Walking out the dorm building with a smile on his face and a pep in his step, Damon was the epitome of happiness. Something that immediately caught Gina’s eyes.
Not being able to hold back her curiosity Gina asked “What in the Spirits happened to you?”
“What do you mean?” Damon glanced over his shoulder with a grin.
Gina gave him a deadpan stare that pulled a chuckle out of Damon. “Well, you know? The weather is nice. The birds are singing.” Gina slapped his shoulder causing Damon to laugh once again. Raising his arms in defense. “Okay, okay. I might have sensed my Element last night.”
“WHAT? REALLY?” Gina shouted, catching the attention of those around them. Damon put a finger over his smile trying to get her to lower her voice.
Gina slapped her mouth before mouthing sorry to the people around her. “Oh Spirits. Congratulations Damon. You can finally start attracting lightning. Maybe even get a chance to try those Lighting Gloves.”
Damon scratched the back of his head with a smile “Thanks Gina. Oh right. How do the Gloves feel?”
“Uncomfortable. I have a hard time getting used to how they feel…”
***
Damon entering his class spotted Rodrick and Baron sitting talking amongst themselves. “So you think a War Bear can take on a Twelve Legged Spider? Are you kidding me?” Rodrick shook his head in disbelief. “We’re talking about one of the top five strongest spider species in the world.”
Baron with confidence said “I know.”
Rodrick couldn’t believe the words he was hearing turned to the arriving Damon. “Which one is stronger? War Bear or Twelve legged Spider?
“Twelve Legged Spider, easy.”
“What? How?” Before Damon could give an in depth reason Professor Harris walked in.
“Okay. Class let us do the usual. Meditate.” The class bored of Meditation reluctantly got into position, not forgetting to glare at Damon as he was the reason why the class could not move on. Of course Damon feeling their stares no longer felt embarrassed. Instead he proudly lifted his hand in the air catching the attention of the Professor. “Yes, Damon, do you need some help?”
Damon cleared his throat before announcing to the class. “I have sensed my Element.”
The class froze for a second before breaking into murmurs of excitement.
Rodrick and Baron sat frozen staring at their friend who was smiling at them. The boys figuring out their friend was being serious, returned the smile with smiles of their own.
“Well, Damon, do you mind demonstrating?” Damon nodded his head before heading to the front and going into position.
Taking a deep breath, Damon felt the area around him. Searching for the majesty and dominance in the air. It wasn’t long after he began his meditation that crackles of lightning surrounded him causing cheers to break out into the classroom.
“Very well, then. I believe it’s time I teach you all what comes next.” Professor Harris walked off to the side and brought a chalkboard. After bringing it out, he wrote on the board one word:
Adept.
This is the stage after Acolyte. It is also the stage where you can be considered a true Elemental. Why? It is because the Elemental Core inside of you is strong enough to hold Elements you took in during meditation and made it yours, allowing you to have some basic control over your Element. Although you aren’t given complete control, it is enough for you to stand by yourself.”
“What do you mean by complete control?” Damon asked. Now standing on the same level as everyone else, he was eager to learn.
“Good question. And it is a question that could only be found by knowing the different stages of Elemental Mastery.” Professor Harris turned back into the chalkboard and wrote: Advanced.
“Advanced Mastery is the upgraded version of an Adept Elemental. An Advanced Elemental can for one: attract more power from Elements. Two gather Elements quicker and three hold more Elements in their Cores. So if you ever find yourself battling an Advanced Elemental as an Adept, hope you have friends. If not, then hope the Spirits bless you.”
“Next up is…” Professor Harris once again turned his back to the class to write “Elite.”
Elite Mastery. This is a stage that separates the average and the elite, hence the name. If I was to be completely honest less than half of you would reach this stage.” The words brought frowns to the proud students. “I know a lot of you can’t believe that but it is true. If we are going by numbers as proof, there are probably no more than a thousand Elite Elementals across the entire three major powers.” The number brought a shock to a good majority of the class who were in the dark.
“The reason being is that in order to be an Elite Elemental, you must be able to form. You have to be able to form your Element into whatever you desire. To form a blazing spear, a fist made out of rocks, or water serpent all these abilities will automatically make you an Elite. But if you do not have a good amount of control, it could go bad. Your Element can explode during the process or the Elements would fight back causing your Core to crack. It is why not many carry the title of Elite.”
