Welcome to Nyckaneh

The Kids

-I can do whatever I want and you can't stop me!

-Yes, I can.

-No!

— Dialogue between a parent and flying kid.

Raising little kids was always is a tough challenge but many generations ago, a mischievous god or a whim of the universe gifted them (or curse them depending on who you are asking) with superpowers between the ages of five to nine years old. It's not possible to prevent the apparition of powers or recover them after they're gone. This phenomenon has unleashed many tragedies and also miracles.

Every kid gets one superpower when they turn five years old. They find out which one is theirs on their 5th birthday. On the day of their 9th birthday, kids start to lose their powers gradually through that year.

These are the five superpowers they can get.

• Flight
• Psychokinesis
• Shapeshifting
• Force fields
• Super Velocity

Kids love and hate to have these superpowers. They have a lot of fun playing with their friends and creating a little bit of chaos. After all, they don't want to use the devices made to neutralize their abilities. But, of course, they are children learning rules and how to break them. There is a lot of time out happening in every house after another kid flung their sibling's toys out of the windows.

The Parents

-I'm so tired.

-I'm exhausted.

-Having twins must be difficult.

-Yeah, one of them shapeshifts into a puppy and bounce on his sister force fields.

— Let them sleep, please.

by Unsplash

Parents or caretakers of the kids are tired, so very tired. That's why it's odd to see families with more than one child. If they have the courage and energy to have a big family, they take precautions that the siblings don't overlap ages with powers. Precautions sometimes fail, and the family needs extra help.

Parents go to Nyckaneh because they love their children. They know this place will give them a peaceful and safe childhood. Yes, many times they want to give up and leave the invisible child in the city's doors for some warlord to take them away (yes, they use this threat more than they should, but parents are tired of doing homework with someone that keeps pushing their books out of the house). They don't go through with those ideas because superpowers fade, and the kids deserve to enjoy them as the parents did when it was their turn, or worse, they couldn't.

The Town

-I wish we could go out.

-But we can't.

-I wanna know what's outside.

-Mom says is dangerous!

-I don't care! I move things with my mind. That's enough protection.

— Little kids plotting the fall of the city

Far away from the big cities, in the mountains, a group of parents and caretakers worked together to build Nychaneh Town, many years ago, a sanctuary to protect kids when they get their powers. The goal was to construct an infrastructure capable of sustaining life without depending on the outside world. With time they developed strong defences and security systems to prevent kidnappings and attacks.

The town is surrounded by sturdy walls and heavily guarded. Once in a while, someone new finds them. Most of the time it's with good intentions. If they are not, the punishment is proportional to what the attackers wanted to take away.

The outside threats

-Please! Let us in. We seek a place to protect our sons.

-How do we know we can trust you?

-Because we found you, and there is not an army here.

— Family asking for help

Nyckaneh is not the only place where kids can explore and enjoy their powers in a safe place with their families. But these kinds of hidden sanctuaries are few and scattered around the planet. Most countries or global organizations exploit kid's powers in some way that almost always ends up very poorly for the children. That's why towns like this were secretly built and are very difficult to find.

Some families come and go out of the town. No one is obliged to stay if they don't want to. While all of them have sworn secrecy about Nyckaneh's actual location, there is always a chance of someone revealing the truth either by choice, bribery or force.

Kids on their ninth birthday like to use their power all day long. In this case, Emma celebrated shapeshifting into a puppy. She ate the chocolate cake in her human form. Her mother also made a cake to eat in her chosen form. Yes, the actual puppy in the house also got a treat.

by Unsplash

Children are eager to show off their powers, a sure way to get lots of fun moments and also problems. Playgrounds are the most feared places for parents. Punishments if a kid breaks something (or someone) are not a joke.

by Unsplash

Nyckaneh has been called many things by the people living there (kids and parents alike): a paradise, a utopia, a prison, the last hope and a place of rest. For their enemies is a treasure they want to loot.

by Unsplash

There is always a question going around in everyone's mind: What are we willing to do to keep our children safe?

by Unsplash