Everyone was stunned into silence. Trevor couldn't help but smile with pure glee as he stared at the sleek watch now resting in his hands. He hadn't been a hundred percent sure his risky move would work, but seeing it succeed filled him with overwhelming joy and relief.
"So… I can have the watch, right?" Trevor asked, his voice steady despite the excitement bubbling inside him.
The girl could only grit her teeth in frustration. With visible reluctance, she extended her arm and handed over the prize. Trevor accepted it eagerly, sliding the watch onto his wrist. The cool, metallic feel against his skin sent a pleasant shiver up his arm, and he couldn't suppress the wide grin that spread across his face.
All around them, people cast envious glances his way. Some whispered among themselves, while others stared openly with jealousy in their eyes. Trevor pretended not to notice any of it. He simply adjusted the watch comfortably and acted as though the attention didn't bother him in the slightest.
Alvin walked over quickly, clapping Trevor on the back with genuine enthusiasm. "Nice one, man! That was insane!" Together, the two friends left the crowded parking lot, chatting excitedly as they moved away from the scene.
Once they were far enough from the commotion, Trevor couldn't resist any longer. He activated the watch to check his personal stats and attributes. Alvin leaned in close, equally curious to see the results.
A soft beep echoed from the device.
**Beep. Determining Attributes…)*
**Name:** Unknown
**Tier:** Glimpser
**Group:** Unknown
Trevor stared at the holographic display, feeling a wave of confusion wash over him. He didn't have any strong preference for a particular group, but given his recent experiences and physical abilities, he had naturally assumed he would be placed in the combat sector. The group one belonged to wasn't something a person simply chose for themselves. Instead, after performing a specialized test, the system analyzed their personality, skills, body structure, and potential before assigning the most suitable category.
The time watch on Trevor's wrist was supposed to conduct that very test automatically and provide accurate feedback. Yet right now, it displayed nothing but "Unknown" for his group. It made no sense.
"Maybe it's broken?" Alvin suggested, frowning at the screen.
"Yeah, I think so too," Trevor replied, trying to hide his growing disappointment. "Here, you try it. Let's see what it says for you."
Alvin nodded and carefully fastened the watch around his own wrist. After a brief pause, the device beeped again.
*(Beep. Determining Attributes…)*
**Name:** Unknown
**Tier:** Glimpser
**Group:** Combat
Both boys froze in place, staring at the clear result. It made absolutely no sense. The same watch had worked perfectly for Alvin, assigning him to the Combat group without any issues. Yet for Trevor, it still refused to provide a group classification. A knot of worry began to form in Trevor's stomach as dozens of unanswered questions flooded his mind. Unfortunately, there was no one around who could explain what was happening.
Alvin gave his friend a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Don't overthink it, man. The watch is probably just defective. We'll save up some money and get a proper test done at a certified center later."
Trevor forced a nod, though the uncertainty still lingered heavily in his thoughts.
**********
Later that evening, in a lively bar filled with loud music, dancing crowds, and the smell of alcohol, a serious conversation was taking place away from the chaos. A well-dressed man sat across from two teenagers in a dimly lit corner booth. If Trevor had been present, he would have been shocked to recognize them as the brother and sister from the earlier watch incident.
"So, did it happen exactly as I predicted?" the man asked, leaning forward with keen interest.
"Just as you said," the girl replied calmly. "Someone managed to bypass the time disruptor and claim the prize."
"Oh, do tell me more," the man urged, a satisfied smile creeping onto his face.
"The person's name is Trevor. He's seventeen years old, recently advanced, and he's set to enroll at the A-3 District Military Academy. He gained some attention after helping Captain Emilia stop a group of terrorists not long ago," the girl explained in detail.
The man nodded approvingly. "Excellent work, Mia. Your hacking skills are proving very useful. This is precisely the kind of information we needed."
Mia's ability to gather such comprehensive data on Trevor in such a short time was impressive. She hadn't even fully activated her powers yet, which made her talent all the more frightening to those who understood its potential.
"Well, you and your brother may leave now," the man said, waving his hand dismissively. "I have no further jobs for you at the moment."
Mia and her brother stood up and began walking toward the exit. Just as they reached the door, the man's voice stopped them.
"Oh, and one more thing," he added. "Both of you will be enrolled at the A-3 District Military Academy as well. I need you to keep a close eye on that kid, Trevor. Report anything unusual immediately."
The siblings exchanged a quick glance before nodding silently and stepping out into the night.
**********
Back at home, Trevor lay on his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. His mind kept replaying the events of the day, especially the strange behavior of the watch. The room was quiet except for the faint hum of the city outside his window.
Suddenly, Omar emerged from the side of his neck, the small entity stayed by the side of Trevor, as he studied Trevor's expression.
"Why the long face?" Omar asked. "Are you still upset about the whole watch situation?"
Trevor remained silent for a moment.
"Look, kid," Omar continued in a surprisingly wise and gentle tone, "you must not expect your life's course to be exactly the same as someone else's. You have a different path and a unique destiny waiting for you. It's yours to discover and shape—not something to compare with others."
Trevor chuckled softly after hearing the motivational speech. "Why the sudden speech? I wasn't even thinking about the watch thing," he said with a small smile.
"Yeah, you can lie to anyone else if you want," Omar replied, "but not to me. I can read your mind, remember?"
Trevor simply shook his head, amused by the little creature's confidence.
"Hey, Omar," he asked after a brief pause, "do you have any idea what my group actually is?"
Omar's expression became serious. He crawled closer and looked directly into Trevor's eyes. "I'm sorry, kid, but that is something only you can find out. No one else can help you with that part of your journey."
With those final words, Omar gave a small nod and retreated back into his resting place near Trevor's neck.
After Omar disappeared, Trevor felt an unexpected sense of calm wash over him. The heavy weight of worry that had been pressing on his chest seemed to lift slightly. He didn't understand why, but he felt much better. Before long, his eyelids grew heavy, and he drifted into a peaceful sleep without even realizing it.