"Again!" Mr. Kessinger ordered.

Madison sighed, her tired eyes looking up at her teacher begging him to let her take a break, but she wouldn't tell him that, not when it made her look weak. Her messy hair was tied back in a ponytail but small strands had fallen around her face. Her body was overheating at this point, especially working with fire for this long.

"From the beginning?" she asked, hoping for an answer she knew she would never get. He simply nodded and she once more started her routine for him to evaluate and criticize whenever he deemed necessary. Madison turned away from Mr. Kessinger and took a few deep breaths. Without warning, she threw two fireballs into the air then pivoted on her right foot, making a downward slash motion with each of her arms to change their shape into something resembling a crescent moon. That same powerful force sent them flying into the intended target, or so she thought.

"STOP!"

Madison turned to look at Mr. Kessinger, then back at the targets.

Damn!

"Good job, you've managed to kill an innocent bystander," he said, adding insult to injury. Madison was tired, that much was true, but she was also borderline mad with today's lesson plans and how hard Mr. Kessinger was pushing her. She had been a good student, or so she hoped, and he was treating her like she was of the worst. That's how she felt, anyway.

"I-I'm tired! My body's sore, I'm sweating like crazy, and now I can't even concentrate! Please, can I just go and rest in the shade for 10 minutes? I just need some water..."

He remained silent, although he appeared to be contemplating her statement. "Sure, go ahead and take a break," he said after some time.

"Really? Thanks! I promise I--"

"If you want to die," he interrupted her.

"Excuse me?"

"Madison, out in the battlefield you won't get a break..."

"But-" she tried to get a few words in

"And the C.E.T.'s a few hours away. So quit complaining, focus on your target--and nothing but, and finish...this...routine. You've already shown me you can handle yourself doing everything else, so do it right this time and I'll let you go."

Saqui was far from impressed by the hall monitors flailing response, again were it not for the magma incident she might have been easier on him. Perhaps even noticed that the conks to the head had been more than enough...he looked beyond pathetic to her as he forced out an apologetic explanation.

Before she had a chance to ask him to elaborate on his answer, Brunhilde joined in the fray. And by the time she'd roasted the hall monitor Saqui almost felt sorry for him...almost.

Taking a deep breath, Saqui took a step back from the hall monitor. She couldn't bring herself to feel completely guilty about the state the hall monitor was in, even if she could tell that he was regretting his actions...that didn't mean she wasn't all set to forgive him. With Brunhilde's cold delivery of justice Saqui felt that the hall monitor had suffered enough for time being.

"Right...apology accepted for now" She decided to say, gradually releasing the tension in her body "Just hold back on the magma throwing in the future, hmm? A good offense can be a good defense but premature firing is risky business"

With that said Saqui, cautiously bent down to snag the hall monitor badge off of the floor before taking a step towards the fire teachers door and reaching for the clipboard hanging out of it.

"So we wanted to know about an accident that happened yesterday..." She started, trailing off as she focused on tugging the jammed clipboard out of the teacher's mailbox.

"It involved Brunhilde here and took place around...erm..." Saqui bit down on her lip and looked to Brunhilde to fill in the gap. Giving the clipboard another tug it finally came free of the whole, though the reports looked almost as ruffled as the hall monitor.

Giving them a brush over, she offered him the clipboard with one hand whilst the other reached over to try and pat his funky hall monitor badge back onto his arm.

Apart from nodding every so often as Saqui spoke, flinching when she moved and constantly glancing at Brunhilde the hall monitor had been stunned into silence. He still wanted to run, more than anything right now but the smaller girls threat of being thrown out of a window hung over his head and his legs refused to move.

Gingerly taking the clipboard from Saqui, he gulped as he tried to smooth out the crumpled pages of his precious reports.

"Y-yesterday? I-I can tell you..."

A week later

During the last week, Saqui had made significant improvements in most of her subjects. She'd spent a lot of time with Brunhilde as well, training, bothering, comparing notes...being reminded to do assignments especially when her fellow air user would often complete them more than once.

Saqui had excelled at practical experiments or homework, fell short on her theory work more than once and continuously suffered for overdue assignments....luckily the substitute teacher was in a way far kinder when it came to punishment than the original instructors that Brunhilde had met.

Well not including the fact he'd forbidden them from touching the ground during the week, for Saqui it was border line torture.

What was probably the most concerning was her less than satisfying progress on the combat front. Despite afternoon sparring sessions, she hadn't progressed as much as many of the other first years when it came to using her powers offensively. If anything she was far more astute at defensive practices or avoidance techniques. She also seemed to struggle with the concept of using her powers against other students, even during friendly sparring sessions she was hesitant.

Kano's afternoon class

Having received a memo from the substitute air teacher, asking his students to join headmaster Kano's class that afternoon, Saqui had purposefully cut her wandering short that lunch time and made her way over to the fields.

With both of her feet securely on the ground...

She'd even removed her shoes, in an attempt to break all barriers between herself and Maka. Moving around the edge of one of the pools, Saqui took a looked for any sign of Brunhilde and the other students whilst she gingerly made her way towards Kano.

"Good afternoon, headmaster Kano"

She greeted, flashing him a smile before sitting herself down at the edge of the lake and flipping through her notebook. She had been hoping that she'd get a chance to observe Kano's water students for a while before the lesson, watching and sketching other elementalists at work was her favourite pastime this week. Moving past pages full of rough sketches, she stopped at a page full of writing, a letter in progress.

---

---

"It involved Brunhilde here and took place around...erm..."

Brunhilde had forgotten the Hall Monitor's transgression already, and was considerably more cheerful than she had been just a minute before, though she felt a strange sense of irritation tugging at the back of her emotions. Something must've recently pissed her off. Saqui's comment snapped her out of her thoughts and brought her to reality, and she quickly checked her notebook. Nothing in the main notebook. She checked the non-native pages that were folded up in the notebook - a couple of dossier reports and a diary entry, which ended at 1:08 PM, leaving a huge time gap. It mentioned that she had finished making backups and was on the way back to class.

"Roughly 1:10 PM, in the frontal courtyard, under a tree. Air class with Professor Avarius."

If the boy's face was already white with fear, then what it changed to next was well beyond white. He drew the connection between the report the President and Arthur had been complaining about and the 4'10" girl in front of him, and he immediately got the feeling that had she not wanted him for something, he'd have been thrown out not just any window, but the highest up window she could have found. This girl was completely crazy, as far as he was concerned.

"Y-yesterday? I-I can tell you..."

"Please do. It's important," Brunhilde said with a smile. The Hall Monitor couldn't tell what was going on in her head -- only that it wasn't natural for someone to change their visage so quickly. He wanted to be gone as fast as possible.

"U-uh... Y-yesterday... Air class... The President was t-talking about it when I went to the meeting room. A teacher attacked someone and broke a book, and... uh... y-you attacked him, I guess. The Pres s-said something about you burning down a tree or s-s-something and passing out."

Brunhilde's pen was flailing about as it marked down the boy's words. The words 'broke a book' sent a chill down her spine. It explained why she was writing in this dinky piece of junk with someone else's handwriting in it, and it explained why she had a huge time gap. It also explained where the past seven years had disappeared to. She sincerely hoped the damage wasn't too bad. Anxiety took her, and she suddenly blurted out mid-writing, "The book. What happened to the book? Forget everything else. That book is the only important thing."

"Th-th-the book? I think your classmate with the pink hair took it."

Pink hair, classmate. Brunhilde instinctively checked the notebook. Nothing was there. She checked the loose pages and found what she needed to know - details about the pink-haired girl, Emi. Apparently they were good friends already. She let out a sigh of relief - if it hadn't been someone she trusted enough to print a page in color for, she'd have had no idea what to do.

"Thank you. I think that's all I need to know. You may leave."

---

---

Brunhilde had returned to the dormitories, where she asked the Resident Assistant if Emi Akemi was in at the moment. The RA didn't know, but handed Brunhilde a copy of the dorm assignment directory, which clearly stated what Brunhilde needed to know, as well as the name of her own roommate, whom she assumed she had yet to meet, on account of having not seen her name in the notebook.

