Elemental Dragon (Volume I): Chapter 1: The Elemental Wind Nation

Part 1: The Elemental Wind Nation

It is the eleventh month of the Elemental World calendar.

During this time, the Western Nation experiences a surplus in its coffee grain harvests. This overproduction is used for export, as the coffee is considered exotic due to its exceptional quality.

Within the nation lies the city of Tyr, which houses residential areas for workers and educational institutions for the youth.

These academic institutions primarily offer military education.

One of the students, a sixteen-year-old named Jin Ryusuke, attends Vento Military Institute, where he is about to complete his third year. In this eleventh month, most institutions conclude their lessons—and Vento is no exception.

Inside the classroom, Jin, with spiky brown hair, waits impatiently for the teacher to finish his final speech. The clock ticks toward 3:00 PM, the official end of the school year. Jin is eager to begin his two-month vacation.

Only five minutes remain, yet the bespectacled teacher, clad in the nation’s soldier armor, continues his speech before the entire class. Students in nearby classrooms are just as anxious to be released, looking forward to the upcoming break before entering their first year of upper-level military training.

Finally, the bell rings. Jin is the first to leap from his seat and dash out of the room with his backpack. His classmates follow in a wave, leaving the teacher alone.

This behavior doesn’t bother the seasoned instructor—he is used to it. In fact, he seems to intentionally prolong his speech each year just to watch his students sprint away like racers at the starting line.

Jin bounds down the stairs of the school complex, filled with joy at finally being free of academic obligations. He's not alone in his excitement—the entire student body is buzzing with energy, barely paying attention to the boy jumping excitedly toward the institute’s exit.

But just two hundred meters from the main gate, Jin trips and crashes face-first into the dirt, literally eating dust. The cause? Another student: Saji Sousuke, also sixteen.

Saji had deliberately extended his left foot to trip Jin as he passed.

"Nice fall, Ryusuke!" Saji said casually, smiling as he walked away, clearly pleased with his prank.

Jin remained on the ground for a moment, then stood up and looked down at his white school shirt—now covered in dirt. He brushed himself off and glared at the culprit.

Though they hadn’t interacted much, there was clear martial rivalry between them during training. A key difference between the two: Saji wielded Fire Elemental Energy and was rumored to be a naturalized foreigner.

"I would’ve loved to start a fight right here! Damn it!" Jin muttered, furious at himself for not reacting to the humiliation.

As he stood there, gripping his head in frustration, two friends approached—one girl and one boy.

The girl, Juren Ryunosuke, had short brown hair, tanned skin, and green eyes. Beside her was Takeshi Ori, a boy with brown hair, glasses, and fair skin. Both of them laughed at Jin, who was still upset.

These three usually walked home together through the residential areas of Tyr, and today was no exception. The warm afternoon sun cast a golden hue over the city, while the ever-present trade winds cooled the air. The Wind Nation was always known for its refreshing climate.

"Finally! Now I can focus on training!" Jin exclaimed with excitement.

"So... when exactly does the National Tournament begin? I don’t remember," asked Juren.

"In three months. I have to get stronger! It’s my duty to my family!" Jin replied with determination.

They paused on an old bridge with red railings and a wooden surface. It was aged but sturdy, still connecting paths after many years.

Jin began tossing small stones forcefully into the river below. Takeshi joined in, competing to see who could make their stones skip farther using bursts of wind.

Juren, observing them, suddenly noticed something unusual. One of the stones landed near a creature sitting on a rock in the shallows of the river—none of them had noticed it until now.

The creature, humanoid in shape and blue in color, appeared to be basking in the sunlight.

"Guys! Look over there! What is that?!" Juren asked nervously.

The group turned and spotted the creature. Though it appeared to be asleep, its large, glowing white eyes opened as it realized it had been seen.

In a flash, it stood and used a Wind Elemental technique called "Wind Step" to vanish at incredible speed.

"That... that was..." Takeshi stammered.

"That was an Amber!" Jin exclaimed.

"Yes, but... a blue one?!" Juren added, shocked.

Ambers were common creatures in the Elemental World, usually appearing in red, green, or yellow forms. Seeing a blue Amber—a legendary color—was almost unheard of.

Terrified by what they had just seen, the trio searched for soldiers to report the sighting. But to their surprise, none were found. The streets were filled only with civilians, vendors, and families. Tyr, known for constant patrols, was oddly unguarded.

"That’s strange. There are no soldiers anywhere," Juren observed.

"Definitely suspicious. Takeshi, could you tell your father when you get home?" Jin asked.

"Of course. It’s dangerous enough for regular Ambers to enter the city, let alone a blue one," Takeshi replied.

Takeshi’s father was a military platoon leader.

The friends continued on their way. At one point, Takeshi broke off and ran toward his home through a crowded plaza filled with children and students from other military schools.

Jin and Juren walked together toward their neighborhood. Though they lived nearby, they parted ways quietly, almost as if embarrassed to be seen together.

Jin waved discreetly and continued on alone. Just as he reached for his keys to unlock the front door, a young boy ran up to him, breathless and shouting.

"Makoto! What’s wrong?!" Jin asked, alarmed.

"Jin! Help! My brother is being beaten up by some thugs! There’s no one else around!" the boy cried.

"Let’s go!" Jin responded without hesitation.

Makoto sprinted ahead and Jin followed. A few blocks away, they came upon a disturbing scene: ten men were brutally assaulting a young man in the middle of the street.

"STOP! Not another hit on Mâgata!" Jin yelled with authority.

Mâgata, bloodied and nearly unconscious, could only glance weakly at his would-be savior.

One thug charged Jin but was knocked out instantly by a punch. The remaining nine attacked at once.

But to Jin, these men—"Ignorants," as those unable to wield Elemental Energy were called—posed no real threat.

Jin, a skilled martial artist and user of Wind Elemental Energy, made quick work of the attackers, knocking them all unconscious with precise strikes. He proved the stark difference between a warrior and a civilian.

He then helped Mâgata to a wooden bench, where the battered man explained what had happened.

"Thank you, really. As you already know, I work transporting coffee carts to the export trucks. Last week, my boss gave me a raise for my hard work. These guys—my coworkers—demanded I share my earnings. When I refused, they attacked me to take everything."

Jin listened silently and instructed the neighbors to inform the soldiers once they returned. Curiously, no one could explain why the city was without patrols.

Above the rooftops, however, several turbine-powered airships—fueled by Elemental Energy—could be seen flying toward the palace.

Finally, Jin returned home. The modest wooden house was typical for the area.

He removed his uniform and changed into a sleeveless dark blue shirt, white training pants, and tied a red headband around his forehead—his usual training attire.

On the dining table, he found a note from his grandfather:

"Jin, I won’t be long. I’m attending the Imperial Meeting. Start your training without me, and if I’m delayed, I’ve left dinner ready."

"Another meeting... So that’s why there are no soldiers out there," Jin muttered.

Meanwhile, at the Imperial Palace of the Wind Nation, a grand assembly was underway. Military leaders, advisors, ministers, generals, soldiers, and elite warriors gathered for a conference called by the emperor.

For hours, Emperor Yamato Nawasaki had discussed ways to stop bandits from hijacking coffee shipments. But now, he raised a more urgent issue.

"There is something important I must tell you all. Forgive me for delaying this, but the bandit problem has become so tedious that it nearly distracted me from this: the Earth Nation’s reconnaissance team spotted the infamous Rogue Warrior of Lightning, Doku Ihibushi, lurking near southern trade zones—close to our borders. I demand to increase the security!"

All present affirmed his command with conviction, and the assembly disbanded as soldiers and leaders departed to carry out his orders.