Marc Arden and the Siphilon Academy

- The Academy (Part 2)

Marc ambled into a very boisterous class of fifteen students. Many of them were either talking or browsing their textbooks for some light reading. He cast an eye around the classroom and spotted Scarlett already settling at a desk.

He walked over to her, ignoring a glaring Loveren from across the room. He neared Scarlett, and she looked up at him.

"Hey." She said.

"Hey." Marc sat down at a desk next to her and began unpacking his bag. "Where's Rose?"

Scarlett beckoned her head in one direction of the class before resuming unpacking her bags.

Marc looked over and saw Rose and Cader chatting with a group of students. Next to their group was Theo, talking to a pale girl who didn't seem to be paying attention to anything he was saying.

Marc and Scarlett finished organizing their workspace and stationery and sat patiently.

"So why'd you choose the corner of the class to sit at?" Marc asked her, realizing that the desks around them were unoccupied.

"Didn't want too much attention for the very first day here," Scarlett replied with a shrug.

Marc picked out a book named A Guide to Physical Enhancement and dropped it on his table.

"I wonder what this subject is…" Marc said to no one in particular.

Scarlett leaned over and glanced at the book.

"Rose mentioned it earlier. It's got a lot to do with enhancement of the body. Hearing, eyesight, strength enhancement. That kind of stuff."

"Sounds good to me." Marc concluded before picking out some other books, that he already went through the previous day, and placing them too in his desk.

He sat in silence, unpacking his bag, while Scarlett sat watching him. He regularly glanced around the class, catching phrases that he didn't understand.

"…Trudeau outdid himself lately didn't he?..."

"…wait to play my next Flagback game, Clint!…"

"…how many classes are you taking this time, Deanie?..."

"…Professor Potts has put on some weight lately…"

The classroom door swung open, putting a stop to all chatter, and in strode a tall, sturdy, bespectacled man. All the students immediately returned to their desks. Theo approached and sat behind Marc diagonally, leaning across his table to whisper to him that he better be alert.

The man sported good-natured, wavy brown hair that shadowed his sea green eyes. He plastered a smile on his face and took his place in front of the blackboard before addressing the class as a whole.

"Welcome class, to your second year here at Siphilon Academy!" He spoke in a confident, friendly voice. "I am Professor Corden, Head of house Dýnami, Physical Enhancement Master and Coach of Flagback. I also serve as your class teacher, so I hope you and I, more so for you, will have the best of time!"

Professor Corden applauded himself along with the smattering applause from his students. He rose after a fraction of a second, beaming at them.

"Let's start our first subject shall we? Everyone get yourself ready for Class time!"

Many students started talking. Some students looked at Professor Corden cluelessly. The latter sat patiently until Theo spoke,

"Professor Corden, what's Class time?"

"Ah I'm glad you asked – Theo isn't it?" Professor Corden replied and waited for Theo's nod before continuing. "The students of the second Vathmós have Class time on the first day of the new academic year to show off the elements they developed last year. If I could have volunteers that'd be much appreciated!"

An uncomfortable silence followed as students swiveled their heads at each other. Judy Moncada, one of the new students, raised her hand up as a volunteer.

Professor Corden invited her to the front of the class and instructed her to demonstrate an action with her element.

She announced to the class,

"I am Judy Moncada of house Pnévma and I'm attuned to many elements of fabric."

She brought her hands out and motioned them around, eyes closed

A single spool of hemp started ravelling onto Professor Corden's table, and it took a while for students to realize what was happening. Within seconds, she perfected a pair of gloves and presented them to Professor Corden. "Here! This is yours to keep." Judy said to Professor Corden, then turned around and bowed at everyone before returning to her desk.

Professor Corden examined the gloves. He looked up and said,

"I must say, I'm mighty impressed. Thank you, Judy!"

Professor Corden resumed calling students up to his desk. There was Earth, Wood, Mind, Cloud, Web, and a Snow bender. The latter had come all the way from a settlement at the peaks of Mt. Trincon. The boy made a snowball and handed it to Professor Corden, who broke it apart and wiped it across his face, to his relief.

Theo went next and crafted a beautiful glass vase which he set on Professor Corden's desk as an ornament.

After he was done, Loveren stood up and headed to the desk. He announced that he was a Metal bender, then succeeded in creating a hunting knife for Professor Corden to keep.

At that very moment, Marc and Scarlett locked eyes, smiling at each other.

Marc could've easily made a better knife if he still had his Metal element.

Rose went next. Loveren purposefully bumped into Rose's shoulder as they passed.

Rose announced that she was a Light and Blood bender. She pointed a beam of light onto the small classroom chandelier, glittering the room in Light, then surreptitiously flashed it into Loveren's eyes before shutting it off.

Marc observed that Loveren was blinded and was cursing as he tried to rub the black spots out of his eyes.

"Trust me, you don't wanna know what my Blood element does." She told everyone spookily, returning to her desk with a victorious smile.

Cader was next. She was something called a Fragrance bender.

She cast a musky scent around the class to everyone's pleasure.

"Siphs with control over the senses are quite rare. I'm fortunate to have two of them in my class." Explained Professor Corden, inclining at Cader and the Mind bender.

Before Cader even reached her desk, Scarlett surprised Marc by springing out of her seat and heading over to the front desk, giving Cader a high-five on the way.

Scarlett announced herself to the class. She gave Marc a last look before turning towards Professor Corden's desk. She picked up the vase Theo had created for Professor Corden.

"What in the blazes do you think she's about to do?" Theo murmured to Marc, who shrugged in reply.

Scarlett closed her eyes and concentrated.

A low whistling emanated from the vase. The whistle of Wind.

Scarlett placed her hand at the lip of the vase and spewed Water into it, instantaneously, water started gushing in and out like a spring.

