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As the first rays of the sun pierced through the stormy clouds, a new day dawned over Elemental University. The campus, which had been a battleground of revelations and discoveries the previous day, was now eerily calm, as if holding its breath for the events to unfold.
The group, each member grappling with the weight of the previous day’s revelations, woke up to a day filled with promise and uncertainty. The mission was clear - to uncover the truth behind Alithea’s tragic end, ensure it never happened again, and to stop the storm. But the path to achieving it was shrouded in mystery and fraught with danger.
In the residential area, the effects of the storm were becoming increasingly apparent. The levitating shrubs, the shaking trees, the complaining dogs - it was clear that the storm was affecting more than just the weather. It was bestowing the animals and plants with some sort of energy or power, a phenomenon that needed to be understood if they were to find a way to stop it.
With the government holiday providing a much-needed break from classes, the group decided to assemble at the university’s main hall. The hall, usually bustling with students, was eerily quiet, the storm casting a dull mood over the campus.
As they gathered around a large table, the weight of their mission hung greatly in the air. The storm outside raged on, a reminder of the task at hand. But within the hall, a different kind of storm was brewing - a storm of ideas, theories, and plans. All three pairs shared their findings, and everything that had happened. The core, Gallus’ power surge, the conversation with the professor, nothing was hidden from the others.
Aurelia, taking the lead, started the discussion. “We need to understand this storm better,” she said, her gaze steady. “We know it’s linked to Gallus’s francium, but we need to figure out how to neutralize it.”
Lead nodded, adding, “And we need to do it without causing harm to Gallus or anyone else affected by the storm.”
Gallus, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. “What if we could somehow dilute the storm’s energy? Like, spread it out so it’s less concentrated?”
Nickolas, deep in thought, suggested, “Or maybe we could find a way to ground it? Like how lightning rods work.”
Selena chimed in, “Or perhaps we could find a way to channel the storm’s energy into something else. Something that could handle that kind of power.”
“I think we can neutralize the core, like we did for Gallus’ francium. The storm didn’t cause much trouble until yesterday when he forgot his pills,” Thalia added.
“That’s a good thought, Thalia,” Aurelia replied.
“I have to disagree here,” Lead shook his head, “the core is used to generate electricity in the school. If it’s switched off, the whole school is too.”
“Fair point,” Gallus remarked. “But maybe it’ll work…”
“Gallus, try using your francium power. Copy Selena’s selenium ability to change the color of things,” Nickolas said, his voice calm and calculating.
“Why?” she asked. “It’s a lame power to begin with.”
“To test if the pills make it hard for him to use the powers on purpose, with his full concentration. He can’t use them accidentally. Maybe they’re controlled.” he answered, before a small smirk grew across his face. “Maybe try holding hands or something, like how a touch made you react with the water at the pool, and with Aurelia’s mom’s fluorine.”
Gallus looked at Selena, a hint of uncertainty in his eyes. “Alright,” he said, reaching out to take her hand. The room fell silent as everyone watched, their breaths held in anticipation.
As their hands touched, there was a brief flicker of energy, a spark that made Gallus flinch. But he held on, focusing his mind on Selena’s power. He could feel the energy coursing through him, strange and unfamiliar, but not entirely unpleasant.
“Try changing the color of that vase,” Nickolas suggested, pointing to a ceramic vase on a nearby shelf.
Gallus turned his attention to the vase, concentrating hard. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, slowly, the vase began to change color, its original blue hue fading into a vibrant green.
The room erupted in cheers, but Gallus quickly let go of Selena’s hand, the vase returning to its original color. “That was… intense,” he said, looking a little dazed.
“It seems the pills do have a controlling effect,” Aurelia mused. “But we still need to figure out how to neutralize the storm.”
“Yeah, but maybe the electricity flow will be as usual, because they specifically channel that, but the power flow isn’t normal.” Thalia replied, summarizing the flow of thoughts flowing through her head since the previous night.
Aurelia nodded. “Thalia, your point stands. We have to confirm this though. I think it’s time for a little trip to Dr. Aurelius,” she said, an odd sensation within her as she addressed her father by his formal title.
“Agreed,” said Lead, on the same page as Aurelia for once. “We need to understand the full extent of the storm’s effects and how the core and the pills are involved. Dr. Aurelius might have some insights.”
