As the first rays of morning light began to illuminate the mist-shrouded mountains of the Ancestral Lands, I awoke with mixed emotions. Today, I would leave my family's lands and embark alone on an unknown adventure: to the Academy of Elements. I got out of bed and walked to the window. Despite the cold air outside, I felt both an excitement and an indescribable anxiety within me. This was my home, the place where I grew up, where I felt safe and familiar. Now, I was stepping into an unknown future.
At the breakfast table, my mother, father, and Grandmother Elara sat with sorrowful expressions. My favorite foods were on the table, but I couldn't swallow them. My mother occasionally held my hand, tears welling in her eyes. My father, meanwhile, reflected the anxiety he typically hid behind his strong demeanor. Grandmother Elara, without taking her eyes off me, seemed to be reading my mind.
"Are you ready, Auren?" my father asked, his voice softer than usual.
I nodded. "I think so."
My mother sobbed and hugged me tightly. "We'll miss you so much, son. Take care of yourself. And remember, no matter what, you are our Auren."
My father also embraced me firmly. "Be strong, Auren. This will be a difficult journey, but you will succeed. I believe in you."
Grandmother Elara came to my side. She placed her hand on my shoulder. "Remember, Auren, journeys don't just mature the body, but also the spirit. Be open-minded. Observe. And most importantly, trust yourself. Every step taken into the unknown opens a new door." Her words ignited a strange spark of courage within me.
As we left the house, our entire family and some members of our clan were outside to bid us farewell. The goodbyes were difficult. My cousins Lyra and Eren looked at me with both sadness and curiosity in their eyes. Lyra whispered, "Take care, Auren." Eren added, "When you come back, you'll tell us everything, won't you?" These questions further intensified the uncertainty within me. What would I tell them? I didn't even know what was happening myself yet.
My father had arranged for a sturdy wooden carriage, pulled by one of the clan's fastest horses. I would be going to the Academy alone, but Uncle Borin, an experienced guardian from our clan, would accompany me to protect me on the journey and escort me to the Academy's gates. Borin was an Earth Element; with his broad shoulders and posture rooted to the ground, he had always been a reassuring presence. He had served on the front lines in battles, a warrior known for his loyalty and strength. My father was confident that I would be safe with him.
"Time to set off, Auren," Uncle Borin said in his deep voice. His face held his usual seriousness, but I caught a glimmer of kindness towards me in his eyes.
I said my last goodbyes to my mother and father. The tears streaming from my mother's eyes twisted my heart. My father's determined but anxious gaze increased the burden of responsibility on my shoulders. Grandmother Elara gently placed her hand on my shoulder and smiled at me one last time. When she smiled, it was as if all wisdom flowed from her eyes into me.
I climbed into the carriage. I looked back at our fading home, at my family's lands, one last time through the window. The village grew smaller and smaller, its silhouettes disappearing into the mist. This sight stirred both a longing within me and the excitement of a new beginning. There was no turning back now.
As Uncle Borin held the reins, the carriage slowly began to move across the ground. The journey took longer than I expected. To reach the Academy's region, we had to pass through the Ancestral Lands' rugged terrains, dense forests, and small rivers. Along the way, Uncle Borin recounted the history of our clan, the cycle of the elements, and the legends about the Academy's founding.
"The Academy was established centuries ago, after the great wars between the elemental clans," Uncle Borin said, his voice deep and resonant. "Its purpose was to train young element users and ensure peace among the clans. Every student there is a part of nature, Auren. Earth, Water, Fire, or Air… Each element has its own unique spirit."
As I listened to him, a discomfort grew within me. I belonged to no element. So then, to whom did I belong? What would my spirit be like?
The first day of our journey passed peacefully. Uncle Borin, with his experience, knew the way well and skillfully guided the horses. We spent the night at a small caravanserai. The caravanserai was filled with other travelers and merchants. I witnessed many instances of how elemental powers were used in daily life. An Earth Element turned a rough-looking stone into a sculpted one without touching it. A Water Element could irrigate dry ground with just the palm of their hand. A Fire Element instantly ignited wood with the tip of their finger. And an Air Element, controlling even the slightest breeze, made the flames of burning candles dance.
Seeing their natural abilities made my own "deficiency" even more apparent. I was merely an observer. Although I looked at the glass of water in my hand, I couldn't move the water inside it. I couldn't stir a piece of wood on the table. This situation created a deep sense of emptiness within me. Going to the Academy felt like knowingly going somewhere that would further emphasize this emptiness.
