(Outdated) The King of Elements

I'm the King of Elements

Dre boarded off of the elevator, looking at the elegant door of the headmaster's office. His heart pounded against his chest as he looked at what could be his final destination. He walked forward, his thudding boots breaking the eerie silence from the long hallway. Pictures from, what Dre thought was Toney's past, hung against the wall, like small windows in time. He hadn't dared to look at them, however. His mind was too focused on two things. The first one was why had Dre been told to see him in his office. The second was what did Toney plan on doing to him.

His breathing grew heavier with each step he took, as if each step took three times the amount of energy. The image of Toney's Killer of Stars haunted his memory as he crept to the door. It seemed to tower over him, giving him a threatening feeling, as if the door itself was going to attack at any moment. He took a deep breath before knocking on the door.

No answer.

He knocked again.

Still no answer.

Is he gone? Did he forget? He felt a little relief knowing that his death would be halted for a few more moments. Maybe he should leave.

He turned towards the end of the hall and began striding to the elevator door, hoping to make it back before Toney made it. As he got to the end of the hallway, however, the door to the staircase opened up, and Toney stalked out, a red towel draped over his broad shoulders and a glass bottle of beer in his hand. "Oh, Dre. I didn't expect you to come so soon. Where are you going?"

"Just pacing the hallway, checking out these pictures," Dre lied. He was getting really tired of lying all day.

Toney chuckled. "Follow me. We have much to talk about, and I'm sure you want to get home as soon as I do."

They started back down the hallway towards Toney's office. Dre was perplexed at the fact that Toney hadn't seemed angry at him at all. In fact, he even seemed cheerful. "So you aren't angry at me? Or plotting how you're going to kill me?"

"Kill?" Toney laughed. "What would I kill you over?"

"For using my elemental power in class." And for going to the city during a Journeyman mission.

"Don't worry, man. I didn't call you up here because I was mad at you, although using your power this early does have something to do with it." He unlocked the door. "Take a seat."

Toney's office had been the exact opposite of what he had been expecting. His desk was covered with comic books, action figures, model cars, empty beer bottles, and a video game system hooked up to a mini television. Posters of video game characters and bass guitars hung around the office. Dre sat in the chair in front of him.

Toney sat down in front of Dre and intertwined his hands in front of his face. "So, as I'm sure you've heard, being able to use your fire this early is quite impressive. There is a small number of people who have been able to pull off a feat such as that, and those people become legends of Amity. In fact, all of the former Kings started off the same way as you." He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a square, red velvet case. "Which is why I want to do a little test, if you don't mind."

Dre eyed the box with a suspicious eye. Just what was this "test" that Mr. Toney had in mind, and why did he bring up the former Kings?

"Don't worry, man. You're not in any trouble. I'm just curious if my suspicion is correct."

He hesitantly grabbed the box, caressing the smooth, soft fabric. It looked to be no bigger than a ring case. He lifted the lid, catching an eyeful of a cyan, crystal-like ring, resting in between two black cushions. "Huh? Isn't this the..." His voice trailed off as he felt the ring pulse from within the box. He felt a pressure draw him in, the same pressure he felt while he was in the museum. The world seemed to fade around him as he began to drift off into nothingness.