FANTASIA

A mother's intuition

Genesis wiped the last trace of vomit from his lips and groaned. "I swear, if I ever have to teleport like that again, I'm—"

"Going to complain like the drama queen you are?" Clarissa interrupted with a smirk.

Genesis glared at her. "No, I was going to say that I’d rather be carried like a prince next time. Preferably by a beautiful woman."

"Dream on," Aguya scoffed, rolling her eyes.

Clark, still buzzing with excitement from their thirteen-million-dollar windfall, clapped Genesis on the back. "Look at the bright side, man. We’re rich! Who cares about a little motion sickness?"

Genesis gave him a deadpan look. "I care, Clark. I care deeply."

Before anyone could respond, a chilling wind swept through the air. An oppressive aura settled over them, causing even the most talkative of the group to fall silent.

A woman appeared a few feet away, materializing as if she had stepped from the fabric of reality itself. She was stunning—long silver hair cascaded down her back, and her piercing golden eyes seemed to see right through them. She wore an elegant dark-red robe embroidered with golden patterns that pulsed with arcane energy.

Clark took a hesitant step back. "Genesis…who is that?"

Genesis stiffened. His throat felt dry, and his usually sharp tongue failed him for the first time in a while.

"My…mom?"

The air itself seemed to crackle with tension. Mrs. Domino's gaze locked onto Genesis before flickering to his companions, analyzing them in an instant. She inhaled slightly, her expression unreadable.

"A vampire, a werewolf, a dragonkin, and… a succubus?" She tilted her head slightly at Isdis. "No, not fully. A mixed blood. Interesting."

Isdis stiffened but remained composed.

Genesis, still processing the sudden arrival, blinked. "Mom…what are you doing here?"

Mrs. Domino smiled, but it wasn’t a comforting one. "I could ask you the same thing. Your aura has changed, my son. That trial did more than just push your limits—it awakened something in you."

Genesis shifted uncomfortably. He had felt it too, that strange pull in his soul earlier. But he had ignored it, thinking it was just exhaustion. Now, with his mother standing before him, her presence demanding answers, he wasn’t so sure anymore.

Mrs. Domino took a step forward, placing a hand on his chest. For a brief moment, her golden eyes flashed with something unreadable—concern? Curiosity?

Then, she sighed. "You're evolving faster than I expected. Perhaps I should have intervened earlier."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Back up." Genesis raised his hands. "What do you mean by ‘evolving’? I'm still me—just more awesome now."

Mrs. Domino gave him an unimpressed look. "Your arrogance remains intact, at least."

Aguya and Clarissa snickered.

Mrs. Domino continued, "Your power is shifting, Genesis. The blood in your veins is reacting to something. Soon, you will need to make a choice. But before that—" Her gaze darkened. "You cannot return to school right now."

Clark frowned. "Why not?"

Mrs. Domino's eyes flickered toward Mr. Shawn, who had just appeared a few feet away, arms crossed. His usual composed demeanor seemed slightly shaken.

"It’s the school," Mr. Shawn admitted. "Something is happening inside Fantasia. Something…dangerous. I had to send you all away before you got caught up in it."

Genesis narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"

Mr. Shawn exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples. "It started a few days ago. An unknown force infiltrated the academy. At first, it was subtle—students acting strangely, some becoming aggressive, others…vanishing."

Clarissa stiffened. "Vanishing?"

Mr. Shawn nodded grimly. "Yes. We believe it’s connected to a powerful enchantment—one that’s affecting the minds of those inside. Even Lady Rhea, a high-ranking mage, fell under its influence."

Genesis frowned, remembering the strange call he had felt earlier. Could it be connected?

Mrs. Domino crossed her arms. "That’s why I’m here. I won’t let my son walk blindly into a trap."

Genesis scoffed. "Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence, Mom."

She gave him a sharp look. "Don’t test me, Genesis."

Clark whistled. "Damn, you really are his mom."

Mrs. Domino ignored him. "For now, you’ll stay with me. All of you. We need to figure out what’s happening before it’s too late."

Genesis exchanged glances with his friends. Something big was happening at Fantasia. Something dangerous.

And for once…Genesis wasn’t sure if he was ready.

"But first thing first, who's hungry?" Mrs. Domino asked with a smile, effortlessly clearing the tension in the air.

The group, who had been stiff from the serious conversation, collectively blinked before Clark raised his hand without shame. "Me. Definitely me."

Genesis groaned. "Dude, have some dignity."

Clark shrugged. "Hey, your mom just offered food, and after all that stress, I’m not about to decline a free meal."

Clarissa sighed. "Honestly, I agree with him."

Mrs. Domino chuckled. "Good. Then come inside. I’ve already prepared dinner."

Genesis narrowed his eyes. "Wait a minute. You just got here—how did you—"

She gave him an amused glance. "Genesis, dear, I’m your mother. Don’t question my abilities."

Genesis opened his mouth, thought about it, then wisely closed it. Some mysteries were better left unsolved.

