We walk into a very large courtyard filled with students divided into four groups in perfectly lined up rows. “I heard that your Paliar is Gaia” Kwaku asks with a bit of doubt on his face
Amongst the people I’ve met here, he’s the one I like the least. Well after Yohan.
“Yes” i answer
“May I?” he stretches out his hand, like he wants to receive something. I get confused. What does he want from me?
“Give me your hand Princess Arina” he asks smoothly.
I glance at Yoda, unsure, but she gives me a nod of agreement before i place my hand in his. His palms feel rough and hard. He gently flips my hand over and presses his thumb deep into my palm till it hurts. “O-oww” I howl, snatching my hand away from him.
“I’m sorry about that, but that was the only way to bring out your Paliar,” he explains. I look at my palm and I see it glowing a bright Red light for a few seconds. Then it changes to Blue, then Green and then silver light.
A few students who were close to us and could see what was going on gasped audibly.
“This is interesting.” Kwaku mumbles.
“What does it mean for us?” Barbara speaks. This is the first thing she has uttered since we met. He doesn’t glance at me, not even once, as though h=she is purposely avoiding eye contact. I observe her. Her bright blue hair, though odd, suits her perfectly. She has two llong braids on both sides of her face, as well as what looks like seashells in her hair. It is not surprising that she is the Aqua Section leader, she really does look like she leans into the whole mermaid persona. Extremely beautiful and entrancing.
“She will spend time in all the sections, one after the other, till she has mastered control over all the elements” headmaster Idris, whom i didn’t know was present said.
Barbara huffs and rolls her eyes. “Can’t wait till you come to Aqua," she says, looking directly at me. I feel a shiver run down my spine.
“And Yoda, did you say she could take Gaia’s form?” headmaster Idris asks, looking curious
“Yes headmaster” she stands at attention and answers
“Could you show us Arina?”
“I - don’t think- “
“Surely, you must try” he presses
I reach into my mind for the voice of Gaia who has gone awfully silent for a while now
“If you think I will bend to the demands of just anybody, then you must have lost your mind” she says
“Please Gaia”
“No”
“She doesn’t want to come out,” I explained. His face drops in disappointment but he straightens himself up
“How sure are you that Gaia is even her Paliar?” Barbara asks
“Section Leader Aqua, that is not your business” headmaster Idris scolds her.
“Starting now, you will be assigned to the section leader of Terra, where you will larn to master the element of Fire and war Combat” he directs
As if my luck couldn't get any worse, I had to be assigned to the most egoistic person i had ever met.
Kwaku takes a deep breath and clasps his hands in front of him.”Well I guess all is settled now, Please join the red quadrant at the far left end, your uniform will be delivered in due course.”
I take a deep breath and start walking in front of the entire assembly of about a thousand students. I try my best not to look at them, knowing well that their eyes are following me. Behind me I hear the others following and I see Yoda branch off to Section Ignis (Green). Mateo and Yohan stay behind me the entire time, until we reach Red.
“You’re Terra?” I whisper at him when he's beside me in line.
“No, just here to guard you” he answers with so much sarcasm
I notice that the section leaders stand in front of their sections facing us.
As much as i hate to admit he looks majestic.
“Welcome back friends” headmaster Idris, who is now on the podium speaks
“For the first years, who have yet to learn the ways of this society, we urge you to humble yourselves and learn the teachings of your superiors, observe them and strive to be like them, or greater, as we always say here; May you guard your power as the Frinx guards you” he finishes and a round of applause erupt across the whole yard.
“I don't understand something. If Darynem cannot hurt anyone, why do you train, why does this school exist” i whisper to Mateo
“Darynem cannot fight until we are fought. We can only defend our land and the glaciers” he explains
“Attention everyone” Yohan speaks
“For the second and 3rd years, you already know the rules. Class and training begins first thing in the morning. You may retreat to your dorm rooms.” he bellows
“See you later alligator” Mateo whispers and squeezes my palm be fore turning around and walking away from us with the other students.
“First years, gather around.”
I draw close to listen.
“You might want to put those locks into a bun” a voice says beside me
I see a petite girl, about my age looking at my hair. She has golden hair with pink dyed streaks and a clean cut bob.