“Let’s prepare a list of questions to ask him,” suggested Nickolas. “We need to make the most of this opportunity.”
"Now I officially feel bad for him, and also kinda admire him for putting up with so many of us everyday." Aurelia muttered to herself, shaking her head.
As they began to brainstorm and jot down their questions, the storm outside seemed to echo their determination. The mission was far from over, but they were one step closer to understanding the storm and hopefully, stopping it.
At that same moment, Dr. Aurelius found himself in the comfort of his residential area home, clarifying the proportions of treats to food to the dean’s pet cat, who was taking full advantage of the fact that the humans were all at home.
As he was describing the dietary balance of treats to food, the ginger Persian cat, perched attentively on the windowsill, replied with a hint of amusement in its voice, “Indeed, a most fascinating theory, Doctor, but might I suggest a practical demonstration?” The cat’s eyes gleamed with a mix of interest and eagerness for the awaiting treat-based experiment.
While he was still processing the cat’s request, he was momentarily distracted by the gentle tapping at his door. “Years of research, and I’m consulting with animals,” he muttered under his breath, a cynical smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he anticipated the sight of his loyal canine companion on the other side, returning from a consultation with the psychology professor on why his levitating, bubbly golden human suddenly disappeared.
With a soft chuckle, he strode over and swung the door open. “Come on in, Max… I told you, Aurelia went outside to study. She is not in danger.” he said, before realizing he was being greeted by the faces of five baffled teenagers and one nearly bursting out in laughter, and not that of his adorable golden retriever.
“Dad, we are in danger.” Aurelia deadpanned, while her friends exchanged confused looks.
Dr. Aurelius blinked, taken aback by the sudden seriousness of his daughter’s tone. “Alright,” he said, stepping aside to let them in. “Let’s hear it.”
As they walked into the room, Aurelia took a deep breath and began to explain their findings, their theories, and their fears. She talked about the storm, Gallus’s powers, the core, and the pills. She talked about their mission to stop the storm and ensure that Alithea’s tragic end never happened again.
Dr. Aurelius listened, his expression growing more serious with each revelation. When Aurelia finished, there was a moment of silence as he processed everything.
Finally, he spoke, “I see. This is… a lot to take in. But… I do want to help. At this rate I might as well go back to teaching elemental manipulation.”
“Thank you, doctor. We need to neutralize the core, and we think that maybe Gallus’ pills are the answer.” Nickolas said, a firm, steely look in his eyes. “Could you tell us more about them?”
Dr. Aurelius, after a moment of contemplation, began to explain. “The pills that Gallus has been taking are not just any ordinary medication. They are a specially designed compound that Dr. Palladium, the scientist at the lab and I developed to help control the effects of his francium abilities.”
He continued, “Francium is an incredibly unstable element. Its instability is what gives Gallus the copying powers, but it also makes those powers difficult to control. The pills work by stabilizing the francium within his body, allowing him to use his powers without causing harm to himself or others.”
“But there’s more to it,” he added. “The pills also have a secondary function. They act as a sort of ‘energy sponge,’ absorbing the excess energy produced by Gallus’s powers. This energy is then safely dissipated, preventing it from causing any damage.”
“The storm,” he said, gesturing towards the window, “is a result of an imbalance in this energy absorption and dissipation process. When Gallus forgot to take his pills, the energy wasn’t absorbed and dissipated as it should have been. Instead, it was released into the environment, resulting in the storm we’re seeing now. And it’s growing stronger because of our school’s core.”
“So, in a way, the pills are the key to stopping the storm,” Dr. Aurelius concluded. “If we can figure out a way to replicate their energy absorption and dissipation function on a larger scale, we might be able to neutralize the storm.”
“Maybe a neutralization reactions? I don’t know, I deal with biology more than chemistry,“ Aurelia shrugged. "Even though the word 'biochemistry' is mostly 'chemistry'."
Dr. Aurelius nodded at Aurelia’s suggestion. “That’s an interesting way to put it, Aurelia. A neutralization reaction… yes, that could work. We need to find a ‘base’ that can neutralize the ‘acid’, or in this case, the excess energy produced by the francium. The pills Gallus takes could be seen as this ‘base’. They absorb and dissipate the energy, effectively neutralizing it. Without them, the energy is released unchecked, causing the storm.”