The inside of the house was warm and inviting, the air filled with the delicious aroma of perfectly cooked food. The dining table was already set, the dishes steaming as if they had just been freshly made.

Clark sat down first, his eyes practically sparkling at the sight of grilled meat, seasoned vegetables, and a variety of side dishes. "This…this is heaven."

"Eat first, praise later," Mrs. Domino said as she took her seat gracefully.

The group didn’t need to be told twice. The moment they dug in, the room was filled with satisfied hums and the clinking of utensils. Even Aguya, usually reserved, let out a small approving noise after her first bite.

Genesis, between mouthfuls, gave his mom a skeptical look. "Okay, seriously, what’s the deal with you? You teleport, read auras, cook like a master chef, and you always know things before they happen. What are you?"

Mrs. Domino wiped her lips with a napkin before answering casually, "A mother."

Genesis squinted. "Yeah, I don’t buy that for a second."

Clark, with a full mouth, pointed at her. "Honestly, if you told me you were secretly a goddess, I’d believe it."

Mrs. Domino chuckled. "Flattery will get you nowhere, young man. But feel free to keep trying."

Laughter filled the table, and for a brief moment, everything felt normal. Jokes were thrown around, embarrassing stories were shared, and Genesis found himself laughing more than he had in a long time.

Then, of course, his mouth got ahead of his brain.

"Alright, alright, I’ll admit it," Genesis said, stretching back in his chair with an arrogant smirk. "You’re impressive, Mom, but let’s be real—how strong are you really?"

Mrs. Domino raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Clark, sensing the direction this was going, leaned forward eagerly. "Oh, this is gonna be good."

Genesis grinned. "I mean, sure, you have this whole ‘mysterious powerful woman’ thing going on, but how do you stack up against me?"

The room went silent.

Clarissa dropped her fork. "Oh no."

Aguya sighed, rubbing her temples. "Here we go."

Mrs. Domino sipped her tea, completely unbothered.

"Are you…challenging me, Genesis?"

Genesis cracked his knuckles. "Oh, I’m not just challenging you, Mom. I’m going to put you in your place. It’s about time the student surpasses the master, don’t you think?"

Clark gasped dramatically. "He really said that."

Isdis shook her head. "I don’t know whether to admire his confidence or prepare a eulogy."

Mrs. Domino placed her cup down gently. "Very well."

Genesis blinked. "Wait, really?"

She stood up gracefully. "Let’s take this outside."

The moment they stepped into the backyard, Genesis felt something shift in the air. The night sky loomed above them, the moon casting an eerie glow, but that wasn’t what sent a shiver down his spine.

It was his mother.

Her usual gentle aura was gone, replaced by something suffocating, something ancient. The ground beneath their feet trembled slightly, responding to her mere presence.

Genesis, stubborn as ever, ignored the warning signs. "Alright, Mom, no holding back."

Mrs. Domino smiled. "Oh, don’t worry. I won’t."

Aguya sighed and turned away. "I can’t watch this."

Clark rubbed his hands together. "I have to watch this."

Genesis made the first move, vanishing from sight with his enhanced speed. He reappeared behind his mother, throwing a punch at her back—

Only for his fist to stop inches from its target.

Mrs. Domino hadn’t moved. She hadn’t even turned around.

Genesis’ entire body locked up. "What—"

Before he could finish his sentence, a force slammed into his stomach, launching him across the yard like a ragdoll. He hit the ground hard, coughing as the air was forced from his lungs.

Clark winced. "Oof. That looked painful."

Clarissa covered her face. "This is embarrassing to watch."

Genesis gritted his teeth and got up, refusing to stay down. "Okay…cheap shot. That was a cheap shot."

Mrs. Domino tilted her head. "Oh? Then try again."

Genesis roared, his energy flaring as he activated every enhancement he had. His movements became faster, sharper. He weaved through the air, throwing a flurry of strikes—

And not a single one landed.

His mother dodged everything effortlessly, not even breaking a sweat. Then, just as he was about to shift tactics—

She vanished.

Before Genesis could react, a sharp tap landed on his forehead. A second later, his entire body was sent flying again, flipping mid-air before crashing into the dirt.

This time, he didn’t get up right away.

"Are you done?" Mrs. Domino asked, standing over him without a single wrinkle in her clothing.

Genesis groaned. "Maybe…just a little…"

Clark walked over and crouched beside Genesis. "So, uh…how’d that putting her in her place thing work out for you?"

Genesis, face still in the dirt, muttered, "Shut up, Clark."

Mrs. Domino dusted off her hands. "Let this be a lesson, my dear son. Arrogance without the strength to back it up is just foolishness."

Clarissa clapped her hands together. "I think we all learned a lesson today."

Aguya sighed. "A lesson in secondhand embarrassment, yes."

Isdis smirked. "I don’t know. I rather enjoyed watching this."

Genesis groaned again. "You’re all traitors."

Mrs. Domino gave him a satisfied smile. "Now, who wants dessert?"

Clark immediately raised his hand. "Me."

Genesis groaned again. "I hate all of you."