[ WP ] You are a teacher , today you are teaching about the Elements , their power , aligned emotions and preferred methods .

“ In the traditional circles, the first element is Fire. ” Lauritz draws the simple Fire symbol on the chalkboard. He taps the symbol in the middle of the triangle. “ Can someone tell me what this symbol is? ” A couple people shuffle in their seats, silence in the room. “ We ’ ve gone over this symbol more than once. Someone? ” Lauritz glances over his shoulder to look over the classroom. No one meets his gaze. Lauritz sighs. “ Dilja. What is this symbol? ” 
 
 “ Um. ” The girl looks from the board to her notes more than once. “ Mars. ” 
 
 “ Correct. ” Lauritz turns his attention to the board again. “ The Fire element is traditionally associated with the kinetic forces in the world. Forcefulness is commonly associated with this element as is the idea of being energetic, considering the fact that Fire covers metabolism, among other things. ” Lauritz draws the extra symbols onto the board. 
 
 “ So you could have great sex using it? ” Giggles burst across the classroom. 
 
 “ I suppose you could, Elias, but that ’ s not appropriate question for this classroom. Go ask your Health teacher. ” Lauritz grins at the chalkboard, already moving onto the next element and drawing its symbol. He ’ s well aware of Elias ’ s crush on the Health teacher. “ Now, what ’ s the next element in the circle? ” As he draws, there ’ s uncomfortable silence again. 
 
 “ Earth. ” Someone finally speaks. 
 
 “ Why? ” Lauritz carefully finishes out the symbol inside the square. For one of the few times, he wishes for colored chalk so he could be more accurate with the drawings. The associated colors tended to be important for ceremonies. 
 
 “ Fire creates ash. ” The person speaks quietly. 
 
 “ Indeed. The symbol in the middle is that of…? ” Silence. Lauritz sighs again. They had been doing so well, but he supposes that a remedial class for the non-magic users tended to be more common due to the fact that they were non-magic users than not. “ Saturn. The planet is Saturn. I hope you ’ re all taking notes, this ’ ll be on the exam. ” 
 
 Furious scribbling from some of the students reaches his ears. Lauritz can ’ t help but smirk again. That ’ s one way to light a fire under them. Metaphorically speaking of course. 
 
 “ Now, strength is associated with Earth. Bones, rock, dust, all of these things are Earth element. ” Lauritz finishes the symbols on the board. “ Next element is…? ” 
 
 “ Metal. ” Lauritz recognizes Elias ’ s voice. He waits patiently for the rest of the response. “ Earth… bears Metal. ” 
 
 “ Correct. ” There ’ s a sigh from back behind him. Lauritz finishes the symbol out before speaking, the circle a little wonky. He ’ s not a Metal-user and probably will never be, so he ’ s not surprised it ’ s rough. “ Metal is a very internally focused element. It is about inner strength and mental fortitude compared to outer strength. Can anyone give me some of the subsections of Metal? ” Another long silence. 
 
 “ Silver, Iron, Gems, Ice. ” Lauritz nods as the student, Elias again, speaks. Apparently Metal is his favored element, he had a tendency to be wrong answering anything else. He finishes out the symbols for the four subsections. 
 
 “ Now, Ice is strange for those of you who are not aware as to why Ice is considered part of metal with how different it is from the other three listed here. ” Lauritz taps the board, glancing back at the class again. He ’ d have to switch boards shortly, he ’ s already running out of space. “ This is due to the natural structure of these elements. These are solid, organized objects of the non-living variety. ” 
 
 “ But isn ’ t ice just water? ” 
 
 “ Good question. Yes, ice is just frozen water but in becoming ice, or snow, the structure changes to something solid instead of fluid. But these two are close on the wheel, so it only makes sense that some of them share some aspects or partial elements. ” Lauritz pushes the board he ’ s working on behind another one. Someone groans at the back of the classroom. “ Water is the next element, what does Metal do to link it to Water? ” 
 
 “ Enrich. ” 
 
 “ Good! ” Lauritz calls to the answering student. At least it sounded like someone had been reading ahead in their handbooks. “ Water is fluid and formless. It ’ s also considered dormant and related to the flexibility of a person, how easily they adjust to situations. It may seem strange, but due to the relation to dormancy, Water is an element of Death and closely intertwined with the idea. Can anyone explain to me why it is dormant and related to death? ” 
 
 “ The Black Snake brings death. ” Lauritz sighs at Elias ’ s answer. So close, so far. 
 
