In the classroom, I sat in my usual seat near the window. Evander was one seat behind me, but he didn't greet me like he usually did. He seemed to be trying to ignore me just as much as I was trying to ignore him.
His presence bothered me. I knew I had damaged our bond, but I didn't know how to fix it.
During the break, while I was in the courtyard trying to avoid any interactions, Amelia appeared. She looked hesitant, gripping the strap of her backpack as if it could give her the courage to speak to me.
— Hi, Zephyr — she said, offering a timid smile.
— Hi, Amelia — I replied, trying to sound casual, but my voice came out quieter than I intended.
— I... I was wondering... — She hesitated, staring at her feet. — Have you seen the news? About the masked hero?
I knew she was serious, but I tried to appear indifferent.
— Yeah. Everyone has, right?
— What do you think of him? — she asked, lifting her gaze to meet mine.
For a moment, I was at a loss for words. What did I think of myself? Was I the hero people expected, or just someone trying to survive?
— I don't know. I think he's... brave, but also a little reckless, — I said, avoiding direct eye contact.
Amelia nodded, as if considering my words carefully.
— I think he's amazing, — she said, her eyes shining. — He saved my life. I'll never forget that.
Her words hit me like lightning. I didn't know how to respond, so I mumbled something incoherent before walking away.
— She's never spoken to me like that before. Could she suspect something? — I thought, my heart in my throat.
I returned to the classroom, my thoughts spinning like an uncontrollable whirlwind. Amelia had never talked to me like that before. Sure, we had exchanged a few words during group projects, but we were practically strangers. Now, though, there was something in her voice, something in her eyes that unsettled me.
— Could she suspect something? — I muttered to myself, pretending to pay attention to the teacher.
Evander was still ignoring me. He didn't look at me once during the class, but I could feel his presence every second. It was as if we were in an invisible battlefield, where neither of us made the first move.
Deep down, I knew I needed to do something, but I didn't know how to approach him without revealing everything. And, honestly, I wasn't sure I was ready for that.
In a dark laboratory on the outskirts of the city, Dr. Caelum studied the footage from the collapsed building. He saw what no one else had noticed: the winds, controlled with almost surgical precision.
— Fascinating... — he murmured, zooming in on the video on his screen.
Next to him, the men who had failed to capture me in the alley remained silent, waiting for his command.
— So, he's reappeared. And this time, he showed what he's capable of.
— What do you want us to do, doctor? — one of the men asked.
Dr. Caelum smiled, but it was a cold, humorless smile.
— Bring him to me. Whatever it takes. He's the key to everything.
He turned, revealing a collection of advanced equipment he had developed. Weapons designed specifically to contain someone like me.
— Take these with you. I want results, and I want them quickly.
The men nodded and left the lab while Dr. Caelum turned his attention back to the footage.
— Soon, boy. Soon, you'll be mine.
After school, I headed home. The walk was filled with more whispers and comments about the "masked hero." No matter where I looked, it seemed like the world was talking about me, even though they didn't know who I was.
When I arrived home, I found my grandparents sitting side by side on the couch. My grandmother had a book in her hands, but she put it down as soon as she saw me walk in.
— Zephyr, can we talk? — she asked, her tone leaving little room for refusal.
— Sure, Grandma, — I said, though the lump in my throat grew larger.
I sat in a nearby chair, waiting for her to continue.
— You've been so distant lately, — she began, looking down at the book in her hands as if searching for the courage to go on. — We feel like you're hiding something from us.
My grandfather, who usually stayed silent, decided to chime in.
— We're not trying to invade your privacy, kid. But you need to know we're here for you, no matter what.
I couldn't bring myself to look at them. The weight of guilt was almost unbearable. They were right—I was hiding something. But how could I explain it? How could I tell them that their grandson now controlled wind and flames?
— I just... have a lot on my mind. School, work... you know, stuff like that. — My words sounded hollow even to me.
My grandmother sighed, closing her book with a soft thud.
— If you're ever ready to talk, we'll be here.
I nodded, muttering a quiet thanks before heading upstairs and locking myself in my room. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to ignore the crushing weight of expectations that had obviously been placed on me.
Night came, bringing with it the same gentle breeze that seemed to follow me wherever I went. I opened the window, letting the fresh air in as I gazed at the starry sky.
— What am I doing? — I asked myself.
I had the power to help, but I also knew that using these powers put everything and everyone at risk. My choices could have massive consequences, and, to be honest, that scared me more than I wanted to admit.
I closed my eyes, remembering Amelia's words from earlier:
— He's amazing. He saved my life. I'll never forget that.
Something inside me shifted. For the first time, I realized that maybe this power wasn't just a burden. Maybe it was an opportunity.
But even so, the fear remained.
The next morning, the alarm went off, but I was already awake. I hadn't slept well. I went downstairs and found my grandparents in the kitchen, having breakfast. They gave me worried looks but said nothing.
— I'm heading out early today, — I said, grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl.
— Okay. Just... be careful, — my grandmother said, still with that tone of concern.
— I always am, — I lied, slipping out the door before she could ask anything else.
I walked straight to the abandoned building. Today, I wasn't just going to practice what I already knew. I needed to push myself further, to discover what I was truly capable of.
When I arrived, the place felt quieter than ever. I shut the door behind me and took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of dust and old wood.
— Let's do this... — I murmured, stretching out my hands.
I started with the wind, forming small, controlled whirlwinds around me. The sound of the air cutting through the silence was comforting, almost like a melody.
Then I summoned the flames. A small flicker of fire danced in my palm, trembling slightly. But controlling both elements at the same time was a different story.
I tried to combine them, but the wind kept extinguishing the flames.
— Damn it! — I yelled, kicking a piece of old wood on the ground.
I sat down, frustrated. But then I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
— Calm down. You can do this. Just... visualize what you want to happen.
I opened my eyes again and tried once more. This time, I imagined the flames spinning within the whirlwind, like a synchronized dance.
The air around me began to move, and slowly, the flames started to spin with it. The result was a small fire cyclone that lit up the space around me.
I smiled, my heart pounding. I did it.
But my moment of triumph was interrupted by the sound of heavy footsteps outside. My smile faded, and my entire body went on high alert.
I turned toward the door, feeling the air around me shift. Someone was coming.