Echoes from Another Life

That morning, Stefan woke up still feeling all over the place. His mind had been spinning all night, and even now, in the quiet calm of early light, the confusion hadn't really faded. He sat on the edge of the bed, letting the cool morning air from the window brush against his face. Outside, everything looked so… normal. Like nothing strange was happening.

But Stefan knew better.

He got up and wandered out into the living room. In the kitchen, his uncle and aunt were already busy prepping breakfast. The soft sound of his footsteps made them look up.

"Morning, Stefan," Aunt Clara greeted him with a warm smile, her eyes scanning his face gently.

"Morning," he replied, forcing a small smile back. He stared at them for a second—at the cozy kitchen, the smell of toast and coffee, the soft clatter of plates. All of it should've made him feel at home.

But it didn't. Not really.

Everything felt just a little... off. Like he was stuck in a dream that looked like real life but wasn't.

Uncle John gave him a simple nod. "You want breakfast? Got omelet and toast."

Stefan nodded and sat down at the table. He reached for the coffee Aunt Clara had poured for him, letting the scent hit him—familiar, comforting. It reminded him of a time before everything changed. Before this world got flipped upside down by elemental powers and coding-based combat systems.

Around him, everything looked the same. His uncle buttering toast, his aunt chopping veggies, the peaceful energy of a house that had seen years of memories.

But Stefan couldn't shake the truth: this wasn't the same world anymore.

Back then, there were no powers. No Coders. No flames shooting from your hands, no lightning surging through your veins. It was just school, homework, dumb jokes with friends. People like Daniel—obsessed with tech—or Laura with her never-ending creative ideas, none of them ever imagined they'd one day be able to control the elements.

Even Darren.

The one who ended his life.

Now, Darren might be out there somewhere, with powers even more dangerous than before.

Stefan looked down at his left hand. A small flame sparked to life, flickering at his fingertips.

Fire. The one element everyone already knew he could use.

But it was his right hand that held the real secret.

A quick flash of electricity crackled quietly—fast, precise, and hidden.

Lightning.

His second element.

Something no one else knew about. Something not even the Academy could classify. No records, no mention, not even among the rarest of the Rare-Type Coders. Whatever this was... it wasn't in the system. It wasn't supposed to exist.

"Stefan?" Aunt Clara's voice pulled him back to the present. He looked up and saw the worry in her eyes.

"You okay? You've been really quiet."

"I'm fine, Auntie," he said with a faint smile. "It's just... this world feels so different now."

She smiled again, softer this time. "The world changes, yes. But what matters is how we move forward in it."

Uncle John, who had been quiet, chimed in, "Your training starts tomorrow, right? Got the notification?"

Stefan gave a slow nod. "Yeah. It's official."

He glanced out the window. The sky was blue, calm. But inside, his chest felt tight. That training wasn't just some lesson. It was the beginning of something bigger—something he couldn't avoid anymore.

"Hopefully, it'll help you understand your powers better," Uncle John added with his usual calm wisdom. "But remember, strength isn't just about how much power you've got. It's about knowing how to control it."

"I'll be careful," Stefan said quietly, even though deep down, he wasn't so sure.

He finished his breakfast, barely tasting the food. His mind kept drifting—to fire and lightning, to Darren, to the mystery behind everything happening to him.

No one understood what he was.

No one had answers.

But he had to keep going anyway.

This training might be the first step to finally figuring things out—about himself, this world, and what the hell had happened to him.

He stood up, glanced at his aunt and uncle once more. "I'm heading out. I'll be back after training."

"Be careful," Aunt Clara said, smiling even though the worry still lingered in her eyes.

With a deep breath, Stefan stepped outside.

The world looked calm.

But inside him, a storm was building—and it was only just getting started.