The students stood scattered across a large empty hall located on the third floor of the Heart that held no windows to welcome in the morning light and like the other halls were lit up by Illumination Stones.

  The class of 2-1 was engulfed in an air of anticipation with excited whispers and out of this world claims being tossed around the hall covered in the same glowing inscriptions on the walls outside.

  Their actions were to be expected from kids who have been waiting for nearly three weeks just to take their first step to becoming an Elemental. The beginning of the Academy will truly begin and they couldn’t wait.

  “Elementals.” In came a man donned in black and red robes with a fire emblem found on the left side of his chest over his heart. “Do any of you know what it is?”

  Every student of 2-1 was completely silent, only sharing unsure glances wondering if he was really asking such a simple question.

  Miles answered. “Chosen few who were blessed by the Spirits with powers similar to their own.”

  “Good, a book answer but good. Anyone else?”.

  “Individuals who call on the Elements to do their bidding. To shoot fireballs at their enemies or summon walls of earth to protect their allies. They have many abilities and it is with these abilities that set them apart from mortals.”. This time it was Draven who stood in the middle of a pondering Kesh and a confused Miles.

  “There you go. I was looking for a more specific answer.”. Professor Harris pointed at Draven. “You used the word call. What do you mean?”.

  Draven, confused at the question, answered “Like, summoned?” Draven gave his answer in the form of another word.

  Professor Harris shook his head. “No, no, no. I’m looking for a specific word.”

  Kesh raised his hand. “Beckon?”

  Another shake of the head was the response.

  Damon raised his hand and answered with an unsure tone. “Attract?”

  “YES, yes. Attract.” Professor Harris pointed at Damon who couldn’t help holding his chin a bit higher. “That is the word I’m looking for.”

  "The word:attract. It is the most important part of being an Elemental. That and the ability to control Elements, but I’m sure you know about that.”

  A dark-skinned student off to the side carefully raised his hand before asking “Why do you need to attract?”.

  “Good question, Kado. Why do you need to attract?” Professor Harris repeated the question.

  Professor Harris stared into his student’s eyes. “ Can anyone tell me what Elements an active volcano would attract?”

  “Fire,” Miles answered.

  “What Element would mountains attract?”

  “Earth.” A few students answered aloud one after the other.

  “Correct. And what Element could a tsunami attract?”

  This time the class answered simultaneously with “Water.”

  “Ah yes. Now you’re getting it, good.” Professor Harris smiled. “Now what Element would you attract?”

  The student nodded in understanding after answering with their Element.

  “Once you empower yourself with enough attraction, you can do many things. For example.” Professor Harris began walking away from the class. “Stay where you are.” He told his students who were about to follow him.

  “Just watch.”

  The class nodded their heads in unison, already feeling the anticipation build up once they saw their Professor close his eyes.

  A moment later Professor Harris opened his eyes and shot a burst of flames out his hands. He began moving with grace and poise almost like a dance as he released a burst of flames with every thrust of a fist or push of a kick causing the class to react with ‘oohs’ and ‘ahs’. After the quick display, Professor Harris stood ramrod straight and spread his arms wide where two balls of flames were summoned into both palms for a few seconds before shooting his hands out in front of him where a ball of flames the size of a carriage shot out towards the ceiling.

  The group of students watched with rapt attention. They were using everything they had to catch every detail.

  Damon was the same. The excited glint in his eye could be found in his fellow classmates. All prepared to learn the foundation of Elemental Powers.

  “All of you have Awakened an Element. An Element that will follow you for the rest of your lives. And I mean that.” Professor Harris said.

  “Because even right now they are following you.” The statement immediately caused the students to look around in search of the Elements. Professor Harris witnessing their actions let out a chuckle before shaking his head to explain. “No, no. Elements aren’t seen but felt. Only to be seen by those chosen by them, of course.” His explanation as he expected didn’t reach the mark. “ You will soon understand what I mean." Professor Harris scanned his students with a shrug. "And the only way to do that is through meditation.”

  With a sigh he explained.“Meditation is the act of building a seed that could attract Elements. Throughout your life your seed will grow bigger and bigger to the point the same amount of Water Elements found in a lake could be found in your seed. Or what we call an Elemental Core.”

  “It is how I was able to do what I just did.”

  “Watch.”

  Professor Harris stopped his pacing to sit down and put both hands together forming a gesture. After a few moments, the area around Professor Harris was gradually becoming hotter. He explained “ This is how I meditate as a Fire Elemental. Fire Elementals imitate me. Bring both hands in front of your lower abdomen. There you make both hands touch with only fingertips where you will see the form of a spade when you look at it."

