First Examination

The morning light shined through the tall, arched windows of the academy, casting long shadows across the stone floors. The corridors, unlike at yesterday's arrival, were now uncomfortably silent, except for the soft footsteps of Jamono and Angelo as they made their way to the testing hall. The air was heavy with anticipation as well as nervousness, and Jamono couldn't help but feel slightly worried. Today was the day they'd discover their elemental affinities, and though he tried to play it cool, the weight of the moment was undeniable. Sure, he was good at water-control, but what if he wasn't destined to be a water-affiliate?

Angelo on the other hand seemed unfazed. He walked with his hands in his pockets, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Nervous?" he asked, glancing at Jamono. 

"Why would I be?" 

Jamono shot back, though his voice betrayed a hint of unease. "It's just a test, right?" 

Angelo chuckled. "Sure. Just a test. But don't blame me if you end up with something lame like… I don't know, earth affinity. Can you imagine? Spending your life talking to rocks?" 

Jamono rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a small grin. "Better than whatever you'll get!" Angelo's smirk widened. "We'll see."

The testing hall was a grand, circular room with a high domed ceiling. At its center stood a large, ornate basin filled with a shimmering, translucent liquid. Around it, a group of teachers in flowing robes observed the proceedings with sharp, calculating eyes. A line of students had already formed, each waiting their turn to dip their hands into the solution and discover their elemental destiny.

Angelo, first on the students list, was also the first to step forward. He approached the basin with an air of confidence, his movements deliberate and unhurried. Without hesitation, he plunged his hand into the liquid. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the solution began to churn, bubbling violently before turning a deep, fiery red.

"Fire affinity," one of the teachers announced, nodding approvingly. "A strong one, at that."

Angelo withdrew his hand, shaking off the excess liquid with a flick of his wrist. He turned to Jamono, his smile now more of a grin. "Told you."

Jamono rolled his eyes again but said nothing. He watched as more students took their turns. A tall, lanky boy named Damius stepped up next, his nervousness evident in the way he fidgeted with the hem of his robe. When he dipped his hand into the solution, it turned a rich, earthy brown.

"Earth affinity," the teacher declared.

Damius looked relieved, though Angelo muttered under his breath, "Talking to rocks it is." Finally, it was Jamono's turn. He stepped forward, his heart pounding in his chest. The eyes of the teachers and students alike felt heavy on him, but he forced himself to focus. He took a deep breath and plunged his hand into the liquid. At first, there was nothing. Then, the solution began to bubble, not violently like with Angelo, but with a gentle, almost playful energy. The liquid turned a pale, shimmering blue, and a cool breeze seemed to sweep through the room.

"Air affinity," the teacher announced, raising an eyebrow. "Interesting."

Jamono withdrew his hand, feeling a strange mix of relief and disappointment. Air affinity wasn't bad, but it wasn't fire either. He glanced at Angelo, who was already walking back to the group.

"Not bad," Angelo said as Jamono rejoined him. "But don't go thinking you can pull off any fancy water tricks like last time. Using two elements like that… it's unnatural. People will notice."

Jamono frowned. "What are you talking about? I didn't do anything."

Angelo gave him a knowing look. "Sure you didn't. Just… be careful, alright?"

Before Jamono could respond, a voice interrupted them. "Well, aren't you two just full of surprises?"

They turned to see a girl approaching them. She had long, dark hair that cascaded over her shoulders, and her eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint. Her name, as Jamono would soon learn, was Selena.

"Fire and air," she said, tilting her head as she looked at them. "Quite the combination. I'm Selena, by the way."

Angelo's smile faded, though there was a hint of something else in his expression - something Jamono couldn't quite place. "Angelo," he said, extending a hand. "And this is Jamono, I suppose."

Selena shook Angelo's hand, her gaze lingering on him for a moment longer than necessary, her smile warm but teasing. But her eyes were childishly gawking at him, something between admiration and… lust? She put her gaze on Jamono, straightening her stance and pulling herself together. "And you must be the one with the air affinity. I've always thought air was underrated. So… versatile."

Jamono felt his face heat up. "Uh, thanks," he managed to say, though his voice came out slightly higher than he intended.

Selena laughed, a light, girly sound that made Jamono's heart skip a beat. Then she turned to Angelo: "You're cute," she said. "Do you have a girlfriend?"

Angelo frowned and looked at her with annoyance and a hint of anger:

"That is not something you should so casually ask somebody, young miss. No means to offend you, but we've known each other now for about half a minute and we even knew of our existence when you linked to the earth attribute. That question, I do not appreciate. Now, anything else?"

Selena stood there, a bit taken aback, but then she nodded as she went red in the face:

"Yes, I understand, sorry Angelo…"

With that, she walked away, leaving Jamono and Angelo standing there in silence. Jamono couldn't help but watch her go, his mind racing. She was… incredible. Confident, beautiful, and just a little bit quirky. He felt a strange flutter in his chest, one he hadn't felt in a long time. Angelo, meanwhile, was staring after her with a disgusted expression. "Well," he said after a moment, "this just got a lot more interesting." Jamono nodded, though his thoughts were elsewhere. Selena had sparked something in him—a feeling he couldn't quite name. But one thing was certain: things at the academy were about to get a whole lot more complicated.