Chapter Twelve: A Rare Element
The last student was one Zenith somewhat looked forward to. A'lessander of Miano, One Who Conquered Death. He abstained from mentioning the boy's name and only stared at him so he'd know it was his turn to speak.
After Alez Zander sat down and the boy was yet to speak, Zenith began wondering if they were some special students with disabilities.
The class stayed quiet, watching the teacher's reaction to A'lessander of Miano, One Who Conquered Death. "Tap him or sign language or something." Zenith said to Alez, but the class erupted in an uproar of laughter.
A'lessander of Miano, One Who Conquered Death frowned but said nothing, remaining where he sat. With that frown, Zenith could tell that he wasn't deaf as he thought. He might just be a stubborn case. "Why wouldn't you do what everyone else did?" he asked calmly.
The boy scoffed. "I am not like everyone else."
Zenith resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Only actual amazing people should say that, not…" he trailed off, abstaining from hurting the boy, especially as a fragile expression was already on the boy's face, and the class had gone quiet.
"What I mean is, you all are in the same class, to boast of being different. You have to be actually different and in an impressive way. I don't think… I doubt you are."
Trying to watch what he said felt really hard to Zenith, but he persevered. In actuality, he didn't dislike stubborn people or proud edge lords either.
All he cared about was the person having the strength to back up their claims and boast. If not, they were totally lame and he hated lame.
A'lessander of Miano, One Who Conquered Death sprung to his feet with a frown. "Fine. I'd say it."
Zenith made no reaction and watched him with bored eyes. They've already spent so long on introductions, yet the last student wanted to be dramatic? High school teachers needed more than just salary.
"I am A'lessander of Miano, One Who Conquered Death. I'd have broken C-Rank long ago, but the one skill I need to learn, no one in this realm can teach me." He sounded like it was Zenith's fault.
The Miano Household; Zenith had only met one of them and learnt that they all used one element only till thirty years ago when their eldest member permitted them to learn other elements and magic skills since their first element was dying out.
"What exact skill is that—"
"You can't teach me either." The boy interrupted. "That element is only used in my household. Nowhere else. Even if you learn it, you can't use it."
Zenith sensed the frustration in his tone, and that's the only reason he didn't feel offended at the boy's tone. "Miano Household manipulates Shadows, right?"
A'lessander of Miano, One Who Conquered Death nodded, with folded arms and a slightly hopeful look. "My father has been looking for teachers for me, but they're all dead. The only other Mage that can manipulate that element is my older cousin, and he's a bad teacher."
Zenith smirked. "Bad teacher? Maybe you're a bad student." He took his hand under his coat and removed a band. There's a change in the atmosphere, but the students were too engrossed in what was happening to notice. "A'lessander, I'd call you that, I believe your cousin is SSS-Rank Mage A'lfredo?"
It didn't matter to the boy if the Mage knew his cousin. He sat down back. "It doesn't matter. He will probably be the last Mage who can use the Shadow Element." He looked down to the ground.
The students stayed quiet, as it's common knowledge that one of them rarely joined the few practical classes they had because there was no teacher that knew the basics of the Shadow Element or how to manipulate it.
A'lessander of Miano, One Who Conquered Death narrowed his eyes to the ground when he noticed his shadow felt unnatural. He raised his head, but it didn't move. "Am I unknowingly doing something?" he sighed, shifting his chair back.
Suddenly, the shadow morphed to hands and held his chair. Lilian, who noticed, leapt from her chair, screaming like a toddler. She was on her desk in seconds. A'lessander of Miano, One Who Conquered Death stared at the shadowy arms and looked up at the teacher.
Zenith's eyes were closed as he tried to concentrate, but he opened them with a defeated sigh. The shadow morphed back to normal.
"I'd agree, to use the Shadow Element, one needs concentration and just two skills wouldn't do." He met the boy's gaze. "But your cousin isn't a bad teacher. He taught me three skills in our first meeting, all in theory. You are the bad student."
To A'lessander of Miano, One Who Conquered Death and the other students, it felt like Sir Zenith was the one who was so amazing to have learnt more than one Shadow Element skills by theory only and the first time.
A'lessander of Miano, One Who Conquered Death stood up again, using a more polite tone. "T-The skills you used now, that's Static and Morph, right? They are amongst the first skills to learn."
Zenith had forgotten their names, but Morph sounded about right. "You might need a Mage good in Water Element to teach you how to improve on Morph. As for the Static, you need a Flame User. The mediums are similar."
It was the first lecture A'lessander of Miano, One Who Conquered Death had ever had on his element, he felt very excited but his face didn't show it.
On the other hand, Zenith felt disappointed that he couldn't remember the third skill that had better use than the rest.
He brushed it off seconds later, the Shadow Element hadn't been fun enough to keep his interest and as they were very few teachers, he didn't want to learn a skill that he couldn't max out.
"Now, with class introductions done, let's—"
"Ah! Sir Zenith, you should introduce yourself too!" Alexandria Feloncia yelled, standing up.
The students laughed at the stupid request because who didn't know who he was? Also, being reminded of his rank would kill their spirit. They'd probably be no existing skill within their realm that he'd wish to learn.
Zenith wasn't also in the mood, but in the spirit of 'introductions' he allowed it. He didn't bother to stand and leaned on the chair. "Zenith Ichiban. Highly ranked. If they'd be any skill I'd like to learn, it'd be the Reincarnation."
The students cooed, and deep down, felt grateful that he didn't being 'essing' as he stated his rank. One of them raised their hands to speak, but Alexandria Feloncia stood up before the student was noticed.
"What would you use the Reincarnation for? Yourself? Do you need someone you want back? Also, isn't it Revive you mean?" The boy was genuinely confused.
Normally, people would want a dead person alive or to escape death every time, but the young Mage wanted reincarnation? It sounded boring to the young boy.
"Your brain can't understand my reason, Alexandria, and I don't owe you an explanation." Zenith left the seat. "Let's all go out, class." The students left their seat and began shuffling towards the door.
Alexandria Feloncia stood there with a blank expression before a wide smirk spread to his face. "Sir Zenith is always rough with me."
Alez rushed to him and pulled him towards the door. "And you're very stupid for enjoying it."