the laughter between his wife and son.

--/--/--/--/--

Somewhere within the Xertle city...

"You're telling me that Theobald got his daughter back because you lost her!?"

A loud crackling sound of electricity echoed in the room. The table that got hit was slightly splintered, even if there was no hand that hit it.

Two men could only nod their heads, the fear making them unable to speak.

"Idiots! He's going to start suspecting one of the nobles is responsible." The voice paused, before a short chuckle fills the room. "No matter. We'll use this setback to our advantage. Tell the brat it's time to try for Stardust."

The men could only nod, bow and leave the room immediately.

The owner of the voice watched as the men leave the office. If it weren't for someone meddling in the plans, that brat would've been out of the picture already.

Still, the plan is in motion. All that needs to be done is to push it a little earlier than how it was set. It is inevitable after all.