Basics of Will

The morning sun filtered through the tall windows of the academy, casting a warm glow over the bustling corridors. Jamono and Angelo made their way to the community board, where a crowd of students had already gathered. The names of those who had passed the mock battles were posted, and Jamono felt a surge of relief when he spotted his name near the top of the list. Angelo's name was there too, of course, along with Selena's and Damius's.

"Looks like we're not done yet," Angelo said, his tone casual as if he'd never doubted they'd make it. Jamono nodded, his eyes lingering on Selena's name. He couldn't help but wonder how she'd fared in her match. Before he could dwell on it too long, a teacher called out, directing the selected students to their first class: Will-Control. 

The classroom was spacious, with high ceilings and rows of wooden benches. At the front stood a seemingly annoyed instructor, her arms crossed as she surveyed the students filing in. Jamono and Angelo found seats near the back, while Selena sat a few rows ahead, her dark hair catching the light as she turned to glance at Angelo. He ignored her, his attention focused on the instructor. "Welcome," the instructor began, her voice sharp and commanding. "Today, we will discuss the foundation of elemental control: your will. Every human has an affinity for one element, but with enough willpower, you can bend other elements to your command. Unfortunately, I am assigned to do exactly that with you. However, for this class to have at least some success requires dedication and exceptional strength of mind and focus."

She paused, letting her words sink in before continuing. "To demonstrate, I will show you the difference between controlling your affinity and forcing another element."

With a wave of her hand, she summoned a gust of wind, swirling it around the room with effortless precision. Then, she extended her other hand, and a small flame flickered to life. The flame grew, but it was clear that the effort required was far greater. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she maintained the flame, and after a few moments, she let it die out.

"As you can see," she said, breathing slightly heavier, "controlling an element outside your affinity is possible, but it demands immense willpower. Do not underestimate the importance of this." 

The students applauded, whilst Angelo looked at Jamono: "See? That's why I said that your mastery of water is abnormal."

Jamono looked surprised: "That's teacher standard?"

"Exactly."

"Really? Like even I could probably do better with water!"

"My words. You see now why it's bad to show your experience with water-control."

After the lecture, the students were led to the training grounds for physical conditioning. The cardio session was brutal, with laps around the field, sprints, and obstacle courses. Jamono pushed himself hard, his legs burning as he tried to keep up with the faster students. Angelo, unsurprisingly, seemed to take it all in stride, barely breaking a sweat. During a brief water break, Selena approached Angelo, her smile as bright as ever. "You're pretty fast," she said, tilting her head. "I bet you're good at more than just running, huh?" Angelo took a long drink from his canteen before responding. "If you're trying to flirt, it's not working."

Selena's smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered, laughing lightly. "You're so serious all the time. Cheer up a bit, will you?" 

"I'll lighten up when you stop wasting my time," Angelo replied, his tone cold. He walked away, leaving Selena standing there, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

Jamono watched the exchange from a distance, feeling a strange mix of sympathy and frustration. Selena was clearly interested in Angelo, but he seemed determined to push her away. Jamono couldn't understand why—Selena was confident, beautiful, and clearly talented. But then again, Angelo had always been hard to read.

By the time the training session ended, the sun was low in the sky, and the students were exhausted. They returned to their dorms, where dinner was waiting for them in the common room. The meal was simple but hearty, and Jamono ate with gusto, his body craving the energy after the day's activities.

After dinner, Jamono and Angelo retreated to their room. Angelo flopped onto his bed, staring at the ceiling, while Jamono sat at the desk, flipping through the notes he'd taken during the Will-Control class. "You're really into this, huh?" Angelo said, breaking the silence.

Jamono looked up, surprised. "What do you mean?" 

"The studying. The training. You're taking this whole thing pretty seriously."

Jamono shrugged. "I have to. I'm not like you—I can't just wing it and still come out on top."

Angelo smirked. "I think you would." He sat up, holding out his hand. A small flame appeared in his palm, flickering gently. "But you know, there's more to this than just willpower. Watch this."

He closed his hand into a fist, and the flame disappeared. Then, with a sudden motion, he slammed his fist into the wall. A small explosion erupted from the point of impact, leaving a charred mark on the stone.

Jamono stared.

"How did you do that?"

"Concentration," Angelo said, his smirk widening. "You compress the flame into a small area, then release it all at once. Since it naturally wants to expand, to distribute the heat equally into the area, it will explode. It's not easy, but it's effective."

Before Jamono could respond, there was a loud, aggressive knock at the door. Both of them turned, startled.

"Who's that?" Jamono asked, his voice low.

Angelo stood, his expression serious. "No idea. But it doesn't sound friendly."

The knocking came again, louder this time. Jamono's heart raced as he exchanged a glance with Angelo. Whatever was waiting on the other side of that door, it wasn't good.