The sizzle of batter on a hot pan echoed softly through the kitchen as the warm scent of pancakes drifted upstairs.
Maria stood by the stove, flipping each pancake and turns off boiling milk tea.
Across the room, her husband was sitting at the kitchen table, a newspaper held loosely in his hands. His eyes scanned the page with effort, brow furrowed in deep concentration.
Honey! Donn't try to force yourself too hard. Maria says signing off.
"Elicia, Eliciaaa! Wake up, your breakfast is ready!" Maria called up the stairs, her voice both sharp and loving.
Silence.
She flipped another pancake with a sigh. "Sun's already up, and that girl's still sleeping. Doesn't she want to go there? This girl."
Upstairs, Elicia lay tangled in her blanket, one leg dangling off the bed, hair a mess, dried drool on her chin. She shifted slightly at the sound but didn't wake.
"Eliciaaaa!" her mother tried again, louder this time. "If you don't come down in the next five seconds, I'm coming up—"
That worked.
With a startled jolt, Elicia sat up. "Okay, okay! I'm coming in 1 minutes !" she mumbled, rubbing her face and stretching with a loud yawn. She blinked toward the wall calendar, squinting at today's date.
April 6th. Her eyes widened.
"It's today..."
The words written on the calendar jumped out at her: 18th Birthday & ___Superpower Test. Her eyes widened and become fully awaken.
She rushed into the bathroom to freshen up, her thoughts spinning. What if I already have a power and just never noticed? What if it's something rare? Maybe it's lying dormant, waiting for the right moment... while dumping in the toilet.
Downstairs, Maria placed the third pancake on the stack, her face lighting up just as Elicia entered the room.
"There she is—the birthday girl," she said with a proud smile. "Happy birthday, my love."
"Thanks, Mom," Elicia beamed, touched by the warmth in her mother's eyes.
At the table, her father looked up from his newspaper, a faintly puzzled look on his face. He blinked at Elicia, then glanced at Maria.
Maria leaned toward him gently, placing a hand on his arm. "It's Elicia's birthday today, remember?" she said softly.
His face brightened. "Ah, right! Happy birthday, Elicia," he said, with a flicker of his old self shining through.
Elicia smiled warmly, though a tinge of sadness passed through her eyes. "Thanks, Dad."
He returned to his paper, his lips silently mouthing the words on the page, trying to hold on.
"So," Elicia said, sliding into her chair. "Today's the day. My power test."
Her father blinked again, confused. "Power test? Are you flying now? Like… like that hero on the news?"
Maria stepped in quickly. "The government test, remember? At 18, they check if kids have abilities. It's mandatory."
He nodded slowly. "Right. Right… yes. Mandatory." But his eyes already drifted back to the newspaper, lost once more.
Maria gave Elicia a small smile, masking the worry behind it. "Eat up. You need energy before we head into the city."
Elicia poked at her pancake, her excitement still bubbling beneath the surface.
Elicia sat down at the table, the plate of warm pancakes in front of her steaming gently. Her excitement buzzed just under the surface, barely contained.
Her mom poured her a glass of juice and sat beside her, watching her with a curious smile.
"You know," Maria said, brushing a bit of flour from her sleeve, "I'm kind of curious too. What if you really do have a power? Are you feeling anything… unusual? Right now?"
Elicia lit up, grinning wide. "I don't know!" she said with an excited giggle. "But I know I'll have something. I can feel it! Maybe it's just not awake yet. But today's the day—we'll find out together!"
Maria shook her head fondly. "You're just like your father when he was young. Full of belief."
At that, her father—who had been squinting at the newspaper—suddenly tapped a headline with his finger.
"Look here," he said, holding it up awkwardly. "This article says… if both parents don't have powers, then the child has… a low capacity. Nearly zero, it says."
Maria and Elicia both turned to look at him.
He blinked, a hint of panic crossing his face as he noticed their stares. "Ahh—not zero exactly! I mean, maybe… just low odds? But not impossible!"
Elicia laughed nervously, then reached for her fork. "Well, maybe I'll be the exception. Someone has to be!"
Her father gave a small, crooked smile, then slowly turned the page of his newspaper again—though his hands trembled slightly, and his eyes skimmed the words without fully understanding them.
Maria looked at Elicia with a softer gaze. "Whatever happens today, just remember… your worth isn't tied to whether you have powers or not."
"I know, Mom," Elicia said, her voice firm with youthful certainty. "But I want to try. And I want you both to come with me to the city. We'll go together."
Maria reached out, brushing Elicia's hair back. "Of course, sweetheart. We'll be right by your side."
After breakfast, the family gathered their things, stepping outside into the crisp morning air. They had already called for a taxi, and it pulled up right in front of the house.
Maria stood for a moment, adjusting her jacket, and then gestured for Elicia to hop into the car. Elicia, her heart racing with excitement and anticipation, quickly followed her mother into the backseat, with her father trailing behind, still holding the newspaper.