  Professor then switched to another hand gesture. “Water Elementals Same position. This time you will break the spade by pushing your thumbs inwards with your thumbs fingernails meeting each other. It should look like a heart.

  “Wind: both hands together at the palms fingers to the skies.”

  “Earth: Make a fist out of both hands and meet by knuckle with your fingers facing you.”

  “And finally Lightning. One hand’s palm facing the sky and the other the ground. You will slide them over each other before then clasping hands by using only your fingers.”

  “Each of you will be using one of these meditations-NOT YET” The shout immediately startled those who were trying to meditate. “ You begin when I tell you.” Professor Harris wore a serious, almost angry look. A first for his students as he never yelled at them before nor got angry at them.

  “These meditations will be the foundation of your powers. After a while you will sense your Elements and they will bring you power to defend yourself and the ones you love, so take it slowly.” Each and every student nodded their heads in understanding.

  “And just to be safe we will only be trying to feel the Elements today. Nothing else. We will go more in depth once someone manages to sense their Element.”

  Damon, unable to hold back his curiosity. “Then will we be able to do what you did?”

  Professor Harris chuckled at the question. “No, not really. Maybe for some but not all.”

  The vague words only brought confusion to the students of Class 2-1. Or most of Class 2-1 as a few stood with confidence nodding their heads in understanding.

  Professor Harris simply smiled at the confused looks sent his way which he waved off.

  “You may begin.”

  ***

  “Are you dead?”

  The sudden question was given a delayed and unsure answer “No?”

  “Then why in the Spirits would you wait for your opponent to make a swing after FIVE ENTIRE MINUTES?” The shouting came from a tall bulky bald man in a torn tunic and dark pants with an eyepatch scolding a student who hadn't swung at the training dummy placed in front of him.

  Damon, watching from afar, released a sigh of relief at the fact the man was on the other side of the training field, meaning he wasn’t his Combat Instructor.

  Damon was alone here as not a single one of his friends was assigned this class. A disappointing result but not something to fuss over as he was here to learn and learn, he will. Of course he just hoped his learning will not be learning anything from the intimidating eye patch wearing soldier.

  “Hello class, sorry for the wait.” Damon turned his focus from the tall bulky one eyed soldier to a thin, short, long haired blonde man. The complete opposite of the raging beast on the other side of the field.

  “Right, introductions. Well I’m Instructor Trey. You can simply call me instructor or Sgt. Trey. And I will be your Combat Instructor for the year. Any questions you wish to ask about my background or credentials, you can…” Instructor Trey paused after seeing the multiple hands raised and then continued “Keep them to yourselves.” Instructor Trey smiled.

  This of course led to a bout of laughter coming from the fifty plus students.

  Damon smiled, already beginning to like his Combat Instructor.

  ***

  “I hate him.” Damon let out a groan of pain as he struggled to take a seat across Rodrick.

  “What happened to you?” Baron asked, curious about his friend's condition.

  “What happened?” Damon, incredulous at the question, repeated it. “Instructor Trey. That’s what happened.”

  Baron inquired “Instructor Trey? The short instructor? Didn’t he only make you guys run?”

  “Run to our deaths more like it.” Damon sneered, flashbacks of nearly dying on the track came to him leading to his body shuddering at the image.

  “Well how was it so far for you guys?” Damon, wishing to know longer see those images, asked his friends how their classes were going.

  “It was pretty cool. I learned a whole bunch about all types of magical creatures from the Bestiary class. Did you know there is a lizard called a Rock Scaled Lizard the size of a Carriage and could spit acid?” Baron's former calm tone quickly morphed to one of excitement at the memory of the giant beast he learned.

  “Yea, the thing is actually surrounded by stones as armor. It’s an Earth Elemental Beast. The skin underneath is actually really sensitive, but the thing is its skin is really sticky so it would douse itself in rocks and after a few years, it would have armor made of rocks.” Sunny jumped in, adding details.

  “Hence the name.” Baron finished the explanation off.

  Gina sitting beside Sunny immediately covered her ears “Don’t spoil it for me. I have that class next. I want to be surprised by the Elemental Beasts. Blah, blah, blah.”

  Kira rolled her eyes and Amelia let out a giggle at the girl's antics before giving their answer about their day so far. “Plants. We learned about plants.” Amelia said followed by Kira. “Plants that could probably eat that so-called Rock Scaled Lizard in one bite.”

  The duo of Baron and Sunny quickly became offended and immediately denied the claim. “Impossible, you didn’t see it-” “And neither have you.” Kira challenged.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Baron flustered, “We just learned about it.”

  “Yeah, in a book.” Gina, already choosing her side, corrected the boy.

