Mike's eyes were fixed on Christina's falling figure, his mind racing with memories of the past. He remembered Anita's fall that gave him a traumatic experience thirteen years ago, an event that had left him scarred and helpless.
The pain and guilt still lingered, and now, as Christina teetered on the edge, Mike felt the weight of history repeating itself. His thoughts swirled in a maelstrom of despair.
"Will I be able to bear the pain if something happens to Christina?" he wondered.
The memory of Anita's fall flooded his mind, and Mike's resolve hardened. "I couldn't save Anita then, shouldn't I at least be able to save Christina?"
Overwhelming sadness threatened to consume him, but Mike's determination pushed back. "I can't let that happen, I won't lose the people I love anymore!" he declared, his voice a fierce vow.
As Mike's vow echoed through the air, a searing energy coursed through his veins. His body began to shift, his cells rearranging with a painful, tingling sensation. His spine stretched, arching backward as his muscles contorted. A blinding, bone-cracking illumination enveloped him, casting an eerie glow on the surrounding buildings.
Mike's vision blurred, his hearing muffled by the cacophony of cracking bones and tearing flesh. His scream was lost in the chaos, drowned out by the pounding of his heart.
Then, the pain subsided, replaced by an intense, burning sensation in his back. Mike's gaze dropped, and he beheld the source: two magnificent bat wings, unfurled and trembling, as if awakening from a deep slumber.
Their leathery texture and dark veins seemed to pulse with life, radiating an otherworldly power. Mike's human form now merged with the creature he had become, its presence coursing through him like liquid fire.
Fear clawed at his mind, "What's happening to me?" he whispered, and suddenly, a strange sense of belonging washed over him, as if he'd finally found a part of himself. Yet, self-doubt crept in, 'Was he still human?' The world around him seemed to ripple, as if reality itself was shifting.
Tons of energy flowed through his wings veins, and with a sudden, instinctive motion, he flapped his massive bat wings.
To his amazement, he levitated effortlessly, as if winged flight was second nature. Mike's gaze swept across his transformed body, marveling at the unfamiliar yet strangely comforting sight.
This was his first transformation, and instead of fear, Mike felt a deep sense of connection to his new form. His eyes gleamed with a fierce inner light, illuminating the darkening sky.
With Christina still suspended in mid-air, Mike's wings beat powerfully, propelling him toward her. His heart pounded with a mix of fear and determination, but one thought dominated all others:
He would save her.
Mike fluttered toward Christina, his bat wings beating relentlessly as he enveloped her floating form. Cradling her safely, he dove back down, gently setting her on the ground.
Only then did Mike realize that time had been frozen, manipulated by an unseen force. The world around him was suspended, like a painting.
Mike's gaze swept across the faces of Stefan and the other students, their expressions locked in shock and awe. Rachael stood a short distance away, her eyes fixed on the spot where Mike had last stood before his transformation.
Her gaze seemed to hold a mix of expectation and concern, as if she had anticipated Mike's actions.
Mike's eyes narrowed, searching for the force behind the temporal manipulation. His gaze darted toward the rooftop, and his heart skipped a beat.
A gigantic creature, identical to Mike's current form, stood atop the rooftop. Its massive wings spread wide, and with a swift leap, it took to the skies, flapping toward the woods.
Without hesitation, Mike launched himself into the air, his wings beating clumsily as he gave chase. The creature vanished into the treeline, and Mike pursued, driven by a primal urge.
As Mike disappeared into the distance, time unfroze, and the world sprang back to life.
Christina stood up, rubbing her head, confused. She scanned the area, searching for Mike.
The students, however, were abuzz with murmurs and gasps. "How did she...?"
"She was falling, and then..."
"What just happened?"
"Did she just fall without getting hurt?"
"Not even a bruise or a fracture? This is utterly impossible!"
Many of the students continue observing Christina for any visible injury.
Stefan's eyes widened in shock, his gaze fixed on the spot where Mike had last been seen.
Rachael's expression turned thoughtful, her eyes still locked on the distance, as if tracking Mike's flight.
"Mike! Where's Mike?" Christina's voice cut through the chatter as she whirled around.
But Mike was gone, lost in the woods, chasing the mysterious creature.
Christina rushed toward Rachael, her footsteps urgent. "Where is your brother?" she demanded, her voice laced with concern.
Rachael shrugged, her expression neutral. "I just arrived, how do you expect me to know where he is?" she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
Christina's eyes narrowed, her mind racing. She turned away from Rachael and Stefan, collecting her thoughts. Perhaps, trying to recollect the blurred events.
Rachael leaned in, her voice barely audible. "Did you see what just happened?"
Stefan's gaze remained fixed on the rooftop, his expression lost in thought. "Mike saved her, right? I can't believe he actually possessed wings, as he'd claimed before," he replied.
His eyes snapped back to life, and his gaze dropped to the ground. Mike's torn uniform lay crumpled on the pavement.
Without hesitation, Stefan picked up the uniform, but before he could hide it, Christina turned around, her eyes locking onto the familiar fabric.
"Is that not Mike's uniform? How's it..." Christina's sentence trailed off as realization dawned on her face.
Her eyes widened, and her breath caught. The implications were staggering.
Stefan shook his head frantically, attempting to deflect Christina's suspicion. "No, it's not his," he insisted, hastily concealing the uniform behind his back.
Christina's gaze lingered on Stefan's hidden hand, her mind racing with connections.
Rachael watched the exchange, her expression unreadable.
"Something is not right, did Mike actually..." Christina paused, her eyes scanning the area again. Her gaze landed on Mike's abandoned bag, and her thoughts clicked into place.
She pivoted, her feet carrying her toward the woods with newfound determination.
"Where are you going? Christina!?" Rachael called out, concern etched on her face.
"To find out!" Christina shouted over her shoulder, not breaking stride.
"Find out what!?" Stefan asked, his voice laced with alarm.
"What I saw!" Christina's reply faded into the distance as she vanished from sight.
Rachael and Stefan exchanged weighted glances, their faces mirroring each other's concern.
"What!? There's no way she could've found out, could she?" Stefan whispered urgently.
Rachael's expression turned resolute. "Dammit! Let's go now!" She said and sprinted after Christina, her long strides devouring the distance.
Stefan didn't hesitate, joining the chase with equal urgency.
The woods loomed ahead, their dense foliage swallowing Christina's fleeing form.
As Rachael and Stefan pursued, the silence between them was filled with unspoken questions:
What had Christina seen?
How much did she know?
And what would happen when she uncovered the truth?
****
Mike, in his Anthropter form, hovered above the woods, his enhanced vision scanning the terrain below for the identical creature. The trees blurred together, but his sharp eyes picked out the creature's massive frame.
As he dove downward, his vision became even clearer, his perceptive abilities heightened. Mike landed softly behind the creature, his firm tone echoing through the woods.
"Who are you?" Mike demanded, his confidence bolstered by his new form. "Did you freeze time earlier?"
The gigantic creature turned, its movements fluid, and bowed slightly. "Finally, I found you, my Jyuran!" it exclaimed, reverence coloring his tone. "I am Djumara, the witch, and I'm here to accompany you back to Perebia."
Mike's eyes widened in disbelief. "Ju… Ju...what!? Perebia?"