On whose breast shall I rest this weary head?

In whose eyes will I size up my soul again?

It’s getting near dark and I can’t find one single friend,

Who can help me take away these pains I just can’t forget,

* Songs of Jessa Hardu

Elementa

She laid her head back with her arms over her head in post-coital bliss. But was it really bliss? There was a time when she would never have second guessed it. Now, as her lover started to fall asleep facing away from her, her mind and body began feeling an overwhelming sense of dread.

She felt a bead of sweat tickle her breast and suddenly she felt naked. Not the good kind of naked. Jessa Hardu generally enjoyed being naked. Right now, her nakedness only made her feel vulnerable. This angered her. Why should she feel vulnerable?

It upset her enough to make her pry more than she usually attempted to pry after having sex.

“Kaizo,” Jessa said as she gave him a nudge.

“Yeah?” he replied.

“When are you going to let me join your team?” she asked.

Kaizo let out a long sigh and rolled over to face her. His eyes wandered and admired her body. As soon as she noticed his gaze, she covered herself up with the sheets.

“To be honest, I thought that was just playful banter. I had no idea you were so serious about joining the Rexians.”

“How else am I supposed to gain a ranking?” she asked.

Kaizo had no answer for her. At least none that he knew would satisfy her, so he simply shrugged.

Jessa’s eyes became wide with fury. “I’m sure it’s something a pampered brat like you would know nothing about! Your parents have groomed you for this since the day you were born!”

“Jessa,” he replied. “I’m sorry if I thought of our time together as more than some kind of transaction.”

Jessa scoffed. “You mean you want to make this public? I’m sure your parents would be real thrilled. Kaizo Blaze dating an unranked, unknown, second-year Onyxian girl.”

“Well, er, not public exactly,” said Kaizo.

Jessa didn’t reply with words, but the look on her face made Kaizo’s heart leap to his throat. It was enough to make him sit up to plead his point.

“You’re the only girl I have eyes for! I can’t picture being with anyone else. I want you all to myself.”

“Ha! People in the abyss want jetpacks.” Jessa remarked as she hopped out of bed and started putting her clothes on.

“I can’t switch up my team after just having won the last tourney!” He argued. “Kortro is my best friend, I could never do that to him.”

“Then switch out Bonnette or Tyke for me!” she shouted. Now that Kaizo had raised his voice at her, all the dampeners were off. She couldn’t help but let out all the frustration that had been building up over the last several dozen-days.

Kaizo chuckled. “Come on, Jessa. You know that no championship team has ever had two Onyxians on it. Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Ridiculous?” Jessa echoed. She finished putting on her black shorts, gray tank top, and was about to put on the tall red boots that Kaizo had gifted her when this night had begun. She decided to leave them instead. Wouldn’t want people saying that this relationship was based on transaction. Nor did she want anything to remind her of Kaizo.

“When you brought up being a Rexian,” he explained. “I played along because I’d do anything to get you alone. I’m crazy about you. I’m in love with you, damn it.”

Jessa raised her bril and focused it into the marble floor at her feet. She sent it into the metal door and once she felt she had a good grasp on it, she flung it off its hinges into Kaizo’s dorm room. He was forced to duck as the heavy piece of metal went careening over his bed. It dug into the wall on the other side of the room.

“Whoa!” Kaizo shouted. “That’s a bit uncalled for!”

I’ll show you uncalled for! Jessa thought to herself. She wanted to end this in a grand fashion. She had to be certain that there was no way she could be seduced by him in the future. This relationship had to be damaged in a way that could never be mended. It was something that Jessa was all too good at. Demolishing bridges.

Most of the students who shared a dorm with Kaizo were asleep. Luckily, out in the hallway were a few fellow students. It wasn’t the audience she had hoped for, but it was the audience she got. Besides, word always travelled fast on campus.

“Kaizo Blaze!” she shouted. “You are the worst lover I have ever had! Everyone knows that without help you would never have defeated Prince Dravon and the royals in the last tourney! Your number 1 rank is a complete and total farce!”

