A week later, Marcus stepped out of the car in front of the modest house where his family lived, the cool evening air brushing against his skin. Everything felt both familiar and foreign at once—he knew this place from his memories of Earth, yet now he occupied a body that wasn't entirely his own, in a world that didn't quite belong to him.
He paused for a moment, taking in the sight of his home. The warm glow of the windows, the quiet street—everything seemed ordinary, but he carried with him the extraordinary. Adjusting his jacket, he felt the faint pulse of ether in his body, a reminder of the power he now held and the challenges that lay ahead.
Four Hours Earlier
Marcus sat in the sterile, brightly lit office, the hum of electronics and faint tapping from keyboards filling the background. Across from him, Selene's eyes studied him intently, sharp and assessing. Behind her, David leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.
"I've made my decision," Marcus said, his voice steady and resolute, cutting through the quiet of the room. "I'm going to the Academy."
"I told you! " David said to Selene, his tone casual.
Selene ignored him and fixed her gaze on the young silver-haired man in front of her.
"Are you sure?" she asked seriously. "It's a path full of dangers, and the risk of death is high."
Marcus's gaze did not waver, and he answered firmly:
"Yes, I'm sure. This is the right path for me. I know there will be challenges, that I will face situations that put my life at risk, but I have to do it. I cannot stay idle, watching others move forward while I remain stagnant. This is my decision, and I will fully own it."
Selene studied him for a moment longer and finally nodded, satisfied with his answer.
"The Academy," she said, "has already started its course, and there isn't much time. When do you want to begin?"
Marcus looked at her, weighing the situation, and asked:
"How long would the relocation process take?"
"Three days," Selene replied .
"So three days" Marcus concluded, with determination.
Present
Marcus approached the front door of his house and pressed the doorbell. When his mother opened it, her eyes lifted, and despite his hair being a different color and shorter—and his noticeably taller stature—she instantly recognized him. She stepped forward and embraced him warmly, and Marcus was genuinely surprised. In his past life, he had never experienced the comfort of a family, so the sudden warmth and familiarity of her hug caught him completely off guard.
Marcus's mother gently stepped back from the embrace, still holding his hands. Her expression shifted, a mix of worry and urgency.
—Marcus —she said softly—, they called me from the hospital… they told you had fainted, and they wouldn't let me go. I… I couldn't be there.
Her voice trembled slightly as she explained, and Marcus could sense the tension in her words, realizing the weight of what had happened while he had been away.
Marcus gave a reassuring smile, gently squeezing his mother's hands.
"Don't worry, Mom," he said calmly. "Everything's going to be fine. I'll explain everything to you now"
Marcus barely had time to register the embrace before he heard a familiar, high-pitched voice shouting:
—"Marcuus!"
He turned to see his younger brother, Tomás, running toward him. Marcus bent down slightly and scooped him up with ease, now towering over him with his taller frame.
Tomás looked up at him, wide-eyed, and suddenly asked,
—"Why is your hair gray?"
Marcus let out a small laugh and gently set Tomás down. He then guided him and his Mom toward the dining room, ready to explain the situation and help them understand the changes that had taken place
He entered the dining room and found Alice waiting there, her eyes wide with curiosity as she took in his taller frame and the striking gray of his hair.
Marcus asked then to sit around the table and proceeded to give the news.
—You're a Transformer?? —she exclaimed, disbelief and awe mixed in her voice
Tomás bolted forward, throwing his arms around Marcus with a mix of excitement and relief.
Their mother . worry creasing her forehead, asked, —Is it dangerous, being a Transformer?—
Alice, meanwhile, sank into a chair, her brow furrowed in thought, clearly reflecting on the implications and trying to grasp the reality of what Marcus had just revealed
It was common knowledge that being a Transformer carried both prestige and peril. While the position was highly admired and came with generous remuneration, it was equally well understood that the path was fraught with danger.
That was why his mother didn't know whether to feel excited, proud, or deeply worried. She glanced at Marcus, her eyes a mix of admiration and concern, struggling to reconcile the pride she felt for his achievements with the fear for his safety.
Marcus gave her a reassuring smile.
—Don't worry, Mom. It's not as dangerous as it sounds. They train us well, they're very organized and prepared, and I'll be careful. Really, it's mostly about learning and improving—it's nothing you need to fear.
His words seemed to ease some of the tension on her face, and she nodded slowly, a small, relieved smile appearing as she took a deep breath.
Alice shifted the topic with a cold, practical tone.
—So… we're moving, right?
Marcus nodded at his sister and replied,
—Yes, tomorrow a truck will help us with the move.
Marcus stood up with a smile and said,
—So family, as you heard, we need to pack our things. The Greysons are moving!.
His words drew a faint, genuine smile from his mother, softening the worry that still lingered in her eyes.
A moment later, Tomás jumped up with a wide grin and shouted excitedly, unable to contain his enthusiasm.
In that moment, Marcus thought to himself: In this life, I've been given a beautiful family—and it's my duty to protect them.