My first morning at the Academy began with an awakening that formed a strange contrast between the sounds from outside and the silence within. Footsteps echoing in the corridors, the reverberations of elemental practices, and whispers heralded the Academy's awakening. My room, however, defied this clamor outside, remaining silent and cold. As I sat up in bed, that familiar sense of apprehension resurfaced within me. From today, I would see how someone "empty" like me would survive in a world brimming with elemental power.
When I left my room, the corridors were already bustling. Students rushed for their morning classes. Each wore robes colored to symbolize their elements: Earth Elements in green, Water Elements in blue, Fire Elements in red, and Air Elements in white. I, in my plain, colorless robe, felt like a stain among them. Their faces showed the excitement of starting a new day and the confidence they had in their own powers. Their energy only amplified the uncertainty within me.
Varian's words from last night echoed in my mind: "We will need to implement a special curriculum for you." What did that mean? Would I be separate from the others? Or was this an opportunity for me?
My first class was Basic Elemental History. As I wandered the corridors looking for the Training Hall, I felt the whispers and glances of other students on me. Some openly whispered: "That kid has no elemental power." "Why is he here?" "He'll tarnish the Academy's reputation." These words pierced my heart like knives. Avoiding eye contact, I bowed my head and tried to find the Training Hall.
Finally, I saw the sign above a large wooden door that read "Basic Elemental History." When I entered, the Training Hall was already full. Hundreds of young students sat in rows, all divided according to their elemental groups. The Earth Elements in the front row stood out with their strong postures. Water Elements sat more calmly and fluidly. Fire Elements fidgeted in their seats, their energy evident in their every move. Air Elements, meanwhile, had settled into their rows more quietly and observantly.
I scanned the room. There was no designated spot for me. Everyone was in their own group, and I belonged to none. I found an empty seat in the back rows of the Training Hall and walked towards it. With every step, I felt eyes on me. Some were filled with surprise, some with mockery, and some with outright contempt. A Fire Element student leaned over and whispered to his friend next to him, and both giggled after looking in my direction. I felt my face burn.
As I sat down, the class teacher, Master Orion, an old and wise-looking Air Element, entered. He had a long, white beard and sharp, intelligent eyes. He surveyed the room, and his gaze finally found me. There was a momentary pause on his face, but then he returned to his professional expression.
"Good morning, students," Master Orion said, his voice clear and articulate. "Today, we will delve into the ancient history of the Ancestral Lands and the elements."
The lecture was about how the elements came into being, how the clans were founded, and the meaning of the Blood Ceremony. Master Orion explained how each of the elements maintained balance in nature, describing the patience of Earth, the adaptation of Water, the transformation of Fire, and the freedom of Air. In every word, the students' devotion and pride in their own elements were palpable.
As for me, listening to the lecture, I felt more and more excluded with each passing minute. Everything being described was about a world I didn't belong to. Other students smiled proudly as they listened to the histories and achievements of their own elements. I, however, was just an observer, an outsider looking in.
At the end of the lecture, Master Orion gave the students an assignment. "Before the next class, prepare an essay about the history of your own element. Research the origins of your clan and the greatest heroes of your element."
Everyone began talking and taking notes about the assignment. For me, this assignment was meaningless. I had no element. What would I write? "The History of Emptiness"?
As I left the Training Hall, other students hurried past me, as if they didn't see me. Once again, I was alone.
At lunchtime, I went to the Academy's large dining hall. It was a noisy and crowded place where hundreds of students gathered. In the middle of the dining hall were tables where different elemental groups sat. Earth Elements sat at large wooden tables, eating hearty meals. Water Elements preferred lighter and fresh foods. Fire Elements ate spicy and hot dishes, their voices loud. Air Elements, meanwhile, sat in smaller groups, eating and talking quietly.
I took a tray and started looking for an empty table. But wherever I turned, the students at the tables would glance at me and turn their faces away. It was as if they were whispering that I shouldn't sit next to them. I felt a pang of pain inside. Once again, I was somewhere I didn't belong.
Just as I was about to despair, I saw a girl sitting alone at a small, almost invisible table in the furthest corner of the dining hall. She had short, cropped black hair and sharp, gray eyes. She wore a dark gray robe that didn't bear the color of any element. Was she like me? Or had she simply chosen solitude?
Hesitantly, I walked towards her. "Is this spot empty?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly.
The girl looked up. Her eyes held a flicker of surprise and slight curiosity. "Yes," she said, her voice flat and cool. "It's empty."
I sat next to her. I began to eat my meal in silence. The girl continued eating her food, but I felt her glance quickly in my direction occasionally. After a while, I broke the silence.
"My name is Auren," I said.
The girl's eyes turned to me. "My name is Aerith," she said. "I am an Air Element."
I was surprised. Aerith? An Air Element? But then why was she wearing a gray robe and sitting alone? Away from the other Air Element group, by herself.
"What's your element?" Aerith asked, her eyes fixed on me. There was no mockery in her voice, just pure curiosity.
