A Lumen Ripple | An Elemental Story

Chapter 29 - Eternal Flame

Following a short bus ride down, the crew arrived at the examination site. Phil wasn't kidding when he meant it was an empty lot; very little laid in it at all besides the bus, a few bins and some guests waiting.

As the bus stationed itself affront the lot, Lin was the first to depart. She slung down from the bus' steps, sloshing down to ground level rather excitedly. Phil soon followed her, hobbling down like the short, stocky earth guy he was. Ember was the last to depart, wearing a flat expression, unsure of what to expect. That flat look soon turned to mouth agape, staring at the empty lot.

That was when it clicked. Her examination was nigh, and all the nerves with livened. She shrank for just a moment, meekly walking forth following Lin and Phil.

Lin lead her two associates to a group of roughly 7 already standing aside in the lot in wait. She looked down at her watch, chuckling.

8:59 am

"Just on time!" Lin said.

As the group combined, Ember stood stiff in her spot as eyes began to dart over at her. She looked down to the ground in the middle of the circle, holding her hands and playing with her fingers.

"Ms Lumen -- meet your team! They'll be helping you out today." Lin introduced.

Three builders stood present in the huddled circle, all Earth elementals. They each wore neon orange hi-vis jackets with comforting smiles abroad.

"We have Brock--" Lin began.

The first of which - Brock - was a reasonably buff rock fellow, easy on the eyes for poor-old, frazzled Ember.

"Sup?" Brock said in a confident tone.

She looked a little too long at him, pursing her lips without realizing it. The moment she did, she sharply shook her head, looking back to Lin.

"Roc..." Lin continued.

Ember looked his way upon prompt. The second of them - Roc, a shorter, but overly confident rock man with a thick accent - moved forward.

"How you doin'?" Roc said.

"...and Smock!" Lin finished.

The final of the workers - Smock, a rather bubbly-looking fellow, mildly on the ADD side - waved overzealously.

"Hi-- ho-- hello!" Smock introduced.

Ember chuckled very lightly, him striking her as a bit cutesy in a roundabout way. Lin leaned over to whisper into her ear...

"He's a Creative!" Lin whispered.

Ember let out a short, awkward chuckle at her quip, causing Phil to do so as well. With attention needing to shift to him, he fanned his clipboard in the air toward his direction.

"And if you'll divert your attention here..." he said.

Upon prompt, all eyes looked his way. With a group of three rather-formal-looking elementals standing by his side, Phil went to introduce them.

"Meet your assessors. Mr Airspace." he began.

Mr Airspace - the first of the assessors - was an air gentleman, rather tall with a poofy haircut and tuxedo to boot. He nodded at her with a smile upon Phil's words. Ember returned him a respectful nod.

"Mr. Flowstate." Phil continued.

Mr Flowstate - the second - was a rake-thin waterman with a wavy haircut parted to the side. He gave her a bubbly thumbs up, along with a smile. Ember returned him that same thumbs up, along with a smile that was obviously forced.