She wandered down the hallway, following the sign plaques on the walls and shielding her eyes from the flickering and dirty fluorescent tube lights. She couldn't understand how anybody could deal with cheap industrial lighting like that in a housing area - particularly in a dormitory with vinyl tile floors and bluish off-white painted cinderblock walls. Perhaps the dormitory rooms themselves were nicer. She certainly hoped so.

She cautiously knocked on the door of Room 106, notebook in hand. She felt a bit nervous about meeting a friend for the first time for the second time.

@liferusher
@Jedly

---

---

The substitute teacher's lessons didn't stick with her very well, or so she thought. She couldn't remember anything that had happened even five minutes ago, much less during the week, and she had requested that the professor simply give lecture notes rather than her taking her own in the middle of experimentation, on account of her diary having been wrecked by the previous professor. He happily complied, and in fact had been about to suggest it himself when she had brought it up.

His kindness did not mean the lessons were easy, of course. He covered pushing, pulling, vacuum manipulation, air compression, temperature manipulation, precision hovering, precision flight, close-in strikes, distant strikes, blunt force, sharp edges... Everything was done at least once during the first couple of days to see whether or not they were capable of it. And for the entire week, neither Brunhilde nor Saqui were permitted to touch the ground - especially not during lessons.

"Your opponent won't care if you're trying to focus. If you touch the ground in a fight, you're toast. Or jelly. Depends on their element, really. Speaking of toast and jelly, it's lunch time. We're skipping it this period - I brought lunch myself so you could stay in class longer today. Anyway, if your feet touch the ground..."

The old man had waved his hand, and Brunhilde and Saqui felt an intense feeling of pressure beneath their feet. "...my winds will remove you from the ground."

Later in the day, after the main class was over, he forced his students into sparring matches, as well as contests of willpower against his own power. Every single time they tried to gain control over the air he was manipulating, they failed miserably. But they were getting better at it, and he felt that in maybe a month, the two of them could, if they worked together, give him a run for his money. Saqui seemed to be better at avoiding getting hit, whereas Brunhilde seemed to be magnetically attracted to fists, feet, and weapons - almost as if she were daring them to hurt her. It was a little bit concerning, and he tried to change up the lessons to put the two girls on a more even footing - forcing Saqui to fight, and Brunhilde to avoid being hit.

Brunhilde loved the lessons, of course. She couldn't remember any of his abuses and she most certainly couldn't remember being disciplined for any reason (which did happen a number of times), so she always came to class with a smile on her face and an eagerness for learning that the professor wished more students would exhibit. The sole homework assignment - a pair of glass bubbles connected by a tube, in which one bubble slightly glowed - was completed three times on separate occasions by Brunhilde, who had forgotten that she had already turned in her results (on account of her leaving the diary in his care during the lessons). The homework was simple in concept, but took several days for most students to complete, as it required moving the radioactive gases out of the bubble with the phosphor coating without being able to feel or see them. Saqui also completed her assignment, no doubt because she was repeatedly reminded to do it by Brunhilde.

After a week of classes, Brunhilde and Saqui were told to report to Headmaster Kano's class for cross-elemental sparring. The old substitute felt that it would be good for them to get their asses kicked properly and fairly, either by fellow students or by a teacher with a far heavier hand than his own.

---

---

Brunhilde approached the pond on the edge of the school grounds as the instructions her substitute teacher had given her stated. Saqui had gotten there first, so clearly this was the right place. Brunhilde was still not touching the ground. If anything, over the past week she had picked up a few inches in her constant hover. She had stopped 'skating' as well, opting instead for moving herself around with light gusts of air and gently pulling vacuum. The skating motion was still useful, of course, when she needed to move very quickly.

The Headmaster was the sort of person she would have assumed to be a full-on witch had she not been from a place that would've called her one herself. She was rather curious as to what sort of person he was, if he was indeed a person. The lack of a visible face was somewhat disconcerting, and it hid his humanity (or lack thereof) quite well. This was the first time she had had cause to see him in person, and she quickly sketched him out in her diary before taking her place at a spot that seemed out-of-the-way enough for his students.

---

A week has passed, and Luke was getting settled. He didn't expect grow accustomed to the academy and her quirks this quickly, he thought it would take a month at most. But between the classes that taught in the most efficiently oddly peerless lessons of control and exertion, and him hearing less and less whispers amongst his peers, atleast majority were now filtered as white/background noise. His most notable improvement was his control- which seemed to just having a steady upturn. The most likely reason was because of the task he handled, and it also seemed to be pleasant and calm whenever he's around- akin to an energetic puppy whenever he pops by.

That's not to say Headmaster Kano's lessons were less enigmatic, as his hints are like trying to put together a puzzle with a few- no, alot of missing pieces. But if you could see the overall picture, his hint would instantly drive the problem away. Sometimes he even gave more obvious hints towards students who seemed to struggle (Luke included.). He was also informed of the C.E.T's. Combat Efficiency Tests. In a nutshell it was explained as a way to test how well one could defend themselves from real threats. It seemed a bit too... grandiose for Luke's liking but he isn't naive to believe that no threat wouldn't befall on him- human, spirit, or otherwise.

There have been talks and rumours about the C.E.T's, about how dangerous it is and how the first years will either bravely face it or run away with their tails tucked between their feet. Was this the truth or just the second or third years trying to fan the flames and scare the first years? Maybe, or it's deeply rooted in their minds and they're carefully warning their young peers. It got a bit irksome when it would happen in the midst of when Luke was training- it was hard to focus when everyone around him was scared off their wits.

Even moreso when he was eating lunch, the bad energy and juju got into his food and made it sullied its flavour. "Even when we're eating huh." he grumbled half-heartedly, grabbing the salt shaker and pouring a little more than he should've. He slowly ate the food, thinking of how exactly C.E.T's were going to go. He thought of the task he was given a week before, Similar to that... maybe? Apparently after vanquishing the dragon word spread around (annoyingly quickly) and he had earned some prestige. People were either flabbergasted, congratulatory or even dismissive. Whenever he would get a pat on the back, he would just mumble that he had the help of a student and didn't try to claim any of the commendations. He even slightly disliked it as it placed him in the limelight, Please please put Zephyr under the public instead of me, my fragile self can't handle this. Ah, wait he was a darkness student, nevermind that.

... It also brought on a hail of challenges. Many people thought him to be good at sparring since for some odd reason. And while he tried and accept most of them, there were alot. Not only from Water students, but even from the other sectors of Elements, namely Fire and Air. As presumptuous as it was, fire students were rather aggressive and forward, whilst air tried to watch and plan for movements, being extremely flexible in their own movement. Luke would usually triumph as most couldn't properly place a handle at the Waters Luke commanded, but that's not to say he hasn't lost- he's lost quite a few. Another trend was that Fire students were usually more bitter at their defeat- of course with a few exceptions, but were also the most tenaciously persistent as most challenged him again the next day, and some even in the same day. Air students were the most adaptive, and in his opinion, most annoying to spar with because he had to change his strategy otherwise they would easily counteract it. He didn't spar with enough Earth students to reach a conclusion, but they too were arduous to defeat.

Luke would usually drop dead on his bed, tired from the constant onslaught of spars and lessons taught by the strict and demanding Headmaster.

---

(After lunch)

Luke took the now habitual path towards the pools. The trip was as to be expected, students loitered about, with the number of students showing up drastically decreasing as most swiftly walked towards their classes. It seemed that most teachers would not tolerate tardiness, I know from personal experience, tsk he thought melancholically, clutching his stomach and remembering that teacher.

After arriving he saw the Headmaster perched on the fields, near the pool. His hood obscuring his eyes as normal. Would he teach them about C.E.T's or something similar today since the C.E.T's were only a few hours away. He also glanced at two female students- one he recognized and the other he didn't. Luke was sure they weren't Water students, ... If memory serves they aren't Water students, well maybe they have something to talk to Headmaster about or something He looked at the pools, who seemed to jumped energetically towards Luke, akin to a dog licking it's 'owner', and while it did look like that, no water seemed to got onto Luke. The pools seemed much friendlier now, thank God, he wasn't sure if he could take down it's Dragon form again.