“Above Elite are the levels of complete control. There are two other stages of Elemental Mastery but it is something you shouldn’t concern yourselves with yet.” Turning to Damon Professor Harris smiled at him. “As for your question, I assume you got the gist of the answer from the little lecture, yes?” Damon nodded
“The more you practice, the more control you gain over your Element.”
Professor Harris nodded.“Considering we are all at a new stage in our prowess. I believe it is time for another lecture on the responsibilities of an Elemental.”
“Let's begin.”
***
“What do you think they are discussing?” Kado with folded arms asked Damon.
Damon, waving his wooden sword, paused to look in the direction Kado was staring and found Instructor Trey and Instructor Grieves.
“Most likely the competition.” Damon shrugged, not very interested to know. He was ranked last in Combat. Lacking in the basics. He didn’t believe he had to bother with the competition. All he had to do was show up and watch. And until that day comes he is going to be training, trying to improve.
“They’re coming over.” Said Kado.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Damon turned around and lowered his sword after hearing this. Damon watched the intimidating eye patch wearing giant walk side by side with the thin and short Instructor Grieves. The duo made an amusing pair in his eyes.
“Listen up, kids.” Instructor Grieves called out to everyone. “We are going to have a couple changes concerning the competition.” Both classes gave their complete attention after this.
“We will not have a battle of the top ten. Instead it will be a battle between the top five…” A Couple groans came from the group of students, mainly students who were a part of the top ten. “And the bottom five.” Immediately the crowd broke into murmurs. The murmurs consisted of complaints and “whys” on the new setup of the battle.
Damon himself had complaints only they got stuck in his throat. The memories of his past few weeks in combat class consisted of mainly his face meeting sand, sword, fists and kicks. Now he had to represent the class. The difficulty in his Academy life increases day by day.
“Alright, alright. Settle down, let us explain.” Instructor Grieves said before gesturing to Instructor Trey to explain.
“You see the top five battling it out makes sense. It pushes them and creates a good sense of battle instinct. But their improvement only widens the gap between the bottom and the top. To make sure that doesn’t happen the bottom five will also do the same.”
“But before we begin training we will also give the top five and bottom five a different approach on learning. The bottom five and the top five will be paired up together to train.” The announcement brought out immediate groans from the top five except Kado who turned to Damon with an encouraging smile. Damon, infected by his smile, returned one of his own.
“I can confidently say this as a teacher of ten years, my students made me improve my skills with the sword that I have not seen improve since my first few years in the military. So help each other out and you can help yourself out.”
“Now,” Instructor Trey yelled “BACK TO POSITIONS!”
***
“Hahaha. So you-yo- Hahaha.” Damon pursed his lips in annoyance watching Rodrick nearly fall in laughter.
“Are you done?” Damon asked with clenched teeth.
“Yeah, yeah.” Rodrick waved at Damon with a smile. “So, you-the bottom of the class- have to represent the class for the tournament. Even though you suck.”
“Suck isn’t a fair word to use Rodrick. More like, hmm, maybe horrendous is a good fit.” Baron looked up at the ceiling of the cafeteria trying to hold back the smile that was creeping in.
“One obstacle after the next eh, Dame?” Rodrick chuckled after thinking about his friend's struggles.
Damon let out a groan of frustration. Finding the situation to be unfavorable he hid in his arms trying to maybe gain enlightenment from the darkness.
“What happened here?” Gina asked as she sat down.
“Our little warrior here-”
“Not little.” Damon, without picking his head up from his arms, corrected Rodrick.
Rodrick rolled his eyes before continuing“... has to represent his class in a little tournament between his class and another.”
“Why don’t you just ask Kado to teach you? I thought you and him are on pretty good terms.” Gina offered her idea that was quickly shot down.
“No can do. Instructor Trey assigned the pairs. And you won’t guess who he got.” Rodrick smirked while pointing in the direction of the slumped brown haired boy. Gina raised her eyebrows in question.
“ Our little warrior is going to be trained by the noble swordsman Kesh.”
***
Damon was lost in thought. He had a month and a week until the tournament. If he didnt improve he would fail the class. And to top it off, he was assigned to Kesh. He believed he could improve but could he do it in a month and a week with Kesh as his mentor.
Recalling the constant face plants and stumbles over the nearly three weeks, he felt a headache rising.
“MR. BEAUMONT?!” Damon lifted his so fast he felt his neck nearly snap
“Yes, Professor Yondale.” Damon answered the brooding old lady wearing a red scarf over her head blocking off the sight of her grey hairs.
