Picking up as many shards on the ground, I followed the dirt path back to the shelf. Looking for the empty, cracked container, I placed it back. I'll mention it to someone to fix it, or should I fix these? I looked at the whole shelf, and quietly spoke, "I'm sorry for breaking your and your neighbors' homes. Thank you."
Walking back to my uncle, I sat next to him nodding, "that was very unexpected."
He sneered "I might need to diminish your reactions. You were practically drowning in fear. I know that the academy grounds do not have these types of dummies, but did you not practice these types of maneuvers during any of your classes?"
I put my fingers on my lips and dragged my hand down my throat. "Don't you think it's funny. We had only two days practicing like this. You know what happened? The classics." I squeezed the bridge of my nose. "They were goofing off. Only those students ended up wounded. And guess what happened?" I huffed a moment, "they told their parents. And those parents threatened to withdraw their funding and time. It was basically an ultimatum. That was it. Wyn had to make the decision.
"Are you talking about Headmaster Faris? I did not realize you were so intimate with him, to identify him by his given name."
I tilted my head toward Theo and lightly tapped my fist on my leg, "I recently learned his full name at graduation. I wasn't the best student, but I was a tad more determined than the others." I nudged his shoulder, "because of you. Thank you for getting me accepted into the Academy."
He nudged back, "I know it is cliché. All I want for you is happiness. You wanted to attend, and I wanted to make that happen."
Prancing up, he exclaimed, "my dear niece, that means we will be training as much as we can until departure."
"Great," I said sarcastically.
He looked between the elements and me, and quickly noted, "I thought you could only use two elements. Not many elementalists have been able to acquire more than one."
I laughed, "of course, I am already grateful enough that the salamanders and sylphs allow me to use their core."
Again, he looked between us. "Earlier. I believe you manipulated the gnomes, correct?"
"I don't manipulate any of the deity. I'm connected to it Theo. As are, every other elementalists.
He didn't respond.
I squinted and looked back at the area of the incident. The crumbs were still there. My eyes grew bigger, and I peeked an authentic smile. A third element. Earth. My smile grew as my thoughts expanded. I know that it's a rarity for an elf to connect with gnomes. I've seen elves have an affiliation with wood, grass, plants, but never earth. I know everyone, but elves, can easily attain a link with the gnomes.
I strode back to the shelf and move the container to eye level, "I'm sorry for using you as my shield without your consent." I felt the glass, "I'm also sorry that I broke your home. Thanks for allowing me to use you as my shield and for protecting me."
I glanced at the other two containers, "thank you again. I can see your homes are hurt too."
I heard the impatient sighs and stepping out of my uncle. Before I finished speaking to my gods, he voiced out his irritation. I easily felt the salamanders' and sylphs' annoyance from his bashful statements. I felt the resentment in the air. Instantly, I felt something new. I stared at the shelves, and I felt all their vibrations. Their dislike for his impoliteness and rashness.
I felt a sudden restraint in my body. The heaviness within my feet overwhelmed me to the floor. The stiffness in my arms, the vibrations in my chest, the waviness in my head. I shut my eyes and repeatedly screamed in my mind, "Stop!".
And there it was. A solid moment of silence. My uncle was no longer badgering harshly to anyone. I hugged the frustration out of myself. I sat on my knees, and lean away looking for Theo.
Here he was. Angry. His gear had been tattered. Areas of his skins were burned.
A cyclone of wind surrounded him, separating us. I stood up, getting closer and barley being able to touch the micro cyclone.
It scratched my wrist. Pulling my hand closer to my chest, I felt a single word immerse me: enemy.
Theo threw his hands in the air and howled, "what do you think you are doing!"
I rubbed my hands on my thigh, "I can promise you that I haven't done anything to you." I glanced at the shelf, "this is because of the gods. Apologize or be remorseful! Before they do anything else to you."
He moved his hands to his sheath, and lowered his voice, "I have no reason to apologize or to stop being who I am."
I quickly noticed the cyclone growing in height. I felt the humidity in the air. "The gods are furious. It doesn't matter what you believe. I think all they want is a simple apology"
The electric lights started to flicker brighter. Some bulbs shattered. The wind grew faster and sharper. The strays started leaving dents in the wall. I felt water around my toes. I glanced down, and currents of water splashed against my upper legs. The sealed room was being filled rapidly.
Theo lifted his leg up and shook off the water. He confidently declared, "these creatures are not gods." His arm overreached toward his back and grabbed the lance in its scabbard. He's never released that weapon before. He's always kept it near. He repeated, "these creatures are not gods. They are weak. They are weak, feeble monsters." He punctured the floor with the pole, "weak."
Disbelieving my sight, I covered my mouth. "Isn't that lance-?"
He sneered, cutting me off, "exactly. One lance to disobey all. One reason to doubt elemental gods, even holy gods. The only being powerful enough to command me is my chief."
Digging the lance slightly deeper in the ground until it stuck, the water separated, climbing the walls away from the weapon. The lights dimmed. The scorches on many surfaces began to fade. Earth sculptures crumbled.
I sat down, jaw gapped opened. Shocked and amazed by a traitorous weapon, that overpowers to the gods I speak to daily and all the others. I have read many stories on this lance. The countless battles it has experienced. The clans that have been destroyed by it. The sheer number of leaders killed.
As the water evaporated, the earth grounded into dust, the lights return to the original flicker, losing the humidity in the room, and the air stopped attacked, someone walked through the door.
"Is everything okay? I heard a lot of noises, and I couldn't open the door until now?" A goblin asked worried.
Unable to speak, I motioned to my uncle.
Knight Theo reassured the guard everything was splendid.
As he left, Theo told me to pick a weapon, "it's time to fight me directly my dear niece."