Sons and Daughters of Mellgrah

The celebration continued at the academy gardens, painting them with hues of vibrant emotions. Laughter and joy coexisted with tears of parting, creating a bittersweet symphony that echoed through the evening. As Maya revelled in the festivities with her friends, her heart couldn't help but ache for those whose dreams had met an abrupt end.

Amidst the initiated, around fifty students marked by unfulfilled destinies were bidding farewell to the academy life. They faced an uncertain future in Holoton, their magical abilities deemed insufficient or dormant. Maya couldn't escape the heaviness of their departure, a stinging reminder of the world's unforgiving nature and the stringent standards it imposed.

She couldn't help but wonder about the meaning of elements choosing them only to surrender them to such fate. But, perhaps Holoton held different destinies, equally great to the initiated, only less appreciated by the lucky mass.

Maya had only heard stories about Holoton being the sewage drain of Mellgrah, but it was also a large city, second only to their capital Elador. It was the biggest industrial hub of the world and also a crucial component in running the world. Its populace was just as valuable, if not more, as every other citizen of Mellgrah. The only difference was in the lack of magical powers.

Fortunately, her squad remained intact, except for one of Isaac's friends who now shared the fate of those destined for the Slums. A moment of sympathy passed between Isaac and Maya, a silent acknowledgement of the challenges that awaited his friend beyond the protective walls of the academy.

The celebration lasted long throughout the day and festivities given included refreshments and food, and most importantly, desserts. Maya was making her way back to her squad with a plate full of cake and biscuits when an abrupt bump against her shoulder almost made her spill it to the ground.

As a diligent air mage, her balance has improved greatly over the past two weeks, so she could manoeuvre herself so that no unlucky dessert was lost from her plate. Turning to apologize to the person she just bumped into, she found herself confused. 

It was quick, almost imperceptible in the sea of students, but it did almost throw her off balance, so Maya expected she could at least tell who it was. However, all that awaited her was an empty air.

'Did I just bump into a ghost?'

After all, she felt the touch from deceased souls as real as a living person.

Maya brushed it off and continued on her way. However, soon after she overheard a part of a nearby conversation:

"…and she hops around all innocently. I hope she sleeps well at night, considering what she had done."

"Because she's headmistress's ward she thinks she has the right to decide who gets sent to slums…"

Maya wouldn't think much of it had her eyes not coincidentally caught a side-eye glance of one of the girls speaking, recognizing hinted resentment unexpectedly directed at Maya.

"Oh, she heard you," the girl who spoke was suppressing a sly smirk.

Recognizing them as the neighbouring girls from their elemental practice without a doubt, Maya could divulge what it was about. After all, it was due to Maya's decision to keep her integrity that they had to say goodbye to one of their friends.

As she made her way, there was left animosity lingering in the shadows, and their glares were like daggers aimed at Maya. It left heaviness on Maya's heart. She could understand they wanted to blame Maya so she could let it slide and try to put it off her mind.

She had joined her friend just as Andrea, ever the enthusiast, steered the conversation towards their newly acquired talismans, physical manifestations of their elemental bonds. Comparisons ensued, with each friend revealing their chosen artefact. Maya, cradling her talisman, allowed Andrea to admire its rare white jade.

A smooth and flawless white jade, held securely in an aged brass setting, hid depth on closer inspection. Soft hues of pale green danced with milky whites, creating an illusion of clouds dancing across a serene sky. The craftsmanship was impeccable, elevating the talisman beyond a mere accessory to a work of art, a testament to the bond between Maya and the elusive element of Air.

As it was the result of a blind choice, the talisman that they picked was a good testament to how good one's fortune was. Although they were all made out of a precious stone set in a metal casing, the condition and the type of precious stone varied greatly. The most common representation of the element of Air was jade. A white jade, and of such purity was rare, so it was a good indicator of Maya's fortune being bright.

At Maya's request, Andrea showed her talisman.

"Earth is just amber. There's nothing too special about it," Andrea sounded a bit disappointed.

