[b]3 Years Ago, New York City[/b]
 
	As the screeching of tires filled the air and the two cars collided, 16-year-old Nina Hughes felt a surge of panic wash over her. “Please be okay, please be okay,” she whispered under her breath, her heart pounding in her chest. The sight of the accident unfolded before her like a nightmare, but she couldn’t stand by as a mere spectator. Driven by an unwavering urge to act, she didn’t hesitate for a moment.

	Ignoring the surrounding chaos, she raced toward the scene with a singular focus. Her eyes were fixated on the backseat of one car, where she had glimpsed a little boy just before the impact. 

	Nina was desperate to find him, to help him.

	As she approached the wreckage, her mind raced with worry and determination. The injured child’s safety became her sole mission. Nina was focused on the boy who had smiled and waved at her, even though there were many concerned onlookers around.
 
	Though the surroundings quickly started to fill with sirens and cries for help, Nina’s mind tuned out the noise as she continued searching fervently for the child. Finally, her eyes met his, and relief washed over her. He was scared and in pain, but he was alive. With gentle yet resolute hands, Nina reached for him, offering as much reassurance as she could give. To her astonishment, however, the moment her hands contacted his arm, an extraordinary sensation washed over her. An overwhelming wave of emotions flooded Nina’s senses, as if she was experiencing the child’s fear and pain as her own. A sense of peace then came over her and she comforted the child.

“I know you’re scared, but everything will be okay,” Nina insisted, pointing at him, then at the stuffed bear held tightly in his hands, “For you, and for him.”
 
	At that moment, an unexplainable connection seemed to form between Nina, the little boy, and the cherished stuffed bear. It was as if the emotions swirling within her were being mirrored by the child, creating an unbreakable bond between them.

	With each gentle word and comforting touch, Nina felt a unique and indescribable energy emanating from within her. She had always been an empathetic person, but this was different—this was something beyond mere compassion.

	In the days that followed the accident, Nina couldn’t shake the profound impact of the moment she had shared with the little boy. It felt as if she had tapped into a wellspring of empathy and understanding, reaching deep into the heart of another human being. But that wasn’t the only extraordinary thing she noticed. As she tested her newfound abilities, Nina realized that her connection to others went beyond just comforting emotions. She discovered that she could concentrate and focus in ways she had never experienced before. It was as if a veil had been lifted, allowing her to perceive the world with heightened senses.

	In her classroom, she found herself able to tune in to the smallest details of her surroundings. She could concentrate on the scratching of an overly anxious classmate’s pencil as they wrote, erased, and wrote again during a test. The sound of his heartbeat quickening in his chest became evident to her keen ears, revealing the depth of his nervousness. Even the glances of the girl seated behind him were no longer mere glances; they conveyed unspoken thoughts and emotions. It was as if Nina had unlocked a hidden language of unspoken cues and feelings, revealing the true essence of those around her.

	But oh boy, did her powers have some drawbacks. 

“You look like you fell down your stairs this morning, more so than usual,” her friend Lisa had joked one day. 
Nina had mustered a smile, trying to brush off her comments, but deep down, she knew there was a grain of truth in it. Her empathetic nature was both a blessing and a burden. She had learned that if she used her abilities too much, she became vulnerable to absorbing the emotions of those around her, and it could take a toll on her own well-being.

	On days when her friends were stressed or overwhelmed, Nina found herself carrying the weight of their emotions as if they were her own. Their anxieties, sadness, or frustration clung to her like a heavy cloak, leaving her feeling drained and exhausted. It was like she was an emotional sponge, soaking up the feelings of others without even realizing it. The incident of the accident, which had occurred weeks prior, still lingered vividly in her mind as well. It was as if she was a passenger in those cars, experiencing the collision and its aftermath repeatedly. She couldn’t escape the replay of emotions, reliving the fear and pain of that moment as if it were her own.

	One morning, Nina even woke up with a scream stuck in her throat, her heart racing, and her pyjamas plastered to her body with sweat. She had spent the night plagued by vivid dreams and restless sleep, as if the emotional residue of the accident had seeped into her subconscious.She prayed for it to stop eventually, which it did. 

	Yet from that day onward, as much as Nina valued her ability to connect with others on a deep level, she realized that she needed to find a way to protect herself from being overwhelmed by the emotions of those around her. It was a delicate balance; one she was still learning to navigate. In moments of emotional intensity, she would remind herself to take deep breaths and ground herself in the present. She sought solace in music to stop herself from processing the emotions she absorbed from others. 

	Nina also found comfort in spending time alone, away from the hustle and bustle of the world. Nature became her sanctuary, offering a respite from the constant stream of emotions she encountered in her daily life. The peace and serenity of the outdoors allowed her to center herself and regain her inner balance. In the serenity of nature, she could clear her mind and find solace in the gentle rustling of leaves, the soothing sound of flowing water, and the melody of birdsong. The natural world provided her with a sense of peace that was hard to come by amidst the bustling city streets.

Yet, it also, she realized too late, caused her to isolate herself from her friends until, well, she had none left. 
 
[b]Present Day, The Immortal Hills[/b]

	Unfortunately for Nina, she found herself drawn back to the headphone boy. Despite her initial reluctance to engage with him after his display earlier, the allure of unique abilities was impossible to resist. 

Magic was not a foreign concept to her, but she had always felt isolated within this extraordinary world.

	Nina observed the scene with a mix of intrigue and unease. The boy’s ability to control blood was unlike anything she had encountered before. As much as she tried to maintain her composed facade, her curiosity got the better of her, and her sharp gaze fixated on the tendril in his palm. She tried to sense his emotions almost automatically with her empathic senses. But just as quickly, she reined in her abilities, wary of prying into someone’s emotions without their consent. The last thing she wanted was to intrude on his privacy or make him feel uncomfortable.

	He seemed confident in his demonstration, showcasing the extent of his power. A part of Nina marvelled at his ability and the potential it held. But another part couldn’t help but feel a pang of worry, imagining the immense responsibility such power carried. Blood control seemed a formidable ability, capable of great good or devastating harm. Her sarcastic nature momentarily took a back seat as she considered the consequences of wielding such an ability. The thought of the potential for misuse weighed heavily on her mind. She understood the burden of having unique powers and how they could be both a blessing and a curse.

	As the boy finished his demonstration, Nina forced a nonchalant smile, trying to hide the mixture of emotions churning within her. She carefully responded, aware of the impact of discussing abilities.

“Blood control, huh? That’s quite something,” she remarked casually, hoping to maintain an air of intrigue without delving too deeply into the implications of his power. “Seems like a pretty powerful ability to possess.” She hesitated here, not really wanting to say what she could do herself. Not unless she had to, of course. 

“My ability is more mental than physical, so I can’t really show you it,” she revealed instead, deciding to be honest while still maintaining a sense of privacy.

	Nina couldn’t help but chuckle at his remark about the goat-like creatures. She nodded in agreement as she eyed them, her gaze lingering on their unusual appearance.

“Definitely not a common sight in New York City,” she quipped, a hint of amusement in her voice. “We’re more used to taxis and skyscrapers than farm animals roaming the streets.”