Academy of Elements: Earth

Chapter 32: Back to Blossoms and Books

Nora and I had fallen asleep at 5:00 pm last night, the comfort of bed, a proper bed, greater than I had known possible. The first day of school is the beginning of a routine, wake up, school, work out, eat, sleep, repeat. A week passed, filled with school and training, my Dueling group slowly becoming closer, Leo still being arrogant as always. But as the tree's slowly faded from green into yellow, some already turning orange, we continued to win duel after duel, our power and rawness unstoppable. The days start to become shorter, the temperature dropping to a cooler, more comforting temperature. Summer was fading away, Autumn blooming, brandishing vibrant hues of orange, ranging from amber to ruby. The rain had started falling more often, nothing like back at home where an entire month would be wet, but almost once a week, light short rain showers would come. Along with fall's beginning, the duels had now gone into semifinals week, the next duel in four days time. Saturday would come soon, and with it tensions between teams in all years, grew. A fight had broken out in the cafeteria yesterday between two teams, both of which had been disqualified. Nora and I's search for the gem that was lying somewhere around this massive school wasn't going too well. We had explored most tunnels at this point, finding small openings in the mountain face, or secret exits from the mountain that led into the dangerous jungle outside. Over the two weeks since the competition, I had noticed changes in my body from the crazy intense workouts. My biceps had gotten a tiny bit larger than they already were, my abs, though very defined before, had become so well cut that even I was impressed, the muscle lining my legs constantly sore. Nora and I hadn't done anything more than make out since our adventures in the cave. I had enjoyed touching her and seeing her that way, but we were still young despite the horrors we had witnessed. Oliver had also gotten in contact with me, stating that starting next week we would video call the Affilatorian Circle during meetings.

Music motivating me, I slowly curl a dumbbell up, my bicep bulging as it struggles at the weight most people would struggle to lift with both hands. From the weight room I head to the mats, tying a weighted band around my legs and starting V Sits, bringing my feet, which were weighed down, and my hands, which each held 20-pound weights to meet, the result an incredibly soar eight pack once the workout was done. No kid my age should have to work out as much as I did, it shouldn't be a job, but a way of life. Thinking back on it now, I would still probably be overweight had it not been for waking up with a marking on my arm... It had taken months to get to a point where I could see my abs and have decent biceps, and from there my body had amplified in looks tenfold, soon it would get to a point that it was ridiculous.

Once my workout is finished I head down to the cafeteria to eat dinner. The ground is wet under my feet, the light sprinkle of rain earlier today refreshing. I walk through the hub, the large tree's leaves slowly fading into gold.

I pass under the stone archway and enter the cafeteria, the water resting on top of the glass ceiling casting the streams of sunlight rippling through the room. I go to a table stealing a green smoothie and head from the busy room.

Life here had become the norm.