Glaring with her sharp blue eyes Ms Yondale attacked the chalkboard with a stick causing a loud smack to echo the silent class. “Why are they herbivores even though they were once carnivores?”
Damon, hearing the question, gave a quick glance at the board and answered “ The Gel Wolves were indigenous to the lands of the Five Star Mountains that were once teeming with life until the Crimson Fires happened, nearly wiping out the entire population of the Five Star Mountains.
With them being the only species remaining from the Five star mountains besides the stubborn plant lives. They began starving. As carnivores they could only eat meat but meat couldn’t be found anywhere, not even around the Five Star Mountains. The only meat available to them were their own pack members. But the Gel Wolves were renowned for their undying loyalty to their families and their pack. They instead chose to starve. Their species slowly began dying out. It wasn’t until one of them managed to eat plants and survive did the wolves see hope. The wolf was a mutation. A mutation that could save their species. That wolf then gave birth to others like it, allowing the Gel wolves to no longer starve while also mutating to herbivores.”
“Good. I see you have been studying ever since you blanked out about the Twelve Legged Spiders.” Damon smiled sheepishly remembering having to give a detailed report on the species the next day.
“This Gel wolf is quite the Elemental Beast is it not?” The question got a few nods causing a frown to fall upon the face of Professor Yondale. Witnessing her frown the class immediately nodded their heads turning the frown on the Professor to a smirk of satisfaction.
“Does this wolf remind you of anything?” Damon watched his classmates turn to each other all looking for someone for the answer. Professor Yondale rolled her eyes “ Do the wolves actions not ring a bell for anyone?’
“Us.” Everyone turned their attention to the red haired boy up front. “He reminds us of us from when the Enhancers began invading. Our people were dying, unable to stop them until someone was able to learn and grow. Although not the same as mutating, our stories are similar.” Damon had to give Draven some credit everytime the class had a hard time answering he would give the answer. It made Damon find out that Damon wasn’t just another spoiled heir from a Great House.
“Yes they instead worked their butts off. They worked hard. They earned their strength through constant wars and battles.”
So hard work was the answer? Not mutate?” Professor Yondale narrowed her eyes. “Because there was no one as strong as the Lords of Elements before their rise. Maybe on the other side but not here. Not a single one. How did they do it? How do we create more?” Professor Yondale stared into nothing for a bit before the bell rang
“Hahaha. Just a silly thought of mine. Study up on the Gel wolves. Have a nice day everyone.”
***
Damon looked up into space in thought. The thought of seeing the Lords of Elements as mutations instead of them just reaching a new level was something that kept visiting his thoughts.
“Is there something on your mind Mr. Beaumont?” Damon lifted his head to see Professor Orion staring at him from behind his desk.
“No, no. Just got distracted.”
“Distracted? What could distract you from the amazing feat of lifting three large boats to the other side of a dried lake to save people. There is something that could take away your attention from these amazing feats? Now I'm curious.”
Damon felt the eyes of his other two classmates. Also curious on what was bothering him.
“Well, my professor was talking about something. And it just kept bothering me.” They stared at him waiting for him to explain the “something” that kept bothering him. “You see, my professor said that the Lords of Elements could be mutations.”
“Ah, I'm guessing the professor you’re talking about is Professor Yondale. She is a lover of the beast race because of their ability to evolve and mutate when in need. The process fascinates her, and me as well if I'm not lying.”
“She talked about it with you?” Damon asked shocked that the woman was able to talk about something the government would call blasphemy
“Of course she has. She has talked about it to many others as well. Most see her as cynical or crazy while others admire her thirst for knowledge.”
“What are your thoughts.? Actually I want to know all of your thoughts.”
His three students paused in thought. Each student silent, thinking over the question seriously causing a smile to fall on Professor Orion's face.
“Why not? If beasts can do it, why can’t we?” Said Rider, choosing to be more open minded.
Nesaa nodded her head in agreement before explaining herself. “I think so as well. I mean we beat the Enhancers when even the dragons, elves, and dwarves couldn’t. We almost ended up the same way until the Lords of Element showed up. And that could only mean one thing: The other side had no Lords of Elements.”
“And you Damon?” Professor Orion smiled at the heavy frown on his student
Damon was silent for a moment, pondering his answer.“I think the word mutate fits us right.”