First Year Exams Commences
*"To understand strength, you must understand what it protects." — Principal Keira*
The late morning sun cast golden light through the stained glass windows of Lecture Hall 4-B, scattering fragments of color across rows of first-year students. The Academy's massive domed ceiling gleamed above them, carved with ancient sigils that hummed faintly with stored Jinki energy. Despite the warmth and beauty of the hall, the atmosphere inside was tense—something big was coming.
Shinji sat upright, a half-empty notebook in front of him and a sharpened graphite pen poised in his fingers. Denki leaned back beside him, chewing the end of his stylus. Behind them, Hinari, Denji, Inazuma, and the rest of their class settled in their seats, their chatter dying out quickly as the door opened.
Then in strode **Instructor Haga**.
He was a thin, angular man with snowy white hair braided into a single rope down his back, and robes that shimmered faintly with embedded energy threads. His eyes were sharp, deep-set, and unreadable—like they had witnessed too many truths to be fazed by teenagers. Still, there was something gentle in the way he moved.
He placed a hand on the lectern, and the room fell completely silent.
"Today," he began, voice low and deliberate, "we speak not only of strength, but of the world that demands it."
Shinji leaned in.
Denki whispered, "He's in his storytelling mode. This is gonna be good."
---
Haga turned and gestured with one hand. Behind him two civilian workers carried in a giant map of the world. Cities pulsed like stars across the land.
"There are six elemental cities that form the backbone of our world's power," Haga began. "Each is a bastion of one element. Each governed by a Sōchō—the mightiest warrior and spiritual leader of that city."
A ring of glowing runes spun behind him, separating into six sigils, each depicting a plant-related image along with an elemental mark: fire, lightning, wind, water, stone, and mist.
"But as of today," Haga said, turning slowly to look at each student, "only five cities stand."
Gasps and murmurs filled the room. Shinji sat straighter. "Only five…?"
Haga raised a finger. "Let me explain."
---
"The cities are named not for men or history," he said, pacing slowly, "but for **parts of a plant**. A lesson passed down from the time of the Nature Scribes, who believed every civilization—like every flower—needs roots, stems, leaves, petals, and seeds."
He flicked his wrist and the first city glowed on the map.
---
#### **1. Root City of Akaru – Stone Element**
"Deep in the highlands lies Akaru, the **Root City**, home of the Stone Element. It is the oldest of the cities and the most fortified—unyielding like its soil. It is led by the Skiishi Sōchō **Ishizaki Iwamoto**, a giant of a man who once stopped an avalanche with a single strike."
The map showed sprawling mountains and valleys, with fortresses carved into the cliffs.
---
#### **2. Stem City of Tenkai – Lightning Element**
"Here, the **Nexus City**," Haga continued, "known as Tenkai—the city of storms and progress. It is the pulse that carries power upward, just as the stem carries water to the flower. The element of Lightning rules here."
Denki straightened proudly in his seat.
"And it is led,"Haga said, pausing, "by none other than your Kaminari Sōchō **Tora Kaminari**."
A few heads turned. Shinji grinned.
"Yeah, yeah," Denki whispered. "You all jealous now?"
---
#### **3. Leaf City of Mizugane – Water Element**
"The **Leaf City**, Mizugane, is a floating city on vast water terraces. It gathers, stores, and redistributes resources, just like leaves on a tree. The element of Water lives here, and its Mizuou Sōchō is **Tsurugi Mizutani of the Flow**, a pacifist in words, a fury in battle."
Images of water gardens, ships, and massive reservoirs spun across the map.
---
#### **4. Petal City of Hanashiro – Wind Element**
"The **Petal City**, Hanashiro, floats among the clouds. Its warriors dance like blossoms in the breeze—graceful, fast, elusive. The Wind Element reigns here, led by Kazekuni Sōchō **Shin Sora**, master of aerial combat and illusion."
The map showed castles on cliffs, floating arenas held aloft by massive Jinki fans.
---
#### **5. Seed City of Otomura – Sound Element**
"And far to the south," Haga said, voice softening, "hidden in fog, lies Otomura—the **Seed City**. A place of whispers, beginnings, and secrets. Mist flows through its streets. The Ongaku Sōchō there is ** Otani Otozawa the Hollow Seed**, the most enigmatic of them all."
