Lifting his hand up, he quickly sent it down smacking the back of Damon’s head. Damon lifted his head with a wince, glaring at Rodrick who glared right back. “What? Are you still crying about not sensing an Element?” Incredulity leaking from his tone.

  Damon, hearing this, simply shook his head and continued walking to the Heart. “What took you so long. I have been waiting out here for ten minutes.”

  Rodrick took a glance up at the The Twins as he passed by them “I was enjoying a quick little stroll. Did you know I saw blades the size of you at the blacksmith?”

  Damon couldn’t be bothered turning around as they walked up the carpeted staircase leading to the second floor. “Oh yeah? I saw a Wanted poster earlier with your face on it. It was something along the lines…” Damon adopted a deep voice “Careful of this man. Wanted for stealing the whiskers of cats to make what he calls a mustache.”

  Rodrick brushed his mustache with a glare offended once again at the mention of mustache. “You know someday you will appreciate my mustache.” Rodrick pointed at him as they entered their class.

  “No one appreciates your mustache.”

  “My future wife does. I’ve seen her staring at it.”

  “Staring is not the right word, glaring is more like it” Damon smiled as he remembered Kira glaring at the mustache that carried the food that Rodrick sometimes missed.

  ***

  A few minutes passed as everyone took their seats on the floor. Talking to each other about their day and whatnot. It was after a while that someone noticed that they were still by themselves with no sign of Professor harris. As time went on everyone gradually became more quiet as confusion took over.

  A minute later the door opened and Professor Harris walked in. “Everyone rise and follow me.”

  Class 2-1 slowly stood up and followed their Professor out the door. As they walked with each other they began whispering to each other wondering what was going on.

  Damon shared a glance with Baron and Rodrick who both shrugged their shoulders not knowing what was going on.

  The class passed by all the other classes appearing to be empty until they reached the last door on the end of the hallway. The door was different. For one it was double doored and it was at the end of the hallway. The last door. A place Damon never entered.

  Professor Harris pushed open the doors and announced their presence “Class 2-1 is here Grandmaster.”

  The title was unfamiliar to most but familiar to some. And the familiar ones immediately gasped after hearing the title. Damon looked around and found Draven with eyes wide staring at something. Being in the back Damon was not able to see what they saw so he could only wait.

  Once Damon entered he observed the room and found all of the first years were seated across a large classroom that could fit more than a thousand people. The class was broken up in rows like the other classrooms with more chairs and bigger tables leading up to the top. In front of the First Years was a stage and on that stage was the Dean and the Five District Heads including Professor Harris who walked up there after announcing them. Accompanying the group was the same old man Damon saw walking with Five District Heads a couple of weeks ago. His bushy dirty sideburns were hard to forget.

  Damon and his class walked carefully up the steps to grab themselves a seat.

  After everyone was seated, Dean Fray walked up and addressed the First Years. “Hello First Years. I hope all of you have been doing well.” He directed a warm smile at the first years. “Today is a special day. It is a day for you all to stand out. To stand out amongst your peers. To show everyone around you the real you. The man or woman you can be. The Elemental you can be.”

  The crowd watched in rapt attention as their eyes have already been won over by lists of potential accolades listed. And with their attention grabbed Dean Fray took a step to the side. “Now welcome the man who is going to help you do it. Welcome the Windblade.”

  The room roared in cheers at the famous legend. Excitement could be found on all their faces with anticipation swimming in their eyes at the chance of learning from the legendary Windblade.

  The old man with bushy sideburns walked with a confident demeanor to the side of the Dean and stood there showered in cheers. The Windblade raised his hand and immediately the cheers quickly died down.

  “Dean Fray is right. With you as my students you will go far. See past the clouds, bathe in the warmth of the sun, bask in the cool moons glow or lay among the stars. As my student you will be able to do it all.” The excitement and anticipation was clear on all their faces. Sadly it didn’t last long after the Windblade continued. “Of course, most of you will not get the chance.”

