Sara folded her arms, eyes narrowing as Lily stepped off the platform.
"So… an ice element that can freeze everything. Great. What's left for me?"
Lily glanced back, a teasing smirk pulling at the corners of her lips. She tossed a playful glance over her shoulder.
"Hopefully not glitter."
Sara's response was a quick scoff, rolling her eyes in disbelief. She didn't seem impressed by Lily's playful jab. If anything, it only added a layer of tension between them. The kind that said Sara was eager to see what powers she'd gain,something that could rival or surpass what Lily had just unlocked.
(She's not impressed by ice powers, but she's waiting for something bigger. She won't let herself be outshined.) I thought, watching Sara's eyes.
Without any further hesitation, Sara stepped forward and made her way toward the glowing orb at the center of the platform. Her pace was swift, her movements purposeful, there was no uncertainty in her steps, no second-guessing. This wasn't the kind of impatience I'd seen before. This was something deeper. She wasn't wasting time because she was ready for this. Ready for whatever was to come.
I watched intently, observing her every move. Each step was deliberate, with her boots clicking sharply on the platform, making the faintest echo in the room. Every click of her boots resonated like a countdown, she was determined, and there was something unsettling about the calm confidence she exuded. She wasn't just walking up to gain power, she was walking up to claim it.
(I know that look. She's ready to take whatever comes at her. No hesitation. She's not afraid of the unknown.)
Solarius, standing tall as always, stepped aside to allow her to take the orb. His golden eyes glimmered with an unreadable expression as he observed Sara. I couldn't tell if it was curiosity or something else, but there was an undeniable interest in his gaze.
"Name?" Solarius asked, his voice firm but not unkind.
"Sara Debeu." Her voice was steady, without a hint of uncertainty. There was no bravado, just a quiet certainty in her words. When she said her name, it wasn't just a formality,it was a declaration. She wasn't going to back down, not now.
"Do you accept this path?" Solarius's question lingered in the air for a moment, heavier than it seemed. He wasn't just asking if she wanted power. He was asking if she was ready to embrace everything that came with it, the responsibility, the risks, the consequences.
Sara's eyes flashed for just a split second, and I caught it. It was the briefest flicker of doubt, almost imperceptible. But it was there. A tiny hesitation, as though she was wondering if she was really ready for what this path would demand of her.
(Is she second-guessing herself, or just processing the gravity of it all?) I thought, studying her reaction carefully.
But just as quickly as the doubt appeared, it was gone. Sara clenched her fists, her posture straightening. The doubt vanished, replaced by an unyielding fire. "Yeah. Let's see what happens."
With that, she placed her hand firmly on the orb.
The moment Sara's hand made contact, the atmosphere around us shifted. The air seemed to breathe, thick, earthy, as though the very ground beneath our feet had come alive. The orb pulsed, and a low hum vibrated through the room, sending ripples through the air.
Suddenly, the platform beneath Sara's feet cracked, vines of dark green spiraling out from the cracks in the floor. The tendrils reached upward, twisting and growing like sentient vines stretching for the sky. The ground groaned as roots split open, and flowers bloomed from nothing, petals unfurling in the blink of an eye.
"What the—" Harry muttered, stepping back as the vines crept toward him.
"Is she… controlling plants?" Lily asked, her voice thick with awe.
But Sara stood tall, her expression fierce, a slight smirk playing on her lips as the plants around her continued to grow at an accelerated pace. Her hair rustled in the sudden wind created by the surge of energy. The room filled with the rich scent of soil and growth. It felt like we were standing in the middle of a forest, alive, thriving, and wild.
(She's tapping into something primal. The earth itself is responding to her will.)
I scanned Sara's power through my OmniScript system. The results came in fast, more swiftly than I expected. The data read out, detailing her ability.
[Subject: Sara Debeu]
[Ability: Plant Biomancy]
[Description: Control over plant life. Capable of manipulating plants, growing them at will, and shaping them into barriers, weapons, or other constructs. Can accelerate plant growth, create defensive barriers, or offensive vines/branches. Control is dependent on her emotional state and focus, and overextending can lead to a loss of control.]
(Plant manipulation… But it's more than just growing vines. She can create actual constructs, make weapons from plants… like living weapons. But there's a cost. The more she uses this power, the harder it will be to keep control.)
Sara's face tightened as she experimented with her newfound abilities. She clenched her fist again, and a thick vine shot up from the ground, twisting into a jagged spear that she held effortlessly. The vine pulsed with energy, its green surface shimmering with a faint glow.
"Not bad," Sara muttered to herself. Then she grinned at the rest of us. "Pretty useful, huh?"
But there was a slight edge to her voice—her breath was heavier now, the weight of her power starting to show. The vines around her started to slow their growth, as if her control was becoming harder to maintain. The green aura flickered.
(She's already starting to feel it. The strain of controlling plant life, the mental focus it demands. If she pushes too hard, she'll lose it. But right now, she's in full control—powerful, but still learning the boundaries.)
Solarius stepped forward, eyes still fixed on Sara as the plants receded into the ground.
"You have the ability to shape the very earth, Sara. But you must remember—balance is key. Your connection to the plants will grow stronger, but they will not hesitate to turn on you if you lose control."
Sara's expression shifted once more as she clenched her fists, the veins of determination becoming more apparent as she silently processed the enormity of what she had just unlocked.
"I'm not afraid of a little challenge." Her voice was calm, confident, with an underlying fierceness that said she was ready to master whatever was thrown her way.
(Sara's ability is tied to the earth itself. She can create tools, weapons, barriers—anything she needs. But it's not just a gift; it's a responsibility. She has to respect the balance of nature, or it will push back. I can already see her pushing those limits, testing them.) I thought, my gaze lingering on her as the last tendrils of plants receded into the ground.
