James

Sure Jay always came up with crazy things, but making a plant move? That was a new one. Not only move it was dancing. What kind of logic does a person need to make a plant dance? Even after Jay had left James couldn't get the plant off his mind. There was no doubt in his mind that Jay was going to make an epic mage.

His phone buzzed and he looked down at it. Mr. Liopah? What did that crazy teacher want from him on a Saturday night?

[Please come to the school tomorrow, there is someone I want you to meet.]

Okay sure why not. Not like he had anything better to do unless Jay called him. An early morning meet up wouldn't be a problem. He replied to it.

[Will 10am work for it?]

[Yes]

[Okay see you then]

I should have never given him my number. Thought James as he tucked his phone away again. Well whatever he'd deal with it tomorrow.

....

The next day James wanted to sleep in even more, 9:30 rats. He had stayed up playing video games far too late. In his defense it was a Saturday night.

James pulled himself out of bed, what a pain. He should just call Mr. Liopah and pretend to be sick or something. Although knowing that teacher he might legit try to bring him chicken soup or something.

Good bye precious sheets, James thought getting to his feet and getting ready. He grabbed a quick bagel and headed for the school.

Mr. Liopah was in his classroom when James entered. Another man stood across from him.

"Greetings! You must be James I've heard so much about you." The man said. James instantly felt suspicious toward him for some reason.

"Hello" he replied. The man paused as if waiting for him to say more, then seemed to give up.

The man cleared his throat and continued, "we have a special opportunity for fire element users, would you be interested in joining us tonight for it."

"Will you tell me more about it?"

"Unfortunately that is classified." The man replied. Now James felt really suspicious, but his curiosity was also starting to get the better of him.

"What time?" James asked.

"We can meet here in the evening 5pm."

"Okay" James agreed interested only because he had called it classified. Why on earth would something be classified if they were taking him to be part of it? What a weird group of people.

Of course he spent the whole day considering different possibilities, government secret, mysterious cult, maybe a legendary technique. But none of these made sense for why they were interested in him.

He felt his pocket vibrate and looked at his phone 1pm, Jay had messaged him.

[Hey want to come over and play video games tonight?]

James felt regret as he replied,

[Sorry can't tonight. Mr. Liopah wants me for something.]

[Sounds painful, make sure you come back alive and not some brain dead zombie :P]

[Will do]

James closed his phone, he should have just turned him down, a night with Jay would easily surpass being stuck with boring teachers.

Finally 5 o'clock came around and James headed out.

Mr. Liopah and the man who still hadn't given his name were waiting by a black SUV. Creepy thought James, do I need to worry about being kidnapped or something? Well too late to turn back now... besides Mr. Liopah likes fire users he wouldn't do anything to us.

He got into the car with them and they headed south of the city. Maybe he should text Jay more specific in case the police found his dead body. Nah actually might be a better idea not to tick them off in any way shape or form. He wasn't worried about Mr. Liopah but the other man….. well he was a different story.

The car followed several twists and turns, they had been driving an hour where were they headed. James looked out the window seeing the mountains.... Mountains? Since when did Florida have any mountains this large?

Actually it was probably the Tempest's fault, lots of landscape had changed, why wouldn't Florida have mountains by that logic. He really needed to leave the house more often.

The car slowed and took several dirt roads for another half hour. Then it pulled to the side and stopped. Mr. Liopah got out an James followed. The side of a mountain, wait the top of it was glowing….. volcano? Why were that at a volcano during the middle of the night! Scratch that, why were they near a volcano at all, everyone knew the left over Majikku in the air could cause natural disasters any time.

James gulped as they started to walk up a winding path toward the top. Yep he should have definitely just stayed with Jay. The path broke off with a warning sign to not get closer. Mr. Liopah and the man stepped over it. James gulped again and followed. I really should just turn around he thought.

They walked over the rim and down toward the inside of it. How much of a scardy cat would they think he was if he just left? The inside of the volcano had a ledge on the side and James paused mid-step at the weird sight.

On the ledge were multiple people all chanting toward the lava. Okay so a weird cult? He felt his nerves bubbling inside of him. Lava was heated earth, an earth element, why was he a fire user here?

"We are all fire users" stated Mr. Liopah as if reading his mind. "We are here to pay tribute to the true fire god who lives within the earth's surface."

Great now my teacher sounds like a lunatic. Thought James. He froze unable to breath and watched as the lava below trembled.

The surface broke apart and up rose a monster, a magical beast, its fire element burning on its chest. A large snake type with blue flames, and by large..... oh yeah it was easily larger than a 50 story skyscraper.