  Windblade words killed a good amount of students' excitement and anticipation hearing him.

  “Over the last two weeks of your practicing I have stood silently watching all of you. Checking off lists and names. Paying attention to the talented and hardworking. After doing all this I have come up with the names of those who will enter under my tutelage. Because only those who have pushed themselves to their limits are worthy of being my students.”

  Damon's chest burned with hope. Although he knew that wasn’t possible he had a sliver of hope. Maybe the man will say his name out of pity. Damon shook his head and laughed.

  Pity.

  He is now putting his hopes on pity. Damon, from a month ago, would have been disgusted at the current him.

  “Listen closely for your name. Once called, come up here and stand by me. Windblade grabbed a scroll tucked in his robes, unfurling it, he read out the first name.

  “Garret Flint.” The heir to the Ancient House of Flint stood up with his chin held high and his chest puffed out as stomped his way down. Not forgetting to smirk at all those who watched him with envy in his eyes. Stepping up on stage he bowed his head and stood beside Grandmaster Ken.

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  “Leon Terre.” The name brought smiles and shouts a completely different crowd reaction in comparison to the previous name called. Leon walked down the steps not forgetting to bow at everyone who congratulated him with a smile. A sight Garret Flint was obviously jealous of.

  Damon never once had the boy for a class nor has he ever talked to him. But from what he heard at least from Kira he was decent. At least in comparison to the other heirs of Houses.

  “Esther Yara.” The name made everyone sigh. Esther Yara over the few weeks has been quite the talk of the Academy. It was said there was nothing she did not excel at. Combat, academics, or character. It was said she is a little cold but she gave enough manners and respect that you weren’t all that offended.

  Damon believed it to be half true. He did believe she was respectful but to overcome her coldness? In his opinion it wasn’t enough. He instead believed it to be her good looks as he stared at half of the boys watching her with soft smiles as they clapped for her.

  “Garret Knowles.” A good amount of people applauded but the majority of them came from nobles. The commoners only glared at the Platinum blonde boy making his way down the stairs trying to mask his glee.

  Damon didn’t like his fellow Lightning Elemental. His dislike came from his attitude against Gina and his attitude to commoners in general. The rumors about him did not help. Damon felt that the class was lowered in his eyes with Garret Knowles presence.

  “Princess Nessa Silvers.” The name brought a roar from the many Southern Kingdoms students. Damon couldn't help but feel a bit proud at the mention of Nessa’s name and the reaction of the crowd. His fellow Mortal Relations classmate, at least during their time together, seemed like a decent person. Not bothering him or showing any dislike towards his status. She was always respectful towards him.

  “Prince Rider Seafarer.” Damon for the first time clapped with genuine emotion. Rider was in his opinion a great guy. From the first time they introduced themselves to each other to now, Rider has always treated him like a friend. He was also curious about his background as a commoner, listening to suggestions he had. So Damon felt happy his fellow Mortal Relations classmate got in.

  “Gina Wells.” The room froze for a moment before it broke into cheers especially from the commoner side of the Republic. Damon, Rodrick, and Baron immediately stood up and started cheering with whoops, and shouts. Trying their best to be as loud as they can. Gina shockingly sensed her Element on the fifth day. She was the first commoner to do it. It was how all the Houses paid attention to her and knew her name. Not only was she talented but she was very smart too, Although lacking in the physical department she could easily train her body up to standards.

  With her accomplishments Damon had a feeling she would be chosen but there were still doubts. Gina came from a commoner family. And everyone called so far came from noble backgrounds. Luckily the Windblade didn’t seem to care about status.

  “And finally Draven Lyle.” The name brought a good amount of cheers but no cheers were found on Damon, Rodrick, or Baron. Damon watched him and remembered the incident of yesterday and began to feel like Rodrick was right. As time went on Damon seemed to be getting farther and farther away from them.

