The three Elementalists

15 Ray's Thunder Sparks

It all started when Ray had a dream. A strange, very spark-filled dream. He was standing barefoot, naturally, on a mountaintop above storm clouds. Lightning bolts crackled across the sky, and a giant floating orb hovered before him, pulsing with energy. Inside the orb swirled thunderclouds, mini tornadoes, and the occasional confused pigeon. Ray, the orb boomed in a voice suspiciously like Clara doing her best Morgan Freeman impression, you are ready for more. Ray squinted. More what? Humidity? Bad weather hair days? The orb’s glow pulsed. You are the thunder. The spark. The forecast of destiny. Ray opened his mouth to respond, but was jolted awake by a zap to his forehead from his own bedsheet. His hair was puffed up like a dandelion on steroids. "Great," he muttered. Even my dreams are electrifying now. Ray tried to brush it off. Dreams were weird. So what if he had one that left him with frizzy hair and a lingering scent of ozone? But the weirdness didn’t stop. Every time he walked by anything electrical, a lamp, a toaster, a vending machine, it sparked. His phone buzzed violently whenever he picked it up. Clara’s crystal gave him a shock so badly, he dropped it on his foot and screamed at three different pitches. OW! Okay, that one bit me! He yelped. Clara narrowed her eyes. Ray, I think you’re building up elemental energy again. Ray frowned. You think my destiny is static electricity? Jessica grinned. No, Sparky. I think you're about to become Thunder Man. Ray stood dramatically. With great lightning comes great... zapping? No, Jessica said. With great lightning comes great fashion disasters. She gestured at his scorched hoodie. Later that day, a distant rumble echoed across the sky, followed by a bolt of lightning that carved a spiral into the clouds. Clara’s eyes lit up. That’s a summon. The Elementals are calling us again. Ray groaned. Can’t they text like normal people? The trio followed the sound until they reached a swirling cloud vortex that pulled them up into the sky because, of course, it did. There, they found a floating arena shaped like a giant thunder drum, suspended above a sea of lightning. Standing in the center was a glowing storm elemental with muscles, a man-bun made of fog, and a chest tattoo that read BOOM. "I am Boom-Boom," he said, flexing with a c***k of thunder. Don’t laugh. Ray immediately laughed. Sorry. It’s just... Boom-Boom? Boom-Boom pointed. To gain thunder, you must complete the Trial of the Storm. You will wield the Sparkle Stick. Ray stared at the glitter-covered staff being offered. This is the most humiliating wand I’ve ever held. Jessica snorted. You look like a magical cheerleader for Team Weather Channel. Ray gripped the staff. Let’s get this over with. The trial began with a Lightning Round, literally. Ray had to sprint through a maze of electrified clouds while dodging bouncing lightning slugs that hissed insults. Hey, Sparky! One slug shouted. Your shoelace is untied! He tripped. Then came the Thunder Showdown, where Ray had to face off against a storm choir, a literal choir made of raindrops that harmonized shock-waves. Every bad note struck him with a jolt. Why is this happening?! Ray yelled as a particularly pitchy tenor zapped his eyebrows. Boom-Boom cackled. You wanted to unlock thunder? THIS IS WHAT IT TAKES! Jessica and Clara watched from the sideline, cheering and occasionally placing bets. "I give him five more shocks before he taps out," Jessica said. I said three, Clara replied. But Ray pushed through. He gritted his teeth, dodged the notes, and channeled something deep within him. He raised the Sparkle Stick high. A bolt of pure white lightning exploded from his chest, firing into the sky so hard it parted the clouds. Even Boom-Boom took a step back. Whoa, he said. That was... dramatic. Okay, you win. You’ve earned the Spark of Thunder. And mild weather prediction? Ray asked. Boom-Boom shrugged. Sure. Call it a bonus. Back on the ground, Ray’s transformation was impossible to miss. His hoodie now shimmered with faint arcs of lightning. His eyes occasionally sparked. Even his footsteps made little electric crackles. Great, Jessica said. Now we’re walking next to a human battery. Clara stepped forward, seriously. Ray, you’ve connected with the spirit of thunder, but there’s more. Something else is... off. Ray tilted his head. Off how? Like you’ve absorbed more than one spark, she said. Most of us get one elemental awakening at a time. But you... Before she could finish, Ray suddenly clutched his chest. A second bolt erupted from him, but this time it wasn’t bright white, it was deep purple. Jessica ducked. Whoa! What was that?! Ray gasped. I... I think there’s another spark inside me. Clara’s eyes widened. You’ve been struck twice. That shouldn’t be possible. From the shadows of a nearby tree, a faint voice whispered, Unless... he’s not just a thunder wielder... but a conduit. The group turned, but the figure who spoke had vanished, leaving behind only a burning tree root etched with runes. Clara examined it. This is an ancient elemental script. It says: He who holds twin sparks, holds the gate to balance or destruction. Ray looked horrified. Destruction? Me? I can barely control one spark without shorting out my socks. Jessica leaned in. So what, you’ve got two sparks in you? Thunder and... mystery purple? Clara nodded slowly. Maybe it's a shadow... or void... or something older. Whatever it is, it’s not random. You’re at the center of something big, Ray. Ray looked down at his hands, watching tiny arcs of electricity dance between his fingers. So now I’m a lightning rod and a magical mystery box? Jessica clapped him on the back. Welcome to the club. We’ve got water ninjas, lightning boys, and crystal whisperers. You're doing great, Sparky. That night, as the trio camped beneath a quiet sky, Clara meditated with her crystal, Jessica practiced invisible sneak attacks on squirrels, and Ray sat on a rock, staring at his hands. What if I mess this up? He muttered. A low rumble answered from above no storm, just a reminder that thunder never truly rests. Jessica walked over, handing him a cup of glowing water from the Pool of Ancient Waters. You won’t mess up. You’ve got us. And you’ve got thunder in your blood now. That gotta count for something. Ray smiled faintly. Yeah. And hey... I’ve got the Sparkle Stick. They both laughed. Above them, far off in the sky, storm clouds gathered once more, watching, waiting. The spark had struck twice. But the storm it awakened was just beginning.