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Back at Gwen's family house, a warm, homely atmosphere filled the rooms. The scent of freshly brewed tea wafted through the air, mingling with the faint aroma of baking from the kitchen. The sun began to set, casting a golden hue over the suburban neighbourhood, with long shadows stretching across the lawn.
Gwen had just finished explaining her powers to her father and the recent encounter with her Grandma Verdona in her bedroom. To prove her abilities, Gwen focused her energy and extended her hand. Purple-hued mana, shimmering like the twilight sky, snaked out from her fingertips, curving gracefully around her father before latching onto a nearby open drawer, and closing it with a soft click.
Her father, a stoic man with greying hair and a permanent look of concern etched on his face, sat down heavily in a nearby chair. His eyes widened as the realisation set in. "You're not joking," he muttered, half to himself.
Gwen's face lit up with a mixture of excitement and vindication. She couldn't contain her joy as she burst out,
"I knew it! I knew magic ran in the family!"
Her father sighed deeply, rubbing his temples, "Gwen, this isn't magic. Your Grandma… she's an alien."
The conversation was abruptly interrupted when Gwen called out,
"Ben, you can come out now! I know you've been eavesdropping!"
Ben sheepishly emerged from behind a door, rubbing the back of his head.
Meanwhile, Gwen's father, whose expression had grown more serious, suddenly tensed. He seemed to sense something else in the room, something beyond Ben. His eyes darted around, and a moment later, a figure materialised in a burst of purple light. It was Verdona, Gwen's grandmother, who had been hiding in plain sight, observing them all.
"You always could tell when I was watching, baby. I had hoped it meant you had the spark… but no such luck." Verdona, an elegant older woman with flowing grey hair, dressed in a pale blue cloak, stepped forward. The years had only enhanced her grace, and a mischievous smile played on her lips.
Without a word, Verdona teleported the group downstairs to the living room. The sudden shift startled Gwen's mother, who was dusting a shelf, causing her to drop a vase. The vase fell towards the floor, but before it could shatter, Verdona's eyes glowed, and with a wave of her hand, the vase halted in mid-air, then gently floated back to the table, repaired as if it had never fallen.
"Verdona, what a surprise," Gwen's mother remarked dryly, her tone laced with a mix of irritation and resignation.
They all settled in the living room, the soft cushions of the sofa sinking beneath them. Verdona had already conjured up tea and a plate of cookies, steam curling up from the delicate china cups. The room was warmly lit, with soft, golden light spilling from the lamps, casting a cosy glow over the scene.
As everyone took a seat, Verdona began to explain. Her voice was calm and melodic, as she described herself as an Anodyte, a race of free spirits with powers far beyond human comprehension. Gwen was perched on the edge of her seat, hanging on to every word, while Ben, ever the opportunist, stuffed his face with cookies and sipped his hot chocolate.
Verdona spoke of her past, how Anodytes rarely involved themselves with ordinary humans, but she couldn't resist the charms of Max Tennyson. She revealed how she had always known Max's secret – that he was a Plumber, a defender of the universe. She understood the dangers that came with his job but had loved him all the same.
She then mentioned Max's mana, noting how much potential he had, though it was limited by his physical form. This piqued Ben's interest, prompting him to ask, "What's mana?" But before he could finish his question, Verdona conjured a tape over his mouth, chuckling softly, "Finish your food first, dear. Maybe then you'll learn to ask questions at the right time."
Turning to Gwen, Verdona offered to take her off-planet to teach her more about her Anodyte powers. Gwen hesitated, glancing at her parents for guidance.
"This is an opportunity I never had. You could learn a lot by following your grandma," her father said, standing up and walking over to Gwen. Her mother joined him, placing a comforting hand on Gwen's shoulder.
"We were hoping that you'd take after my side of the family…" Gwen's mother began, but a sharp look from Verdona silenced her.
"But that didn't happen. The thing is, whatever choice you make, we want you to be happy." The mature redhead concluded, her voice softening with sincerity.
"We won't stand in your way, Gwen," her father added, reassuring her.
Gwen, however, felt overwhelmed. Her mind wandered to Kevin, who wasn't there.
'He mentioned two people that he couldn't hope to defeat back then who tried to claim his life, and even now, he says he's still not strong enough. Maybe I could help by learning all I can from Grandma, but…' Her thoughts trailed off as she suddenly bolted upstairs, with Ben following close behind.
Meanwhile, far above, amidst the wispy clouds, a young teen with long white and black hair, his figure sharp against the twilight sky, stood silently. The wind tousled his hair as he stared down at the town below.
"That same energy has been flickering about. It shot up now, and I can't retrace it," Kevin muttered to himself, his arms folded across his chest. His gaze was intense as he observed the town from his vantage point.
Suddenly, the energy he had been sensing spiked again, this time holding steady. Kevin's eyes narrowed as he traced it to Gwen's house.
'Is Gwen training? No, she's on the roof with Ben. Who is it then?' Kevin thought, his focus shifting as he noticed Ben comforting Gwen on the rooftop.
Gwen soon left the roof, and her decision was made. She descended the stairs, the sound of her footsteps soft against the wooden floor. Downstairs, Verdona had created a lively scene, with a disco ball spinning and lights flashing, filling the room with music. She was about to take action, having sensed someone observing them from above, but paused as Gwen entered.
Verdona tried once more to persuade Gwen, her voice filled with the allure of the unknown.
"With mana, we can manipulate life energy freely," she explained, shedding her human form in a graceful motion. Hovering above the floor, she revealed her true Anodyte form, a figure of radiant light and ethereal beauty.
At that precise moment, Kevin, who had been monitoring the situation from above, confirmed the energy source he had been tracking. A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he dove down towards Gwen's house. Dematerialising just before impact, he reformed inside, directly opposite Verdona.
The sudden appearance of a young teenage boy, hovering in the air within their home, left Gwen's parents speechless, their eyes wide with shock.
"Forgive me for meeting under these circumstances. I am Kevin Levin," Kevin introduced himself calmly, his gaze steady as he locked eyes with Verdona, a playful smile curling his lips.
"Were you starting a party without me? Why don't I take you out?" Kevin teased, his tone light yet daring.
"Oh, ho ho, I might be a little too old for you, youngster," Verdona chuckled, focusing on this intriguing new arrival.
"You're a pretty silver fox, more attractive than you give yourself credit for," Kevin replied smoothly, his words causing the others to glance at each other in confusion, wondering what kind of conversation was unfolding before them.
"What a charmer. I'm afraid I might be a little too much for you," Verdona flirted back, a twinkle of amusement in her eyes.
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