After everyone settled in their seats, the room grew quiet as the door creaked shut. Professor Velaryn entered with a deliberate, graceful stride. Her silver-streaked hair was tied into a loose braid, accentuating her timeless appearance. Though clearly older than most professors, perhaps 10 or 15 years beyond Eryndar’s age, her movements carried a quiet energy that hinted at immense wisdom.
Her robes were mesmerizing—woven with shimmering threads that shifted hues, flowing seamlessly between fiery reds, earthy browns, watery blues, and airy silvers. Each step seemed to make the colors dance, giving the illusion that the elements themselves were alive within her attire. The faint hum of Essentia around her only added to the otherworldly aura she exuded.
She stopped at the center of the amphitheater, standing just before the glowing elemental globe. Her piercing eyes scanned the room, resting momentarily on each student as if weighing their potential. When her gaze briefly met Towan’s, he felt an unspoken question press on him—a challenge, though he couldn’t define its nature.
With a soft clap of her hands, she drew everyone’s attention. “Why do the elements exist both in conflict and harmony?” she asked, her voice calm yet resonant, as if the very question carried centuries of thought behind it.
The room fell into a contemplative silence. Students glanced at one another, unsure whether they were expected to answer. The swirling Essentia globe pulsed gently, as if waiting for someone to break the stillness.
Towan furrowed his brow. (How would I know? I don’t even use elemental Essentia.) The question, though seemingly straightforward, felt like a puzzle he wasn’t equipped to solve.
Finally, a hand rose timidly near the back. A boy with short, sandy hair cleared his throat. “Because elements are opposites, like fire and water. They naturally clash,” he offered hesitantly.
Professor Velaryn nodded thoughtfully. “Could be, yes,” she replied, though her tone suggested she wasn’t fully satisfied with the answer.
Towan rolled his eyes, his inner voice dripping with sarcasm. (Thanks, Sherlock.)
Another student, this time a girl with glasses seated near the front, raised her hand confidently. “Perhaps it’s because the elements reflect the balance of life. Conflict and harmony are natural states of existence.”
Velaryn’s lips curled into the faintest hint of a smile. “An insightful perspective. Life indeed mirrors the elements. But does that mean balance is constant? Or is it ever-changing?” She paused, letting her words hang in the air, drawing the students deeper into thought.
Elliot leaned toward Towan, whispering, “This is… oddly fascinating.”
Towan crossed his arms, feigning disinterest. “Sure, if you like riddles.”
Velaryn’s sharp eyes flicked toward the brothers, as if she’d overheard. “Balance isn’t a static state, nor is it achieved through passivity,” she continued. “The elements teach us that balance is forged through understanding, adaptation, and, sometimes, struggle.”
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She gestured toward the elemental globe, which began to shift and rearrange itself. The flames didn’t just burn—they danced alongside water that flowed like liquid fire. Earth fragments rose and intertwined with wind currents, forming a mesmerizing display.
“Now,” Velaryn said, stepping aside to let the students view the globe more clearly, “tell me: How do we, as Essentia users, embody this principle of balance?”
For a moment, Towan’s mind buzzed. He wasn’t sure what was expected of him here—his training had always focused on martial techniques, not philosophy. But Elliot leaned forward, visibly intrigued, clearly eager to hear more. (At least one of us is enjoying this.)
Alira hesitated for a moment before raising her hand. Her fingers trembled slightly as she spoke, but her voice was steady. “Professor… maybe balance is about knowing when to act and when to hold back. Like with fire—it can warm or destroy, depending on how it’s used.”
Velaryn turned her gaze to Alira, her expression thoughtful. “A perceptive answer,” she said, pacing slowly around the central globe. “But consider this: if fire and water are opposites, as some might claim, why does steam exist? Why does earth, which is solid and unyielding, crumble to dust in the presence of wind?” She stopped, her sharp eyes scanning the room once more. “Balance is not just knowing when to act or hold back. It’s understanding how opposites coexist to create something greater.”
Alira nodded, her brow furrowed in concentration, but Towan leaned back in his seat, stifling a yawn.
Velaryn caught the subtle motion and addressed the class again. “Balance,” she continued, “isn’t a matter of convenience. It demands sacrifice. It demands a willingness to adapt, even at the cost of comfort. Now, who can tell me: What is the greatest obstacle to achieving balance with Essentia?”
The room went silent again, save for the faint hum of the globe. The swirling elements inside it seemed to pulse, mirroring the tension in the air.
Elliot, sitting upright, raised his hand. Velaryn acknowledged him with a small nod. “Yes?”
“It’s fear,” Elliot said, his voice steady but low. “Fear of losing control, or fear of what might happen if you push yourself too far.”
Velaryn’s eyebrows arched slightly, a flicker of interest crossing her face. “Go on.”
Elliot straightened, gaining confidence. “When I first tried using Essentia, I held back because I didn’t trust myself. I thought if I let it flow freely, it would overwhelm me. But then I realized… it’s not about controlling Essentia. It’s about working with it, like you’re partners. You have to trust it as much as it trusts you.”
Velaryn’s lips curved into a faint smile, and she folded her hands before her. “An insightful answer, Elliot. Fear is indeed one of the greatest barriers to balance. It blinds us, making us cling to control rather than understanding. Essentia is not a tool to be wielded; it is a force to be embraced.”
The swirling globe reacted to her words, the elements blending even more intricately as fire flickered alongside water, and wind danced through cracks in the earth. Velaryn gestured toward it. “This,” she said, “is the essence of harmony. To achieve balance, one must let go of fear and accept the duality within.”
Towan glanced at Elliot, genuinely surprised. “(When did he get so deep?)” he thought, reluctantly impressed.
Alira whispered to Elliot, “That was… amazing. How do you even think like that?”
Elliot shrugged with a sheepish grin. “I just… thought about my first time trying Essentia. It wasn’t pretty.”
Velaryn turned her gaze to the class once more. “Remember this: Balance is a journey, not a destination. Every day, you’ll face challenges that threaten to unbalance you—externally and internally. Your task is to adapt and grow stronger.”
She paused for a moment, her piercing gaze settling on each student, before finally adding, “And now, let us test your understanding. Pair up, and we’ll see how well you can create harmony with your partner’s element.”
The students exchanged uncertain glances before shuffling to form pairs. Towan glanced at Elliot, raising an eyebrow. “Ready to show off, oh wise one?Elliot grinned. “Always.”