Chapter 4: The First Day in Class

Chapter 4: The First Day in Class Ifenna stood at the doorway of the large, sunlit classroom, feeling a knot tighten in his stomach. The room was buzzing with chatter, students sitting at desks arranged in a wide semi-circle, some laughing with friends, others practicing small displays of their powers. Ifenna could feel the energy in the air—some of it intense, some barely noticeable, but all of it unmistakably powerful.

"Come in," said a sharp voice from the front of the room. A tall woman with piercing eyes and dark hair tied in a severe bun gestured for him to enter. Her presence commanded authority, and the room instantly fell silent. "Everyone, this is Ifenna, our newest recruit."

Ifenna stepped forward, feeling all eyes on him. He wasn’t sure how to introduce himself in a room full of people who seemed so much more in control of their powers than he was. His palms grew sweaty as he met the gazes of his new classmates.

"You may sit wherever you find space," the instructor said, her eyes sweeping over him before turning back to the class. "I am Instructor Velora, and I will be overseeing your basic soul training. For today, we will be covering elemental control."

As Ifenna moved to find an empty seat, he felt the weight of curious glances from the other students. He quickly spotted an empty seat near the back and slid into it, trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible. Next to him sat a boy with sandy blond hair, his eyes sharp but friendly, and on his other side, a girl with jet-black hair and a confident smile. She gave him a brief nod of acknowledgment.

Instructor Velora walked to the center of the room, a glowing orb of energy forming in her hand. "For today’s exercise, you will each be attempting to summon your elemental affinity," she said, her voice cutting through the room like a blade. "Whether it be fire, water, earth, or air, you will channel your inner soul power to connect with the element that resonates most strongly with you."

Ifenna’s mind raced. He hadn’t thought much about elements—he barely knew how to use the energy inside him at all, let alone connect it with an element. What if he couldn’t do it? What if he was the only one who failed?

Before his thoughts could spiral further, Instructor Velora continued. "Kaiara, you may begin."

Ifenna’s head snapped up at the mention of the name. Kaiara, the girl who had welcomed him just yesterday, stood up gracefully from her seat near the front of the room. She was calm, composed, as if she had done this a hundred times before. Her hand extended in front of her, and within moments, a swirling sphere of water formed, hovering above her palm. It glistened in the sunlight streaming through the windows, twisting and turning as though alive.

"Excellent control, as always," Instructor Velora said with a hint of approval in her otherwise stoic voice. "You may sit."

Kaiara smiled faintly as she returned to her seat, her eyes meeting Ifenna’s for a brief second. There was no smugness in her look, only quiet encouragement, as if to say, You’ll be fine.

Velora’s gaze shifted to the next student. "Zal."

The boy with sandy blond hair next to Ifenna stood up, his movements relaxed but purposeful. With a flick of his wrist, a gust of wind shot from his palm, stirring the papers on the desks nearby. The wind danced playfully in the air before dissipating, and Zal sat down with a satisfied grin.

One by one, the students showcased their powers—fire crackled from fingertips, vines sprouted from the floor, stones levitated in mid-air. Ifenna’s nerves grew with each display. These students had control, mastery. He barely knew what his powers were.

"Ifenna," Instructor Velora’s voice called, snapping him out of his anxious thoughts. "Your turn."

The entire class turned their attention toward him. Ifenna swallowed hard and stood up slowly. His heart pounded in his chest as he stepped forward, feeling the weight of their gazes. His palms tingled with the familiar warmth of his soul energy, but he had no idea how to summon it on command.

"Take your time," Velora said, her voice a little softer. "Feel the energy within you and let it flow outward."

Ifenna closed his eyes, focusing on the hum of power inside him. He took a deep breath, trying to quiet the noise of his thoughts. Slowly, the warmth in his hands grew stronger, and the faint glow returned, spreading through his arms.

But unlike the others, no element seemed to form. There was no fire, no wind, no water. Just a soft, radiant light.

The room was silent. Ifenna opened his eyes, seeing the glowing light in his palms. It wasn’t like the others—there was no clear element tied to it. It was raw energy, pure and untamed.

Velora’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Interesting," she murmured. "Not many students can summon raw soul energy without elemental manifestation. It seems your power is still unrefined."

Ifenna’s heart sank. Was that a good thing? Or did it mean he was weaker than the others?

"You may sit," Velora said, her tone neutral. "We will work on refining your abilities in the days to come."

As Ifenna returned to his seat, he could feel the stares from his classmates. Some looked curious, others skeptical. Kaiara caught his eye and gave him a small, reassuring smile, but he couldn’t shake the feeling of disappointment that gnawed at him.

The rest of the class passed in a blur. Instructor Velora guided the students through various exercises, focusing on control and precision with their elemental powers. Ifenna did his best to follow along, but he felt out of place. Every time he tried to summon his energy, it came out in flashes of light—brilliant but chaotic, without any form or direction.

By the time the class ended, Ifenna felt drained, both physically and mentally. The other students filed out of the room, chatting among themselves about their progress and their plans for the evening. Ifenna lingered behind, unsure of what to do next.

"Hey," came a voice from behind him.

He turned to see Kaiara standing there, her expression kind but slightly amused. "Don’t worry about it too much. The first day is always the hardest."

Ifenna sighed. "I just feel like I’m so far behind everyone else. I don’t even know what my element is supposed to be."

Kaiara shook her head. "Elements aren’t everything. Power comes in many forms, and yours is... different. That doesn’t mean it’s weaker. If anything, it might be stronger."

"Stronger?" Ifenna raised an eyebrow. "It doesn’t feel that way."

Kaiara smiled. "It will, eventually. Trust me."

Ifenna wasn’t sure if he believed her, but her words gave him a small sense of comfort. Maybe he wasn’t as out of place as he thought. Maybe he just needed time.

"Come on," she said, motioning toward the door. "There’s a group of us who usually hang out after class. You should join us. It’ll be fun."

Ifenna hesitated for a moment, but then nodded. "Yeah, sure. Why not?"

As they left the classroom together, Ifenna couldn’t help but feel a flicker of hope. The Academy was overwhelming, and his powers were still a mystery, but he wasn’t alone. Maybe, just maybe, he was exactly where he needed to be.