Unravelling

PART 1: TWO WEEKS OF TRAINING

Elemental Training was going great. Raymond and Katie had learned a lot. They could manipulate the Element quite easily. Raymond could use the lighter's flame to make objects from it. These objects were a rod or a ball, he could even increase their sizes by manipulating it even further.

The first thing Katie tried to make was a cake out of her lightning, she failed without a doubt. Master Owens explained that Lightning was the least stable Element as it gave more priority to the speed of movement.

One other reason was Katie's too low experience. Even though she knew she could not eat a cake made from lightning, Katie tried every day. Non-stop. They also tried to aim their Elemental objects at a dummy target set on the beach for target practice.

Raymond and Katie would go to the empty beach after dinner every day to get some extra training. Eve never participated. Raymond and Katie thought that Eve was not even training, but later, on confrontation, Master Wygaf told them that she exercised twice as they did. Eve was from Elemental Academy, she was put in such training there. Now, she did all those things to keep herself in shape. Apart from that, they knew nothing about her.

Raymond and Katie usually planned rest time and played board games at that time. They once asked Eve to join. She was reading a book at that time, like always. She said she would join in sometime, but she did not.

One day, Raymond and Katie were sitting on the beach after a training session. Eve was sitting at the porch of the beach house far away. Even now, she was reading a book. Raymond and Katie were tired. Master Owens came and tapped their heads congratulating them, he said,

"You two have come far in just a few weeks. I am proud of you."

"Proud enough to buy us a cake?" asked Katie, she was full of energy.

"No," said Master Owens.

"Why can't Eve use Elemental Powers?" asked Raymond.

Katie narrowed her eyes naughtily towards Raymond and said, "Why are you so worried about her?"

"I am not worried about anything," said Raymond. His face seemed reddish.

"Anyway, I think you should ask this to her," said Master Owens.

"She barely talks," said Katie, "It's like she reads dozens of books every day."

"Well, she loves to read," said Master Owens. "And, I'd suggest you don't get involved with her too much."

"Why? What's wrong with that?" asked Raymond. Katie looked at him making suspicious gestures from her eyebrows. Raymond looked away to hide his red face.

"Don't get me wrong. She's good and sensitive," Master Owens clarified, "but her ambitions are more important to her and she can use anyone to fulfil them. You can have friendly chats and all, I'm just refusing to discuss your fighting skills or anything that is personal."

Raymond and Katie looked at Eve far away. She looked normal. She seemed normal too. She seemed innocent. They wondered how a girl like her be the person Master Owens just described.

"Let's change the topic. How is Martial arts training going?" asked Master Owens.

"That reminds me. Why do we need to do that, again?" Katie said, scratching her head.

"Why don't you get it?" Master Owens shook his head in disappointment, "When your Elemental Energy runs out, the only way to defend yourselves will be hand to hand combat."

"But still, its too much effort for such a small benefit," said Raymond.

"It's not small. Let's have a practical example," said Master Owens. He walked ahead and waved his hand towards Eve and yelled, "Eve! Come here!"

Eve heard. She kept aside her book named, 'Battlelyte Maps' and she jogged towards Master Owens. She asked when she reached, "What happened, Master?"

"I want you to fight them," Master Owens said pointing at his students.

Eve was baffled. She confirmed, "Master, are you sure they can handle it at their stage?"

"Yes, just don't make it serious," Master Owens said. Raymond and Katie got up. Katie was in the mood for drama. She was always in the mood for drama.

"Hey! Don't look down on us, we're your friends," she said.

"Sorry," Eve said with a smile of truth and innocence, "I never meant it that way."

"It's okay. Now, I'm in your team!" Katie said and switched sides. She was now beside Eve and pointed her fists at Raymond. Eve laughed.

Raymond sighed and said, "Well, I always thought you'd sell our friendship for a cake, but as it turns out, you don't need a cake in exchange."

"Oh, what do you know," Katie said, "Eve will treat me with a cake after we defeat you."

"Enough passing of time," said Master Owens. He stood a little away. "Let's start. I'll be the referee."

"What, are we both fighting together? Two-on-One? That's unfair," said Raymond.

"Don't worry," Eve said, "You're doing this for just a few weeks, I am doing this for years. I can handle it. You can use your Elemental Powers too."

