The Seventh Element

Chapter Four

I followed Vic back down the flights of stairs.

"This is the Training Tower. All Academy students come here to receive their training. There is one floor for each of the six elements plus the Central Floor where we just left. Central is shared by the entire school," Vic explained.

As we reached the floor below Central, he continued, "This is Nox's floor where I and my fellow Nox train." Vic paused to look at me. "What element are you? Some are easier to place than others but not all."

"I'm an ice elemental," I said.

Vic raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Really? That's interesting. So, which High Mage assessed you?"

"All of them," I said, thinking of the group that had met me to discuss my fate.

"Did they tell you which element you'll be training with?"

I shook my head. "Only that I would be staying with Aqua."

Vic gave a thoughtful hum. "That is interesting. Well, in that case, I can at least show you where the dorm is and help you to settle in. I'll talk it over with Val and see if the High Mages have come to a decision about your training."

We continued our walk, Vic telling me which elements trained on the remaining floors (Aqua and Terra, respectively) before we paused once more. With a deft flick of his hand, he lifted a stiff hood that had been resting on his shoulders. The hood was deep enough to shield his entire face. This done, he opened the door for us to step outside.

Having come from the train station on the opposite side of the tower, this area was new. It was a large open space with three buildings lining each side. Students filled the area, talking, laughing and apparently enjoying catching up with each other since parting at the end of the last school year. Now, whether I liked it or not, I was one of them.

"These are the dormitories separated by element where all Academy students and their respective High Mages live during the school year," Vic began.

As we walked, Vic pointed to each building and explained which element it belonged to.

The first two buildings belonged to Lux and Ignis.

Lux's dormitory looked like a glass prism.

"Don't look at it too closely, especially on a day full of sun or you'll go blind," Vic said but in such a way so that I couldn't tell if he was joking or not.

The Ignis building was not so much a building but a tent and I wondered how it stood up to the weather.

After that were Aria and Terra.

Aria was a dome and Terra could be mistaken for a large grassy hill which I would have had Vic not told me otherwise.

Last in the rows was Aqua and Nox.

"Nox's dormitory is shaped like an ink splot. Its where our element calls home during the year. As your mentor, I am here for you, Tor, so if you need anything that's the most likely place you'll find me," Vic explained before coming to a stop in front of a stone building with walls made of cascading water. "And this is Aqua, the dormitory where you've been assigned to stay."

The building was imposing and elegant. There was nothing comforting or familiar about it. I did not look forward to staying there. There was also another problem I could see.

"How do I get in?" I asked.

"There is no door. Aqua create an entrance by parting the water wherever they want," Vic explained.

I frowned. "But I'm not-"

"Aqua, I know," Vic said. He shrugged. "Its far from ideal but if this is where the High Mages decided to put you...its not up to us to argue."

I did not relish the thought of getting wet every single time I entered or exited the dormitory. Yet, what choice did I have?

"Thank you for the tour," I said.

"You're welcome, Tor. I'm going to speak to Val now and get back to you on what she says," Vic said.

I nodded, my hands flexing with my anxiety. Each time I extended my fingers, snowflakes would drift to the ground. Reluctant, I waited until Vic was gone before I reached out a hand to touch the water. The water froze around my hand and the freeze spread the longer I held my there. I watched as a patch of ice grew slowly from where I touched the water.

"Can I help you?" an older girl asked me.

I dropped my hand and the ice shattered under the weight of the continuously falling water. "I'm trying to get into the dorm without getting wet."

"Why do you need to get into the Aqua dorm?"

"Its where I've been assigned to stay."

The girl hesitated only a moment before creating an opening in the water with a sweep of her hand. "There you go."

"Thank you," I said with a nod.

I stepped through and entered the dorm. The girl followed me in, the opening in the water collapsing as she entered.

The floors were tiled with an elaborate mosaic depicting different scenes, I guessed of stories that were foreign to me.

"Are you supposed to be training with Aqua, too?" the girl asked.

"I don't know. The High Mages only discussed which dorm I would be staying in. One of them suggested Aqua and so here I am," I said.

"I just came to grab something but you can walk back with me to the tower. If you were placed in Aqua, you may as well attend our classes. Wait here." The girl disappeared into another room.

I waited in an area that appeared to be a common room and kitchen. It was only a few moments before the girl returned.

"Come with me," she said, parting the water wall once more to exit the building.

We walked back up towards the door. The earlier hustle and bustle of students was no more. I assumed it was because everyone was in their respective classes.

The Aqua girl wasn't chatty like Vic had been. Not that I minded. The silence was nice as I was still getting my bearings. It still wasn't comforting knowing there were others like me. They really weren't. Yes, they had elemental abilities but not my element and they all seemed capable of expressing normal emotions.

Why did I have to be different?