Jessa grabbed her blue and green jacket that was hanging by the doorway before striding off with grace. She held her head high as her bare feet slapped against the marble floor. Some of the students applauded her boisterous exit while others just laughed and went about their business.

Kaizo’s teammate and long-time friend, Kortro Boldur, had been one of the students in the vicinity to witness the outburst. He poked his head in the broken doorway. “You were bumpin’ Jessa Hardu?!”

Kaizo remained seated in his bed and rubbed his temples. “Can you please fix the door?” he asked.

“Sure thing, bud,” Kortro said with a chuckle.

“And then leave,” Kaizo added.

“You bet,” Kortro replied as he focused his bril into the door. No longer chuckling but still keeping an amused smile.

Jessa marched down the halls of the dormitory and pulled her hood over her curly brown afro as she walked out into the heavy rain. The glow that illuminated from the campus lights bounced off the rain as it fell near. She felt a drop go down her cheek and wondered if it could have been a tear.

No. She would never shed a tear for that jerk. He didn’t love her. He was just using her. Like everyone did. She lifted her face up into the sky and let the rain wash away any alleged tears she might have. As she shut her eyes, she saw his face. Heard his voice.

I’m in love with you, damn it.

The heavy weight of loneliness fell on her shoulders. An overwhelming sense of dread squeezed her chest and shortened her breath. She had felt this weight before. She knew what was coming. She needed to talk to someone. Anyone who would listen. She could feel the weight increasing. The grasp on her chest getting tighter.

Jessa raced to the campus’s communication station. At this late of night with the heavy rain, it was completely empty. She sat in a chair at one of the middle monitors. Her hand froze above the buttons as she contemplated if this was truly the right decision.

Why was she like this? She didn’t even care about Kaizo. He was a conceded jerk who had no intention of helping her achieve her goals. Yet, her body ached from what she had done. The weight of loneliness kept on growing. She could feel it most in her heart and stomach. Like they were turning to stone and trying to drag her to the floor.

She had only one person she could call. She hadn’t spoken with her mother since returning to the academy to attend her second year. She felt bad for not trying to reach out, but the fact that her mother made no attempt to reach out to her made her feel much worse.

As the monitor continued to buzz with no one answering, it dawned on Jessa as to why. It was out of fear. Fear that when she tried to reach out, there would be nobody home.

The screen came to life and for the briefest moment Jessa’s heart was filled with relief. But it wasn’t her mother who had answered. She had no idea who this woman was.

“Hello?” the woman said.

“Hi, um, is Neera Hardu there?” Jessa asked.

“No, dear,” the woman said. “The Jhori issued this apartment to me when the previous tenants moved out.”

Jessa’s heart sank lower than it had ever sunk before. Moved out? Had she connected to the wrong terminal? Was this really her home? She looked past the woman and saw all the familiar walls and windows that she remembered. That didn’t mean much. Every apartment built by the Jhori looked nearly identical unless you were an agent or in the military.

Then she saw it. The hole in the wall from one of their fights. It was filled in now, but you could still make out the off-color spot it left. Her grip on reality shattered.

“S-sorry,” Jessa stammered to say. She was about to end the transmission, but the woman stopped her.

“Wait,” she said. “Are you Jessa Hardu?”

How could this woman possibly know that? Her mother must have left a message for her. Probably the contact info for her new address. Jessa wasn’t sure she even wanted it. If her mother didn’t bother to even tell her she had moved, then why should she bother to seek her out? Still, she was used to being the bigger person in their relationship. “Yes, I am,” she said with veiled reluctance.

“I recognize you from the box of stuff that was left here,” the woman explained. “My husband wanted to throw it all out, but I kept it in case you came looking for it. Where would you like me to send it, dear?”

Jessa could hear the words coming from the screen, but they were like a distant echo. Overpowered by the beat of her heart and the screams in her head.

“Looks like you are calling from the academy. I won’t be able to send it down to Elementa though. Do you have another place I could send it?” The woman asked.

“I—” Jessa choked on the words. Her mind broke from the concept. She had no place. There was nowhere for her to send her belongings for she, herself, belonged nowhere. “I—”

“Are you alright, dear?”

