The scenery outside the window changed from the bustling cityscape to the rolling hills and green forests beyond. With that, they stood up and gathered their belongings.

They stepped outside, feeling the academy's energy radiating around them. The imposing stone walls and towering spires loomed before them, casting long shadows in the fading daylight. Drax took a deep breath, feeling excitement as he entered a new world. Drax's jaw dropped with awe, and Uni's jacket sparkled brighter in front of the academy.

Drax stared at Uni with a confused stance. "Wait, Uni, how are you getting in? You just followed me here." Uni smiled, "I'm a demi-elemental, allowed to travel anywhere I want." Drax was shocked. "Special treatment, huh?" Uni nodded. Drax sighed, shaking his head in frustration. "I guess I'll just have to get used to this."

Uni focused on an alternative entrance, narrowing his eyes and sparking a smirk. "Yo Drax, I'm sneaking around. I'll catch up with you soon."

Drax approached the entrance. A figure burst out of the shadows, racing past the academy at a breakneck pace. The wind from their passage whipped up a whirlwind of dust and debris, sending him stumbling backwards. He raised a hand to shield his eyes as dust and dirt engulfed him.

The figure vanished into the distance. Drax stood back up shaking. "What in the Carnareia was that?! Why does this day keep getting stranger and stranger?" Drax shook his head in disbelief. He took a deep breath, trying to collect his thoughts.

Uni walked down the grand staircase, his footsteps echoing off the marble floors as he descended. The scent of old books and parchment wafted up from the Great Library shelves, enticing him to linger.

As he turned a corner, he spotted Drax leaning against a pillar in the Courtyard of Elements, his eyes fixed on the dancing waters of the fountain. He looked lost in thought, his brow furrowed in concentration. Uni slowed his pace, intrigued by his intense focus.

"Hey," he said softly, not wanting to startle him. "Everything okay?" Drax blinked and turned to face Uni, still looking dazed. "I just saw someone—or something—tear through here like a hurricane."

Uni shrugged. After Drax caught his breath, they headed inside to their first class.

Drax sat in his seat, feeling the weight of eyes on him from his classmates. He was used to the attention by now, but he couldn't help feeling uncomfortable. He took a deep breath and focused on his professor, waiting for the lecture to begin.

A sleek figure with a daring coat stood in front of the class, tilting her glasses up while striking a cold stare at the students. She smiled, her voice authoritative. "Welcome, I am your professor, Lyra." She tapped the board, pointing towards the center. "Today's subject is respect."

"Respect your routine, respect yourself." She paused for a moment, her expression more serious. "And most importantly, respect the Elementals." With a tap of her foot, a dummy dressed in a darkly colored cloak appeared. " The dummy swayed back and forth as she spoke, its eyes glazed over with an eerie green light. "Imagine this dummy as an Elemental. Now, you shall bow and greet them properly."

Clearing her throat, she continued, "Everyone! Stand and bow." Immediately, everyone stood and followed her instructions, during this, Drax felt confused and looked around the classroom. Lyra glared at him, "Ah, you must be foreign, this is our tradition."

"The Elementals are not mere folklore," she began, pacing steadily. "They are the essence of our miniature world, the guardians of balance and harmony. As such they must be treated with the highest level of respect, and follow their orders regardless of circumstance. Each Elemental controls a fundamental force—earth, weather, gravity, portal, mental, and mana."

Drax couldn't help but feel dragged further down this rabbit hole. "We must be careful not to tamper with the balance." She continued. "Their powers are intertwined with the very fabric of our reality," Lyra emphasized, her eyes scanning the room. "Disrespecting them could lead to catastrophic consequences, unraveling the delicate equilibrium we depend on for survival." Drax felt a shiver run down his spine as he grasped the gravity of her words.

She stepped away, and the dummy disappeared. "Class dismissed."

As the lecture ended, Drax felt relief wash over him. He was eager to get out of there and clear his head. He stood up, his movements stiff and awkward, and followed the flow of students out of the classroom.

Drax's eyes scanned the courtyard, his gaze lingering on the statue of the Elemental, his scales uncertain.

"It's not hard to bow," Uni said, dropping into a fluid bow with his eyes lowered.

