My name is Ryusei Ryugu.
I'm 13 years old.
And I'm an Elementalist.
…Unfortunately.
You're probably wondering why someone would hate being an Elementalist.
After all, in our world, having Elemental Art means power, respect, and status.
But if you were in my position…
you'd understand.
I can't use magic.
Not even the most basic spell.
Which basically makes me a complete embarrassment.
The cool morning breeze brushed against my face as I stood quietly in the park near my school.
In front of me stood a massive monument.
A stone statue carved with incredible detail.
The statue of Quintela Shiori.
The Empress of Death.
Even now, centuries later, her story still fascinated people.
I stared at the statue.
Something about it always felt strange to me.
Like it was…
calling to me.
"Ryusei?!!"
A voice suddenly shouted behind me.
I turned around.
A girl with bright blue hair and sparkling eyes ran toward me, slightly out of breath.
Her name was Kayosha Mizu.
She was an Elementalist too.
And…
well…
I might have had a tiny crush on her since we were kids.
"Ryūsei! What are you doing here?!" she asked.
"Class is about to start!"
"I was just looking at the monument," I replied quietly. "It feels like… it's trying to tell me something."
Kayosha checked her watch.
Her eyes widened.
"Oh no!"
Without warning, she grabbed my hand.
"LET'S GO RYŪSEI! WE'RE GONNA BE LATE!"
And just like that, she dragged me halfway across the city toward our school.
Aluxany High School
We burst into the classroom just seconds before the bell rang.
Kayosha collapsed into her seat dramatically.
"Late again…" she sighed.
"Why does this always happen to me…"
A red-haired boy sitting nearby grinned.
"Oh? You and Ryūsei dating or something? That's the sixth time you've been late together."
His name was Kasai Hoño.
My best friend since childhood.
Kayosha immediately jumped up.
"WE ARE NOT DATING!!!"
Her face turned bright red.
"It's Ryūsei's fault! He keeps hanging around statues!"
Kasai stared at me.
"…You're attracted to stones or something?"
"NO!"
"I just feel like they're trying to tell me something!"
I turned toward the window, trying to ignore them.
Then the classroom door slammed open.
"LISTEN UP, MAGGOTS!!!"
The entire class froze.
Standing at the door was our terrifying teacher.
Professor Hexio Magistus.
The strictest teacher in the entire academy.
Even the principal avoided him.
"Today," he growled, "we're having a Shototsu."
"So head over to the locker room and get changed" He proclaimed leaving the room
The class immediately erupted in excitement.
A Shototsu was an Elementalist sparring match,
It the only time the school let's us student use our Elemental Arts inside the campus.
A test of strength, skill, and battle awareness.
Basically…
A nightmare for someone like me who can't use any magic let alone an Elemental Art.
At The Locker Room
"So who do you think your opponent's gonna be???" Kasai curiously asked.
"It doesn't really matter..."
"I can't even cast a single spell.."
"How am I supposed to call myself an Elementalist if I can't even do something basic like that..." I replied, trying to hold back some tears.
I've already accepted the truth, way back then even when I was a kid...
I'm nothing more than a cursed child
I fell silent as a look down on the floor
"Just believe in yourself Ryusei, You'll get stronger" He replied trying to cheer up his best friend.
Suddenly someone grabbed my head and slammed my face at the locker.
"Keep on dreaming Ryusei" The boy with yellow blonde hair shouted as he continued to slam my head at the locker.
He then pushes grabs my neck and looks at me before kicking me in the stomach
Knocking me down to the locker room floor.
"You've gone too far Sanda!!!" Kasai shouted as he stood in front of me
His hand then was covered in flames as he tried to throw a punch at the blonde boy in front of me.
"Oh, So you wanna fight me do you!!!" He asked with a smirk on his face and lightning sparks then started to appear in his hand.
He then caught Kasai's fist covered in flames with his hand.
"I've never back down from a fight even to people like you" Kasai angry stated
"No one hurts my friends and gets away with it!!" Kasai yelled as a spiral flame came out of his mouth.
