The room was silent.
Luna stood in the center, her heart pounding, her mind still shaking from what she had become. The memory of her transformation burned behind her eyes—every color, every power, every scream of the storm outside.
Then Auren spoke.
"I was testing you," he said calmly.
Luna turned toward him sharply.
"I sensed a massive aura the moment you entered Valeria Academy," Auren continued. "I needed to know what you were. I'm sorry if it scared you—but now you know your truth."
Luna clenched her fists.
"From what I saw," he went on, his voice steady, "you possess serpent, vampire, witch, and magic powers. You can control climate, water, air, fire, and land. You also carry the powers of the fox, phoenix, and unicorn."
Her breath caught.
"That makes you a ten-powered hybrid," Auren said. "And that's not wrong. It just makes you rare."
He looked straight into her eyes.
"But don't use those powers carelessly. When you lose control, everyone around you feels it."
He turned toward the others who were still frozen in fear.
"Ella. Mica. Calix. Felix," he called. "Come out. It's safe."
Slowly, they stepped forward.
Ella took a deep breath and smiled softly.
"It's okay," she said. "We accept you."
Luna frowned, confused.
"Accept… me?"
Ella stepped closer. "Because you're my only stepsister."
Luna's heart skipped.
"What?"
"Our father is Eman Valeria," Ella explained. "He married Meera aunty first. After their divorce, he married my mother—Maria."
Luna felt the ground shift beneath her.
"My mom is a vampire," Ella continued. "And you don't know this yet—but your mother is a witch."
Luna's mind spun.
"Our parents," Ella added, "your parents, Auren's parents, Mica's, Calix's, Felix's—they're all undercover supernatural discovery scientists. Valeria Academy was created for immortals like us."
"That's why we're in the same room. The same class. The same path," Auren said quietly.
"Welcome to Valeria Academy," Ella finished. "Let's be friends."
Luna didn't trust easily. She never had.
But something about this group felt… connected.
She nodded slowly.
"I'm Luna Valeria."
At that moment, more students entered the room—watching, whispering, curious. One by one, they introduced themselves.
There were sixteen members in total.
The Red Flame Gang.
Auren Vale – Captain; vampire, werewolf, serpent hybrid
Ella – serpent, vampire, witch
Felix – vampire
Calix – magician
Sylin – magician, werewolf
Mica – phoenix
Danzel – serpent
Grace – unicorn
Zien Shion – unicorn, phoenix
Ace Craige – vampire
Nazzer – serpent, magician
Dave – vampire
Edrix – werewolf
Cin – magician
David – serpent
Mykel – phoenix
Auren crossed his arms and looked at Luna.
"Join us."
She thought for a moment… then nodded.
"Okay."
The Red Flame Gang smiled.
That night, everyone returned to their rooms.
The dorm was quiet as they settled into their double ladder beds.
Top and bottom—Ella, Auren, Felix, Luna, Calix, Mica—each finding their place.
But Luna couldn't sleep.
Her mind replayed everything—from her eighteenth birthday to this academy, this gang, this truth.
Auren noticed.
"You traveled eight hours," he said softly. "Sleep."
She glared at him for a moment… then slowly drifted off.
The next morning, the academy woke with noise and movement.
Everyone got ready and went to the canteen—except Luna.
She was late.
Lost in the halls, she stopped and asked a boy with blue eyes and blue hair, wearing cool spectacles. He looked innocent… kind.
"Hi," she said. "Can you help me find the canteen?"
He smiled. "Sure. I'm Suha."
As they walked together, they talked.
She offered him coffee for his kindness. He accepted.
During breakfast, Suha asked quietly about her transformation.
Luna hesitated… then told him everything.
He was shocked.
"Ella is your stepsister?" he asked. "And you joined Auren's team?"
She nodded.
"What section are you in?" Suha asked.
"Wild section."
"Oh," he smiled. "Me too. We're classmates."
They walked to class together.
From a distance, Auren watched them.
His jaw tightened.
But he said nothing.
Because storms don't always roar.
Sometimes… they wait.