Mystic Grove Academy

17: Council of Light and the Sealed Domain

The Next Day (Tuesday, February 19th):

Fire Elemental Studies Class (2nd Year) - Marcia Porter P.O.V.

The campus feels heavier than usual because of the impending war, but my second-year class is rearing to go. Two of my students in this class are on S-Rank teams and that alone has keep attendance steady through everything that's going on. Today my students are going to use their domains for the first time. Everyone has been looking forward to this particular lesson as the semester has progressed. However, there is one particular problem that I need to address - Darren Laughlin. Now, don't get me wrong, Darren has been one of my brightest and strongest students here but his domain is . . . complicated.

"Okay everyone," I gather everyone's attention. We're at Training Field 3 for today's exercise. "This is the day you all have been waiting for - Domain Practice. One by one, each of you will step to the center of the field and cast your individual domain. Try and hold it for one minute if you can." I look at everyone giving reassuring nods except for Darren.

Darren's situation is unique as because his domain, Allegria, is sealed meaning he's not allowed to use it unless strict conditions are met. When he first came to Mystic Grove, I was told by then-Councilman Vallon that he's the only active Fire Elemental with this domain and that his domain alone is so dangerous that it's been labeled a Calamity-Class Domain. I'm sure this is the one unit he's most concerned about since he's unable to cast his personal domain. However, I do have authority to oversee his development personally so I'll work with him after school today while he and Amaya Whitt, his Elemental partner, prepare for the Fire Dancers' Festival taking place on Thursday.

"Alright," I pull myself out of my thoughts and back to my class, "here's how this is going to work. When I call your name, step to the center of the field, cast and hold your domain for one minute. Aldarus, you're up first."

Aldarus Bobert, a charming young man, steps to the center of the field. I'm somewhat familar with his domain Fire Palace. The Element Palace is the most basic of domains that reside within all Elements. Almost everyone learns this basic domain before developing their own. After about a minute, he powers down to a round of applause. It's basic but well executed.

"Well done," I tell him walking back to the class. I look over the group at Darren along with Shreya Copeland staring very nervously. Both of them have Calamity-Class Domains and pose a danger to the school if used. Shreya's domain, Inferno Forest, is a Calamity-Class Domain that can set fire to everything within a twenty-kilometer radius and anyone who doesn't have a Fire affinity would be burned so bad they couldn't be recognized. There are some truly fearsome domains out there. "Next," I look around my students to see who wants to go next.

40 Minutes Later:

Darren P.O.V.

Ring! The sound of that damn bell never gets any easier. The class period ends and thank goodness. Learning about the various types of domains is interesting but for myself and Shreya, we couldn't participate due to us both having Calamity-Class Domains. I take a deep breath before heading to my last class of the day before meeting up with Amaya to practice ahead of the Fire Dancers' Festival being held on Friday. To make things even more concerning, I haven't heard a thing from Lyon since yesterday's discussion. Usually, I would've gotten a message from him about our training program but today . . . nothing. I'm sure it's nothing to worry about though. The Mystic Leaders are trying to stop a war before they step down next month - that is if we even have that long. The Nexus Elementals are getting closer to our patrol zones with each passing hour and it's doubtful if we're even going to make it to the end of the month before we go into battle mode.