Jessa felt her face wince uncontrollably and hid it with her left arm. With her right hand she slammed the button that ended the transmission.

“No,” she answered aloud to no one.

As the screen again became blank, Jessa could now clearly see her reflection. Her make-up was running down her cheeks and her eyes were irritated and red. Like the eyes of someone who had been crying.

She fell to the floor and wept. The crushing weight of dread and loneliness was now more than she could bear. She grasped at her overburdened heart and shuddered in pain as it felt like it was going to beat out of her chest.

She laid there sobbing uncontrollably and gasping for air to the sound of the pouring rain. She did this for some time. Until finally her body freed her.

Her mind again went back to Kaizo. Joining the Rexians had been her golden ticket. They were currently the top team at the academy. All its members were sure to be scouted by agencies. Every year the Jhori only allowed the recruitment of so many Elementi warriors. Leaving the students who go unnoticed to be coerced into guard duty. Often to just stand watch over some rich Jhori politician.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

If one didn’t get picked up for guard duty, then they would be forced into the Elementi army. Jessa feared this most of all. It would doom her to a life on Onyxia. A place that had far too many bad memories to ever feel comfortable in. She wanted to traverse the stars. To sail the celestial seas of the galaxy. She had to break free, and she would do whatever it took to do it.

Her body eventually allowed her to take deeper and deeper breaths. She did her best to let them out slowly as she continued to convulse. It had been a long time since she had an episode as crippling as this one.

Jessa looked out a window and saw that the rain was clearing up. Off on the horizon there was enough break in the clouds to spot the immense number of stars hidden behind them.

Someday. Jessa thought. I’ll be out there. The idea began to calm her. She could feel the weight being lifted. I’ll be far away from this place. Her breathing returned to normal, and she sat up as she cradled her folded legs against her chest. She rocked herself back and forth on the floor for a while before saying aloud.

“And I’ll never come back.”

The next morning, Jessa was awoken not by her alarm, which had been going off for some time, but by her cousin, Kolzer Diamond.

“Hey! You alive in there?” he shouted as he pounded on the door.

Jessa came to her senses slowly. Mornings were not when she was at her best. “I live. I live.” She assured him as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.

“There’s been some rumors going around involving you and Kaizo Blaze,” he said as he opened the door and quickly shut it behind him. He was very large for a first-year student and his silver beard also helped to make him look much older than he truly was. He rubbed a hand over his bald head and lowered his voice, “Rumors being of a sexual nature.”

“All true,” Jessa confessed. She would have preferred to have her younger cousin not know of her bedroom exploits, but it was too late for that now. “We were bumping.”

“Isn’t he a student instructor for your advanced combat class?”

Jessa groaned. “And his uncle is the instructor. Abyss take me now.” It hadn’t crossed her mind until just then.

Kolzer sucked at his teeth. “Ooh. That sounds about as much fun as a skinny dip in space.”

“I’d prefer the latter,” said Jessa as she shooed her cousin out of her room so she could get ready for the day.

“Well, good luck, cuz!” he shouted just as she closed the door behind him.

“Thanks,” Jessa said softly. “I’ll need it.”

The first few classes she attended were uneventful. She spent most of them loathing what was to come, and when it came, she loathed it even more.

The class was held outside so long as the weather allowed it. Today was as fine a day as any other on Elementa. The hot sun had dried up all the rain from the night before. So, it was held in its usual spot in the large courtyard at the center of the campus.

Jessa made sure she was not too late or too early. She wanted to sneak in with the crowd that neither over nor under achieved. She figured it was this crowd that drew the least amount of attention. In all, the class consisted of 40 students, 4 student teachers, and 2 instructors.

Regardless of her strategy she still felt the gaze of many curious eyes. She breathed deeply. Could feel it coming. She couldn’t have an episode here. If anyone was to ever witness one, it was liable to get her expelled. A school that produced some of the greatest warriors New Jhori had to offer didn’t turn a blind eye to weakness of any kind.

