The Elements

The morning sun cast long shadows over Mr. Augustin's farmlands as Arthur hefted a bundle of logs onto his shoulder. Sweat trickled down his face, soaking the frayed edges of his shirt. He worked tirelessly, knowing the small amount of money he earned helped his mother keep food on the table.

Arthur stacked the logs neatly by the shed before approaching Mr. Augustin, a stout man with a weathered face and a perpetual scowl. Swallowing his apprehension, Arthur spoke in a respectful tone.

"Sir, I've started school. May I leave an hour earlier from now? My classes begin at noon."

Mr. Augustin looked up, irritation etched on his face. "School? Bah! Why waste your time on that? You think you'll become an Elementalist? After they test you, you'll see the truth. Not everyone has the talent, especially someone like you."

Arthur stood his ground. "I still want to try, sir."

Mr. Augustin squinted at him, then held up two fingers. "Fine. But I'll deduct two bronze coins a day from your pay. Take it or leave it."

Arthur's stomach sank. "That's nearly half of what I earn, sir. And I'm only asking for an hour—"

"Don't waste my time, boy," Mr. Augustin snapped. "Five bronze coins a day is generous enough for the little work you do. If you don't like it, find another job."

Arthur bit his lip, fighting back the sting of humiliation. "I'll take it," he said quietly and walked away, the weight of the conversation pressing heavily on his chest.

Arthur entered the classroom and took a seat near the back, far from Kian's group.

The murmurs of the students quieted as a middle-aged man with a slight belly entered. His presence commanded attention, and his sharp eyes scanned the room.

"I am Teacher Larry," he began, his voice steady, "and I will be your homeroom teacher this year. Today, we'll discuss the foundation of our world: the elements."

Arthur leaned forward, eager to absorb every word.

"There are four elements," Teacher Larry continued. "Earth, Water, Air, and Fire. Each governs a vital aspect of life."

He gestured dramatically, holding the class's attention. "Earth forms the bones, the muscles, and organs of our bodies, the soil we walk on, and the food we eat. Water flows through our rivers, fills our seas, and courses through our veins in our blood. Air, though invisible, is our most essential element—without it, we perish in moments. And Fire, the rarest and most powerful, sustains life by burning within us but is also capable of untold destruction."

Arthur's eyes sparkled with wonder. The idea of controlling such forces seemed almost too incredible to believe.

"Most who awaken manage only one element in their lifetime," Teacher Larry said. "A rare few awaken two, often after years of intense training and focus. Awakening three is a feat so extraordinary that it borders on legend, requiring not only immense talent but also a profound connection to the elements. Those who manage it often become figures of great renown, their names etched into history."

A girl in the front raised her hand. "Teacher, can someone with the water element control the seas?"

Teacher Larry nodded. "At a high realm, an Elementalist can significantly influence the external world through their prowess. While controlling an entire sea is unlikely, you might create great waves or redirect a river's flow."

Arthur couldn't contain his excitement. "Teacher, has anyone ever controlled all four elements?"

The question drew some chuckles from the other students, but Teacher Larry's gaze softened. "It's a bold dream, boy. But no, there are no recorded instances of anyone mastering all four. There have been rumors of others attempting the same, but no official confirmations have ever been made."

A voice cut through the class. "Teacher Larry, if I awaken the Fire element, who will teach me?"

The room fell silent. All eyes turned toward the speaker—a boy with an air of authority. His fine clothes and confident smirk identified him immediately.

Teacher Larry's tone shifted to one of deference. "Ah, young master Kian. I will be handling the basics for all elements. Advanced training will come later."

Kian gave a faint smile, his tone both polite and condescending. "A solid foundation is the key to going far, is it not, Teacher Larry? I trust you'll ensure we have one. After all, much depends on the teacher."

Teacher Larry nodded quickly, his tone measured and reassuring. "Of course, young master Kian. A solid foundation is indeed vital, and I assure you that we will start with the very best basics to build upon. I hope to meet your expectations as we progress through the term." He straightened his posture and smoothly transitioned back to the lesson, his gaze shifting to the rest of the class. "Now, as I was saying, the elements form the very foundation of our world..."

Kian's smile tightened, but he said nothing more, and Teacher Larry smoothly transitioned back to the lesson.

"Next, we are going to learn about the basics of meditation. The elemental affinity of everyone is unknown till one awakens their Elemental vision. So, the first step is to awaken the Elemental vision and understand one's elemental affinity."

"Think of elemental vision as a new sense that allows an individual to perceive the elemental energies in the surrounding. Don't get confused by the term 'vision' as you don't perceive these energies through your eyes."

"In fact, we don't know how we are able to visualize these energies with our eyes closed. The closest similarity to this sense is when we close our eyes and think about certain things and we can 'see' these things in our mind with our eyes closed. Only this time, we are able to 'see' not some imaginary things in our mind, but the energies that exist around us."

"These energies manifest as different coloured dots floating around us - Red symbolizes fire, Blue symbolizes Water, Brown symbolizes Earth, and Grey symbolizes Air. Once you start visualizing any of the elements in your Elemental vision, you have taken the first step in your Elementalist journey."

As Teacher Larry looked around after the brief explanation, he saw confused faces staring back at him.

"It can be a bit confusing just from my words. The best way to understand is just by experiencing it yourselves."

Teacher Larry looked outside at the sun hanging low in the sky. Since the lecture had been long and the students were tired, he concluded the class, "We will start the class tomorrow with meditation practice. The class ends today."

The students let out a collective sigh and started pouring out of the classroom in droves.