Solarius, or rather my clone posing as him, turned to face the rest of us. His golden eyes were faintly glowing, his aura thick with the weight of authority, a presence that demanded respect without needing to speak louder than he already did.
"Remember, none of you are invincible just yet. But these powers will grow, and with that growth comes the responsibility to control them. Use them wisely."
The words hit them all, and a chill seemed to pass over the room. It wasn't the weight of the warning alone that made the air feel thick, but the underlying truth of it.
(It's not just power they've been given. It's a weight, a burden. And yet, none of them know the truth behind all of this… The stone, the powers, this Haven... All of it is just my creation. My doing. But none of them are any the wiser. I've crafted this whole scenario, and they're all playing their parts perfectly. Oh, how the script unfolds...)
With a smirk tugging at my lips, I watched as my clone, Solarius, shifted his gaze from one person to another, locking eyes with us all, making sure every word carried weight.
"We have no time to waste. We need to train now. And don't tell anyone, not even your parents, about your powers. You know what's been said about secrecy."
The mood in the room shifted. There was something unspoken in the air, a fear, a tension. Solarius had said it, and they all knew the consequences of breaking that rule. The secrecy wasn't just for their safety; it was for the balance of everything.
James Conrad, the ever-serious one, leaned forward slightly and, with a grin that only he could pull off, added, "With great power comes great responsibility."
Lily, Sara, and Harry all turned to look at him in unison. It was almost comical, the sudden stillness that settled over the group.
"What?" James looked around at them, a little confused by their reactions.
Lily raised an eyebrow, her expression deadpan. "Really? That's the line you're going with?"
Sara snorted, unable to suppress a chuckle. "I swear, you watch way too many movies."
Harry, who had been silently observing, spoke up with a wry grin. "I think we all know that. But it's a good point, I guess. Responsibility does come with power, whether we like it or not."
(It's fascinating how they react. Welp, they need to believe they're choosing their path, not realizing I'm the one pulling the strings.)
James raised his hands defensively. "Hey, it's a classic. You can't just not say it when you're talking about powers and responsibility. I'm just trying to make sure we all stay humble."
"Right…" Lily muttered, rolling her eyes. It was clear she wasn't impressed, but there was a flicker of something deeper behind her eyes. She wasn't one to be swayed by platitudes, but she understood the gravity of what James was trying to express.
As the atmosphere settled, I noticed the others exchanging glances. It was subtle, but I could see the weight of Solarius' warning sinking in. They all knew this wasn't just a game. These powers would change them, challenge them and perhaps, even break them if they weren't careful.
(And that's the beauty of it.)
….
After one week.
Just seven days. That's all it took for them to stop tripping over their own powers like newborn deer. They weren't strong not yet but they were compatible. Synchronized. They could use their powers without blowing up a wall or freezing their own toes off.
They were no longer a chaotic mess.
Just... good. Only good.
And I stood before them now, watching as they gasped for breath, their clothes clinging to sweat-soaked bodies, knees wobbling, stamina fading. Their training had been relentless.
Because I made it that way.
(Kekeke… Solarius wasn't even here. I told them he went off to search for "Crow" They bought it. Every single one of them. Idiots.)
I stepped forward as the air around us hung heavy with exhaustion and burnt ozone. The ground was littered with shattered ice, withered vines, scorched marks, and cracks from telekinetic blasts. All marks of their individual powers clashing again and again in training simulations.
They were tired.
Broken down.
But better.
I flexed my hand slightly, and with a single thought, lifted a huge boulder from the nearby cliffside.
It hovered above the air like a feather.
And then, with another flick of my finger, I made it explode into dust.
BOOM.
James's eyes widened, his hair swaying slightly from the shockwave.
"How can you be so strong… that telekinesis was crazy," he asked, still breathing heavily.
I turned to him with a calm smile, brushing the dust from my jacket.
"It's just practice."
(Lie. I'm literally a god here. But sure, let's keep the charade alive.)
Lily coughed, brushing frost off her forearm. "That wasn't just practice… you moved a three-ton rock like it was a balloon."
Harry, already leaning against a tree stump, nodded in disbelief. "Seriously, how long have you been training? That's not normal."
Sara, arms crossed, squinted at me. Her brow furrowed. "I don't buy it. There's no way you're just a 'telekinetic.' That's not beginner level."
(Tch. Sharp girl. She's already starting to question the narrative. I'll have to keep an eye on her.)
I gave them all a half-smile and a shrug.
"I've had more time than you guys. That's all. Your powers will catch up eventually. Trust the process."
(Kekeke… the process I wrote, you mean.)
They didn't respond. Just exchanged glances, slowly straightening their backs, pulling their strength together again. Despite everything, they still looked up to me. They believed what I said.
Good.
That was the point.
I watched as James sparked with faint electricity, his Electrosense allowing him to track Lily's movements mid-combat now. He could almost predict them. Not bad for a week.
Lily was manipulating her Cryokinesis well enough to form tiny sharp icicles in midair without freezing her own limbs. The control was coming. Slowly.
Sara could grow vines and roots as weapons now, whipping them out like flexible spears, though they still withered if she got too far emotionally unstable.
Harry could enhance his strength at will, launching himself forward in short bursts like a cannonball—but he still struggled with timing.
They weren't special yet.
Not strong.
Not heroes.
But they were... good.
Good enough to keep the story moving.
(In two years… maybe even four… they'll be what I need them to be. Icons. Champions. Characters worth watching. Until then? I train them. I guide them. I lie to them. All to keep the boredom at bay.)
To be continue