The changing rooms are stuffy. They smell of carbon, metal, and sweat. It was a big event, and most often everyone in the city joined to watch. Sponsors could find their next fighter, and businessmen could make ties with eachother. This was day two of the tournaments. The ultimate battle, the ultimate trial.
"Hell on earth. You ready?" Estelle stares at Crescent. Crescent nods slightly. It's her first tournament for a status, and she wasn't too sure on how well she could do. She only moved up because she defeated Hatsuki in battle. She wears her armor, and she notices how light it had become. Platinum, Kenma had told her. It's highly useful to people who can bend the material, but so far only Kenma can bend it. I guess they were in for another surprise.
The elites line themselves on the walls of the arena. The principal gives a welcoming speech, and the timer counts down.
3
2
1
Crescent draws water from the air, and she gathers enough to form ice pillars to climb. She watches the firebenders fly, and she hisses. She knows she can't fly like that without losing control. She airbends, and she propels herself into the air to reach a scroll. She kicks a gush of air around herself to make sure no one harms her. She senses the change in the heat around her, and she sends a wave to neutralize the lava. She bends the lightning back to her, and she secures the scroll in her pin. Kenma gave her the treat of channeling lightning, and she was so glad he did.
Her pin glows gold, and she just has to avoid the grabbing hands for another 30 minutes. Mint and Ice already grabbed theirs, and Ice was currently surfing on the floor of the arena. The peace zone. No one was allowed to hurt anyone on the floor. She makes her way down, but a gush of water freezes her in place. Astaria. She bends her way out, and she takes the chance to try her gravity bending. She sinks to the floor of the arena horrendously fast, and she sighs. Gravity bending was not banned, it was just impossible to do. Ice catches her with water, and Mint helps her down.
Estelle surfs a rock over, and Hatsumi joins them. Top 5, an unimaginable feat. She stares at Crécelle who lands next to them, and Astaria and Hatsuki land next to her. That was 8 people. Strania, a girl from class slides down, and she lands on her two feet. A monobender elite, rare, but highly praised. Crescent nods. Mist stares at the people who were still battling in the air. If you moved quick enough, you could grab the title of an elite even without being a scholarship student.
The rest of the winners land down one by one, and the people who are left with the final scroll get bloody. Ice forms a barrier on top of them, and Mint helps form crystals. The final 20 battle it out. It's not that they aren't skilled, it's just that they aren't as agile. Crescent stares at the competitors. It would be impossible for the airbender to be able to defeat such cold blooded killers. It's a monobender, and Crescent pays close attention to them. They move swiftly, and it seemed like the airbender from before.
They move quickly. The other benders are still fighting by the time that they've merged the scroll. Clear and level headed. The final scroll is merged, and the end is announced. The airbender is welcomed down, and the losers stand on the other side of the arena. The newly formed elites accept their brooches and bow.
The former elites clean up. Crescent takes a shower, and she bends the dirt out of her body with water. Estelle calls for her to join her in watching the rest of the 3 matches for the newer elites. Crescent dries herself off and rushes after her. She had training, but she was sure being late a couple minutes would be ok. She watches the matches, and she watches Mist claim top 3 scrolls. She excuses herself when they finish up.
"Crescent!" Ice calls for her, and she has no choice but to turn around.
"Hm?"
"Good job on getting into top 5" He nods. "But I'll let you know that I won't go easy on you just because we're seeing eachother"
Crescent smirks. She sticks her pointing finger at Ice, and she smiles. "Of course. Relationships mean nothing in the battle for a title right?" She wasn't seeing him, they weren't dating. She has no idea where he's coming from.
"I will become champion"
"Talk big when you can actually boast it pretty boy" She taps his chest twice, and leaves.
"Oh you'll see" Ice mumbles to himself, a sly smirk tugging on his lips.
Crescent gets to the catacombs as quickly as she can. Kenma's probably furious that she would even think of being late. She catches her breath, and she hears speaking in the corridor.
"…yeah she doesn't know"
"…"
"…no don't worry. She won't find out" Kenma's voice is nice and clear, and Crescent falters for a moment.
"Find out about what?" Crescent walks in, and she's surprised to see an unknown figure in the room.
"This is Mi- oof" The figure elbows Kenma, and Kenma punches him lightly. "this is Mizu."
"tHE WATERBENDING ELITE??" Crescent's eyes light up, and she visibly glows.
"Yeah. I'm a little rusty though, it's been awhile since I last used the element" Mizu's pretty. He has blue eyes and a tall nose structure. His hair is black, and his voice is soothing. It's deep, and it reminds Crescent of the depth of an ocean. His hands are thin and his fingers are long. Perfect shape to do crystal waterbending.
"How about a quick warm up?"
"A waterbender girl? Kenma are you trying to have the avatar as a child?" Mizu snickers. Kenma stares at him incredulously.
When Crescent and Mizu finish, Mizu is more than warmed up. Crescent lays on the floor, and she's exhausted. "You're hella strong"
"Thanks." Mizu lies on the ground as well. He had never fought a waterbender for that long. "How often do you train water?"
"I haven't been lately" She mumbles. "Thanks for training me"
Mizu gets up, and talks with Kenma. Crescent draws some water, and she cleans off the sore areas of her body. Mizu stares at her, and he lets her use her other bending types. The battle is long, and Crescent only barley beats him. He moves quickly and efficiently. He's like water, and he's able to slip through any cracks. The day ends quickly, and Crescent goes home, bruises all over, body sore. She needs to take a bath for the night. So she heats up the water, and she warms up and heals her sores. She couldn't afford to lose student council rankings tomorrow.