Chapter 8 : Boot Camp

"Your Majesty, are you sure of the decision you have made. I just want to make sure that His Majesty does not rush into actions and decisions. One small mistake could be fatal, I want Your Majesty to know about that." 

King Edward squinted, watching Gio. Gio was the royal advisor, always faithfully accompanying the king wherever he went. 

Feeling stared at so deeply by the King, Gio bowed his head, the corner of his lips twitching. "I beg your majesty to think over the plan once more." 

"Gio, I appreciate the advice and input you always give me. Indeed, I am very impressed and always helped by your presence by my side." 

Gio listened to the words spoken by the king. 

King Edward straightened up from the large white chair he was sitting on. A white crown with a pointed tip seemed to fit perfectly on his head. The king let out a long breath before his words resumed. 

"My mind is made up Gio, it is inviolable, now you may leave my room. I want to be alone." 

Although not satisfied with the answer given by King Edward, Gio could not help but accept the fact that the king's decision could not be negotiated. Gio could not do anything, he was only a royal advisor, and all decisions were in the hands of the king. 

Gio bowed his body again. "Well, Your Majesty, I take my leave to retire, call me if Your Majesty needs my presence again." 

"Of course." 

Gio left the royal throne room. The man walked unsteadily, trying to accept whatever the king chose, even though he did not agree with it at all. 

Elsewhere, Darren was walking towards the training camp. In one week, Darren was required to hone his fire skills three times. 

Darren was currently at level 4, he was advanced, but not professional enough to master all the fire elements. 

The training camp consists of 5 levels, for beginners or small children, of course, enter level 1. If the children have sufficiently mastered the basic techniques learned in level 1, they immediately go to level 2, and so on until they reach the final stage, which is level 5.

It's not just the Fire Clan that has training camps, other clans have them too. However, all clans have their own way of teaching the elements of power to incoming students.

All are required to join when they are 7 years old. If they are lucky and master the skills quickly, they can advance quickly. If not, they are forced to repeat the material until they are good at it before advancing to the next level. 

Darren was a young man who wasn't very good. He was a mediocre young man, he needed to work hard to keep up with every lesson given by the master. Darren also failed often, but he did not give up easily, Darren wanted to always try again if he failed. 

Yes, Darren is a persistent and unyielding young man. Thanks to his efforts, Darren was able to break through to level 4. But, Darren still has a lot to learn, and he is thirsty for knowledge about his power. There is still a lot to learn and a lot to be explored, and Darren will do that. 

Each level of training has its own place so as not to interfere with each other. 

At exactly three in the afternoon, Darren arrived at the field. He joined his friends. In the level 4 class, there were twelve students. Seven boys and five girls They were all good at creating fire, they were all learning together. 

"Darren, come here!" 

Darren smiled widely when his eyes found Cassie who was waving her hand. Darren walked over to Cassie. 

"Wow, there seems to be something different about you," Darren said as he pointed at Cassie's new look. 

A soft laugh escaped Casie's lips, "You noticed right away, huh?" 

"Of course, your hair is usually left loose, but now it's braided." 

"What do you think?" 

"Good, you look prettier too." 

Cassie blushed, her lips twitching, obviously she was holding back a smile. The black girl couldn't hide the blush on her cheeks. 

"Thanks Darren, I'm always happy to be complimented." 

Darren nodded. "There's nothing averse about compliments." 

"Well then, let's join the others. The master wants to show us something, a new element." 

Cassie's words caught Darren's attention. "New element? When did the master say that?" 

"A few minutes ago the master came here, he said so, you didn't come then." 

While trying to keep up with Cassie's rather fast pace, Darren chimed in. "But it's three o'clock, I'm on time, I'm not late." 

"Darren, you're not late," Cassie replied. "It's just that the master did come too early, he's gone to get the books right now, he went with Gaby and Domes. They should be back soon. 

"Oh..." Darren nodded in understanding. Darren and Cassie then sat in the center of the field, joining their other friends. 

They were almost the same age. The average was between nineteen and eighteen. There was one oldest, who was twenty years old, and one youngest, who was seventeen.

"Hey Nail, do you know what the master is going to teach today? He said we're going to learn a new element?" 

Nail immediately turned to face Darren who had just engaged him in conversation. Nail was a young man with no hair, a bald head, and a burn on his left cheek. Nail had gotten that wound when he was in the second level, he had panicked too much to control the fire and hurt himself. 

If not carefully controlled, fire is very dangerous. That's why training camps are so important, so that people can control their powers. 

Nail opened his lips. "Yes, you're right, the master himself said so. But he is away." 

"I know, Cassie already said that just now. But, do you know what new elements we will learn?" 

"I don't know either, Darren. You're not the only one wondering, I'm the same. Curious, right?" 

Darren nodded enthusiastically. "That's right, I'm always excited to learn new elements. I can't wait." 

Cassie patted Darren's shoulder quite hard. "I'm the same as you Darren, let's just wait for the master. When is he coming?" 

"It'll be soon." 

Everyone was waiting with high expectations. While waiting for the master to come, Darren and his classmates talked about anything to kill time. Until finally, one of them spoke up. 

"There he is, the master is coming!" 

Everyone turned their heads in unison, and then they were shocked by the sight they saw. Everyone immediately stood up with blinking eyes and gaping mouths. 

"Holy shit!"