Three days passed, and as I expected, the enthusiastic awakeners learning under me managed to control their abilities within that short span of time. I sat on the bleacher, and the rest of the awakeners I hadn't taught yet were seated behind me.
They were like an obedient class waiting for a stage performance to start while I, the instructor, was impatiently tapping my fingers on my elbow, looking at the performers who weren't ready yet.
I yawned. Then, I grimaced after seeing the commander walking toward me. Look at him walk like a model. I find it funny that the female awakeners behind me were drooling over him. I mean, why do they look so done when I walk like that?
Their discrimination is so blatant.
Commander Kyle approached and smirked at me, "I heard there's going to be a demonstration here."
What are you smirking at, nutjob?
"You heard wrong, then.'
Wow. I'm surprised to speak casually to him. I guess a sense of brotherhood formed between us after we almost killed each other.
Kyle moved and sat beside me. His broad shoulders bumped mine, so I grunted and frowned at him. The bleachers are so vast; why squeeze himself in my personal space? The commander ignored my prickling stares and added, "Also, I came here to ask you for another sparring."
Forget brotherhood. This man was determined to end me. I furtively scooched away from him and pretended I didn't hear anything. Kyle looked at me; I broke into a sweat; at the same time, the five top students appeared and walked to us as if they were some idols doing the Walk of Fame.
I hastily clapped my hands to shoo his attention away from me. All heads turned to the five. I was surprised to sense the aura surrounding them somehow looked different. But what made their walk funny was that each of them carried their props.
I looked at them individually and nodded like a wise mentor, then I proudly said, "Show us the results of your practice. And everyone watched how they did it carefully."
The group behind me yelled, "Yes, sir!"
At least they know how to respectfully address me, huh.
"Let's start with Aina Evans," piercing glares were thrown at me. I just wanted to try calling her by her name without her title. Is that so wrong? I cleared my throat and added, "Vice Mayor, please show us what you've learned so far."
The vice mayor gave me a deathly glare, but I scratched my head and grinned awkwardly. I forgot she was older. I still needed to respect her, even when I was just trolling. She walked to the center of the training room, a lighter in her hand.
She flicked the lighter, and the blue flame blazed. Then, putting her other hand forward, the flame on the lighter grew more extensive in a blink. It almost burned the ceiling if the limit of the vice mayor's power did not run out.
It only took a second before the fire reverted back to that small blue flame of the lighter.
Then, she flicked her finger, and the flames grew long and danced like a whip. She easily controlled where the flame would turn and twist with just her finger. I smiled inwardly. Her focused visage, lit by the flame, was like a portrait of a lady watching the flickering light of the lamp, showing the contours and shadows of her face while her eyes burned brighter than usual.
For once, I had the urge to draw not a naked body but such an enchanting façade.
"Wow…the vice mayor is amazing!"
Claps erupted behind me. Beside me, Kyle smiled contentedly. He saw me looking, so he glanced over and scowled. He's got a temper, I guess. I ignored him.
I step forward to give feedback, "The smaller and thinner the fire, the longer you can use your power, while it only took a second when you made it bigger. Focus on increasing the limit of your power; use a source for now, and once you manage to use it for at least a few minutes, you might be able to create fire without a source."
Vice Mayor Aina nodded her head slightly, "Yes. Thank you, sir Atlas."
I sighed. She still looked at me indifferently. I turned to Ethan, who held a bottle of water but was already frozen. I raised my brow at him, ready to ask him where all his three days of practice went, but the electricity kid beat me to it.
Felix laughed and joked, "Aren't you excited to show us your control, dude?"
Ethan blushed. He looked at me like a puppy, ready to receive a scolding for opening his treat for later. I just waved my hand and ordered him to get another prop. He hurried away, and Felix went to show off his power first.
He brought a box of incandescent lightbulbs. I chuckled when I thought he looked like someone who sells products while shouting on the street.
Felix frowned at me, "Why are you laughing, teach?"
I smirked, "Are you going to show us their durability and convince us to buy them after?"
"Am I some peddler?"
Kyle answered impatiently, "You look like one. Now, get on it. If you're good, I might buy some."
I laughed along with the crowd behind me. Who knew this madman could joke? I signaled Felix to start.
Feliz took a bulb and stared at it. Sparks appeared, surrounding his hand. The filament flickered and glowed, then, in just a blink, the bulb imploded.
BOOM!!
I facepalmed. It was fortunate that I had made him practice with such objects first. If he couldn't handle the amount of power he released, there's a high chance he'd be a walking live wire wearing a 'Danger: High Voltage' sign hung on his neck.
Felix Arnolds scampered to the box and took another bulb again, "I can try again, Sir Atlas! I have plenty of spares!"
I chuckled at his figure, waving bulbs while desperately convincing me to give him another chance. His determination leaked on his face; who am I to deprive him of a chance? Mistakes are often made on first tries, anyway.
I nodded at Felix, "Go ahead."
Felix beamed. From my peripheral, Ethan jogged to me carrying a drum of water—literally a drum—the kind of drum where a human body can be inserted and cemented inside. I gaped at him.
"Focus on your student, Sterne," Kyle commented, which made me roll my eyes at him.
Felix tried another, and after the third time, the bulb imploded again. While some awakeners behind me sneered and shook their heads in impatience, I casually folded my arms, crossed my legs, and leaned on my seat.
They were too quick to judge his failure, but do they know that if Felix mastered his power, he could command even lightning? I have a feeling he will be a strong ally in the future. I should treat him better.
Vice Mayor Aina, who sat beside me, mumbled, "The kid has admirable perseverance."
That's true. All of the light bulbs Felix brought exploded even before he reached the time I gave him to light them, except the last one. Ten seconds is all he needs to hold the light, but the bulb can't handle too much heat because of the power he keeps releasing.
Should I have told him to use some good-quality light bulbs instead? What he brought looked like cheap.
BOOM!
That's the last one. Felix's shoulders drooped. He scratched his head and walked to me, "I swear, sir. I was able to hold it just fine during practice. I don't know how I kept making mistakes now."
He looked like a sad puppy. I found myself ruffling his head. Wait, he's younger than me, right? I tapped his shoulders and replied, "Your attribute is one of the hardest to control, and its nature is disruptive, so it's understandable that you find it hard to maintain your progress. All you need is to practice consistently. You did well."
I don't know if my words reached him or not, but Felix only lowered his head more and silently went to the side. I felt proud when the vice mayor succeeded, but I felt sad seeing Felix fail, and someone who isn't affectionate like me, I don't know what words I can say to lift his mood.
Hah…this teaching job is hard.