“Alright ladies, how about a break? Let’s get some breakfast and then I can show you around some more.” Crystal and the others grab their things and follow Sonya though a large door off to the right, they take large wooden stairs that lead to a massive cafeteria. Four colors of mats cover the floor as large pillars indicate four different eating areas for the different elements. The circular tables are low to the floor with bamboo mats organized on top of them. Groups of people are scattered throughout the room; some eating, some in line for food, and others stand talking with one another.
“Why are there no chairs?” One girl asks.
“We try to bring a mixture of traditional Chinese culture and modern day culture to the Academy.” Sonya explains.
While Sonya leads the girls to the line, Crystal is hardly paying attention. She can’t believe that she was the only one who couldn’t make the water move even a little. She absent-mindedly grabs a bowl of fruit and an orange juice. Page talks about the camp and Crystal nods but hardly pays her any attention.
“…and then I am going to plant a bomb and blow up the entire place.” Page concludes.
Crystal looks at her, “What?!”
“You haven’t heard a word I said have you?” Page asks with a laugh “Chillax Crystal you’ll get the hang of things.”
“Yeah,” another girl adds helpfully.
Sonya sits at the round table, “How are you all feeling?” She must notice Crystal’s dejected response, “Crystal right?-she nods- I know you feel down but bending isn’t for everyone, a lot of girls here show potential, but few will be able to actually bend the element. So, if you don’t pass tomorrow you will just have to go Camp. It’s not so bad, you even get to keep the outfit.”
Crystal and the other girls look at Sonya in surprise. That is not the response they were all expecting. Sonya just laughs and explains that she doesn’t want to get Crystal’s hopes up and all that, but Crystal tunes it all out. She did not come all this way to be sent to some ordinary camp she came to learn how to do the impossible and that’s what she is going to do, but as she looked around she notices dejected faces everywhere mixing with ones of excited victory. Were they all doomed to normalcy after all?
“Why can’t different benders eat together?” Crystal asks to get her mind off of bending itself.
“Well, we want you to get into your element first before you go off and interact with different elements.” Sonya answers.
“Is there someone who can bend more than one element?” Crystal asks.
“There is only one, the Avatar. The Avatar is said to possess all four natural elements, talk with the spirit world, and promote peace in the world.”
“Where’s the Avatar? Is he here” Page asks.
Sonya laughs “No no, he is in China, he was reincarnated there many many years ago. There hasn’t been an Avatar reincarnated into America well…ever.”
The rest of the day passes by faster than Crystal ever could have wanted. They are shown a Cherry blossom tree grove, a special meditation spot near a pond that ripples rainbow colors. They try practicing again and this time Crystal got her water to move a little bit. Before she knows it they are all back in their room having lights out.
“I hope you all are prepared for your test tomorrow.” Sonya says, “And the best way to prepare is to get some sleep.”
As much as Crystal wants to sleep she is too anxious to sleep. She lays there on her mat staring out the square window at the stars twinkling above. Suddenly, a blue mist came in from the window. It swirls and twirls in a mass no larger than a cat throughout the room before flowing underneath the door.
Crystal quickly gets up and quietly follows it out. She chases the mist down the hallway and out into the square. The square is empty, there is no mist anywhere. Then she sees it disappearing down a corridor. When she emerges she is among the cherry blossom trees. The mist darts through the trees and leads Crystal to the rainbow pond. Crystal cautiously approaches the mist as it swirls just above the surface of the pond. She is mere feet from the mist now. She slowly reaches a hand out to it, the mist seems to be reaching out to her as well. Then it suddenly disperses.
“What are you doing out here?!”
Crystal quickly spins to see where the voice came from. Her foot catches a rock and she begins to fall backward toward the pond. A strong arm reaches out and grabs her arm. “I gotcha.”
Crystal looks up to see the earth bender from the demonstration. “What are you doing out here?” he asks again more out of curiosity than anger.
“I-I’m s-sorry. I-I figured since I might not be able to stay I wanted to get a closer look at the rainbow pond before tomorrow.” Crystal lies.
The boy nods knowingly, “I understand how you feel. At first, I thought I wouldn’t make it into the camp either, but here I am! Now come on, let’s get you back to your room. Don’t want you to fail your exam because you are too tired, you know?”
Crystal nods. The boy leads her out of the grove and as they are leaving Crystal looks back to see the smooth reflection of the moon within the pond and nothing else to be seen…
YOU ARE READING
Element Academy
Science FictionWhat looks like an ordinary camp on the outside, is unlike anything else on the inside. Could bending the elements really be possible? Crystal has her doubts and Page has her excitement and once inside, there's no telling what will happen.
