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Aurelia Oxide was always known for having a magnetic personality, while Nickolas Allen had always been known for having magnetic powers, thanks to nickel, one of his elements.
As Aurelia and Nickolas stepped into the hallway of the mathematics building leading to his office, the air seemed charged with anticipation. They were on their way to meet Dr. Xeno Aurelius, Aurelia’s father and a professor at Elemental University. The reason? A lingering doubt about the intricacies of elemental manipulation.
Aurelia’s blue eyes flickered with nervous energy. “Nickolas,” she began, “do you think my dad will be able to explain it? I mean, he’s brilliant, but sometimes even he gets stumped.”
Nickolas adjusted his glasses, his nickel-enhanced intuition guiding him. “Ari, - I hope you don’t mind if I call you that- your dad can prime-factorize irrational numbers in his sleep. If anyone can unravel this mystery, it’s him.”
They reached Dr. Aurelius’s office—a cozy space adorned with mathematics books, holographic mathematical symbols, and a faint scent of cinnamon. Aurelia knocked, and the door swung open.
“Come in,” Dr. Aurelius called from behind his desk. His silver hair framed a face etched with wisdom and curiosity. “What brings you here, Aurelia? And who are you?” he asked, addressing the boy beside her.
“I’m Nickolas, from your math class this morning.”
Aurelia cleared her throat. “Dad, Nickolas and I have a doubt about elemental manipulation. Please don’t freak out, but…”
“Elemental manipulation? Well, this is new. Usually, people come to me about math. But I have been known to dabble in the subject, so I’ll have no problem answering.”
“Okay, but don’t freak out. I really need to say this upfront…” she said, glancing at Nickolas, who had a nervous look in his eyes.
“Let me guess… " he mused. “You two are… how should I put this... dating?”
“No, dad. That’s ridiculous! The doubt is about radioactivity. What you told me about Alithea Radon…”
Radioactivity. The word made him shudder slightly. “What do you need to know about… it?”
“Well… after our lecture, my roommate, Gallus felt suddenly rather drowsy and sleepy. He had a really bad headache and was sleeping till lunchtime. His powers were glitchy somehow… we don’t know why, but I fear there might be something more to it.”
“An elemental imbalance?” Dr. Aurelius asked. Both of them noticed Aurelia looked confused.
Nickolas furrowed his brow, concern etching his features. “Aurelia, it sounds like Gallus experienced an elemental imbalance. Let me break it down for you.”
He leaned against the edge of Dr. Aurelius’s desk, his gaze focused. “You see, elemental manipulation isn’t just about harnessing power. It’s about maintaining equilibrium. Each element has its own energy signature—a delicate dance of protons, electrons, and cosmic forces. When someone’s resonance with an element wavers, glitches occur.”
Aurelia nodded, her magnetic field humming in agreement. “But why would Gallus suddenly lose balance?”
Her father tapped his fingers rhythmically. “Several factors could be at play. First, external interference—like exposure to a different element—can disrupt resonance. Maybe Gallus accidentally brushed against an unfamiliar substance.”
“Or…” Aurelia added, “emotional turbulence. Our inner states affect our elemental connection. Stress, fear, or even joy can throw things off-kilter.”
“Exactly.” Nickolas leaned closer. “Now, let’s consider Gallus’s powers. He can liquefy himself and can fix any electronics… maybe there was something in the chalk today?”
“Chalk is calcium carbonate. I don’t think that has anything to do with it…” the professor said.
“But then what about the headache?” Aurelia pressed.
Nickolas grinned. “That’s where it gets interesting. Elemental headaches—rare but documented—are like cosmic migraines. When an imbalance occurs, the brain’s neural pathways resonate too. Maybe it was Selena?”
“What has she got to do with anything?”
“I think Gallus likes her… please don’t tell her… it may have been the emotion.”
“Okay… maybe this has something to do with that, combined with his feelings.” Aurelia deduced, though she was unsure.
“But that has never happened with me, even though I have only two powers as well. I went through all the same first-love emotions too and kept them in for ages. From what I observed he’s a silent one.” Dr. Aurelius said, scratching his temple. “Your mother only joined as faculty after the Alithea incident.”
Aurelia leaned against the holographic periodic table on the wall. “So, how do we fix it?”
“I don’t know…” Nickolas muttered. He turned to the professor and asked, “Could you tell me more about Alithea?”
Dr. Aurelius adjusted his glasses, his gaze distant as he delved into the past. “Ah, Alithea,” he began, his voice carrying the weight of memories. “She was a remarkable student, much like you, Aurelia. Brilliant, curious, and fiercely determined.”
He paced the room, his footsteps echoing against the holographic periodic table. “Alithea possessed a unique blend of powers—lithium and radon, though I don’t know her third one. Lithium, as you know, gives her powers relating to electricity. But her radon element was something else entirely. It made her lose control of her other powers sometimes. She could absorb or deflect radiation.”
Aurelia leaned forward; her curiosity piqued. “What happened to her?”
“Alithea was a seeker,” Dr. Aurelius continued. “She sought answers beyond the textbooks, beyond the confines of Elemental University. She questioned the very fabric of our existence—the balance between elements, the purpose of our powers.”
Nickolas leaned against the chalkboard, listening intently. “And?”
“Well… I don’t know much more, but on my very first class, she had a theory to share with all her classmates. But somehow, she lost her focus, had an episode…… and anything left was lost to time. It may have been the ecstasy of her find, or the nervousness. That’s all I know.”
The room fell silent as Dr. Aurelius finished his story. The air seemed to hum with the weight of the past, the echoes of Alithea’s story lingering in the air. Aurelia and Nickolas exchanged a glance, their expressions a mix of awe and uncertainty.
“Thank you, dad,” Aurelia finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. “That… that gives us a lot to think about.”
Nickolas nodded, pushing his glasses up his nose. “Yes, thank you, Dr. Aurelius. We’ll… we’ll try to figure this out.”
As they left the office, the door closing softly behind them, they knew they had a mystery to unravel. A mystery that tied into the very fabric of their existence, their powers, and the legacy of Alithea Radon. But for now, they had more questions than answers. And the journey to uncover the truth was just beginning.
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