Chapter 3

The room was quiet, save for the soft scratching of pencils on paper and the occasional rustle of movement. The table in the center of Xiao Yu's room was cluttered with books, papers, and the remnants of a half-finished project. Amani and Kelly sat across from each other, their heads bent over their tests, their expressions a study in contrasts. Amani's brow was furrowed, his foot tapping restlessly under the table, while Kelly's face was a mask of calm concentration, her small hands moving steadily across the page.

Xiao Yu sat nearby, her sharp eyes flicking between the two. She leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed, her usual stoic demeanor firmly in place. She didn't need to hover; both children were capable, but she kept a watchful eye nonetheless. Amani, ever the restless one, kept glancing at Kelly, his competitive streak flaring up as he noticed how far ahead she seemed to be.

Kelly, oblivious to Amani's growing agitation, finished her test with a quiet sigh of satisfaction. She set her pencil down and handed her paper to Xiao Yu. "Done," she said simply, her voice soft but confident.

Amani's head snapped up, his eyes widening as he realized Kelly had finished before him. His face twisted into a look of mild panic, and he began scribbling furiously, his handwriting growing messier by the second.

"Slow down, Amani," Xiao Yu said, her tone calm but firm. "Or you'll make mistakes." She took Kelly's paper and began marking it, her movements precise and unhurried.

Amani didn't respond, his focus entirely on finishing his test. A few minutes later, he slammed his pencil down and thrust his paper toward Xiao Yu. "Done!" he declared, his voice loud and triumphant.

Xiao Yu raised an eyebrow but said nothing as she took his paper. She finished marking Kelly's test first, setting it aside where neither child could see the results. Then she turned to Amani's, her pen moving quickly as she checked his answers. When she was done, she picked up both papers and handed them back to their owners.

"Alright, here you go," she said, her voice neutral.

Kelly took her paper gently, her expression unreadable as she scanned her results. Amani, on the other hand, practically snatched his, his eyes darting over the page. He had scored a ninety, a solid result, but not enough to satisfy his competitive nature. He turned to Kelly, his curiosity getting the better of him.

"Whatchu get?" he asked, trying to sound casual but failing miserably.

"Everything," Kelly replied, her tone matter-of-fact. She wasn't gloating, but there was a quiet pride in her voice. She had beaten him again, and she knew it.

Amani's shoulders slumped, and he let out a frustrated groan. "Dang it!"

Xiao Yu glanced between them, her expression softening just slightly. "You both did well," she said. "Kelly, keep doing what you're doing. And Amani, you're also up there. Just take your time next time, alright? You probably would've scored better if you did."

Amani perked up at that, his competitive spirit reignited. "So if I do, I'll beat Kelly, right?" he asked, his eyes lighting up with hope.

Xiao Yu forced a small smile. "You'll score higher," she said, carefully avoiding the promise of victory. He wad smart, but Kelly was a genius even before a mind like Xiao Yu's. She turned her attention to Kelly, who had already moved to a corner of the room and was tinkering with a small machine. The device was intricate, its components glowing faintly with a fusion-powered core. Xiao Yu watched her for a moment, a rare flicker of pride crossing her otherwise stoic face.

"That piece she's working on it's fusion-powered,"Xiao Yu thought to herself. "At her age, with her understanding of nuclear fusion and quantum mechanics, I was playing with mud. Ha! Of course, I'm raising a prodigy."

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door opening. Leo and Aurora walked in, their presence immediately shifting the energy in the room. Leo's broad frame filled the doorway, his usual confident grin in place, while Aurora followed close behind, her long-sleeved shirt hiding the tattoos that spiraled down her arms.

"Alright, combat training time," Leo announced, his voice booming.

"Yaaay!" Amani cheered, leaping up from his chair and running to Leo's side. His disappointment over the test was forgotten in an instant, replaced by the excitement of sparring with his older brother.

Kelly, however, let out a quiet sigh. She set down the machine she was working on and stood up, her movements slow and deliberate. Combat training wasn't her favorite activity, and her lack of enthusiasm didn't go unnoticed by Aurora, who gave her a small, understanding smile.

The four of them headed for the door, leaving Xiao Yu alone in the room. As they filed out, Leo turned back and called, "Later, Yu."

"Later, Yu!" Amani echoed, his voice high-pitched and full of energy as he mimicked his brother.