Drax's scowl deepened. "You're used to this, aren't you?" he growled. "Used to? This is normal bro! My dad was all about respecting him and the other Elementals. He'd make us do all sorts of... things to 'honor' him." Uni bounced around as he spoke. "I remember this one time since the town he lived in couldn't give him enough gold, he killed their main food supply and starved them for months!"

Uni's words jarred Drax. "Normal?" Drax replied. The two friends stared silently for a moment. The only sound was the rustling of leaves in the breeze. Uni chuckled dryly. "C'mon, there's more classes to catch." Hours passed, and the final bell rang. Drax found himself back in the courtyard

Uni felt energetic. He jumped and ran across the entire field. "Man! What a first day! I swear the first days improve every year! Turning Drax forcefully towards a sign, Uni pointed frantically. "Drax! Drax! Look! We can meet the president of the Blueborne today! Let's go now!"

As Uni spoke, Drax's gaze remained fixed on the statue. The setting sun cast a warm orange glow over the courtyard. The air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers and soft chirps. But Drax's mind was elsewhere.

He couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling that had built up inside him since his father's words. Leaving the village, leaving his family, and everything he knew behind... it was a lot to take in. And now, this new school, with its rules and expectations, added to his discomfort.

Uni chuckled. "Oh Drax, you always look mean and serious. Lighten up! This is a whole new realm! And who knows, you might even find some friends here."

Drax snorted. "Yeah, right. Like who?"

Uni grinned mischievously. "Oh, I don't know... maybe someone like me?"

Drax rolled his eyes. "You're something else, Uni."

Drax and Uni sprinted to the president's office, taking a shortcut through a forest Uni discovered. The jungle hummed and enveloped them like a living, breathing entity. The air was thick with the scent of blooming flowers and the aroma of damp soil. The sun beat upon them, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor.

Drax's grumbling was a gentle counterpoint to the jungle's harmony, his deep voice rumbling. "This path is ridiculous," he complained, his boots scuffling against the uneven terrain. "Whoever made this shortcut must have been a sadist." Suddenly, Uni's attention was awry, gasping in the process.

"Look, Drax! A speedster!"

Drax followed Uni's gaze and spotted a figure zooming in their direction. The figure was a guy with dirty blonde hair and a mischievous grin, leaving a trail of dust and debris in their faces.

Drax waved his arms, "Hey! What's your deal, man?" With his feet moving quickly in place, Ellios looked back. "See the sign?" Ellios pointed at a tree. "It says watch for speedsters." Uni looked back, confused as he didn't see anything. As Uni turned, Ellios laughed and bolted away, his voice echoing, "Gotcha loser!"

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Crunched leaves flew in the wind as Drax stomped. Drax frowned as he watched Ellios disappear into the underbrush. "That pest," he muttered to Uni. "I'll catch him, just wait."

Uni chuckled, shaking his head. "I don't think that's a bright idea, Drax. We're already running late for our meeting with the president."

Drax's eyes narrowed. "You're not serious, are you? It's like he's taunting us!" Uni sighed, attempting to reason with Drax. "Drax, the president only meets with the students personally once a year! This is serious. Can't we focus on that instead of chasing that show-off?" Drax's jaw clenched in frustration. "Fine, fine. But just for now, I'll try to calm down." He took a deep breath, trying to compose himself. "But mark my words, Uni. I'll get him next time."

Ellios reappeared, grinning from ear to ear as he leaned against a tree trunk. "You guys gave up already? I thought you'd be faster than that!" Drax's eyes blazed with determination. He growled, bolting after Ellios.

Uni rolled his eyes and followed them, trying to keep pace with Drax's long strides. "This is ridiculous."

As they dashed through the jungle, the forest grew louder and more vibrant. Birds chirped and monkeys chattered, and the rustling of leaves sounded like a chorus of whispers in their ears.

Ellios darted between the trees, his laughter echoing through the forest as Drax and Uni chased after him. While running, they rerouted to a path that led to the president's greeting.

"Hey, I thought dragons were a myth? Guess your speed falls under that title!" he called out, his voice taunting. Drax pounded through the underbrush and trees on his way. Drax gained on Ellios, smiling. He felt he had finally matched his speed.

