49.5 A finger

*We've almost hit fifty the chapter mark! Not only that, but the hundred thousand mark! All in, what, less than three months? Geez, thanks people! I feel proud for once in my life :O*

"Alright then. Reach your hands out. I will pass you the ball. However, please note that everyone here are fire elementals due to them all appearing on this day. Instead of the water reception date."

"Thus, you still might not get in. Do you agree not to hold a grudge because of this?"

'...Is this a necessary procedure?'

"Uh, yes. I agree. Why is this question asked?"

"Uhm, well..." The lanky middle aged teacher coughed awkwardly, "Just reach your hands out and take the ball. Please do not drop it. Do not hesitate to try again later outside the hall if you cannot get your powers out."

Xuanmei shrugged. Well, fair enough.

Xuanmei reached towards the ball, as her fingertips became slightly numb, a tingling, burning sensation attracting her attention. It felt like her fingertips were being sucked in. Her fingers shook lightly as she grasped the ball tightly, afraid of dropping it.

The ball was cold to the touch, and she wanted to do something, really, yet nothing actually happened. The female teacher looked towards the teacher testing her, and stared at Xuanmei, furrowing her eyebrows.

The male teacher who was testing Xuanmei looked visibly confused. "Are you confused? Today is the day the fire sector is accepting disciples, you know?"

"Dear boy, you clearly do not have the fire element. Why did you sign up for the fire sector? Have you made a mistake?" There was a period of silence as everyone in a one meter radius around her stopped to listen. The male teacher paused.

"...No, there is no mistake. You've written that you wanted to enter the fire sector. Have you made a mistake, thinking fire was your element when it was something else?"

The sounds of murmuring spread, news travelling as fast as light, as soon, people all around her were giggling at her.

"What a stupid guy. No matter what sector you choose, you can't change your element!"

The female teacher suddenly looked interested as she barked out an order, "You, come over here. Let's get out of this place," while pointing to Xuanmei.

"Poor guy," The male teacher leading Xuanmei to his figurative 'death', muttered as he shook his head.

Once the female teacher brought Xuanmei out of the hall, they continued walking forward as Xuanmei looked questioningly at the teacher, but didn't ask anything.

Awkward tension hung heavily in the air as the female teacher guestured for Xuanmei's hand. Xuanmei coughed, placing the ball in the female teacher's hands.

"No, god... Just... Give me your hand."

Xuanmei shrugged lightly as she placed her palm on hers.

"You have the fire element. Is it that you lack control? No. It can't be the case... Then how?"

Xuanmei glanced at the ball, placing a finger on it, before a strong, bonded strand of purple fire emerged.