On the second day, our journey passed through a forested area. The air was humid, and the trees were dense. Uncle Borin taught me how to navigate the forest, which plants were medicinal, and which animals were dangerous. His eyes constantly scanned the surroundings, attentive to even the slightest sound.
"Forests, Auren," Uncle Borin said, "are not just made of trees. They are living beings. If you learn to listen to them, they will whisper many secrets to you."
Along the way, we occasionally encountered other travelers. Mostly merchants or couriers from other clans. Some were young students heading to the Academy. For the first time, I saw other young people, like me, on their way to the Academy. It was obvious that their elemental powers had manifested. A group of Fire Element students was having fun controlling a small fire on the road. Another group of Water Element students was shaping the water flowing from their canteens in the air. Their cheerful voices and comfortable interaction with their elements once again caused a pang of sadness within me. They knew where they belonged. I, on the other hand, was still searching for my place.
When we stopped for our lunch break, we paused in a wooded area beside a small river. While Uncle Borin let the horses rest, I sat by the riverbank. As I was lost in the flow of the water, a shadow fell over me. I looked up and saw two of the young people I had seen on the road approaching me. One was a tall, graceful girl. She had dark blue eyes and wavy, brown hair. She wore a light blue robe, indicating she was a Water Element. The other was a short, sturdy boy with a blunt nose. With his short, brown hair and prominent muscles, it was clear he was an Earth Element. He wore a green robe.
The girl smiled gently. "Hello. We're also going to the Academy. We saw you on the road. My name is Seraphina, I'm a Water Element. And this is my friend Roric, an Earth Element."
Roric nodded slightly, greeting me. There was curiosity in his gaze. "Are you also going to the Academy?"
I nodded. "Yes. My name is Auren."
Seraphina looked at the clear water of the river. "The journey has been tiring, hasn't it? But we'll finally reach the Academy."
Roric was twirling a small stone he had picked up from the road in his hand. "What's your element, Auren? What happened at the Blood Ceremony?" he asked directly.
This question caused a moment of tension within me. How was I going to explain? "My… my elemental power hasn't manifested yet," I said, words catching in my throat. "I showed no element at the Blood Ceremony."
Seraphina and Roric looked at each other. Surprise and a slight sadness appeared on their faces. Seraphina whispered, "No element at all?" "That's very rare. Don't be sad, Auren. Perhaps at the Academy, your power will reveal itself."
Roric dropped the stone in his hand. "But only those with elemental power are accepted into the Academy, right?"
I didn't know how to answer that question. Uncle Borin watched us from a distance, a look of tension on his face.
"My situation is different," I said. "My family… and Grandmother Elara, they think my power might be something yet undiscovered. That's why they sent me to the Academy."
Seraphina's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "An undiscovered power? That's very interesting!"
Roric, however, was more skeptical. "I don't think so. You probably just have a very weak elemental power that hasn't emerged yet. You can bring it out at the Academy."
Their reactions were different. Seraphina's curiosity warmed me a little. Roric's skepticism, however, reflected what many people probably thought about me. We chatted for a short while longer. Seraphina enjoyed talking about water magic, and Roric spoke about learning how to make the earth more fertile. I, however, was hesitant to tell them about my own "power." How could I explain that moment at the pond, that glow, and the stardust? They probably wouldn't believe me.
When our break was over, we said goodbye and continued on our way. Seraphina and Roric would continue their journey in another direction. Loneliness enveloped me again, but this time, there was hope within me of meeting new faces and perhaps finding others like myself at the Academy.
On the third day of the journey, the weather had grown colder, and we were climbing towards the mountains. The roads became steeper, the vegetation sparser. This region was a rugged and rocky terrain, mostly inhabited by Fire Elements and Earth Elements. "The Academy was built in a neutral zone, where the borders of different elemental clans intersect," Uncle Borin explained. "This prevented any clan from using the Academy for its own interests."
When we reached the hilltops, in the distance, I saw the silhouette of a colossal structure rising towards the sky. My heart suddenly quickened. There it was, the Academy of Elements. Even from afar, its might and grandeur could be felt. Its gray stone walls gleamed under the sun. Around it, flags embroidered with the symbols of different elements waved in the wind.
As the carriage advanced, the Academy's details became clearer. The building was surrounded by thick ramparts. The entrance gate was a massive wooden structure adorned with carved figures. In front of the gates stood armored guards. All were imposing figures, endowed with elemental powers.
