Chapter 17: A Dizzying Escape
Chapter 17: A Dizzying Escape
The spaceship hurtled through the void, its engines groaning under the strain of Thalaya's immense telekinetic force. Every burst of energy she exerted accelerated their speed beyond the scientists' wildest calculations. The passengers clung to their seats, their faces pale as dizziness swept over them.
Elara groaned, clutching her stomach. "I swear, if this ship gets any faster, I'll—" She cut off, her cheeks puffing as she fumbled for a space sickness bag. Around her, the scientists weren't faring much better, their discomfort etched into their faces.
Maya, however, sat serenely, her eyes fixed on the stars streaking past the viewport. She seemed lost in thought, her mind replaying her encounter with Draycen. A spark of determination lit her expression as an idea began to form.
"Elara," Maya said calmly, breaking her sister's lament. "I think I can help."
Elara's eyes widened in alarm. "Oh no, Maya! If you make this ship any faster, we'll all—"
But it was too late. Maya's power flared to life, her aura shimmering as she focused her telekinetic force on the spaceship. A surge of energy coursed through the vessel, and in an instant, the stars outside blurred into streaks of light. The ship accelerated to an incomprehensible speed, tearing through space with such force it felt as though they had teleported.
Within thirty minutes, the ship emerged into Earth's orbit, descending rapidly toward its designated landing site.
As the engines slowed and the vessel stabilized, the chaos inside caught up with its passengers. Elara grabbed her space sickness bag and emptied her stomach, her face flushed with nausea. The scientists followed suit, groaning as they stumbled to recover from the journey.
Thalaya, though steady, glanced at Maya with an unreadable expression. A thought crossed her mind: _I need to refine my abilities. At this rate, I'll be outpaced by my own daughter._
Maya stood with a triumphant smile, oblivious to the chaos she had caused. Throwing her arms wide, she announced, "We're here! Now we can finally go to Luminara Institute together again, Elara!" Her radiant grin was met with groans and queasy looks.
Realizing the state of her companions, Maya reached into a storage compartment and retrieved a vial of shimmering liquid. "Here," she said, offering the strange substance. "This is Melodiflora water. It'll help."
The others hesitated, but their misery soon outweighed their caution. One by one, they sipped the water, their nausea easing almost instantly.
"This stuff is amazing," Elara mumbled, her voice hoarse but grateful.
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### **The Mission Revealed**
Before disembarking, Thalaya addressed her daughters. "My dear girls," she began, her tone solemn. "There's something I need your help with. The APGA organization… it holds many dark secrets. I feel guilty for my role in their cloning experiments, and I want to uncover the truth. Will you help me?"
Elara, still recovering, nodded weakly. "As you wish, Mother."
Maya frowned. "But how can we expose them? The APGA is dominated by the elite and powerful Arcanians. We'd be risking everything."
Thalaya placed a reassuring hand on Maya's shoulder. "We'll find a way. Others who oppose the experimentation will join us. This is not a fight we face alone."
Maya's eyes softened, though doubt lingered. "I'll help. But I don't want to fight my own kind."
"I understand," Thalaya replied. "We'll do what we can without bloodshed."
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### **The Return to Luminara**
Descending to the institute was a surreal experience. Thalaya activated her wings device, gliding gracefully through the air, while Maya and Elara used their telekinetic abilities to follow. Maya's descent was smooth and controlled, while Elara struggled to maintain balance, lagging slightly behind.
As they landed near the institute, students and teachers cast curious glances their way. Their spacesuits drew a mix of awe and confusion, though the sight was quickly dismissed as the family's uniforms reappeared with a faint shimmer of camouflage technology.
Thalaya moved toward the teachers' platform while Maya and Elara joined their classroom lines. It was early morning, and assembly was already underway.
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### **Maya's Growing Power**
Standing in line, Maya's mind wandered. Since her confrontation with Draycen, her telepathic abilities had taken on a startling new depth. Even those wearing telepathy-blocking devices couldn't hide their thoughts from her.
She focused her senses on three distinct channels:
**Channel 1:** A student wearing smart glasses thought anxiously, "I need to take pictures and notes, or I'll forget what happened yesterday."
**Channel 2:** Another student, tucked in the corner with a red cap, grumbled inwardly, "This cap is all I have left of my dad. They'll never understand why I wear it. This school is so unfair."
**Channel 3:** A grinning student hovered a meter above the ground, testing newly developed telekinesis. "Finally! I've unlocked another ability!"
Before he could float higher, a teacher noticed and increased the gravity around him, forcing him back to the ground. The student muttered regretfully, "Maybe I got a little carried away..."
Maya smirked, intrigued by her evolving abilities. _Even with telepathy blockers, I can hear them clearly. My power has grown beyond anything I could have imagined._
### **Closing Reflections**
As the assembly continued, Maya's focus sharpened. The secrets of the APGA loomed over her family, and her new abilities promised both danger and opportunity. One thing was certain—this was just the beginning of their journey into the unknown.