Untouchable Kings

The next few days in Elkwood were interesting. Several academies have sent out representatives to each of the youths who were able to call upon the elements.

The reason for such academies to try and and recruit young talent was for more of the kingdom's resources. Academies such as Prontera, Viridian, Thauvin, and Tempest had a high amount of talent within their academies. Every year, there is a competition held amongst the Rivenhart Kingdom academies to determine who the top ranking academies were. Depending on the performance of the students, an academy would be able to obtain more resources and fame. Strength was everything and if you can't use your current resources to advance than why should you deserve more was the current thought process.

Prontera, Viridian, Thauvin, and Tempest hold on to the top four rankings. With the allocation of resources they receive every year, they have created a dead-lock around the top four positions. They were the Four Kings, the elite four. All other academies would best be able to only obtain the number five position.

Aerith had already decided to go to the Tempest Academy due to her family name. She did not want to forsake her family and go to another academy.

'There goes Tempest Academy, showing why they are are an elite four.' people thought.

With Aerith's future path laid out, many were envious. With her being able to use four different elements, she would be able to become a top student in a year or two.

The other two who were able to call upon the elements, August and Violet, were able to be wooed by the Viridian Academy. August's father was promised a position at the smithy within the academy grounds. Violet chose the Viridian Academy due to its proximity to the forests. Which was a boon for those who are able to call upon the leaf unique trait element. Violet's parents were the poorest in Elkwood, and the Academy offered to move them over and provide jobs for them. The Viridian Academy was able to flaunt its resources when recruiting new talent. This is why the gap between the elite four and the rest of the schools continued to grow wider and wider.

"Hey Morgan, where do you think you'll go?" asked Eden.

"I think I'm going to settle for Prontera, that would be the quickest to the top in my opinion. They are the Elite of the Elites" said Morgan. "How about you?"

"Not sure, the top four academies have reached out to me, but to be honest, they made me feel like I would be grateful to go there." replied Eden. "They didn't really leave a good impression on me. I think as a last resort I'll settle for one of those"

"Many would be crying if they heard you say those words" chuckled Morgan.

"Wherever we go, I hope we meet at the year end competition. Don't be too sad when I bring whatever academy I go to the top."

"You are a man destined for greatness Eden! Don't forget we're rivals now!" declared Morgan.

They both laughed and shook hands.

----

Despite meeting academy representatives, what was most important at the time was meditation.

Eden sat down cross-legged in his room. He began to focus on gathering elements.

Ezel mentioned to him that he would need to be able to accumulate both of his elements evenly before trying to progress. Dual elements provided many benefits, but the road of cultivation was significantly more difficult. Eden had been reading the meditation manual that Ezel had given him religiously.

Eden had been slowly acquiring and filling his soul with the nearby earth and light elements converting them to mana for two weeks and was reaching the highest point of acquisition. Although one could not see the elements until one activated their elemental sight. One was still able to feel the elements around them when meditating.

'According to the manual... once your soul is filled to the brim with mana while compressing it... you create an explosion of mana inside your soul... thus creating the mana heart, and elemental sight shortly after. Then the process of acquiring more mana would be significant easier.'

Eden was patient with his acquisition of mana. He slowly compressed his mana into a ball within the center of his soul. An explosion of mana within his body erupted as soon as he let up.

Eden struggled and gasped in pain as he fell back. He could feel cracks forming in his soul. The mana explosion could not be contained within his soul pushing itself outwards.

Seeping out of his body, an alternating aura of gold and green began to form and envelope Eden's body. It soon became stable as one side of his body was enveloped in gold and the other green.

'Just a bit more!'

With one last gasp, Eden passed out and fell asleep.

----

It was night and the full moon was in full display in Elkwood. An old man had just arrived wanting to inquire about Eden.

"You can head upstairs sir, Eden should be upstairs if you want, if he's asleep I don't think you should wake him up." Carolyn suggested. "It has been a very busy week with academy representatives".

The old man simply chuckled while scratching his beard.

The old man made his way to Eden's door. Upon opening the door he gasped.

Through a nearby window moonlight beamed through and rested on the young boy with brown hair. An aura was emanating from him the color of yellow and white was seen, but soon a change occurred changing the yellow to green and the white to purple.