“If I could have everyone’s attention, please,” Instructor Hiazo Blaze said after clearing his throat. His dark red hair was pulled back into a ponytail. A black eye patch covered his left eye. Luckily, his right eye carried enough judgmental contempt for the both of them. “For reasons beyond my understanding it would seem we have found ourselves in a most unusual predicament.”

Jessa felt a lump slide down her throat. He wouldn’t call her out in front of the class, would he? Had Kaizo put him up to this? To clear his own name and run hers through the mud?

“We have a new student who will be arriving shortly. He was not required to apply. Instead, he is attending on an honorable mention from New Jhori Councilor Laski herself.” Hiazo spoke with clear disdain in his voice. “I should also mention he is but 13 years old.”

Students started to mutter to each other in disbelief. Elementi were not allowed to apply to the academy until age 15. Why bend that rule now?

Just then, a starship could be seen entering the atmosphere high above them.

“The Jhori are punctual, I’ll give them that,” said Instructor Lloyd Rivers as he watched the ship approach. His short sea green hair matched his eyes. He was the youngest of the instructors at the academy. His career as a Jhori Agent stopped short when he lost most of his left arm trying to capture an Elementi fugitive.

The ship swooped down and landed in the courtyard. A large door on the side slid open and standing behind it was a boy that every Pyran student immediately recognized.

“It’s Prince Dravon’s brother,” one of them whispered loud enough for Jessa to hear.

“Prince Jraken,” whispered another.

Jraken pulled his black hair back into a bun and hopped out of the starship. He jogged over and gave the group an awkward wave. “Hello,” he said cheerily.

He wasn’t even fully matured yet. Those two years before adulthood made a big difference in capability. As far as height, the Pyran prince was barely eye to eye with Jessa. How was he possibly going to keep up with the rest of the students?

The ship that dropped him off left just as promptly as it had arrived and disappeared into the sky.

Jessa felt immense relief. In just half a day, Kaizo and her were old news. Prince Jraken Ferno had stolen the spotlight. Who could possibly care about little love quarrels between students when a mysterious boy prince was attending a school for training elite warriors two years early? She herself was so intrigued that she was feeling less and less anxious about having attended the class.

“As many of you have already guessed,” said Hiazo. “Our new student is in fact Prince Jraken Ferno, second son of King Jrax.” He said the king’s name with disdain.

This was nothing new. There were few who still had love for the Pyran king. King Jrax’s drunken outbursts through the years had not done him any favors with his people.

“Originally,” said Lloyd. “We had this day scheduled for combat drills. After hearing of our newest addition, we decided to change things up a bit.”

Hiazo swiped through the screens on his wristband until he selected something. Pretty soon the sound of drones could be heard coming near.

Several students cheered as they could guess what was to come.

“Today, we’ll be playing baseknock,” said Hiazo. “Are you familiar?” he asked Jraken.

Jraken grinned innocently and shook his head. “Afraid not,” he said.

Jessa had only really seen Prince Dravon from a distance at tournaments and on campus. All she knew about him was that he was Kaizo’s rival, and a loner who never attended any social functions. The guy didn’t really seem to have or want any friends at all. This was often attributed to his father’s similar characteristics. But Jraken seemed completely different. His persona was so welcoming and innocent.

Hiazo rolled his eyes at Jraken’s reply. “It is rather simple. Each drone will fly to adjacent corners of the courtyard and project a large circle beneath it. At least one member of your team must always remain within the circle. The first team to knock all the opposing team’s players out of the circle wins.”

“That is pretty simple,” Jraken agreed.

“Right,” said Instructor Hiazo. “First up let’s have the current champion, Kaizo Blaze, along with,” he pulled up a projection from his wristband and checked for the most recent rankings. “Number 12 Alikina Hydros, and Number 13 Puyon Gallius. They will be going up against the Lunanite Princess, Mysti Tidal, who is currently ranked number 2, and on her team, we’ll put Prince Jraken Ferno, and—” his eyes scanned over the students. Then a smirk grew as his eyes met with Jessa’s. “And Jessa Hardu.”

