Element

✯ Chapter 34

Mr. Farefax's words echo around inside my head.

"Fight as strongly and as smartly as you can. You're only fighting other air elements today, but tomorrow will be very different. So go!"

As that sentence ends in my brain, I take a deep breath and burst out into the fighting scene. All around me, people are shouting and grunting as they try to figure out a way to make their way in the battle. I survey the "arena," which is sadly just the training room. However, the floor has opened up in several places to make bottomless pits. Well, they're probably not bottomless, but you know. Just as I'm making this observation, a kid falls into one. I stifle a laugh, and put my game face on.

Mustering all my energy, I fly up to be above a cluster of fighting people. Dropping right into the middle of them, they freeze, unsure of my intentions. I blast two with a powerful burst of air, and the other two start to fight back. I take another out, but the other seems to be proving more of a challenge. I look through their visor in the battle helmet, and see it's Drexel. I smirk, but that hesitation allows him time to knock me off my feet. My suit glows bright purple. Great. I've taken a lot of damage. Huffing, I stand up and see Drexel's evacuated the area. I turn around to see someone's been sneaking up on me. I quickly shoot them with an air bullet. They fall to the ground, frozen, since they had already taken damage. I smile, empowered by the tiny victory. I go around, sneak-attacking people from behind, shooting them with bursts of air or getting them with wind bullets.

Eventually, It's down to Drexel, me, and two other sixth-years. We idle in a circle, at somewhat of a standoff. Suddenly, Drexel shoots at one of the others, but they're expecting it. They freeze him immediately, then both turn to me. I shrug, defenseless. This greatly irritates me I can't even attempt to fight back, but before I can think about anything else, they take me out. I drop to the ground, stiff as a board, and out of the corner of my eye I can see them turn on each other. One is finally victorious. He cheers, and Mr. Farefax walks out.

"Excellent job, Calem! Here you go, everyone." He presses a button on the remote he's holding, and simultaneously, everyone unfreezes and the chasms close up. "Now! Go to the locker rooms, and get dressed! Rest up for tomorrow. The first battle- it's a big deal. Remember to eat a good, but not big breakfast. Alright. That concludes this practice. Let's go." We all trudge back to the the locker rooms, and dress back into our normal clothes.

As I change, thoughts of war come back into my head. And thoughts of Drexel. No, not in a romantic way. But the way he was so suspicious about the talk of war. And I share his suspicions. Something must be brewing, but I don't think it's my place to find out what it is.

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I wake up with my custom-set alarm, at 7:30. The battle's not until 10:00, but it never pays to be unprepared. I get dressed in a comfortable pair of black fuzzy leggings and a long-sleeve purple tshirt. A sweater, then jacket goes over that, and my boots tie it all up. Not in the mood for trudging through the icy snow, I fly quickly to the dining room entryway and land. Rhodes is leaning against the wall, watching me with playful eyes. I smile and bounce over.

"Good morning," he says, wrapping his arm around my shoulder and pulling me close to him.

Warmth spreads through my body as I reply, "Good morning to you, too." He smiles back at me and then envelopes me in a tight hug. I breathe in the scent of his jacket, fresh and slightly pine-smelling.

"So, today's the big day, huh? First battle?" he asks, resting his chin lightly on the top of my head.

"Yes." I mumble into his chest.

"And you're nervous again? Ram, you'll do fine," he reassures me softly. The butterflies in my stomach fade.

"Thank you," I say quietly.