Chapter 4 The Sorting Ritual

• The next morning, Ava woke up feeling more nervous than she had expected. Her new room in the Dormitory of Winds felt strange—like it wasn’t hers yet. The light breeze that constantly drifted through the open windows seemed to have a life of its own, and the air carried the faint scent of pine and rain. She couldn’t help but feel out of place, as though she was an intruder in a world she didn’t fully understand.
• But today wasn’t just any day. Today was the Sorting Ritual, the ceremony that would decide which elemental house Ava would belong to for the rest of her time at the academy. Fire, Water, Earth, or Air. Each student was sorted based on their natural affinity for one of the four elements, which would determine not only where they lived but also who they trained with, who their mentors would be, and the nature of their magical journey.
• "This is it," Ava thought, staring into the mirror, trying to calm the nervous flutter in her stomach. Her reflection looked different, almost like she didn’t recognize herself anymore. Dark circles lined her eyes from the sleepless nights of worry, and her normally neat brown hair was slightly disheveled.
• A soft knock came at the door, and before she could answer, it swung open to reveal her new roommate, Selene. Selene was tall, with flowing auburn hair and sharp, golden eyes that seemed to glimmer like molten metal. There was an undeniable elegance about her, but Ava could sense the raw power that lurked beneath her calm surface.
• “Nervous?” Selene asked, a knowing smile on her lips.
• “A little,” Ava admitted, forcing a smile in return. “I don’t know what to expect. What if I don’t belong in any of the houses?”
• Selene chuckled softly, as if Ava’s concern was the most ridiculous thing she’d ever heard. “Everyone belongs somewhere. The Sorting Ritual will reveal your true affinity, even if you don’t know it yourself yet. Trust me, you’ll be fine. It’s a bit nerve-wracking at first, but you’ll find your place soon enough.”
• Her confidence didn’t ease Ava’s fears. In fact, it only made them worse. What if I’m different? What if they made a mistake bringing me here?
• Selene seemed to sense her unease and offered a reassuring smile. “Come on, let’s get down to the courtyard. The ritual is about to begin, and you won’t want to be late.”
• ***
• The main courtyard of the Elemental Academy was bustling with activity by the time Ava and Selene arrived. The courtyard, encircled by ancient stone walls and towering trees, was large enough to hold all the students, who stood in groups based on their houses. Ava could see the four elemental houses clearly—each group wearing distinct colors to represent their affinities.
• The students of the House of Fire wore deep red and gold robes, their eyes alight with a fierce intensity. Some stood with their hands sparking with small flames, casually manipulating fire like it was second nature. They radiated confidence and power, and even from a distance, Ava could feel the heat emanating from them.
• The House of Water students, dressed in shimmering shades of blue and silver, stood gracefully near the central fountain, their expressions calm and serene. Some of them toyed with orbs of water, letting the liquid twist and turn through the air with effortless grace.
• The House of Earth students, clothed in greens and browns, had a quiet strength about them. They stood rooted to the ground, like the very earth beneath their feet, their hands occasionally causing small vines or rocks to rise and fall in rhythm with their thoughts.
• Finally, the House of Air, which Ava had been living in temporarily, was filled with students who seemed to move with a lightness and swiftness that matched the element they controlled. Dressed in light grays and whites, they looked ethereal, as though they could take flight at any moment. Gentle breezes circled them, lifting their hair or causing their robes to flutter as if the wind itself was alive.
• Ava’s heart pounded as she took in the scene. She didn’t feel like she belonged with any of them. How could she be sorted into a house when she didn’t even understand her powers yet?
• Professor Lyra, who Ava had met the previous day, stood at the center of the courtyard alongside Professor Arlen and several other instructors. They looked solemn, their expressions serious as they prepared for the Sorting Ritual.
• Professor Arlen stepped forward, raising his hands to silence the crowd. His voice was deep and resonant, commanding everyone’s attention. “Welcome, students, to this year’s Sorting Ritual. Today, we gather to determine the elemental affinities of our new recruits. This ritual has been performed for centuries, binding each of you to the element that is most deeply connected to your spirit.”
• Ava swallowed hard. The energy in the air was palpable, like static before a storm.
• “When your name is called,” Arlen continued, “you will step forward and place your hand upon the Elemental Stone. It will reveal the element that resides within you, guiding you to your true house.”
• A group of older students wheeled out a large, crystalline stone on a pedestal. The stone glowed faintly, its surface shimmering with all the colors of the elements—red for Fire, blue for Water, green for Earth, and white for Air. It seemed to hum with a quiet power, as though it could sense the magic in the air.
• Ava’s stomach flipped. That’s it? A stone is going to tell me who I really am?
• One by one, names were called, and new students approached the stone, their faces filled with both excitement and fear. As they placed their hands on its surface, the stone glowed with the color of their element—some red, some blue, others green or white—before the student was directed to their new house. Each time the stone lit up, the gathered students cheered or clapped, welcoming their new members.
• Ava stood frozen, her palms sweating. Her nerves only worsened with each name that was called. She watched as students were sorted, seeing their relief or joy as they discovered their house. But it only made her doubt herself more. What if the stone doesn’t react to me at all?
• Finally, Professor Arlen’s voice rang out, clear and commanding. “Ava Thorne.”
• Ava’s heart skipped a beat. It was time.
• Her feet felt heavy as she stepped forward, her entire body trembling. She could feel the eyes of every student on her—hundreds of them, watching her every move. The weight of their expectations pressed down on her, and she could barely breathe.
• When she reached the stone, she stared at it for a moment, her reflection distorted in its crystalline surface. Slowly, she reached out her hand, hesitating for a split second before pressing her palm against the cool surface of the Elemental Stone.
• At first, nothing happened. Ava’s breath caught in her throat as she waited, the seconds dragging on painfully. Is it broken? Am I broken?
• But then, the stone began to glow—not with one color, but with all of them at once. Red, blue, green, and white swirled together, creating a dazzling light that filled the courtyard. Gasps erupted from the students, and Ava could hear whispers spreading through the crowd.
• “What’s happening?” Ava muttered under her breath, her pulse racing.
• Professor Lyra stepped forward, her expression unreadable. “It seems… you have a rare connection to all the elements,” she said softly, though her voice carried across the courtyard. “This is highly unusual.”
• Ava’s mind reeled. All the elements? Was that even possible? She had assumed she’d be connected to Air, considering her recent experiences, but this… this was something entirely different.
• Professor Arlen exchanged a glance with Lyra, his brow furrowing in concern. “This has not happened in many generations,” he said, his voice grave. “Ava, you may not belong to any single house… but to all of them.”
• The crowd murmured in confusion, some students staring at her in awe, others in disbelief. Ava’s chest tightened. She could feel the weight of their judgment pressing down on her. What does this mean? she wondered, her mind spinning.
• Lyra took a step closer to Ava, her gaze steady. “You are what we call a Convergence. A rare type of elemental who holds the potential to master all four elements. This makes you incredibly powerful, but also… vulnerable.”
• Ava felt like the ground was shifting beneath her. Everything she thought she knew about the academy, about herself, was unraveling. A Convergence? How could that be possible?
• “This is no small burden,” Arlen added, his tone serious. “Being a Convergence means you will face challenges that most elementals will never understand. Your training will be… different.”
• The word hung in the air like a warning. Different.
• Ava’s head spun. She had come to the academy expecting to be sorted like everyone else, to find a place where she could belong. But instead, she had been singled out—marked as something rare and dangerous. The eyes of the entire academy were on her, and for the first time, Ava realized how alone she truly felt.