Zephyr: The Elemental Clans

1 - The Berated Heir

Xyder Zephyr - POV;

"You're a disgrace! Absolutely worthless! You bring shame to our entire family and the formidable strength of the original bloodline! I feel sick looking at you. Get out of here before I kill you myself!"

"Damn it!" I exclaimed as I chucked the one hundred kilogram barbell across the room like a mere ball. It plummeted into the floor and the impact forced the solid concrete to split.

"Arrogant. Rash. Immature. Retarded. Ignorant. Unqualified. These are but a few of the words that define your character!"

"Son of a B-!" I shouted. The conclusion of my statement had been drowned out by the deafening sound of me launching my loaded dumbell rack.

"Knock. Knock."

The door to my gym slowly creaked open and familar head covered by spiked silver hair, complete with bangs, peered in to the room.

"You're thinking about your grandfather's words again, aren't you?" the male sighed.

"What the hell do you freaking think Storm?!" I barked.

Storm shook his head and looked at me, his long time friend disapprovingly. "I'll say as I have repeated time and time again. You can't dwell on that forever. I'm not asking you to forgive your grandfather, infact I'd support hating him, but you can't allow that and him to bring you down and cause you pain," Storm said.

"Ugh. You're right. I'm sorry buddy," I apologised, running my hands through my shoulder-length, oxblood-red hair.

"Don't beat yourself up man. It's gonna be fine!" Storm assured as he placed his hand on my back.

"Let's watch some t.v. to get your minds off of things. There's this show that I like that should be airing soon! It'll help. Trust me," Storm suggested.

"Yeah. Yeah I'll come do that," I agreed, still frustrated over the past occurances.

I am Xyder Zephyr, the heir to the position as head of the Zephyr Clan..... or more accurately the former heir. My grandfather is the current patriarch and being infamous as a stickler when it comes to tradition, it was greatly surprising when he not only retracted my claim of leadership but also publically berated me.

We of the clan had always believed that our founder was a descendant of the Elemental Deities themselves and in an effort to preserve the original power, the title of head of the family was always given from father to son.

Due to unfortunate circumstances, my father, along with my mother, was lost to us all before he could receive the place from my grandfather. My father was always considered a prodigy, having incomparable prowess in the control over the fire element and surpassing the rank of Master in the Zephyr Elemental Academy at a mere fourteen years old. He was well known for his avid devotion to Ignis, his Guardian Deity.

My grandfather was more than proud of his son whom had far surpassed the expectaions of not only the elders of Zephyr but also the other clans as well whom all feared the outcome should such a powerful man become leader of a rival family.

The exact details as to how they perished isn't known and even the speck of truth known only to the elders was hidden from us all, even the cause of death. All I had been told by my grandfather as an orphaned seven year old child was that my parents were no more and that he would become my guardian.

Within the Zephyr Clan, an ancient custom has continued to be upheld. A child would enter into the realm of adulthood at twelve years old. In a huge, annual coming-of-age celebration, this new generation of 'adults' is placed in the Alter of Elements where, by a divination, their designated guardian is revealed and their elemental power blossoms.

On the day of my Divination, six agonising years ago, I was deemed to be an Empty Vessel, one whom lacks any elemental power and the blessing of the Deities. Even in the Zephyr Clan, an Empty Vessel would occasionally be birthed. However, this time was very different.

As the heir, I was expected to rule the Family with an Iron Fist and terrifying power. My grandfather was more than wrathful, citing that he could not allow a 'failure' to lead the Zephyr Clan as it risks us becoming sterile in generations to come. 'Sterile' merely refers to when an Elemental Clan, once prosperous, no longer consists of a majority population whom wields the elements as most memebers have lost the ability by some means or the other.

After humiliating me in front of the clan, I was thrown out from my grandfather's home and given shelter under my mother's youngest sister, a girl only six years older than myself.

For the past years since, I have held a deep hatred of my grandfather. In a selfish attempt to prove the old patriarch wrong and make him suffer for the pains and ridicule I had lived through, I dedicated my life towards improving my strength.

The strength of one's ability depended on many factors. There was the uncontrollable genetic aspect which was left up to luck and ancestry. Most of the reigning champions of each clan, including my late father, had to attribute alot of their success to just being gifted.

On the side of controlled variable, there was much one could do to raise their power. The most common was attunement to one's element. They say the elements are like living beings in a sense. One could attune themselves with their element through years of hard work and practice using it. As the bond between vessel and element strengthened, so too did their ability.

Having lacked any elemental ability, the prior method proved impossible for me. As a result I shifted my attention to a much lesser employed method. I persevered from that tender age of twelve until my current age of eighteen through intense, rigorous, physical training. In that time i had built my body up to Mr. Olympian aesthetic standards.

Alas, however, I had failed to see any improvement where it mattered the most. There existed not even a hint that my elemental ability had begun to grow. I had even begun to think that perhaps I truly was an Empty Vessel incapable of greatness.

"What's up gloom?" someone said poking my forehead. I was instantly brought back to reality after being lost in thought for some time. I looked up slowly to see the smiling face adorned with medium length, pale red hair.

"Hi Satella," I greeted the girl in a monotone.

She immediately morphed her expression into a pout and placed her hands on her hips. "What's with that uninterested tone? Am I annoying you O Great No-Longer-Heir?" she stated angrily. I gritted my teeth at the bold statement.

"Oi, you know better than to say something dumb like that!" Storm shouted.

"Pshh! He started his own crap!" Satella scoffed.

"What the hell are you saying, Sat?!" Storm argued.

"It's alright Storm, Satella. Let's just put this past us," I exhaled to calm my nerves.

Storm, Satella and I had been friends since early childhood. Whenever I needed a comforting hand, they were always there for me, especially when my parents had perished as well as when I was belittled by my grandfather.

"Well lookie here! The infamous worthless trio is having an internal war," someone snickered.

*Picture- Xyder Zephyr