“What?!” Mysti protested. She marched forward a couple steps in the direction of the instructors while pointing at her new teammates. “Neither of them is even ranked!”

“I wouldn’t expect a princess with your prestige to turn down a challenge,” Instructor Lloyd teased.

“Whatever,” Mysti retorted. “Follow me, kid,” she told Jraken.

Jessa was already jogging to the starting point. She couldn’t help but consider the possibility that her outburst the previous night had just landed her the opportunity of a lifetime. There was no doubt in her mind that Instructor Hiazo had selected her to give Kaizo a chance to exact his revenge on her, and she was going to make sure that their little uncle and nephew scheme backfired. Drastically.

“How did I find myself on the unranked drama squad?” asked Mysti once they had assembled under their drone. “Don’t get me wrong, I love what you did to Kaizo. And you’re absolutely right, Kortro was just as valuable to their victory as he was. The rankings are way whack right now, but your little squabble with your latest fling has nothing to do with me. So, now that you’ve managed to finally get yourself a battle with the big kids you better pull your weight.”

Jessa stomped her foot into the ground and sent her bril down along with it. She raised up her arms and closed her fists. As she did this, the stones beneath her climbed up and all over her body. They quickly morphed into intricate pieces of armor that covered her legs, arms, chest, and head in ornate glistening stone.

“Wow,” said Jraken. Though, he seemed to be marveling at more than just Jessa’s armor.

Has this kid ever even fought anything besides Pyrans? Jessa wondered. Nearly every Onyxian warrior could don stone armor. Hers may have been more artistic in nature than most, but that shouldn’t merit such a response from the prince.

“Not bad,” said Mysti. “Your armor is pretty, but it seems a little light.”

“I have moves, princess,” Jessa assured her. “I perform better in light armor.”

“I was hoping you’d be our base tank,” said Mysti.

“That’s what they’d expect,” said Jessa. “Trust me, I’m fast for an Onyxian. You would be far better at defending the base.”

Mysti rubbed her chin as she considered Jessa’s strategy.

“Fighter’s ready?!” Instructor Hiazo yelled from the edge of the courtyard.

“We’re still planning!” Mysti shouted back. “Give us a frickin’ moment’s peace for abyss sake!” Only a royal would ever be allowed to talk to an instructor in that manner and no one abused this opportunity more than Princess Mysti Tidal.

Hiazo folded his arms and took a step back. His face almost seemed to turn red from anger, but he didn’t bother reprimanding the princess.

“Fine,” Mysti said to Jessa. “I’m sure as shit not letting the little princeling guard the base.”

Jessa locked eyes with Jraken for the first time. She had never seen violet eyes like his before and she couldn’t help but briefly admire their beauty. Jraken did the same as he had never seen someone with bright green eyes, and Jessa’s eyes gleamed like two emeralds.

“You’re with me,” she told him. “Stick close, wait for an opening.”

Jraken nodded. “Got it.”

Jessa looked back at Mysti. The lack of faith she had in them was written all over her face. Her black hair consisted of dreads that were intricately braided. The braids stopped just above her broad shoulders.

“Avoid Kaizo at all costs. Leave him to me.” Mysti warned.

“We’ll see,” said Jessa. “Fighters ready!” she shouted over to Hiazo.

The instructor pressed down on his wristband and the drones projected their circles onto the ground. A buzzer sounded and the match began.

Jessa and Jraken approached the center of the courtyard and noticed that Kaizo had chosen to remain behind to defend the enemy base. Puyon Gallius used his bril to manipulate a powerful gust of wind to pick up Alikina and himself and launch them over the courtyard.

As Alikina was being hurtled through the air she sent down a volley of ice arrows at Jessa and Jraken. Jessa hunkered down to cover areas that weren’t covered by armor. Jraken threw a wave of fire above him that evaporated the arrows on impact.

Alikina and Puyon landed just outside the base Mysti was guarding. Once Jessa saw that no more ice arrows were going to come their way, she sprinted toward Kaizo. They had already lost time due to how quickly Puyon and Alikina were able to approach their base.