Ellios ran backwards, glared at Drax, and chuckled. "Oh, I'm just trying to give you a chance to catch up. I've been thinking... maybe we should start a support group for speed issues. You could be the poster child!"

Uni laughed at the banter between them. It was clear that Ellios enjoyed himself immensely. But despite the distractions, Uni knew they had to keep moving. If they didn't get there soon, they risked missing their chance.

Ellios noticed the forest was ending and flashed away, leaving only a blur for Drax and Uni to see. Drax cracked his knuckles, "Swear I'll get him." Uni appeared behind him, catching his breath. "Finally! We're here." They could see the president on a podium in the distance.

As the president talked to the students, Drax's scales flickered up. He saw a dust cloud in the forest behind the president. A wicked grin appeared on his face. "He's approaching, I'll catch him off guard." His fist was engulfed in flames as he dashed towards the dust trail.

A loud clash sound was heard as Drax's fist scales collided with Ellios' sword. Uni saw Ellios' attempt to attack the president. "Everyone! Get away, Ms. President, take cover!" As he said this he used his earth magic on Ellios' feet to stick him to the ground.

Ellios tried to move but failed. "Drax! Now's your chance to wail at him!" Drax chuckled, "That's all I wanted to hear." He rapidly threw punches towards Ellios, who dodged each easily. "Dragon, dragon, this is child's play!" Ellios threw his sword at Uni, who used earth magic to block the sword, freeing Ellios. As the sword approached Uni, Ellios caught it mid-air and punched Uni, stumbling him.

While Uni fell, Ellios jumped, sword in hand, at the president. Drax's jaw dropped, not in fear, but in confusion.

"Why would he jump? He isn't fast in the air," Drax thought. Drax planted his foot, and his mouth filled with steam. In an instant, a blazing ball fired at Ellios. The fireball collided with Ellios' sword. Ellios was thrown back, his sword flying out of his hand, and he landed on the ground. Smoke and flames danced around his sword as it swam through the air.

The president hid behind a nearby pillar and Professor Lyra arrived. Her long silver hair flowed behind her like a moonlit river. With her staff in hand, she radiated authority. Ellios looked up at Drax, then quickly at Professor Lyra. He could see that she was not to be underestimated.

But then he turned and fled, dashing back into the forest without a word, forgetting his sword. Drax watched him, his expression unreadable. Meanwhile, Professor Lyra and the president moved to a nearby clearing. The president thanked Professor Lyra for her bravery.

"I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't been here," she said gratefully. Professor Lyra smiled. "I'm glad I could help. You're safe now, ma'am."

The president turned to Drax, who stood awkwardly off to the side. "And thank you, student. You're a true hero."

Drax blushed at the praise, his ears folding back in embarrassment while feeling pride and satisfaction. Professor Lyra patted him on the back. "Nice work, dragon. We could use more people like you around here."

Uni raised his arm, "Hey! I helped too!" Professor Lyra cackled, "You too Uni, good job." Then she vanished into the night. Drax picked up Ellios' sword, storing it between his scales. They walked away from the field and Drax looked back at the forest. Maybe this academy wasn't so strange after all...

As they approached the dormitories, Uni turned to Drax with a concerned expression. "I have to catch him," Drax growled, his voice low and menacing. He stomped, leaving a small crack. Turning to Uni, he moved his arms frantically. "Didn't you see how he taunted me?"

Uni laughed. "At least we're OK." "OK? Do you call being attacked by that psychopath 'OK'? I want to be sure he doesn't hurt anyone else." Drax snorted, his jaw clenched. Uni's expression softened. "Well, let's rest for now."

Drax followed Uni into his room, and they sat at a table. Drax snorted again, but it was more of a sad laugh. "I was thinking about this recently...maybe this academy isn't as weird as I thought it was."

Uni's eyes lit up. "Really? What do you mean?" Drax stared sheepishly. "I mean...I was unsure of this place, but now I look forward to another day tomorrow. Being finally recognized for something positive felt comforting." Drax took the sword from his scales and placed it down. Uni looked at it with wonder. "We should take this to the Blacksmith to learn more about this sword! The appearance and metal are so eye-catching!"

Drax brewed a nasty grin. "Yeah. I have some ideas of what else we could do there."