“Those fans right there will snag your hair and rip them right off you scarf” she points to the wind turbines that hang suspiciously low, towards the exit of the courtyard
“Thank you” I muttered. I pick up my hair, braid it and tuck it away with my hair pin.
“I’m Evelyn, and you must be Arina, right? I know because my mom works for Her Highness Frieda and she told us all about the night of your arrival and since then I’ve been wanting to meet you so bad” she says in one breath
I shift uncomfortably.
“Oh I’m sorry, I tend to ramble a lot when i’m nervous” she adds
“It’s okay” i say, offering a small smile
“Quiet!” Yohan shouts
We both turn our attention back to him.
“Rule number one. Never question your superiors. Rule number two. Never question your superiors. Rule number three: NEVER. QUESTION. YOUR. SUPERIORS.”
You sure made that clear
“Scary much” Evelyn mutters and we both stifle our laughter
“Did I say something funny? Princess?” Yohan asks us .
The crowd parts in front of us until there's no one between us and the section leader. He walks through, stopping only inches from my face.
“Mind sharing with us what you were laughing about?” he asks so loudly
I hold our gaze, not wanting to look away first
“S-sorry Section leader” Evelyn mutters in a tiny voice
He breaks eye contact to look at her instead
He turns his back, walking back to the front. “There shall be no preferential treatment. Nobody cares if you’re a Princess, or a King, all students are equal in the academy, and will be treated as such” he finishes. Looking straight at me
“Look for your names on the notice board in front of your dormitories to find your rooms” Yohan directsWe begin to disperse.“I hope we’re in the same room.” Evelyn squealed“Yeah, me too” I replyWhen we reach the notice board, the path clears up for us again like before. Evelyn takes the opportunity to strut through, dragging me along. The last thing that I want is to be the sore thumb that sticks out like a rotten carcass.I keep my gaze firmly on the floor, ignoring all the eyes following us.“You look from the top for our names and i’ll start from below” she says“Okay”I take note of the first name on the list. Reina Sam. I wonder in what order these names are ranked.“Oh I’ve found your name” Evelyn taps meI follow her finger to the bottom of the list, where my name is, inscribed in pencil, as if added at the last minute.I guess this makes sense. I didn’t exist to them until three days ago.“Found mine too” she says in a disappointed tone.Next to my name is the letter X an
The night is so cold that I feel my bones freezing. I sit up on my bed and stair out of the window. There are sheer curtains draped in front of it but I see right through it. “Can’t sleep?” a quiet voice speaksIt's the girl in glasses who was reading.“Yeah” i respond“Are you really an Anorem?” she asks with curiosity“I was… until now”“Oh”“Yeah”The conversation drops into an awkward silence for a few seconds.I watch her as her eyes skim my appearance. She looks at me as if she's searching for something odd, that would maybe definitely show my Anoremic heritage.“What year are you?” i askHer eyes cut back to mine. “Oh I’m a first year too, just like you”“Somebody mentioned that the rooms are assigned according to performance?” i ask“Yes” she sits up straight in her seat and pushes her glasses farther up her nose bridge“Once you reach the age of 20, you might activate your Paliar. Some people activate theirs much later though. Once you do, you will be enrolled in this academ
I wake to the sensation of someone gently stroking my hair. My eyes flutter open, and I’m met with the most magnetic blue eyes framed by jet-black hair. I try to speak, but my throat is dry and aching.“Shh,” Mateo whispers.I glance around, taking in my surroundings. I’m lying on a stark white clinic bed, with thin blue drapes hanging on either side, likely separating me from other patients. Mateo lifts a glass of water to my lips, helping me take a sip. The cool liquid soothes my throat.“You’re not supposed to be doing this,” he mutters.“Doing what?”“Training. Fighting. For Daryn.”I let out a slow breath. “I haven’t even fully processed why I’m here.”“It’s just…” He sighs, running a hand through his hair. “You were sent away to protect you. It doesn’t make sense to throw you back into battle.”“You think a battle is coming?” I ask.“Yes. The Anorem won’t stop until they have the power of the Frinx.”“And somehow, I’m the key to stopping them?”“That’s what Her Highness Frieda b
