A month or two had passed since Aurelia and Nickolas signed the contract, and nothing had really changed. The sun was beginning to set, casting shadows across the Elemental University campus. Gallus and Selena found themselves walking along the tree-lined paths, enjoying the serenity that the evening brought. The campus was alive with the soft rustling of leaves and the distant laughter of students, creating a backdrop for their stroll.
Gallus, his hand intertwined with Selena’s, had a thoughtful expression on his face. His powers, as unpredictable and unstable as they were, had been acting up more than usual over the past few months. He could feel the energy coursing through him, like a dam about to burst open. It was a constant reminder of the uncertainty that lay ahead.
Selena, sensing his unease, gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. She radiated a calming energy, a stark contrast to the turmoil within Gallus. She looked at him, concern in her eyes. “Francium being a pain?” she asked, her voice gentle.
Gallus nodded, his gaze fixed on the path ahead. The question of his unstable powers was one that ate away at their heads, a puzzle they were yet to solve. But in this moment, with Selena by his side, he found the strength to force a smile. “Just a little,” he admitted. “But screw francium. Right now, I just want to enjoy this walk with you.”
As they continued their stroll, the sky above the campus transformed into a canvas of orange and purple hues, the setting sun painting a breathtaking picture of colors. The laughter and chatter around them seemed to fade into the background, their world narrowing down to just the two of them.
Suddenly, Gallus felt a surge of energy, stronger than anything he had experienced before. His hand, still holding Selena’s, started to glow with an intense green light. He could feel the francium within him reacting, the energy threatening to explode. He let go of her hand swiftly, panic setting in, as he felt the slight throbbing sensation.
“Selena,” he managed to say, his voice strained. “I think… I think it’s happening again.”
Before Selena could respond, a brilliant light erupted from Gallus, illuminating the entire campus. His powers, unstable and unpredictable, had once again taken a turn for the worse. As the light faded, Gallus collapsed, leaving Selena in shock and the campus in chaos.
The sudden thud of a body hitting the floor echoed off the walls, slicing through the chatter like a sharp blade. A hush fell over the crowd as a circle formed around Gallus’ collapsed figure lying motionless on the stone tiles.
A few students, filled with concern, rushed over to his side. Among them were medical students, their minds racing with adrenaline. They knew that every second counted, and yet, the gravity of the situation seemed to weigh heavily on their ability to think clearly. They huddled together, urgently whispering among themselves, trying to connect their training with the reality before them.
“Check his pulse,” one student suggested, her voice barely above a whisper, as she knelt beside the young man. Her fingers trembled as she searched for the radial artery at his wrist.
Another student, more assertive, instructed, “Look for his ID, we need to know if he has any medical conditions.”
As they worked, their initial panic began to subside, replaced by the focused determination that their rigorous education had instilled in them. They recalled the ABCs of first aid—Airway, Breathing, Circulation—and systematically began to assess the situation. One checked for obstructions in the airway while another listened for the sound of breath. A third student prepared to administer chest compressions, counting under her breath to maintain the rhythm that could keep Gallus’s heart beating.
Watching all this, Selena couldn’t help but feel a pang of appreciation for the medical field, but, more than anything, she was worried about him. One of the students came up to her, almost as much concern in her eyes as there was in Selena’s.
“Excuse me,” she asked Selena, “Could you tell me more about what happened?”
“It’s because he only has two powers, instead of the usual three,” Selena answered. It was an age-old lie the group used to hide the radioactive francium he wielded. “It causes his powers to glitch out sometimes.”
Selena’s voice was steady, but her eyes betrayed her worry. “He’s been having these episodes more frequently,” she added. “They’re unpredictable, but they seem to be triggered by emotional stress or physical exertion.”
The student nodded, taking in the information. “We’ll do our best to stabilize him,” she assured Selena. “But he needs to see a specialist who can help manage his powers.”
As the medical students continued their efforts, Selena could only watch, her heart pounding in her chest. She felt helpless, a feeling she despised. She was a fighter, always ready to face any challenge head-on. But this… this was something she couldn’t fight.
She looked at Gallus, lying motionless on the ground, his face pale under the campus lights. She remembered his smile, his laughter, the way his eyes lit up when he talked with her. She remembered his strength, his resilience, his unwavering determination. And she knew, without a doubt, that he would fight this. He would overcome this, just like he had overcome everything else.
The crowd around them seemed to blur into the background. Her focus was on Gallus alone. She wondered what she could do at the moment to help him. ‘I wish I could levitate him to the infirmary, or heal him then and there, but alas, we’re not all Aurelia Oxide…’ she thought to herself. But that was it. Aurelia Oxide.
She pulled out her phone and called Aurelia, who had gone to visit the professors’ quarters in the residential area of the campus with Thalia. The seconds felt like days as she waited for the ringing to stop, and to hear Aurelia’s voice behind the line.
“Hello,” Aurelia said. “Selena, can I call you later? I’m just about to beat my dad at Mario Kart. Again.”
