Stefan sat at his desk, still bewildered by the fire he had just summoned. The flames felt strong, blazing, and full of potential, yet there was something different about them. A strange feeling tickled his body—a sensation far more intense, more wild. Lightning—yes, that was the power he felt. A swift energy echoed within him, seemingly battling to break free.
Before he could fully understand the sensation, without warning, the lightning burst forth, crackling from the palm of his hand at incredible speed. A flash of light, almost invisible to the naked eye, yet powerful enough to ripple through the surrounding air. For a moment, the classroom seemed frozen in time. The lightning strike shattered the calm that had once been there.
Yet, just as quickly as it appeared, the lightning vanished. So fast that even Stefan himself barely registered what had happened. His body jolted, surprised by the sudden surge of power.
As the lightning flashed, a sharp awareness ignited within him. "No! This can't happen!" he thought in panic. His instincts reacted faster than his reason. Lightning—two elements within him—this was something highly unusual, something that simply should not happen. Wasn't every person supposed to master only one element? As far as he knew, that was an unspoken rule, strictly upheld across this world. But why him—a mere beginner—able to wield two elements? It could be dangerous.
Without thinking, Stefan immediately tried to suppress the lightning, forcing the wild energy back inside himself. He clenched his fists tightly, pressing the power deep within to prevent another outburst. In those few seconds, the brilliant, shaking flash seemed to evaporate without leaving a trace. The fire he had summoned earlier still burned, growing stronger and brighter, but the lightning had disappeared.
Stefan's body trembled, as if trying to shield itself from unleashing any further hidden power. His heart pounded violently, adrenaline flooding his veins. He glanced around quickly, making sure no one had noticed what had just happened. Everyone seemed focused solely on the fire he was controlling, unaware of the earlier lightning strike. Even though everything appeared normal, the anxiety inside him refused to die down. "Will they think I'm a freak if they find out I have two elements?" he thought, struggling to accept the truth.
Mr. Harrison, their teacher, stood watching, filled with admiration, his gaze locked onto the growing flames. "Excellent, Stefan. Truly impressive fire control. You have great potential," he praised, seemingly unaware of Stefan's hidden second element.
Stefan forced a smile, trying to appear normal, despite the turmoil inside him. Only the fire was visible—and that, at least, was a small relief. But deep down, the tension kept building. Lightning—that hidden power—was a part of him he must not reveal. Stefan knew exactly what could happen if people found out he possessed two elements. It would raise suspicions, perhaps even draw unwanted attention from all over the world.
"This must remain a secret," he thought, holding his breath and struggling to stay composed. "I must be careful."
In his mind, Stefan kept reflecting on what had just happened. Two elements within a single body—something that had almost never occurred before. If the truth ever came out, it would spark massive problems. Lightning, with its untamed, explosive nature, would be much harder to conceal than fire. Stefan felt like he was standing at a fragile edge. If his second element were exposed, he would face questions he wasn't ready to answer.
For now, he decided he wouldn't tell anyone. The lightning would remain hidden, even if it meant denying a vital part of himself. If the lightning manifested more clearly in the future, it would be much harder to contain the chaos that would follow.
The class carried on, and Stefan tried to focus his attention solely on the fire in his hand. He trained his emotions and thoughts to stay anchored to that one element, desperately hoping to keep the lightning from emerging again. This way, he could appear normal—just like everyone else.
But deep down, Stefan knew he couldn't keep it hidden forever. The lightning was too powerful to remain suppressed for long. Somehow, someday, he knew the power would rise again. When that moment came, he would have to be ready.
But for now, he chose silence—burying the overwhelming force within him until the time was right to face it.