The city glowed faintly, obscured in white mist. Its borders shifted like smoke.
---
#### **6. The Lost City: Sepal of Fire**
Then the final symbol glowed, and dimmed.
"The sixth city," Haga said, "no longer exists."
He let the silence hang before continuing. "**Sepal**, the city of flame. The cradle of Fire Element warriors. Its name meant protection, for the sepal of a flower shields the bloom before it opens."
Shinji held his breath.
"It was home to the great fire traditions," Haga added gently. "But Sepal was destroyed… not by time, or weather, or war—but by the **Shadows**."
Gasps spread again. Even the air in the hall grew colder.
"The Shadows," Haga said grimly, "are not merely assassins or dark mages. They are a force that corrupts from within. They infiltrated Sepal slowly, patiently… until it collapsed from the inside out. No one saw it fall except for...."
He looked directly at Shinji.
"But I believe Sepal's fire still lives. In its survivor. In its bloodlines."
Shinji stared down at his notebook. His hands were trembling
Instructor Haga's voice softened but remained commanding. "The Sōchō is not simply a warrior. They are the heart, the spirit, and the last line of defense for their city. Only the strongest, most dedicated fighters, blessed with innate ability and years of unyielding training, ascend to this title."
He tapped the lectern, and the sigils of each city rose into a circle above the map, glowing fiercely.
"You all have your own ambitions, but understand this—becoming a Sōchō is a path marked by sacrifice. Only five stand today, and each one commands respect far beyond their borders."
Aramaki's eyes swept over the students.
"To recap, here are the current Sōchōs you should know:
* **Ishizaki Iwamoto** – Root City, Stone Element
* **Tora Kaminari** – Stem City, Lightning Element
* **Tsurugi Mizutani** – Leaf City, Water Element
* **Shin Sora** – Petal City, Wind Element
* **Otani Otozawa ** – Seed City, Sound Element
"Each city and Sōchō is a living symbol of their element and their plant."
--
The hall was silent for a long moment, every student contemplating the weight of the lesson.
Haga continued, "The destruction of Sepal is a wound that runs deep. Its disappearance left a void in the elemental balance—a fire without a home."
He looked directly at Shinji. "This is why your journey is so important. Your flames are not just yours—they carry the legacy of Sepal. You are not just a student. You are a beacon of hope."
Shinji swallowed hard, feeling the pressure settle over his shoulders.
---
The lecture ended, but the atmosphere was thick with tension and expectation.
Denki elbowed Shinji as they walked out. "So, what's next? Exams?"
"Yes," Haga's voice echoed faintly as they left the hall. "Written and sparring exams. Your chance to prove you belong here."
Shinji felt a knot in his stomach, but Denki's grin was infectious.
"Don't worry," Denki said. "I'll carry you if you flake."
"Thanks," Shinji muttered.
---
The next morning dawned crisp and bright.
First-year students gathered on the sprawling training grounds. The exam would test everything—intellect, strategy, raw skill.
The written test was grueling—questions on elemental theory, history, and Jinki mechanics.
As they got out of the hall,all of their faces showed different emotions.
"How was your test?,Shinji"Denki asked
"It was okay ,I think I got most of the questions right but some of them were really tough"Shinji said with an indifferent expression
"That exam was pretty tough ,which type of teacher gives those type of questions to 9 year old children"Hinari said
"What about you Denji"Denki asked
"It was pretty easy "Denji said
"Heh!!!!!!!!"Denki and Hinari exclaimed
"Anyways,let's go meet Instructor Haga for our scripts"Shinji said as they all walked towards their classroom where all their classmates were already gathered and Haga was already sharing the scripts and the four of them collected theirs.
"What did you get ?,Hinari"Denki said
"72 percent"She said
"That's pretty high,I got 64 percent,what about you guys?"Denki said
"96 percent"Shinji said
"Woah,that extremely high"Denki exclaimed and looked at Denji who only showed his script to them.
"100 percent"Denki exclaimed and he fainted and an imaginary ghost came out of his mouth.Hinari simply bent down and slapped him hard,bringing him back to life .
"Hey,you could gentler "Denki shouted as all of them erupted into laughter.
"I can't wait for the physical combat test tomorrow"Shinji said
"Me neither"Denki said
Everyone spent the night preparing for the next day their own way.
[48 power stones already,just two more to our goal]