Chaos Theory

Xi's entire future hung on the next fifteen minutes. He stood before a full classroom next to a rickety projector screen. Releasing a slow breath, he wiped his hands on his pants. He and Xoa had worked tirelessly to make their project perfect. And it was. He only needed to present it.

"This is going to be rich," Dewy whispered to Azure. "Chaos has the weirdest projects. And they're usually stupid, too. Those two will never graduate."

The words hit Xi hard. Water elements, like Dewy, always passed. They were "essential" according to everything the school taught. No water element ever failed, even if their project comprised "wet snow."

Xi refused to think about other president-prize-winning entries from Water. They always won with things like eighty-foot waterspouts or roaring blizzards with seven feet of snow.

The previous year's winners cheated, sort of. A fire tornado? Elements weren't supposed to work together, but Fiero and Bree were unstoppable. That tornado was the stuff of legend.

But this year he and Xoa would not only pass but grab the President's Prize, too. So much was at stake. Field tests were already up and running with fantastic results. The project grew bigger as each day passed.

"Anytime you are ready," Professor Monson said, his tone dismissive.

Xi straightened to his full three feet. He motioned to Xoa, who clicked onto the first slide. "Xoa and I present chaos stones."

The class burst into laughter, without waiting for Xi's explanation of his process or purpose. A flicker of resentment burbled up in Xi's chest, causing the presentation screen to snap closed.

Professor Monson allowed the jibes and jeers to roll for a minute before he calmed the students. "Everyone gets a chance." He turned his sinister gaze on Xi. "Stones? Do you have Earth in there somewhere?" He frowned.

Xi rubbed his forehead. "Kind of. Xoa and I both tested high for Earth but ultimately fell in the Chaos range. We put those skills to work and created these crystals." He waved a hand at the missing screen.

Xoa scrambled from behind her laptop to pull the screen into place. Her wide eyes and hard swallow said she wasn't enjoying this one bit. She slumped back to her seat, head bowed.

She'd promised to work with him if she could be a silent partner... Well, super quiet, anyway. Her ideas were brilliant, but chaotic, as they should be. But she balked at presenting to the class.

Xi's internal Earth levels stabilized him enough to present without wandering off on a tangent or smashing equipment.

He gestured to the screen again. On it, crystals of every shape and size shone. Their colors ranged from deepest black to gray to dusty white.

Xi rubbed his hands. He and Xoa had worked hard to process pure chaos into an earth element. It was brilliant, and yes, inspired by the fire tornado. If Fiero and Bree could combine elements, why not Xi and Xoa?

Long ago, everyone had learned to incorporate heat and cold. Weren't they just elements, too? There were no longer Heat or Cold students. Fire might still count. But it was so much more than heat...

And Xi was already off-topic.

He pressed his lips, unsure of how much he'd said aloud. He peered around the classroom. The blank stares and bored looks told him he'd kept his thoughts in his head.

"Anyway, we mined Chaos from the dark pits in—"

The professor cut him off. "I'm sure this is in your paper. We don't need to hear your process. Only results." He narrowed his eyes at Xi. "After so many years, you should know how to present."