Fluid Motion

Word spread quickly. Throughout the day, Maya noticed an increasing number of strange glances cast her way. She was a bipartite, the only one of her generation. The only other known bipartite in Amellan was her mentor, Tanya Sherman.

The issue of unpleasant rumors was quickly overshadowed by the news of a new student with bipartite affinity. While Maya was relieved, she struggled with the newfound attention.

Previously, only her peers had paid attention to the rumors about her. But now, the entire academy — seniors and teachers alike — recognized her as a special case. Additionally, she faced the challenge of keeping up with double the training.

The Headmistress acted swiftly. By the next day, Maya found herself placed into a Water group, with her schedule rearranged to alternate between her elements.

Her new Water Training mentor, already burdened with other students, couldn't devote the attention Maya—a complete novice in Water—required. However, Maya wasn't overly disappointed. She had Elena to practice with outside of school, and a legendary Prima Maga, knowledgeable in all elements, willing to secretly mentor her. If only she would appear when Maya needed her…

With a new element, Maya's knowledge expanded, and she was faced with new challenges. Although manipulating water shared the fluidity of motion with air manipulation, philosophy was different.

At least to Maya, air manipulation was easy. It was like swimming in the air. You find it everywhere around you and easy to grasp. It takes only a change in pressure to make it move. After you get the gist of it, it's only stamina that matters. However, water… water has weight.

Even though you don't physically touch it, lifting it is heavy. And it gets even heavier if it's further away from your body. Not only does it feel like lifting buckets full of water, but if it is further away then it is like balancing buckets on a long wobbly stick. It produces great strain on your muscles. Maya could only compare it to weight-lifting.

Maya couldn't understand how Elena does it with such a lithe body. Surely to be an impressive water manipulator you need to be a heavy-lifter. Few days of controlling water, and Maya learned that she would have to do strength and core exercises. Not to mention wrecking her brain to account for the concept of counterweight and leveraging her own body to manipulate it.

'Gods, manipulating matter was difficult. No wonder the ones that were chosen by Water and Earth all looked strong.'

Looking around the training ground, Maya was taking in her newfound observation. It wasn't as pronounced as with the senior students, but hints that indicate one's element simply from body build were becoming apparent.

Individuals of the Earth element appeared strong and grounded, characterized by muscular builds, broad shoulders, and thick arms. Even petite Andrea seemed strong. Only Linda managed to somehow still look lanky among her element types.

On the other hand, Children of Water also looked tight, but their muscles were more evenly distributed, providing a balanced image. While Children of Earth had bodies of boxers, Children of Water were more like champion swimmers.

Isaac, who looked nerdy and thin at the start of the trimester, now blossomed and seemingly gained more confidence. The only problem was that the same case was with all the other boys who were like him, so his presence didn't gain a significant boost.

However, Maya didn't manage to notice a significant difference in Elena's physique. The reason Elena managed to look so lithe despite her element must be because she was remarkably acrobatic. But there was no doubt that under her skin there were lean muscles. Her acrobatics allowed her to counterweight where her strength lacked.

She must be a true talent as she was able to utilize her momentum and leverage her body in such bold ways that it was beautiful to watch. It was quite astonishing to have so much trust in power that was so unfamiliar until only recently. Maya wondered if Elena even understood the theory behind the physics concepts she was able to pull off instinctively.

Seeing Elena find solutions often leads Maya to wonder, 'Why didn't I think of that?' Where Elena simply acts, Maya becomes overwhelmed by thoughts and analysis, making the solution seem practically impossible, despite having witnessed it.

Maya wasn't alone in her tendency to overanalyse. It seemed natural to want to understand one's actions, especially when dealing with something as dangerous as elemental manipulation. However, there was one thing Maya and the other Children of Water just couldn't comprehend.

'How does one freeze water?'

It seemed conceptually impossible.

'What aspect of water manipulation could create ice?'

Something Elena does so effortlessly, no one knows the secret behind. It was as if ice manipulation was entirely her own invention that no one could replicate.

Further yet, it seems Elena's already near-expert water manipulation ability was only a step in her technique—one required to shape the water before she solidifies it. Was it her eccentricity and artistic thinking? At times, it seemed as if she wasn't an elemental manipulator but rather a sculptor who moulds shapes.

Working with Elena made Maya realize how quickly that girl was advancing. So fast, in fact, that the supervisors had to put restrictions on her. Mostly for her ice-ability.

Not only was it uncustomary, but it was also dangerous. Mages were supposed to be all about balance and nature, so forcing something into a completely different state was rather controversial. Well… the whole philosophy does require some thought.

