Master of 4 elements

According to Master Lee, James had the presumption that Master Ren was as cool as a cucumber. In fact, he was as cool as a cucumber but his offense wasn't that cool. It hurts like hell. It burns you. Master Ren always wore a stoic face and nobody really know what he was thinking. Plus, he never spoke much nor brief anything to James when one day he came to knock on his dormitory and just ask him to follow him. Once, James reached the training room, he was immediately greeted by a strong wave of heat and James felt it coming out from Master Ren. Master Ren's expression does not match his skills at all.

"James Charter, fire is passion. A fire is a hungry beast. You need to constantly feed it so that it can grow to be a powerful monster. To use fire, you have to be its master and not its slaves. Feed your resolve to it but don't let it feed on you. Or else, your body will immediately burn to ashes. Which is what happened to the demons. They have let the fire within them grew too big and they could no longer contain it. Hence, their body and mind were consumed by it. Which is why you would see their body turn to ash after your exorcise them."

He continued his sermon while sparring with James.

"Be as calm as ever. Don't let your emotions overwhelm you. Because when they do, only terrible things will happen."

"Noted that," said James as he dodged one of Master Ren's attack and started to implement his philosophy onto his mind.

After receiving training from Master Ren, the next was Master Ryan. Master Ryan has the opposite of what Master Ren had. Master Ryan seems to be hot-tempered and easily angered. He is the Master of the Water Element and he taught James about the philosophy of the Water Element.

"Water is the most powerful element in the world. For it exists at everywhere and anywhere. It exists in the air, it exists in the soil and it exists within us. The true master of the Water Element will know how to improvise and go with the flow of the environment. Because the opportunity is everywhere. You just have to know the way to use it. For example, you can do this."

Thousands of ice needles appeared around James, trapping him.

"By utilizing the water vapor that is in the air, I have turned the air into something deadly."

He smiled as if he has just done something proud.

James was amazed by the potential of the water element.

"But water is weak and formless. In small quantities, it does not give a huge impact. Only when it is in large volume, that it could do some significant damage."

With a swing of his hand, the tiny needle all flew towards James. James crouched his head underneath his cloak. The tiny needle did not manage to penetrate through.

"Your earth defense is solid and stable but there's always a weak spot. Earth is not malleable and they always have a constant form. Water is malleable and is formless. It can flow and bend according to its environment. Hence, when it found a weak spot, even in small quantity, it can prove to be a deadly component," explained Master Ren.

Undergoing the training with both the Masters have thrown James into utter confusion. How can he use both elements of the different nature and why all of a sudden all four of the masters were giving him training? He did not know why so he approached Father Rick.

"Because we see the potential and the necessity for you to know the way to use all four aspects of our souls. It's important for your upcoming battles with the demons," explained Father Rick.

James did not pester him with more questions. He just thinks that now, he has more ways to defeat the demons and the demons have fewer ways to defeat him.

"So how's your training?" asked Emily.

"It's okay, I guess." James was folding paper crane beside Emily's bed.

"What are those?" asked Emily.

"These? These are paper cranes."

"Why are you folding it for?"

"Oh, I heard that once that you have folded one thousand paper crane, you can make a wish. Since I have some spare time, so I just decided to fold some paper crane for you so that you can wish for yourself good health."

"You sure do the most random things at times," said Emily while giggling. "What's makes you think a thousand lifeless cranes made out of paper which carries no values within them would make a wish come true?' asked Emily.

"Hey, it's the thoughts that count," said James and he was focusing on getting the edge of the paper to align itself.

"Give me some of the papers," said Emily. "So how do you fold it?" asked her.

Then, James showed her step by step and the two of them started to fold paper cranes silently in the room.

The training lasted for around a few months and James started to get the gist of everything. The Masters were impressed. Master Lee could not stop being proud of him.

"That's my boy!" said him one day when he saw James. He gave James' a punch to the chest and Master Lee was surprised to find James' chest to be solid hard.

"You sure has grown a lot since I last trained you."

