Arbor

I refuse to tell my life story.

I am what is known as an Elementist in this world. A being who possesses the power of the main elements: Fire, Water, Air, Nature, and Earth. Every Elementist has a main element, and mine was the rare combination of earth and nature. I am the only being who cares and tries to protect the ones who share the same abilities as I. All the Elementists that have ever existed, I've read every catastrophic tale that pops up in my personal library hidden in my current home. From the time they were first born to the day it would be their last.

We all unfortunately perish down before our evil burden — the main elements. They're so naive. I can't bear the sight of any of them. They react quickly to eliminate my kind out of paranoia. They fear our power. They fear our will to control it.

Thousands of years ago when I was a small child, my father was teaching me how to control my element powers. That day I was attempting to ignite a campfire so we could roast some apple crumple below our tree house home. During that time, our family was part of a special tribe where everyone was either an Earth or Nature Elementists. However, Father and I were the only ones who were the combination of both. Our people had lived in peace for generations according to my father. He too was puzzled on how our species was such a threat to our neighbors, the main elements.

"Do you think there are Elementists that have one of the main element's power, Father?" I questioned curiously. "Like a Fire Elementist?"

He did a heartfelt smile as we both watched the apples crisp to a golden brown. The sweet spice of cinnamon and sugar made the air even sweeter. "I have no doubts that other Elementists containing the power of the main elements exist to this day," he replied.

Mother came climbing down the rope ladder then. She was allured to the aroma wafting from below. "How's the elemental training progressing? Is my sweet Arbor cooking my special treat?" she asked with a warm smile.

The sides of my face felt hot. "Mom," I moaned with a sheepish grin.

Both my parents laughed. My father informed that I was doing extremely well as we all ate a bite of apple crumple. A large crunch of the apple with butter and cinnamon sugar took my taste buds to treat heaven.

"Alright, I think it's time you have earned this," Father spoke, breaking the silence of our eating. He brought out something from his coat pocket. A ring large enough to wear around my wrist. It was a luscious forest green that had hand painted images of mountains and flora around the banding.

"What is it?" I asked, confused.

"It's your reward for passing your elemental test," Father replied, attaching the ring on my right wrist. "This is a special ring, Arbor. Please don't lose it."

"What does it do?" I kept questioning.

"You'll find out when you get older," he beamed neutral.

I knew better. When Father doesn't give a straight answer, something was on his mind. When he stood up from the log we had used to sit on, he held his forehead with a slight growl.

"Are you alright?" Mom asked, concerned now.

Father shook his head to shake the pain away. "I'm fine, dear. Just a headache."

Later that evening, I heard shifting behind my back while in bed. Judging from the heavy footsteps of his boots, it was Father. I waited til he left before getting up. He managed to sneak out without waking Mom. Impressive. What was he doing being up at the middle of the night though?

I was brave enough to follow. Father stopped at the clearing he had always taken me for training. An open field with the addition of a small pond. He began his pacing trance along the water's edge, still clawing his forehead with the same hand.

"Father," I called, running.

But as I approached, a vine erupted from the ground and captured me. It travels upward to my throat, preventing any oxygen from escaping. I shifted my eyes to see Father's. His had changed to a lethal orange. He didn't seem fazed that his actions were gradually suffocating me.

My vision was solely fading. I never knew I would die so suddenly, especially by my own father.

The vines lost their grip. I couldn't comprehend what had happened. I fell unconscious already as I hit the ground. The last thing I had truly heard was my father's screaming.

The next morning, I opened my eyes into Mom's fragile brown ones. She stroked my forehead with a sad smile of relief. I peered down at myself to find bandages hugging my neck. I rubbed them gently with a frown, disbelief of the fact that Father nearly killed me.

"...Where is Father...?" I attempted to ask, but my voice was inaudible.

Mom knew what I wanted, but her expression did the speaking.

Everyone in the tribe acted normal a few days after the incident. No one had even mentioned the disappearance of my father, nor asked me. It was as if he had never existed.

How could my own people be so ignorant?

I took a trip back to the place where it happened. I needed to escape the oblivion. Father shouldn't have been forgotten. He was a normal being like the rest of us.

The smell of burning ash interrupted my bickering. It was coming from the direction of the tribe. I ran with all my speed to find our homes, including mine in flames. I couldn't find anyone for an explanation. Even Mother was missing. I cried out repeatedly, hoping someone would answer, but nothing. It was like everyone vanished into thin air too.

Out of panic, I put out the fire of my home using my water element powers. There was a rough piece of scroll stabbed by a knife on the side of the tree's trunk. I tore it off to read.

"The leaders of the four main elements have come to an agreement. Elementists have been proven to be a dangerous threat to society and therefore shall be executed."

On the bottom of the message, all four element symbols were branded.

Rage boiled through my veins. I tore the message limb from limb and thrust it on the earth with hot tears.

That was the last straw. Somebody had to prove to those senseless Main Elements that Elementists were not a threat! I don't care if it gets me killed. It has to be done. This silent feud needs to end.