The courtyard filled with noise as two girls stepped forward, their classmates cheering them on. One was light on her feet, already grinning with excitement. The other clutched her fists nervously, dust gathering at her shoes.
"Wind against earth," the man announced with a clap. "Show us what you've got!"
The wind girl lifted her hands and sent a sudden burst that scattered leaves and nearly knocked her own hair loose. The children gasped, then laughed when she squealed and staggered back from her own spell.
The earth girl shut her eyes, trembling. At first, nothing happened. Then pebbles rattled faintly, one hopping into the air before dropping again. The crowd booed and teased, making her shrink back.
"Don't give up!" the man called warmly. "The ground always answers if you're patient."
Encouraged, she tried again. This time, a chunk of dirt lifted clumsily, wobbling like a drunk animal. The wind girl grinned and sent another gust—only for it to smack into the dirt midair, splattering mud across both of them.
The courtyard exploded with laughter. Some children rolled on the ground, clutching their stomachs. Even the man chuckled, clapping his hands.
"See? That's training!" he said. "Messy, but progress."
Kairo and Igron stood at the edge. Igron snorted under his breath. "Wind tripping over itself… earth stumbling like a toddler. What a show."
Kairo said nothing, crimson eyes fixed on the mud-smeared faces of the girls as they laughed despite themselves.
Up above, unseen, the mistress watched from the balcony. Her eyes, sharp and calculating, didn't share the laughter.