Colliding Elements (Original Draft)

20. Teammates?

"Huh? Teams?" Kyle questioned Geyer.

Geyer nodded his head. "Yes, you're going to be put in a team today. Most people who aren't in teams will be given one today."

"What teams are these?" Jim asked with arms crossed.

Geyer sighed and turned to leave. "You'll find out today when they call for your yearly zodiac. It's for training and learning combat." He then left after that, leaving the two males confused.

"What was he telling you guys?" Ash asked as she and Hunter walked up behind them.

They both turned around, Kyle answering her question. "Something about being assigned teams for training... Sounded strange to us."

"It did seem strange," Jim agreed.

"I'm not going to work in a team," Hunter said boldly and crossed her arms. "Working with others is a hassle and can cause conflict."

"We're probably not going to be given a choice," Jim spoke.

"I know that captain obvious," Hunter snapped and clenched her teeth. "You should know how I complain by now."

A loud bang startled the four, making them look for the source of the noise. It came again, this time, closer with someone shouting after it rang loudly. "All fire rats to the training grounds at once. If you're already a graduate, you are not required to attend."

Kyle looked from Jim to Ash to Hunter, hesitant on leaving them. None of them were expecting the event to happen so soon, and for Kyle having to be in the first meeting group.

"I guess I'll see you guys later then..." He did a small goodbye smile before leaving his friends and joining other fire rats on their way to the training grounds.

The walk wasn't far at all as Kyle set foot on the new area in just mere minutes. Three buildings jutted out of the volcanoes lining the area, each one being decorated in a different fashion. The center building had red and gold tapestries lining each entrance, along with a golden statue of a ram centered against the wall with no entryways. The building to the left held similar fabrics in its archways, but the gold was replaced with silver; a statue of a lion stood on its solid wall as well, the metal that made it also being gold. The third building had curtains with bronze and red, the statue in the place against its wall being a centaur holding a bow and arrow in its hands, the weapon aimed at an imaginary target.

"This place is crazy..." Kyle muttered with wide eyes. "This had to cost a fortune to have so much gold."

"It really didn't cost anything," a man in brown robes spoke next to Kyle. "Gold, silver, and bronze are quite plentiful in this region."

Kyle went to respond to the male but found him gone before he could reply. He then focused on finding a spot close to hear the man leading the event.

"Good day, fellow fire years," Adroushan spoke with hands behind his back. "As many of you already know, there's been a disturbance in our peace. All of you here are not considered full-fledged Elementals yet due to your years of training being incomplete." He paused for a moment while glancing at Heres behind him. "Because of the increase in battles, Heres and I will be selecting teams for you, undergraduates, to work in. You will be in teams of four based on your quality, and each quality team will have one Elemental of each element to balance power. You may decide who your main buddy is on these teams, but teamwork will be important in your training if you wish to hold peace in these lands."

Heres then walked forward slowly and started to talk. "To make sure you young men and women are put on teams with people you'll be most compatible with, please get into groups by zodiac. There are twelve training locations here, each marked with a number. Please go to the number that correlates with your zodiac's placement. Once that is complete, Adoushan and I will start the process of making your teams."