"Fire Dragon: Blazing Roar"
The Spiral Flame headed towards Sanda but he just stood there with a smirk
"Lightning Dragon: Electrovolt"
Sanda right hand was then covered with lightning, he then fired an lightning energyblast towards the spiral flame
The two spells collided forming a force so strong it ended up destroying some of the school lockers and seats.
The two Elementalist looked as they rush closer and closer
"Fire Dragon-"
"Lightning Dragon-"
Both yelled as the fist were covered by their respective element.
"That's enough both of you!!" A furious yell was heard from the door.
And soon two energy blast hits both Kasai and Sanda tying up both there hands and feet causing both of them to fell on the ground.
"You two couldn't be left alone for a minute without causing trouble" Prof. Hexio angrily stated looking at the two of them.
"And you" The professor look at me and I slowly got up.
"Flame boy, accompany white hair to the nurses office to get him patch up"
Professor Hexio proclaimed as he snaps his fingers and the energy bind he had on both Kasai and Sanda disappeared.
"I got some talking to do with lighting idiot"
"Come on let's go" Kasai said as he then left the locker room.
I was walking through the door when I heard a faint whisper
"Don't ever give up, kid"
We then walked towards the nurse room.
Luckily for me I only got a few bruises and some minor cuts
After our trip to the nurse's office we went back to the gymnasium where the Shototsu is taking place.
"Kasai!!"
"Ryusei!!"
We turned around and looked above and it was our friend Kayosha sitting in the bleachers, waving her hand as she tried to get our attention.
We walked towards her and she almost had a heart attack
"Oh my god what happened!!"
"Why are you covered with bruises and bandages"
Kayosha worriedly asked as her hand covered her mouth
"Long story" I replied trying to hide it from her
She then looked at Kasai
"Sanda" he replied, still pissed at him.
"That jerk"
"What's his problem" she furiously yelled
"Can't he just leave you alone for a day, he always does this"
She then turned her gaze to me, causing my cheeks to turn a slight red.
"Sit here" Kayosha she stated as she sat down the bleachers.
I then sat next to her and she then waved her hands in a circular motion in front of her.
The water inside the water canister located on her left waist came out and floated in the air
She then controlled the water to cover her two hands and slowly place them towards my bruises on my left cheek.
"Water Dragon: Mystical Oasis"
The water that covered her hands started to glow as it slowly started to heal my wounds.
It felt so relaxing
I slowly close my eyes
Almost falling asleep until I heard the loud speaker
"Final match of the day!"
"Ryusei Ryugu vs Flick Blaze!"
I sighed and stood up from my seat
Thanked Kayosha for healing me up a bit and slowly walked down towards the middle of the gymnasium.
I stepped onto the battlefield.
The entire gymnasium watched.
Flick smirked confidently.
"Fire Art: Flame Bullet"
An energy blast made of fire headed towards me at a fast phase
The spell slammed into me instantly.
"Fire Art: Flame Bullet"
Then another.
"Fire Art: Flame Bullet"
Then another.
I collapsed.
The crowd began laughing.
"Just give up!"
"You're pathetic!"
"An Elementalist who can't use magic is worthless!"
Their voices stabbed into my mind.
Maybe they were right.
Maybe I should just disappear.
Darkness swallowed my vision.
Then…
I found myself standing in an endless white void.
In front of me stood a massive door.
Carved into it was the symbol of a blue dragon.
Something deep inside me whispered:
Open it.
My hand slowly pushed the door open.
A blinding explosion of energy burst out.
A colossal dragon of light formed in the sky.
It roared…
Then rushed straight toward me.
And devoured me whole.
Back in the Arena
"Since Ryusei cannot continue—"
Professor Hex stopped mid-sentence.
He was surpised, seeing me stood up
Slowly.
A massive pillar of light erupted from his body and shot into the sky.
The entire kingdom saw it.
Elementalists everywhere turned toward the heavens.
In a barren waste land, a figure sitting on top of multiple decayed corpses of Elementalist like it was his throne saw the massive pillar of light.
He smiled.
"So… he has finally awakened."
"Or should I say…"
"The Grand Elementalist has returned."