Chapter 28: Jealousy

"To recall, the starter elements are fire, water, and earth. Awakening them makes an awakening orb glow to red, blue, and yellow, respectively."

"Fire element is considered very volatile. It harms everything on its way except its user."

"I, for one, have my second element as fire. I even put my room on fire in the dorms because I practiced alone…"

"Here's a question… why do we still have to discuss elements when everyone got a spell for their own and sometimes it's even unique to oneself?"

Some of the bored students in front of Luigi started nodding.

"Well, it's more of getting to know your element."

"What is fire weak against?"

'Water?' The students thought.

"You might have guessed water… which is correct. But, enough fire, will even cause water to become steam."

Luigi then proceeded to the next slide of his presentation. In it, a person is engulfed in a fire sphere.

"So those of you who got a spell similar to a 'Fire Shield' or 'Burning Cage', can use it defensively against water attacks. Well… you just have to burn much mana for it."

"That's one weakness of fire getting avoided. But still, if you ever fought with fire mages or fire beasts, water will still be its nemesis."

"Now… what element is the fire strong against?"

'Plant?' The students thought in their heads.

"Of course, it will be the plant element… But, the plant element is a result of fused elements. Except for skippers, every plant mage will have 2 earth spells and 2 water spells. So, those mid-mages will definitely have their weakness covered already."

"But that doesn't mean that starter fire mages can't win against plant mages especially those who aren't skippers. With the right strategy and good coordination, winning is not just a possibility…"

"As a fire mage, you are strong in both open and closed spaces. You can also burn through the domain of plant mages, the forest. You must avoid fights near bodies of water…"

Luigi kept on explaining about the fire element for three hours.

…

"Class dismiss," Luigi said to the students.

Josh had his eyes wide, his hands shaking slightly.

"I did it… I understand at least half of it… Oh my god… Is this the blessing of mighty polar panda??" He muttered under his breath while looking at his notes amusingly.

His hands are filled with ink mixed with blue and black markings. His ring finger writer's bump has become red from too much friction with his ballpen.

Krizel looked at her seatmate with eyes looking heart-shaped and eyelids half-closed.

'He looks cute… I want to hug him…' she thought unconsciously.

After a moment of more staring at him, she said with her ears glowing pinkish-red,

"H-Hey, let's go to the training grounds."

"Ahh, yeah, yeah. I'm sorry for making you wait." Josh said while hurriedly stuffing his notebook into his backpack.

…

While walking toward the training grounds, Krizel talked to Josh trying to break the silent atmosphere they have.

"So, you're not in the dorms last time? I knocked on your door and no one answered."

"I was in the forest. Zeroa forest." Josh said absent-mindedly.

'That 'mimic' spell in my dream felt too real…' Josh thought while speaking.

"…!! Uh-uhh. Y-you! Why did you go there!? It's not safe to go alone there! At least for starters like us-"

Krizel got interrupted as Josh said something with no care written on his face.

"I was not alone. I'm with Matilda."

"…!!!!!" Krizel's eyes dilated like those of a cat's. Her steps stopped and she looked at Josh with narrowed eyes.

'Even though you saw m-my b-breats, and held my body… you still go to other girl??!!' she thought, now consciously.

"Huh? Krizel?" Josh looked to his side and noticed Krizel is not there.

Josh looked at his back and saw Krizel staring at him with visible anger on her face.

'Ah… why am I being so listless because of a dream? I didn't even talk to her properly. She must be mad because I ignored her…'

Josh then walked toward Krizel. He looked at her. His face is just close enough so it is all that Krizel can see.

With a smile on his pinkish-red lips, he said, "Let's go!"