Become stronger, after a few more questions.

"If I take this seriously, will it be worth it? I... I might have to change, completely. The person that I am right now... well, he's never done anything successfully before now. And if I changed enough to do that, would me even exist anymore?"

These questions are beyond my ability to answer. However, I will ask you one thing in response. What exactly are you so afraid of losing, Leon Marshall?

He wanted to shout "Everything you idiot!" and he almost did. But then he thought about who he was, to himself, and to the people around him.

Someone who nearly flunked out of high school and blamed it on anything but himself. Someone who spied on his neighbor for years but couldn't work up the courage to have just one normal conversation with her. Someone that never put any effort into anything for fear of failing when he’d done his best? Someone who wasn't there for his sister when she became as isolated as he was? Someone pitied and babied by his own mom?

Nothing, he realized. I'm not afraid to lose anything at all.

"Nothing." he repeated out loud.

Good. Then I will do my best to steer you ever onward, inheritor of the Chronicle System.

"Thank you... I think," he said, wondering if he'd already lost his mind and was currently being cordial with his imaginary pet camera. "Can I ask a few more questions though?"

Yes, Leon Marshall?

He grinned. "Will taking all of this seriously mean that I can't see anything else like what happened in the yard?"

Why, as it so happens, no Leon Marshall. It doesn't mean that at all.

Leon thought the AI might have said that with a wink, but he probably imagined it.

"Alright, we're nearly done here, but I need to know one more thing. That shit that went down outside... The System made that happen?"

Yes and no. Those two have done similar things before. The System merely planted the idea in their heads to go outside and behave as if they had an audience.

"Planted the idea in their head? Is that one of my powers?"

If you make excellent use of the Chronicle System, perhaps. That display was simply a goodwill gift from the System. Would you like to see your current Soul Link ranks, as well as their associated advantages? Perhaps they will make things clearer to you.