Raymond and Katie looked at Master Owens who shrugged.

"The loser will give a Black Forest cake treat to the winner, deal?" Katie laid out her terms. Raymond slapped his forehead.

"Okay, whatever," said Eve. She got in her stance. She did not even take her glasses off. It was her confidence. She was not worried at all.

"Start," said Master Owens.

Eve got ready. She moved forward very quickly, she was too fast to keep an eye on. Within no time, Eve was near Raymond, she swung her fist at Raymond. Raymond dodged. Katie summoned sparks, she launched a Lightning Bolt at Eve. With Eve's speed, it was nothing for her, she ducked. The lightning bolt flew away and dissipated.

Eve spun herself moving closer to Katie. Eve used her spinning hands to push Katie on the ground. Raymond leapt forward and launched a fireball. Eve dodged easily. She rolled on the ground to come near Raymond. When Raymond was in her range, she kicked his abdomen before getting up. Raymond fell on the ground. Katie came near.

"I will get my black forest treat!" Katie said.

Katie tried to punch Eve, she dodged and gripped Katie's arm. Eve slammed Katie on the ground. Eve was even shorter than Raymond and Katie, but her strength techniques were like a skilled martial artist. Raymond ran towards Eve to spear her to the ground, Eve moved away and kicked Raymond's gut while he was running. He fell on the ground in pain.

"That's enough," said Master Owens.

"You were awesome, Eve," said Katie without even getting up.

"Thanks," Eve said.

Raymond and Katie got up. They were panting, but Eve was full of energy even now.

"I wish I could fight like you," said Raymond. "Your speed was great."

"Oh, I thought I was slower," said Eve, "These jeans are not my most preferred outfit to fight in." Eve showed her jeans. It was filthy with sand.

"Very well done, Eve. You too, Raymond, Katie," said Master Owens.

"Thanks, Master. Now, I guess I'd wash up," said Eve.

Master Owens nodded and Eve left. He then turned to his students and said,

"I hope you understand the importance of combat skills now. Practice them well from now on."

"Surely," Raymond said with enthusiasm.

Beside him, Katie's mouth was watering, she said, "I have to give a Black Forest treat to Eve. I will buy myself one for my hard work."

Master Owens sighed tiredly and said, "Well, after this much time, I have lost the expectation that you will ever be serious."

Raymond laughed.

PART 2: KNOWING NOTHING

After such intense training, everyone needed nutrition filled lunch. Like always, Master Wyngaf, Raymond, Katie, and Eve were gathered together at the dining table. No one was talking so Katie started,

"Eve, why don't you train with us, maybe you can get better at using your Element. Which Element do you have by the way?"

"Yeah," said Raymond, "we have been living here for days and we still don't know that."

"My Element is Wind," said Eve. "I left it out because it was not important. And, there has been a misunderstanding, it's not like I can't use my Element, it's rather that I don't want to."

"That's strange," said Raymond.

"It is," said Eve. "But it was a choice, so no problem. So, have you met Aarav?"

"Who?"

Master Wyngaf looked at Eve who shrugged.

"I didn't know they were this deep in not knowing things," Eve defended herself.

"Master, what is Eve talking about? Is Aarav someone special?" asked Katie.

"Eve, as you have started it, I'd suggest you finish it," Master Wyngaf said. "Go ahead."

"Aarav is a human, like you two," said Eve looking at Raymond and Katie.

"What?" Raymond said.

"There is another human and we haven't met him?" Katie reacted.

"How long has Aarav been here?" asked Raymond.

"Quite long," Eve started her explanation, "He was brought here when he was 9. He discovered his powers quite early while he was at an orphanage located in India. I don't know the details, but the articles and news said that someone tried to harm him as a kid but Master Ellendun saved him. The sad thing was, only Aarav and Master Ellendun made it alive. All of his siblings and caretakers died."

Raymond and Katie stayed silent.

"There has not been any confirmation of the events," said Master Wyngaf. " Neither Aarav talks about it nor anyone else knows."

Raymond was too sad to speak. Katie was silent as well.

"He and I went to the Academy in the same batch," said Eve. "But he's arrogant, never talked to anyone except for his girlfriend, Annie. Currently, he is Master Ellendun's student."

"Master Ellendun is the head of the Masters' Committee joined with the E. A. A.," said Master Wyngaf.

