x
As the dawn broke, the campus of Elemental University stirred back to life. The group, each carrying the weight of the previous night’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.
After their classes were over, Aurelia and Lead, who were tasked with talking to Dr. Aurelius, head to the Mathematics building to do precisely that. The tension between the two was inevitable, but Lead knew that Aurelia was the best person to accompany him on the interrogation. Similarly, Aurelia knew that Lead was the best person to narrate everything he saw in the lab, considering she wasn’t there.
When Aurelia opened the door, she was met with a warm smile by her father, who was in a good mood that day. “Aurelia, what brings you here? And who’s your new friend?”
Aurelia explained everything, from the day of the ball, to Lead freezing time. From the storm, to their findings the previous day. “So, yes… we’re here to ask you more about Alithea.”
“I thought you kids would have been done with radioactivity for a lifetime…” he grumbled, before his face took on a more serious expression. “Right, what’s it gonna be this time? Are you radioactive too, Lead?”
“No, sir,” Lead responded, his voice steady. “But we believe there’s more to Alithea’s story than what meets the eye. We found some things in the lab that suggest there might have been more to her accident. Maybe it caused the storm…”
Dr. Aurelius, looking thoughtful, leaned back in his chair. “I see. I was hoping this chapter was closed… but if there’s a chance to uncover the truth and prevent such incidents in the future, we should pursue it. Tell me more about these things you found.” He gestured for them to continue, his eyes reflecting a mix of curiosity and concern.
“We found a journal of Alithea’s, which tells us that you’ve had arthritis since before I was born,” Aurelia replied, a small laugh on her face, before she was back to more serious matters. “What exactly did she try with the radon, which caused the explosion?”
Dr. Aurelius sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Alithea was a brilliant scientist, far ahead of her time. She was working on a project involving radon decay. Her hypothesis was that by manipulating the decay process, she could harness the energy released in a controlled manner. This could potentially revolutionize the way we generate power.”
He paused, his gaze distant, deep in thought. “But something went wrong that day. The containment measures failed, leading to an uncontrolled release of energy. The explosion was the result. We still don’t know what exactly caused the failure. It’s been a mystery that has haunted us since.”
“And… what about the storm, sir?” Lead prompted.
“Well, I’m not entirely sure. It may have something to do with Gallus, for all we know. How is he doing?”
“Much better, in fact,” Aurelia replied, a smile on her face. It was a simple reminder that her friend was probably not to blame.
However, at the time, Gallus was not exactly at his best at all. He had gone to the lab with Thalia. As he walked around the lab, taking in the scenery of the supposed-to-be-closed classroom, his francium was tingling him as if it was a mosquito determined to suck his blood.
In the lab, Gallus was trying to focus on the task at hand, but the tingling sensation was becoming increasingly distracting. He glanced at Thalia, who was engrossed in her work, oblivious to his discomfort. The room was filled with radiation stronger than his own, and he wasn’t exactly safe.
“Thalia,” he finally said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I think… I think something’s wrong.”
Thalia looked up, her eyes widening as she took in his pale face and the beads of sweat dripping down his forehead. She rushed to his side, her own work forgotten.
“Gallus, what’s happening?” she asked, her voice filled with concern. “Is it the francium?”
He nodded, gritting his teeth against the discomfort. “I don’t know what’s happening. It’s never been like this before.”
As the tingling sensation intensified, Gallus felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. He stumbled, his knees knocking together under him. Thalia caught him just in time, her arms wrapping around him to keep him from falling.
“We need to get you to the infirmary,” she said, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes. “Hang on, Gallus. We’re going to figure this out.”
“No…” he whispered back. “They can’t know…”
“Then what?!” she asked, panic causing her to raise her voice. “I don’t know what to do here, dude!”
“Pill,” he managed to say, before his eyes slowly closed shut, all he could see being an eerie shade of black.
Thalia’s eyes widened. She instinctively reached into his pocket for any clues as to what he meant. Her fingers brushed against a small, hard object. Pulling it out, she found a small pill - a little capsule of some sort. It was a dull silver color, unmarked and unlike any medication she had seen before.
“Is this it?” she asked, but Gallus was already unconscious, his face pale and his breathing shallow. Thalia looked at the pill in her hand, then back at Gallus. She was torn between fear and desperation. She didn’t know what the pill was or what it would do. But Gallus had asked for it, and right now, it was the only clue she had.
Taking a deep breath, she made her decision. “Hang on, Gallus,” she murmured, gently opening his mouth and placing the pill on his tongue. She closed his mouth, tilting his head back slightly to help him swallow.
As she waited for the pill to take effect, she couldn’t help but wonder what was going to happen next. But whatever it was, she was determined to stay by Gallus’s side, ready to face it together.
Minutes passed, each one feeling like an eternity to Thalia. She watched Gallus’s face, looking for any sign of change. Suddenly, his eyelids fluttered open, revealing his familiar eyes. But they were clearer now, the pain that had clouded them before was gone.
“Gallus!” Thalia exclaimed, relief washing over her. “You’re awake!”
He looked at her, confusion evident in his gaze. “Thalia?” he mumbled, his voice weak but steady. “What happened?”
“You collapsed,” she explained quickly. “You asked for a pill. I found it in your pocket and gave it to you.”
A slow understanding dawned on his face. “I see,” he said, pushing himself up to a sitting position. “Thank you, Thalia.”
“But what was that pill?” she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her. “What’s going on?”
Gallus sighed, running a hand through his hair. “It’s a stabilization pill, and why I have it is a long story,” he said. “But I think it’s time I told you everything.”
Thalia nodded, listening as he narrated everything with a mix of curiosity and anxiety. By the end of it, she was left speechless.