Scarlett had just turned Theo's vase into a water fountain. Professor Corden eyed it appreciatively. He led the class into hearty applause for Scarlett.

Scarlett blushed at everyone as she returned to her seat. She smiled apologetically at Theo, who grinned and reassured her by saying,

"I must say, that's not half bad!"

Now it was Marc's turn. He knew what he wanted to do. He headed to Professor Corden's desk, just like the many students before him, but he planned to make his spectacle the most striking of them all.

"I am Marc Arden, and I'm also attuned to Fire." He noticed some students whispering between them furtively.

Professor Corden whistled at Marc's words, impressed. He waited, watching Marc expectantly.

Marc brewed Fire all around him, lowering the heat to zero. He halted the brew for a fraction of a second, bracing himself, before blasting his entire body on fire. His personal favourite way of channeling Fire.

Professor Corden jumped, surprised by the roar of the fire. Marc proceeded to pick up Loveren's knife from the table.

Marc redirected all the lapping Fire around him into his palm clamped it around Loveren's knife and poured his highest endurance of temper into the blade.

The blade glowed in brilliant orange, bright enough for everyone to see.

Slowly, the blunt edges of the blade – caused by Loveren's inexperience over Metal – began to reshape and sharpen, melting by the sheer heat of his fire. The tip of the blade morphed into a lethal point.

Marc waited for a few more seconds to pass. After he was satisfied with the blade, he withdrew all his fire into him.

The blade of the knife slowly dimmed. A few seconds later, it died down from Loveren's silver blade Revealing Marc's cruel, black blade.

Marc realized that the whole class was silent, gaping at him. Rose flashed him a thumbs up and Scarlett gave him a sweet smile, before rolling her eyes at him.

Professor Corden forced himself to find his voice,

"Marc…are you by any chance, a descendant from Sidirour himself?"

It was Marc's turn for a bit of a surprise.

"What?" Marc blurted out, staring at Professor Corden.

"I'm guessing by that look, you don't know who Sidirour is." Professor Corden shook his head at Marc in admiration. "He is only the best weapons smith in all of Lorenzia. He is extremely skillful over the Fire and Metal elements, and forges weapons very similar to the way you did it, Marc!"

Marc felt himself turn red in front of the class. He suddenly felt very sad, wistfully thinking back to when he had control over Metal.

Professor Corden thanked him and allowed him to return to his seat. The former cleared his throat before announcing one last name.

"Chris Vronti, you're up last!" Professor looked up to face the class, waiting for someone to stand up.

A withdrawn boy sitting right behind Marc's desk - leaning his head onto the wall behind him - stirred at the mention of his name. Marc hadn't paid him much thought before. Chris fist-bumped Marc's shoulder, speaking in his ear, "That was something, man." He stood up from his chair. Whistling as he strolled up to Professor Corden.

Marc found Chris very boyish and immediately grew jealous of his hazel eyes and golden hair, which fell over his forehead in a wave, curtaining the side of his face, and contrasting against the dark stubble on his chin. Marc absentmindedly twirled a strand of his straight hair around his forefinger.

"I mean, you're hair is amazing as it is," Scarlett whispered with a shrug. Marc shot Scarlett an incredulous look. He shook his head at her before looking up at Chris, just as he started speaking.

"Hey everyone." He began.

"As you all heard, I'm Chris Vronti and as I'm sure you've never heard…I'm attuned to Lightning."

Again, just like for Marc, the students started whispering between themselves.

Professor Corden cleared his throat to stop the whispering, then gave Chris a half-hearted smile.

"It's okay if you don't feel up to demonstrating your…uhh…powers, and I surely wouldn't mind if my class doesn't get thundered on the very first day." Professor Corden said.

Everyone around the class laughed pleasantly. Even Chris's mouth edged into a sly smile.

"Don't worry Professor Corden, I'll make it as quick as a bolt," Chris replied.

That didn't at all reduce the tension building up around the class. Everyone held their breath as Chris brought his hands out.

He played around with his fingers, spacing them out, before snapping once with his right hand.

The class gasped in unison. Marc didn't realize it but he was laughing out aloud. He felt it, and he certainly well knew the rest of the class felt it.

Chris had brought about a tingle of current in the air. Just breathing in the air, or even contacting it by his skin, energized Marc. He felt alive.

He yearned to do something wild. He vaguely sensed Scarlett breathing heavily next to him. He looked up into Scarlett's eyes. She did the same.

Something was brewing inside Marc…some feeling – and Marc was sure Scarlett felt the same – and just as it was about to explode out of him, Chris snapped with his left hand.

The tingle in the air vanished and everyone returned to normal. Scarlett widened her eyes in realization and glared down at her Guide to Physical Enhancement textbook. Marc gulped at the lump in his throat and looked around.

Rose was letting go of Loveren's collar, just before she punched him. Professor Corden had drenched himself in the water from the vase fountain, which he hurriedly dried out with a swiped of his hands down his clothes. He steamed. Everyone laughed. The tension broke.

All in all, Marc thought Chris did a great job. He single-handedly gifted everyone around the class a feeling of togetherness, a perfect start to the new year as a class. Marc felt he should've been the one to do that, instead of trying to prove himself to everyone.

He immediately grew a liking towards Chris, and as Chris was walking back to his seat through a standing ovation and much clapping on his back, Marc clapped the loudest, and he felt obliged to return Chris' compliment.

So as Chris slid into his desk, Marc rounded to face him. Marc flashed him a smile and said,

"And that was entirely another level man!"

Chris smiled back and held out his hand to Marc, who shook it.

Marc sat back straight - feeling really good after acquainting with Chris - and leaned against his backrest, clasping his palms behind his head. He closed his eyes and listened to Professor Corden's voice ringing out to the class,

"Class time adjourned, students!"