Young Writers Society

AN: Well, here goes chapter two. The ending's a little rushed, but I didn't want to drag it out.

One day later…

Josh let out a long, nervous breath. Goodbyes had been said. Teary-eyed parents waved farewell. His brother’s mockery finished. He was now independent. And, contrary to how he originally thought, he did not like the feeling at all.

He stood, facing Avon’s closest Academy. The Academy system had been established decades - maybe even centuries - before Josh had been born. Neither of his parents had attended one. Neither of them were elementals. His grandfather was, but Josh had never met him. He passed away when Josh was very young.

So, laying first sight upon the massive, spire-filled university left Josh rather amazed. The school seemed like a cross between a monastery and a citadel, built high on the slope of a mountain. Nearly a kilometer above and north towered the snowcapped peak. Downward towards the south was a mountain valley filled with forests, lakes, and meadows. Josh could make out trails stretching through the environs. The terrain veered sharply upward again to the next mountain. Far to the east, he could see the city of Avon, sprawled across the plain far below.

The Academy itself was built like a modern facility in Avon, a combination of stone, brick, and steel. There were several tall dormitories, classroom buildings, spires, combat dojos, and other structures unknown to him stood an eight of a mile away. Between him and the actual school was a large courtyard.

Students filled the area, most around Josh’s age. Some talked, others kept to themselves, and others still engaged in mock sparring. Josh watched as a blast of fire nearly sear a not-too-swift water elemental. The water-wielder responded with a blast of liquid, knocking his opponent of their feet.

What astonished Josh the most was the amount of students that had brought their own gear. Nearly all of them had unique, self-crafted armor and weapons. A lightning elemental strutted by in a set of grey and purple armor, a longsword lashed to their belt. A brown haired, green-eyed girl passed him, dressed in rather normal clothing. However, the large bag on her back sounded with the metallic clinking of armor. And all he had was his duffle bag and a half full of clothes and toiletries.

That was the difference between the Academy and civilian schools. Academies were combat schools. Students learned to be smart, strong, and competent enough to win battles against any number of threats, be it enemy soldiers, tanks, or native wildlife, not become productive citizens. They reflected most peoples’ opinion of elementals. Academies were grindstones, and their students, swords.

Josh walked towards the school, wishing more than ever that he was back home.

“You’re new here, aren’t you?” a person called out. “I’ve seen that look before.”

Josh turned to see a student wearing an orange coat and blue jeans, a bag slung over his shoulder and on his back. He had blond hair and a zweihander was sheathed on his back. The unarmed teen gulped, not wanting a fight.

“So, are you new?” the sword-toting newcomer asked.

Josh nodded, eyeing the school gate. If he could run fast enough…

“Blast,” said the person. “Then I guess I am the only third-yearer who came underprepared.”

Josh raised an eyebrow. “Underprepared? What’s that on your back?”

“This thing? It might be a sword, but it’s not armor. Or…new.”

“What’s the weapon being new have to do with anything? It’s still a greatsword. You could cleave someone in half with it!” Possibly me, Josh added in his mind.

“That’s the thing. It’s practically a family heirloom and hasn’t been to a smith in four years. It couldn’t cut butter.” There was a moment of silence. “I’m Zach, by the way. Zach Gardner. Welcome to Avon’s Academy.”

“Josh Evers.” They shook hands.

“So how’d you wind up here? Did you want to come here, or were you forced.”

“The latter, you could say. My mom thought it’d be a good change and help me learn to act responsibly as an elemental.”

“Ah. So what do you think so far?”

Josh shrugged. “I just got here.” His eyes fell on a fire elemental who was showing off with his powers. Flames spouted high into the air, forming menacing shapes in the evening sky. He grimaced, wondering if he could match up to skill like that.

“Well, it’s not too bad,” Zach said. “At least, not until December.”

“Why December?”

“Because that’s when it snows.”

They continued on towards the school.

“Guess you might want a rundown of what happens next,” Zach said.

Josh nodded. He wasn’t entirely sure of the school’s procedures.

“Well, first there’s orientation. Handbook, rules, the boring stuff. After that, a night in the commons. No dorm assignments for now, sadly, so you’ll get a nice patch of floor. First thing in the morning are the placement exams.”

“Placement exams?”

“Yeah. That’s what they use to set up teams, dorm assignments, et cetera, et cetera.”

“What do these exams entail?”

Zach laughed. “I’ll let you find out.”

Josh didn’t like that response.

They followed a crowd of students into a large assembly hall, where the initiation ceremonies were beginning. Hundreds of students filled the room, taking seats and talking all the way. Some were absorbed in their phones, others in conversation. Josh followed Zach, as the Zweihander-wielding power-yet-to-be-identified elemental seemed to know what he was doing.

They sat down in the auditorium. After a few minutes, the lights dimmed and silence fell. A spotlight illuminated a single podium on the elevated stage. A man wearing a dark red suit walked onto the stage and got behind the podium. He tapped the microphone twice.

“Students, attention please.” Despite his relatively young appearance - he looked no more than fifty - he regarded them with old, weary eyes. “Classes get smaller every year,” he muttered under his breath. He picked his tone up to audible range again. “Welcome, students, to the Avon Elemental Academy for this academic year. Now, some of you who have never been here before may be wondering who I am. My name is Essenary John Hutena, head of this Academy.”

What few students that were still talking quickly quieted. “Essenary” was the title bestowed upon elementals that had achieved near-perfect mastery of their powers and were some of the most powerful beings on the planet. For all intents and purposes, the students were standing in the presence of a god.

“I stand up here and look at you, the latest group to pass through my prestigious Academy. Some of you are here voluntarily, hoping to become heroes like those in your childhood storybooks. Others are here because they were forced to, either by society or simply having nowhere else to go.” Josh cringed at that statement. “Others still are here because they did not know where to go next, and you think that we will fulfill your dreams.

“I can truly say that some of you - maybe all of you - will not find what they came here for. What I can guarantee is that you will learn. And the learning will be hard. Most things worth doing in life are. But when you leave, you will have purpose. You will be strong, powerful, and well-versed in the arts of elemental powers.”

He paused for a moment. “After being briefed on the rules of our campus, you will be separated by gender and sleep in the commons areas tonight. Placement exams will begin tomorrow at nine o’clock in the Rendin Center. Teams and dorms shall be assigned that night.”

The lights came back on. Es. Huerta left the stage. Another instructor appeared on stage and began listing the campus’ formal rules. Handbooks were distributed, and hours were passed going over it. Afterwards, the crowd began to make noise again. Staff began to separate the groups, leading them into the commons’ buildings where they would sleep. Josh got separated from his “friend,” and searched for an open patch of carpet to lie down on. Luckily, he was able to secure a spot near the wall. He dropped his bags, laying down on the one he placed perpendicular to the wall, shifting his back on the uncomfortable floor.

Josh lay in the commons, waiting for the conversing to pass. There were too many people in this room, he thought. He let out a frustrated sigh and covered his head with another bag, but it did nothing to silence the noise. Eventually, however, he slipped into subconciousness.