"Hello Headmaster!" he said aloud, waving his hand towards the still indimidating figure, "Having a fine afternoon, Sir?" Luke thought being conversational and friendly was the way to do, well that's what his Uncle said atleast.

"Thanks." Zephyr brusquely replied cordially with his hands on the towel. The kid was surprised how hospitable the girl was, having gently placed a dry towel on his head instead of a pillow flung in his face. Though the latter now seemed like a far off possibility, since she still had yet to even bring up the fact that she was half-dressed. He quickly flushed out the image and subtly eased the cloth just over his eyes to preserve what remained of his mentality. In spite of the rough start, a sensation of alleviation rushed over him. He savored the feeling, finally at peace within a set of walls he wouldn't be forced out of.

Oh, how careless and naive the young mind was.

The previous events weakened the guard he maintained as a second nature. With his front enfeebled by halcyon happenstances, Zephyr allowed himself to slip into a state of ataraxia. A shiver burrowed deeply and bored its way through his spine's bone marrow. The girl's voice filled to the brim with vibrant amiability abruptly traded places with silence. He wanted to keep his vision blacked out yet fingers acted in the complete opposite manner as if in defiance. A blank countenance was unveiled to take in the current status of Emi Ak. His eyes were instantly grasped and pulled to her face, which was now in an ashen state. All color had been drained from Emi's expression of disbelief, but somehow it had yet to cross over the boundary into utter disgust.

He concluded she had obviously found out that Zephyr was a darkness user. Although this beared a close resemblance to the stock reaction, something felt different. There was a deeper underlying cause. The boy sat there as water continued to drip to the floor, wracking his head for a reason. And then the revelation came into full stride. She was, undoubtedly, his antipodal.

She was a light user.

Naturally opposing forces repel one another, save for magnets. But then again, humans and magnets were two completely separate things. Even somebody as humanly inept as Zephyr knew that. Her light was her soul, much like how the darkness embodied his. But despite the fact that the two elements are polar opposites, in nature, they are forever intertwined. One cannot exist without the other, but controversially, their domains are segragated by their own form. Even though Zephyr attributed himself to the darkness, the light was something he always yearned for. It was always there for him. No matter whether he was inside of a farm or sleeping at the edge of a cave, the sun was the first thing that never failed to greet him he awoke, just like how the moon always bid him a goodnight when he closes his eyes.

Zephyr's gaze remained on the girl curled up into a ball, seeking refuge within her own body. The boy got up from his spot and cautiously paced his way towards the girl who winced at every step. "Um, Emi..." He began as he kneeled down about a foot away from his roommate, "Please tarnish the thought. I would never dare harm the light and its envoys, because..." His voice trailed off as he attempted to piece together the right words. Though nothing really seemed "right" in this case, "Because it's the only thing that has stayed with me all these years. It's made life worth living." Although his words were audibly dull, the pains, struggles, and hardships he's experienced were enumerated within every syllable. "But if you would like, I can file for a room transfer. I'm sure placing me in my own room wouldn't be too much of a hassle." Frankly, he was still trying to grasp how the academy came around to this decision. Then again, it was an academy. It propagated the growth of the mind and body through multiple means, but most fell under the category known as experimentation. Perhaps the board saw something to reap from this arrangement.

@Liferusher

---

The ambiance of muffled passer-by primly complimented the sweet aroma reifying the cafe’s atmosphere. The smell gently slipped into his nose with a lighthearted greeting, allowing the boy to find peace in its pungent yet attentive smell. Around this time of day people entered and exited the cafe at the same sluggish pace. Most of the townspeople must have been preoccupied with their jobs, thus the only other residents within the establishment were a few senior citizens haphazardly deposited throughout the tables and a pair of children, a young girl and boy. They must have been eleven- maybe twelve, only a handful of years younger than Zephyr. The commonplace sight of the two vivaciously chatting about what he deduced to be a TV show made him think about the times that laid behind him. Times about them. Times about her. Where his first feeling of love budded, or at least a tie bearing a close resemblance. But since that ardor wasn’t cultivated, much like a plant would, it withered, greyed, and evanesced to nothing but dust.

”Your order, sir.” The only waiter on duty spoke in a courteous tone, the product of surely many hours of practicing. He attentively slid a porcelain cup of macchiato and a vanilla cake onto the clothed tabletop. ”Thanks” He offered as a meager response as he flickered his eyes from the kids and up to the waiter, then gave him a slight nod. The employee left Zephyr to his… well it wasn’t a lunch, nor was it a snack. It was more like a memento, a little sliver for him to step into a vague replication of the past. He stared into the spot of milk surrounded by the moat of coffee.

It was the day of the C.E.T. The previous days leading up to now went by without pause. Zephyr was exposed to new experiences left and right, a series of rude awakenings and learning instances plastered him by the moment. All in all, they placated his mentality. For the most part, that is. Although the darkness user was never even referenced in the fables depicting the youthful brave Luke Thames besting a water dragon, accounts still floated about from spectators of Zeph’s morning classes. He’s caught the term Grim Reaper chucked about here and there, and his weapon of choice only ratified these anecdotes. Sure, the headmasters could act, but the most they would do was give students a slap on the wrist and send them off. After all, people are entitled to their own opinions. He took a sip of his caffeinated beverage, followed by a skilled cut of the cake with his fork. It was an act he had indulged in many times, but now had become a bit rusty at.

Tonight many students would delve into cavernous systems to dispatch beasts and crude elementals. It wasn’t his own safety that Zephyr was dwelling over, it was that of others. And just to add insult to injury, the matter with Emi had yet to be fully resolved. Even though at this point his roommate can stomach his presence, to not complicate things, the boy heads out well before she awakens and returns just before curfew. Albeit this solved nothing, he’d rather not witness the girl go into near-shock. Thoughts raced guised behind a vacant facade, doubts and other dubious queries of the like uncontrollably flowed forth. With his chin resting on his palms, the boy remained there in his silent muse.

”Your drink’s going to get cold.” A seasoned voice broke him of his trance. Zephyr glanced up at who he determined was a man in his late-forties and the owner of the establishment. He gave the youth a warm smile that brimmed with experience, ”May I?” The man asked, resting his hand just an inch over the table’s other chair. ”Your establishment.” The younger replied as he pressed the cup to his lips, ”True. But you know what they say: Thou shalt thy neighbour as thyself. And besides, gotta treat customers right, or they start talking dirt ‘bout cha.” The owner’s laugh bellowed within the walls of the cafe. He seemed like the guy to fit right in as a bar, yet here he was, a benefactor of serene atmospheres, and also shattering them. Zephyr savored the sweet and bitter taste for a brief moment before placing the cup back onto its holder and crossing his arms. ”And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

The owner was surprised, even with the lackluster demeanor that made recited the verse. ”A man of God as well, I take it?” Zephyr shook his head, ”I’m just versed.” He explained with a blase expression. ”Versed and an Elementalist, yes?” Now that was something far out of left field. The man had successfully acquired Zephyr's attention and locked gazes with the boy. ”Oh, no, it’s not like I have a nose or an eye for ‘em. This may be a big town, but you can tell an old from a new face easily if you get the hang of it. So, what’s your hidden power, if you don’t mind me asking young one?” Zephyr swallowed another gulp and looked like he was about to open his mouth, but took a quick pause before any words met the air’s guidance, ”None as of yet.”

Whether the man was sufficed with the answer or not remained unclear. He surely didn’t show it on his face. ”Stop by next time you’re free. I’ll give you a discount.” The owner got up from his seat and promptly pushed in the chair, ”Oh,” He started as the same smile came into fruition again, ”Your drink’s going to get cold.” With that, the owner departed for the kitchen, without even disclosing his name.