"He is nearly 300 years old," said Eve, "he's a wizard."

Raymond and Katie shot up from their seats. Turned their heads to Master Wyngaf at the same time. Master Wyngaf's face clearly said to Eve that it was too much.

"I thought they knew about the greatest and the oldest Master," said Eve. "And wizards age less than humans, so age is no problem, he looks like 60."

"I am wondering what this world has left to show us," said Raymond.

"After Wizards?" Katie gave it a thought, "I think the next will be vampires, then werewolves."

"Don't go that far," Eve said to Katie, "Vampires are fine, but we don't have werewolves."

"You mean you have vampires?" asked Raymond.

"Yes. Only 2 are left," Eve replied, "Both of them are restrained in different facilities."

"That'd be all for today, Eve," said Master Wyngaf.

"Last question," Eve said, she turned to Raymond and Katie, and said, "do you know about Master Wyngaf's lecture on Battlelyte?"

"We don't even know what Battlelyte is!" said Katie.

Raymond and Katie had lived there for over a month, but now they felt like they knew nothing. Master Wyngaf suggested they eat first, so they did.

PART 3: BATTLELYTE

After lunch, Master Wyngaf was sitting with Raymond and Katie in front of him. They stared at him for answers. Eve was sitting at the side, watching the show. Master Owens and Master Wyngaf were planning to tell everything eventually, but because of Eve, the schedule was now moved up.

Eve might say it was a mistake from her side, but as intelligent as she was, she could not make silly mistakes. Master Wyngaf was sure that Eve had something on her mind about Raymond and Katie. The only reason Master Owens and Master Wyngaf had decided to not tell everything to Raymond and Katie was that they did not want to scare them.

"We are starting with Battlelyte," Master Wyngaf started the explanation. Raymond and Katie calmly listened as Master Wyngaf continued, " It is a competition, a test of a sort, where young Elemental beings, graduated from the Elemental Academy or any other such school compete. The best performers get recognition and the E. A. A. approaches them with a job offer. The better you perform the higher is your post. I and Master Owens had planned to make you participate, so you could get a job of protecting Human Earth which is easy to get as no one wishes to protect Human Earth. This would allow you to continue your normal lives at your home after this training."

"But, I don't want to go back," said Katie.

"Same here," said Raymond. He looked at Katie and asked, "Why do you want to stay here?"

"Why you?" Katie asked back. They looked at each other for a few seconds.

"Later," said Master Wyngaf. "You can choose your desired job on the basis of your performance in Battlelyte. And for that, you must train harder."

"Harder than this?" Katie groaned.

"Yes! Harder than this" said Master Wyngaf.

"Of course, yes," said Eve, "I defeated both of you so easily. You guys don't even have a single Elemental Move yet."

"A move?" asked Raymond.

"Using your Element to create a powerful attack is called an Elemental Move," said Eve. "Many have it. Aarav has too. He's considered the strongest for his age in this decade. He can use 2 Elements."

"Two Elements?" Raymond asked in a shock.

"Yes, Raymond, he's considered to be a Pureblood," said Master Wyngaf.

"But you just said he lived at an orphanage," said Katie. Then, she realized it and said, "Oh — maybe his parents were — "

"We have no proof yet," said Master Wyngaf, "No one knows how he reached that orphanage when he was a baby. And also, there are no more Purebloods alive so verification cannot be done. Purebloods are the ones who can use all 5 elements. So, if he is a Pureblood —"

Katie finished Master Wyngaf's sentence, " — He'll be able to use them sooner or later. This guy is scary."

"This isn't the only thing scary about him," said Eve. Master Wyngaf shook his head, but Eve continued her words, "The basic growth of Elemental Energy is linearly proportional to the age of the person. Means, you have a certain amount of Elemental Energy in you, that will increase slowly until the age of 50, but after that, the energy increases quickly."

"This is all going over my head," Katie said, massaging her head. She took a glass of water from the centre table.

Eve clicked her tongue and said, "In simple words, the energy we possess is what we're born with. And it's different in everyone, some have more, some have less. Now, at 17, Aarav possesses the Elemental Energy which is normally seen in 80-year-old people."

"What?" Raymond asked. He was shocked.

END OF CHAPTER. TO BE CONTINUED.