As we approached the Academy's gates, my anxiety resurfaced. What kind of place would this be for someone like me? How would a person without elemental power be treated here? I felt like a guinea pig. If I failed, I would bring shame upon my family's name once again.
When we stopped in front of the gate, Uncle Borin dismounted from the carriage and spoke with the guards. Knowing that my father was an important figure in our clan, they welcomed us inside. Our carriage passed through the enormous gates and entered the Academy's vast courtyard.
The courtyard was even larger than the crowd I had seen at the Blood Ceremony. Hundreds of young students, wearing robes of the different elemental colors, wandered around, entering and exiting classrooms or practicing in training areas. Some bent the air, some shaped the earth, some controlled water, and some created small explosions with flames emanating from their hands. Each was in complete harmony with their own element. The place was filled with noise, energy, and movement.
I sat inside the carriage, watching this scene with admiration but also with a growing anxiety inside me. Their natural abilities further highlighted my "absence." It was as if I were a stranger from another world.
Uncle Borin turned to me. "Here we are, Auren," he said, his voice almost lost in the surrounding hum. "The Academy of Elements."
The carriage proceeded towards the main building's entrance and stopped there. This was a magnificent structure with towering stone columns and high ceilings. From inside came the sounds of classes and elemental practices.
I got out of the carriage with Uncle Borin. As my feet touched the stone ground, its coldness spread throughout my body. In front of the building's door stood a tall, gray-haired man with a serious face to greet us. He wore a dark robe bearing the Academy's seal. This was Headmaster Varian of the Academy. He himself was a powerful Air Element and known among the clans for his intelligence and fairness.
Varian's piercing gaze found me. There was neither pity nor judgment in his eyes, only sharp observation. It was as if he was trying to read my mind, trying to understand what was different about me. Next to him stood several instructors representing different elements.
"Welcome," Varian said, his voice like a sharp wind but also authoritative. "You must be Auren."
I nodded, my throat tight.
Uncle Borin said, "Yes, Headmaster Varian. This is our young Auren," a hint of tension in his voice. "Our clan informed you of his situation."
Varian nodded. "Yes, I am aware of the situation. It's unprecedented in the history of the Academy. This will be a great test for both your clan and us." His gaze returned to me. "Auren, welcome to the Academy. Here, you will learn the fundamentals and power of every element. Our aim is to help every student discover their own potential. However, your situation is different. We will need to implement a special curriculum for you."
These words caused confusion within me. A special curriculum for me? What did that mean? Would I be even more different from the others, or would I be even more excluded?
I said my last goodbyes to Uncle Borin. He squeezed my hand and whispered in my ear: "Your family believes in you, Auren. Never forget." Then he turned and got back into the carriage from the way he came. The sound of his departing carriage wheels was lost in the Academy's hum. I was alone. Right in the middle of a vast, foreign world.
Varian motioned to me with his head. "Come, Auren. Let me show you your room. Your classes will begin tomorrow morning. Your first class will be Basic Elemental History."
As I walked down the corridor, I felt the curious stares of the other students on me. I heard whispers, "He has no elemental power," "He's an outcast from his clan," "What will they teach him here?" These whispers further intensified my anxiety.
Varian led me to a small, single room. The room was simple but clean. There was a single bed, a desk, and a small wardrobe. "You will stay here," Varian said. "Try to make yourself comfortable. This will be your new home."
"Sir," I asked, unable to stop myself from asking the biggest question on my mind. "My power… if it's not elemental power, what kind of power is it? And how will I learn it at the Academy?"
Varian stood at the door, his back to me. "Auren," he said, his voice filled with an unusual tone. "Whatever your power is, finding it will be your journey. The Academy will provide you with the tools, but the journey itself is in your hands. And you should know that the greatest secrets are often hidden in the most unexpected places."
The door closed, and I was left alone in the room. I sat on the bed, the silence of the room enveloping me. When I looked out the window, in the distance, I could see the lights from the training areas where other students were practicing. Fireballs, water fountains, gusts of wind… Each was in harmony with their own element.
For me, however, everything was a question mark. How would I learn? How would I survive? How would I find my place in this new world, with no elemental power? How would that strange energy within me, that stardust, change my destiny?
I had arrived at the Academy. The doors had closed, and I was far from my family and everything familiar. Now, it was time to continue this unknown journey alone. The future was uncertain, but a small hope, like those light particles, glowed within me. Perhaps this journey would not only lead me to find my elemental power but also to discover who I truly was.