Zephyr straightened out his tie as he stepped into the bustling street. The fact that he would be fighting off other forces within a span of hours didn’t even have a chance to creep into his conscience. All he could do was find respite in the lingering taste of the sweet, fluffy vanilla cake, made with consummate precision. The flavor brought back memories. Memories of them. Memories of her. The bittersweet sensation clung to his tongue, assuring that he would never forget. With his eye on the clock, Zephyr made his way back to the academy.

---

The entire week held a feeling of thrill for Emilia, as learning from multiple lessons among using her own powers were somewhat different than following the advice of her grandfather back in the countryside. The Academy has a vast history and none of it exaggerated alongside a plethora of experience. The lessons proved more than just fruitful in improving the very basics and then a little more on the side. It gave a new perspective on how she should handle the ways she learns and sees everything around her. All the while improving self-control among her emotions, thus improving her control over water at the same time due to her 'affinity'. Albeit it didn't come without it's faults and mistakes, of course. On the contrary, this was simply the beginning of that long and strenuous learning curve.

There even was a slight misfire almost at another student in the academy, but it happened in a safe environment thankfully. It only happened due to a tad bit of a sour mood she was experiencing from waking up on the wrong side of the bed that morning. But even such a small oversight could kill her control over it if not careful. The water projectile was small, but it was fast enough to inflict a bruise at the very least, had it hit the other student in actuality. The warning from Kano a week earlier didn't help alleviate the thought that she screwed up badly two days before the C.E.T. was going to be held.

---

The cafeteria was filled to the brim, but she was still among the first ones to enter the building. The whole time she was eating her own fill of food, her eyes scanned around to see the mood be somewhat down. Not in the terms of depression, but rather pressure and slight fear or anxiety. Everyone at the time were worried about the upcoming test, no doubt herself included. The air felt a bit grim, making the food somewhat onerous to gulp down. While ironically she missed a slight chance to confront Luke for a moment before the afternoon classes would begin.

If she was completely honest, his aura had made her genuinely curious as to what would make a man be reserved like that. But the situation after a certain class a week before had changed the other students' view of him. Some even congratulated him in honesty, while others demanded sparring. It was quite a hilarious sight when she managed to actually see it with her own eyes and ears. Attention was not something she could at least cope with for now, as her talent was still being cultivated among the mass plethora of students in the academy. It wouldn't be an understatement if she was somewhat behind the others due to her quirky, albeit fairly potent control. The problem was with the possibility of losing it due to a rapid or sudden change in mood if not kept in check.

Old habits die hard, they say.

---

[After Lunchtime]

Emilia took her time walking towards the afternoon class, eyeing the surroundings and taking in the sensation of the outside air. The day had it's bad and good sides, so this activity had a nice tone to it. Respiring along the currents of the air, calm and full of newfound vigor.
The path she took was the longest due to spacing out and taking rather elaborate 'detours' along the way, but she didn't arrive too long after Luke had made his presence among the class. She took the pleasure of placing herself on top of a slightly elevated rocky ground alongside the pools. Sitting with her legs crossed, around a meter or two higher than the rest whom were about their activities. Spotting two unknown figures alongside the Headmaster and also Luke as she traversed the rock. The atmosphere felt somewhat nice so she didn't bother to say anything out loud to any of them as she arrived, but negligently eyed the clouds in the high sky as if nothing happened.

The only thing she did out of pure habit was the usual vial ball of water. But this time she made it dance around her entire figure in a single stream while randomly recreating slightly recognizable patterns of movement. Her left arm was lifted up slightly forward perpendicular from her chest as well.
She offered a simple smile alongside a slight wave of her right hand while minding her own business, that is if anyone had really checked up on the people around them. Though she didn't need to do anything to make the headmaster notice a student whom has arrived to the class. Having somewhat felt a strange feeling about him ever since that incident on her first day in the academy. Nothing she could point her finger on though, other than a slight nagging feeling.

Rinna had not had an easy week. She had made very little progress with her control over water, and so spenta significant amount of time in class inside her own head. She knew why she couldn't access her powers, and she had a feeling Kano had talked to the Headmaster about it at some point as well. He had softened towards her somewhat since their first class, as if he understood the grief and guilt that stood in her way. Still, it was the day of the CET, and she was going to have to do whatever she could when the time came. Knowing she was facing actual combat for the first time made the empty sheath at her back very discomforting.

She would face this trial, incomplete as she was, and drag herself out on top however she could. But before then, she had one last class to attend before she willingly threw herself into hell. She walked quietly to the pools, trying to keepher head empty of the doubts that constantly nagged at her. There were a few students at the pools already, but she only vaguely recognized the girls. The guy was her classmate, but she couldn't remember his name. Giving a brief nod to Kano, she sat down at the water's edge, and began trailing her hand back and forth, watching the ripples dance an clash with her movements.

@FaithsRose@Karo@Ennui

"Good afternoon, headmaster Kano"

"A good afternoon to you as well, miss Shikoba. Thank you for attending."

Kanos aura was inviting as per usual while the students trickled in. His own water students, and other elements for that matter, were all preparing for the nights adventure through the maw and Kano was at a peak of excitement, though he did not show it. Thousands of students had faced the lurking threat below the mountain with a mixture of fear and passion combined and found it in themselves to rise above the challenge. Others had cowered before the truth and ran. Those that fled were not persecuted. Violence need not be the sole purpose of a persons life.
Those that fought needed something to fight for.

The next student approached on the heels of Emilia with a friendly head nod, though not as much enthusiasm it seemed. Brunhilde Vigmundsdottir, with her trademark notepad scribbling away. Kano felt a small sense of pride in knowing that despite her disability this girl was developing her skills and finding ways around it. He had taken a special liking in her spirit of refusing to admit defeat. It was refreshing.
Kano gave a friendly wave when he caught her attention but did not pressure her to speak or approach the class. That would be her own decision and should be respected. Though he would ask her to participate in some way, but again on her own accord.

"Hello Headmaster!" he said aloud, waving his hand towards the still intimidating figure, "Having a fine afternoon, Sir?" Luke thought being conversational and friendly was the way to do, well that's what his Uncle said atleast.

Kano turned at the sound to see one Luke Thames approaching, as well dressed as ever, with an aura of positivity about him. Despite the often strange looks or malicious rumors thrown his way, the boy continued to show excellent focus in his approach to mastery.

"I am having quite an enjoyable afternoon. Thank you for asking." Kano reached out and the two of them shook hands, the warm sensation of Lukes hand met the excruciating cold of the headmasters form but to Kanos surprise the boy did not flinch in the slightest. "I hope you are eager for tonight. It is the first step towards not just Mastery but of understanding."

The CET was multi-faceted and depended on what a student was like. Some preferred to help, others had an unfortunate habit of being aggressive, and others just sought a challenge. The corruption of the spirits by the outside world was a blight on the foundation of the school but had been transformed into a tool in itself. Though not quite the safest of experiences, it served a valuable purpose.
Life was a series of dangerous occurances and potentially fatal moments. Elementalists in this world faced persecution and hostility everywhere they went. Even in this place he had created for them there were those who sought to bring harm to others.
That was life. You either overcame your obstacles or you survived them.

Kano was not bluffing when he said there was real danger to the test.

It wasn't until the Headmaster realized he had become absorbed in his own thoughts that he realized he had simply stopped talking or responding to the students.

"Apologies. Lost in though. Please, join the others. Todays lesson will be a more physical one." Thankfully a faculty member, a student really, was nearby to administer any needed help.

Another student approached the impromptu classroom he was fond of and recognized her as the, though he would never call her that, 'trouble maker' from a week ago. A fine student of water and unique in her control of it. Where Luke excelled at communing with the spirits and working in tandem, miss Averill controlled her element with raw emotion. It seemed the stronger her feeling at the moment the stronger reaction would come from her influenced sphere of control.
Luke had one side of the coin and Emilia held the other. Seemingly without even knowing it. Like Brunhilde, he gave the girl the chance to find her own space as the last few students took their place. There would be time for chat later. Kano waved at Luke to find a spot before approaching another such student.

