The Storm's Gift
The storm was relentless, a wild symphony of wind and rain hammering against the car as it sped along the dark, desolate road. Inside, Lucy Vale turned in her seat, her voice tight with worry.
"Martin, are you sure we shouldn't have stayed at the motel? This storm... it doesn't feel right."
Martin Vale gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles were white. He glanced at his wife but kept his eyes mostly on the road. "I don't know, Lucy," he admitted, his voice strained. "Maybe it was a mistake. But we couldn't stay there forever. We had to head home eventually."
In the backseat, 3-year-old Elysian Vale sat quietly, clutching his favorite stuffed toy. Beside him, strapped securely in her car seat, his 8-month-old sister, Lyra, cooed softly, blissfully unaware of the chaos outside. Elysian leaned over, instinctively placing a protective hand on her tiny leg as the car jolted.
---
Above them, the sky burned.
Two colossal beings clashed in a fight so intense it seemed to tear the heavens apart. One was a lion-like creature, its body a fusion of wild power: a massive head resembling a mammoth with four enormous tusks, the muscular frame of a lion, and four wings—two leathery like a bat's, two feathered like an eagle's. Its roars shook the air like thunder.
Facing it was a phoenix-like bird, its plumage ablaze with golden light. Four radiant wings beat against the storm, and its long peacock-like tail fanned out, the nine shimmering feathers glowing with an ethereal beauty. Every movement it made crackled with divine energy, but it was not graceful—it was ferocious, desperate. The storm itself seemed to respond to their battle, howling louder with each strike.
---
Inside the car, Lucy flinched as the windshield rattled. "What was that? Did you hear that?!" she asked, panic creeping into her voice.
Martin tightened his grip on the wheel, eyes scanning the chaos. "I don't know, Lucy. Just—just stay calm. We'll be okay."
But he wasn't so sure. The storm seemed alive, unnatural in its fury. And then it happened.
The phoenix unleashed a burst of energy so powerful it created a shockwave, slamming the lion-like creature out of the sky. The beast plummeted to the earth with the force of a meteor, sending a wall of wind and debris rolling across the landscape.
The Vale family never stood a chance.
The car skidded, flipped, and finally came to a halt, upside down. The world fell silent, save for the groaning of metal and the faint cries of the wind.
---
Elysian blinked, his small body trembling. He looked around, disoriented. Lyra was crying softly, but she was unharmed. Instinctively, he reached for her car seat, fumbling with the straps. "It's okay, Lyra," he whispered, though his voice shook. "I'll keep you safe."
His parents, however, were silent. Martin and Lucy lay slumped in the front seats, unconscious. Elysian's heart pounded in his chest. He didn't know what to do, but something told him to stay put.
Holding Lyra tightly in his arms, he turned his head toward the shattered window. What he saw made him freeze.
---
The monsters were real.
Two glowing giants loomed in the distance, their forms barely visible through the haze of rain and sand. The lion-like creature was roaring, shaking the very air around it. The phoenix, battered but defiant, spread its wings wide, unleashing another attack.
Elysian's tiny body shook as he clutched Lyra closer. "They're... they're not real," he whispered to himself. "They can't be real." But deep down, he knew they were. His wide, frightened eyes stayed locked on the battle.
Then, everything changed.
---
The phoenix faltered, a piercing roar cutting through the storm as the lion struck it down. The great bird fell, crashing into the earth with a force that made the ground tremble. Elysian screamed, covering Lyra as the car shook violently.
When he dared to look again, the phoenix's body was dissolving, its radiant feathers turning into golden light. The light didn't fade away; instead, it began to swirl and move as though it were alive. Slowly, it drifted toward the car.
"W-what is it?" Elysian whispered, his voice cracking. He tried to shield Lyra, but the golden light passed through the cracks in the windows, encircling her like a warm embrace. She giggled, her tiny hands reaching out to touch the glowing particles. Then, as if drawn to her very being, the light flowed into her, disappearing entirely.
Elysian could only stare, unable to process what he had just seen. But the nightmare wasn't over.
---
The lion-like creature charged toward the car, its roars shaking the ground. Its massive body began to dissolve as well, but this was different. Its form turned into a swirling mass of purple and black light, chaotic and terrifying. Elysian screamed, squeezing his eyes shut.