The halls of the academy are eerily quiet at this hour. The moon’s silver glow filters through the arched windows, casting faint shadows that stretch and twist along the stone corridors. My pulse is steady, but I can’t shake the feeling that we’re being watched.“You’re sure about this?” I whisper, my voice barely above a breath.“Of course not,” Evelyn replies with a mischievous grin. “But that’s what makes it exciting.”She moves ahead, leading me down the eastern corridor where the iron gate looms before us—the last physical barrier between us and the underground chambers. It’s enormous, its surface carved with swirling sigils of protection. Every student knows this passage is forbidden, but that hasn’t stopped Evelyn from trying.I place a hand against the cold metal, my breath misting against the chill in the air. “How do we get past this?”Evelyn pulls out a small glass vial filled with a swirling silver liquid. “A little something I borrowed from the Aqua Wing.” She tilts the v
My heart drops as my eyes lock with his.Yohan stands at the mouth of the passage, broad-shouldered and silent. The golden torchlight reflects off his hair, giving it an almost ethereal glow. My pulse quickens, though I refuse to let him see any fear. His posture is rigid, his stance sharp—like a blade ready to strike.“What exactly are you doing here?” His voice is even, but there is no warmth to it. Just scrutiny, cold and unrelenting.I square my shoulders. “I could ask you the same thing.”His gaze doesn’t waver, but for the briefest second, something flickers in his expression—hesitation, perhaps. If I had blinked, I would have missed it. But I hadn’t.Evelyn fidgets beside me, uneasy in the weight of the silence. Finally, Yohan exhales through his nose. “It doesn’t concern you.”His tone is clipped, dismissive.I press my lips into a thin line. “Neither does this concern you.”Something shifts in his jaw. He stares at me for a long moment, unreadable. Then, without another word,
“You’re late.”Yohan’s voice cuts through the training room the moment I step inside.I scowl at him.The ropes of the sparring ring quiver as Reina climbs inside, rolling her shoulders in preparation for me.I glance around. No sign of Yoda or Mateo.“Where are they?” I ask.Yohan doesn’t answer. Instead, he turns on his heel and strides toward the ring, ignoring me completely.I grit my teeth. Who does he think he is? Without thinking, I yank off my boot and hurl it at his head.I don’t expect him to react so fast.Before it can hit him, he sidesteps effortlessly, spins, and incinerates the shoe midair with a burst of fire from his palm.I blink in shock. Well, I guess he’s Section Leader for a reason.“Excellent display of reflexes,” Mateo remarks, entering the room.Yohan’s gaze flicks to him, his expression darkening.“You’re late,” he mutters before stepping into the ring.“She’s sparring with me today,” he tells Reina, who is already strapping on her fighting gloves.“Be my gue
The morning after the incident with Reina, I wake up to a dull ache throbbing through my limbs. Every muscle protests as I shift in bed, my mind replaying the moment I lost control. The flicker of flames. The blast. Reina’s lifeless form sprawled across the gym floor.I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to will the memory away. Mateo had said she would be fine. That the AQUAs would heal her. But doubt gnawed at me. I had never felt that kind of power before, and the thought that it could happen again terrified me.A soft knock at the door startles me. I glance at the clock—training isn’t for another two hours. Pushing myself up with a wince, I mutter, “Come in.”Evelyn steps inside, shutting the door behind her. “I heard what happened.”I don’t respond immediately, staring down at my hands. What if I lost control again? What if next time, I really did kill someone?“Arina.” She kneels beside me, her voice softer now. “I know you’re scared.”I scoff. “Scared? I nearly killed Reina.”“But yo
The evening air is crisp as I step into the open yard, my breath curling in the cold. Overhead, the moon hangs like a silver coin, casting long shadows across the training grounds. Yohan is already there, standing near a row of fire-resistant dummies. He looks up at my approach, his sharp features bathed in moonlight. For a moment, he simply watches me, his deep blue eyes unreadable.“You came,” he says, his voice low.I cross my arms. “You told me not to be late.”A flicker of something crosses his face, amusement perhaps, but it vanishes as he gestures toward the dummies. “Let’s begin.”I take a deep breath, rolling my shoulders as I step into position. My limbs are still sore from the incident with Reina, and the memory of losing control is fresh in my mind. Yohan circles me slowly, arms crossed.“Ignis energy isn’t just about power,” he begins. “It’s about control. You don’t just throw fire around and hope it lands. You guide it. You shape it.”I nod, already feeling the heat stir
