The Lost Element

I should look at people's faces more, maybe I'd remember them

"Welcome to EMTI!"

The voice over the speakers greets everyone, and cheers respond. It's almost like a summer camp, really.

"Okay, so, just a few things before we get started," the young man with the microphone announces. "Can everyone please stand up? When I call your Element, I want you to make as much noise as you can. So far, Fire and Water have the biggest rivalry, though Earth and Metal are close behind them!" Everyone laughs as they rise to their feet. I feel rather hesitant, but stand up anyway.

"Alright, let me hear how many of you are Fire Elementals!" Yelling, screaming, cheering, roaring. Nina seems more hyper than ever. Soon, the noise dies down and all of the Fire Elementals sit down.

"Water?" The same happens. It's all just as loud to me. Which is to say it's way too loud. My ears will be ringing by the time this is through.

"Can I hear from Energy?" Once again, the room is filled with noise.

"How about Earth?" It happens again. I'm tempted to cover my ears, but that will probably bring more attention to me than I want.

"Where're my Lightning Elementals at?" At this, the man raises his hand, and I see blue sparks crackle and dance around his fingers. So he's a Lightning Elemental, I note mentally. It's about then that I realize I never found out what Natasha's element was. But the yells distract me from thinking any longer about her.

He continues, calling out for Amber, Form, Speed, Light, Shadow, Poison, Metal, Gravity, Sound, Smoke, Mind, and Nature. I stay standing the whole time. I can't help noticing another person out of the corner of my eye who's also standing. I thought there was only one non-Elemental here this time. Who is that?

"Now, some of you may be wondering who these final two people are," the man begins, gesturing to me and the stranger. "May I present to you a person who possesses an Element thought to be lost to time: Hayate Lin, our first Wind Elemental!"

People start clapping. Some even cheer. I don't dare look at him, for fear he might look over and call attention to me somehow. When the noise dies down once again, I can feel everyone's stares turn to me.

"And may I introduce the exceptional non-Elemental student in our midst, Zoë Takenaka!"

I receive the same amount of welcoming applause as the Wind Elemental did, waving awkwardly and wishing for it to be over as soon as possible.

As soon as I sit down, Nina squeezes my hand. "Told you they would love you," she whispers.

The young man continues to talk about the rules, which seem pretty standard to me. Of course, it's stressed that we do not go over to the area where the mountain collapsed, since the earth is probably still unstable and stuff. My brain switches to passive listening as I pull out a multicolored pen and start doodling on my arm.

The next morning, I manage to find my way to each class in pretty good time. Most everyone there is really helpful, so even if I were to get lost I wouldn't have much trouble finding my way back.

Most everyone.

On my way to one of my classes, I trip and stumble into a girl, causing us both to fall over. I quickly get up and try to help her up as well, apologizing frantically, but she just glares at me, picking herself up and dusting off her clothes. She then pushes me over and walks away, laughing. Her small troupe of friends laugh with her.

I am unable to respond, since I am too torn between staying down and crying or getting up and retaliating with violence. I blink back the tears and sit up, trying to keep my breathing steady. I hear footsteps approaching from behind and glance away to the side, hugging my knees and hoping that whoever it is will pass by without a second thought.