 “ No, this isn ’ t the reason, though it ’ s become a mythological reason. ” He taps the symbol on the board, drawing in a few more, pointing specifically to one. “ What is this the symbol of? ” He scans the classroom. All the faces look blank. Two are flipping through their books as fast as they can. “ Ingvi! What ’ s this symbol? ” He crosses a finger behind his back. The boy looks startled, jumping a little from looking through his handbook. 
 
 “ Um… ” He flips a bit more before giving up. “ Um… ” He stares at the notes on the board. Lauritz grits his teeth. Obviously, no one was paying attention during the last few classes. “ Rain? ” Lauritz shakes his head. 
 
 “ No, I told you that Water is considered a dormant element, which relates it to winter. ” He taps the symbol. “ This is winter, which I did go over less than a week ago. ” He looks across the classroom. A few students have the decency to look ashamed. Most, however, look annoyed. “ With the coming of winter, most things that had been alive, die. Thus traditionally why Water is considered death-like. ” Lauritz turns his attention to the board again. “ Electricity, plants, and most fluids are all considered underneath Water, which also includes blood. ” 
 
 “ So someone could control blood in your body? ” One of the students sounds horrified at the idea. 
 
 “ Technically, yes they could. ” Lauritz frowns, starting onto the symbol for the next element. “ To do so outside of their body and inside yours, they would have to be extremely powerful however and as we all know, Water addiction is a serious problem that ends with most being dead. ” There ’ s a hum that goes around the classroom. At least they had been paying attention to those facts. He wonders if they remember what happen to other elemental addicts. “ The next element in the circle is…? ” Long pause. “ Klara? Next element and reasoning. ” 
 
 “ Um… Air? ” At a nod, she flips through her handbook, looking focused and troubled. “ Water becomes Air? ” Lauritz nods, returning his attention to the board. 
 
 “ Water is evaporated and becomes Air. That ’ s how we get clouds and storms. The Air element is known for being free and expansive. Creativity, knowledge, experiences, these are all associated with Air. Some subsections are clouds, weather, will, and the mind. ” Lauritz taps the board for the symbols he ’ s written out. “ Air is also considered deathly, but in a different form, can someone tell me why? ” 
 
 Silence. Lauritz grits his teeth again, taking a couple slow breaths. Thankfully, he could go into great detail, considering this is his element. 
 
 “ Alltide, as you all must know, is a celebration of the dead. It ’ s said that the souls of the dead come on the wind, along with the deity, the Indigo Dragon. That ’ s why there ’ s a proliferation of dragon skulls and candy at the event. ” Lauritz ’ s eyes move to the ceramic dragon skull on his desk, something that most of the class had found macabre. 
 
 A few of the students seem to have put two and two together at that moment, a few looking from the skull to him. He manages a smile, trying to not look very vicious. He ’ s not sure if it ’ s working, considering half the class looks rather distant. He ’ s well aware that it ’ s a lovely day outside, but if they ’ d learn the information in the first place, they wouldn ’ t be here. The other half of class either looks wide-eyed and frightened, or curious. 
 
 “ The last element in the circle proper is Wood. ” Lauritz draws the symbol out with great care. “ Someone please tell me how we go from Air to Wood. ” 
 
 “ Air feeds Wood. ” Someone replies. Lauritz releases a breath he didn ’ t know he was holding. 
 
 “ Yes, large plants like trees and many other subsections of Wood rely on Air for growth and strength. ” Lauritz begins drawing symbols out. “ In order, these are paper, poison, health, and plastics. ” He taps the board. “ Vitality is considered important for this element, many have a great connection to the world at large. We ’ ll of course go more in-depth on these elements over the next few weeks, but these are the basics for now. ” 
 
 There ’ s another round of groans as he pushes the second board to the side to get to the third. It ’ s probably terrible of him but he takes great pleasure in the noise. 
 
 “ The final element is at the center of the circle, as all elements come from it as well as return to it. What is the final element? ” 
 
 “ Aether. ” 
 
 “ That ’ s another name for it, so yes. Usually it is known as Void. It has many names but involves all things beyond someone ’ s every day experience. Pure energy and a mental focus outside of oneself is common in this element. ” Lauritz scribbles more on the board. “ Time, space, stars, shadows, all are subsections. ” 
 
 A glance back tells him that more students are interested in this element than any of the others. 
 
 “ Power, spontaneity, and inventiveness are held in high esteem. ” Lauritz taps the board again. “ Finish up your notes and we ’ re done for the day. We ’ ll start off tomorrow talking about Fire in much more detail. ” As the class packs up, Lauritz gives a sigh. He ’ d be lucky if five passed the class with how all of them were acting. 
 
 *** 
 
 Based off a magic system I'm working on. Kinda helping me get things in order for it.