The cold night air bites at my skin, but I barely feel it. My senses are still tangled with her—her energy, her fire, the way her pulse thrummed beneath my fingers when I adjusted her stance. The way she almost—I shake the thought away. Whatever almost happened was a mistake. It had to be.But as we walk in silence toward her quarters, I can still feel the ghost of her warmth lingering on my skin. I shouldn’t have come to Anoryl, shouldn’t have risked crossing the glaciers, shouldn’t have thrown myself into enemy territory for someone I didn’t even know. It was reckless, foolish. And yet, when I saw her for the first time, something in me stilled. Like the world had been shifting beneath my feet for years, and now, finally, it had stopped.I hate that feeling. That pull. That loss of control.She walks ahead of me, her shoulders squared, but I don’t miss the way she rubs at her arms, as if trying to shake off a chill. Or perhaps something else entirely. I keep my pace slow, my steps
The evening air is crisp as I step into the open yard, my breath curling in the cold. Overhead, the moon hangs like a silver coin, casting long shadows across the training grounds. Yohan is already there, standing near a row of fire-resistant dummies. He looks up at my approach, his sharp features bathed in moonlight. For a moment, he simply watches me, his deep blue eyes unreadable.“You came,” he says, his voice low.I cross my arms. “You told me not to be late.”A flicker of something crosses his face, amusement perhaps, but it vanishes as he gestures toward the dummies. “Let’s begin.”I take a deep breath, rolling my shoulders as I step into position. My limbs are still sore from the incident with Reina, and the memory of losing control is fresh in my mind. Yohan circles me slowly, arms crossed.“Ignis energy isn’t just about power,” he begins. “It’s about control. You don’t just throw fire around and hope it lands. You guide it. You shape it.”I nod, already feeling the heat stir
The morning after the incident with Reina, I wake up to a dull ache throbbing through my limbs. Every muscle protests as I shift in bed, my mind replaying the moment I lost control. The flicker of flames. The blast. Reina’s lifeless form sprawled across the gym floor.I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to will the memory away. Mateo had said she would be fine. That the AQUAs would heal her. But doubt gnawed at me. I had never felt that kind of power before, and the thought that it could happen again terrified me.A soft knock at the door startles me. I glance at the clock—training isn’t for another two hours. Pushing myself up with a wince, I mutter, “Come in.”Evelyn steps inside, shutting the door behind her. “I heard what happened.”I don’t respond immediately, staring down at my hands. What if I lost control again? What if next time, I really did kill someone?“Arina.” She kneels beside me, her voice softer now. “I know you’re scared.”I scoff. “Scared? I nearly killed Reina.”“But yo
“You’re late.”Yohan’s voice cuts through the training room the moment I step inside.I scowl at him.The ropes of the sparring ring quiver as Reina climbs inside, rolling her shoulders in preparation for me.I glance around. No sign of Yoda or Mateo.“Where are they?” I ask.Yohan doesn’t answer. Instead, he turns on his heel and strides toward the ring, ignoring me completely.I grit my teeth. Who does he think he is? Without thinking, I yank off my boot and hurl it at his head.I don’t expect him to react so fast.Before it can hit him, he sidesteps effortlessly, spins, and incinerates the shoe midair with a burst of fire from his palm.I blink in shock. Well, I guess he’s Section Leader for a reason.“Excellent display of reflexes,” Mateo remarks, entering the room.Yohan’s gaze flicks to him, his expression darkening.“You’re late,” he mutters before stepping into the ring.“She’s sparring with me today,” he tells Reina, who is already strapping on her fighting gloves.“Be my gue
