“NEXT”

  A dust of smoke rose though the air gradually dissipating before revealing a disheveled Damon slowly standing up with the help of a wooden sword. Opposite of him stood an arrogant Kesh twirling a wooden sword of his own while backing out the circle created for sparring.

  “A decent fight but Damon, try to stay on your feet. And Kesh wipe that arrogant look on your face. You faced someone with no training, it isn’t something to feel proud about.” Instructor Trey gave a review to his two students before making his way over to the other sparring circles.

  “Wow, horrible at combat and sensing Elements. You sure you should be here, Beaumont?”

  The taunting from Kesh irritated Damon but Damon couldn’t say anything back. For everything he said was true.

  It’s been nearly three weeks. Three weeks and Damon still couldn’t sense a hint of lightning during his meditations.

  Even staying up all night didn’t help. Something that was allowed after the second week, probably just to help out those falling behind. And there weren't many of them.

  “Hey, you guys shouldn’t be laughing. Once the month comes to an end he’ll finally be one of us.”

  The mocking laughter and jabs at his incapability hurt Damon, but he chose to remain silent. He already got in trouble before. A scolding that was ingrained in his brain since it came after he rushed Kesh out of anger only to be flipped by him like he was a sack of feathers. Damon blamed it on his height as Kesh was half a head taller and more lean.

  “It's okay, Damon.” Kado from his Elemental Class, offered his support. “I mean look at me.” Gesturing towards himself. “I just sensed fire yesterday. With how good you are in class, I’m sure you’re bound to sense it before the week is over.”

  Damon could only smile at the kind words from Kado. The only one besides his friends who would offer his support. Although it stung when he did, Damon was grateful for it.

  “Alright, next.” Instructor Trey ended the current round of sparring to usher in the last group. “All the winners pick a circle.”

  Kado, hearing this, turned to Damon with a smile and raised a fist. “Wish me luck.”

  “Good luck.” Damon wished his new friend luck as he watched him enter a circle.

  Like Kado said in Academics, Damon was confident he can beat the majority of his class. But in combat he believed Kado would rank around the top fifty-maybe even top twenty of their class.

  In the beginning of the week when sparring began and Damon got really acquainted with the sand, Kado offered his help. Damon, too proud, declined the offer. Something he was slowly beginning to regret.

  “Begin.” The start of the spar began and everyone watched in rapt attention. Even some of the students from Instructor Grieves' class were watching.

  Damon kept his eyes on Kado entranced by his footwork and confidence he held when a sword was in his hand. A confidence that always disappears the moment his sword leaves his hand.

  Kado circled his opponent with slow and patient steps. Observing everything his opponent did, waiting for a sign from his opponent. And it did not take long as the boy thrusted his sword to Kado who took a side step and deflected the sword with a swipe down allowing him to grab the opponent's wrist with his free hand to hold him in place for a spinning kick to his armpit. The opponent let out a shout of pain dropping his sword and stumbling back, before he could even look up a sword was placed underneath his chin freezing him place.

  “Winner, Kado.” Instructor Trey smiled, very happy at what he saw.

  Kado and his opponent both bowed at each other before leaving the circle where Kado was greeted by a smiling Damon. “You move like no one else.” Damon shook his head in awe at the display he just witnessed.

  Kado rubbed his head in embarrassment. “Nah I just got lucky.”

  Damon rolled his eyes at the boys’ humbleness. “Yeah, yeah.” Damon waved him off.

  Kado explained. “No really. You see, if it was a real battle I wouldn’t have been able to do that.”

  Damon, full of incredulity. “And why not?”

  “Because what we use are simply wooden swords. Nothing compared to the weight of a real sword. If I had a real sword I would not be able to do what I just did.”

  Damon hummed in agreement remembering carrying a sword from his father’s secret chest that he held in his closet. The whooping he got left a shuddering memory but so did the weight and glare of the sword.

  After a few more minutes, the sparring ended with the top five being revealed. Kado being one and Kesh another.

  All five stood in front of Instructor Trey with backs straight and heads forwards. Showing a level of discipline that wasn’t there during the first week but was instilled by the second.

  “You five are now the top five of the class. I will not have you five battle each other to find out who is better because I could not care. I only wanted to know who amongst you, if given the opportunity, can handle themselves.” With a quick onceover of the five individuals in front of him, he continued “I guess that's you five. So once we do our sparring again next month you five will be keeping watch or giving tips on how to handle a sword to your classmates when I ask you.”

