The morning sun began peeking through the blinds, it's golden rays spilling across the room and catching Jace's eyes. He stirred awake, blinking against the light, and took a deep breath as he stretched, his muscles protesting the sudden movement.
Slowly he swung his legs over the edge of the bed and stood, wobbling slightly as the rush of blood to his head made the room spin. After a moment to steady himself, he threw on a basic t-shirt and jeans, the fabric soft and familiar against his skin, before heading downstairs.
In the kitchen, he grabbed a granola bar from the counter and slung his bag over his shoulder.
As he moved toward the door, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. His soft brown hair, cut in a short, spiky style, was slightly disheveled from sleep, and his caramel eyes held a flicker of both nervousness and excitement. He smirked at his reflection, considering his face slightly above average - nothing extraordinary, but not bad either. At 5 foot 8, he still held onto the hope that he might grow a little taller, though his consistent training had at least kept him in a good shape.
Stepping outside, he joined the flow of others on their morning journeys. Some soared through the air, propelled by flames or gusts of wind, while others glided effortlessly across the ground on designated earth trails, their movements smooth and controlled.
The trails were designed to prevent damage to the ground, a necessary precaution for those who traveled using earth.
Every so often, a sharp Crack echoed through the air, marking the presence of the rare few who could harness lightning. While most people could wield at least one of the basic elements, far fewer could command the rarer ones, and even fewer still had the skill to use them for travel.
Jace summoned his ice, the cool energy spreading beneath his feet as he began to skate across the ground. Behind him, he conjured small bursts of fire to melt the ice, leaving no trace of his passage.
He wasn't about to give anyone the chance to blame him for a slippery mishap. Besides, ice was a rare element - rare enough that leaving it behind would practically point a finger straight at him.
Even the sight of him skating effortlessly across the ground drew glances from those around him, their curiosity piqued by the unusual display.
But Jace did his best to ignore the glances, focusing instead on his destination: the Elemental Academy of Battle. The foremost academy for those aiming to get a head start in the professional league, and one of the only academies to not only allow but encourage combat through regular tournaments.