"The qi pills would be awarded to those who had made an impression." Walking forward he began throwing out the pills towards each student.
Almost everyone had gotten except quite a few who stood with sad looks on their faces. Those mainly were from the outer zone who had little to no training.
Alex stood his head down with his fist tightly clenched. "Why didn't I get one?" He wanted to say it out loud but didn't have the strength to muster it.
Alfred looking over at him had turned his back walking out of the room. "Alex! Come with me," he said on getting close to the door.
Walking forward with slow strides he got to his position. Not much word was said between the two as they walked in silence before appearing before a door. Opening the door, Alfred walked through taking a seat beside the table.
"Darn! This is going to be hard," he muttered. "And he didn't care to explain his reason before he left."
"Take a seat," he said with a firm voice. "I don't think the combat class is quite the right choice to make. You have the determination but seem to lack the talent," he said, going straight to the point.
Alex silently took in all he just heard with an expressionless face.
"I can allow you to join them for the time being until your master comes back before we decide on what to do."
'First, didn't awaken an element, now not talented enough to become a warrior. What a cursed fate,' he thought clenching his fist tightly.
Short of words, Alex was surprisingly quiet, an eerie silence that made Alfred pause in his words. Looking at the boy, he could understand the pain he was going through. The way he had blurted it out, he didn't want to but was just following instructions.
"I think you're free to go now," he said, arranging some paper on the desk. Alex, without wasting time, stood up, and walking towards the door.
"Alex... just put in more effort and focus on your training. Maybe things would change."
"I'll prove you wrong! I'll prove y'all are wrong!" That was his one thought as he stepped out of the hall. Finding his way outside the building, he went straight to the hut. His resolve had been made, and he would train harder before the remaining two weeks elapsed.
"That damn wit, he thinks he can spoil things for me and walk away easily." Standing in one of the tall buildings in the area, Borin and his gang gathered, watching the departing Alex.
~~~~
The days flew by as Alex indulged himself in intense training. Each day, he would do some warm-up, running around the field, sometimes carrying large objects on his back, then next up was a series of sit-ups, press-ups, and squats.
A whole hour was used in learning how to control the energy within. The rest hours were used in training his skills with rest at intervals.
"Hey!" Alex heard a voice, one that he recognised instantly. He was on his break, lost in his thoughts.
"Decide to drop by and check on you," Zephyr said, walking down the field.
"What happened? After going with Master Alfred, you never came back."
"Nothing, I'm Ok. Just decided to focus on my training."
"I could have come earlier but had quite a hellish week, Master Alfred held a class for those from the outer zone who had received a qi pill. He helped most of us in making use of the pills, and I was able to form my dantian."
"That's... Great. So you've officially stepped into the part of a warrior. Congrats bro," Alex said with a huge smile.
Settling himself beside him he asked, "What about you? How's your training going?"
"Want to know?" Alex replied getting off the ground.
Zephyr getting on, stood up also both standing before each other. "I'm so eager to see... see how strong you've become!" He said with a smile.
"Alright, let's do this." With that Alex had taken the initiative, charging forward.
~~~~
It's been a week since they had saved that man, and currently carrying some wood down to the back was the guy, wearing a short-sleeved shirt and brown pants which Mrs Sheila had given him.
Dropping them down, he walked towards the front with a hint of tiredness and settled on the chair at the front of the building. "This is quite the work," he thought wiping off his sweat. "Just have to continue with them for the now, but this place, although little, is filled with happiness."
"They would be onto me now, I have to continue my journey and leave here before I cause a problem."
Zoe had come outside staring at him from the corner of her eyes.
"Hey, don't stay there, come and sit," he said patting the space lightly. Zoe, although hesitant slowly walked and sat.
"I know you've been suspicious of me, it seems this is the first time in receiving a visitor. I mean no harm, I would have left since but trying to repay what you guys did for me."
"What about the tattoo on your chest?" Zoe had blurted out.
"The tattoo?" For a moment he was silent with a frown slowing forming on his face. "It's nothing, just a normal tattoo I got when I was little. A bit hot-headed at that time."
Zoe just nodded her head swinging her legs to and fro.
"Here, let me show you something," Sam said quietly. From his hands green vines started twirling round forming a little flower.
Lost for words, wide-eyed, with her mouth dropping down, Sam couldn't help but smile. "This is for you... thanks for helping me" he said gently dropping it in her palms.
Zoe spreading her palms touched it softly with eyes filled with amazement. "How... how did you do that?" She asked looking at him.
"This... this is something only those from the middle and inner zone possess. Getting this, you must swear allegiance to the government, they become the holder of your life and can choose to get rid of you when they choose to."
"So... you are from the middle zone?" She asked.
Tsk. "No, I'm from the outer zone just like you," he said clenching his fist. "One who lived in the lowest area in the outer zone, my survival was a miracle... a miracle which I will never forget!"
Zoe could sense a hint of sadness and pain in his voice, "If you aren't from the middle zone how are you able to do this?" She asked trying to avert the topic.
"It's called magic... how was I able to perform magic? He said after a short pause, "It's a long story, one that you won't want to hear."