He paused, deep in thought. “If we could replicate the function of these pills on a larger scale, we might be able to neutralize the storm. It’s certainly worth exploring. Thank you, Aurelia, for your insightful suggestion.” He gave her a warm smile, appreciative of her input and secretly proud of her.
As the group continued their discussion, they began to formulate a plan. They knew they needed to understand the storm better, to figure out how to neutralize it, and to do so without causing harm to Gallus or anyone else affected by the storm. They considered various approaches, from diluting the storm’s energy to grounding it, from channeling the storm’s energy into something else to neutralizing the core.
The idea of using a neutralization reaction, as suggested by Aurelia, seemed promising. If they could find a ‘base’ that could neutralize the ‘acid’, or in this case, the excess energy produced by the francium, they might be able to stop the storm. The pills Gallus takes could be seen as this ‘base’. They absorb and dissipate the energy, effectively neutralizing it. Without them, the energy is released unchecked, causing the storm.
“Also,” Thalia added, “Why is Chadwick here?” she asked, pointing to her pet cat, perched on the windowsill, listening to their every word attentively.
“Wait, Thalia?” the cat asked. “I thought you were dead! You go out every day, but one day you never came back!”
“Quite the contrary, I was right here in the college,” Thalia replied, walking over to pet her cat. She turned around, holding Chadwick. “Maybe we should keep the storm, so our pets keep their powers.”
With a shared laugh echoing in the room, the group felt a moment of lightness amidst the storm. The idea of their pets retaining their powers brought a sense of amusement, a brief respite from the weight of their mission.
As the laughter subsided, they returned to their discussion, their determination renewed. They had a plan now - to head to the college’s top laboratory, replicate the function of Gallus’s pills on a larger scale, to act as a ‘base’ that could neutralize the ‘acid’. It was a daunting task, but they were ready to face it.
They entered the lab, they were greeted by the hum of machinery and the faint scent of chemicals. Under Dr. Aurelius’ able leadership, finally settling the age-old debate between Aurelia and Lead (it was neither of them, what a waste of time and energy), they set to work. Aurelia and Nickolas focused on understanding the core’s energy output, while Thalia and Selena worked on copying the function of Gallus’s pills. Lead, with his understanding of elemental manipulation, worked on devising a way to channel the storm’s energy safely, while poor Gallus’s powers were the test subject for the experiment.
Hours turned into days as they worked tirelessly, their determination unwavering. There were moments of frustration, of setbacks and failures, but they pressed on, driven by their shared mission.
Until they had a breakthrough.
With their plan in place, the team ventured underground, into the heart of the Elemental University. The air was thick with anticipation as they navigated the labyrinthine tunnels, their path illuminated by the faint glow of the core’s energy.
They arrived at a cavernous chamber, the walls glistening with a strange, acidic compound. In the center of the room was a pit, filled with a volatile, bubbling liquid. This was the acid they needed to neutralize.
Aurelia held up a vial, the ‘base’ they had synthesized in the lab. It was a simple compound, but it held the potential to neutralize the acid and stabilize the core’s energy.
With a nod from Lead, Aurelia stepped forward. She uncorked the vial and carefully poured the base into the pit. There was a hiss, a sizzle, and then…
Suddenly, the ground beneath them started to shake. The walls of the chamber trembled, and the acid in the pit began to bubble more violently. They had expected a reaction, but nothing like this.
As the shaking intensified, they realized something was wrong. The reaction was too strong, too unstable. Had they miscalculated?
And then, just as panic was about to set in, everything went dark…
[PFP:
"Okay, single file please!" Dr. Aurelius called out, his voice feebled by the murmuring of the animals. "Uh, Budgie, please stop pecking my glasses, please? I know you and that history professor are new here, but--"
He was cut off by a familiar tug on his track pants, an odd combination with the lab coat he had put on to look more formal. (He felt insecure doing anything people-related without a jacket on, and the lab coat was the nearest one.)
"Max, what's wrong? Not you too, you have to wait your turn."
"I need to look for Gold Human," he said, a look of determination in his eyes.
"Once again, Max, she's--" Max stormed out before he could explain, "gone for college."
]
ns 18.68.41.177da2
