Looking over his shoulder at the dirt shifting in the sand, Greatson cannot help but remember his father as he knew him.
Each day, every morning and every night, right down to the seconds played out in Greatson's mind. Right down to the moment his father fell. And the face of the man who did that.
Clenching his fist, Greatson's face turns cold. "If I say I'm going to kill you, then even if I have to die I guarantee I will!" With these parting words, Greatson disappears into the horizon.
......................................................................................................
In the cloud filled city of Retoil, there exists several high structures that reach up to the heavens. Each one carrying significant value to the country. For instance, there is the Grand Library that has books that existed before the country was even formed. The Royal Tower where all of the dead kings and queens were stored so as to guide their descendants. And of course, there is also the High School of Practice that gives precedence to aiding those skilled in the elements make their last and first steps in elemental practice.
At the front desk of the HSP a couple of guards stood next to the admissions personal. This was a typical image for the HSP as any day of the year a student may enroll. Just today they were going to receive a recruit coming from the sky. This obviously was Greatson.
The personal, a Mr. Hyde, was reading a book with a bored expression when a gust of wind came before him. The pages of the book fluttered and he sighed. He knew that this was a sign of someone at least Proficient mastery in Wind so they would likely have the qualifications. Just why though, did every Wind Proficient and above have to make him lose his place in whatever book he was reading?!
Not knowing of Mr. Hyde's frustration, Greatson walked up to the desk. The two guards prepared an attack of their own, one Water punch and one Earth slash. Noticing their reactions, Greatson produced one envelope. This was standard procedure as the Elite Foundation must approve all of the HSP's applicants before they can try out for admissions. Seeing the envelope with the seal, the two guards stood down.
"Element and Mastery level." Mr. Hyde
"Water. Proficient." Greatson
"Proof" Mr Hyde
Greatson stomped his feet and produced a geyser that reached up to his neck before it faltered and landed on the ground. This showed the mastery but not enough to be Advanced. Hyde nodded his head and called for some elders who came from the school grounds.
The two elders showed Greatson to a store room where he was fitted for a blue vest representing his study in water. Many students can be recognized by there colors, though that can deceive many. First time students frequent the school grounds, while those in the second term are more uncommon. The rare ones who typically control the school ground are third tiers who are aiming to enter the Four-Elemental status by receiving their study into the fourth element.
Greatson was a one in a decade close Four-Elemental who was studying the fifth element. He was a special case that was not ignored so long as he was finishing his study into the fourth element and had suitable knowledge to a possible fifth element. For example, Greatson had to go to the Elite Foundation and the Great Library to chronicle his research into Lightning before they would approve him for the High School of Practice.
Taking his new vest and a room key, Greatson left for the school grounds. Chatting around were many freshman and seniors of the school. Many of those who had just started their studies or were about finished found they had plenty of free time to chat with others. Those in the fourth to eighth year margin were typically studying and practicing. Walking among the students, Greatson noticed a group coming toward him.
This group was comprised of six people wearing the color red with two yellow vests among them. The lead individual had a rough patch of hair and piercing black eyes. He was the tallest and most sturdy individual on the grounds while the ones behind him were more of the short side. They were eyeing Greatson like sharks to prey, giving him a slight chuckle. Looks like the stereotypical bullies have come. This will be fun.
Stepping forward to meet the leader of the group, Greatson and the leader faced eye to eye. However difficult that may be with Greatson only meeting the leader at his nose. The leader looked down at Greatson and only thought of him as fresh meat. A teen could only be a first timer while he a forty-something man was coming in for the fourth element of fire. The little guy should be glad he was giving him the time of day. At least, that was what Greatson read from the leader.
"Who are you, and what will you give to be under Rigortoe's, my protection?" the leader questioned.
Rigortoe? Not all names can be great but they still give some sense of pride no matter how odd they may be. Rigortoe probably was the most experienced in water then, since people generally names lead people toward their practice. For example, Greatson was a strong name which led him to begin in earth. While Wellson was a good nature name that led him to begin in wind, even though water would be just as great. Rigortoe was an unsteady name so this symbolized a practice in the flowing water. Or something like that. Not everybody does that thing.
Knowing very well what Vigortoe wanted, Greatson spared no time for some beatdown! With a high kick he set Vigortoe's face on fire and countered the wind fist coming his way with a spin kick possessing wind attributes of its own. The winds were virtually equal but created a pause that Greatson used to stomp the fist with an earth kick, crushing Vigortoe's fingers. Then came the henchmen.
Boom. A fire foot landed on the two closest faces and a spin kick infused with water knocked two others away. When the fifth one came, a normal fist with a tiny piece of earth punched his lights out. Went down like a wimp. Not forgetting Vigortoe, Greatson did two quick wind kicks that cut into him. With this, pretty much all of them were out. Those that didn't go down, Greatson flicked fire in their foreheads so they don't want to continue the fight.
Whistling a little tune, Greatson walked away. No elders stopped him because fighting is good to help people learn, like how this group learned not to mess with Greatson. The other students saw Greatson's performance and knew not to mess with him. Within a few days, everyone knew not to mess with Greatson. Of course, this also meant that not many students wanted to associate with him but Greatson came for revenge not friends.
...........................................................................................
"Tsk"
Snapping his fingers, Greatson grunts at the trouble he's been having. Just now, Greatson had tried to circulate the electricity between his fingers and the air but had nothing. The electricity didn't even stretch that much from his finger before dissipating. Wasn't this the same as barely being an Initial mastery? Yet this was the result of his independent study into the four elements. That meant he was at a dead end with his own insights and will have to rely on the school for aid.
