CHAPTER 3: BRING IT ON

Tim's first morning at the academy started with a jarring wake-up. He sat up in bed, squinting at the spotless dorm room, still trying to process that this wasn't another rundown foster home or the back alleys he'd learned to call home. But what caught his attention was his new roommate.

Brandon was already up, dressed, and meticulously arranging his side of the room. Every item was perfectly aligned, down to the notebook on his desk. Tim watched this with mild horror, a smirk slowly stretching across his face.

"You know, this isn't a military camp," he called out, voice thick with sleep. "You won't get demerits if your bed's an inch off."

Brandon, not missing a beat, gave Tim a neutral look. "Just because you're new doesn't mean you can ignore academy standards."

Tim laughed, leaning back and folding his arms behind his head. "Academy standards, huh? You mean the standard to look like you've got a broomstick stuck—"

Brandon cut him off, trying to stay professional. "Look, I know you're adjusting, but maybe ease up on the sarcasm. This place is serious. It's not like any school you've been to before."

Tim rolled his eyes, feigning shock. "You don't say. And here I was thinking they brought me here for remedial math classes."

Brandon sighed, clearly not amused by Tim's antics, and continued his morning routine. Tim swung his legs over the edge of the bed and glanced around the room, still feeling out of place. Posters of legendary supernaturals adorned the walls, their gazes seemingly judging his every move.

"Okay, Mr. Perfect," Tim said, standing up and stretching dramatically, "what's on the agenda today? More rules? Maybe a lecture on how to polish my personality?"

Brandon turned, eyebrow raised. "Actually, we have our first day of training. You might want to take this seriously."

"Training? What are we, a bunch of superheroes in a bad TV show?" Tim replied, a grin breaking through his sarcasm.

Brandon shot him a look that could've burned a hole in a wall. "This is not a joke, Tim. The academy trains us to harness our abilities. If you want to stay here, you need to pull your weight."

"Fine, fine. I'll just show up in my best 'natural-born hero' attire," Tim said, rummaging through his meager clothing. "How about this?" He held up a t-shirt with a faded graphic of a cat in sunglasses. "What....the....hell is this? Let me guess, you picked my drawer?"

Brandon smirked despite himself. "The drawer is picked with various clothes, you can toss out the ones you don't like. You might want to go for something less… distracting."

"Distraction is my middle name," Tim quipped, taking the shirt and heading for the showers

After a quick breakfast, Brandon led Tim out of the dorm and onto the academy grounds. Tim glanced around, taking in the sprawling campus filled with students honing their powers. It looked more like a theme park for magical misfits than an academy.

"Welcome to the Academy of the Ashari and Krane," Brandon announced, gesturing broadly. "This is where you'll learn to control your element."

"Ah, yes. Nothing says 'serious training' like a giant magic playground," Tim said, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

Brandon ignored his sarcasm and continued, pointing out important locations like the library, which Tim dubbed "nerd central." They passed the Hall of Ancestral Powers, where portraits of past heroes hung on the walls, their expressions a mix of pride and warning.

"Those are the greats," Brandon explained, his tone a mix of reverence and seriousness. "Each of them faced tremendous challenges and triumphed."

"Triumphed, or got really good PR?" Tim quipped, nudging Brandon playfully. "I mean, you can't tell me they didn't have some amazing marketing people."

Brandon shot him a withering glance. "You might want to focus on your training instead of making jokes."

"Come on, lighten up, Prince Charming. It's only our first day, and I'm here to make it entertaining," Tim said, a grin plastered on his face.

They arrived at the Training Arena, a massive structure buzzing with energy. Students were scattered about, practicing their powers. A group of students was in the midst of summoning flames, while others manipulated water and earth. Tim felt a rush of excitement mixed with apprehension.

"Ready for your first class?" Brandon asked, and Tim could hear the slight challenge in his tone.

"Bring it on," Tim replied, puffing out his chest dramatically. "I'm sure it'll be a breeze. Or a gust, or whatever."

"Okay then, this is your stop. Element class" Brandon said

"Wait you are not in this class?" Tim asked

"Nope, this class is for Ashari, element benders, I'm a Krane, non-element. Plus this class is for beginners"

"First of all, Excuse you? second how do you know I'm an element bender"

"The Head Mistress asked me to bring you here so she's probably been monitoring your life in the human—"

"Wait what?" 

"I'm gonna go. Have a nice first day" Brandon yelled as he ran as far as possible.

As Tim entered the classroom, the instructor—a stern woman with an air of authority—greeted him. "Welcome to Introduction to Elements. Here, you will discover your main power. Each of you has one, and it's essential for your journey at the academy."

Tim's brows knitted together. "So, what? We're supposed to just magically find our powers like they're hiding under a rock?"

"Yes," the instructor replied, "if you consider your connection to your element a rock."

Tim couldn't help himself. "Great, so I should just sit down and meditate with my 'inner rock.' I'm all about deep connections."