  Sunny glared at the girls outnumbering them before turning Damon who was rubbing his chin in thought. “You said it was as big as houses and spits acid?” Both boys nodded.

  A moment later Damon raised his finger and made his decision that was followed by cheers. “Team Rock Scaled Lizards.”

  The decision found no support from the girls who sat with purse lips in dissatisfaction.

  “We need a tie breaker.” Sunny looked around for another vote.

  Damon, seeing this, also looked around before turning to the clock on the wall of the cafeteria. “Rodrick still isn’t here yet.” Damon muttered, curious about where his friend was.

  “Hey,” Sunny spotted someone and started waving his hand in the air, leading everyone on the table to follow his eyes where they found Tristan making his way over with a big smile. “Tristan, come on, we need you.”

  Damon, feeling something not right stood up “I’m going to head out and look for Rodrick. He’s probably lost somewhere.”

  “Do you need help looking?” Gina asked

  “I can help too.” Amelia raised her hand with a small smile.

  Damon shook his head with a smile. “It’s fine. He’s probably somewhere staring at flowers or something.”

  Damon walked away in a hurried manner from the group to begin his search.

  ***

  After ten minutes of searching The Heart Damon found nothing. No sign of Rodrick at the Garden on the side of the Heart nor at the Training Grounds behind the Heart where Mulberry trees could be found scattered around the field, favored spots where students chose to hide from the sun. With no sign of Rodrick and the bell about to ring for classes to start, Damon’s worries increased. The only place Damon did not search was behind the Heart where a small forest was located. And that place was forbidden to enter for the first years without an escort.

  Drawing a blank, Damon decided to turn back to head back to the Fire District cafeteria, hoping he would find Rodrick there. A few steps was all he took before he froze once he witnessed a small crowd walking the bridge, heading his way.

  Damon, spotting the group, quickly moved aside and bowed his head in greeting to the small group. “Greeting School Heads and Professor.”

  The group consisted of all five School Heads, making their way to the Heart. Shockingly all five Heads were adopting a more humble posture with slightly bowed heads and respectful expressions as they accompanied an old man donned in gray robes with bushy gray sideburns. The small group acknowledged Damon with a nod and Professor Harris, recognizing one of his students, offered a smile before continuing on his way with the rest of the School Heads.

  Damon watched their retreating backs and wondered what the background of the man was to be able to have all five School Heads personally escort him.

  Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Damon raced back to the cafeteria to see if his friend made it back.

  ***

  Seated across from Damon was a tall lanky teen devouring his food with gusto ignoring the glare aimed at him. With a burp and a wipe of his mouth the dark-haired teen faced Damon with a smile.

  “Where were you, Rodrick?” Damon asked.

  Rodrick chuckled, “What? You worried about me?” The joke brought no reaction from Damon. Only a blank stare.

  Rodrick waved a napkin in his hands. “Fine, fine. I got in trouble with a professor.” Damon's blank stare continued. “It's true I really did. I fell asleep. I had classmates there too. You can ask them.”

  “What class were you in?”

  “Travelers Guide 101.”

  “The class that talks about the famous landmarks of the world?” Damon was confused on why his friend would choose such a class. “That’s the class you were in?” Rodrick answered with a nod.

  “Who you got next?” Damon, choosing to accept his friend's story, asked.

  Rodrick smiled in excitement.“Combat. You?”

  “Mortal Relations.”

  “What?” The class was something Rodrick had never heard of. He didn’t even remember that class being offered.

  “Mortal Relations.”

  ***

  Mortal Relations. A class Damon thought would be interesting considering he was a commoner and a mortal before Awakening. Two titles that were near the bottom of the totem pole in society. Too bad no one else had the word ‘interesting' crossed their minds like him when they saw the class.

  The moment Damon opened the door he was met with an empty classroom that was on the smaller side compared to the other classrooms he was in. Damon scanned the classroom and guessed that he was probably the only person to take this class in the last few years. And even if there were, there probably wasn’t much of them if Damon was to go by the twelve desks scattered around the room.

  With a heavy sigh, Damon walked over to a random fallen desk and picked it up to face it towards the front of the class where the dust on the desk, caught from the sunlight, floated through the air. Damon took a swipe of his chair and more dust revealed itself.

  Taking a seat he spotted a large desk up front facing him next to the chalkboard. If Damon was to guess it was most likely his professor’s seat. And from the looks of it, it has most likely been used. And very recently.Even the ceiling over the desk was missing cobwebs that could be found in every corner of the room.

