The warm sunlight streaming through the window illuminated Alex's peaceful face, revealing his curly brown afro hair and smooth brown skin. The sweet melodies of birds filled the air as Alex woke up feeling more energized than the previous day, after all it was a Saturday. He began his morning routine, brushing his teeth and heading downstairs to the kitchen.
His mom, Trisha, was busy preparing breakfast. She turned to Alex and said, "Oh, honey, you're awake. We didn't want to disturb you; you looked exhausted." Alex replied, "I'm feeling better now, Mom." Trisha smiled and said, "Look, I'm making pancakes just the way you like them." Alex's eyes lit up as he scooted a chair and sat down at the table.
As they ate breakfast, Alex inquired about his dad's whereabouts. Trisha replied with a smile, though concern flickered in her eyes, "Oh, he went to meet a friend; he'll be back soon." Alex nodded, accepting the explanation.
(Let's talk a bit about Alex family)
Less than 1% of the world's population possessed super abilities. Alex's family was no exception. His dad, John, had the power to manipulate lightning and worked with the United States special arm forces. Trisha, a doctor, possessed a moderate healing ability.
Alex's powers had begun manifesting even before birth. When Trisha was seven months pregnant, she noticed her healing ability had increased. One day, while driving, a drunk driver almost hit her. A transparent blue shield suddenly appeared, protecting her from the impact. The truck crashed into the shield, but the shield remained intact. Trisha was shocked and frightened, unsure of what had happened.
Trisha called John, who rushed her to a doctor who was also a superhuman physic named Philip. The doctor was astonished by the baby's abilities and asked to communicate with him telepathically. The doctor discovered that Alex had protected his mother from the accident. Little did they know that this incident marked the beginning of Alex's journey as a spirit mage, a lost magic considered the fifth element of the world.
As Alex grew up, his abilities became more apparent. He could levitate toys and even himself. Philip, the physic doctor, started suspecting Alex was a potential spirit mage. Philip explained that spirit magic was a lost art, considered the fifth element of the world. It is dangerous to both the user and those around if not properly controlled or controlled by the wrong people, he went further to say "I think it will be better if you took him to the academy for advanced potential for a checkup.
However, Trisha was hesitant to take Alex to the TAAP institute, a prestigious school for students with extraordinary abilities.
Trisha's concerns were valid; what if the wrong people discovered Alex's abilities? What if they saw him as a threat? She wanted her son to live a normal life, "please Philip" she said
After a long thought, Philip decided to help them, he advised them to keep Alex's spirit magic a secret and offered to help suppress his abilities telepathically.
However, Philip warned them that there would come a time when he couldn't suppress Alex's powers anymore. The choice was theirs. John and Trisha agreed to keep Alex's abilities hidden and work with Philip to help their son control his spirit magic.
A year later, when Alex was just a toddler, a mysterious incident occurred. Trisha and John rushed into the hospital, shouting for Philip's help. They carried a lifeless Alex in their arms, and Philip quickly attended to them.
"What happened?" Philip asked, concern etched on his face.
Trisha replied, "He's breathing, but he's not waking up."
Philip, being a physic, tried to access Alex's mind but couldn't find anything. It was as if Alex's consciousness had vanished. Philip's eyes widened in shock as he exclaimed, "How's that possible? His consciousness is not in his body anymore!"
Trisha pleaded with Philip, tears streaming down her face, "Please, help us. I can't lose my baby."
Philip replied, "I'll do my best." He then touched Alex's forehead and telepathically called out to him, hoping to hear a response. After several attempts, Philip finally heard Alex's small voice saying, "I can't get out, Mommy. Where are you?"
Philip's eyes lit up with hope as he said, "I have found him. I was right; his consciousness is trapped in another dimension." Philip then asked Alex's parents, "What is Alex's favorite thing, maybe a toy or food?"
Trisha replied, "Pancakes! He loves pancakes!"
Philip then said to Alex telepathically, "Listen to the sound of my voice, Alex. Imagine it is a pancake. Now, try and reach out to it." Alex did just that, and immediately, he touched the pancake and woke up in his body. His parents hugged him tightly, tears of relief streaming down their faces.
After the incident, Philip sat down with Trisha and John to discuss what happened to Alex, he said, Alex unintentionally projected his consciousness into another dimension and got trapped there, his powers are increasing as he grows older, astral projection is a scary ability for a child to posses. He went further to say, if in any case something like this should happen again, always try to make him remember what he loves the most, since you can't communicate telepathically like I can, try reminding him about what he loves it could be through smell, sound, taste, whatever deems fit.
After hearing this, John replied to Philip, "we will do our best, thank you for helping us"
While on their way back in their car, Trisha looked at Alex with worry in her eyes, she broke down in tears and then said to John "I don't wanna lose our baby", John took his right hand and placed it on her hands squeezing it softly in a comfortable way and said "don't worry, we won't lose him".
*PRESENT DAY*
Alex sat at the dining table, eating pancakes and scrolling through his phone. His dad arrived with a stranger, an old man in his early sixties, dressed in a black coat, scarf, and hat, holding an umbrella. Trisha stood up, expectant, and said, "Welcome, Professor."
The man smiled, replying in a British accent, "Long time no see, Trisha." He turned to Alex and said, "You must be Alex." Alex replied, "Yes, I am. And who might you be, sir?" The man introduced himself as Professor Starkov, and Alex's life was about to take a dramatic turn.