LIKE ANY OTHER DAY

It was like any other day in the town of Serona. People flying around, wielding fire, birds talking, and lots more. It was a very peaceful town, where magic was everything and everything was magical. Even the normal day-to-day activities involved magic in them. Chopping firewood, making a fire, cooking, everything.

Idleness was the one thing the people of this town never understood. Everyone was out there doing something or the other. The kids, in particular, restlessly wait for "The Day of Enlightenment", when they would be offered a choice to pick one of four magical realms.

One of them, was the ability to wield fire, a public favorite, which can be pretty useful when used by a person of the right mindset.

The second one, being water, is known to all as a symbol of wisdom and pride.

Another one was the ability to manipulate air. It is regarded as the most elegant form of magic that ever existed, but even the most elegant of things can turn into a weapon of destruction if anyone were to oppose it.

Last but not least, the terrestrial realm gives its user the ability to control the very earth he stands on! Amazing right!

A person was only able to acquire the powers of a realm if he or she ate a certain fruit which belonged to the particular realm. The inventor of this fruit was a very famous mastermind scientist who accidentally spilt a few chemicals onto a fruit. The result was more by accident than by design, but it was a success nonetheless.

"Hey, have you heard of that new kid in class?", asked James, trying to change the topic. "Forget about him.", replied Max. "You do know that the big day is coming don't you?", asked Max, filled with enthusiasm. "For the millionth time, please stop asking me that question! It's all you've been talking about for the past few days!" "I fancy my chances of picking up a water realm fruit, 'cause I don't want to go with the flow.", said Max as he entered the class with a giggle. "Yet another one from the legend of bad jokes.", James said with a shake of his head. The big day was set to be tomorrow, and Max was set on his decision.

The next morning, all the fifteen year olds were found sprinting right towards the school, and each person looked pretty firm on their decision. Max was the last of the lot, bursting through the corridor with fire on his feet. He was the invincible champion at coming late to school.

As he hurriedly went over to his seat, he noticed an empty seat in the row beside his. Apparently, it was the new kid who had joined the school just a few days back. "Hmm....that's weird." He said, thinking it was pretty odd for anyone to miss a day like this one.

Out in front of him, the four fruits were slowly luring him, but his decision was firm. He picked the blue fruit and started devouring it like he hadn't eaten for months. He could slowly feel it in him. He could feel his body splashing around in the waves like he were the king of the sea.

The alarm suddenly rang off and totally startled him. His beautiful dream had ended, and before he knew it, he was halfway down the corridor running with a perplexed face. "NUMBER 14! ROOM NUMBER 14!",, cried the ear deafening mega-phones.

The sheer curiosity had taken over Max now, and he now found himself running towards the opposite side. All the teachers rushed to Room No. 14. There was nothing but smoke all around. His water abilities were useless at the circumstances, so he covered his mouth and went right through the mysterious door. He felt a strange presence. He saw a familiar face. It was Mark, the new kid. His body was steaming, and there was something about his eyes that seemed a bit off.

Max felt a hand tug at his collar and he got pulled into another empty room. It was Professor Doxy, his magical arts teacher. "This may be a lot for you to digest, but there also exists a fifth realm which was never to be exposed to anyone! It goes by the name of the "Dark Realm", and there was only one fruit created that ever held the powers of it.

It was created by one of the genius scientist's subordinates who went by the name of "Dr. Stent". The fruit held very dangerous powers that had the capability to destroy the very world itself! The one forbidden fruit was then sealed off in the basement of this school, and Dr. Stent was given a death sentence for creating something so dangerous.

Now, the powers of that very fruit have been revived. The God of Destruction has come back!"

Max felt the urge to fight him but he couldn't possibly overcome the opponent's strong powers with his water abilities alone. So he sprinted back to his class and ate all the other fruits as well, even though it is said that if you do so your body will explode. He had now committed taboo, but he didn't mind as long as he stopped Mark.

Max struggled to get his breath, and ultimately, he turned himself into a full fledged monster. He had no other choice. He looked out the window and saw Mark on the road, trampling anything that came in his way.

Max jumped out the window and within a few seconds, he found himself in front of Mark, ready for an epic combat to be remembered for centuries to come.

Max tried using the four powers he had got, but his efforts were no good. Mark kept giving him direct blows. He was just too overpowered for anyone to defeat. Max started considering as to what he should do in a situation like this. "What if I combine all of my abilities and use it all for one final blow?", he wondered.

He gave it a try. Using al his might, he gave a mighty heave and absolutely whacked away Mark's thoughts of destroying anything anymore.

Mark was unable to move. "Help me.", he said, in the most innocent voice he could make. "I won't be forgiven now will I? Like father like son. Looks like I was born a failure." "What's your full name?" Max asked with the last of the strength he had left. "Mark Stent", he said, before collapsing onto the ground.

           

Those were the last words of an innocent being brought up as a devil. "I'm sorry.", Max said. "It wasn't your fault."

Max now law on the ground, exhausted from using all of his power up. He felt an immense amount of pain. He felt like his insides were getting ripped. James rushed to aid him. He was then sent to the hospital where he miraculously survived. The only defect left in him was his inability to use magic. But that didn't matter anymore, because he knew deep within that his friends and family were safe, and that was more than enough to keep him happy for the rest of his life.

The next year, he was finally good enough to come back to school. The principal had called him to his office. "You risked your life to save this town, and maybe even the whole world. You have my thanks."

Max gave out a big and hearty smile. "I'm glad I could help.", he said.