The stranded. @karo

Memories of a young Urufu and Hisui plagued his waking mind whenever he glanced upon this girls form. Her mannerisms were such a volatile mixture of both, despite them not being her parents, that he had to force himself not to repeat his errors with those two. But like the headmaster, Kano had a soft spot for them. Arrogant and disrespectful though they were, Kano had always played along with their incessant attempts to get revenge on him for scolding the pair.
He smiled beneath the enveloping darkness of his hood as he approached Rinna at the waters edge. Whether the girl realized it or not, the man rich pools refused to repel the girls presence as it usually did for most students and even some teachers. Stubborn as the greater seas and just as violent, the pools rippled only to the touch of the Kasai girls idle fingers.
It pained him that she held talent and yet could not easily connect to it. A family curse, or personal misfortune, could not be erased easily.
Unlike her ancestors of years since past, Kano had taken a fondness to this newest heir to the family line. She needed help, to be trained, to grow. To overcome her own fears and that most sinister of evils; The towering shadows of her bloodline. Did the girl feel she could not live up to the memory of the founders of her family? Or was it that she was still confused about it all. Time would reveal the answers to Kano. For now all he could do was nurture the girl however he could.

"Rinna, dear. The lesson is about to start. Would you like help with anything before we begin?"

Get out of this househ-

You are hereby banishe-

Why don’t you just die far awa-

Even if the whole world hates you, you’ll still have m-

They said she only has a few hours left to liv-

It was all your fault! Give my daughter ba-

Please, just disappe-



. . .

Why was he holding his head? A quick glance behind him and Zephyr confirmed that he was currently standing at the entrance of the academy. Lost in thoughts all alone, the boy had ascended the mountain without even breaking a sweat. His body had been put on autopilot whilst his mind let go of the controls and toiled in its own being. The sweet tang of machiatto intermixed with vanilla still latched onto his tongue tightly, amplified over the sudden rush of fragmented memories. He felt like the embodiment of his being was an amalgamation of broken shards of stained glass haphazardly glued together, easily permeable through the empty cracks between, each piece incongruous juxtaposed to the rest.

There’s no way a future could be built on such a frail foundation. Although it was the aching past alone that molded him into the person he is today, there were minute deposits of clear happiness within the arrangement of discord. He couldn’t bring himself to abandon what lied behind him, simply because of the fact that it was what truly made him. His morals. His values. His disposition. All of it.

With his conscience now back behind the wheel, Zephyr navigated his way to the pools. Hopefully the water dragon hasn’t been busy and made a few additions after his last visit. One was tiring enough, there was no way he could even fathom an entire family of them. Though it was an entity propagated by Kano’s will, there was surely a spiritual tie to the beast. The student wasn’t exactly required to attend this session. Outside of Kano’s personal water disciples, this gathering was completely voluntary. But since it was a direct lesson with the omnipotent co-headmaster Kano Hargor, there wouldn’t be a lot of first years passing up the offer. Also it was in his best intentions to touch base with the academy’s only darkness teacher just in case the man had any tips. The past week has been quite the eventful one. While most students lied roughly around square one, Zephyr has been wielding his element for nearly a decade, and has been honing his grasp ever since. With that fact solidified, Kano’s spent most of their lessons ascertaining the boy’s limits, which has been a fairly strenuous task considering that the user gives no visual indication until he or his weapon craps out. And since the latter is directly linked to the former, one could quantify how many near heart attacks the headmaster has experienced the past few days.

For somebody who has long since forgotten the definition of a father, it wouldn’t be too far out of reality’s boundaries that Zephyr would see Kano as a paternal figure. Thankfully for both of them that wasn’t the case. Kano was the mentor, and Zephyr was the pupil. Perhaps one of these days the boy would drop the ”Papa~!!!” bomb on him just for comical effect.

Zephyr was the last person to file into the congregation of students attending Kano’s session. Instantaneously his ears picked up the amiable voice of Luke Thames, the King Arthur of Elemental Academy’s Water Pools. So did that make Zephyr Jeanne D’Arc? Then again, he wielded both the fabled king’s dagger and the Maid of Orleans’ battle standard. Anyways, looking past the details, it was nice to see a familiar face. The two have mostly exchanged sparse words during lessons and the occasional run-in at lunch, but that was the extent of their… friendship? Does besting a water dragon together warrant such terms? The fundamentals of the query left the boy utterly perplexed. He continued to mull over their social standings as his eyes glossed over another familiar face. It was the Valkyrie herself, Brunhilde, sans stead. She was as close to Zephyr as the same extent Luke was. But, still, he found a little peace in the sentiment. Unnoticed by many, the boy waded his way through the ocean of students and appeared at Luke’s side just as he shook hands with Kano. The darkness user emulated the greeting by holding out his vacant grip, complemented by a brusque ”Sir.”

Physical combat was his forte, but chances are the headmaster had something nifty up his sleeve to get the adrenaline rush going.

It was a week ago that she was lectured at by the great headmaster Kano. He had said she had untill today to decided which punishment she would be taking. Yoshino however didn't want to take either of the two. Perhaps she was able to brush it off her shoulders if she tried hard enough. No way she was gonna do any hard labor, although secretary didn't sound as bad as the other one. Perhaps that would be a good plan B. If she truly had to decide she would go for that, but first.

Yoshino was peeking past the corner of the building with her hands clamped onto the bricks of the building. There he was, the headmaster peacefully talking to all the students surrounding him like he was some baby caretaker. With an ominous look on her face she continuously stared at him. Should she approach him or not. He was still looking quite scary but not as much as when she had that picture in her hands.

She had to try or else he might be after her again if she didn't tell him before the end of the day. With a lot of hesitation she stepped from behind the wall, her hands immediately sprung back to their usual pose. With careful steps she got closer to the headmaster but when she was about halfway from the wall towards him she froze again. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea after all. Shino stepped back again slowly making her way over towards the wall again. Perhaps another time would be better.

Alex looked up at the gates of The Academy high above him as he adjusted his backpack. "Ah, It's nice to be home again." he said as he tightened his grip on his walking stick and started the climb. He had been working here for three years now, but this was the first time he had missed the beginning of the school year. His steps quickened the closer he got to the entrance in excitement to see his new students. Before he reached the entrance he had already broken into a full on sprint up the stairs, his bald head glistening in the fading light of the evening.

When Alex entered The Academy he noticed that a few students were making their way to the grove. That's when it hit him. Today was test day. He almost missed the CET! "No time to waste, I hope I'm not too late!" He quickly slipped his walking stick into the gap between his back and the backpack. With each step his feet dug into the earth a the earth beneath his feet pushed against him to propel him forward faster than he could run with his natural strength. He reached the grove in moments to a sight that was different but still familiar to him. Same thing every year, the first years get a chance to fight and test their mettle. Alex slid to a stop behind the gathered students and towered over them all. He crossed his arms with a smile that was hidden behind his mustache and watched as the students listened to the Headmaster speak, the students in the back knew he was there by the sound of him sliding in, but the ones further away may not have even known he existed. He spoke up in a booming voice "Quite the turnout today Headmaster Kano! I apologize for arriving so late, I should have been here sooner!"

Having received no outward response to his gentle hello and offer, Kano respectfully left the young Kasai to her thoughts. She would join in when she was ready. None would push her into it without good cause. For now, there was a class of children waiting for the lesson. What a lesson it would be. The subtle flow of energy was already swirling inside of his robes waiting for a form to take. The task had taken quite some time but thankfully it had become a familiar experience to him over the years to create elementals using a mixture of Aether magic and a touch of his own essence to grant the constructs a responsive consciousness.

Kanos thoughts were disturbed by the young Zephyr boy returning from the town. Judging by his eyes the boy had been wandering the avenues of his mind. Like his own element, the boy seemed to be rooted in darkness. Sad but fitting for one such as they to dwell in the unfathomable abyss of the mind even as their bodies continued to propel them ever forward.

"Ah, My son, you have returned. It is good to see you."

