It had been two full months since I discovered my affinity for Dark and lighting. I still hadn't made much progress in being able to harness my affinitys, but through training, with Cal and Zora my origin had progressed substantially. I was able to store and use a little more than double what I previously could. But without the use of an affinity, my own power usage was extremely inefficient. It takes a lot more strength to manifest pure Xoul energy, rather than use it in the form of an affinity.
On the bright side, after a few experiments with Lord Aiken also believed it would be best for me to get an education elsewhere. He claimed to know a person with a dark affinity in the capital that could help me. And so, he made arrangments for me to attend Katoka Academy. Luckily the school's period was about to begin in two weeks so I could join then. We still hadn't told him about my lightning affinity, if we did I most likely wouldn't be allowed to leave.
I arrived at the training fields this morning to find Zora and Cal having an intense sparring match. Zora drew water from the air surround Cal in a ball of water. She quickly changed its temperature to freeze the ball trapping Cal inside. Zora had also progressed substantially and was able to control her affinity much better.
'ooh, I didn't know she could do that' I thought watching the match play out. To anyone else, this match may appear to be over, but I knew Cal had yet to even try.
"rumble rumble"
The ground beneath Cal began to shake. Two large spikes of earth shot from the ground shattering the prison Zora had made for him.
"You said you weren't gonna use earth when we sparred, no fair!" Zora pouted loudly.
"AHAHAHA you were simply too strong Lady Zora! I had no choice."
"That's a load of crap Cal! We know you could've blown that away with just your energy stop showing off." I yelled from the outside deciding to intervene.
"As expected of Shin! You saw right through my master plan to show off to Lady Zora! HAHAHA"
'Please shut up.'
Zora and Cal's little sparring match came to an end. Like usual, we began to cultivate our origin points by collecting as much Xoul into our bodies as physically possible then releasing it rapidly. Exhausting your origin was a straightforward way to increase its strength. Interrupting our meditation I decided to tell Zora and Cal about what Lord Aiken had just told me.
"Apparently I will be leaving for Katoka Academy in two weeks' time. Lord Aiken is transferring me in at the start of the school period!" I mentioned to them, breaking the silence of our meditation.
"Ah so Lord Aiken decided to let you go aye? And of all schools Katoka academy? He really must be interested in your progression if he's sending you there." Cal didn't break his meditation as he spoke. At this moment I could tell he was more serious than usual.
"Why? Is Katoka Academy that good?"
"Better than good. Katoka was responsible for producing some of the most powerful fighters during the old war. And even now they continue to do so. If your going there, I believe he has high expectations of you" Cal paused for a moment before he continued.
"Katoka houses students your age all the way to early adults. Just to give you a taste of how prestigious that place is. It wouldn't be a stretch to say it's the best school out of the three kingdoms."
I began to feel nervous as Cal explained more and more about Katoka academy. I had no idea he would be sending me to a school this good.
"Am I even qualified to go? I can't even use my affinity's." I asked skeptically.
"That's only because yours is exceptionally hard to use. There are few that possess the dark affinity and even fewer that master it. Just having one of the rare affinity's should be enough to get in"
"Well, I hope someone there can teach me about it then."
"Someone can most likely."
Cal continued meditating as if our conversation never happened. I was feeling a bit shaken by our conversation so I wasn't able to focus on gathering any energy. I laid down on the grass staring at the force fields ceiling.
"I- If your leaving I am too."
I looked to my right where Zora was meditating. She was facing away from me so I couldn't make out her facial expression. I pushed my body off the ground so I was sitting up before I spoke.
"Don't worry it'll be fine. Plus Cal can teach you everything you need to know here, you don't need to go."
"T-that's not the point." Zora's voice became weaker to the point of it being a whisper.
"It isn't? Then what is? If I remember your father doesn't want you going to a school right?" I said questioning her logic.
Silence surrounded us for a moment as I waited for her response.
"Your such a jerk." As she said Zora got up and ran out the field, I could see tears forming at her eyes as she ran past me.
'Why would she start crying?' I thought to myself. I stood up preparing to bring her back to the field. Cal also did and walked over to me before leaving.
"Sigh, you may be quick to learn in terms of Xoul and combat but it seems you are slow when it comes to girls. Try and think about why she's said before you go chasing after her." Cal said waving behind him as he left the barrier.
'Think why's she's sad?' I had thought there was nothing for her to be sad about, but as I thought of it more and more I came to understand where she was coming from.
"Sigh, I guess Cal was right about this one. I should go after her." Giving myself a facepalm for my stupidity I ran back to the castle to find Zora,