I left for the changing rooms to switch into my training clothes. My next class was magic control and combat training. Everyone had to wear training clothes to not ruin the academy uniforms.
Keeping my head down I made my way across the school and arrived at the changing rooms pretty quickly.
Trying to get across the room to get to the shelves with my training clothes were kept the dirt floor under my feet shifted knocking me off balance. With a rough shove, I was forced to the ground, looking up I saw the familiar face of Cedric Boltic standing over me, a sly smile on his lips.
"Oh sorry man I didn't see you there. You should really wear a bell or something so this doesn't happen again." He said crouching next to me.
Ignoring his fake apology and bell comment I pushed myself to my feet and turned to walk away. Before I could take a step the dirt at my shoes rose up around my ankles locking me in place. "Come on now. Aren't you going to accept my apology?" He asked with a mocking pout.
"I'm just trying to get changed and go to class Cedric." I was answered with a swift backhand that would have made me stumble if my feet weren't being held in place.
"Garbage like you shouldn't even be allowed into this school but you make good grades and you have an element, that's all you need to get in right. No matter how pathetic you are." He spat. I was trying to keep my composure after the unexpected strike.
Seeing my fists clenched by my sides his smile widened as he continued to taunt me. "Awe does Kaiser want to fight? Are you gonna teach me a lesson for hurting your feelings? Why don't I teach you a lesson about being a weak little bitch." Cedric delivered a heavy punch to my stomach causing me to double over fighting for air.
Covering his fist in hardened dirt I was hit with a devastating uppercut knocking me onto my back, breaking my feet loose from the dirt that had held them. Rolling over to my hands and knees blood dripped from my busted lip and nose. I went to get up only to be kicked back down by one of Cedric's lackeys.
Cedric himself joined in with his friend kicking and stomping me throwing insults as they did.
Catching one of Cedric's kicks I snatched him down, positioning myself over top of him I rained down strikes splitting his eye and lip before his backup booted me in the side of the head making my vision swim.
From my hands and knees, I said "I have nothing else. I need this. Without this, there's nothing for me. So I'll do whatever I have to, fight for as long as I have to and I'll become more powerful than all of you. One day I'll stand at the pinnacle of mythical perfection."
"You!" He barked out with laughter.
"You can't even fully manifest your element. You'll always be a failure. Nothing more than trash under everyone's feet." He sneered at me.
"I want more. I need more. power is everything and I refuse to let it slip away from me." kneeling before my enemies I told myself this as they taunted me to get up and continue my futile efforts to fight the two of them.
"you're so pathetic if I was in your shoes right now I would kick the shit out of us and be on with my day, but you. your to frail, too weak to defend yourself. so just stay in the dirt where you belong." Pinning my hands to the ground with more dirt he prepared to continue his onslaught of kicks.
Before he could continue his abuse he was stopped by a strong blast of airlifting him off the ground then dropping him. "That's quite enough Cedric." The class instructor stood in the doorway of the changing rooms glaring at the scene in front of him.
"Anyone care to explain what's going on here?" He said crossing his arms over his broad chest.
"Uh haha, it's just a little roughhousing that got out of hand that's all." Cedric smiled politely, the sand gripping my hands falling away.
"Kaiser is this true?" The instructor questioned.
"Yes sir, Cedric was explaining the proper battle techniques for maximum magic flow and we got caught up it the moment." I smiled rubbing the back of my head hoping I had convinced him.
Sighing and shaking his head he turned to leave the changing room, everyone quickly changed and followed him to the training field.
"Alright everyone pair off and practice elemental and magical output control." As people went through and found friends to practice with the instructor called me aside. "Kaiser come over here please."
I walked over to where he was standing, ignoring the glances and murmurs of the class as I was singled out for my shortcomings. "Kaiser considering your abnormally low magic abilities the school thinks it would be best if we changed your curriculum to magical resistance instead of magical combat. What do you think?"
I thought it was bullshit, I thought I could do more, I thought it's not fair but it didn't matter what I really thought I just nodded and asked: "so what do I practice in magical resistance?"
The instructor smiled saying "it should be simple for a student as smart as you. Just focus on taking the magic you have and distributing it evenly throughout your body strengthening your muscles, bones, and skin. That's it. Simple right?"
I nodded giving a weak smile excusing myself to go practice my new curriculum. Walking away I cursed myself, I cursed this school, I cursed the world. I cursed the elemental deities too for making me so pitifully weak.