His words were sincere and spoken with a respectful tone. Though the time with each student had been short it was obvious how much the Headmaster cared for his students, speaking to all of them as if they were born from his own blood. Another voice turned his head, that of the absent Earth Teacher Alex Lou. The man was surrounded by sadness in the quiet hours of his life. Something he and Kano had in common. Whenever he glanced upon the mans tired eyes, the headmaster remembered his own lost wife.

Kano and Lou shook hands firmly, the shadow of his hood obscuring the beaming smile. "Good afternoon to you, Alex. If you are here for the lesson, that is fantastic. I could use another teacher aboard to keep the students on their toes." Kano tossed a rather strange wink, since his eyes shone like beacons in the dark it looked as if one of the lights had been snubbed out for a brief moment. Comical and ineffective as far as winks went.

The last to Arrive now was young Vlad, his attitude still terrible lately but there was a rough shape starting to form about the boy. Sei did say it took time to mold a block of marble into a statue. Maybe he had only just begun. Time would reveal the answers to that.


"Vlad my boy, come join the others. Your combat efficiency training is about to begin.. With the help of my assistants today."

Kano spread his arms out and released the pent up energies in a jet stream of glittering dust spewing out from his sleeves and below his robes into a swirling storm of energy. The sun reflected on the dancing motes and became blinding as the swirling essence of all 5 elements became a dozen swirling twisters, drawing in yet more latent energy to help fuel the transformation into constructs of their choosing.

It only took a few minutes for a fire to blaze to life and spin its energies into a tightened form. That of a blazing humanoid, its eyes peered out at the gathering but did not move from its spot. Already the loose soil about its lower body was turning a scorched black, the heat radiating from it at a distance was negligible but still could be felt.

Other elementals formed in short bursts, molding its form from the aether particles.

The air elemental formed with grace and stood, flew essentially, beside its fiery relative.

From the pools flowed a simple water construct, the upper body was humanoid but it showed facial features very briefly as it took up a position away from the fiery storm brewing across the way.

AEther particles flowed into the soil until it found dense rock large enough to manipulate, forcing the boulder up from the ground even as it reshaped to take the form of a hulking stone golem. From the same rift in the ground, the roots of a tree spread alarmingly into the warm sunlight before taking a form, bark elementals were a rarity in these parts, considering the training ground Kano had chosen was a barren field with a small pool.

The last to form surprised even Kano, a brilliant sphere of light coalesced from thin air in a blinding flash. The shadows came alive with a will all of their own, flowing over the glowing orb until only darkness remained. More and more shadows seeped like blood from the earth, drawn to this final construct, until it had massed enough of itself to create a form capable of performing its duty. The beast was a hybrid of light and dark, a colossus of light and dark. Its form made the writing shadows break open to reveal the sunlight in a dancing display.

All of the constructs spread out, a few more elementals of fire and water formed to shore up the numbers, assuring each student would be put against a foe.

"Zephyr, I imagine you know which one you will need to face off against so I will leave you to it. The rest of you, please choose a potential foe and find yourself a spot. Your job will be to vanguish the elemental back to its base form using whatever means at your disposal."

Kano turned to Lou and nodded. That simple wordless request had the earth teacher stomping his foot onto the dense earth to raise a series of platforms. Each of them was about the size of a tennis court and spaced away from each other by about 10 feet. The elementals knew their role and wandered off to their respective little arenas. All of them eager to make use of their given forms for the first time. The shadowy golem was the first to reach a platform and eagerly awaited its foe. It could feel the element of its foe without ever knowing who it would be and had begun to drive itself into a frenzy. Slamming its fists into the ground over and over like a gorilla. Like the others, it had chosen to take on a bulky form.

"You have an hour to defeat your foe. You may gather up anything you need before you engage in combat. The rules are simple; Do not leave your platform. If you do not wish to proceed, please raise both hands up and walk off. You may begin when ready."

(Gonna edit this when I'm more awake. Sorry if it reads choppily.)
Zephyr was, in a word, captivated. The lightshow that sailed out of Kano’s sleeves like a superb magic show single-handedly captured the youth’s reticent gaze. He was undoubtedly left in awe at the spectacle. Such a sight brought about the realization of how little he truly knew about the world’s wonders, and how much there was to explore. Even a former nomad didn’t know everything, regardless of how many vistas they have been graced with. The streaks of light retained its grasp on his attention and dragged his eyes along their purposive arcs. The sparkles greeted the air and embraced the earth and progressively took form. Life was breathed into the glistening foundations, rendering various manifestations of the elements. Entranced by their appearances, Zephyr watched silently as they drifted off from their spawn points and spaced themselves. It was apparent which one he would be facing off against.

It stuck out like a sore thumb, a mountain among many molehills. An amalgamation of light and dark, two antitheses that starkly contrasted with one another, now tuned into a composition of perfect harmony. Kano’s words only affirmed the decision Zephyr had already set himself upon. Instead of any interaction on the verbal plane, the boy merely offered his mentor a slight nod before he advanced towards the battle was soon to ensue.

He could already feel the incessant thumping of the colossus slamming its clawed hands into the raised earth as soon as he set foot onto the platform. The boy beamed at his opponent, scrutinizing every facet that comprised the elemental. It had no discernable midsection between its head and body. Zephyr could sense the constant faint hum of shadow coursing through every inch of its being. He felt each morsel of its existence. The student could only describe the sensation as deafening. To him the foe was one of the most foreign things he has ever encountered, despite that for all intents and purposes it was his brethren. Though there was one finite quality that delineated the colossus from the youth: It had a heart of light. The other party’s bearing was more up for debate.

Standing at nine feet, it easily towered over the boy. It may have completely overtaken him with its shadow if it wasn’t for the fact that it was absorbing all of the darkness around them. Through its eyes Zephyr must have looked like a fine dish served on a sparkling clean silver platter. Slits of pulsating light squinted in deep study. The youth met the stared daggers head on with his composed an inexpressive demeanor. He gave no sign of angst, which may have just angered the colossus. Remaining at the opposite end of the field, Zephyr slipped off his satchel and deposited it in a safe spot. From here, he performed the usual ritual preceding a battle.

Even though he was currently faced with a not so patient opponent, Zephyr nonchalantly grabbed the headphones around his neck and slipped them over his ears. The boy then produced his cellphone and skimmed through the assortment of playlists meticulously organized with every ounce of his attention. Music was one of the few things he spent time unproductively on. A couple flicks later and his finger stopped over a certain song. ”Ah, right, this remix. Sure, this works.” He murmured to himself as he clicked play and pocketed the phone.

With the colossus growing restless the darkness user decided it would be best to not delay the trial any longer. He was aware that this whole shebang was just something to get the adrenaline flowing, but since this was Kano in the equation, the challenges facing the students were surely not to be taken lightly. Having remained essentially motionless this whole time, the colossus perked up when the youth finally moved, raising his right arm to a perfect ninety degree angle to line up with his shoulder.

Initially nothing transpired. To his foe, Zephyr must have looked like a nutjob. But after a few moments of silence and muffled grunts from the elemental there was a change. A thin but fairly visible line of darkness slithered its way up the boy’s side. It clung tightly to every crease of his skin during its ascent. It then wrapped itself around his arm as if it intended to constrict the ligament, but this would be proven false, since the darkness ended up sinking into the sleeve of the formal apparel instead. The essence was his soul materialized. His shadow has been with him since birth and will not abandon him even after death. He lethargically raised his other arm at level with the one already outstretched. Under a low breath the boy gave his resolute command.

”Azrael, to me.”

The premonition Gus made back in the forest didn't stray too far from the truth.

Darkness instantly shot through both grips and hardened into the form of a shaft. A curved blade manifested from the post just as quickly. He adjusted his stance to complement the scythe and fixed his handling on the weapon. The weapon’s design was simplistic, almost provisional. It lacked any noteworthy qualities and was overall dull in taste. Zephyr noticed his own reflection in the blade’s umbral luster. He released one of his hands from the scythe and fixated it vertically. The two only beings on the platform locked eyes yet again. The sound of the shaft slamming into the earth signified the beginning of the battle, followed by the parties rushing each other head on. Neither wavered from their course, only pressing onwards until the imminent clash. The colossus had already reeled back it arm in preparation for a straightforward punch, and Zephyr had the feeling that a direct hit would send him flying back a few meters- potentially off the platform.