Nevertheless, Maya still admired the rectangularly cut golden stone and the warm light that danced within it, caught from the nearby light post. Quickly revising lessons they recently received on precious stones and their elemental representation, Maya remembered amber was agreed upon as a representative for the element of Earth. Unlike the rest of the elements that still had debates over which one was the best to pick.

"Although, Linda has a fossilized mosquito!"

Their sparkling eyes all begged Linda to show them her gemstone. As Linda picked it up, Maya, Isaac, and Andrea bumped their heads together staring at it from up close. It was true there was some kind of an insect trapped in there. Although, too small to be a mosquito, it was perhaps a fruit fly, it was still remarkable to have one trapped in there.

"It's tiny," Isaac said.

Rising her gaze back to Linda, Maya noticed a quiet complacent smile on her face. It seems Linda was very fond of her talisman. It was only natural as among them, Linda was the one who had the most trouble proving her powers in front of supervisors. It seems her ability doesn't align with traditional earth-bending. However, the supervisors thankfully accepted her and Linda wasn't sent to the slums.

Fire mages nearby engaged in a similar comparison, their talismans sparking discussions of envy and amusement. Sarah expressed dissatisfaction with her jet stone, yearning for the fiery brilliance of a ruby.

For a girl exercising all her power to avoid wearing dark colours that were representative of mages, it was natural she would consider a black jet as something ugly. Although the Fire element had the richest repertoire of stones that represent them, just like Maya's white jade, a jet was quite rare. But to Sarah, it could've as well been a lump of coal, reminding her of the destructiveness of her element.

"At least you didn't get a dead fish eye pearl," one girl tried to console Sarah by mocking Elena's misfortunate talisman. "Hers is the ugliest talisman I've ever seen."

As it was being mentioned, Maya's, Andrea's, Linda's, and Isaac's attention naturally shifted toward Elena with expecting eyes. It seems the truth about her talisman was the reason she was so quiet in this discussion. Elena sighed and extended her hand holding an unflattering talisman in her palm.

Although the halved pearl set in the silver casing was the largest Maya had ever seen, it was murky and impure in appearance. It had a dim shade that truly did resemble the eye of a dead fish. Staring at it they weren't sure if they should feel disappointed, but were only bewildered by the impressive size of the unsightly gem.

Maya curiously glanced at Elena's expression, seeking to see what she was feeling about it but couldn't find any specific emotion.

"Makes you wonder where the other half is," Linda must've been wondering if there was another poor soul among them that had the other cut of the ugly pearl.

"Somewhere, out in the wild, a one-eyed fish is looking for its missing eye," Andrea joked.

"Oh, shut it," Elena protested at being the laughing stock but fortunately didn't take it to heart.

The friendly banter continued and, as the evening unfolded, the celebratory spirit remained buoyant. The students, bathed in the soft glow of garden lights, revelled in stories of conquered adversaries as diverse as their talismans. Each laughter-filled moment was a small victory, a respite from the challenges that lay ahead.

In the midst of laughter and admiration, Maya's eyes unexpectedly locked with Adam's across the lively crowd. In that fleeting moment, amidst the flickering lights and the sounds of celebration, a silent acknowledgement passed between them. Their smiles bridged the distance. It was a moment of connection, a silent reassurance that their paths, though distinct, were intertwined.

Maya wished that this joyous moment would never end. Yet, the night couldn't linger too long. The looming curfew, a necessary precaution in a world haunted by monsters and vampires, cast its shadow over the festivities. The recent tragedy of four students found dead outside the city walls served as a haunting reminder of the dangers lurking beyond the safety of the academy grounds.

In the hands of Amellan's capable guards, Maya and her friends were escorted to their dorm buildings, the joyous echoes of celebration fading into the hushed whispers of a world brimming with secrets and shadows. However, Maya did not worry. She had a watchful scout that would alert her of any danger.

As her friends had to hold their breaths, Maya knew they weren't in immediate danger. However, the danger was something she would soon have to redefine.