Ari's P.O.V.

I didn't know what woke me up so early in the morning,  maybe it was the bright moonlight, or the sounds of whispers in the dark.

Or maybe I was just nervous. Nervous for the next day.

Get a grip, Ari, I told myself, and nearly smacked myself.

I didn't need me to mentally encourage my own freaking brain.

So, yes, I was a little irritable this morning, as Kia and I sat down for breakfast.

"Did you sleep well?" Kia asked me, hazel eyes glinting.

I made a grunting noise. "Yes." A pounding headache ensued after I said those words. I rubbed my temples.

Kia raised her eyebrows. "You nearly spilled your orange juice this morning, your socks are mismatched, and now you have a headache."

"No! Yes. I don't know." I threw my hands up. "Clearly, I'm not in the mood to give you and your boyfriend tips."

Now it was Kia's turn to blush. "I don't have a boyfriend."

"Says who?" I grinned wickedly, flicking my eyebrows up.

"The rest of the damn world, except probably Kyra, who is probably trying to find out the easiest way to banish me to hell." She shoved me. "We're leaving in 10 minutes."

I rolled my eyes but dutifully shoveled my food down my throat, draining a cup of coffee to the dregs. My headache receded, nerves sparking.

A few minutes later, we were following a group of students that seemingly were going the way that we were, judging by the fact that they were chattering eagerly about how handsome the Water instructor was.

We suddenly, sharply turned left, and was facing a rather battered oak door with the word water sloppily painted in an alarmingly bright blue color.

Kia looked uncertain. "Is this it?"

I raised my eyebrows. "The outside might look like complete and utter crap, but..." I pushed the door open... "What's inside is an utterly different story."

Inside was a luminous cavern, illuminated by the glowing pools of water shimmering within, and shining crystals embedded in the ceiling and the walls. The walls themselves were dripping with shining moisture, but the air was surprisingly cool and dry. In the middle was a large, deep pool the color of twilight, glinting with sharper, brighter points of azure blue. And it was around this pool that students were gathered, The hum of conversation filled the room. Wavering light shone on eager faces.

Kia gave me a look that combined awe, surprise, and expectation. "Should we sit?"

"You don't need to ask me twice," I responded, throwing my hair back behind me. It was now tinged an eerie blue from the reflection of the water.

We sat down on the floor, which was strangely warm and bone-dry, despite the water all around us. People looked ghostly in this strange cavern.

Suddenly, the water in the large lake started rippling, spinning clockwise. It deepened into a whirlpool, spinning drops of water flying everywhere. There was a sudden whooshing sound, and then the figure of a man was rising from the center. For a single, breathtaking moment, he was suspended in midair, blond hair flying, water spinning, light shining, and then -

Everything fell.

Gasps and one musical scream ripped through the cavern, and then, everything stilled, the lake as smooth as glass, with a solitary figure standing on it.

Applause echoed through the room. Kia, eyes shining, poked my arm, whispering, "Are we really gonna learn that?"

I nodded. "And it's gonna be that damn pretty."

The man stood up. "Greetings, all," he said, his voice ringing clearly through the room. "My name is Master Oin Warlen. I am going to be your instructor in the magic of water.

"First, water is everywhere. Gain control of it, and you can control the elements. But, it will take many years before you are capable of mastering it.

"Well then," he said brightly. "Shall we get started?"

A few minutes later, we were all kneeling by the pool's edge. "First off," Master Warlen lectured, "We will start off with the basics. First, cup water in your hands, like so-" He dipped his hands into the water - "And then, try to keep it from not spilling out." The water was still contained in his hands, and he parted his fingers slightly, showing the bubble of water contained with him. "Like so."

I touched the surface of the water, hesitantly. It felt pleasantly cool, and slightly tingly. I shivered a little, and scooped up some water.

I looked at my hands, biting my lip. A few drops of water was falling out, but I was containing it pretty well. "Look, Kia, I got it-"

As if on cue, the water immediately trickled out from my fingers. I sighed. "I almost had it."

"'Almost'?" Kia scooped up some water, and concentrated. I could almost feel the pressure she was undergoing. She looked like she was willing something to happen.

"Whoa." My voice was excited. "Look, Kia! Look at your hands!"

Kia pried her eyelids open - and stared. A pulsing mass of water was hanging above my hands, entwined in shimmering silver threads. The flowery, sweet scent of rosemary hung in the air.

Master Warlen strode by, and noticed our progress. "Fascinating," he murmured. "I never knew someone who could bend the elements so quickly..." He broke off, and stared at Kia. "How did you do it?"

"I - I made the water come t-together." Kia's voice was trembling from the effort. She squeezed her eyes shut. "It's ha-hard."

"It always is." Master Warlen's voice warbled. "You... Ari, is it? Ari, can you try taking the water from Kia, and trying to control the water like Kia did?"

"Sure?" I asked nervously, cupping my hands around the water. Kia let go of the water, and I tried wrapping the threads of energy of the water together, compressing it. It was hard.

The water hung in my hands for only a few moments, and then my mind throbbed, sharply, and it trickled into nothingness.

"Very good." Master Warlen regarded us with thoughtful, bright blue eyes. "I've never had students as good as you two before." He gave us a smile. "Good work. Very good, again."

He turned around, his voice ringing through the luminous cavern. "Class dismissed!"

A/N:

Hello! And, yes, I haven't been updating as much as I usually do. My updating times will probably be at the very least once a week. With everything that's going on, I haven't had time to update yet.

Read on, my cookies! Thank you for getting this story to almost 300 views! I love you all! Peace out! *rides into sunset on an unicorn throwing cookies everywhere*

Now off to watch Avengers: Age of Ultron!

:3