Elemental War

dorm.

We made our way out of the cafeteria after eating a baked chicken and rice dinner, and back into the main hall where we found our rooming assignments on the bulletin board.

Karmen and I crossed our fingers as we scaled the room list hoping we were paired together.

Stella Vix - Dorm 103
Karmen Alacaide - Dorm 207

We frowned before hugging each other and going our separate ways.

"I'll see you around?" Karmen called out.

"Of course! I'll see you soon!" I waved and smiled as she made her way towards the grand staircase behind the main hallways arch.

It felt good to have a friend.

"Excuse me sir? How can I get to dorm 103?" I asked the guard standing outside the cafeteria.

"Once you go under the arch make a left by the stairs and walk as far down as you can until you reach the first level girls dormitory and look for your dorm number above the door." He muffled through his full suit of armor.

"Thank you kind sir." I curtsied. He giggled and I set off for my dorm.

The stair case behind the archway was huge I wondered where it led. To my left was a hall that went on and on I questioned how far the dormitory was. The hall was littered with windows on each side showcasing the sea beside us , other parts of the castle, and I could also sea the large metal gates —that we arrived to from the train station— in the far distance away. I walked and walked taking in the beautiful unusual sights around me. I'd made it to an intersection that broke off into many different corridors.

Each of the halls were labeled differently. One read Infirmary, another Girls Dorm, another was labeled Library.

I kept straight towards the Girls Dorm, and ended up in a hall full of doors lining each side.

100, 101, 102... 103!!!! I made it!

Knock. Knock. Knock.

A young girl with a short blonde bob opened the door slightly before throwing it open. She was smiling and jumping up and down.

"HEY ROOMIEEEE!" She screamed before hugging me.

I laughed.

"Hi roomieee! I'm Stella, nice to meet you!" I smiled from ear to ear. I was ecstatic to have a roommate with such welcoming energy! I just hoped it wasn't too much energy.

"I'm Gigi! Get out of the hallway girl come in!" She ushered me inside.

Our room was rather small. There were twin beds on each side, two chests to keep our belongings in, a short wooden table by the window, a wooden work desk, a bookshelf, and a fireplace. There was also a small bathroom on the side of the room.

"I made your bed with my bedding from last year cause they never usually tell first years that they should bring their own stuff. Not that you need to but their bedding sucks!"

"Thank you because I definitely didn't get the memo." I laughed. I plopped onto the bed across from her, and let out a sigh of relief. This was the first time I've been able to actually relax today. Before I was too busy worrying about everything!

"So tell me about yourself. How did you end up here?" Gigi asked twirling her short blond locks.

"Well, my mom is a water bender, and my father is a fire bender, but for the longest they thought I would be a non-bender! Last year while I was tending to our family garden one of my sunflowers went limp. I don't know how but I felt the energy inside of the plant and once I touched it stood tall again. I thought I was hallucinating! My mother explained to me that I wasn't seeing things and that it was just my water bending healing abilities in effect. That was my first bending experience ever! Once they knew I could bend they enrolled me in the academy to perfect my bending abilities."

Gigi gasped in excitement.

"But... I've been having a lot of trouble taking control over my water bending. So far I've only been able to use it unintentionally." I frowned.

"It's okay you came to the right place." She gave me a reassuring smile from her bed.

"So this place isn't all that bad? The president seems kind of..."

"Psycho?! Yeah she's definitely the worst thing about this school, besides the dungeon, and all of the gossip that goes on at this place. Besides that, it isn't too bad." Gigi went on.

"She mentioned the dungeon at the assembly. What the hell happens there??!"

"All I know is the entrance to the dungeon is behind one of the student courtyards. No one knows much about it besides that every student that entered was never to be seen again." Gigi now spoke softly as if someone was eavesdropping on our conversation.

My mouth dropped.

"And the King and Queen of the lands have no concerns about that?" I asked. My eyes wide.

"They're just as crooked as President Ruth, but don't worry! As long as you stay out of her way and follow the rules you'll never have to worry about the dungeon!"

"But she said if we don't meet the academy's expectations... we'll go to the dungeon, and that this school doesn't breed weaklings?"

"Sadly that's true. I've seen students get dragged to the dungeon for failing. Some failing students even transfer schools before it's time to meet their fate."

"Oh my goodness!" I gasped again.

"Im telling you, just stay out of the crazy lady's way, and do you work and you will be fine! Don't worry!" Gigi spoke.

"Okay... thanks for the advice. How did you end up at the academy?" I asked.

"Well, I grew up on a farm. My father was an earth bender and my mother is an air bender. My father was always bold, demanding , and he seem to always know what he wanted and wouldn't take no for an answer! I always admired him for his strength and his determination. In contrast, my mother has always been a push over! She's always so agreeable, and I feel like she lives her life for everyone but herself. She's too kind for her own good. My father was disappointed when we found out I was an air bender, like my mom, because he really wanted to teach me his bending ways. My mom taught me everything she knew while I was really young. I'm grateful for it, but honestly I wish my dad could've been the one to train me.. I've always felt more connected to him, so I was really disappointed when I realized I couldn't earth bend. He always wanted me to attend this academy since I was able to bend but I always refused, until he died fighting in the war. That's when I left our farm and decided to come here because I know this is where my dad would want me to be!" Her smile was mixed with sorrow.

"I'm so sorry to hear about your father. That's so horrible! This war has reeked havoc throughout so many peoples lives."

"Yeah... enough of my sad story. Word around town is that there's a secret party going on in the schools basement tonight, and we should go!" Gigi's frown lit up into a smile.

"A secret party? That sounds fun, but my luggage still hasn't arrived yet! What would I even wear?"

"I have the perfect dress for you!" She grinned.

4 hours later..

"We look like some bad bitches." Gigi called out.

"Yasssss! This dress is perfect! Thank you so much!" I laughed as we stood in front of the mirror admiring ourselves.

Gigi wore her blonde bob ,with black sunglasses, a pink feather boa, with a tight fit spaghetti strapped white dress and ,black and white converse.

Gigi had curled my black hair for me. I wore bold red lipstick, a tight fitted sparkly black dress, and all black high heels.

"It's party time!!!" Gigi screamed before sticking her tongue out in the mirror; then she started for the door. I followed behind closely. My heels clicked against the floor.