Elemental: Fire

Chapter 7

Scarlett stared down at the manticore. The sky had turned into a portrait displaying white by the horizon, a very light blue sky, and reddish clouds. The sun was about three-fourths of the way up. Scarlett looked up at the Aether Tower clock and saw it was about 6:00, and people would be arriving soon. It was until Scarlett looked in the reflection of the pond did she see the smudges of dirt and grime on her face and neck. But what stood out was the scratch on her collarbone.

"Good luck explaining that one," Scarlett joked lightly to herself, circling her finger around the wound.

"What on Earth's element happened," exclaimed a female voice.

The girl whipped her head around and saw a shocked Professor Verbena, the stout women crossing her fingers in front of her mouth. Her green eyes were wide and she wore a beret over her fixed black 1950's wavy hair.

"Uh," began Scarlett until yet another professor interrupted, but it was Professor Nova.

"How...how did this happen, child? Goodness, is your rib alright?"

Scarlett looked at the woman's concerned face and replied with a simple, "Yes, I'm fine."

"Gracious child, how could you be alright? Look at the scratch on you," exclaimed Professor Verbena in a scolding manner, as though Scarlett's response was more important than the dead manticore.

"Eloise, let's not disturb her right now. Scarlett, we will talk in my classroom," Professor Nova demanded, holding her hand out.

Scarlett took Attica's hand and before she knew it, the girl was back in the ornate classroom. The professor was quickly in her tall, throne-like chair with her hands folded in front of her. Slightly intimidated, Scarlett sat in the simple chair in front of the desk. She rested her hands on her lap, slightly fumbling with her fingers.

"Now Scarlett, there's something I must tell you, but you must explain what happened before hand."

"Well, I had this strange vision. I was in Physical Studies when something seemed to...call me from the forest," Scarlett paused, thinking her words through, "my head went blank for a second, then I saw myself in the middle of a vast plain, and everything was completely ruined. I then fell on the ground and screamed. But I dunno, I probably sound mental." She sighed during her last words, greatly considering the possibility.

"You are not going mental, Scarlett. I know why this is happening to you," Professor Nova confessed, thinking it was now or never. The deadline was coming, or they were all doomed.

"Excuse me, but what?"

"Ok, I'm going to need you to listen to me rationally. You are our last hope for Simul, or the whole world to speak the truth."

Scarlett couldn't respond with anything except silence. Attica stood up and set her hands flat on the desk and leaned forward.

"We have a prophecy in the kingdom of Simul, and you are the one that saw the vision. You are the one that noticed the vision I sent to you. I sent you that vision, Scarlett Arno, and you saw what I wanted you to see." Scarlett was used to her talking in a strong manner, but the woman seemed to be drained of all humor at the moment.

"Do I have a choice," Scarlett softly questioned, looking up at the teacher.

"Your choice is to either let us, the world, die in the worst of ways, or fight for us to survive."

"But what will I be up against? What is my mission?"

Ignoring the questions, Professor Nova turned around and grabbed a brown satchel forcefully filled with supplies.

"You will need this. Take good care of it, it will come in handy in your darkest times."

"What...what if I fail?"

Attica walked around to Scarlett and stroked her cheek with a thumb.

"But you won't fail. You must believe in yourself, then," the teacher spoke softly and much differently than her teaching voice,"we will all believe."

All of a sudden, a large rumble came from outside, and debris hit the window. Scarlett hitched her voice, but had an idea of what it might be. She didn't think the time would come so soon, and after just being informed. Running up the the window, Attica widened her violet eyes and quickly swiped back around, facing the warrior.

"Out. Now," she demanded, and Scarlett clutched her satchel.

Even though exhausted, Scarlett teleported with the professor to the other side of the window. Now outside, Scarlett could see the evil foes rushing into the courtyard. An army began rushing into the courtyard, their chariots the darkest black and the edges dancing with large purple flames. Each soldier almost the size of a minotaur, wearing vests of armor and arms as though stuffed with rocks. Their faces were undetectable under the knight helmets, colored pitch black as well.

The army of Mortem has come. I knew they would attack once the prophecy began, Attica sadly realized.

Many students had already arrived and stopped frozen at the sight of the legendary army.

"EVERYBODY PREPARE FOR ATTACK," Professor Nova shouted, then some of the last year students and professors stood by her side, as well as very few of the younger students whom were very skilled.

When the opponent neared, all sorts of Elements shot out in different forms and forces, taking down many of the soldiers in the front of the army. A constant fight and screams rang out: utter chaos. Scarlett turned around and saw Finn in a surprised face. Any rational person would have ran, but of course Finn wouldn't.

"Run Scarlett! Get to safety," Attica screamed, sending a purple lash of force toward a group of soldiers.

Scarlett turned back around and ran as fast as she could, and the only way was to solitude: the woods. As soon as the professor had shouted her name, some of the enemies ran towards her. As she ran, fire was shot at her chasers in random forms just to slow them down on her tail, but it wasn't enough. All of a sudden, jagged boulders were thrown at the Mortems, and Scarlett whipped around to see Finn.

He's actually fighting with me, Scarlett thought in dismay.

The two ran up to each other and Scarlett screamed over the chaos, "We have to flee to the forest now!"

Without hesitation, Finn ran to the vast land of trees and Scarlett followed, quickly catching up. With one final look, Scarlett turned toward the academy and looked at Professor Nova, whom she vowed to fight for. Attica gave her a reassuring look and a smile, when all of a sudden, a tragedy occurred in front of Scarlett's eyes. One of Mortem came up behind Attica, and with his mighty spear, he gave no mercy. Lunging the weapons upwards, it pierced through the woman's shoulder blades and stabbed though her chest. It surely went through her heart, but with all the shock, she didn't even scream. As though gasping for air, Attica encased her hands around the spear sticking though her chest. Her himation was already soaked in blood, and her eyes left their violet color and turned into a dead grey.

Scarlett widened her eyes, and she froze in her spot, no matter what attack shook the ground beneath her.

"NO! PROFESSOR NOVA! NO, YOU FILTHY MORTEMS," Scarlett screamed at the top of her lungs as tears streamed down her face. It was as though her own eyes and beating heart had been teared from her body, and just a painful emptiness was left

The woman's gold ivy bracelet fell to the ground as her body hit the Earth. Her arm was strewn in front of her limply, and Scarlett knew the worst had happened. Attica Juniper Nova was dead. Suddenly, two strong hands grabbed her arms and started to pull her away as she kept screaming and crying. No one could really hear her over the ongoing battle.

"Come on, we have to go," Finn shouted nearby.

I will fight for Simul, and all the other kingdoms. I will avenge her death. I promise, Scarlett reassured herself, and she ran into the woods, not looking back at the place she would save.