  Finished with his observation and finding nothing else of interest, he laid his head down and waited. Choosing to pass time by staring out the window and daydreaming about hunting a Rock Scaled Lizard or a Swift Panther. Both Elemental Beasts he learned in his previous class of Bestiary.

  It wasn’t long before the creak of the door opening echoed through the classroom startling Damon out of his hunt in daydream land.

  Entering the nearly barren room was a tall and fit boy wearing blue robes carrying a toothpick in his mouth that nearly fell out his mouth the moment he set his eyes on his classroom. Damon, recognizing the individual, nodded his head to greet the grinning navy blue-haired boy who quickly broke out of his reverie and sauntered into the class with confidence

  Damon straightened up as the toothpick loving boy made his way over to stand in front of him and offer a hand. Damon, feeling it was disrespectful to continue sitting, stood up, back straight and chin up attempting to show at least some level of presence, shook hands with the boy who offered him a hand.

  “Damon Beaumont.”

  “Rider. Rider Seafarer.” The Prince of The Eastern Isles. Only this time his hair was not done in a bun Damon saw him sporting on the first day. Instead he let it down, covering the Trident tattoo on the side of his head. A choice Damon found odd as all the nobles he met were proud to show off their sigils.

  “So, is it just us then?” Rider asked while scanning the room with raised brows.

  Damon couldn’t even answer before the door opened once again and in came a silver-haired girl in green robes.

  Like the two before her, the silver-haired girl froze at the door, scanning the room with a slight wrinkle of her nose. Unlike the confident gait Rider used, she used a more unsure and hesitant gait as she slowly walked deeper into the nearly barren classroom.

  With a sigh, she chose a desk on the farthest side on the right near the door.

  Damon believed she chose that seat in the case of a fire or any other emergency. And from the quick scan of the classroom once again Damon found her choice smart.

  “I’m guessing now it’s just us.” Rider said.

  ***

  The bell rang signaling the start of classes half an hour ago and still no trace of their professor was found. Damon was beginning to feel that maybe even the Professor abandoned the class. Especially with the low student count.

  Bang

  The sound of the door banging open against the wall startled the three students. All three students immediately spotted the one responsible for nearly giving them a heart attack and were on the verge of hurling insults only to stop.

  Walking in with a limp and a cane was a black robed kind looking old man who was bearing a warm but apologetic smile. The words they were about to throw out were quickly swallowed after spotting the harmless looking old man.

  “Wow. I actually have students.” The old man muttered to himself happily but was still heard through the silent classroom.

  The old man brushed back his sparse grey hairs attempting to make himself more presentable before making his way to the front. His cane hitting the ground echoed throughout the nearly empty classroom.

  All three students took the time to observe their professor. The old man’s limp was supported by a cane that if observed closely was not normal. Engraved across the entire body of the cane were silver flames that glimmered every time it moved. Of course his beautiful cane couldn’t beat the excited and joyful smile on the old man’s face that was covered with age spots and wrinkles that surrounded his kind hazel colored eyes that sparkled under the sunlight beaming through the windows.

  The old man finally reached his destination in front of the classroom and smiled at his three students with glee. A feeling that for some reason felt contagious as a small smile formed out of nowhere on all three students.

  “THREE? I-” Cough cough The old man’s excitement was cut off from a bunch of dry coughs. Clearing his throat the old man smiled once again. “Three.” The old man lifted three fingers into the air. “Three students. I was lucky enough to get three students from the golden class- I mean the largest class.” The old man shook his head. “ Yes, that's what I meant.” The old man’s slip up was not caught as his students were too transfixed on the old man’s hand that was missing a pinky and a ring finger.

  Noticing their interest in his fingers, the old man smiled and shook his three remaining fingers. The action woke the students from their reverie allowing them to refocus on his speech.

  “Hello,” Cough cough “Excuse me. I am Professor Orion. I will be your professor for the subject: Mortal Relations.” The old man's eyes suddenly widened. “Wait, you do know this class is for Mortal Relations right?” The old man carefully watched the three students who slowly nodded before releasing a sigh of relief. “ Oh, thank the Spirits. It’s just that it happened to me before. One moment, I had a student and then… poof.” Professor Orion brought both hands to form an explosion. “ No student.” Professor Orion gave a depressed sigh as the years went by in his head.

  “Well, who cares right?” Professor Orion’s mood quickly shifted, alarming the students who couldn’t help but share glances. “The past doesn’t matter because I now have three students.” He emphasized.

  He stared at his three students with pride in his eyes before he remembered “Oh right. Introductions.” He gestured to them.

  “Nessa Silvers.”

  “Rider Seafarer.”

  “Damon Beaumont.”