My heart drops as my eyes lock with his.Yohan stands at the mouth of the passage, broad-shouldered and silent. The golden torchlight reflects off his hair, giving it an almost ethereal glow. My pulse quickens, though I refuse to let him see any fear. His posture is rigid, his stance sharp—like a blade ready to strike.“What exactly are you doing here?” His voice is even, but there is no warmth to it. Just scrutiny, cold and unrelenting.I square my shoulders. “I could ask you the same thing.”His gaze doesn’t waver, but for the briefest second, something flickers in his expression—hesitation, perhaps. If I had blinked, I would have missed it. But I hadn’t.Evelyn fidgets beside me, uneasy in the weight of the silence. Finally, Yohan exhales through his nose. “It doesn’t concern you.”His tone is clipped, dismissive.I press my lips into a thin line. “Neither does this concern you.”Something shifts in his jaw. He stares at me for a long moment, unreadable. Then, without another word,
The halls of the academy are eerily quiet at this hour. The moon’s silver glow filters through the arched windows, casting faint shadows that stretch and twist along the stone corridors. My pulse is steady, but I can’t shake the feeling that we’re being watched.“You’re sure about this?” I whisper, my voice barely above a breath.“Of course not,” Evelyn replies with a mischievous grin. “But that’s what makes it exciting.”She moves ahead, leading me down the eastern corridor where the iron gate looms before us—the last physical barrier between us and the underground chambers. It’s enormous, its surface carved with swirling sigils of protection. Every student knows this passage is forbidden, but that hasn’t stopped Evelyn from trying.I place a hand against the cold metal, my breath misting against the chill in the air. “How do we get past this?”Evelyn pulls out a small glass vial filled with a swirling silver liquid. “A little something I borrowed from the Aqua Wing.” She tilts the v
I wake to the sensation of someone gently stroking my hair. My eyes flutter open, and I’m met with the most magnetic blue eyes framed by jet-black hair. I try to speak, but my throat is dry and aching.“Shh,” Mateo whispers.I glance around, taking in my surroundings. I’m lying on a stark white clinic bed, with thin blue drapes hanging on either side, likely separating me from other patients. Mateo lifts a glass of water to my lips, helping me take a sip. The cool liquid soothes my throat.“You’re not supposed to be doing this,” he mutters.“Doing what?”“Training. Fighting. For Daryn.”I let out a slow breath. “I haven’t even fully processed why I’m here.”“It’s just…” He sighs, running a hand through his hair. “You were sent away to protect you. It doesn’t make sense to throw you back into battle.”“You think a battle is coming?” I ask.“Yes. The Anorem won’t stop until they have the power of the Frinx.”“And somehow, I’m the key to stopping them?”“That’s what Her Highness Frieda b
The night is so cold that I feel my bones freezing. I sit up on my bed and stair out of the window. There are sheer curtains draped in front of it but I see right through it. “Can’t sleep?” a quiet voice speaksIt's the girl in glasses who was reading.“Yeah” i respond“Are you really an Anorem?” she asks with curiosity“I was… until now”“Oh”“Yeah”The conversation drops into an awkward silence for a few seconds.I watch her as her eyes skim my appearance. She looks at me as if she's searching for something odd, that would maybe definitely show my Anoremic heritage.“What year are you?” i askHer eyes cut back to mine. “Oh I’m a first year too, just like you”“Somebody mentioned that the rooms are assigned according to performance?” i ask“Yes” she sits up straight in her seat and pushes her glasses farther up her nose bridge“Once you reach the age of 20, you might activate your Paliar. Some people activate theirs much later though. Once you do, you will be enrolled in this academ
“Look for your names on the notice board in front of your dormitories to find your rooms” Yohan directsWe begin to disperse.“I hope we’re in the same room.” Evelyn squealed“Yeah, me too” I replyWhen we reach the notice board, the path clears up for us again like before. Evelyn takes the opportunity to strut through, dragging me along. The last thing that I want is to be the sore thumb that sticks out like a rotten carcass.I keep my gaze firmly on the floor, ignoring all the eyes following us.“You look from the top for our names and i’ll start from below” she says“Okay”I take note of the first name on the list. Reina Sam. I wonder in what order these names are ranked.“Oh I’ve found your name” Evelyn taps meI follow her finger to the bottom of the list, where my name is, inscribed in pencil, as if added at the last minute.I guess this makes sense. I didn’t exist to them until three days ago.“Found mine too” she says in a disappointed tone.Next to my name is the letter X an