The following morning, Erik woke in his teenage body, but this time he knew what was going on. He stared at the mirror in disbelief. A god? Me? He wasn't sure whether to laugh or scream. Erik couldn't imagine sitting through boring classes anymore—not with these new powers.
His phone buzzed. It was his childhood friend, Lili.
Lili: "You coming to class or what? You missed yesterday. Mr. Harrow's gonna flip."
Erik grinned. Lili had been his best friend for years, and if there was anyone who would get a kick out of his situation, it would be her. He quickly replied.
Erik: "Oh, I'm coming. You won't believe what's happening to me."
Arriving at school, Erik could feel the power bubbling under his skin. He opened the door to his first class with a bang—literally. The door exploded off its hinges, wood flying everywhere. The entire classroom fell silent, every head turned to look at Erik. Even the teacher, Mr. Harrow, was stunned.
"Erik, what on earth—?"
Erik just laughed, ignoring the bewildered stares. He pointed a finger at Mr. Harrow, and the old man's tie instantly turned into a snake, hissing and writhing around his neck. The students screamed in a mix of shock and excitement, but Erik felt exhilarated.
Lili, sitting in the middle of the class, was wide-eyed. Next to her, their other friends—Carter, a laid-back basketball player, and Sasha, the school's top overachiever—looked equally dumbfounded.
Carter blinked. "Dude... are you magic now?"
Erik winked at them. "Buckle up, guys. This is just the beginning."