Elemental Zodiack

Chapter 4: Dinsfurd

---Beaten up and tired, Yoso fell asleep in the ship that was supposed to bring him to a new home. A place where he should've found the freedom that he deserved, but his thoughts changed drastically by hearing just one sound.

"Error! Error! Turning down all the systems! New destination found, be ready for impact!"

After just barely waking up, Yoso doesn't understand anything about what is happening. Out of nowhere, the ship started falling into an unknown place.

"What is happening?! Crap, a seatbelt, a seatbelt. Found it!"

Yoso ties his seatbelt and gets ready for the impact with a scared expression and tears in his eyes.

Crash!

"Goddammit..." murmurs Yoso with his last breath as he faints down.

---After a few hours

"Should we tie him?"

"No! He is just a kid!"

"But he might be a spy! This is a ship from Melyndor!"

"Stop poking him with that stick, Shizuo!"

After slowly opening his eyes, Yoso looks towards the arguing group and says:

"Umm... If I can interrupt you, where am I?"

"We put the questions here! Who are you?!"

"Identify me? I am number 7: Yoso, fugitive of Authorania's Military Academy!"

"Why were you on one of Melyndor's ships?"

"-Melyndor's... So I didn't get in his kingdom? Where am I?"

But without finishing, someone appears before Yoso and puts a gun at his head.

"As my teammates said... We put the questions here."

"Kein! How was the ship?"

"Nothing interesting there, but I found those cool things! They look like Authorania's catalysts."

"Yes! This kid says he is a fugitive from their military academy. Even though he uses a Melyndor's ship."

"Interesting story kid, but we don't know whether you are a spy or not. At least get killed by your weapon."

Kein pulls the trigger, but nothing happens.

"How did you know it wasn't a normal gun?"

"I didn't, but this might prove that you are not a spy!"

"W-wait, Kein! Will you let this kid escape so easily!?"

"I am not a kid! I am twelve!"

"T-twelve?!"

Then the girl looks at the height difference between them and starts to laugh.

"Being short isn't that bad, kid." says the other boy

"I just said I am not a kid!"

"Aham!- If I could interrupt you for a bit. I want to take you to our leader, boy," says Kein

"Those two airheads are my teammates. The big one is Shizuo, and she is Shouko. We are also twelve years old, and we are students at the military academy of the Dinsfurd Kingdom. Now, I am going to put you in those handcuffs just because I have to. But after we talk to our leader, you might get free."

"I have no choice, do I?"

"Nope, and as beat up as you are, you can't do anything either, so let's go!"

Kein handcuffs Yoso and then starts walking towards their kingdom to meet the so-called leader.

---At Dinsfurd's Military Academy

Kein and his team got to the principal's office with Yoso handcuffed.

"Kein Shimadan, what is the problem now? Do you want something?" says the principal while rising from his chair.

"Well, we caught someone... His ship crashed somewhere near the academy's grounds while I and my team were patrolling. The ship is a Melyndor's one, but he sustains that he escaped from the Military Academy of Authorania."

"Where is he?"

"He is outside the office with Shouko and Shizuo."

"Tell them to enter..."

Yoso enters the office, and then the principal tells the young group to leave, so he can discuss with Yoso alone for a bit.

"So... Let's hear. Why were you flying with a Melyndor's ship in Dinsfurd's territory? I heard you insist that you're from Authorania. Can you explain it to me?"

Yoso nods and then starts telling the principal what happened at the final exam and how he escaped with the help of a stranger.

"Hmm... So a no-one who wanted to become the king of the strongest kingdom now went against his own country. I don't understand why Melyndor risked so much just to save you. Believing that is kind of-"

He doesn't get to finish his sentence, stopping halfway looking at Yoso's fiery look. A strong-willed glance from just a little kid. His eyes look like they are burning from anger and determination.

"Nevermind, I believe you, I don't know what is special about you, but I will find out later, and we have no reason to hurt you since we and Melyndor are allies. What is your name, kid?"

"Number 7: Yoso!"

"So Yoso... We don't use code numbers in Dinsfurd so you will need a family name. You also said that you took your final exam and failed it, right? What is your elemental affinity?"

"What is an elemental affinity? I heard about it, but we don't use them in Authorania."

"I get it... So in Authorania, elements aren't used by soldiers. Do you have your catalyst?"

"That guy, Kein has it."

"Shimada Kein, come here!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Give me that kid's catalyst!"

"I kinda like it, you know?"

"Give it, or you're jumping on the window!"

Without saying anything more, Kein gives the catalyst.

"He can't be serious..." thinks Yoso

"He is serious!" thinks Kein

"Shimada and his team! You are free!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Yoso, we are going to the training grounds! I am going to see what you can do."

---At the training grounds of the academy

"Take your catalyst and hit those flying targets!"

Yoso takes his catalyst from the principal and starts shooting the targets with incredible speed and accuracy.

"I can see some talent in you, but what you do in Authorania is completely wrong. You know what catalysts are, right?"

"Yes, they are weapons and tools that use our life force. I was told that if we use our life force without them, we might die."

"That is half true. At birth, people are assigned an elemental affinity. There is a downside if you sue life force without a catalyst and in some situations, you might die. Pure power, without a catalyst, is extremely strong and dangerous. In Authorania, they are making you all use the same power that doesn't have any advantage nor disadvantage against any element. But even though you use it with a catalyst, that is still pure life force so it is dangerous using it. They put you all in danger just for the sake of their army."

"But how do I find out what my affinity is?"

"It's actually quite easy. You just put your hand on the ground and start releasing pure life energy. Don't release too much though, because the downside might get you. The place where you placed your hand will change a bit. It might get on fire, or a plant might grow instantly from it.

Give it a try!"

Yoso puts his hand on the ground and starts concentrating. A colourful light starts shining behind his hand. He is way too concentrated to stop and puts more power than needed.

"What is this...? I never saw anything like this! You can open your eyes, Yoso!"

"Hmm? W-Whoa! I did that?!"

A rainbow appeared and went up to the sky from the place Yoso placed his hand.

"And my mother told me that I won't ever find the end of the rainbow," thinks the principal