Drax and Uni walked to their first class the next morning. The sun barely peeked over the horizon. Uni laid on a bench, kicked his feet back and forth, and moved his body playfully. "What did you mean by 'other plans' last night?" Drax smirked and shook his head. "You'll see soon enough. Just trust me on this one."

Golden rays swept across the vast classroom where Professor Lyra prepared her lesson. The mix of ancient stone walls and modern design felt like a bridge between two worlds. Professor Lyra stood at the front, commanding as she surveyed her students with sharp, perceptive eyes framed by silver hair.

“Good morning, class,” she began, her voice steady yet warm, rippling through the room. “Today, we dive deeper into the Elementals' legacy. Understanding their powers and domains is crucial."

Drax leaned forward, curious. Yesterday's lesson felt like the foundation for something more profound.

Professor Lyra paced the room, elegantly gesturing as she spoke. “Each Elemental has a domain, within them their powers seem boundless, so you must give the utmost respect if you find yourself in their city.”

As she lectured Drax felt the same eyes on him as yesterday. Ever since he started at this academy the attention of others seems to have focused solely on him. His thoughts were all over.

“However,” Professor Lyra continued, her tone sharpening, “with great power comes even greater responsibility. A small mistake or defiance can be devastating. Take the Weather Elemental for example; his gifts of rain and sun can turn arable land into a barren wasteland if disrespected.”

Drax felt a pang of recognition. The relentless heat he had experienced when leaving his village suddenly seemed less like a challenge and more like a consequence of the Elementals' emotions. He glanced at Uni, whose eyes were wide with excitement.

“Let’s break down their powers,” Professor Lyra resumed. The atmosphere in the classroom shifted from casual camaraderie to serious contemplation. “Each Elemental has an ability that affects not only the environment but also the beings who inhabit it.”

Uni, always eager, raised his hand. “Professor! Which Elemental is the coolest?" He snickered. Professor Lyra rolled her eyes and pitched her voice up. "Of course! It's the Earth Elemental Uni! Uni squealed as he fanned himself. "Oh, professor! Stop! You're making me blush!"

The bell rang, disrupting the mood. The students stirred, gathering their things.

Drax and Uni traveled through Blueborne, chatting about the lesson. However, Drax’s mind was fixated on Ellios’ sword, which he had tucked securely among his scales.

“Just a bit further to the blacksmithery!” Uni exclaimed, bouncing lightly on his feet as they rounded a corner. Drax followed closely behind, his body swaying with eagerness. Approaching the blacksmith’s forge, the air grew thick with the scent of burning coal. Drax's body was pumped up.

The blacksmith’s shop was a stout stone building, with thick wooden doors that creaked as they were pushed open. Inside, the walls were lined with swords, shields, and armor glimmering in the flickering glow of fire.

Drax absorbed the atmosphere, but his thoughts quickly returned to the sword. Every detail danced vividly in his mind. “Uni,” he said, his voice steady but laced with an underlying excitement. “I’ve got an idea.”

Uni shifted nervously. “What kind of idea?”

Drax smirked and pulled the sword from his scales, holding it like a trophy. “Hear me out. We could melt this sword down… and forge it into gauntlets.” His eyes sparkled with mischief. “The speedster's blade turned into something he can’t wield against us anymore.”

“Wait, what?” Uni’s eyes widened with excitement. “Drax, that’s awesome!" “Exactly. It’s what he deserves. He attacked the president! This is just giving him a taste of his own medicine.”

Drax then moved to the forge where the blacksmith hammered on a glowing piece of iron. “Good day, lads! What brings you to my forge?” the blacksmith inquired, wiping sweat from his brow. Drax held up the sword. The gleam of metal enticed him further. “We want to melt this down and refashion it into gauntlets.” “Gauntlets, eh?” The blacksmith raised an eyebrow, studying Drax closely. “You know that melting down a weapon is no simple task. It’s not just about metal; it also carries weight… and honor. What’s your reasoning?”

Drax slouched down, hardening his gaze. "Reason? The reason is I have some money so melt the sword." The blacksmith frowned. "Fair enough, but watch your tongue, boy." The blacksmith looked at Drax, annoyed. "I'll send a letter when they're done."