The Elements

“When do you think she will wake up? Is it normal to sleep so much? Is she okay? Is she alive? Is she fine??” I heard someone rambling and their voice was getting higher and higher with each question he asked.

I groaned when I tried to open my eyes and raised my head because I felt like I was run over by a bus, my head throbbing. “Would you please shut up?” I scowled while rubbing my head.

I slowly opened my eyes and groaned again when the light was too much for my sensitive eyes.

“Close the curtains!” another voice shouted making me wince.

I opened my eyes again and this time I could keep them open. I’m in what should be the infirmary. It was an open room with white walls and beds were spread all over the room. Some beds were occupied by what I recognized to be some of the kids that were at the exam. I scrunched my nose and sneezed at the smell of medicines.

“God, S! You scared us shitless! We thought we lost you.” Hazel whined and pulled me in a tight hug.

I winced when my ribs started to burn in pain. “Too tight, Haz.” I whispered and he immediately backed off .

“I’m so sorry! I forgot you broke three of your ribs.” he said with a sad puppy face, a face I couldn’t resist and I smiled reassuring him that I wasn’t mad at him.

My eyes widen in surprise when my brain processed what he said. “Three broken ribs? Oh, shit.”

“But that’s not all. Three broken ribs, a busted lip, a concussion and sever exhaustion. You scared the shit out of us, but thank got you’re okay.” Ash said and hugged me, but not as tight as Haz, a thing I was thankful for.

When he pulled out of the hug he punched me in the shoulder and I almost fell off the bed. “What the fuck were you thinking when you let that guy to bang your head and then you got up and continued to fight? Do you have a dead wish?” he said and glared at me.

I rolled my eyes at him while rubbing my now bruising shoulder. “No, I don’t. I just wanted to win. I made it up to the last round and if you think that I would’ve let that piece of shit ruin my dream, you’re wrong! I worked my ass too much to lose in the last round. And now that I won, I’m so exited for the final scores!! Oh, GOD, and the repartitions!!” I said and clapped my hands in excitement.

Ash glared at me harder, like he wanted to kill me just by glaring at me. “They’re already showed! But you were unconscious for three whole days so you don’t have how to know that!”

“When? When were they showed? What place I have? In which team I am? Why was I unconscious for so long?” I asked question after question, and I felt like I was going to burst from curiosity.

“God, the first thing I ever learnt about you is that you’re too curious for your own good. They were displayed this morning, but we don’t know the final result. The principal will personally tell you the results, so you have to use those short legs of yours and walk to the principal’s office. And you had a concussion and severe exhaustion! That’s why you were unconscious for so long! he said with an angry face and I was a little worried that he will punch me again.

Damn it. I really wanted to know if I made it, but his face won’t gave away any sign. Why does he has to be so expressionless.

“Okay, then I’ll go now because I can’t wait any longer.” I said and started to get out of that bed and cringed when I saw what pajamas I was wearing. It was a pink pajama with a cute little dog on the blouse. Don’t judge me, it was a Christmas present from my mom.

When I tried to stand up, my legs gave up wobbled and I was about to fall, but Hazel quickly grabbed me by my waist.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea S. You still need to rest.” he said worried.

I scoffed. “I won’t close an eye if I don’t know what place I won! Now, please take me to that damn office.”

He looked at Ash and waited for his answer. He reluctantly nodded his head. “Okay. Jump. I’ll give you a piggy back ride.” Hazel said and turned his back at me.

“Yayy.” I said and happily jumped on his back.

How much I love piggy back rides.

We exited the infirmary and walked down a long hall. This place looked very old. The floor was made of black marble, but it hidden by the fluffy blood red carpet. The walls were made of burgundy stones and were covered with portraits or scenes from battles I can’t recognize.

“Wow.” I stared in awe at the high ceiling and the sparling chandeliers hanging from it. This place reminds me of a castle and I can’t wait to see the rest of it.

We came to a halt in front of a dark brown door. On the door was a gold plate which said ‘Principal’ in cursive letters.

“The results are communicated personal to every participant, directly by the principal of the academy.” Ash said while Hazel put me down.

I knocked two times at the door. A hoarse voiced said “Come in.”

I looked one last time at the guys and walked in. The office was large with red walls, and black furniture. On the lateral walls were 2 big bookshelves full with books from all centuries, all size and colors. In front of me was a big desk, full with papers and folders. Behind it was a large window and through it, you could see the whole outside of the academy. At the desk, on a big and expansive chair, was standing a man in his mid 30′s. He has raven black hair and soft brown eyes.

He looked at me and smile. “Hello. I’m Raven Amazon and the principal of The Academy for the gifted elementars. Take a seat. What can I do for you?”

“Aaaa. I’m Shadow Renoir and can you tell me about my exam?” I said heisting but I seated on one of the leather armchairs.

His eyes flickered with recognizing. “So you are Shadow Renoir. I must say, you are one of the kids that had extraordinary results.” he said and opened a folder. “4 minutes and 58 seconds at the first stage and 4 minutes and 1 second in the second stage. You beat the record that this academy ever had in his last 20 years. Then you won the whole 5 combat rounds and you had a very good absolvent in the last round. What can I say, this year the competition was very tight, but we have the top right here.” he said while tapping his folder.

I was a little uncomfortable because through his whole speech, he was staring right at me with a serious face, but I hold his gaze.

“And on what place I am, sir? And who are the first 5 ones if I may ask.” I said glaring a little at him.

