I was born into wealth, political power, and unparalleled privilege a child of the Goldschild family, the most powerful dynasty in the continent of Utopia. With psychic powers and financial dominance, the Goldschilds controlled the very fabric of global society.
Even the World Bank, the epicenter of the global economy, was merely one of our many subsidiaries. Beyond wealth, we held influence over governments, dictated the course of wars, and shaped the future of entire nations. The name "Goldschild" was synonymous with power an entity so vast and unyielding that it seemed almost godlike.
And at the heart of this empire resided my grandfather, the patriarch. I, Jessica Goldschild, was born into the main branch of this family a lineage that carried both immense privilege and crushing expectations.
My life was marked by tragedy early on. My father, a man of profound influence, was assassinated by a radical movement rebelling against our family and the government we backed. His death sent shockwaves through the family, igniting a ferocious power struggle among my uncles and aunts, who all sought to claim the wealth and power of the Goldschild dynasty. Though my grandfather still reigned as patriarch, the scheming and ambitions of my relatives remained unchecked, like predators circling a wounded prey.
Amid this turmoil, my mother bore the brunt of the family's expectations while raising me alone.
She endured endless pressure, not only to safeguard my future but also to navigate the dangerous labyrinth of the family's internal politics. Despite her sorrow, she carried herself with grace, even as her eyes betrayed the weight she bore. She never once celebrated my achievements as others did. Perhaps she saw the darker cost of my potential.
I, however, was a prodigy a psychic of unparalleled ability. My powers eclipsed those of anyone in the family perhaps even my grandfather. From an early age, I resolved to use my abilities to eradicate anyone who dared to oppose me, whether they were rebels or even members of my own bloodline. It was my destiny to rise above the chaos and claim the power that was rightfully mine.
The servants in our vast mansion lauded me as the greatest prodigy the world had ever seen. They whispered in reverence about my intellect and psychic prowess. Yet, beneath the surface of their praise, I could sense their unease. It didn't matter. My ambitions were clear, and their approval was irrelevant.
"Young Miss,"
called my butler, pulling me from my thoughts.
He was an older man, yet still full of energy. His white hair and emerald eyes exuded warmth, a stark contrast to the cold power struggles that defined my life. Clad in a sharp black suit and polished shoes, he was the picture of a loyal, steadfast servant.
"Young Miss, quit daydreaming,"
he said with a hint of exasperation.
"We still have much to cover."
I sighed, resting my chin on my hand.
"I already memorized everything in your lectures."
"Memorizing isn't the same as understanding,"
he countered.
I smirked and began to recite.
"In the year 45 of the Imperial Calendar, after the birth of our great King Alexander the Conqueror, he succeeded in unifying the entire Earth. It took him twenty years from his coronation at age twenty-five. He died of natural causes at fifty, though his empire fractured a century later. Alexander wasn't merely a ruler he was a legend, a beacon of humanity's potential to conquer and create. His campaigns reshaped the world, laying the foundation for a civilization that would endure centuries. His genius in strategy and statecraft was unparalleled, and his ability to inspire loyalty made him almost mythic. Even in death, his shadow loomed over every ruler that came after him. In the year 1915, humanity witnessed its greatest war, with casualties reaching over one hundred million. If we include famine, plagues, and other indirect causes, the total death toll was close to one billion nearly a third of the global population at the time. This war was fueled by industrial revolution innovations and the integration of psychic powers into weaponry."
I paused for effect, then added,
"And now, in the year 2009, we enjoy relative peace thanks to economic stability."
The butler's eyes widened, impressed despite himself.
"That's correct,"
he said, overwhelmed by my ability to summarize a 10 minutes lecture.
"You're remarkable, Young Miss. Especially for a ten-year-old."
I grinned, proud but unfazed.
Before him sat a child with short pink hair, vivid pink eyes, and a face so delicate it seemed carved from porcelain. I wore a white dress, giving me an ethereal appearance. Yet, beneath the innocent exterior was a mind as sharp as a blade. My intellect and control over my psychic powers far exceeded anything the butler had ever witnessed. Though history was the last subject on my syllabus, I had already mastered every other discipline.
"Alright, young lady,"
the butler said, gathering himself.
"Let's move on to the history of psychic power the beginning of it all."
I groaned.
"I already know that. Besides, isn't that part of the high school curriculum?"
"It is,"
he admitted,
"but given your aptitude, I believe you're ready. Or are you saying you can conquer calculus and infinite series, yet shy away from a little history?"
I rolled my eyes.
"Fine. But only if you let me visit a high school."
His expression turned grave.
"The patriarch would never allow it, especially after what happened with…"
He trailed off, unwilling to finish the thought.
"Anyway, it's prohibited."
I crossed my arms but conceded.
"Alright, alright."
After completing my studies for the day, I headed to the basement a heavily fortified, impenetrable room designed for testing destructive powers. The walls were made of reinforced materials capable of withstanding even the most catastrophic psychic forces. It was my sanctuary.
As I stood in the center of the room, I recalled my lessons on the theory of general relativity how the fabric of space bent and distorted to create gravity. Inspired, I decided to experiment.
Focusing my energy, I conjured a concentrated point of gravity, a hundred no, a thousand times stronger than Earth's gravity. In my hand, a tiny sphere began to form, dense and pulsating with energy. It mimicked the properties of a neutron star, so compact that the very air around it warped. The room began to tremble as metallic fixtures were ripped from the walls, drawn toward the sphere.
Yet, I remained unaffected, standing calmly in the eye of the storm. I could feel the raw energy coursing through my body, as if the universe itself bent to my will. Every atom in the room seemed to vibrate in harmony with my power.
"Alright,"
I murmured,
"time to crank it up."
I increased the power, forcing the sphere to collapse further into itself. The gravitational pull intensified, and space itself distorted, creating a singularity a black hole. The void consumed everything near it, bending light and swallowing sound. The black hole emitted a faint hum, a sound so deep it resonated in my very bones. It was beautiful and terrifying a perfect representation of the limitless potential of my psychic abilities. The room's alarms blared in response to the escalating destruction.
"Young Miss, please stop!"
the butler shouted, his voice barely audible over the chaos.
With a snap of my fingers, I dissipated the black hole, returning the room to its original state. The debris clattered to the floor as the room fell silent once more.
The butler entered, his face pale and horrified.
"What was that?"
he demanded.
I shrugged.
"Just a black hole. I wanted to see if I could do it."
"Oh, just a black hole,"
he repeated, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"As if that's the most natural thing in the world."
His tone stung. For the first time, I felt a pang of guilt. My powers, which I had always viewed as a gift, now seemed monstrous through his eyes. Seeing my crestfallen expression, the butler softened.
"Young Miss, we're all just worried about you,"
he said gently.
I nodded, unwilling to meet his gaze.
"Alright, Butler. I'll head to bed now. Goodnight."
As I walked alone through the grand, empty hallways of the mansion, I felt an unfamiliar heaviness in my chest. The echoes of my footsteps seemed to mock me, a reminder of how isolated I truly was.
"My lady,"
the butler whispered to himself, watching from the shadows as I disappeared into the distance.
In my room, I sat by the window, gazing at the moonlit gardens below. For all my power, for all the praise and awe I inspired, I was still just a child. A child burdened with the weight of a dynasty, a legacy of control, and the expectation to wield my gifts without fault or fear.
But if I could bend gravity and conjure black holes, surely I could bend fate itself. The world would learn that Jessica Goldschild was not merely a prodigy. I was a force to be reckoned with, and I would shape Utopia and perhaps the entire world in my image.