Elemental: Fire

Chapter 2

"And what shall be the answer, let's see, Scarlett," the professor picked out.

Scarlett expected to receive a harder question, but she answered, "Carter Viking, 1500s"

"Correct," Professor Axel minded, turning back to the board.

Scarlett scribbled down a few notes and passed her wild hair backwards. Her hair was one problem because every few seconds it had to be adjusted. 

"Strange," someone said loud enough. Scarlett instinctively turned to the voice. It was a boy, and he was looking right at her.

"Excuse me," Scarlett politely asked.

"You just seem so much like an epitome."

"Um, of what?"

"The fire," he responded.

Has he gone mental, Scarlett imagined.

"Alright, have a nice day everyone," Professor Axel bid.

The whole class stood up, signaling the end of the term. Scarlett did as well, grabbing her satchel and walking out the door. The doors were dome shaped, contrasting to a point at the top. The walls of the hallways were decorated with ivy, representing the Earth element. Scarlett walked through the crowded halls, heading to her next term: Physical Studies.

She walked out the large door out to the courtyard where other members of the study stood, lined up as the Kutomun professor strutted in front of them, tossing a Rej in his hand. The sphere was a tan color and the crest for each element was decorated on some part of it.

"Okay, for this term, we'll be playing a game of Kutomun. Everybody get into groups of 5, and two teams will go first, then another two teams, and so forth."

Just seconds after the professor said that, Scarlett felt a tug at her arm, and she was pulled into a group without her consent.

"You'll be on our team," the boy said. They discussed which position they'd all play, asking each other with their experience of Kutomun.

"What position do you play," Hugo, an Air element asked her.

"Termon, but sometimes a Pitter."

"I've seen her play, she's pretty good," a Fire element called Will. They agreed she would play that position.

She looked around and saw only boys in the circle. They wore fingerless gloves to block any elemental harm. The professor passed out Kutomun attire: a tight long sleeve shirt with a number on the back, knee length black leggings, and old shoes. Not the best like the official school teams had, but it worked. Scarlett attempted her best to tie her hair up, in the center of the back of her head.

But the shoes weren't any ordinary shoes. The shoes became, in some way, part of you when worn. For example, if Professor Serlow were to put them on, the shoes would turn into a white color, representing the Air element. So then, the shoes became part of you, allowing you to transport through out the field with your element. Only the most advanced of the advanced can transport like that without the shoes.

"Gather everyone! If I pick on you, your team gets to choose who to challenge."

The team went to stand next to Professor Serlow. He then proceeded to pull a bunch of pieces of parchment from his pocket. With a gust of Air, one single piece of paper hovered in his hand above the rest. He plucked it with his other hand, and read it out.

"Team 3?"

A group of all boys raised their hands. The most masculine looking one, an Earth element, looked over everyone, taking his time to choose. One of his team members pointed in their direction, so the boy looked their way.

"Team 1," he announced, Scarlett and her team expecting it. Team 1 inspected the other group: as strong as they looked, the males and Scarlett weren't intimidated.

"Alright, this should be easy," Will stated. They walked out to the amateur academy field and stood at the edges of the landscape.

"Teams at ready, set, START."

And they were off, in a split second a ring of Water, Earth, Fire, or Air surrounding them. Aether wasn't really a common element among them. Legend says it only comes every century, but most of the Aethers had perished in battle, or were gone of old age. For now, very, very few existed.

Scarlett was surrounded by a ring of Fire, allowed by the red shoes she wore. She soared to the Rej, its color standing out from the green field. At top speed, and with a swish of her hand, the ball balanced on a cloud of fire in front of her, and she sped off to the Justle. The Blockers lingered near her as the other team attempted to get the Rej.

Almost there, almost there, she thought until a swoop of green grabbed it from in front of her.

Shocked, she turned and saw the Team 3 leader smirk and leave with it.

"Over my dead body," Scarlett muttered and chased him.

With her Fire, she avoided the Blockers, but had to keep guard of them. They neared the other team's Justle, and Scarlett pushed harder than ever, zooming like the wind. A few feet from the Justle, Scarlett made a risky move. She flicked her hand under the Rej, when she was close enough, the Fire flicked it up and over her own head.

It was as though in slow motion the ball soared over them, gravity pulling it down, and everyone watched.

Now, Scarlett planned, and broke from the imaginary slow motion toward the ball, along with the other team's Pitter and Blockers.

Just as it was a few feet below her, the Fire swooped it up. With all her power, she whizzed through the field and was careful to balance the Rej in front of her. Her arms were tiring her out and every breath she took stung a bit from the force she was putting into the game.

Without even realizing it, she reached the Justle, with enough time to kick the Rej into it. Scarlett whisked the Rej up, and with all the force she could, kicked it into the Justle. Scarlett stared at it, hoping it didn't hit the bars and bounced back. It entered to the center of the Justle and froze. It disintegrated into nothingness, and everyone waited. A small vertical beam of light appeared where the new ball landed, then they played again.

The other teams played as well, but their match ended with Team 1 winning at a game of 3 to 1.