First Day at Aetheria

Arvanya's POV:

The moment I stepped into Aetheria Academy, it felt as if I'd crossed a threshold into a realm where reality intertwined with magic. The energy was electric, buzzing through the air like a current of anticipation.

Students from all corners of the Elements Kingdom filled the hallways, each eager to master their elemental powers. The animated chatter made my heart race with a mix of excitement and nervousness, amplifying the thrill of this new beginning.

"Welcome to chaos!" Dante announced, sauntering up beside me with a dramatic flair. His vibrant red hair caught the sunlight streaming through the high windows, making him look like a living flame. "And this is just the first day. Just wait until they start flinging fireballs."

"Yeah, let's not turn this place into a bonfire before I even unpack my books," I retorted, raising an eyebrow at him. Dante and Nico, both fierce fire dragons, were already attracting curious glances with their boisterous laughter and exaggerated gestures.

"Hey, if anyone's setting anything on fire, it'll be me," Nico declared, puffing out his chest in mock bravado. "And trust me, it'll be a controlled burn."

I rolled my eyes, a smile tugging at my lips. Kai, our earth dragon, shook his head with a small, knowing smile. "Just promise me you won't challenge any professors on the first day, alright? I'd rather not have to dig us out of detention."

Sofia and Lila, our fellow water dragons, were engrossed in conversation, their voices intermingling with the cacophony around us.

Sofia glanced nervously at the imposing stone building that housed the Water Class, where students practiced controlling currents and creating waves.

"I heard Professor Aelric has a habit of tossing students into the pool without warning," Sofia said, her eyes wide with apprehension.

"Please, if that happens, just remember I'll be the one floating gracefully while you're flailing around," Lila teased, nudging Sofia with her elbow, her laughter infectious.

As we wandered through the courtyard, the academy grounds unfurled before us, each section dedicated to a different element. The Fire Class's training grounds buzzed with life, crackling flames and enthusiastic shouts mingling in the air.

I could easily picture Dante and Nico there, leaving a charred trail behind them. The thought made me chuckle softly to myself.

In stark contrast, the Earth Class area exuded a calm serenity, with students practicing their craft, manipulating the ground beneath their feet. Kai let out a mock sigh as he watched the earth dragons effortlessly lift boulders. "And here I thought my biggest challenge today would be finding the cafeteria. Guess I'll just have to make rocks float instead."

But it was the Air Class training grounds that captivated me the most. Students hovered a few feet off the ground, balancing on invisible cushions of air, their robes fluttering like wings.

It looked almost peaceful—until one of them lost balance and crashed into a nearby tree with a loud thud.

"That's a solid 5 for form but a 1 for landing!" Nico called out, clapping dramatically as the poor student scrambled to his feet, embarrassment painting his cheeks.

Despite the playful banter, I was aware that we'd soon be separated into our elemental classes. Dante and Nico would face the fiery challenges of the Fire Class, while Kai would delve into the mysteries of the Earth Class.

Sofia, Lila, and I would be assigned to the Water Class, where we would practice controlling water in all its forms.

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Yet, while my friends embraced their specializations, I carried a secret that set me apart. I could connect with the souls of other dragons, hearing their whispers when they needed help.

It was a rare gift, one I had learned to conceal well—mostly to avoid awkward questions and conversations with overly chatty dragon spirits. Seriously, nothing is quite as distracting as trying to focus on class while an earth dragon complains about being buried in mud.

Flashback to Arvanya's Last Encounter with a Dragon Whisper:

A month ago, while wandering through the woods near home, I heard the faintest whisper, like the rustle of leaves in the wind. It tugged at the edges of my mind, insistent and sorrowful. An earth dragon's spirit—trapped beneath a landslide, its energy waning as the weight of the soil pressed down on it.

"Help... can't... breathe... too... heavy..." the dragon pleaded.

I looked around, half-wondering if I'd lost my mind. There was no one in sight—only the wind stirring the branches and my footsteps crunching on the path. But the whisper grew stronger, a desperate call I couldn't ignore.

"Alright, alright, I'm coming. Just stop with the 'last breath' stuff, okay? You're making it hard to focus," I muttered under my breath, aware that no one could hear me.

When I found the landslide, the earth was packed tightly, suffocating the dragon's spirit. I placed my hands on the ground, letting my energy flow into the earth, feeling the dragon's presence beneath.

My earth dragon woke within me, her energy merging with mine as we coaxed the stones to shift, the soil to loosen. It was slow, delicate work—like untangling a knot without letting it snap.

After what felt like hours, the dragon's spirit surged free, its relief washing over me in a wave.

"Oh, thank the ancient stones! I thought I'd be stuck there forever!" the dragon's voice boomed in my mind, startling me so much I nearly fell face-first into the dirt. "I owe you, kid! If you ever need help burying a body, just let me know!"

"Uh, I'll keep that in mind," I stammered, wondering how I'd explain my sudden ability to converse with invisible beings if anyone happened to pass by.

Back to the Present:

Now, sitting in my first Water Elemental class, I tried to focus on the lesson, but my mind kept drifting back to that memory. The room was cool, filled with the scent of the sea, and the faint sound of flowing water echoed around us—a gentle reminder of the power we wielded.

Yet, a nagging sensation told me I was missing something, some crucial detail that could tip the scales between blending in and being exposed.

Sofia nudged me, pulling me from my thoughts. "Hey, you're zoning out. You good?"

"Yeah, just contemplating, um, aquatic things," I replied, gesturing lamely at Professor Aelric, who was demonstrating how to create a whirlpool in a bowl of water.

Sofia shot me a skeptical look but didn't press further. Instead, she turned back to the demonstration, where our Professor was growing increasingly frustrated with a student who kept turning his whirlpool into a miniature tidal wave.

"Focus your energy into a spiral, not a splash!" Professor Aelric snapped, water sloshing out of the bowl as the poor student scrambled to regain control. It took all my self-control not to burst out laughing as he muttered an apology, looking like a drenched rat.

Just then, Dante's voice rang out from the hallway, loud enough to be heard even through the heavy wooden doors. "You call that fire control? My grandma could do better, and she's an ice dragon!"

Nico's laughter followed, and I could practically hear their Professor groaning in exasperation. Dante and Nico were certainly making their presence known, whether the academy was ready for them or not.

When class finally ended, I met up with my friends outside. The campus buzzed with energy, students spilling out of their classrooms, exchanging tales of their first lessons. Nico and Dante came bounding over, grinning like they owned the place.

"How many times did you make your Professor facepalm?" I asked, raising an eyebrow as they approached.

"Oh, at least six. We're aiming for double digits by the end of the week," Nico said with a mischievous glint in his eye.

Dante elbowed him playfully. "And you should've seen the look on his face when I accidentally set the practice mat on fire."

I chuckled, shaking my head in disbelief. "Just try not to burn the place down before we've made any friends."

"Where's the fun in that?" Nico quipped, and we all burst into laughter, the sound echoing around us.

Even though we would be separated in our elemental classes, the thought of being together in math, physics, and economics classes warmed my heart. It was reassuring to know we could support one another in subjects that required a different kind of strength.

And with combat class waiting for us at the end of the day, I knew we'd have plenty of opportunities to prove ourselves—to our instructors and to each other.

With each step through the academy's halls, I felt a little more at ease. Yes, challenges loomed ahead, and yes, I harbored secrets that needed to stay hidden.

But with my friends by my side, even the toughest days would be filled with laughter—and the occasional overconfident fire dragon setting something ablaze.

And maybe, just maybe, I could find a way to wield my powers without revealing the full extent of what I could truly do.