The Elementals II: Knit of Fate

We can't escape but we can hide.

I was about to leave that day when Jingjy called me from the guard house (if you consider really these garden gnome-like people guards).

                “Mr. Castor,” He started, this time he’s a little serious and a little reasonable, “You wish to be trained by me? I just would like to clarify.”

                “Well, I’ve talked to you-” I paused, “To your other self actually. Can you not remember? Is there something wrong between your inner communications? Sir?”

                “Why so rude suddenly?”

                I laughed, I never treated or talked to a professor like this, except in battle zones, where I can go kicking their butts, “Let’s just say Sir, I’m trying my best to give you a sort of bad impression so you won’t miss me this winter vacation.”

                “Blah-Blah. Whatever your reasons are. But let’s get into business.” He pulled something out of his jacket, “Here.”

                “A chime?” I looked at it carefully for some elemental uniqueness but there’s none, it’s just a simple three hollow iron tubes that is hanging loosely by threads to a strip of wood.

                “Wind chime, specifically.”

                “Training with a wind chime? That’s what you’re gonna give me? Jaray didn’t mention this. I could’ve bought my own wind chime and started practising earlier.” I said staring awkwardly at the wind chime on my palm.

                “So it’s Mr. Enem’s idea all along.” I saw lines forming on his forehand, yeah, I forgot, Jaray’s still at the Fatals.

                “Yeah!” I interrupted and suddenly, I acted that the chime’s the best idea ever! Like I landed on a bed of gold (that surely hurts, I know, but gold’s gold.)! Like I was getting excited for this training, “He told me about it like months ago but I never had the chance to ask you earlier.”

                And those lines vanished, Whew.“Oh well. Don’t underestimate this chime. It’s elementally altered.”

                “Oh really? Doesn’t seem to be so obvious.”

                “SO what do you want to have a sparkling chime? A chime that spits tornados? Well, that’s more like wearing a tag saying, ‘Hey I’m an elemental’ that’s a second from calling you weirdo or it might’ve been your ticket to human laboratories for dissection.”

                I was speechless actually, never heard this persistent side of Jingjy, “So tell me Sir, what I l should actually do with this chime?”

                “I know you can jump through space but it almost shatters everything around you, well, try it when this chime is around. If you jumped and no sound came from this chime, treat it as a clearance for next stage.”

                And I felt like this training is like flying to the moon with just flapping your arms, “That’s impossible!”

                “I know. Remember what I’ve told you, winning isn’t overpowering your enemy. It’s a matter of timing and out-smarting him. I expect you to finish the training when you get back from your vacation.”

                “That’s only a week?! I was just starting, it’s unfair!”

                “Well, do you want the training?”