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The day they had all been waiting for had finally come. As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the campus of Elemental University, the much-anticipated pre-party at Clara Caesar’s pool was about to commence. Clara, a fourth-year student known for her lavish gatherings, had outdone herself this time, transforming her backyard into an enchanting oasis.
Aurelia Oxide, with her hair shimmering like strands of spun gold, was the first to arrive, her excitement filling the air she floated weightlessly in. Selena Platina followed, her laughter ringing clear as a bell, while Nickolas Allen navigated through the throngs of students with a confident stride. Gallus Siliconson, his nerves barely contained, joined the trio, his eyes searching the crowd for familiar faces.
The four friends, who met in the most unexpected ways possible, were together, enjoying themselves.
As expected, Aurelia was the first to start conversation with her friends. “This is exciting, huh?” she asked.
“It is,” Nickolas replied. “Clara’s pool is huge.”
“It really is. It’d be so interesting if someone’s element like potassium or cesium reacts with water.” Selena mused. “That’d be a sight, huh?”
“Clara herself has cesium, and I doubt that’s ever happened.” Aurelia replied.
“Then, a radioactive reactive metal.” Nickolas said. “I don’t know what’s below cesium. I mostly only deal with iron, cobalt, nickel and other magnetic substances.”
“I think francium might do that.” Selena said to herself. “Aurelia, remember what we were talking about the other day? What it’d be like to have the power of francium?”
“What’s that?” asked Gallus. “Again, I only deal with silicon.”
“It’s a really reactive, radioactive metal. Imagine if someone with the francium power jumps in the pool and their francium reacts with the water.” Aurelia explained.
“Imagine if there’s a catalyst involved, like iron, or platinum?” Nickolas added.
Suddenly, all three turned toward Selena Platina, who looked confused, before realizing why they all looked at her. “What? Nickel is a catalyst, too! Now let’s get in the pool, and not waste time with chemistry.”
The laughter and chatter of the Elemental University students filled the air, mixing with the scent of chlorine and the soft glow of underwater lights. As the group approached the pool, Gallus hung back, a sense of unease creeping over him. He had always felt different, his powers never quite aligning with the others’, but tonight, it was obvious.
Aurelia, sensing his hesitation, turned back with a smile. “Come on, Gallus! The water’s perfect,” she called out, her voice light and inviting.
With a nod, Gallus stepped forward, but as he neared the water’s edge, a strange tingling sensation began to spread through his fingertips. It was a feeling he had never experienced before, a wild, crackling energy that seemed to be searching for an outlet.
Selena, ever the perceptive one, caught the flicker of concern in Gallus’ eyes. “Are you okay?” she asked, just as the first ripple of energy surged from Gallus’ hand into the pool.
The reaction was instantaneous. The water erupted in a cascade of bubbles and steam, a brilliant light emanating from the spot where Gallus’ hand had brushed the surface. Students screamed and scrambled back as the poolside turned into a frenzy of confusion and fear.
Gallus withdrew his hand, staring at it in disbelief. The energy had subsided, but the damage was done. The pool water was now a churning maelstrom, the chemical reaction continuing to unfold in a spectacle of light and sound.
Aurelia, Selena, and Nickolas rushed to Gallus’ side, their expressions a mix of concern and awe. “What just happened?” Aurelia gasped, her scientific mind racing to make sense of the phenomenon.
“I… I don’t know,” Gallus stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t mean to…”
“I don’t know if it’s gallium or silicon!”
The party had taken an unexpected turn, and as the students whispered and speculated, it was clear that the mystery of Gallus Siliconson was far deeper than anyone had imagined. And perhaps, just perhaps, the key to unlocking it lay not in the elements they knew, but in the uncharted territories of the periodic table.
His instability was even more of a danger now. He exited the pool, his whole body wet and trembling in fear. The water itself had turned whitish and semi-solid and felt slipperier than usual. Chemistry students could tell you it was probably basic, a hydroxide, but of what element, nobody quite knew.
The conversation about the reactive elements and their potential hazards at the pool party continued to spark curiosity and a hint of concern among the friends. As the night wore on, the party’s energy never waned, but Gallus remained unusually quiet, his mind preoccupied with the earlier incident and the strange sensations he had felt.
The Next Day
The morning sun cast a warm glow over the campus, signaling a new day at Elemental University. The events of the previous night’s pool party were the talk of the campus, with rumors swirling about the mysterious reaction in the water and Gallus’ unexpected role in it.
Aurelia, Selena, Nickolas, and Gallus found themselves seated in Dr. Xeno Aurelius’ office once again, the air dense with anticipation. The walls were lined with books on elemental chemistry, mathematics and framed pictures of Aurelia and her family.
Dr. Aurelius, looking more serious than usual, peered over his glasses at the four students. “I’ve been talking with people and finding out more about the incident from last night,” he began, his voice steady. “And I believe we’re dealing with something beyond our current understanding of elemental powers.”
Gallus shifted uncomfortably in his seat, the weight of the room’s gaze upon him. “Sir, I swear I didn’t mean to cause any trouble,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. His eyes looked bloodshot; he couldn’t sleep because he was haunted by the ghost of his powers.
Dr. Aurelius raised a hand to silence him. “Gallus, this isn’t about assigning blame. It’s about discovery. Your powers are unique, and we need to explore them further to prevent any future… mishaps.”
Aurelia leaned forward; her curiosity piqued. “So, what’s the plan, Dr. A?”
“We’ll start with a series of controlled experiments,” Dr. Aurelius explained. “We need to identify the exact nature of Gallus’ powers. I believe that he probably had three elements all along, though the third must be awakening just now… also, ‘Dr. A’, that’s a new one…”
Selena nodded, her eyes reflecting a mix of worry and determination. “We’re with you, Gallus. Whatever it takes, we’ll figure this out together.”
“Actually,” he said, “I think your platinum and Nickolas’ nickel are behaving as catalysts, awakening whatever dormant element is inside.”
“Wait, so we’re to blame?!” Nickolas asked, aghast. “Selena and I only mean well!”
“I know, but this is dangerous, and I’m a little jaded in this field, honestly. I think we should go to scientists who do these tests on a daily basis….”
“But… isn’t this outside the university, dad?” Aurelia asked.
“It is.”
“Am I allowed?” she asked, expecting a frown and a stern ‘no’. However, what he said next shocked her.
“Yes, you are. You’ve been cooped up here for 18 years. It’s time for a change. But first, I have to inform all your parents. We leave on Monday.”
As the meeting concluded, the friends exited the office with a new sense of purpose. The path ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear: they were about to embark on an unprecedented journey into the unknown realms of elemental science.
[A/N: I'm on a roll with these terrified Gallus pics in every art style possible. Hell I even decided to use my og concept art]
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