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
The path to the library was fairly open. All of the students who saw Greatson coming their way made a path. Normally, because of traffic it would be a fair amount of time before someone saw the library. For Greatson, it was a few minutes. The people at the front doors were even kind enough to welcome him in with a smile. Goes to show what a reputation earns you.
Once inside the library, there would be five sections. Each section had a color corresponding to the different elements. The fifth section that was black was designated though for independent research so for many it was a section that wasn't highly sought out. Unless you are Greatson.
Walking to the black section, Greatson started to look through the large notebook resting on a table at the center of it. This notebook was the categorization log, the closest thing this section had to sorting the documents out. If you wanted to learn about something, there was no specific area with notes on the subject. All of the notes relating to the subject are in the categorization log next to each documents name. They are, however, sorted by timing so you have to read the whole thing front to back to find all of the notebooks with an inkling of the subject you are needing.
Taking an hour or two, Greatson found inside of the book four to five books with anything relating to the subject of lightning. Taking this as a starting point, Greatson's next hour was spent locating these books and recording their positions. The library has a strict guideline on people taking their documents out so Greatson could only memorize their locations on this first day and use the following days to go over them. With this task completed, Greatson still had an hour or two before the library closed so he thought to give the water section a go.
Without Wellson to aid Greatson, his progress in water had slowed to less than a snail's pace. He needed this time in the High School of Practice to become a Four Elemental. Only then could Greatson have a slight chance at facing the man who killed his father. Lightning though might be his chance of overcoming the man by becoming a Pseudo-Five Elemental. These people were always the most unpredictable and rare elementals to face. Wellson himself was only capable of defeating one or two in his career which was a extremely unlikely occurrence.
Walking in, Greatson saw several notes all over the bookshelves illustrating the subject. Greatson was interested in the flow, burst, and breath subjects so he took his time skimming the surface of these sections. The other students who were near him gave him some room to peruse.
Though, there was one girl sitting at a table a little away from him who was glancing at him nervously. She was a first time student in Green with long blue hair hanging over her shoulder and had deep green eyes. As a first-time student, she was not as aware of everything in the school and had only started very recently. Being seventeen years old, she was thought of as small fry so no one gave her the time of day so when she wanted to get some advice about water, they didn't lend her a hand.
With no other choice, she practiced on her own when she saw this boy. He was similar to her in age yet everyone stayed away from him. This must mean he is an expert. She had no idea how he scared away everyone but he was wearing blue which meant he might be able to help her when it came to understanding water. Now she just had to muster the confidence to go over and ask him for advice.
Biting her lip softly, the blue-haired girl gets up and walks over. Noticing someone coming, Greatson looks over his shoulder at her. Looking into his eyes, the girl wanted to run away because of how fierce they were but she held herself in place.
"May this junior ask this expert for advice on reaching the Initial mastery in water?" she asked.
Greatson: "Initial? Sure. I've got the time."
Pleased with the response, the girl hurries on. "I have read that it requires one to connect internally with a drop of water and produce their own. However, the way to reach this is not accurately described so no matter how I ponder over it I cannot reach the conclusion."
"Ha," Greatson laughs surprising her. "It can be simple or hard based on your own practice. By the looks of it you had already reached a high level in wind right?"
"Yes," the girl said with a falter. She had, and it had required some extensive work from the townsfolk.
"How do you feel when you are in tune with the wind?"
"Like a piece of myself is flowing like a leaf, yet can stir like a tornado at any second," the girl closes her eyes and smiles.
"Then think. What if the leaf is on a nice bed of water, and is just rocking on the waves nice and gently? Then the water seems to sink by only a drop, and the drop lands on your finger with not an ounce of effort to be used." Greatson continues softly, wanting to help the girl reach a good piece of mind.
The girl relaxes and holds out her hand as if she wants to pluck a apple from a tree with one finger outstretched. Then, on the finger a drop of water comes out of thin air and drops onto it. "Welcome to Initial Water mastery," Greatson says gently, somewhat at piece. He had forgotten all about everything and had too, immersed himself in water again. For some reason, the girl had made him experience a peace he had not felt in a long time.
The girl's eyes had sprung up so suddenly, Greatson had been startled. Taking a step back, he looks away with a reddish face. Noticing his strange feeling of embarrassment, he reprimands himself. Luckily, the girl was too taken in by the drop of water on her finger. A feeling of gratitude wells from within her and she bows before Greatson. "Thank you," she says.
Scratching his cheek, Greatson says meekly, "No problem. Any time. If you have more questions, just look for me."
Why am I saying this? Greatson wonders.
The girl's eyes light up and she hurries. "Thank you. I'm Yearsleaf. May I ask who you are?"
Holding out a hand, Greatson says "Greatson."
Grabbing the hand, Yearsleaf shakes it and then she and Greatson take a seat at a table where he helps her go over the contents in detail. Both Greatson and Yearsleaf both gained from this experience both mentally and emotionally. From then on, the two would meet every other day. Laughing and talking, with some training included. The two got closer and closer every passing day.
And so this was how Greatson and Yearsleaf met... and a generic fantasy romance started taking form.
..........................................................................................................
Hope you all enjoy the update. Tell me, do you want more romance or more action in the next update of this. Might be some time before another comes up.