The morning at Aegis Academy had a heavy air, and I was in Celestia’s and my shared dorm, trying to process everything when my mom, Sofia, arrived. She looked tired and anxious, her gaze searching the room until it landed on me.

“Gianna,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “I’m here to take you home. It’s not safe for you to stay here.”

I stared at her, frustration boiling over. “I can’t go home, Mom. If I go back, Dad will find me and... and he’ll do to me what he did to Calida. I know what happened to her. I know she was taken and tested on until she died.”

My mom’s eyes widened in shock. “How do you know about Calida? I never told you.”

I took a deep breath, my anger and sadness mixing into a tight knot in my chest. “I saw it. I saw her being taken away, and I found out she was my sister. I can’t go home. Dad is dangerous, and he’s obsessed with this project. If I go back, I don’t know what he’ll do.

Sofia looked at me with a mix of horror and disbelief. “Gianna, I—”

Celestia stepped in, her voice steady and supportive. “Maybe it’s best if we talk this through here. We need to focus on keeping you safe.”

Sofia nodded, though her expression was troubled. “Alright, Gianna. We’ll figure this out, but please, be careful. Your father... he’s not the man I thought he was.”

As my mom left, I felt a strange relief, but the uncertainty of what lay ahead lingered heavily. Celestia gave me a reassuring look, and I took a deep breath, ready to face whatever came next.

Celestia and I were heading to our next class, "Elemental Dynamics," a course focused on the interplay of different elemental powers and how they can be used in harmony. The hallways were buzzing with students discussing their latest lessons when Marina and Luna appeared in our path, their faces twisted with hostility.

“Hey, Lightning Spark,” Marina sneered, her voice dripping with contempt. “Think you can just zap us and get away with it?”

Luna’s eyes gleamed with dark intent. “Yeah, you think you’re so tough now. Let’s see you handle this.”

They advanced toward us, clearly looking to start a confrontation. I didn’t have the energy or patience for their games. Without a word, I felt the familiar surge of electricity crackling through my veins. I raised my hand, and a bolt of lightning shot from my fingertips, hitting Marina and Luna squarely, sending them skidding backward and crashing into a nearby wall.

The hallway went silent for a moment as students stared in shock. Marina and Luna scrambled to their feet, glaring at me with fury, but I was already moving, not giving them another thought. I walked calmly toward the classroom, Celestia by my side. The tension in my chest eased just a bit with every step, knowing that despite everything, I was finding my place in this new world.

As I stepped into the bathroom, the familiar sensation of electricity coursed through my veins, making my fingers tingle with energy. The glow had returned, but this time it was different—stronger, more intense, and glowing an eerie purple. I tried to shake it off, but it lingered, pulsing with a strange rhythm that matched the pounding of my heart. "Oh, you have a thing for bathrooms, I see," I muttered under my breath, trying to lighten the tension. But this time, the glow wasn’t just playing around. It suddenly shot out from my fingertips, a blinding burst of energy that slammed into me with the force of a lightning bolt. I didn’t even have time to scream before the world around me faded, and everything went black.

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When I came to, I was no longer in the bathroom, or even at Aegis Academy. The surroundings were completely different—sleek, futuristic, and intimidating. The walls were lined with dark, polished metal, and the air buzzed with an energy that made the hair on my arms stand up. I stumbled to my feet, trying to steady myself as I took in the scene around me. There were no students, no classrooms—only powerful-looking individuals, all adults, moving with a sense of purpose and authority.

A name flashed in my mind, almost like it was being whispered in my ear: Titan Syndicate. This wasn’t just some school; this was a place for the elite, a gathering of the most powerful beings in existence. The name alone sent shivers down my spine, and I realized I was in the presence of something far greater than anything I had ever encountered.

The people here weren’t just powerful—they were titans, wielding abilities that seemed to shake the very foundation of the world. They moved with a confidence and command that made it clear they were in control of forces beyond imagination. I was no longer in the safety of Aegis Academy; I had crossed into a world where power was everything, and only the strongest survived.

As I took in the sight before me, a mix of awe and fear settled in my chest. What was I doing here? Why had the glow brought me to this place? The questions swirled in my mind, but one thing was clear—I had just entered the domain of the Titan Syndicate, and whatever happened next, I knew I was in for a whole new level of challenges.

As I was trying to make sense of my new surroundings, a girl approached me with a calm, confident stride. She had dark brown hair that cascaded in loose waves down her back, and her dark olive-green eyes seemed to hold a depth of understanding. She introduced herself as Roxanne Stone, and I couldn't help but notice the aura of quiet power she carried with her. Roxanne had just turned 18, which made her an official member of this place, and her presence alone spoke volumes about her strength.

"Hey there," she said, extending a hand to me. "You must be the new arrival. I’m Roxanne Stone. I know things must seem pretty overwhelming right now."

I took her hand, feeling a slight chill from her touch. Roxanne continued, "Welcome to Titan Syndicate. This place is a high-level organization where individuals with extraordinary abilities come to train, develop their powers, and carry out missions that require the utmost skill and discretion. We deal with situations that regular agencies or schools can't handle—basically, we're the elite."

She paused for a moment, her eyes scanning my face as if to gauge my reaction. "As for me, I have the power of petrification. It’s the ability to turn anything I touch into solid stone, essentially freezing it in time. It's an intense power, but it's great for defence and control. And believe me, you'll see a lot of powers here, each more impressive than the last."

Roxanne’s explanation helped to ground me a bit, but the weight of the situation was still heavy on my shoulders. Titan Syndicate was a whole new world of its own, and I was about to dive headfirst into its complex and powerful environment.

Curiosity got the better of me, and I asked Roxanne how she ended up at Titan Syndicate. She hesitated for a moment, as if weighing how much to reveal. Finally, she started, "I didn't realize I had powers until I was around nine years old. At first, it was scary because I couldn't control it. One day, my parents were giving me one of those long lectures—probably about my behaviour or something typical of growing up—and I got so frustrated that I accidentally petrified them. Turned them into solid stone, just like that."

Her voice was steady, but I could sense a tinge of sadness beneath her calm exterior. "That incident was a turning point. The day after, I saw this strange, grey glow—just like how you might have seen a glow yourself. In Titan Syndicate, everyone sees a different colour depending on their powers. For me, it was this eerie grey. It’s like the glow is a kind of signal, a way for the Syndicate to find and recruit people with extraordinary abilities."

Roxanne continued, "At first, I was brought to Aegis Academy. It was where I started to learn how to control my powers and understand my abilities better. But when I turned sixteen, I saw that same grey glow again, and that’s when I was teleported here to Titan Syndicate. It’s like a rite of passage for those of us who have proven ourselves capable enough. So, if you’re seeing a glow, it’s probably leading you here or somewhere important."

Her story, though filled with a sense of loss and resilience, gave me a glimpse into the journey that led her to this place, and I couldn't help but wonder what my own path would be like.