On the way to Kaizo, Jessa and Jraken had to evade numerous fireballs. Jessa knew Kaizo could produce flame quickly. She had yet to test herself against it. One of the flames she dodged had another tailing right behind it. It connected right into her chest. Knocking her onto her back.

Even with the armor on, the wind had been knocked out of her. After four failed attempts to take in air her lungs finally cooperated. She gasped deeply.

“You good?” Jraken asked as he backhanded one of Kaizo’s flames away.

“I’m fine,” she assured him as she hopped to her feet. She looked back and saw Mysti taking on both her opponents. She had long watery tentacles that stretched out from her arms, and she used them to both whip at her foes and block their attacks. All while barley needing to move from her central location in the circle.

Jessa was relieved she had such a dependable teammate, and she refused to let her down. She slapped her hand onto the ground, sending bril down along with it. She pulled her hand up, and with it she manifested a long black staff made of stone.

Another fireball came their way and Jessa used the staff to hoist herself over it. The next few fireballs were smaller than the first but came at her in rapid succession. She used her staff to block the fires that might have hit her and dodged the rest.

She made it to the edge of Kaizo’s circle and stopped. Kaizo was breathing heavy from all the bril he had already used up. She removed her helmet and tossed it to the ground. It broke apart as soon as her bril left it. She wanted Kaizo to see her face. Wanted him to know how much she hated him for having used her like he did.

Kaizo got into his fighting stance. “You know you don’t stand a chance, right?”

Fury overcame her. She jammed the staff into the ground in front of her and used it to spring herself forward. She may have been fast for an Onyxian, but Kaizo was more than ready for her. They exchanged attacks in the center of his base. Punches and kicks were parried and countered as Jessa tried to gain the upper hand.

As they exchanged blows, Kaizo started to get more and more hits past her defenses. If it hadn’t been for her armor, several of the attacks would have done her in. Finally, Kaizo connected a punch to her abdomen, and it brought Jessa to one knee gasping for air again.

Jraken rushed in to assist her, but Kaizo knocked the young prince back with a swinging kick to the chest.

Jessa jumped back to her feet and threw a punch while Kaizo was distracted. The number 1 ranked student was too fast and caught her punch just before it reached him.

“Yeah,” said Kaizo. “You’re just not Rexian material.” He created a large fireball with his free hand and held it over his head. The flames grew fast and large. The heat it put off was excruciating.

Jessa closed her eyes and fell to one knee as she braced herself for the pain. If he really hit her with this attack, it would put her in the infirmary for days. It could even potentially render her unable to compete in the next tourney. Fear and dread consumed her. She couldn’t think. She couldn’t move.

She heard a loud pop followed by an even louder boom. She felt Kaizo release her fist and when she opened her eyes, she saw not Kaizo, but Prince Jraken standing beside her.

“Found that opening you told me to look for,” Jraken said with a smile. He held his hand out toward her to help her back up.

Jessa searched her surroundings for clues as to what had just transpired. About fifteen paces away she saw Kaizo Blaze lying unconscious with a small crater next to him. She quickly ascertained that Jraken must have knocked Kaizo along with his fireball out of the base. She just wasn’t sure how he did it so fast.

Kaizo had kicked the prince hard enough to send him flying. Yet somehow Jraken managed to not only recover but return a powerful kick of his own in no time at all.

The entire class was silent. Unlike Jessa, they had witnessed the blazing speed that Jraken had just displayed.

Instructor Hiazo grunted. “Winner is Team Mysti,” he said begrudgingly.

The class applauded, but there was confused apprehension in their celebration. As if they still weren’t sure they believed what they had just witnessed.

Jessa looked into Jraken’s violet eyes once again. Could this be her ticket out? Jraken had only just arrived at the academy. She was the first person he had fought alongside of, and he had yet to join any team. It was a longshot for a royal to not team up with other royals, but Jraken seemed different. He seemed, kind. All of her dread and loneliness drifted away and was replaced by a surge of something that she hadn’t felt in a long time. Something she needed now more than ever.

Hope.