Elementals

Chapter 22

Earth: Year 3205
Northern academy

Blaze:
I did not expect this kind of session when I got out of bed this morning. Having been nurtured into playing by the rules, I'm suddenly being told that I should stop doing that. You can tell I get confused by Pool's sudden change of heart on the matter. It was only yesterday that he told me to stick to the rules he had set in place for me regarding my element and now he is making me fight him. Something quite dramatic must've happened with him to make me fight him like this.

I heard him when he said that the Grand Master was coming to watch me and Breeze in person. I thought he'd actually be proud of us for drawing that kind of attention, but apparently he's anything but proud. Something is troubling him about all of it. I really want to question him about it, but if he's even half as stubborn as me, he's not gonna tell, least of all me. I just get the feeling that there's a past between them. However I don't get much time to think about that as Pool throws another water-beam towards me and I barely dodge it.

"You're not focusing, Blaze! You need to keep focused and get outside of your mind. You're not reading my movement. It makes you spend more time avoiding my attack rather than reading and responding to them." He goes on as he attacks me again. I put my arms in a cross as the beam hits me and pushes me backwards. This I'm used to, but the fact is, this is a Senior-Elemental. My feet are losing grip and strength as I suddenly slip on the huge amount of water on the ground and I end up against the wall. I manage to get back up on my feet as I taste the blood in my mouth. How the hell am I supposed to surprise him? He knows all of my attacks! As a matter of fact, he taught me most of them!

I ignite my element in my hands as I see that he's getting ready to take me on. I gotta bend the rules...come on, Blaze, bend the rules. I look over at Breeze as he's observing our dual. Our eyes meet for a short moment, it's almost like I'm asking him for a word of advice, but that's when his attention is back towards the Senior as I notice that he's on the offensive again. In fact he's running towards me, ready to give me a real 'shower'. My hands are still ignited as I get to thinking:

He's bigger, he's heavier, he's got bigger steps than me - I could just slide underneath him as he makes the jump to punch me. I look over at him as I figure out that that's the move that will definitely bend the rules like he wants me to. I have to wait him out first, I have to be patient. He throws a couple of water-beams towards me, but I manage to avoid them. Crossing my arms and take the toll of them doesn't work. I've learned my lesson. After a few more long seconds, I start moving my legs towards him and I get my fire ready in my hands.

I start aiming for a flamethrower, but that's only to throw him off. He's expecting me to do that flamethrower when we're only a couple of meters away from each other. However, as I fake it even more and he prepares to jump over it. I slide underneath his feet as he does, turn around as quickly as I can and then do the flamethrower hitting him with immense heat on his back. All I see is steam is soaring from his back as he lands down on one knee before calling it quits on the dual. He's got some burns on his uniform and a weak limp as he starts walking again. Jeez, I hope he's alright. I'm feeling a tiny bit of guilt after doing what I just did.

Turning around to face me however, he's actually grinning. If I'm not too bad at guessing faces, he seems to be somewhat satisfied with my performance. "I really thought you were going with that flamethrower earlier, but your surprise worked. I was both pleasantly and unpleasantly surprised." He lets out as he must be sensing it burning slightly on his back. I see a small grimace on his face. "Are you alright, Senior?" Breeze asks as we both walk closer to him. "I'll be fine. I've dealt with worse. This is what I'm asking you to do from now on." He answers at first.