  Windblade took a moment to scan his class before turning to the crowd. Everyone take a close look at the class now known as Class Diamond.

  ***

  Damon walked back to the first floor with a hung head. Although he knew his name wouldn’t be called with the atrocious first few weeks here, he still held a sliver of hope. Stupid of him but he didn’t care.

  Rodrick smacked his back pulling Damon up out of pain. “What should we do now? Classes are canceled.”

  Baron feeling dejected as well thought for a moment before shrugging his shoulders. Rodrick, seeing this, turned to Sunny who also shrugged his shoulders.

  “So everyone is just depressed huh?” Rodrick sighed at the sight of friends' dejected looks. Rodrick all of a sudden smacked his forehead catching the others off guard. “ I got it. Follow me.”

  ***

  “You brought us here?” The boys stared out into the water puzzled on why they were brought out here.

  Rodrick smiled at the three depressed boys at gestured to the lake. “Have you guys been here?”

  All three boys shook their heads at the question. Rodrick said with a smile “Exactly.”

  The boys glanced at each other in confusion hoping someone would break down what he meant.

  Rodrick clapped his hands to get their attention and got it in the form of glares. “Where are you guys from?”

  The boys answered “Sparking City.”, “Trio City.”

  Rodrick, looking for a more general answer, asked “And where is that located?’

  “The Outer Districts.”

  “Exactly! The Outer Districts. A place where something like this…” Rodrick gestured to the lake with a smile “is nonexistent. Look around us. Remember where we came from. Nothing but dry lands and dessert. We are blessed and here we are acting like we aren't. This is the Academy of Elements where anything could happen. From entering class Diamond or even sensing an Element late and still being stronger than others.” The words from Rodrick brought them out of their gloomy state to wear smiles. “We are here. Let's make the most out of it. We fall, we get back up.” Rodrick punched his fists in the air. “We won't remain on the ground. We aim for the skies!”

  A chorus of cheers came after.

  “Now follow me!” Rodrick ran towards the lake with Damon, Sunny and Baron not that far behind him with raised fists.

  ***

  Damon was escorted into his dorm building by a guard, soaked but happy. The old man at the front desk of his dorm spotted him and the guard with widened eyes before laughter broke out. Damon hearing this couldn’t help but let out a chuckle himself. He knew his current appearance was quite the sight. He could still remember the others being dragged out the lake with silly smiles on their faces.

  “This one's yours?” The guard asked the old man after he finished laughing.

  “Yes, yes he is.”

  “Next time you go swimming in the lake you will suffer heavier consequences.”

  Damon nodded sheepishly at the guard who turned around and left.

  “Enjoy yourself?” Amused, the old man asked

  Damon nodded his head with a silly smile “Yes, I did enjoy myself.”

  “Well go on up and wash up. You're getting the floor wet.”

  ***

  Damon walked into his room with a happy smile. A smile he felt hasn’t graced his face in a long time. The images of his friends being dragged out the lake with silly smiles kept crossing his mind leading to him chuckling.

  As he laid in bed with his eyes closed, the amazing day’s memories kept passing through his head, Damon couldn’t help but feel it was missing something. Opening his eyes he found the moon’s glare breaking through his window casting a soft blue glow into his room. Such a beautiful day would be wasted if he ended it like this, was the thought process of Damon as he sat up and took in the position of his meditation.

  Stretching both arms out beside him with one palm facing the sky and one palm facing the earth. Slowly bringing in both hands to his navel to overlap. As both palms floated above and below each other, Damon clapped them together before sliding them away from each other in opposite directions and before they could leave, the fingers curled up to clasp.

  Damon took a deep breath and blocked off anything distracting. With his mind covered in darkness, he let the breath he held in go and concentrated. He felt his surroundings, searching for the Element. For the majesty he is supposed to feel. For the dominance that he must conquer. For his spark.

  A while passed before the serene look that covered his face made a twitch. A scrunch of the nose. Then a subtle movement of his brows. And then…

  Lighting.