Before the two collided, the human skidded to a halt and stilled himself in spite of the punch flying straight for him. He quickly issued another command, ”Facade.” Before the colossus’ fist to connect with Zephyr’s face, the boy’s shadow raced forward and took the form of an abstract wall. Facade was giving it far too much credit. Despite itw gelatinous and unrefined appearance it was ultimately impermeable, sporting the same solidity as metal. Shadows exploded from the colossus’ strike and flew off without aim, quickly enshrouding Zephyr’s fortification and himself in the darkness.

The boy rocketed through the dark mist and soared into the air with Azrael raised high over his head, its blade poised to sink into its target. The colossus’ angled its head upwards to trace Zephyr’s swift form and leaped back just as the student came down onto his assailant. The blade sunk deep into the spot where the shadowy enemy had stood, but had thoroughly lodged itself in the earth. With his whole body wrapped around the pole, the youth swung his weight back and then forward, using the built up momentum to press the assault on the colossus. Dirt flew into the air when the blade was torn free from the ground. Not wanting to give his opponent even a moment of respite, Zephyr lowered his stature and executed coordinated swings at the colossus. Even with its bulky figure it managed to dodge or block the boy’s attacks, but as he had intended, the colossus wasn’t given a window to sneak in a punch. He shifted his grip on the post and lead the blade through the foe’s arm. The tip of Azrael protruded from the top of the appendage, a clear sign that he had made through the colossus’ bulky arm. From here, Zephyr yanked back hard, dragging the curved weapon through the ligament like butter and parting it into two separate halves.

The boy deftly leaped back and attentively analyzed the current state of his opponent. As he had predicted, the colossus’ arm regenerated at an alarming rate. The darkness that had bled out was vacuumed back from its source, as if time was being reversed. Obviously Zephyr didn’t intend to get through this one abiding by the book of Hack and Slash. He was gauging his foe. Unsurprisingly, the colossus was doing just the same. They were analyzing each other, noting their individual shortcomings and how to exploit them. And right now, the elemental harbored the ability to outlast the youth and beat the living hell out of him. On top of that, it was a hybrid of light and darkness. Chances are it could utilize light in a manner that would neutralize Zeph’s weapons, which he would have to steer clear of.

The fight had only just started.

---

---

Brunhilde gave a short wave to Kano in return, and patiently watched the other students roll in. Many of them were listed in the diary directory, some more important than others, but others were total unknowns. It was to be expected, considering how many students there were at the Academy. At the recommendation of the teacher, she had brought along a temporary notepad as well, with which to record information during the test. If it were destroyed, it wouldn't be a catastrophe - and the main diary, though reinforced with thick steel as it was, wouldn't be in harm's way during the exam.

The past week had been entertaining, as far as she could tell - not just for herself, but for all of the students present. Their lessons had clearly gone well (or very, very badly - it was difficult to determine), and a few appeared to have fresh scars, both physical and mental. The week of training had been more violent for non-Air elementalists, and she caught the jealous eye of one of the younger Fire students, who had nearly been killed three times during sparring matches with his teacher. She smiled and waved toward the vaguely hostile student and turned her attention back toward the lesson itself, which was slowing to a crawl.

A new man arrived - bald-headed and strong. He appeared to somehow know Kano, and was most likely a staff member. Brunhilde noted his presence in the main diary, as it was good to be able to identify staff members regardless of how relevant they were to her own lessons. More students came, and a quick scan of the crowd forming allowed her to identify a number of friends she had made in the past week, almost all of whom considered her more a friend than she considered them, on account of her horrid memory.

Kano's motions caught Brunhilde's attention, and she witnessed something she had never before imagined she would see in person - the formation of elementals, which as far as she was concerned, were merely creatures from stories and games. Her eyes widened in surprise momentarily - one of the few expressive tendencies they had, and quickly returned to normal as she forgot how long they had been there. The diary slowly filled with descriptions of them - and many were present.

In particular, one massive golem of shadow and light stood out, standing at a relatively impressive nine feet tall - though she imagined there were many that were significantly larger. The two elements dancing together within its form suggested that it wasn't one elemental, but rather two that had merged, for better or for worse - which would explain its stature compared to the others. She wanted to fight it more than any of the others - but, unfortunately, she had determined that air could not directly interact with light, and could not interact at all with darkness, which would leave her completely unable to harm it.

Instead, she turned toward the Fire elemental - a roughly humanoid inferno. Rock was too simple, bark far too delicate, air too familiar, and water too close to being air. Fire seemed to be the best foe for an air student like herself. The diary had requested that she leave it behind and only take the notepad, and as such, she approached Kano and Lou, who by far seemed to be the safest choices for it.

"Professor, Headmaster, would one of you please keep an eye on this during the test?"

@Zelosse@ShaggyDoo0

---

Brunhilde leapt upon the platform and immediately sealed herself within a bubble of insulating vacuum, save for a narrow pipeline of air entering and leaving her lungs. The Fire elemental was difficult to read and predict, thanks to its lack of organic shape - but if it were capable of thinking, it would be best to strike fast and unpredictably. It would also be best to experiment some in order to determine what effects different air manipulation methods would have on it - and she wondered to herself if she would be able to control its burn rate.

In response to thoughts and feelings of command, the air outside of the vacuum bubble swirled and spiraled, with streams of gases exiting and other streams entering the center of a rapidly growing cyclone. In seconds, a rapidly spinning, foot-wide pale blue plane of condensed oxygen formed, with mist rolling off it it all about as the touching air continually froze and evaporated.

In the blink of an eye, the spinning disc of pure oxygen flung itself directly at the center of the fire elemental. Brunhilde herself stayed nearly completely motionless and expressionless, save for the scribbling of the pen across the small notepad within the vacuum bubble, waiting to see whether adding fuel to the fire would make the creature larger, hotter, or merely harm it.

---

His addressing of the headmaster was greeted with an icy death grip. It took all he could to not flinch under duress, but he did, returning a smile in kind. He was then ushered to find a seat whilst students began pouring into the area, there was alot, so much so that Luke got a little uncomfortable at the very volume of elementalists present. He took a seat by the side, his legs freely dangling. His eyes followed the crowd, noticing a few familiar faces here and there, such as Zephyr, Brunhilde, the girl he escorted and a few more.

"You have an hour to defeat your foe. You may gather up anything you need before you engage in combat. The rules are simple; Do not leave your platform. If you do not wish to proceed, please raise both hands up and walk off. You may begin when ready."

He turned his head towards the Headmaster's voice. Luke's gaze then snapped onto the elementals, all with different body figures. They all exuded a different, yet similar aura that easily intimidated the student body. Luke winced as his eyes swam from one to the next, water, fire, air, earth, wood, and the most menacing, an amalgamation of dark and light. Zephyr stepped out to the challenge, choosing to engage what looked to be the most powerful of the spirits.

Luke only watched for a moment, as Zephyr took out the very same weapon he used against the water dragon. Both of them seeming to watch each other's moves from what it looks like. Zephyr managed to land a solid hit, but as to be expected, the gaping hole was quickly filled in with darkness.

---

He turned away and he eyed the stone golem. Water against stone may not be the best or efficient decision, but water can and will eventually chip away at even the sturdiest, and most rigid stone. He jumped onto the platform with a kick, and landed right behind it. Surely it did detect his presence, but with it's rigid form it would take a moment for it to turn. He held out both his hands and shot out a water blast, crescent and thin in form. He intentionally made it thin so that it would have a strong penetrating power. It landed properly on the creature's right arms, tearing it from the elbow down. The piece of earth falling onto the floor with a loud thud.

The creature then turned towards Luke, and as if to mock his very effort, bent down and grabbed the arm, reinstating the arm back onto his body.

"Tch, why do all the spirits have this ability." Luke joked outloud, knowing fully well that it would've been too simply if that was the case."