I took a deep breath. "I… I have no elemental power."
Aerith's eyebrows raised slightly. A look of surprise appeared on her face, but unlike the other students, there was no contempt. "No element?" she said. "That's very interesting. What happened at the Blood Ceremony?"
I began to tell her about my experience at the pond. The water glowing, the stardust rising, that strange energy I felt… Aerith listened carefully. Without interrupting my words, her eyes remained on me.
When I finished telling my story, Aerith was silent for a moment. Then she smiled. It was a genuine smile, hidden behind her cool and distant demeanor. "That's amazing!" she said. "So, perhaps your power is a new element yet to be discovered. Or maybe it's a combination of all elements."
I was surprised. Did she believe me? And instead of ostracizing me, was she curious?
"Others don't believe me," I said, a hint of pain in my voice. "No one at the Academy will believe me. I'll just be an outcast."
Aerith shrugged. "What others think doesn't matter. What matters is what you know. And in my eyes, your courage to come here despite showing no element at the Blood Ceremony is more impressive than anyone else at the Academy."
These words stirred a warm feeling within me. Aerith was not like the others. She had seen my effort and appreciated it. For a moment, I didn't feel alone.
"What about you?" I asked. "Why do you wear a gray robe, and why aren't you with the other Air Elements?"
A hint of sadness appeared on Aerith's face. "My power… I also have some differences. The other Air Elements think my power is 'too strong,' difficult to control. That's why I feel a bit excluded. The gray robe is my choice. It represents my 'unlimited' nature."
This created an unexpected common ground between us. We were both outcasts in a way, but for different reasons.
"How was today's class?" Aerith asked, changing the subject. "Master Orion taught Elemental History, right?"
"Yes," I said. "He gave us an assignment. We have to write about the history of our own element."
Aerith smiled. "It will be difficult for you, I understand. But perhaps this is an opportunity for you. Writing the history of the unknown sounds quite interesting."
When lunch was over, Aerith showed me the Academy's library and some other important places. The library was a massive place, with shelves reaching the ceiling, filled with thousands of ancient books and parchments. "Perhaps we can find something here about your power," Aerith said. "There might be many things our ancestors didn't know."
I spent the rest of my first day at the Academy in the Training Hall and the library. I watched how everyone worked with their own elemental powers in their classes. Earth Elements shaped mud and clay as they wished, creating tiny sculptures. Water Elements suspended water droplets in the air, changing their form. Fire Elements ignited small flames in their palms, trying to keep them under control. Air Elements, meanwhile, moved objects by creating invisible winds, sharpening their minds.
I, however, just watched. I could do nothing. I buried myself in books, hoping to find a clue about my "different" power. I researched ancient scriptures, legends, and even parchments detailing forbidden spells. But nowhere did I find the slightest hint of a power like glowing water and stardust. This created both a disappointment within me and a belief that Aerith's words were right. Perhaps this power was truly unprecedented in history.
When I went to the dining hall for dinner again, Aerith called me to her table. There were a few other students with her, who, like Aerith, seemed to be individuals with some differences in their elemental powers or who didn't conform to traditional norms. Among them was a boy named Kael, who had separated from the Fire Element group and had a calmer, more thoughtful demeanor. Aerith had said she found him "a bit too intense." There was also Riva, who, despite being a Water Element, loved experimenting constantly and had a strange laugh. Aerith had briefly told them about me, and they were not prejudiced against me like the others. This sparked a small glimmer of hope within me. Perhaps at the Academy, I could find people who were like me, who could understand me.
After dinner, Aerith and I walked around the Academy courtyard for a bit. The stars filled the sky. Aerith said, "The Academy can be a tough place, Auren. To survive here, you'll need not just elemental power, but also your intelligence and willpower. But remember, you're not alone. Everyone has a challenge. Mine is that they think my power is uncontrollable. Yours is that you don't yet know what your power is."
"So, how will I find my power?" I asked, my eyes fixed on the stars in the sky.
Aerith shrugged. "Some secrets are only revealed with time. Perhaps what you felt in that pond is your key. But for now, focus on your studies. Improve yourself. And most importantly, don't give up. Your presence here is also a new challenge for the Academy. Perhaps your existence will change the truths everyone knows."
These words ignited a new fire of determination within me. Aerith's belief in me had been a great support. Perhaps my existence really would change the established order of the Academy and the Ancestral Lands.
That night, as I lay in bed, I thought about that moment at the pond once again. That glowing water, that dancing stardust… Perhaps my power came from a much deeper, more universal place, beyond the elements. Perhaps I was not just an emptiness, but also an infinite potential.
My first day at the Academy, though difficult and exclusionary, meeting Aerith had given me a glimmer of hope. Now, I was more determined than ever to understand my own power and find a place for myself in this new world. The future was uncertain, but within this uncertainty, a brand new journey was beginning. And I, despite all the difficulties, was ready to embark on this journey.