The Elemental system

The sun was barely rising when the academy representatives arrived to guide the selected candidates toward their destination. The excitement in the air was palpable, but so too was a sense of uncertainty. Axton stood among the other chosen candidates, Elias beside him, both of them still processing the significance of the moment.

The village had gathered to send them off, but Axton barely noticed the crowds. His thoughts were occupied with what lay ahead. For the first time, he felt a sense of belonging. The trials had been grueling, but he had made it. He had proven something—not just to the academy, but to himself. But what now? What would the academy expect of him, and what was the true purpose of this mysterious selection?

Elias, always the optimist, was practically bouncing with energy as he talked with some of the others about what they might expect at the academy. Axton, however, remained silent, lost in his own thoughts.

"We're finally leaving this place," Elias said with a grin. "Can you believe it? The academy… I never thought it would actually happen."

Axton nodded, though his heart was still racing. "Yeah, it feels unreal."

The group of candidates began to gather around the academy representatives. The gray-eyed leader, who had been overseeing the trials, stepped forward once again, his expression solemn.

"Gather your things," he instructed. "The journey ahead will not be easy. The academy is far, and the challenges there will be unlike anything you've faced here. But you will have the chance to grow, to learn, and to harness the powers you possess. It is not just your strength, but your character that we seek."

Axton's stomach tightened at the mention of "character." He had felt the weight of those words during the trials, but now they seemed to take on even more significance. What was the academy looking for, really?

The candidates followed the representatives toward a waiting carriage, an imposing, horse-drawn vehicle that looked unlike anything Axton had seen in the village. The ornate carvings along the sides gleamed in the morning light, marking it as something meant for royalty, not for ordinary students like him. As they climbed aboard, the reality of leaving the village and heading toward the unknown sank in.

The journey itself was quiet, with only the sound of the horses' hooves and the occasional murmur of conversation. Axton's thoughts drifted between excitement and apprehension. He kept finding himself looking at the others—at Elias, Gavin, and the others from the trials—wondering what kind of people they truly were beneath their bravado and powers.

The ride lasted several hours, and as the landscape slowly changed, Axton couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. The further they went, the more the surroundings became unfamiliar. The rolling hills and forests gave way to sprawling fields, ancient stone bridges, and the distant outlines of tall spires piercing the sky.

"Is that it?" Elias whispered as he leaned over to Axton, pointing toward the horizon. In the distance, barely visible through the haze, were the towering walls of a massive structure—the academy.

Axton's breath caught in his throat. The academy was more magnificent than he had ever imagined. Its stone walls were white and gleaming, the towers rising high above the ground, each one topped with intricate designs that looked almost magical. The gates were massive, forged from black iron, and as the carriage approached, Axton could feel the weight of its presence.

"That's the academy?" Axton asked, his voice barely a whisper.

Elias nodded, eyes wide. "Yeah, that's it. We're about to step into a whole new world."

As they passed through the gates, a sense of reverence seemed to settle over the group. The road ahead was lined with statues and fountains, and Axton couldn't help but stare in awe at the sheer scale of everything. This wasn't just a school; it was a fortress, a place where power and prestige were both earned and demanded.

The carriage finally came to a stop in front of the main building, and the group was ushered out, the academy representatives guiding them forward. Axton's heart pounded in his chest as they approached the grand entrance. The doors, made of dark wood and etched with intricate designs, swung open, revealing the interior of the academy—a vast, open hall with marble floors that gleamed in the soft light filtering through high windows.

"This is where your true journey begins," the gray-eyed leader said, his voice echoing in the grand hall. "From this point forward, you will be trained in the ways of the elements. You will be pushed to your limits, and you will be expected to learn. Some of you will rise above the rest. Some of you will fall behind. But all of you will change."

Axton swallowed hard. This was it. He was here.

"Follow me," the leader continued, leading them deeper into the building. The group walked in silence, each of them lost in their own thoughts, but Axton couldn't shake the feeling that something more was unfolding here—something larger than the academy itself.

As they passed through several corridors, Axton noticed that the walls were lined with portraits of people he could only assume were previous students or perhaps alumni. Some were men and women with regal expressions, while others looked more like adventurers or warriors, their eyes filled with determination and power. Each portrait seemed to tell a story, a legacy of greatness and accomplishment.

They finally arrived at a large chamber at the end of the hall, where a group of academy instructors waited. There was an air of authority about them, and Axton could sense the weight of their scrutiny as they looked over the new arrivals.

"Here," the gray-eyed leader said, gesturing toward the instructors, "you will be assigned to your respective dormitories and prepared for your first lessons. This will be your home for the foreseeable future."

Axton looked around, taking in his surroundings. He was no longer just a boy from a small village. He was now part of something much bigger—a place where the world's most powerful and talented students gathered to learn, grow, and prepare for the challenges that lay ahead.

But as he looked toward the instructors, his mind still raced. What did the academy want from him? And more importantly, why had he been chosen in the first place?

The answers, he knew, would come in time.