Elementals

Chapter 61-A New Normal

Celest nearly broke out into tears over the thought of our team being separated, even if it was for a few weeks. Zack and Keith talked about what they were going to do over he midterms excitedly, trying to get Damian and Aaron involved as well. But as we were talking, I caught someone in the corner of my eye making their way towards me; Slightly taller, big arms, slightly messy red hair and half of his face covered in magical bandages. I frowned pnervously.

"Axel..." I muttered as he made his way towards me. He stopped about five feet away.

"Hey, Fier." Axel said, almost bitterly but trying to hide it. "Haven't seen you since you roasted half of my face." I heard a menacing growl from Keith behind me.

"You've got some nerve-"

"I'm not here for any of you." He cut Keith off before turning to me. "I just came to...talk."

The air felt heavy. Everyone sent deathly glares to Axel, but I just held my arm up and turned my head to them, a calm expression on my face.

"Guys." They all looked at me with a puzzled expression. "Let me handle this."

They all seemed to calm down. I turned to Axel, taking a few steps towards him with my arms crossed and a small frown on my face. He shot me a look, scratching the back of his neck.

"So..." He started. His voice sounded strained, almost like he was fighting with himself to find the right words to say. I crossed my arms.

"What do you want, Axel?" I asked. He was silent for a moment before letting out a sigh.

"To apologise."

My eyes widened. "What?"

"What!?" My team exclaimed behind me.

"Yeah..." He looked at the floor, a veil of shame covering his face. "I've been a real jerk to you since day one. Called you names, picked on you, messed with your friends...that wasn't cool of me."

"Glad you're at least acknowledging what you did." I muttered. Axel continued.

"Yeah... Look, the truth is... I was jealous of you." He said.

"...huh?"

"I mean, you were the first one out of the forest and the only one to get the dragon scale in the trials. You're the best fire elemental in our class. You do well in every test my dad gives us. I just wanted to do the same. "

"Axel-"

"I just wanted to prove myself. To get the same impressed look from my dad that you do. I just wanted his approval...but I kept falling behind you. And that made me so angry, that someone who looked so lost on the first day could climb to the top so quickly and outshine everyone..."

He let out a shaky breath with clenched fists as he continued. "But that doesn't justify the way I've been treating you and your friends. Especially Haru..."

"Yeah, it doesn't." I said, a somewhat bitter taste lingering on the tip of my tongue. I turned away, looking to the side.

"The truth is, I admire you, Fier- I mean, Alex. I just wanted to be like you, but in the end I became the opposite. Point is, I'm sorry...for everything."

That caught me off guard. I didn't know what to expect, but an apology definitely wasn't it. And I could hear it in his voice how genuine his words were. He really was sorry.

"I understand if you don't forgive me." He said quietly. I sighed before turning to him.

"...why the sudden change of heart?"