Selena groaned. “Girl, put the controller down and get over here. Uncle Frank decided to pay Gallus a little visit from France,” she said, voice barely above a whisper.
“Gallus has a French uncle called Frank?” Aurelia asked, confused. “What are you talking about?”
“Aurelia Oxide, I will murder you if you don’t get over here this instant.” Selena hissed. “Gallus had an episode.”
“Oh, you mean francium? Girl, you’re making it sound as if it’s that time of the month. I’ll be right there. Where exactly?”
Upon hearing the word francium, Dr. Aurelius dropped his controller at once, and his eyes widened. ‘Everything okay?’ he motioned to Aurelia, who shook her head as she listened to Selena tell her the exact spot on campus.
Aurelia, still on the phone with Selena, quickly grabbed her bag and rushed out of the room, leaving her father and her controller behind. She sprinted across the campus, her heart pounding in her chest. The usually vibrant and lively campus had taken on a solemn tone, the laughter and chatter replaced by worried whispers and anxious glances.
As she neared the crowd, she could see the medical students huddled around Gallus, their faces etched with concern. She pushed through the crowd, her eyes meeting Selena’s. The worry in Selena’s eyes mirrored her own, but there was also a glimmer of hope. They both knew that if anyone could help Gallus, it was Aurelia.
Aurelia knelt beside Gallus, her eyes glowing with a soft blue light as she prepared to use her powers. She could feel the energy radiating off him, the francium within him unstable and volatile. She took a deep breath, focusing her energy on stabilizing his powers.
As she worked, the crowd watched in awe, their whispers growing quieter. The campus, once filled with the sounds of laughter and chatter, was now silent, the only sound being the soft hum of Aurelia’s powers. The tension was intense, everyone holding their breath as they waited for a sign, any sign, that Gallus was going to be okay.
After what felt like an eternity, Aurelia let out a sigh of relief. The glow from her hands faded, and she slumped back, exhaustion written all over her face. But there was a smile on her lips, and when she looked up at Selena, her eyes were shining with triumph.
“He’s stable,” she announced, her voice barely above a whisper. But it was enough. The crowd erupted into cheers, their relief palpable. The medical students, their faces flushed with relief and admiration, thanked Aurelia for her help. "For now, temporarily. I can't work miracles. Be careful, man."
But amidst the celebration, Aurelia’s gaze was fixed on Gallus. He was still unconscious, but his breathing was steady, and the color was returning to his face. She reached out, gently brushing a lock of hair from his face. “You’re going to be okay, Gallus,” she murmured, her voice filled with relief and affection. “You’re going to be okay.”
Her eyes began glowing again, as she proceeded to slowly lift him using her power, and began walking toward the infirmary, a trail of concerned students behind them.
Gallus let out a soft groan, as his eyelids fluttered open. “Aurelia?” he muttered, as he looked around at his surroundings. “W-what happened? Put me down!” he protested, as he felt his feet slowly touch the ground and the blue light from Aurelia’s powers faded away.
“You had another episode…” Aurelia answered. “I was gonna take you to the infirmary, but… I guess you’re all right, huh?”
“Yeah,” he answered, a blush of embarrassment forming on his cheeks. “I forgot my pills again, I guess…”
Gallus, still a bit shaky, managed to get back to normal, brushing off the dirt from his clothes. He looked around at the crowd, their faces filled with relief and awe. He gave them a small wave, a sheepish smile on his face. “I’m okay, guys,” he assured them. “Just a minor glitch.”
The crowd slowly dispersed, the students returning to their activities. The campus, once filled with tension and worry, was slowly returning to its usual lively atmosphere. The laughter and chatter started to fill the air again, the students sharing their stories of the evening’s events.
Selena, who had been watching the whole scene unfold, finally let out a sigh of relief. She walked over to Gallus and hugged him, her eyes filled with concern. “You scared us, Gallus,” she said, breaking the hug, her voice soft. “You need to be more careful.”
Gallus nodded, his gaze meeting hers. “I know, Selena,” he replied. “I’ll try to be more careful next time…”
Aurelia, who had been standing a little distance away, walked over to them. “You better,” she said, crossing her arms, her tone stern but her eyes filled with relief. “We can’t have you causing a scene every time you forget your pills.”
Gallus chuckled, a hint of his usual humor returning. “I’ll try my best, Aurelia,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “But no promises.”
As they walked away, the campus lights illuminating their path, they couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. Meanwhile, the incident sparked a wave of discussions among the students and faculty at Elemental University. The event served as a wake-up call, highlighting the need for better resources and support for students dealing with unique power-related challenges. The university administration began considering new policies and programs to address these issues.
In the midst of it all, Gallus couldn’t help but still feel a mild discomfort, like something was going to go wrong. The air grew heavy, charged with an electric anticipation that made the hairs on his arms stand on end. Students around him were too caught up in their tasks to notice the subtle shift in the atmosphere, the way the leaves on the trees had calmed as if holding their breath, or how the birds had ceased their chatter, sensing the change before any human could.
Something was coming, but he wasn’t quite sure just what.
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