The next day was school and so I had to go back home. When I got home, Mia wasn't around, of course, and so I was all alone. I had to prepare simple food and then ate and took my bath, after that, I slept off like a piece of wood.
The following morning, I woke up to a knock on my door, I initially thought it was Mia but opening the door, I was met with the smirking face of Ruben.
"Won't you at least ask me to come in?" He asked still grinning.
I ignored him and walked inside the house and then he came in and shut the door.
"Bro, where the fuck were you all through the night?" He asked as he sat down on a couch.
"Are you gonna pretend like you don't know?" I asked in return and then he chuckled lightly and shook his head.
"Bro, you really are something else! I thought you were still an innocent kid, didn't know you were this bad. It's quite a shame that you did it before me, your elder bro," he spoke, sounding like someone whose stuff was taken away from him.
"And how's that my fault, elder bro? I saw an opportunity just before me and I had to grab it. Don't worry, yours is on the way or better still, you can become a monk," I said and walked into the kitchen, leaving him mumbling to himself.
When I came back, I saw him still sulking, with a sigh, I walked toward him and dropped a plate of food before him. "Here, eat something so you can have the strength to sulk more," I said and sat down on the next couch to have my own breakfast.
I secretly watched him mumble some words I didn't hear, I thought he wasn't going to eat the food but alas, he picked up the plate and began to eat. I inwardly shook my head and faced my food.
When I was done, I quickly rushed my bath and got dressed for school. We both left the house and headed for school. Soon, we reached and went straight to our different classes.
"Announcement!" A student said as he walked into our class. "The Dean has asked all students to gather at the awakening hall immediately!" When he was done, he left the class again.
"Why is the Dean calling us again?"
"Who knows? We should go see!"
I followed other students to the awakening hall, I was also curious as to why he asked us to gather there again, it's not like there is an awakening going on. When I got to the hall, I spotted Ruben and so I walked up to him immediately.
"Hey!"
"I've been wondering why they would suddenly call us here today," he said.
"Likewise me," I replied.
After waiting for some minutes, the Dean walked in, followed by Sam. "Good morning all," he greeted as he sauntered to the front.
"Good morning sir!" We all chorused in return.
"Let me go straight to the point, most of you weren't able to awaken your element the last time we did and so we have decided to give you a second chance today," the Dean announced and the students began to rejoice, especially those like me who didn't awaken an element last time. "Let those who will be awakening today gather separately and get ready to be called!"
The dean after speaking, pressed the button on the ground and the awakening staff appeared, we gathered ourselves and waited for him to start calling us.
The first person was called, she walked up to the awakening staff with her hands clasped together. She placed her right hand on the orb and closed her eyes for some time, unfortunately, nothing happened and she was asked to return to her spot. I looked at her face and I could see the disappointment that was written all over it.
"Next!"
The boy walked up to the awakening stone and placed his hand on the orb, just like the first person, nothing happened. With an angry face, he walked back to his spot even before he could be asked to go back. Seeing how they were being unfortunate, I silently prayed that mine would be an exception.
The rest that went up to the awakening staff all passed through the same failure, I was beginning to feel worried about the outcome of my second chance. Even Ruben wasn't finding it funny at all, I couldn't see the expression on his face but I could certainly hear his heartbeat – how it was beating faster than usual.
"Next!" The moment they said this word, I heard his heartbeat stop for a moment. I looked at him and the fear I couldn't notice before surfaced on his face.
I sighed and held his hand, he turned and looked at him, 'You can do it this time, trust me!' I inwardly said. Even though I didn't say these words, I was sure that he understood me and so he nodded and walked to the awakening staff.
He placed his hand on the orb and slowly closed his eyes. As he did this, I silently prayed that he'll succeed.
"Is that Ice?"
"It's the ice element!"
The sudden yell made me open my eyes and look straight at him, his hands were covered in thick layers of ice, and so were the orb and the staff itself. While he still had his eyes closed, the temperature in the hall began to change and the ice began to spread around the place.
Seeing what was happening, the Dean began to panic. "Learn to control your power! Or you'll endanger the lives of everyone in this place!" He said to Ruben.
Ruben still had his eyes closed and the ice was still spreading, I looked intently at him and I could see that his brows were knitted, it was as though he was struggling with something or someone. As a friend, I had to do something and so I rushed over to him and grabbed his palm –the one covered in ice.
!Ding
'The system must be joking right?' I thought as I stared at Ruben. So I could acquire someone else's element if I wanted to? That was great but definitely not when it comes to this kid before me. Don't continue!' I commanded.
!Ding
'Huh? Why is that so?'
'Oh! I can understand but I still do not want it, think of a solution immediately!'
I had to do what the system said and so I closed my eyes immediately.
"Kid, what are you also doing?" I heard the Dean ask.
"Let's let them be for now," Sam replied and then I let out a sigh of relief and focused on what I was about to do.