  “Are these your five?” A loud voice bursted into Instructor Trey’s lecture catching everyone’s attention.

  “Yes they are. How can I help you, Instructor Grieves.” Instructor Trey smiled but anyone could see it was a smile that hid many curses behind it.

  “How about a little competition?” The word competition immediately caught the attention of the students. Even Instructor Trey was intrigued as he nodded to Instructor Grieves to continue.

  “A little competition between ten of our students.”

  “Battle it out on who has the best?”

  “Yes. Are you in?” Instructor Trey turned to scan his students who couldn’t hide their excitement at the opportunity. With a shake of his head he turned back and smiled.

  “It's a competition then.”

  ***

  The chatter of the cafeteria was loud. The noises bouncing off the walls were composed of people’s day, a guy or girl who caught their eye, or rumors about places in the school. Everyone was having a talk with excitement or anticipation.

  Everyone except Damon’s table.

  “I’m sure you’ll be able to sense something before the week even ends.” Baron reassured his friend who was busying himself with playing with his food.

  “Yea, and there are a whole bunch of people who haven’t sensed their Element yet.” said Amelia who offered her smile to go with her statement.

  “Twenty seven out of over a thousand students. That's the “whole bunch” you're talking about.” Damon muttered.

  The number immediately silenced the group once again. Kira, finding the current situation not looking good, turned to a dark-haired teenager wolfing down his food with gusto hoping to have him offer some words of encouragement to his childhood friend.

  Kira cleared her throat but Rodrick still didn’t lift his head from his plate. She did again and came to the same result.

  “OW.” Rodrick shouted in pain reaching for his shin. Lifting his head to find the culprit he spotted a glare coming his way from Kira.

  Finally catching his attention, she tilted her over to Damon who despite the noise that caught even the surrounding tables attention was still hanging his head low.

  Rodrick, seeing this, rolled his eyes and waved it off. Kira raised her brows after seeing his nonchalance. Before she could utter a word from her scolding that carried a thousand words, she was interrupted by a bang. Everyone on the table shifted their attention to the owner of the tray to find Tristan with his signature smile.

  “Guess what, everyone?” Tristan sat down with a mysterious smile. “I heard something very interesting today.”

  The group’s attention now captured after seeing his actions stared at him to continue.

  Beckoning them over, everyone quickly leaned their heads in, curious on what he was about to share, even Damon abandoned his gloomy air to find out what the blonde boy had heard.

  “I heard someone very important is about to teach us. Someone we all know.”

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  The group shared glances, trying to see if anyone in the group could throw out a name.

  “The Turtle?” Sunny blurted out the first name that came to mind.

  “It's the Unmoving Turtle.” Baron corrected Sunny who stuck out his tongue.

  “No, older.” Tristan shook his head before offering a hint to help as his excitement was on the verge of escaping.

  “The Watcher of the Sea?” Damon gave a name. He recalled Rider talking about him. Telling him that although he was an enemy of his family he couldn’t help but admire the man who held the pirates at bay for nearly thirty years.

  “No. Not him. Even older.”

  “Older? Even older than the Watcher of the Sea?” Damon was puzzled. He couldn’t remember a name older than the Watcher of Sea except the Old Dragon of the South. But he was a famous Lyle and an important Lyle member. They wouldn’t have sent him.

  No longer able to hold his excitement, Tristan blurted out. “Ken Favors.” After revealing the name Tristan’s smile froze for a moment as he scanned the group and found only blank faces. None of them recognized the name. Tristan rolled his eyes before saying. “He’s also known as The Windblade.”

  “WHAT?”

  “Him? Are you sure?”

  “He came down here. Why?”

  Tristan wore a satisfied smile after the reactions he was expecting to hear. “Don’t know. Maybe because we have such a big class? I don’t know. Whatever it is, I’m just glad we get to learn from such a legend.”

  Damon nodded to himself. He recalled the legend of the man known as Windblade. It was said he got his name from being able to turn the wind he controlled to sharp blades capable of slicing through anything. Even buildings.

  “Learn from such a legend you say?” Draven, who happened to be walking by, managed to overhear the group's conversation and couldn’t help but interrupt. “And whoever said you guys would be learning from him?”

  Damon and friends turned to Draven with frowns after hearing him and witnessing the clear disdain on the face of the Lyle heir.

