Standing from his chair, he walked over to the shelf behind him and retrieved a half empty bottle of amber liquid and two cups. Placing them down on the table, he filled the two glasses halfway and placed one in front of her.

“While I am disappointed in the amount of time it took you to put together the pieces, I am none the less pleased with the initiative displayed in coming to me with your theory and the fact that you utilized all the resources at your disposal in your search for answers,” he picked up the second cup and drank from it.

“Drink,” his words were a command and she obliged, picking up the glass in front of her, her nose wrinkling at the potent aroma of the alcohol which set her brain abuzz due to the sheer alcoholic content of the liquid. Putting the cup to her lips, she downed the content in one go, restraining the urge to cough as the liquid burned her throat as it went down, setting her nerves on fire with its intoxicating embrace, her mind slowly falling into the haze of inebriation.

The buzz lasted for a few seconds before fading, her body purging itself of the alcohol in a flash. Placing the glass down, she snuck a glance at Hadin, a flower of warmth blooming in her chest as she watched him nod approvingly. “Good,” he commented more to himself than her as he took his seat. “You told me that your condition has worsened. Explain,”

Taking a breath to gather her thoughts and steel her nerves, she began explaining. “It started with small things at first,” she began. “I started hearing better, seeing sharper, smelling things in more detail,” she paused to take in his expression in an attempt to gauge his reaction but was met by the same impassive expression as always.

“Then it got stronger. Beyond what can reasonably be classified as human,” she paused, searching her father’s face for any signs of disbelief, but she saw nothing, and to be honest, that unnerved her more than anything. The way nothing seemed to faze him, that every emotion that should exist was swallowed by something inside him. Something that she had tried her whole life to emulate.

Hadin stayed silent for a few seconds before pouring another cup for Mia which she promptly drained, the burn of the alcohol lasting a bit longer this time before her body purged it from her system as she took a breath, mentally sorted through the things that had happened to her, choosing to omit the ones that were too embarrassing for her to tell.

“Then I’m strong,” she paused, watching as Hadin raised a brow at her statement. “I don’t mean in a normal human way,” she clarified, “I mean I can lift a car over my head,” she watched as his brow lowered and caught the silent hitching of Rozie’s breath and the faint rustle of clothing as she sat up. “Its nice of you to join the discussion Rozie,” she called without looking, hoping that this proved her point to her father.

“Hadin,” Rozie called out, not bothering to respond to Mia’s call, “If she has reached this stage, I think it is time that you tell her,” she sent a knowing expression his way, watching as his posture shifted slightly.

Hadin stayed silent for a while, lost in thought before speaking, “Fine,” he pushed back his chair and stood up, putting his now empty cup and the empty bottle of alcohol aside before walking to the doors of the study. “I require proof of your claims,” he told her, pushing the door open and motioning for her to follow.

The two of them walked in complete silence that was only broken by their footsteps, Hadin silent and stoic as always while Mia’s silence was a product of her fears and worries of what would happen after she proved that she was indeed capable of the feats of strength she had claimed. Would he brand her a freak and chase her away? Or maybe he’d call the government and have her shipped off to some lab somewhere or do something worse. She was so consumed in her worries that she didn’t notice that they were already outside until a flick to her forehead brought her out of her thoughts, her eyes blinking rapidly to adjust to the evening sun.

“Lift,” he commanded, pointing to the vehicle in front of them; a massive well used tractor that weighed around seven tons.

“Father,” she started slowly, “That weighs more than a car. Significantly,” she pointed out.

“How astute,” his voice was laced with what could almost be perceived as sarcasm. “Either way, I want you to lift it. If you can lift it even by a little bit, I’ll believe you,” he told her, his voice firm and brooking no room for argument.

“Fine,” Mia sighed as she rolled up her sleeves while circling the tractor. Coming to a stop at the front of the tractor, she squatted and gripped it tightly, pausing to take a few deep breaths before slowly getting up, soft grunts of exertion escaping her lips as her feet sank into the ground while she lifted. With each grunt, the tractor was lifted higher and higher until the front half of the tractor was suspended over her head.

“See? Told you I could do it,” she grunted, her voice filled with vindication and smug satisfaction, her fears forgotten as she relished in her strength.

“Can you put it down? Without damaging the tractor?” her father ask in an impassive tone, this one laced with something she had come to dread; boredom or worse, disappointment. Her shoulders slumped as his request cut into her, hurting more than anything she had experienced.

“I don’t think so sir,” she replied, her excitement now gone. She heard him sigh in what she assumed was frustration and heard him approach. Coming to a stop next to her, he placed his hand underneath the tractor.

“Let go,” he instructed firmly.

“What?”

“Was I unclear? I said let go of the tractor,” he said, his expression neutral as he repositioned his palm next to hers. “Maria,” he said calmly, watching as her body stiffened visibly at the use of her full name. “You will let go of the tractor. Now,” he commanded, watching as she internally struggled with concerns for his safety and obeying him.

“But sir,” she began, only to be cut off by a sharp glare from her father.

“I appreciate your concern, but now isn’t the time for such,” he told her calmly. “Now let go,” he said once again, his tone indicating that he would not tolerate further disobedience from her. Seeing that her father was serious, Mia let go of the tractor, her body primed and ready to lunge in and hold it in place once things inevitably went south. Seconds passed, then a full minute, then two, fear turning to surprise as the tractor remained suspended in the air, held up by her father with a single hand.