Once I thought of school as just being stuck to a desk while slowly decaying away due to being fed brainless knowledge. I still do believe this, but something about what Mr. Kowen said sent sparks in my head. Unlocking hidden potential? Discovering powers within?

Now, those were the talking words that I liked to hear. The more Mr. Kowen spoke, the more the class sat up listening as their bored mood washed away. 

“We will be heavily focused on more physical traits in this class, but also including the key factors of learning critical thinking, arithmetic, and the cultural history of the world; all to get prepared for a great future in your lives.” Mr. Kowen placed the chalk down after a familiar symbol on the board. “Speaking of history, could anyone tell me what the symbol up board is?” Mr Kowen asked while watching our hands spring into the air. 

I knew the answer immediately. After all, I see it everywhere I look. From being painted on flags to engraved on metal shoulder pads worn by the patrol force. When Mr. Kowen eyes landed on me, giving me a gesture to speak, I almost fell out of the seat with words of complacency. “That is the main national symbol of Bouer. A hammer obviously.” I crossed my arms and waited to be pronounced correct with my excellent knowledge. “Precisely Kaipo. But I would also like your assistance in telling about these symbols as well?” I watched as a grin spread across his face like wildfire, along with the board having more emblems take shape by his tail again. 

“S-sure. Each one is just an image representing the nations in the world.” I coughed at my words, feeling the tension of glare staring at me as if he was expecting a full explanation of their background. “You are close, but I want to know what symbols belong to what nation. Care to tell the class?”

Trust me, I knew what the answer was, but it was locked in my brain box somewhere. Often I would see the markings on different people's clothing in town from time to time. But I never could secure the name of the location they came from or when I did I would forget the name in minutes.  

All eyes were staring at me curiously with some of their patience running dry. With no other choice, I took a deep breath and spoke with pure honesty coming from the bottom of my heart.  

“Well, I can’t answer that because my head is still feeling a bit dizzy from this morning's test, and I didn't get the proper rest either so my mind isn’t in a good spot.” 

Students sitting around blasted glances of shock and dumbfounded while only a few had expressions of hidden amusement. Mr. Kowen let out a chuckle from his sharp jaw, returning his attention to the board while instead of drawing, he started writing.

“Alright, I suppose you can rest your mind for now and be prepared for any assignment later.” 

“For the rest of the class, the repression of the symbols comes from these nations; The Frosjon Kingdom, homeland to the Rypers, is a frozen star. The Heatron Empire, founded under the Vlanes, is the flames of the sun. The Rangler Tribe, established by the Reptilens, is the marking claws of an alpha beast. The Windemon Nation, created by the Fremens, is bolts of electricity in a cloud. The Stongor Kingdom, set up by the Roctors, is the pillar of hard stone. The Wavon Empire, settled by the Watoners, is a surging of rough waves. Lastly, the Magdorn Kingdom, formed by the Magacrs, is a circle of energy colliding into one.”

Okay, now I remember. Seeing the nations being written on the chalkboard, I start to recall all the names of the nations. Usually, I would call them by their respective elementals instead, such as “Fire Nation” or “Air Nation” and so on. Makes it easier to remember, but I guess everyone else likes the correct titles of them. 

After finishing writing, Mr. Kowen took a stroll around the classroom looking at each student with an intrigued expression. His beastly eyes roamed freely with curiosity, staring as if he were going to pounce and rip whatever knowledge we had in our heads.

“The reason behind knowing each nation is to know where you and your power originated from. But also to build bridges to those connections with the flow of magiegy being the foundation of it all. ” He stopped walking as he reached back towards the front of the room with the chalk appearing in his hand once again, flipping it upwards in the air.

“Magiegy is the core energy that is inside of all of us. After all, since the day we came into this lovely world, we have been able to use our gifts for whatever reasons we choose.”  

While listening to Mr. Kowem's words, my eyes followed along with the students, quickly seeing the chalk spinning in the air as gravity was taking effect once it reached its limits. Wsshh! Before dropping back towards the floor, a web of bright blue light shined over its hard surface in a flash, leaving a crystal sphere behind in the air. It slowly began to descend with cold mist, appearing from the bottom of its icy cage and moving over Mr. Kowen claws. 

“Using magiegy, you can spawn great power to assist in any of your daily lives, depending on your situation, including your strength. Otherwise, you might not even be able to use even the tiniest amount of it.” He said with a calming, yet stern tone of voice as the ball of ice hovering over, spawns cracks through its frosty insides and bursts into cold steam, releasing the chalk and into his talons.  “But fear not, as today I will be handing out guide books based on your background so you get an early start with what you will be working with.”

I fully changed my mind about this school. This was a big game changer from a boring classroom setting. Instead of learning about building lame garbage out of rusted tin cans, the main information being fed here is about gaining the skills to become a hero. I know that isn’t exactly what he said, but technically he said we could use our abilities to change the world. Best to believe I’m doing that by becoming the best hero the world has seen. Gaining these skills will put any of my foes into the dirt for sure. I can already hear the crowds from the village surrounding me not out of disgust, but instead of love and respect chanting my name to the endless sky: Kaipo! Kaipo! Kaipo! We love you! You're the best man! Take this four-hundred-and-fifty-foot-tall golden statue as a token of our appreciation! Kaipo! Kaipo! Kaipo!

The future for me was now an endless sea of possibilities for hero deeds and not just because of my obvious greatness, but because of my hero spirit to bring me closer to my dream of becoming a master of magiegy.