“Whoa, this explains a lot. No wonder Nick got so mad that day… anyway, wow, that’s… interesting.” she stuttered, not knowing how exactly to reply. Her gaze shifted to the storm outside, which seemed to be brewing even more. “Wait- I think you’re linked to the storm. Your francium might be involved… did you take the pill today?”
Gallus looked at her, surprised. “You’re right, Thalia. The storm… it’s not a coincidence. It’s a reaction to the francium in my system. The pill stabilizes it, but when I don’t take it…” He trailed off, looking out at the storm with a grim expression.
“The storm intensifies,” Thalia finished for him, her eyes wide. “That’s why it’s been getting worse. You haven’t taken your pill.”
Gallus nodded, “Exactly. And without it, the storm will continue to grow, and I…” He didn’t finish the sentence, but the implication was clear.
“Yeah… now we know how to stop it, but we’re not just making you take all the pills in the world at once or anything to stop it, right?”
“Of course not, over-dosage may cause me to get more glitchy powers.”
“Maybe we should give it the pills then?” she asked, jokingly.
Gallus chuckled at Thalia’s joke, but his eyes were serious. “That’s an interesting idea, but I’m not sure it would work. The storm isn’t a living entity that can metabolize the pill like I can. Besides, we don’t know what kind of effect it might have on the environment.”
“But you’re right about one thing,” he continued, as he stood back up and looked out the window, “the storm does seem to be affecting animals and plants now. It’s like it’s bestowing them with some sort of energy or power. We need to understand this better if we’re going to find a way to stop it.”
As they spoke, they could see the storm outside growing more intense, the wind howling and the rain pouring down. Shrubs were levitating of their own free will, stopping the poor gardener from trimming them. Trees were shaking birds’ nests off them, and dogs in the residential area were voicing out their complaints with their food.
“I wonder if Selena and Nick are doing any better…” Thalia muttered, gulping as she observed the ridiculous, animated-looking sight.
Selena and Nick, meanwhile, had made their way to the underground chamber, the supposed core of the storm and the source of all the power lithium and cadmium wielders of the past had channeled to run the school’s electricity. The journey was filled with danger, the storm’s intensity increasing with every step they took. They didn’t have powers like their friends, but they had their wits, determination and flashlights.
The underground chamber was a vast, cavernous space, filled with an eerie glow. The air was thick with energy, the storm’s power palpable. As they ventured deeper into the chamber, they could feel the storm’s energy growing stronger, its core drawing them in.
They moved cautiously, aware of the potential dangers that lurked in the shadows. The chamber was filled with strange, pulsating formations, the storm’s energy manifesting in physical form. It was unlike anything they had ever seen, a testament to the storm’s immense power. Selena switched off her torch, since the light of the core was blinding enough.
After what felt like hours, they finally reached the heart of the chamber. There, in the center, was the core of the storm. It was a swirling vortex of energy, pulsating with a blinding light. The sight was awe-inspiring, yet terrifying.
They stood there, staring at the vortex, the realization of their mission weighing heavily on them. They had found the core of the storm. Now, they had to find a way to neutralize it.
“It’s actually quite beautiful, huh?” Selena asked, as if hypnotized by the vortex.
“True that,” Nickolas agreed. “I wonder why Lead switched the teams though…”
“Well,” Selena replied, scratching her chin, “maybe Gallus went with Thalia because he could help her out with the radioactivity stuff.”
“That’s fair, but why is Aurelia stuck with Lead of all people?” he asked, with a small frown.
“I don’t know, maybe he can just narrate things better.”
Nickolas sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I guess I’m just… jealous,” he admitted, his gaze fixed on the vortex. “I mean, Aurelia and I, we’ve been through a lot together. And now, she’s with Lead…”
Selena looked at him, her expression softening. “Nick, it’s only human to feel that way. But you know, Aurelia can handle herself. And Lead… well, he’s not that bad. Aurelia would tell you otherwise, because have you seen the way they passive-aggressively argue? Point is, he and Aurelia are no more than rivals for the role of leader.”
Nickolas chuckled, shaking his head. “You’re defending him now?”
Selena shrugged, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Well, he’s not the only one who’s good company. Gallus and I kissed in the observatory.”
Nickolas groaned, rolling his eyes. “No need to rub it in… but good for you. How do you feel about him being with Thalia right now?”
“Thanks,” she replied, “and as for Thalia, I don’t mind at all.”
“Wait, seriously?”
Selena nodded, her gaze still on the vortex. “Yes, seriously. Gallus and I… we’re not going to grow apart just because those two were paired for the mission.”
Nickolas looked at her, surprised. “You’re not… upset?”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “I mean, I like Gallus, yes, but I know they’re friends. And besides, if anything happens, I’ll be relieved by the fact that he’s not worth it.”
Nickolas was silent for a moment, processing her words. Then, he sighed, a small smile playing on his lips. “You’re a lot smarter than you give yourself credit for, Selena.”
She chuckled, nudging him with her elbow. “Look who’s talking. You’re here, worrying about Aurelia when you should be focusing on the mission. We have a storm to neutralize, remember?”
Nickolas laughed, the sound echoing in the chamber. “Right, the mission. Let’s get to it, then.”
As they pondered their next move, they couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread. The storm was far from over, and their mission was just beginning. But they were ready. They had to be. The fate of Elemental University, and possibly the world, depended on it.
[PFP: Selena and Nick,
"I see you took your glasses off." she remarked. "They made you look nerdy. But I never get to see you in total casual wear. You're ridiculously formal."
"And the problem is...?"
"Nothing. Your hair looks messier than usual."
"Aurelia dared me to wear a bow. I thought I'd anime-style it." she shrugged.
ns 15.158.61.48da2
