The morning sun filters through the high windows of the academy, casting long shadows across the polished floors as the cadets suit up in their battle uniforms. The air is thick with anticipation, the usual banter and noise subdued by the weight of what lies ahead. Today is the first day of The Battle of Elementals, a day that will determine their futures. Each cadet moves with a mix of purpose and nervous energy, checking and rechecking their gear, securing the buckles and straps of their uniforms, ensuring that everything is in place.
The battle uniforms are similar to their everyday attire—an all-black ensemble with a high collar and sleek lines, each lined with the color of their element. The difference is in the material, which is woven with a special fabric resistant to elemental energy, providing protection and insulating their bodies to amplify elemental energy conduction. These uniforms are designed for one purpose: survival in the brutal, no-holds-barred competition that awaits them.
In the social room, the group gathers, exchanging quiet glances and nods, their usual camaraderie replaced by a tense, focused silence. Tahno stands before them, his posture rigid, his expression one of barely concealed impatience. He's always been a hard man, but today there's an edge to him, a sense that even he knows the gravity of what's about to happen.
"Good morning, cadets," Tahno begins, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. "You all are rather quiet this morning. To what do I owe my gratitude for escaping your usual petty, over-emotional drama?" His tone is laced with sarcasm, a thin veneer over what they all know to be a rare moment of acknowledgment from him.
But no one responds. Not even Noah, who is usually quick to meet Tahno's barbs with a witty retort. The silence deepens, charged with the knowledge that today is different. Today, words are not enough.
Tahno narrows his eyes, scanning their faces, looking for any sign of weakness, any crack in the armor. When none appear, he continues, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "Alright, I'll take the silence as a small blessing and move on. Down to business, then. Today, you five are going to take part in the Battle of Elementals, which will determine your future."
He paces in front of them, his boots clicking against the floor with each step. "You should already know this, but let's do a quick review of the process. The first round is the class battles. This means each of the two classes of each element will battle their opposing class. The top four cadets from these battles will then face off against the top four of the opposing element in Round 2—fire versus water and earth versus air."
Tahno pauses, letting the information sink in before continuing. "Round 3 is the semi-finals round, where the top two cadets from each elemental class in Round 2 will team up to face off against the top two of the opposing element class. Although you'll be fighting together, you are still competing against one another, trying to take down your opponent faster than your partner. The one who does will move on to the Final Round."
He stops pacing and turns to face them, his gaze sharp. "Ultimately, the top single cadets, irrespective of class, will face off in a free-for-all battle until only one remains. This person will be the champion and win the opportunity to pick a legendary weapon, and a guaranteed position as General in the Junsui Hunter Armed Forces."
The gravity of his words hangs in the air, and still, no one speaks. Tahno continues, his voice growing colder. "Although this may sound like fun and games, and you may not care much about the prize, you need to be on your toes. This will also serve as your final exam. You don't have to make it into the advanced rounds unless you wish to receive high honors, but you must qualify in Round 1. The minimum time to pass is ten minutes—no exceptions. If you are defeated even a second under that ten-minute mark, you will be forced to stay behind a year. Ten minutes may not seem long, but when you're in a free-for-all battle against a class of twenty elementals coming at you with your opposing element, you'll be under fire from every direction."
He lets that sink in before adding, "Naturally, you'll have to be on guard for yourself, but you'll also want to look out for your comrades. Helping each other will be the key to your longevity in battle. I hope you've all improved on your miserable teamwork since our last session." Tahno's words are sharp, but there's a glimmer of expectation in his eyes, as if he's challenging them to prove him wrong.
He shifts his stance, adopting a more relaxed posture, but his tone remains serious. "Alright, you losers are boring me, so let me just finish with a final note on rules that you should already know. First, you are to use only one element during the battle. This doesn't apply to sub-elements like ice for water, but to the four main elements only. I know this mostly applies to Noah, as he's the only one who can use more than one, inconsistently, but I digress."