As they settled in, the taxi driver, an older man with a weathered face, glanced over his shoulder at Elicia in the rearview mirror.
"So," the driver said with a slight grin, "Is this the girl who will be the superhero that will save the world from danger?"
Elicia's eyes sparkled as she nodded with a confident smile. "Yes, you're right. And we will not be coming back here. We'll stay in the city."
Maria gave a small, proud smile, though her eyes betrayed a hint of worry as she glanced at her daughter. "That's right. We're ready for this new chapter."
The taxi driver chuckled, clearly amused by Elicia's confidence. "Well then, good luck to you, young lady. You've got a long road ahead."
Elicia's gaze drifted out the window, her thoughts full of the unknown adventure awaiting her in the city. Today was the day she would learn her fate—whether she had the powers that would make her a hero, or if she would be just another person among millions. But whatever happened, she knew one thing for certain: her journey was just beginning.
Meanwhile, Maria sat quietly beside her, glancing over at her daughter with a concerned look. She could see how tense Elicia was, the uncertainty of the moment weighing on her.
The taxi had been stuck in traffic for what felt like an eternity. The driver was visibly frustrated, his face scrunching in annoyance as he honked the horn, arguing with other drivers through his rolled-down window.
Beside him sat a father, his earphones in, clearly oblivious to the chaos around him. His relaxed demeanor contrasted with the tense atmosphere in the car.
Elicia, in the backseat, stared out the window, her gaze drifting lazily over the city streets. The urban landscape of towering buildings and bustling crowds seemed so far removed from her quiet hometown, and she felt a small thrill from the energy of the city. The skyscrapers reflected the sunlight, giving the whole place a shimmering, almost magical feel.
Her mother, Maria, glanced out and spotted a grocery store. "Driver, stop here. I need to grab a few things," she called, her voice casual but with a touch of impatience as she shifted her attention to the crowded street outside.
The driver grunted in acknowledgment, pulling over. "This'll take a while, so you might as well enjoy some city things while you can," he grumbled, his eyes still focused on the traffic around him.
The taxi lurched forward, inching along in the massive traffic jam. Elicia stared out of the closed window, watching the chaotic city street unfold in front of her. The noises from the outside were muffled, but she could still hear the driver arguing with another car's driver, his voice growing louder as they exchanged harsh words.
Beside the driver, Elicia's father sat with his ears covered by earphones, completely unaware of the ongoing dispute. Elicia glanced at him briefly before returning her focus to the city's sights—tall buildings, the bustling crowd, and street vendors hawking their goods.
Her mother, noticing a grocery store up ahead, turned to the driver. "Stop here, please. I'll be quick."
The driver grunted, glancing back at her. "This traffic's not moving anytime soon. You've got time, ma'am. Take a look around."
Maria gave him a small nod and got out, her steps quick and determined. "I'll be back in a minute, Elicia."
Elicia, feeling a bit more adventurous, followed her mother. The city was alive, and she was more than willing to explore it a bit. As she walked behind her mother into the store, she couldn't help but be amazed by the array of fresh produce displayed in front of her. The vegetables looked perfect, even if they were a little too perfect.
"Why is everything so expensive here?!" Elicia muttered under her breath, picking up a cucumber and eyeing its price tag. Her frustration was palpable as she moved from one shelf to the next, picking out items and cursing the high prices.
Unbeknownst to her, a couple of staff members were gossiping nearby. "Does she not know this is one of the most upscale grocery stores in the entire capital?" one whispered to the other, glancing at Elicia with a disapproving look.
Maria, lost in her own thoughts, was browsing the baking aisle. She had a specific ingredient in mind for Elicia's cake—vanilla essence. It was a little pricey, but she didn't mind. This day was special. She grabbed the bottle, placing it in her small basket.
"Okay, we're done here," Maria said, looking at Elicia with a warm smile. "Let's head back to the taxi."
Elicia, still holding onto her basket, nodded eagerly, even though her mind was distracted by the overwhelming prices. They left the store and started walking back to where they had left the taxi, but something felt off.
Just as they neared the vehicle, Elicia noticed her father had stepped out of the taxi, walking away from it. He was muttering something to himself, and the driver seemed equally confused.
"Dad!" Elicia called, her voice full of concern. She approached him, worried. "Go inside the taxi. It's dangerous out here."
Her father barely registered her words. "I'm just calling the driver," he mumbled, turning away as if to check the situation further.
Elicia moved closer, her heart pounding, until she reached her father, slipping into the taxi beside him, her breath short and uneven.
"Dad, come inside," she urged, her voice a mixture of concern and exhaustion.
"Alright," he mumbled, about to open the door.
Then, in the blink of an eye—something sharp and swift tongue flashed in front of her. Her eyes shot wide open as—
A burst of blood exploded across the taxi window, splattering it in a split second, turning it a deep, horrifying red.
Elicia's breath caught in her throat. The world around her seemed to stop, the fading sound of a horn blaring somewhere in the distance.