Elementals

Earth: Year 3205
Northern academy

Senior Pool:
I was hard on them yesterday. I had to be. Today everything will be changing for the both of them. They have no idea of what lies ahead, but I do. That's why I need to prepare them. That's why I had to be so tough on them. But I fear I might not have done enough. Of course I've helped them with their individual struggles: Blaze subduing her subconsciousness and Breeze concentrating the right emotions with the element. None of that however will do them much good if they're not prepared for the brutal training that lies ahead.

Those are the main reasons as to why I had to be stricter than I've been earlier. There's no question thatthey noticed the big difference from our earlier sessions. From now on, I can't go easy on them. They have to learn to stand on their own two feet the day when I'm not longer around to guide them. For some reason I've been feeling that that day has been coming closer and closer. Something just gives me the idea that it might only be a matter of time before I'm not longer here. My brother, the Grand Master, has been waiting for the chance to make it happen and that opportunity is just around the corner.

Before he arrives, the Super-Senior has been meaning to have a word with me. I've barely gotten up at this point and I'm changing into a more official outfit for the occasion. I don't fancy the whole dressing up for his arrival, but we're quite civil despite our different opinions and how things actually ended nineteen years ago. The Super-Senior here doesn't know of our connection and I'm sure my brother would like to keep it that way. In fact, I don't mind either that he doesn't know. None of us want to be connected with the other after what happened on the field all those years ago.

~ Flashback - Year: 3186 - Mars ~
"So, you think they're going to fall for it?" I ask the other Elementals standing right next to me and Vulcano. Based on what Vulcano and I could gather from our 'trip' last year, we've set up a trap to lure a Marsian into a field of subjugation, where he can't use his powers on us. This is just at the edge of our territory against theirs."I don't think it'll work." One of the others answers. "It think it's pretty obvious that we're somewhere around here trying to lure them in. Only a stupid Marsian will fall for it." He goes on. Vulcano stays quiet. He hasn't talked much with me since our trip to the Marsians' base. The fact that I actually saved both of our lives isn't good enough for him.

"What do you think, Vulcano?" I ask as it's just the two of us left to keep an eye on it. He doesn't answer me for quite a while. I sigh deeply to myself as I'm just at the edge of what I can handle regarding this silent-treatment. I saved our lives back then. He's only capable of being mad at me now because he's actually alive to be. At least he could be grateful for that, but of course he isn't. "I think we could've gotten a lot more information on them if we had pushed through a year ago." He lets out. I sigh deeply again as I'm trying to contain myself from reacting to his lack of gratitude.

"If we had done that, we wouldn't have been alive to bring them what we already knew. We wouldn't have been alive to discuss this and you wouldn't have been alive to be mad at me, so you know what, a little gratitude for still breathing would be much appreciated." I answer back in frustration. He only shakes his head where he sits next to me. "It's like I said back then, brother, I would've rather died out there than to be brought back here and be looked upon as a coward. I've seen the looks from some of the other Elementals in the base. You know they're calling us easy-quitters, right? To me, that's the same damn thing as being called a coward!" He answers.

"Easy quitters?! Do they even know how far we actually got compared to any of them?" I answer back as he finally looks over at me. "We went behind enemy-lines, way further than any of them has ever dared to go. Chances are all of them would've stopped way sooner than we did. They think us cowards and you know what, I can actually live with that. If we hadn't made that deal with them, we would've been dead. We wouldn't have been here to be set up this trap and actually have a shot at gathering some information from them." I sigh deeply as he swallows slightly. "You may not be a fan of my methods and I've never asked you to be, but you could at least give it the credit for actually working." I suggest harshly as I turn my attention back to the trap.