Tahno fixes Noah with a pointed look, and for a moment, the tension in the room ratchets up a notch. "Second, you may only use one weapon type, so no switching it up in between battles. Third, you are to fight to debilitate, not kill. Anyone responsible for causing another student's critical injury will face dire consequences, so control yourselves. Remember, these are your fellow cadets and possible friends."
He pauses, his gaze sweeping over them, lingering on Noah once more. "Finally, and this really only applies to you, Noah—nothing but your weapon and innate elemental energy may be used in the battles. No hand-to-hand combat, no outside gadgets, and for you, Noah—no beasting out. We don't want the other academy students to know what you truly are, and we certainly don't want any accidents that could send someone to the infirmary."
Tahno's words are heavy with unspoken meaning, and Noah meets his gaze without flinching, understanding the full weight of what's being asked of him. "Is that understood? Any questions or concerns?"
When no one responds, Tahno nods, satisfied. "Good. Then with that, let's get going. It's time to report to your classes. I wish you all the best of luck, though I'm expecting nothing less than greatness from all of you. May the odds be ever in your favor." He cracks a rare smile at his own joke, a reference to an ancient series from the Old Age, before turning on his heel and striding out of the room.
As soon as Tahno leaves, it's as if the room comes back to life. The tension lifts slightly, and they begin to move, adjusting their gear and mentally preparing themselves for the battle ahead. Noah who'd been uncharacteristically quiet throughout Tahno's speech suddenly finds his voice.
"Alright, guys," he says, surprising everyone with his sudden energy. "Today's the day, so we've got to do our best. I know we've been at odds lately, but today is all about teamwork. Even though we're technically competing against each other, I promise I'll stay out of your way until the final round. I expect to see all of us there—except for you, Nik, sorry—and all bets are off then. I'm not gonna go easy on you guys because I know you can handle it. So let's make Tahno proud, okay?"
The others exchange glances, taken aback by Noah's sudden shift in attitude. But slowly, they begin to nod, the competitive fire in their eyes reigniting. This is what they've trained for, what they've spent years preparing for. Today, they would prove their worth.
Nik is the first to respond, his usual cocky grin back in place. "No way, Noah. I'm gonna be the one apologizing to you because I'm taking that spot in the finals. We both may be part of the fire class, but unlike you who chose to make it your primary element, mine is all-natural." He smirks, and Noah grins back at him, the challenge clear in their eyes.
Mai speaks next, her voice calm and steady. "I don't have much interest in fighting any of you, but I won't go easy on you in the finals. Still, I wish you all good luck." She turns to Lili, her expression softening. "I've got your back until then, I promise."
Lili smiles weakly, but there's a determination in her eyes that hadn't been there before. "Thanks, Mai, but don't worry about me. I just want you to do your best, and I don't want to drag you down. I'm not sure if I'll make it, but no matter what, I'm really happy to have met you all, and I hope we'll always be friends."
The group falls silent, each of them feeling the weight of Lili's words. They know how much she's struggled; how hard it's been for her to keep going. And though they don't say it, they silently resolve to help her make it through, no matter what.
Gunther is the last to speak, his voice filled with warmth. "Well, guys, it's finally that time. I can't tell you how happy I am that I could be friends with you all, and I know we'll be friends forever. Even when we fight, I truly believe we'll always be there for each other when it matters. I can't think of a better way to spend my birthday than with you guys."
"Oh yeah, it's your birthday, isn't it, Guns?" Nik says, his grin widening. "The big 18, where you can finally join us in adulthood. I'm so sorry I forgot, buddy. Happy birthday. We'll definitely have to celebrate after this is over, right, guys?"
The others chime in, echoing Nik's birthday wishes, and Noah makes the final comment. "Alright, let's do this, guys. Let's bring home the gold!"
They all cheer in unison, their fists coming together in a show of solidarity. And for a moment, all the doubts, fears, and conflicts of the past few weeks melt away, leaving only the bond they've forged through years of training and struggle. One by one, they file out of the social room, ready to face whatever challenges await them in the battle arena. Today, they would not just be cadets—they would be warriors.