They both went for a walk around the church and took a stroll at the church's own garden.

"So how's training with Master Ren and Master Ryan."

"A unique experience," said James.

"Here, there's something I want to show you."

James followed Master Lee to a wooden shed in the garden and knock on the door.

A girl shorter than the two of them came out holding a blue watering hose. Her eyes were clear emerald green and it caught James' attention the moment she walked out of the shed.

"Lee? And you are?" the girl was short and was wearing a straw hat paired with a sundress. Her cheeks have freckles on it and of course those pair of green eyes.

"Ah! You are James!" shouted the girl.

"Excuse me, do I know you?" James eyes were still fixed onto her eyes and his unblinking stare made the girl extremely uncomfortable. To the girl, it's like the abyss was gazing back at her.

"Erm…." The girl started to look at the corner of her eyes to avoid looking at James because of the discomfort and eerie feeling. "Would you please stop staring at me like that, it's making me uncomfortable."

Master Lee slapped James' back hard and it woke James up from his daze.

"Oh, sorry! It's just that your eyes are beautiful and It couldn't stop staring at it."

The girl had a slight blush on her cheeks.

"…Thanks…"

"This is the girl who is responsible for healing your sorry ass every time you got your ass whoop."

"Oh, so you are the sadistic healer?" said James.

"What do you mean 'sadistic'!?" exclaimed the girl.

"Oh, because you always never fully healed me and always left me on the edge of pain," said James shamelessly.

"Hey, healing took a lot of my energy and with your injuries, there's no way I can't fully heal your body. You have no idea how much energy is sucked out from me by just healing you."

"Hmm…okay. I guess I have forgotten to thank you for that." James then looked her in the eyes silently. Master Lee who was standing at his side was wandering what is James doing. Even the girl started to doubt.

Then after a few moments of silence, James started to talk.

"Thank you…erm…you are?"

The girl felt like dropping her glasses although she didn't wear one. Just how awkward this person can be.

"Rea, my name is Rea."

"Thank you, Rea."

"You're welcome, James."

"Well, ignoring the awkward conversation that happens just now, I wanted James to see you because I want to let him know more about Soul nature. And I wanted to ask if Rea can show James your Soul ability."

"Well, since Master Lee trusted you, I will show you then."

Rea took a seed and placed it on the palm of her hands. She closed her fist and a green glow appeared from within. She opened her fist and before their eyes were sprouting seedlings.

"So, what am I supposed to look at here?" asked James.

Rea was annoyed by James' lack of emotions.

"Hey, I just created life, can't you see?"

"Really?" asked James.

"Yes, that's my Soul nature. The ability to create life."

"Are you sure this is the ability to create life. It's more like you just helped a seed to grow. That's all. And why would Master Lee show me this?' James turned and look at Master Lee.

"James, the point here, is that Rea's ability to heal can help give life to a dormant seed. A seed that could not germinate in this type of condition can be made to germinate by using Rea's soul nature."

"Hmm, okay."

"Her ability to use Water and Earth and created a unique ability which is Healing."

"Okay, okay."

Master Lee looked at James.

"And now, you are able to use all four of the elements. Do you know what type of ability that can come out of it?"

"What?! He can use all four of it?" asked Rea. Master Lee nodded her head.

James shook her head. "I don't know. What type of ability I can use?"

"The Scripture did not specify it but it was speculated that the combination of all four of the elements will give the users the ability to create something out of nothingness."

"Creation," said Rea to add on.

"Hmm. And you are telling me this because?"

"What would you create, James. That's what I want to ask you."

James thought for a moment and then answered.

"I want to create a world where there are no orphans. A world where everyone has a place where they belong"

Master Lee begins to laugh. Rea didn't.

"That's an unexpected answer! You know, the reason why I am telling you this because the demon lords also know about the existence of this ability. Hence, they might try to use you to do their biddings. So now that you are aware of it, I hope you will not be tempted by the demon lords."

"Yea, sure. Definitely will keep in mind of that."