The first class was easy for Ryu, as mathematics was easy for him. The next class was bending trials. Ryu, being very close to becoming a master at earthbending, was at the top of his class for earthbending. The other tops for the other elements were Yin for water and Lee Tin for fire. Bending education classes would have them go head to head to see who the best benders were. Those who mastered their elements were given recognition, even deemed a master of their element. When Ryu got into the chambers, he saw Yin and Lee Tin fighting. The arena was a warmer temperature for firebenders, and the platform was made out of solid earth. The platform was surrounded by water to accommodate waterbenders, which Yin was using to his advantage.
As Lee Tin would send bolts of fire, Yin would extinguish them. Yin then jumped up and created an extended arm of water that wrapped around Lee Tin's forearm. When Lin landed, Lee Tin punched him in the stomach and tossed him into the water. Lee Tin threw his hands into the air.
"I WIN AGAIN" He yelled. "Who's next?"
He asked as Ryu jumped to help Yin. He stepped into the water and helped him up.
"You're next." Ryu heard while helping Yin up, but ignored.
As they tried walking away, Lee Tin yelled, "Curly, you're next!"
Ryu whipped his head around to see Lee Tin in a ready stance.
"I don't want anything to do with you, Lee Tin," Ryu said in a calm voice while continuing to walk.
Lee Tin then sent a bolt of fire right in their path.
"I said you're next." He said while getting back into his ready stance.
"Yin, go," Ryu said.
"Don't let your emotions get the best of you Ryu, I-" Yin said before Ryu cut him off.
"I'll be ok, go sit down." Yin sat down with the rest of the students in the class. Ryu then got into his ready stance.
They then circled the arena for a minute, which felt like an eternity to Ryu.
Just as Ryu thought that they were going to be circling each other for a while, Lee Tin went on the offensive.
Ryu tried to dodge Lee Tin's strikes, but it was too much; Lee Tin kept moving. Getting close to him was no option, as he remembered what he did to Yin. He tried jumping up with a boulder and launching it at him, but Lee Tin's rapid movements and quick attacks made it impossible to attempt. He kicked two strikes of fire towards Ryu, and Ryu bended a wall of earth to protect him. After the strike hit the earth, Ryu kicked it towards him with excessive force, enough for Lee Tin to barely dodge it. Ryu then kicked the earth right under Lee Tin up, making him have to dodge another obstacle. Lee Tin then got mad and sent a continuous bolt of fire to Ryu.
After a few seconds, Lee Tin stopped, and the rock that Ryu used as a shield at the last moment sizzled with heat. Ryu looked at his forearm to see that he got mildly burned by Lee Tin. He then catapulted himself into the air, surprising Lee Tin. When he hit the ground, he struck it with his fist, creating a shockwave with earth rising and falling towards him, until the earth underneath Lee Tin launched him into the air. Ryu brought up a medium-sized rock and kicked it at Lee Tin, who started to fall. Lee Tin hit the rock and started moving towards the wall slamming into it and falling into the water.
Ryu stood up, and examined his wound, as it started searing with pain. He took his rolled up sleeves and put them down so nobody would notice. Pao, who recently sat down in the audience, and Yin came down and started clapping with the rest of the class.
Ryu went to go sit down with the others as Lee Tin went to clean himself up, obviously irate.
They watched the others, who had more civil trials. Ryu tried to ask Yin questions about history, which Yin had but he didn't have yet. Yin gave one-word answers and would continue to talk to Pao, who Yin always hangs out with. Ryu started to feel embarrassed as he felt third-wheeled once again. These times always made him think about his friendship with Yin. The neglection from Yin will fluctuate, without consistency.
These are short chapters, I know, I plan on the others being longer. Please comment and PM me if you have any ideas!