  The old man stood frozen in awe. Muttering to himself “Wow. three students and two of them are royalty. The Spirits must have finally heard my prayers over the years.” Although aimed towards himself, the words were still heard. Starting another bout of his students sharing unsure glances at each other.

  “Ok.” Professor Orion looked down at his cane in thought before raising his head. Cough cough “Forgive me. It's been so long I nearly forgot how to start my class. Why don’t each of you tell me why you chose this class.” Professor Orion smiled eagerly at his students. Waving at them to start.

  “Uhh, well, you see I am a prince. And as a prince he must know what his people think. To know what they think you must learn how to communicate with them. And I heard this class would help.”

  “My thoughts are similar to Prince Rider. As a future potential ruler, I must understand my people’s thoughts. Maybe struggles and fears would be revealed to me in this class.”

  Damon realizing it was his turn, took a deep breath before explaining his reason for being here. “Connections. I thought this class was about connecting Elementals and Mortals.”

  Damon thought back to his childhood. “I have lived in the Outer Districts for twelve years and yet throughout my entire time there, I have spotted no more than five Elementals before my Awakening Ceremony.” Damon scrunched his eyebrows in confusion. “I thought that I wouldn’t see Elementals all that much because of how rare they are or at least that was how I saw it. I once thought they were myths until I was told our Governor was one. And a few more came throughout my twelve years. It just goes to show you how rare they are." Damon formed a small smile reminiscing about his life at the library reading up on Elementals.

  Damon's smile quickly fell. "Except when it comes to nobles.” The claim immediately caught the two royals' attention. “And I thought that was weird. Throughout my journey to get here I have passed through a dozen cities. And each one followed the same rule.

  “ ‘Rare for commoners but a commodity for nobles.’ ”

  “I wish to change that.” Damon shook his head at the ways of the world. “I wish to walk amongst my fellow commoners and offer them help when they need it. Even nobles, the ones that don't have the power or wealth to call upon an Elemental for help. I hoped to find out how to do all that here.”

  Professor Orion smiled after hearing his students' wishes for his class. “ I will not say a word about your reasons because they are your reasons. I will not judge nor offer suggestions. I will simply teach you about the mortal lives and if your wishes come true or not are up to you. I will give you the knowledge and you do what you will with it.”

  With a smile of excitement, Professor Orion began. “So let's begin our first lesson,-”

  Professor Orion's smile fell at the sound of the bell. Regret clear on his face. His three students could only hide their smiles of amusement behind sleeves and hands.

  The old man forced a smile directed at his students.

  “You may leave.”

  ***

  Walking down the street in excitement were a pair of students talking animatedly catching the eyes of the adults around them. Guards, servants, and merchants couldn’t help but smile at the two. Reminiscing about their lives when they were young.

  “How long do you think until we sense our Element? I think I can do it in a couple of days.” Damon walked the streets with his hands behind his head staring up at the orange and yellow sky of the evening.

  “A couple of days? Who do you think you are? The First Lords of Elements?” Said Gina as she stared at Damon with utter incredulity.

  “Tch.” Damon scoffed at hearing her. “No, but I could be the ninth.”

  “Impossible.” Gina denied his claim with utmost certainty.

  Damon shifted his attention from the gorgeous sky to his frowning friend. “And why not?” Damon questioned her.

  Gina gave a side glance at Damon before a smirk slowly formed. “Because I will take the title.”

  Damon bursted out in laughter catching the attention of those around them, pulling out smiles and frowns from those in hearing distance. One of those frowns being Gina who carried a frown that was accompanied by a glare.

  A glare sharp enough for Damon to feel as his laughs gradually died out.

  Gina nodded with a satisfied smile. “ Both our claims are quite insane. An Elemental Lord hasn’t been seen in hundreds of years but we already lay claim to the title. Insane but not impossible. So let's bet.”

  Damon, curious about what the bet was, nodded his head to her for her to continue. “If I gain the title of Lord of Lightning, I want you to be my Divine General.”

  “But I thought Divine Generals don’t recruit generals of their same Element.”

  “Psh.” Gina waved off the old tradition. “Why do we have to follow that tradition? If we really get that title, we would be the strongest beings of these lands. We could do whatever we want.”

  Damon, hearing this, pondered for a few moments before reaching his hand out.

  “Ok, deal.”

  Gina, with a sparkle in her eyes, broke out into a full blown smile. “Really? You can’t take it back.”

  Damon, still holding out his hand for a shake, rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, whatever.”

  Gina grabbed his hand and shook it vehemently, nearly pulling Damon’s arm out his socket.

  “Then it's a deal.” Gina smiled.

  “Then it's a deal.” Said Damon who repeated her words and mirrored her smile.