Vanessa has spent her life believing she was abandoned, shuffling between neglectful foster homes and haunted by strange nightmares. When her suppressed magic resurfaces, she is thrust into the mysterious world of Alfea, a school for fairies. There...
She ended up at the school library, a quiet refuge where she could hide among the stacks of books and lose herself in someone else's story for a while. But even there, the unease followed her. Her hands felt restless, her chest tight with the storm building inside her.
It happened during the science competition.
Vanessa hadn't planned to participate—she hated the attention—but her teacher had insisted, praising her as the "brightest mind in the class." The pressure was suffocating, the eyes of her classmates heavy on her as she worked on her presentation.
"Look at her," someone whispered. "Always so perfect."
"She probably thinks she's better than everyone," another voice muttered.
Vanessa's grip tightened on her pen. The whispers grew louder in her mind, blending with Melissa's voice from years ago: No one wants you. You're just a freak.
Her hands began to tremble. The air around her grew colder, a faint hum filling her ears. She tried to steady her breathing, to push the storm back down where it belonged, but it was too late.
The wind came first, knocking over a stack of books and sending papers flying. Then the electricity, crackling through the air and shattering a lightbulb overhead. A small flame sparked on the corner of the table, quickly extinguished by a gust of wind.
The room erupted into chaos. Students screamed and scrambled for the door, their faces pale with fear. Vanessa stood frozen in the center of it all, her heart pounding as she realized what she'd done.
"Vanessa!" the teacher shouted, his voice filled with shock and confusion. "What—"
"I'm sorry," Vanessa whispered, her voice barely audible over the noise. Then she turned and ran, her feet carrying her out of the library and into the cool evening air.
Vanessa didn't go home. She didn't know where she was going, only that she needed to get away. Her feet carried her to the park, where she collapsed onto a bench, her hands shaking as she tried to catch her breath.
"You're stronger than you think."
The voice startled her, soft yet firm, and she turned to see a woman standing a few feet away. She was tall and composed, with sharp features and an air of quiet authority. Her presence was almost otherworldly, her eyes piercing yet kind.
"Who are you?" Vanessa asked warily.
"My name is Professor Dowling," the woman said, taking a step closer. "I've been looking for you."
Vanessa frowned. "Why?"
"Because you're not like the others," Dowling said. "You've felt it, haven't you? The power inside you, the storms you can't control."
Vanessa's heart skipped a beat. "How do you know about that?"
"Because I've seen it before," Dowling said. "You're a fairy, Vanessa. A child of the elements."
Vanessa stared at her, the words hanging heavy in the air. "A... fairy?"
"Yes," Dowling said simply. "And not just any fairy. You're connected to all five elements—air, water, fire, earth, and electricity. It's an extraordinary gift, but it's also a heavy burden."
Vanessa shook her head. "This is insane. I'm not—"
"You are," Dowling interrupted gently. "You've always known you were different, haven't you? The dreams, the nightmares, the power you can't explain. They're all part of who you are."
The words sent a shiver down Vanessa's spine. She thought of the glowing palace, the voice calling her name, the sparks and storms that had followed her since she was a child. It all felt impossible and yet... right.
"What do you want from me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I want to help you," Dowling said. "To teach you how to control your powers, to help you discover who you really are."
Vanessa hesitated, her mind racing. "And what if I don't want to?"
Dowling's expression softened. "Then you can stay here, hiding from the truth. But you'll never be able to ignore it. The power inside you will only grow stronger, and without guidance, it could consume you."
The words sent a chill through Vanessa. She thought of the library, the fear in her classmates' eyes, the chaos she had caused. She couldn't let that happen again.
"What do I have to do?" she asked finally.
"Come with me," Dowling said. "To Alfea."
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Vanessa didn't tell Bloom the truth about why she was leaving. She couldn't. Instead, she told her adoptive parents she was going to a special boarding school for advanced students. Diane seemed relieved, Greg supportive. Only Bloom looked hurt.
"You're really leaving?" Bloom asked, her voice tight.
Vanessa nodded. "It's for the best."
"For who?" Bloom demanded. "Because it sure doesn't feel like it's for me."
Vanessa looked away. "You don't understand."
"You're right," Bloom snapped. "I don't. But that's nothing new, is it?"
The words stung, but Vanessa didn't argue. She couldn't. She had made her choice, and there was no turning back.
