60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiw1aJyi0z"You guys are very familiar with the school campus!" Eilara exclaimed as their group turned yet another corner into a grey, windowless corridor.
"Guys and girls," Mary Beth corrected with a playful roll of her eyes. "Come on, Eilara, we’re nearly there." She pointed toward the end of the hall, where a massive black door stood guarded by a heavy, shimmering golden chain.
Kael checked his watch and muttered, "We have to wait six more minutes. We're too early."
Eilara stepped closer to the door, her eyes tracing the links of the golden chain. "What did they mean by 'skill training'?" she asked softly.
"We’ll be using our powers to fight elves," Kael explained, his voice dropping an octave. "They are our greatest enemies."
Exactly six minutes later, a heavy bell boomed from the clock on the wall. The golden chain didn't just fall—it dissolved into thin air. The black doors swung wide, revealing a massive training ground.
In the center lay a field of surreal, royal blue grass. On the far side, exotic flowers bloomed in a riot of colors, giving the arena a strange, beautiful aesthetic. Students in crisp uniforms poured from other black doors around the perimeter, forming a wide circle.
Suddenly, the ground trembled. Two coaches erupted from the earth in a spray of dirt, shaking the soil from their hair as if it were a common occurrence. The first coach had piercing dark green eyes and long silver hair tied back in a neat ponytail. He stood tall, surveying the crowd with a disciplined gaze. The second coach was a woman with dark purple hair and light brown eyes; her posture alone demanded immediate silence.
"Welcome, fellow students!" the woman declared. "I am Ura, and this is Quinn."
"Today, we will practice fighting elves," Quinn added, his voice cold. "They are creatures that must be destroyed. But first..."
Ura stepped forward, her eyes gleaming. "...you will practice on robots."
"Come and claim your power!" Quinn shouted. "Choose from Ice, Fire, Lightning, Stone, Wind, or Sand."
With a wave of Ura’s hands, six glowing rows of magical strings stretched across the field, forming designated lines for each elemental power.
"What do you all want?" Mary Beth asked, her excitement bubbling over.
"I’m thinking Fire or Lightning," Kael said, already eyeing the crackling energy of the lightning queue.
"I have no idea," Eilara mumbled, her heart hammering against her ribs.
"I’m choosing Ice!" Mary Beth declared. "Come on, choose quick!"
"Lightning it is!" Kael shouted over his shoulder as he sprinted toward the dark purple line.
Eilara hesitated, her gaze drifting toward the green line. "I’ll do Wind, then," she whispered to herself. She stumbled toward the queue, feeling out of place among the confident students.
"What’s the matter with you?" a voice sneered.
A tall girl with light purple hair and shimmering silver eyes stood nearby. She was undeniably beautiful, but her smile didn't reach her eyes—it was sharp and mocking. Behind her, two other girls giggled. One had dark red hair and brown eyes; the other was a blonde with striking red eyes.
"Nice to meet you?" Eilara stammered, unsure how to react.
"I’m Lucia," the girl said, looking down her nose. "That’s Ella and Becca." She gestured dismissively toward her friends. Ella joined the Sand lineup, while Becca moved toward Fire.
"I'm Eilara," she whispered.
Lucia didn't acknowledge her name. Instead, she tossed her purple hair back and reached for the green power of the Wind line. She soaked up the energy with an effortless, greedy grace before strutting away.
Eilara stepped forward and reached out. She expected the cool mist of the air or the tingle of a breeze. Instead, the moment her fingers touched the power, a searing heat erupted. It felt like her hands were being thrust into an open flame.
She shrieked, tears streaming down her face as she jolted backward, clutching her scorched palms.
The field descended into chaos. Ura rushed over to check on her, while Mary Beth screamed for Quinn to call the healing center. But through the pain, Eilara heard one voice above the rest.
"Don't bother," Lucia laughed, her voice loud enough for everyone to hear. "No one needs to waste time caring for someone like her."
In that moment, Lucia’s beauty vanished in Eilara's eyes. The girl’s sweet voice had turned into a jagged blade. As Eilara was led away, she stared at the ground, her pain hardening into a cold, sharp resolve.
You will pay for this, Lucia, Eilara promised the universe. I'll make sure of it.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9s0JKvWkC
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