The creature charged forward, with surprising nimbleness, and slammed downwards where Luke was standing. Fortunately, he wasn't there when the clouds cleared as he had leaped away in the nick of time. The creatures arm stretched outwards, three pieces of rocks flying out at fast speeds. In return, Luke conjured up a barrier infront of him, killing the momentum of the rocks as they fell onto the platform. He locked gazes with the construct, it easily towering over Luke,

"Well, this is gonna be difficult."

@Jedly

The shadowy substance of the behemoth swirled like a maelstrom chaotically as the creature repelled the boys attempts to harm it. The colossus was furious as it lashed out mindlessly at its foe, the reminder of its being warned it against attacking others or leaving the platform, and thus had its full focus on victory. Though it had no idea what any of it meant, lacking a sentient mind, it was simply complying with the urges of its form to lash out.
Each strike of its bulging arms was met with resistance as the shadow scythe Zephyr wielded proved effective at repelling its onslaught. Lacking a physical body meant it would never stop attacking, never grow weary of its relentless approach, and refuse to admit defeat until it had been shattered back to wherever it had come from. That concept proved to fuel the 'heart' of the goliath. Punch after punch rained down wildly for what seemed like days but the gradual transformation had only just begun. The blows started out as random, chaotic, wild. Lacking form or technique. Even the simplest thought of strategy was missing and thus made it like fighting a zombie of some sort.
The punches shifted after mere minutes of wasted effort. The shadow was.. learning.

The shadow hulk came in with a powerful left hook, but as it launched the attack it shifted. Stepping to the side and throwing away the left in favor of a downswing of its right hand. Unfamiliar with the movement, the attack was easily avoided but left a small crack in the hard platform.
Rather than continue the assault, the creature shifted backwards to the opposite side of the makeshift arena. Guard up, shadows writhing, its glowing golden eyes twinkled with something akin to thought. It had seen something. Something.. important.

A forest of coalesced darkness leaped from the broken crack like tentacles, each one aiming wildly at the boy. Clumsy and slow, the attacks lacked even the slightest bit of force the larger amalgamation had. Yet it stood back and observed.

The strangest part was its form. The shadows had stopped their endless twisting and slithering to something akin to tranquil waters. Dots of light now began to litter its whole body like tiny stars as it continued to passively observe the boys reaction to its tendril barrage.

------------------

@Azereiah

The fire elemental roared to life, an inferno of living destruction, and reacted swiftly to the girls wind attack by throwing a ball of concentrated fire at the projectile. The impact was a meager explosion as both attacks merely defeated each other but the construct cared little for wasted effort. Its form was not diminished in the slightest as it launched another ball of fire at its foe, unconcerned with anything it came in contact to. A stream of flames shot out from its extended arm like a beam, aiming to strike the girl full in the chest.
The elemental seemed to favor ranged combat at the moment.
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@Inertia

The rock elemental was slow to move but its sheer mass rocked the sturdy platform with every heavy stomp of its legs. Its foe was nimble, crafty, and fought with water. The loose soil of its form would fall easy prey if targeted. A moan that sounded more like boulders crashing together escaped its general mouth area as it raised one heavy foot into the air, stomping on the platform with tremendous force. A spiderweb of cracks stretched out from the point of impact directed at Luke. Jagged spikes of sharp stones ruptured from the earth in an attempt to attack from a hard to defend angle.
Distracted by the spikes, the rocky creature angrily stomped its way to its opponent. Slimming its body ever so slightly and repurposing the stone into a long smooth tail. Another roar of breaking stone had it swinging its new appendage in an arc aimed directly at Luke, trying to simply knock him from the arena entirely.

Maddie eye her opponent, a lump forming in her throat as her heart felt like it was about to burst from her chest. She was more worried about failing her evaluation than anything else, and she would be extremely ashamed of herself if Mr. Kessinger thought any less of her because of it. As she got up on the platform, she made every attempt possible to remain calm, wanting to avoid being perceived as a soft target. Unfortunately for Maddie, that much seemed to be true about her as her eyes widened.

She was barely able to get into a proper stance before her opponent made the first move, spreading its arms to surround her with a wall of fire. She could have sworn it smirked at her as it flicked its wrist and the wall closed in on her at an alarming speed. But Maddie was quick on her feet, sinking down to the ground on one knee and stretching out her arms to either side of her to clear the fire about to burn her alive. Even though Maddie reacted fairly quickly, she took a small hit, the fire reddening her cheeks and forehead. Her involvement in this fight was far from over, though. She cleared out whatever trace of fire was around her and with a wave of her opposite arm, she thrust a spear at her opponent, hoping to hell it would penetrate its torso. If that move went in her favor, her opponent would get stabbed in the chest, one end of the fiery spear sticking out its back as the winged tip extended to secure her opponent in place before she would forcibly pull him toward her to inflict major damage against it.

---

A slight moment passed as Emilia stared in awe as the elementals came to life with their forms. The process had jolted her awareness up twice, the energies practically living as is. It wouldn't be too far fetched to say that their presence was something one could sense lingering in the atmosphere around them, right before the elementals themselves took form.

She merely eyed the entire situation while sitting on her makeshift perch on top of the rocks. That was until the new Earth teacher stomped on the ground to raise up huge and multiple areas solely for the battles. The areas were way larger than she thought they would need, but then again there was the possibility for anything happening. Perhaps it was merely precaution or for freedom of movement. But whatever it was, it had her in a slight rush of anticipation.

Climbing the slight mound, she meets the elemental she had sensed a bit earlier. A being completely made of water. Half-humanoid and half something else. While it wouldn't otherwise be the usual pick, she thought a simpler approach could also make for a learning experience. Perhaps it would even give insight as to how differently water could be used and in what different applications. Armed with nothing but her slightly golden-tinted ring-clawed memento on both fingers along with control over water and a slight smirk on her face, her own struggle would begin here.

Before the elemental got it's chance, she had moved her hands from the ground upwards with a clawed hand, spawning a mediocre barrier of water standing between them. Blocking vision was the main point of this, since the barrier wasn't something that would hold up against such an elemental. Especially not one spawned by Kano.

"So... what will you do my dear friend?" She spoke in a manner befitting of provocation. Though such hulking forms would probably disregard her words for mere gibberish. At least to her it seemed that they didn't possess much if any intelligence at all. What she did expect however, was the pure form of instinct for battle. And along with that premonition, her right hand gathered another ball of water into it. Preparation for the next move, should the beast simply charge through the wall, or somehow render it back down on the ground from where it came from.
@Zelosse

@Xandrya

The fire elemental raged forward to overwhelm it's opponent with sheer power and met with resistance. The girl shared it's power and thus had robbed it of its own specialty. Only serving to enrage the creature further, taking the crimson flames of its being into a new shade of red.
The flame spear struck it full in the front as intended, the elemental not even bothering to dodge. After it had punched straight through to the back, it stood motionless save for the crackle of its form before simple.. exploring.

In a shower of flaming embers it shattered. Dozens of thousands of dancing flames that had one been a full elemental were now just sputtering flames on the ground.
But each sputtering flame was a piece of the bigger puzzle, posessing the same burning nature.

In a swarm the candle flames came. Thousands of them, each one just as hot as the original, all trying to overwhelm their opponent with sheer numbers.

---------

@Ennui

Startled by the sudden appearance of a wall made from its own being, the water elemental shied away from the barrier with arms outstretched in front of it. Slowly it flowed away from the wall, uneager to engage in combat.
But the silent call of its creation meant it had to challenge the girl. To force her into overpowering it or it overpowering her.
But it could find no reason it's it's being to attack when it had not been attacked yet. Rather than act on the wordless call for violence it chose to extend its arm and made a flicking motion.

The barrier of water detonated harmlessly in a shower of water, drenching the arena platform and the female.
Like a child, the elemental leaned in and watched the water cascading from the sky. Even going as far as to reach out and touch the droplets, which merely became part of the larger body.
When the last few droplets had fallen, it waited.