He smiled again when he saw my glare. “You, Shadow, are on the first place followed by Lincoln Blanche on the second. On the third we have Sky Rivera very close to Lincoln. On the forth is Spark Shiro and on the fifth Raimond Glass. You and the next 3: Blanche, Rivera and Shiro are demonstrate that you have the spark that we thought was lost 7 years ago! We are proud to have such amazing and strong students at this academy! And you 4 were accepted in Team Alpha. Now, you have to show us that we didn’t made a mistake accepting you there guys.” he said and gave me a smile full of pride.

I was so happy that I wanted to jump and run everywhere, but I stayed calm on the exterior. “Thank you, sir. We will not disappoint you. Oh, and the team is formed by just 4 members?”

“No. In T. A. already were 4 members: River Fall of Moonlight, Flame Flamest of Moonlight, Hazel Green of Earthquake and Ashton Lightning of Celest. You will meet them at the ceremony, which is actually a party to welcome the new students and where they can get to know their team mates. The ceremony is tomorrow at 6 pm.”

I think I paled a little when I heard Hazel and Ashton, but I smiled anyway. “Thank you, sir. Now, if you excuse me, I will go and rest until tomorrow.” I said and get up from my seat.

“Yes, of course. You can go and rest because I know that you are still tired from your amazing exam.” he said studying me intently.

“Goodbye,” I said and I almost ran out of that office.

This principal is weirder than me. And trust me, that’s something.

“What he said??” Hazel asked excited.

My happy face turned into an angry one.

I glared at both of them. “I won’t tell you, because you didn’t told me that both of you were part of T.A.!!”

The happy face Hazel had vanished and it was replaced with a regretful one. Ash was avoiding my gaze.

I rolled my eyes and walked back to infirmary. I climbed back in my bed and I made myself a cocoon with the blanket.

“Shads? It’s that you?”

I looked to my right and saw Sparky and she was in a blanket cocoon too.

I smiled at her. “Hey Sparks! How are you feeling?”

“Pretty good excepting my ribs that hurt like hell.” she said with a chuckle.

I chuckled too. “Did you heard you results?”

“No. I woke up just 10 minutes ago, but I’ll go now to finish it already. You?” she asked and her big eyes twinkled with curiosity.

I smirked at her. “I’ll tell you after you find out yours.”

She snorted at me. “Fine. I’ll be back in 10 minutes. If I don’t get lost.” she said and ran out.

I laughed at her enthusiasm. I really want to see her face when she will find out that we will be team mates.

I squealed and did a happy dance.

I am official a member of Team Alpha! Take that motherfuckers!

“Why so happy?” someone said and I started to look around.

My eyes landed on a very amused Lincoln. He was sitting in a bed, across me.

“None of your business.” I said and glared at him.

He raised his hands in surrender. “I was just curious” he paused and smirked “team mate.”

So he knows too.

“Yeah, team mate. By the way” I said and walked next to him “I’m Shadow Renoir. Nice to meet you.” I smiled at him and extended my hand.

He looked at my hand and then in my eyes. “Lincoln Blanche.” he said and shook my hand.

I wanted to ask him why was he so grumpy, but Sparky ran into the room squealing and jumping.

“I FUCKING MADE IT! I AM THE BEST FUCKER!!” she yelled and when she saw me, she ran to me and hugged me. “AND WE ARE FREAKING TEAM MATES! HOW AWESOME!”

I chuckled. “Very awesome. Oh, and Sparky this is Lincoln. Lincoln this is Sparky. He will be with us.”

They stared at each other for a second before Sparky said “It’s so nice to meet you!” and gave him a big smile.

“Yeah, same here.” he said and turned his around, his back facing us.

Sparky looked at me and I just shrugged and walked back on my bed.

“What’s his problem?” she asked and jumped on her bed.

“I dunno. And it’s none of my business.” I said but my eyebrows were furrowed.

I just don’t understand why is he so grumpy. He should be happy that he was one of the best students here. Maybe he didn’t wanted to be here? Or maybe he is still injured?

“Hey! Stop overthinking. You just said that it’s none of your business.” Sparky said ending my daydreaming.

I sighed. “I know. It’s just that I’m very curious and I like to understand what people do and why.” I said truthfully.

“You should mind your own business and stop caring about what I do and why. Focus on your own life. Or you are such a loser that you don’t have one.” Lincoln said on a cold tone.

His words hurt, because that’s true, but I won’t let him be satisfied.

“Yes I have my own life. I just wanted to understand my team mate because even if you like it or not, we will be a part of the same team! So stop whining like a little girl, and be a man, like you should.” I shout at him.

He sit up in his bed and stared at me for 1 or 2 minutes before him face breaks into a smirk. “I wasn’t expecting you to be so feisty, but for this I like you and you have my respect. I thought you will be a goodie good that all she does is to study and hide in a corner, but you surprised me in a nice way.”

I raised my eyebrow at him. “No shit. And why is it such a nice surprise?”

“Because this means that you really are a strong elementar and you’ll not end up holding the rest of us down. That’s why.” he said and his smirk was still on his face.

I fell the urge to punch his face until that smirk disappears, but I’m better than that.

I rolled my eyes at him. “Whatever. Let’s say that I believe you.” I said and snuggled into my blanket and pillow.

“You are the biggest asshole I have ever seen. Shads can we share your bed because mine is like a freaking rock and it hurts my ribs.” Sparky said and turned to look at me.

I smiled at her. “What kind of best friend I would be if I wouldn’t let you. Come here.” I said and patted the spot next to me.

She happily jumped from her bed in mine, with her pillow and blanket. Her blanket was green with white leafs on it and mine was black with white lightning bolts on it.

We snuggle in our blanket cocoons and I fell asleep almost instant.