  Tristan carrying a sneer said with mockery “And who would he teach? You one eye?”

  Draven brown and red eyes burned in fury, a bit intimidating in Damon's opinion. Especially the red that looked like they were moving.

  “Careful of your words Grier. Draven is now seen as a main line heir of House Lyle. You don’t want to anger them.”

  “Oh? Were you not already one? Did something happen?” Damon watched Tristan give a clearly fake performance of worry as he wailed his arms all over the place. “Oh no. Why would they not consider you part of the main line? Oh your mother- oh nevermind. Congratulations on the new status.” Tristan turned to his audience on the table and wiped a fake tear while smirking before turning back around to Draven who whose angry eyes managed to travel through his entire face as he clenched his teeth and flared his nostrils in anger.

  Damon never saw Draven this angry before. He felt a bit worried and wondered if he should tell Tristan to calm down.

  Damon was not alone in his experience as Kesh and Miles standing on either side of Draven each took a step back afraid of what would happen as they were unfamiliar with what was happening. They never ever saw Draven angry before and it scared them.

  Draven, contrary to everyone's thoughts, closed his eyes and took a moment to breathe. After a few seconds he was back to his usual uncaring demeanor. “Lets hope you get chosen Tristan.” Draven offered his best wishes as he passed the group with his lackeys trailing behind him with nervous expressions.

  ***

  “What was that about?”Leaving the cafeteria talking about more Elemental Beasts they learned about, Kira couldn’t help but ask about the earlier argument

  “What?”Tristan, puzzled at the sudden question asked.

  “You and Draven.”

  Tristan smiled after hearing her. “Oh, just some different views on the world I guess.”

  Rodrick, wearing a frown, responded to the explanation with suspicion “That was a difference of opinion? It seemed you brought in family even though it didn’t need to brought in”

  “You saw him? He started it first.” Tristan shook his head with a smile.

  Shockingly Kira was the one to argue against this excuse. “He simply said we weren’t fit to enter the class.”

  “C’mon the disdain was clear as day. It was an insult. And he has been doing it ever since.”

  Rodrick shook his head “Yeah, the usual insult we got ever since he sensed his element. So what?” Rodrick shrugged.

  “We just do the usual and offer jabs of our own. Not pull out a damn spear.”

  Amelia jumped in and chose her side “Tristan’s right. It was an insult. Something he’s been doing for nearly three weeks now. We shouldn’t just take it.”

  Rodrick turned to Damon to know what his thoughts about the matter was.

  Damon locked eyes with Rodrick and shrugged. “Sorry Roddy, but I'm on their side. We shouldn’t just be taking hits. We should fight back.” Damon ended his opinion with eyes of determination as he stared at Rodrick.

  Rodrick guffawed at his friend's choice, challenged him “Are you insane? We aren’t anything to them but annoying things on their journey. The same thing they should be on our journeys. Nothing important. Now? Did you see him? He was angry. Truly angry. An angry heir of a Great House isn’t something to brush off.”

  “Don’t worry, I-”

  “YES I worry. We are not nobles. We are not Amelia and we are especially not you Tristan. We don’t have a status that could protect us. We’re all just commoners.”

  Damon frowned hearing this disappointed at what he was hearing. “Spirits Roddy! I thought you weren’t scared. I thought you and I were going to show those noble idiots whose boss, huh? Did you forget that?”

  “Did you forget? Did you forget what we learned about the first week? They get away with anything. These houses have ruled…” Rodrick froze after feeling a hand on his shoulder. Kira retracted her hand after getting his attention before tilting her head. Rodrick, turning to the direction she pointed out, found quite a few students staring at him. Some with frowns, some with acceptance and some with smirks. Smirks he wanted so badly to punch off. But this wasn’t Sparking City. This was the Academy where a mistake could alter your course. “Forget it.”

  Rodrick grabbed his tray and walked off. Kira scanned the group before grabbing her tray and chased after Rodrick.

  Not long after they left the bell rang. The small group of friends slowly got and left without sparing a word to each other.

  ***

  Damon picked up his books and left behind his Mortal Relations class on the fourth floor once the bell rang. Walking down the stairs, Damon was distracted by how bad the day went. Being unable to sense his Lightning Element during his first class, beaten to the floor during his combat classes, arguing with his friend, unable to answer a question on the weakness of Twelve legged Spider, and then ending his day with finding out there was a war fought over a mysterious chair. As his head was filled with negative thoughts he unknowingly found himself on the way down to the first floor where Damon instantly spotted the familiar figure waiting down below absorbed in a book she was reading. Something she always did when she had some time.

