Chapter 21: The coin in the air
Rhys held Milo’s gaze.
"We need to look into Eun-woo’s past," he said firmly. "I’ve noticed inconsistencies. Eun-woo told me that even before he was taken to the Research Center, he was already living in isolation. No school, no contact with other people."
The murmur returned, but this time in a lower, curious tone.
"I don’t think he was born through in vitro fertilization, as we suspected," Rhys continued. "Maybe he was conceived naturally. Maybe he was taken from his birth parents and handed over to a foster family that feared him for what he was. Or maybe..." He hesitated for a second before continuing, "perhaps his own parents abandoned him."
The room fell silent. Eyes shifted to Milo, Gunnar, even Caelan, waiting for a reaction.
Gunnar was the first to speak.
"And if what you say is true... if he really was conceived naturally... why didn’t anyone go looking for him? Maybe his parents are dead."
"Or maybe they don’t even know he’s alive," Rhys shot back. "There are too many possibilities and no certainties. That’s why we need to investigate. Because if he was conceived naturally, if his parents exist, if there are more like him... then Eun-woo isn’t the last esper."
His words hung in the air. Even the most skeptical remained silent, digesting that possibility.
"I need to know the truth." Rhys stepped forward, without hesitation. "And if there’s more to it than we think... we’re going to find out."
Gunnar rested his elbows on his knees and interlaced his fingers thoughtfully.