The tranquility didn't last long. A sudden burst of laughter and rustling leaves broke the silence. Jin's eyes snapped open, his senses immediately on alert. Before he could react, a voice rang out, dripping with arrogance.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing in my pond?"
Jin turned toward the source of the voice. A young man, perhaps a year or two older than him, stood at the edge of the clearing. His finely tailored clothes and confident posture spoke of someone used to getting his way. Behind him stood a group of similarly dressed followers, their laughter echoing in the trees.
The young man crossed his arms, a smug smirk on his face. "Do you know who I am? This pond belongs to me. Get out now, and maybe—just maybe—I'll forgive your insolence."
Jin raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by the display. He took a step closer to the shore, water dripping from his frame. "Your pond?" Jin's tone was calm, but there was a subtle edge to it. "I didn't see your name on it."
The group behind the young man erupted into laughter, though whether at Jin's audacity or their leader's indignation was unclear.
The young man's face darkened, his smirk replaced by a scowl. "Watch your mouth, peasant. I'll give you one last chance. Kneel before me, apologize, and leave."
Jin stepped out of the water, unfazed by the tension in the air. His gaze locked onto the young man's, his expression calm but firm. "And if I don't?"
The young man's scowl deepened, and he gestured to his followers, who began to fan out, surrounding Jin. "Then you'll regret ever stepping foot in this forest, let alone my pond."
Jin's jaw tightened, his body still weary from training but his resolve unshaken. "If you want me to leave, you'll have to make me."
The group's laughter stopped, replaced by a tense silence. The arrogant young man's eyes flashed with fury. "You're going to regret those words."
The tension in the air was palpable, and Jin stood amidst it like an unyielding boulder. His soaked clothes clung to his frame as water dripped from his hair. The group surrounding him seemed to revel in the arrogance of their leader, each person wearing a smirk that mirrored the young man who claimed ownership of the pond.
The arrogant youth stepped forward, his posture exuding superiority. "You've made a grave mistake, stranger. I don't take kindly to people defying me look." His hand crackled faintly, a hint of white fire dancing on his palm.
Jin's eyes narrowed. The remnants of his training with Elder Elliot still lingered in his muscles, and though his body ached, he wouldn't allow himself to back down. "I told you," Jin said evenly, "if you want me gone, you'll have to make me."
The young man's smirk twisted into a sneer. "So be it."
With a flick of his wrist, the young man sent a stream of white flames roaring toward Jin. The fire was intense, its brightness cutting through the dimming light of the forest.
Jin didn't flinch. His training with Elliot had sharpened his instincts. Without thinking, he stomped his foot against the ground, calling forth his elemental connection. A jagged wall of earth erupted in front of him, absorbing the flames.
Gasps rippled through the group as the dirt and stone fell away, revealing Jin unharmed. The young man's expression shifted from smugness to disbelief, and his followers exchanged uneasy glances.
"Earth element? Here?" one of them muttered.
The leader's jaw tightened. "Impressive. But don't think that changes anything!"
He charged, flames spiraling around his fists. Jin met him head-on, dodging the initial strike and countering with a sharp kick that sent the youth staggering backward. The others in the group hesitated, clearly unsure whether to join the fight or stay out of their leader's way.
As the battle unfolded, something stirred within Jin. Each strike and dodge felt more natural, as though his body remembered movements his mind couldn't recall. The earth beneath him seemed to respond to his will, small tremors echoing with every step he took.
The young man snarled, his attacks growing more reckless. "You'll regret making me look like a fool!" He unleashed a massive burst of fire, the heat searing the air around them.
Jin raised his hands instinctively, and a surge of fiery energy erupted from his palms, meeting the white flames head-on. The collision created a shockwave that sent both combatants skidding backward.
The group of followers staggered, their confidence waning. "Is he… using fire too?" one of them whispered.
The leader's eyes widened as realization dawned. "Earth and fire… No one in this region has both elements unless…"
He didn't finish the thought, his expression a mixture of fear and anger.
Before the fight could escalate further, a commanding voice cut through the chaos. "Enough!"
Everyone froze. The authority in the voice was undeniable, and its source emerged from the shadows—a middle-aged man clad in the robes of a clan elder. His piercing gaze swept over the scene, taking in the scorched ground, the trembling followers, and the two young men poised to clash again.
"Explain yourselves," the elder demanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.
The arrogant youth straightened, clearly trying to mask his fear. "Elder, this outsider was trespassing in my—"
"Silence." The elder's sharp command silenced the young man instantly. His gaze shifted to Jin, who met it with steady eyes. "You. What's your name?"
"Jin," he said simply.
The elder studied him for a long moment before nodding. "You'll come with me. As for you," he turned to the young man, "we'll discuss your conduct later."
The group of followers dispersed quickly, their arrogance evaporating in the elder's presence.
As Jin followed the elder away from the pond, he couldn't help but wonder what fate awaited him. The fight had stirred something within him—power, questions, and a growing sense of his place in this strange world.
Jin looked as the elder bought him to The mountain they used for training.