Xiao Yu didn't respond, her attention already drifting back to the papers on the table. But as the door closed behind them, she allowed herself a small, almost imperceptible smile. For all the chaos and challenges of their lives, there was a strange kind of beauty in these moments moments of quiet triumph, of growth, and of family. And for Xiao Yu, that was enough.

The dusty field stretched out before them, a landscape of scattered trees and rocks both large and small. Some areas had been cleared entirely, leaving nothing but bare earth and dust, a perfect, unpopulated space for training.

Amani's excitement bubbled over immediately. "What're we doing today? Sparring?" His eyes gleamed with anticipation, locked onto Leo with the unwavering adoration of a younger brother who saw his sibling as nothing short of a hero.

Leo's gaze swept across the ground as they walked, his movements deliberate and thoughtful. "Naah, today we'll touch on some energy manipulation."

"Awesooooommme!" Amani's fists clenched with pure joy, his entire body vibrating with the prospect of learning something new from his brother.

A smile played across Leo's lips, warm but quickly giving way to something more serious. "This technique I'm about to show you is an old trick I was taught by..." He stopped abruptly, his demeanor shifting. A shadow passed over his face, a hint of a memory better left unspoken.

"Doesn't matter," Leo continued, recovering quickly. "It's about energy manipulation. While you won't specifically use this in combat as you develop as a fighter, it's a key fundamental in understanding elemental energy control." His voice carried the patient tone of a teacher who understood the importance of foundational skills.

Amani listened intently, though his patience had limits. "Basically it'll allow you to open doors to using other techniques that fall within the same concept," Leo explained.

"Mhm?" Amani's response was more a vibration of attention than a word, his entire being focused on his brother.

"See, we as elementals have a special form of energy flowing within us that we use to..."

"Create and manipulate elements. Yeah, I know. Just blow something up already!" Amani's interruption burst forth, his excitement impossible to contain.

Leo chuckled, a sound rich with affection and understanding. "Alright, pay attention."

He retrieved a rock and deliberately unfolded his jacket sleeve, revealing intricate lion paw tattoos spiraling down his forearm. The markings seemed to pulse with an inner life, hinting at something more than mere decoration.

"I call it dynamite," Leo began, holding the rock against his exposed arm. "Essentially, you focus energy into a pressure point like your shoulder or elbow joint. Then make it flow down your arm to your palm and..." As he spoke, a fiery glow erupted at his elbow, his tattoos illuminating like living circuits. The energy flowed down his arm to his palm, a ball of light that erupted, obliterating the rock.

"Wooooahhh!" Amani's eyes were wide with wonder, reflecting both excitement and pure hero worship.

"Did you get it?" Leo asked, his voice calm but encouraging. He knew Amani didn't fully understand the technique yet, but that didn't matter. What mattered was the effort, the willingness to try and fail and try again. Leo had learned long ago that mastery came not from perfection, but from persistence.

Amani didn't respond, his focus entirely on the rock in his hand. Leo stepped closer, his sharp eyes observing the faint glow of energy beginning to build within Amani's body. It was a sight only Leo could see, thanks to his unique vision, a second layer of perception that allowed him to see the flow of energy, the buildup of power, and the potential for release. To everyone else, it was invisible, but to Leo, it was as clear as the sunlight filtering through the trees.

"Alright, your turn," Leo said, his tone steady. "Now focus, and be careful. If you don't control the energy buildup, it'll explode before reaching the release point, in this case, your palm. And you don't want that. So focus, Amani."

Amani nodded, his face serious. "Okay!" he said, his voice filled with determination. He gripped the rock tighter, his small hands trembling slightly as he tried to channel the energy. His face scrunched up even more, his knees bending further as he tried to establish a connection between his mind and the energy flowing through his body.

Leo watched silently, his sharp eyes tracking the buildup of energy. It was faint, but it was there, a flicker of power beginning to form within Amani. Leo smiled, pleased with the progress. "Good," he said softly. "Now make it flow."

Amani inhaled deeply, his face contorting with effort. He let out a low grunt, the sound of someone straining with all their might. His knees bent even more, and his entire body seemed to tremble with the effort. But despite his determination, the energy wasn't flowing as it should.

Leo's smile faded slightly as he saw the buildup growing unstable. He knew what was coming, but he didn't intervene. This was part of the process, part of learning. Just like a child learning to ride a bike would fall, Amani would fail. And that was okay.