"Go away! Go away!" he cried. But the dark light didn't stop. It poured into the car, crackling with energy, before sinking into Elysian himself.
A sudden coldness gripped him, followed by a surge of overwhelming power. It was too much for his small body to handle. His heartbeat thundered in his ears as darkness consumed him. His last conscious thought was of Lyra, safe and quiet in his arms.
---
When the storm cleared, the world was unrecognizable. The Vale family's car remained overturned, a lone marker in the aftermath of destruction. Inside, Elysian and Lyra lay still, both glowing faintly—Lyra with a soft golden light, Elysian with a dark, stormy hue.
They didn't know it yet, but their lives—and the universe—had been irrevocably changed.
---
Thirteen years had passed since the storm that had changed everything. Life for the Vale family had settled into a comforting normalcy. Martin and Lucy ran a thriving business, Lyra had grown into an intelligent and vibrant 14-year-old, and Elysian, now 17, had become a fiercely protective older brother.
Elysian wasn't just the average overprotective sibling, though. His love for science, technology, biology, gaming, and business often made him the go-to problem solver in their home. Yet, he was haunted by dreams—strange, vivid visions that would occasionally visit him in the dead of night, leaving him restless and unsettled.
Despite this, he was just another secondary high schooler. An average student with a tight-knit group of friends and a deep love for his family. And today started like any other day.
---
"Elysian, hurry up! We're going to be late!" Lyra called from the kitchen, tying her hair into a neat ponytail. She rolled her eyes as she heard Elysian rushing down the stairs, stuffing a book into his bag.
"Relax, Lyra. We've got time," Elysian muttered, grabbing a piece of toast.
They left the house together, their usual chatter filling the walk to school. Lyra, always bursting with ideas and plans, turned to her brother with a hopeful smile.
"Elys, Mina's brother invited me and her to the fest in the neighboring town this weekend. He said he'd take us there. Can I go?"
Elysian glanced at her, his protective instincts immediately on high alert. "Who's Mina's brother?" he asked, his tone cautious.
"Licht Stefan," Lyra replied. "He's really nice. Mina says he's always looking out for her."
Elysian didn't reply immediately, his mind running through various scenarios. "You can go if Mom and Dad give you permission," he finally said. "But don't expect me to tag along. I've got stuff to do this weekend."
"Elysian, please! Come with us," Lyra begged.
"Not happening, Lyra. I'm busy," he said firmly.
Lyra sighed, then smiled mischievously. "Fine. But you have to promise me you'll come with me next time."
"Deal," Elysian said, ruffling her hair. "Now go, you're going to be late."
The two reached the school gates, parting ways in the main hall. Lyra headed to the left corridor, waving goodbye, while Elysian climbed the stairs to the second floor.
---
When Elysian reached his classroom, he found his best friend, Ralf, already waiting for him.
"Morning, Elys!" Ralf greeted, grinning. "So, how's it going? Got your eye on anyone yet?"
Elysian rolled his eyes, dropping his bag onto the desk. "Nope. I'm good being single for now. What about you? Found anyone yet?"
"Nah," Ralf replied with a chuckle. "Guess I've got no luck with girls."
Elysian smirked but then leaned in. "Do you know Mina Stefan's brother? From 12-A?"
"Licht Stefan? Yeah, I know him," Ralf said, his tone shifting slightly. "Why?"
"My sister said he invited her and Mina to the fest in the neighboring town," Elysian explained.
Ralf scratched his head. "Licht, huh? Mina's great—really sweet, good ethics, all that. But her brother? I dunno. He's... different. Not bad, but not exactly someone I'd trust without Mina around."
Elysian frowned. "Different how?"
"Well, he's a bit... rough around the edges. Doesn't have the best reputation, but Mina keeps him in line. If she's going too, then it should be fine. Just... keep an eye out."
Elysian nodded thoughtfully. "I'll think about it."
"Good," Ralf said, clapping him on the shoulder. "Anyway, enough about that. Let's talk about this weekend's gaming session. I've got a strategy that's going to blow your mind."
As the bell rang, signaling the start of class, Elysian couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in his chest. He trusted Lyra, but Licht Stefan was an unknown variable, and Elysian didn't like uncertainties.
---
The day went on like any other, but Elysian's thoughts kept drifting back to Lyra's request. Something about it just didn't sit right with him.
---
To Be Continued...