Today's Water Elemental Practices weren't as productive as Maya wished them to be. It was mostly introductory, with a new overworked mentor who had no time to return to the basics and people inquiring about her being a bipartite. At least she could fulfil her spirit for learning a new skill with Elena outside the walls. Elena was easy to talk into practising their elemental manipulation since she didn't see it as learning for school but rather doing something she enjoyed. It seemed she preferred any activity that required her to move her body instead of studying. And further yet, since their personal practice was outside of the town walls, what was against the rules, was just a bonus for her.

Reaching their secret spot, a stream at the nearby forest glade, they were finally outside the stuffy constraints of living in this town. On their way, Maya was instructing Leo to scout for them in case of any danger. She mostly worried that someone would catch them and it would reflect negatively on her record.

Ever since Elena learned her secret, Maya no longer had to hide in front of her and could talk to Leo freely. Initially, Leo was strangely delighted. It must be hard having your existence denied by every human except for Maya. Although, Elena didn't show much interest in him even knowing he was there.

His jokes never landed relayed through Maya, and Elena never asked any questions related to him. It quickly began to piss him off, especially because Elena did ask about Anastasia but not about him. Maya couldn't force her to show interest since the two of them had nothing in common, and Leo would make mean comments about Elena rather often, even before they were officially introduced, making Maya feel awkward.

Their relationship was something that could improve only with time.

At the moment, Leo was protesting against his scouting duties. Being too far from them outside the walls alone wasn't something he was comfortable with. It seemed even ghosts knew fear.

"Leo, you're incorporeal. Nothing can touch you except for me. Do you want to get punched?"

Maya prepared her fist to demonstrate her sincerity, but never had any intention to follow through with her threat.

'It seems Elena's influence on me is becoming apparent. She is the one who solves her problems with force.'

His fear was rather irrational. He can go through the matter, and instantly return at will to his anchor, which was Maya herself. If only he were a little more bold, Maya would benefit greatly. However, she didn't like treating him like a tool, so she never asked for such things from him unless it was necessary.

"Why don't you offer him a kiss instead?" Elena added cheekily.

"Ha!" Leo reacted with indignation at Elena's comment, but secretly liked her suggestion.

"Do you want a kiss from me?" Maya asked, willing to compromise if he would cooperate. She was shy about it, but one kiss on the cheek didn't seem too bad.

"N-no…"

Leo, even in his incorporeal form, somehow looked flushed and faced away.

"I'll do it, so stop nagging me."

After agreeing, he was quick to disappear.

Maya was left speechless at his reaction and Elena sniggered, inferring the situation from Maya's expression.

Soon after, all the hopes of Maya quickly grasping the Water element under Elena's guidance fell apart. Maya had the unfortunate to learn first-hand how difficult it was to learn from someone who had a natural talent. Elena's explanations made no sense.

Who could blame her for being unable to eloquently express what comes to her naturally? Her explanations could be abbreviated to 'it's magic' and still have the same substance as all of her other efforts to explain.

Maya chuckled to herself, sitting on the ground, losing hope that Elena's instructions would ever bear any fruit. She was foolish to think she could learn from Elena.

'Is there no hope for this girl? Sometimes it does seem she's all raw talent but empty head.'

Suddenly Leo appeared in front of her, all pale.

"Maya! Danger! Run back, quick!"

Maya flinched and jumped to her feet in an instant. She looked at Elena who seemed to tense up. Without having to exchange words, Elena followed suit with Maya while they took the shortest route back to the walls.

It was then that Leo managed to explain his findings and why he was so terrified.

"There was a stag."

"Are you afraid of deer?"

"No… It was just… There was something strange about it. It was huge, it didn't have normal proportions, and it behaved strangely. There was crazy in its eyes, I'm telling you. Not to mention its snout was bloody like it just feasted on something."

"Aren't they herbivores?"

"That's why I was so afraid! And, Maya… It freaking looked at me! Not through me, but straight at me!"

That alarmed Maya a bit. She had reassured Leo that she was the only one who could interact with him, but there was something that could perceive his presence.

"Are you sure it wasn't a ghost?"

"It was made out of physical matter. Maya, I don't mistake the living and the dead."

"Ah… It may just be a strange creature that lives here."

"I don't know…" Leo looked down. "I was so panicked when it suddenly turned in your direction, like it caught your scent… I just didn't want you to encounter something like that."

After Leo's explanation, Maya pondered for a bit. Interrupted by Elena's inquiring looks, Maya gave her a quick rundown of what she just heard from Leo.

"He described a bloodthirsty stag… Do you know what it could be?"