"Boom!"

The energy exploded in Amani's hand, the force of the blast sending him tumbling backward onto the ground. The rock flew out of his grip, landing a few feet away. Leo didn't flinch, his expression calm as he watched his brother pick himself up, dusting off his clothes with a determined look on his face.

"You okay, kid?" Leo asked, his voice steady.

Amani nodded, his eyes fixed on the rock. "Yes," he said simply, his voice firm. He walked over to the rock, picked it up, and got back into position. His knees bent, his face scrunched up, and he began to focus once more. The energy buildup started again, faint but unmistakable.

Leo's smile returned, wider this time. He was proud, not because Amani had succeeded, but because he hadn't given up. The explosion hadn't deterred him; if anything, it had only made him more determined. Leo knew that failure was a necessary part of growth, and Amani's willingness to try again was a sign of his strength.

As Amani focused, Leo thought back to his own training. He had mastered the technique almost instantly, his natural talent making it seem effortless. But he understood that not everyone learned the same way. Amani wasn't him, and that was okay. What mattered was the effort, the persistence, the refusal to give up.

The energy in Amani's hand flickered, growing brighter as he concentrated. Leo watched closely, his sharp eyes tracking every movement of the energy. It was still unstable, but it was flowing, slowly, steadily. Amani's face was a picture of determination, his small body trembling with the effort.

Leo didn't say anything, didn't offer advice or correction. He simply watched, his presence a silent source of support. Amani would get it eventually. And when he did, it would be because he had earned it, not because someone had handed it to him.

For now, Leo was content to stand back and let his brother learn at his own pace. After all, failure wasn't the end, it was just the beginning. And Amani was proving, with every attempt, that he had what it took to succeed.

Meanwhile, a tree provided sparse shade against the day's heat, its branches casting dappled shadows on the ground where Aurora and Kelly practiced. Bamboo swords in hand, they maintained combat stances, but the differences between them could not have been more stark.

Kelly was a portrait of exhaustion. Sweat beaded on her forehead, her breaths coming in ragged huffs. In contrast, Aurora stood perfectly composed, her movements as fluid and controlled as a mountain stream. When Kelly attacked, it was a sluggish attempt that Aurora countered with gentle precision, tapping her with the wooden sword.

"That would've taken you out in an actual fight," Aurora noted.

Kelly's response was more eye-roll than words. Her frustration radiated like heat, far more intense than her physical exertion. Aurora, perceptive as always, recognized the deeper struggle beneath the surface.

"You seem down today," she said, kneeling to Kelly's level. "I mean, more than usual. Is everything okay?"

"No, this is useless," Kelly muttered, her gaze fixed on the ground.

"What?"

"Teaching me combat is useless," Kelly declared, the words heavy with a pain that went far beyond simple training.

Aurora listened as Kelly's true feelings spilled forth, a torrent of vulnerability and self-doubt. "I'm just a typical non-elemental. My body is fragile and slow. I'm weak compared to you, compared to the weakest elemental. No amount of combat training will make me strong enough to stand against an elemental. So why don't you just go teach Amani? It would make more sense because at least he has an element. I'm just me, a weak, fragile child."Her sadness was a tangible thing, a weight that seemed to press her smaller, make her invisible.

But Aurora's response was a weapon more powerful than any elemental ability, understanding, coupled with unwavering belief.

"Hmm... no!" Her voice rang with conviction. "You're strong. I think you're very strong. Keeping up with Amani even at your own pace shows great strength despite not having an element. In fact, I think you're superhuman. I mean, have you met you?!"

Her hand lifted Kelly's chin, revealing eyes that began to shimmer with newfound hope. "You're so smart even Xiao Yu of all people can't stop talking about it, and she never talks." A small chuckle escaped Kelly at this, the first crack in her armor of despair.

"That's what's special about you, your brain. That's what makes YOU superhuman. You're not fragile or weak, you're brave and smart. So use that to your advantage."

The transformation was immediate. Kelly's posture straightened, her eyes blazing with a renewed sense of purpose. No longer was she the weak, fragile child, she was a force to be reckoned with, armed with intelligence and determination.

"So, we go again?" Aurora asked.

Kelly nodded, her bamboo sword held with a confidence that hadn't existed moments before. She was ready, not just for another training session, but to face whatever challenges might come her way.