  “What are you reading?” Damon passed by Gina with a question.

  “Botany.” Gina answered without lifting her head as she walked beside Damon

  Damon cringed at the answer. He remembered some of his classmates from Elemental Class talking about the insane to do list for students of Botany Classes. “Do you really have to remember facts about a hundred different plants?”

  Gina, still glued to her book, answered “Number 87.” She pointed at her book.

  Damon felt grateful towards himself that he didn’t choose Botany.

  Leaving the Heart they waved at Sunny and Baron leaving to take the bridge of their destined Elements. Damon gave a couple glaces at the Fire bridge. “He already left. He said he was hungry and went to grab something for dinner.”

  Damon pulled back with a look of confusion “I wasn’t curious.”

  Gina sarcastically said knowing he was wondering where Rodrick was.“Sure” Obviously, not buying his words.

  Placing their feet on the bridge they stood side by side feeling the breeze pass through them as they walked over the lake. Damon, feeling the cool breeze, took a deep breath before letting it out.

  Gina finally lifting her head from her books gave a worried glance towards Damon whose walk was different compared to the confident gait he had when they first learned of mediation.

  Putting her book away Gina opened her mouth to speak before closing it. Unsure of what to say. Afraid that she would say the wrong words. Hesitant on if she should be the one to comfort him.

  After a few moments her face carrying a hundred emotions finally came to decision and chose determination.

  “Suck it up.” Gina said with a slap to the back of Damon catching him off guard nearly causing him to fall off the bridge.

  “WHAT IN THE SPIRITS WAS THAT FOR?” Damon shouted as he turned to Gina who pulled him from the ledge.

  “Sorry.” Gina smiled sheepishly as she offered her apologies before her and Damon began walking again.

  “It's just I want you to feel better, you know. So what if you didn’t sense your Element in the first week. Or the second week. There are still others just like you.” Gina said, trying to comfort him.

  “Not in my class.” Damon said underneath his breath his gloomy aura clear as day.

  “Nobody?” Gina, a bit shocked, asked. Damon nodded. “Not even one?” Damon gave a side glance that held a bit of annoyance in his eyes. Putting both hands in the air, she said “Sorry, sorry.”

  “Okay. So no one in your class. So what?” Gina shrugged. “What's wrong with being a little late to the party? The ones that come in last are usually the life of the party anyway or the reason the party is even there.” Gina said with a grin.

  Damon scoffed trying to hide his smile.

  A smile that Gina spotted right away. “That was a good one eh?” Gina, hoping to be praised for genius, elbowed Damon.

  Damon laughed “Whatever”

  ***

  Damon finally reached his dorm and crawled into his bed. The tiring and stressful day weighed heavy on Damon as the moment he laid in his bed he fell asleep.

  Sadly, his sleep didn’t last long before he was awakened from his sleep by familiar noises. Noises he thought he left behind. Shutting his eyes tight, Damon hoped the familiar cries of pain and shrieks of agony would disappear. That they would go away if he just ignored them but they didn’t. They only got louder as time went by.

  Damon shook his head as he realized the noises weren’t just getting louder but closer. Damon shook his head trying to will away the screams and shouts. “Please, please, please.” Damon begged. “Leave me alone.” Damon whispered his desperate plea.

  Damon wasn’t sure who he was talking to but whoever it was they listened as his whispered pleas were heard. Heard by a familiar voice.

  “Silence.” And silence was given.

  Damon attempted to open his eyes but for some reason couldn’t. He wanted to see who it was. He wanted to put a face on the woman who has visited his dreams twice now.

  “We are dying Damon.” Damon hearing this heard the soft ethereal voice say.

  “Save us.” Damon shook his head wondering who was attacking her and why. And who was “Us”. Damon, wanting to utter so many questions, found his words stuck in his mouth that was sealed shut.

  “Damon.” The same woman's voice from his Awakening Ceremony entered his ears.

  “Damon.” The woman’s voice soon began to fade and Damon, feeling immense loss, lifted his hand to try and stop her from leaving but his actions were futile.

  “WAIT!” Damon opened his eyes wide awake. No signs of drowsiness could be found on him. Only the look of loss covered him. Damon, staring at the ceiling, found the warm morning light entering his room.

  Signaling the start of another day.