The instructor ignored his comment and started the class, guiding the students in visualization exercises to connect with their elements. Tim rolled his eyes, but he tried to focus.

As the other students began summoning their powers, Tim felt out of place. One by one, they succeeded, flames flickering to life, water swirling in delicate patterns, earth shifting beneath their feet. The instructor turned her attention to Tim, who stood at the back, arms crossed.

"Let's see what you can do," she said, a challenge lacing her tone.

Tim stepped forward, trying to channel the energy he had felt before. He closed his eyes and envisioned the leaf and the magnificent gate. But as he tried to concentrate, all he could hear was the sound of his own sarcastic thoughts.

"C'mon, Tim. Show them what you've got," he muttered under his breath. "Or just make a great joke about how you'll fail spectacularly."

Just as he was about to give up, a rush of energy surged through him. For a fleeting moment, his hands glowed with light, and a gust of wind whipped through the room, startling both him and the instructor.

Tim blinked, stunned. "Whoa, did I just do that?"

The instructor looked equally surprised. "Well, that's a promising start."

"Promising? I was just trying not to fall asleep!" Tim said, trying to brush off the moment. But he could feel the eyes of his classmates on him, a mix of curiosity and suspicion swirling in the air.

After class, Tim ambled over to where Brayden was chatting with a girl. He approached with his signature swagger, ready to flaunt his new-found potential.

"Tim, right?" The girl next to Brayden asked 

"In the flesh," Tim bowed playfully "And what might you name be beautiful"

"Its.....emmm..... Anika " She said 

"A beautiful name for a beautiful lady" Tim took her hand and kissed it 

"Emmm.... So how are you adjusting so far?" Anika asked after recomposing herself.

"Okay I guess, I'm a natural at every thing so"

Brayden, unimpressed, challenged him with a smirk. "Really? Think you can keep up? How about a friendly spar? I could use a good warm-up."

"Sure, if you promise to go easy on me. I wouldn't want you to hurt your little royal ego," Tim shot back, rolling his eyes.

Anika's interest piqued as she watched the two exchange banter. "Are you really up for it? You just got here."

"Please, I thrive on friendly competition," Tim grinned, waving a dismissive hand. "I'll just show you what a real 'wind' can do."

The arena was buzzing as they took their positions. Tim felt the anticipation in the air, a rush of adrenaline mingling with his trademark sarcasm.

"Ready to lose?" Brayden called, igniting a small flame in his palm.

"Only if you're ready to admit I'm better looking," Tim shot back, a cheeky grin on his face.

The match began, and Brayden quickly launched a fireball toward Tim. With instinct kicking in, Tim deflected it with a gust of wind, creating an impressive shield that surprised everyone, including himself.

"Did you see that? I deflected it. I told you I was a natural at everything. In.....your.....face" Tim exclaimed, trying to mask his shock with bravado. "I'm basically.....the best at this."

Brayden looked taken aback, but determination sparkled in his eyes. "Alright, let's kick it up a notch!"

As they continued to spar, Tim used his street skills to dodge Brayden's attack while his new found wind shield kept appearing every now and then. 

"C'mon street kid, is running all you can do" Brayden teased

"Street kid?" Tim growled and without even thinking, a blast of wind shot out of him and sent Brayden stumbling a few meters back "Holy shit, did I just...? You all saw that right? Oh men I am a super—" 

A ball of fire came out of nowhere send Tim to a far corner of the room. 

"Ouch," Tim groaned trying to get up "Note to self, don't talk when fighting" He added and fell back. 

After the match, whispers spread through the crowd about Tim's impressive performance. He couldn't help but feel a mix of pride and confusion, I mean, he did get his ass kicked. 

Brandon approached him, a look of cautious admiration on his face. "That was… Impressive."

Tim shrugged, "Impressive? Dude are you blind or something cus i know I got my ass kicked"

"Yeah but you did hold your ground against Brayden on your first day"

"You're right, I was impressive. First wind shield, next tornadoes, Yeah." Tim said nodding his head in affirmation 

Brandon shook his head, half-amused. "Just try to focus. This is only the beginning."

"Focus? Where's the fun in that?" Tim smirked, brushing off Brandon's concern.

That night, Tim lay in bed, the day's events swirling in his mind. He closed his eyes, feeling both exhausted and exhilarated. But sleep pulled him under, and soon, he found himself in a different world.

In his dream, he saw a warm scene: a father, a pregnant mother, laughing and living happily together. Tim felt a strange sense of belonging, as if this was what he had always longed for. But the dream shifted suddenly, darkness creeping in as the mother lay lifeless on the ground, blood everywhere, even on the father's hands.

His heart raced as he watched the horror unfold. The father, once filled with joy, now reached for the baby, pulling it from the mother's womb, raising a weapon to stab it.

Tim's breath caught in his throat. "No!" he screamed, but before he could move, he jolted awake, gasping for air, the chilling reality of the dream lingering in his mind.