The First Signs

The Salvador family stood in a semi-circle, gazing at the enchanting crystal that pulsed with vibrant colors. Each pulse seemed to resonate with the very air around them, drawing them closer. Jena felt a strange energy emanating from it, almost as if it were calling her name.

“What do you think it is?” Victor whispered, his voice barely above a hush, his wide eyes reflecting the crystal’s light.

“I don’t know,” Candy replied, her curiosity getting the better of her. “But it looks like something out of a fantasy movie.” She took a step forward, her face illuminated by the glow. “It’s so beautiful.”

“Let’s not get too close,” Oscar warned, his protective instincts kicking in. “We don’t know what it is or what it could do."

Jena stood slightly behind her family, mesmerized by the pulsating light. The closer she got, the more she felt an irresistible pull toward it, a magnetic force that thrummed in her very bones. She could hear her heart racing in sync with the crystal’s rhythm. Without fully understanding why, she stepped forward, her hands instinctively reaching out.

“Jena, wait!” Candy exclaimed, but it was too late.

Jena felt a rush of warmth as her fingers brushed the surface of the crystal. In that instant, a black crystal shot out and embedded itself in her palm, throbbing with energy. She gasped, pulling her hand back as a strange surge coursed through her. It felt powerful yet unfamiliar, like electricity dancing beneath her skin.

“What just happened?” Victor asked, eyes wide with a mix of fear and awe. “Did you touch it?”

“I… I think so,” Jena replied, staring at the black crystal in her palm. “I don’t know what it means, though.”

Bea took a cautious step closer, concern etching her features. “Are you okay, honey? What do you feel?”

“I think… I think I’m fine?” Jena said, trying to shake off her initial shock. She turned her hand, examining the black crystal, a mix of awe and uncertainty swirling inside her. “I feel different.”

“I want to try, too!” Candy, curious as ever, stepped forward and reached out to the crystal. She placed her hands on the surface, and instantly, a red crystal formed in her palm, bright and fiery. Her eyes lit up with excitement as she held it up to her face, marveling at its beauty.

“Look, I got one too!” she exclaimed, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm. “This is incredible!”

Candy waved her hands dramatically, and to her shock, a jet of fire shot forth from the red crystal, erupting in a bright flame that illuminated the area around them.

“Whoa!” Victor shouted, stepping back in surprise. “That’s amazing!”

“Did you just shoot fire?” Jena gasped, wide-eyed. She looked at the crystal, feeling a mix of wonder and anxiety.

Candy stared at her hands, the excitement quickly replaced by disbelief. “Oh my gosh! I didn’t mean to do that! What’s happening?”

“I think it means you have fire powers,” Jena said, excitement flooding her voice.

Candy waved her hands again, trying to focus, but the flame flickered uncertainly, creating an eerie shadow on her face. “How do I turn it off?!” she cried, panic rising in her tone.

“Just think it!” Jena suggested, her own heart racing as she remembered what she felt when she first touched the crystal. “Focus on it going away!”

Candy closed her eyes, concentrating hard. After a moment, the flame sputtered and vanished, leaving her gasping for breath. “That was… intense,” she said, a mix of exhilaration and fear washing over her face.

“Are you okay?” Bea asked, stepping forward to place a comforting hand on Candy’s shoulder.

“Yeah, I think so,” Candy replied, still staring at her hands.

Jena, meanwhile, was still focused on her own crystal, feeling the strange power it held but uncertain how to release it. She tried to summon something, anything, but no flames or light appeared. She frowned, feeling a pang of disappointment.

“Maybe mine is different,” she murmured to herself, but Candy, still ecstatic about her new ability, hadn’t noticed.

The shimmering crystal pulsed gently in the fading light, casting an otherworldly glow over the Salvador family. Candy’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she held her fiery red crystal aloft. “You guys, this is incredible! Just imagine what powers we might all have! We should totally try it!”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Oscar, Jena’s father, asked hesitantly, rubbing the back of his neck. “What if it does something unexpected?”

“It’s worth the risk!” Candy insisted, her bubbly energy urging the family forward. “Besides, we’re in this together. Let’s find out what each of us can do!”

Victor stepped forward, his heart racing with anticipation, and placed his hand on the crystal. A shimmering blue gem materialized in his palm. “I got one! What could this do?”

“Maybe you can control water!” Jena suggested, her voice tinged with excitement.

“Let’s find out!” Victor said, determination in his eyes. He concentrated on the crystal, and suddenly a stream of water burst forth from his hands, dancing in the air like a miniature fountain. “Water!” he shouted with glee, grinning at his family. “I control water!”

“Wow! Look at that!” Bea exclaimed, clapping her hands in delight. “You really can control water!”

“This is so cool!” Victor beamed, the water swirling around him as he laughed with glee.

“Okay, Dad, you’re next!” Candy urged, nudging Oscar forward.

Oscar chuckled, shaking his head at their enthusiasm. “Alright, alright. I’ll give it a shot.” He stepped up to the crystal and pressed his hand against it. A lush green crystal appeared in his palm, pulsating with energy.

“What do you think you can do?” Jena asked, her curiosity piqued.

“Since it's green, maybe I can control plants!” Oscar said, a spark of excitement igniting in his eyes. He concentrated, and as he did, small vines began to sprout from the ground, twisting and curling around his fingers. “This is incredible!”

“Dad, that’s amazing!” Jena gasped, her heart racing at the sight of the plants blooming at his command.

“Mom, it’s your turn!” Candy encouraged, her excitement palpable.

Bea stepped forward, placing her hand on the crystal. An orange gem materialized in her palm. “What do you think this means?” she wondered aloud.

“Maybe you have earth powers!” Jena suggested.

Bea concentrated, and to everyone’s amazement, the ground around her began to tremble. Small flowers blossomed beneath her feet, their colors vibrant and alive. “I can feel the earth responding!” Bea exclaimed, her eyes wide with wonder.

“This is unreal!” Victor shouted, jumping up and down. “We all have powers!”

“Wait, we haven't seen what Jena's crystal does.” Candy said, turning her attention to her younger sister, who had been standing back, observing the newfound excitement. "Can you try what yours do?"

Jena stepped forward, her black crystal gleaming in the light. “Okay, I’ll try.”

Jena, still holding her black crystal, watched her family with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. She had witnessed the power of the other crystals, the way they could manipulate elements and create wonders. She longed to experience that power herself, to feel the surge of energy that coursed through her family.

She closed her eyes, focusing her mind on the black crystal, willing it to unleash its power. But nothing happened. She tried again, concentrating harder this time, but still, nothing.

“Don’t worry, Jena,” Bea said gently, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Maybe it takes longer for you.”

“Yeah, you might just need to try again!” Victor added, his face filled with encouragement.

“But what if I can’t do anything at all?” Jena replied, feeling a knot of worry in her stomach.

Candy, noticing her sister's distress, approached her and wrapped her arms around her in a comforting embrace.

“Jena, don’t worry!” Candy reassured, moving closer. Suddenly, Candy brushed her hand against Jena’s, their crystals making contact. An instant flash of light enveloped them both, and Candy gasped, pulling her hand away. “What was that?”

But as the light faded, a cold realization washed over them. Candy stared at her palm in horror. The vibrant red crystal had turned to ashes, falling like blackened dust to the ground.

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