The Lost Element

"First day"

Emilia's eyes fluttered open to a warm, golden light filling the room. She stretched, feeling a sense of excitement and nervousness about her first day of classes. As she sat up, her gaze fell upon Liam, who was already dressed and standing by the window, gazing out at the breathtaking view.

The sky was painted with hues of pink, orange, and purple, a beautiful sunrise unfolding before her eyes. The light danced across Liam's face, highlighting his strong features.

Emilia's heart skipped a beat as their eyes met, and Liam smiled, his expression softening. "Good morning, Emilia. Ready for your first day?"

Emilia nodded, feeling a sense of determination wash over her. She threw off the covers and got out of bed, her feet touching the soft, plush carpet.

As she began to get ready, Liam turned back to the window, his gaze returning to the sunrise. Emilia couldn't help but steal glances at him, feeling a sense of comfort and security with him by her side.

Today marked the beginning of her journey at the Elemental School, and she was ready to face whatever lay ahead, with Liam as her bodyguard and friend.

***

Emilia and Liam turned a corner, heading towards the administrative office, when they stumbled upon a distressing scene. A girl, cowering in fear, was being taunted by a menacing figure, whose face was obscured by a hood.

"Please, just leave me alone!" the girl begged, her voice trembling.

The hooded figure sneered, "You're a waste of space, a weak little thing. You don't belong here."

Emilia's heart raced as she rushed towards the scene, Liam right behind her. "Hey, back off!" Emilia shouted, her voice firm and commanding.

The hooded figure spun around, revealing a scowling face with piercing green eyes. "Mind your own business," they growled.

Liam stepped forward, his presence imposing. "We're making it our business. Leave her alone."

The hooded figure snarled, but seemed to think better of challenging Liam. With a final glare, they turned and disappeared into the crowd.

The girl's eyes welled up with tears as Emilia and Liam approached her. "T-thank you," she stammered.

Emilia smiled warmly. "We're just glad we were there to help. I'm Emilia, and this is Liam."

The girl's face lit up with a weak smile. "I'm...I'm Ava."

***

As they walked together, Emilia asked Ava, "So, what's your elemental affinity?"

Ava's eyes lit up. "I'm an air elemental! I've always felt a connection to the wind and the skies."

Emilia smiled. "That's amazing! I'm an Aethereia, so I have a connection to the celestial elements."

Liam chimed in, "And I'm a fire elemental. My magic is all about passion and intensity."

Ava's eyes widened. "Wow, that's so cool! I've never met a fire elemental before."

Liam chuckled. "Well, now you have. And I have to say, it's nice to meet an air elemental. We don't often get to work together."

Emilia grinned. "I think we make a pretty good team, though. Air, fire, and Aethereia elements - we've got a good balance going on."

Ava nodded, smiling. "Definitely. I feel like we could accomplish some amazing things together."

***

Emilia's curiosity got the better of her as they walked out of the administrative office. "Ava, can I ask you something about that hooded guy?" she said, her voice low and concerned.

Ava's expression turned somber. "What about him?"

Emilia hesitated, unsure if she should pry. "Well, you seemed to know him. Who is he?"

Ava sighed, her eyes gazing downward. "His name is Elijah. We grew up together, actually. We were friends since childhood."

Emilia's eyes widened in surprise. "Friends? But he was bullying you just now!"

Ava nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "I know. It's been really strange. We drifted apart a few years ago, but only recently, he's started acting really aggressive towards me. I don't know what's going on with him."

Liam's expression turned serious. "We'll keep an eye out for him, Ava. You don't deserve to be treated like that."

Ava's eyes welled up with tears. "Thanks, guys. Just having you two around makes me feel safer."

Emilia smiled warmly. "We're here for you, Ava. We won't let Elijah or anyone else bother you."

As they walked together, Emilia couldn't help but wonder what had caused Elijah's sudden change in behavior. She made a mental note to keep a close eye on him, determined to protect her new friend Ava from harm.