[Chapter 14] - Earth - Part 1

Year 954, day 230, City of Elfen, Advanced Elementary School, 8am

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Fynich picks up the uniform that is lying on the floor and throws it in Kalui's face.

– I was kidding! There is no queue in the bathroom. Few students have left yet! – He goes to the bedroom door – I'll wait for you downstairs.

This area of ​​the dormitories – like the others – is surrounded by a very low stone wall and like most buildings of the elementary advanced school, the size of the building is magnificent and its decoration is based on natural stones such as granite, marble, quartzite, etc. The windows, in turn, are large and square.

Kalui opens the door with a force and runs past it. He is dressed in the uniform of his year and equipped with the two rings on each arm, which hold their chains without weapons at the ends.

Fynich is leaning against the wall, waving to his friend as he says:

– We've already lost the coffee.

The two walk along the same path, passing several buildings that surround the place, creating a rectangular green area. In this large space, there are sports courts and shops, especially food.

The pair of friends go to the same building. To Kalui's surprise, the rooms are not completely filled and few students are late walking through the wide corridors; he doesn't have as many children as he thought he would have. Many students carry guns, both inside and outside the building, but none of them are lethal. Swords, shields, bows, spears, daggers, crossbows, among many others, all without cutting or point.

– Fynich, why do you have few students? – He says as he opens the door to his office.

– My father warned me that the first days of school are explaining things that everyone already knows and introducing themselves. Many who know this do not come.

– So there are only first year students here?

– That's right. – He raises his fingers as he explains. – The first year is a year of introduction, so we are all the same and we learn the same things. I think there are two or three buildings just for the first year. From the second year, the buildings are divided by rank and not by year, so the rooms are numbered with the floor number, followed by the year and the room. – He fixes his glasses.

– I understood. Interesting...

They reach the room on the fifth floor and notice that the teacher has not arrived yet, so they are not late. Kalui is one of the tallest in the class and definitely the strongest when it comes to muscle.

A ladder divides the room in half. The students are seated behind a table, separated into groups of five, each group one floor above the other, with four groups on both sides. Since many students are absent on the first day of school in the first year, there are only twenty students in the classroom. The glass wall makes the room well lit, yet the torch support is still present throughout the room.

The students in the class watch Fynich and Kalui go up the stairs and sit in the last row.

"Why are they watching us?" , thinks Kalui.

After a few minutes in silence waiting for the teacher, the beautiful blond boy comments:

– Coincidence, we are in the same room, right?

– Yea! – he replies excitedly – Thanks for waking me up today. Saved me.

Two girls and a boy sit beside them, filling the table. All students wearing the same black uniform with a white stripe.

Kalui stops talking to the arrival of new people, as does Fynich, who is very shy. The silence does not last long, as soon after the tall and thin teacher arrives in the room. The bald man wears a black and brown suit with a leather dress shoe.

– Good morning, class. – He says in a serious tone, writing in white chalk the word "Earth" on the board. – Before we get into the topic, let's start a presentation. Me first. – he raises his forearm – My name is Sleten and I will be your teacher this semester. I am a water elemental of rank B. Many of you may not know your rankings yet, so just tell me your names and elements. In case anyone here doesn't know what ranking is, I'll explain in a moment.

After all the children introduce themselves, the teacher writes again on the board.

– Well, then in this class we have four elementals of water, five of fire, five of earth and six of air. – he writes this information on the board. – Assuming that the other students are at least as varied as you are, this is by far one of the most balanced classes I have ever taken. Try to absorb all possible knowledge about all the elements, because in a fight or even in coexistence, this is necessary.

– Yes sir! – Shouts Kalui.

All the children and the teacher look at the boy in surprise. The awkward silence takes over the place.

– Eh ... Child ... Kalui, right? We are not in the army yet, no need to shout "Yes, sir!" whenever I say something, okay?

The students in the classroom burst out laughing without control as Kalui curled up behind the table, her cheeks pink.

– Silence! – Says the teacher loud and clear.

All the children are quiet, some – including Fynich – holding back their laughter.

– Come on. About the rankings. Most of you may already know, but we are divided into three rankings. Ranking A, B and C. – he writes on the board everything he says – Ranking A is people with large-scale potential. Use your skills in large areas or with a great concentration of power. – He draws a large circle with an "A" in the center. – The ranking B, use their powers on a medium scale, not exceeding a few meters. – He draws a middle circle with a "B" in the center. – The C, on the other hand, use their powers on a minimal scale, in an area of ​​very few meters. – He draws a tiny circle with a small C in the center. Being clearer, when it comes to coverage area, basically the weakest of A is the strongest of B and the weakest of B is the strongest of C. Everyone can achieve the same mastery and use of skills, changing only the the amount.

A black-haired boy named Vhier raises his hand and the teacher allows his speech.

– Professor, how to raise our ranking?

One of the children laughs sarcastically and says in a low voice.

– The loser wants to get stronger?

Kalui says calmly from the back of the room:

– Even if he was a gray eye, if someone hits you with a spear or an arrow in the head or in the heart, you die just like anyone else. Being more powerful doesn't make you win a fight.

The teacher just watches.

The thin, red-haired boy stands up, turning back in fury.

– Who said that!? – He screams.

Some children start to laugh softly.

Calmly, Kalui raises his arm and replies:

– Me.

Perhaps because he is three tables above the boy, Kalui has an air of immense superiority.

"This kid is very muscular, it must be a C or B rank ...", thinks the red-haired boy.

– Courage yours to have all this audacity, even if it is at most a rank B. Hahaha ...

– Uuuuuh ... – Some students in the class say.

– To think that way, you are really a complete idiot. – he replies, serious and serene.

– Uuuuuh ... – Many students say.

The red-haired boy flushes with rage.

– You will regret it –

Fynich interrupts him, exclaiming:

– One of my father's strongest personal guards is a B rank and many of the guards are C rank! Are you implying anything about the royal guards, Felen ?

Kalui looks scared.

The red-haired boy retracts, sitting in his place and answering:

– It wasn't my intention, I'm sorry.

– Now that everyone has known each other better – the teacher sits on the chair – let's continue the class! Answering your question, Vhier, throughout our history, no one has been able to increase their power beyond the rank barrier. But as our friend from the fund said just now, his power does not define his strength. Your combat skill is much more important. Our powers are used in different ways depending on their scale and element. In the end, all of us elementals are as fragile as any human being, regardless of their power. On vacation at the end of the first year, you will be tested and discover your rankings.

As the teacher continues his class, Kalui comments in a whisper to his friend:

– You ... Are you the king's son?