Chapter Eleven: Class Introductions III
The student kept chattering and hailing Kawaya like he achieved godhood by having the Earth Goddess teach him, even when it hadn't happened yet.
Some even said he might end being her apprentice if he impressed her and Kawaya's head swelled so big that he only kept laughing hysterically.
"Okay, okay, let's continue." Zenith said, while tapping the board. His voice was drowned and he glanced at Alexandria Feloncia. The boy smirked and tapped the rest that gathered around Kawaya.
"Silence." A string of blue energy went around them and they jolted. One of them pounded Alexandria Feloncia while the rest grudgingly returned to their seat in silence.
Zenith kept his eyes on the one who pounded Alexandria, Lilian Thurala, she became more talkative as more students came and since she could resist Alexandria's Will then she must have an ability that neutralized Alexandria's element or at similar rank to the white haired boy.
Zenith shook the thoughts off and decided for the students to tell him the skills they'd rather improve than figuring it himself.
At some point, they'd need to improve themselves by themselves so he wouldn't teach them everything.
"The next person after Kawaya, and the next. Let's hurry, you actually have lessons on long ranged attacks this morning and it's practical." Zenith informed.
He looked at his wristwatch and saw that time moved faster than when he'd been waiting for them. Those two, Nephis and Layla, hadn't arrived.
The girl besides Kawaya jumped. "Aleksandra South. D-Rank and Gravity Mani…um… actually, no skills yet." She locked eyes with Zenith.
He tried his best not to show any reaction. "We'd change that soon. Okay? Next."
Aleksandra let out a sigh she didn't know she had been holding as she sat down.
Zenith let out a sigh at well, would he have to keep a blank face throughout their introductions?
The next person spoke, and the next person and total of five people spoke but all D-Rank with either one skill or none at all.
The third line and the backseat finished, apart from a student that left to use the restroom. Zenith didn't hope much on him since he was a loud backbencher.
He turned to the second line but only Alexandria Feloncia sat in the row. "And you—"
Alexandria rose to his feet immediately like he'd been waiting for the moment to arrive. "I am Alexandria Feloncia. A prospective B-Rank and Word's Will is the skill I want to improve." He winked at his teacher.
Zenith tried not to roll his eyes. Word's Will couldn't he used by a kid like him yet, but it was an admirable skill to want to groom.
He already used his element to release his Will and coded it with 'Silence' for more impact, but that's only the most basic form of Word's Will.
Instead of commanding the essence in a person, he command the essence in his magic and whoever it touches do as told. It could he easily resisted too, so it's nothing like Word's Will that almost never faltered.
"What is prospective B-Rank?" Kawaya asked with a hint of irritation in his tone. "Stop playing, Alex."
"I am not an Alex, I am an Alexandria." Alexandria quickly said. "And prospective B-Rank means that I am closing to breaking the rank. You wouldn't know how that feels anyway." He flung his hair back.
Kawaya cursed, and folded his arms.
Zenith exhaled. "At least, you'd be easy to teach." He wrote down what the boy said and counted how many more students to go.
"Okay, the front row…" he trailed off.
It seemed like a veil of darkness had fallen on all the student, except Alexandria Feloncia that glittered on getting a compliment.
Zenith realized what his words meant, but he couldn't take it back, especially as he really meant it. Even at his agency, the Mages' apprentices there were at least B-Rank so that in the case were a villain attacked the agency, they wouldn't be victims.
Zenith felt that if his class were this weak then it'd be dangerous to teach them as they had no way to defend themselves if his enemies came for them, and he had a lot of enemies.
"Front row, start your introduction so we can actually have a class. None of you are more displeased than I am." He said something else that he shouldn't have.
The class had grown dimmer and Alexandria felt the drop. "D-Don't worry Sir Zenith, we'd impress you by the end of the year. With practical classes, we'd definitely get better." He spoke for everybody.
Zenith stared at Lilian, expecting her to rise already. "S-Rank. That's my goal for all of you. At least, get to A-Rank and then you've really worked hard."
The students exchanged glances within themselves, hopeful glances. His words meant that he hadn't given up on them and they didn't want to give up on themselves since being taught by S-Class Mages were rare.
Breaking Ranks A to E were easier, and with much effort could be done within months, than breaking any S-Class Rank which took many years, so deep down, they only aimed for A-Rank.
Lilian rose from her seat and cleared her throat. "My name is Lilian Thurala and my rank is C-Rank. The skill I want to improve is Ultra Vision."
Zenith found himself actually being interested in her. How could she be better than almost half the student yet one of the dumbest?
Then he realized, she might be those examples of not being book smart but knew how to get into action.
Ultra Vision was one of his favorite skills so he said. "I'd personally help you with that." He knew he sounded like he wasn't personally obligated to help the others but thankfully, the kids didn't pick it up.
Alez stood up after Lilian, and Zenith had already looked from Lilian to A'lessander of Miano, One Who Conquered Death. Alez really had no noticeable presence that he'd begun to suspect that it's intentional.
"Alez Zander. C-Rank. I'm already in it but I'd like to perfect the… absolute absence skill. Thank you."
Zenith smirked. That'd be it. Absolute Absence canceled the presence of a person and this Alez might actually be the one with the best presence in the class but because he hid it, he seemed not to be there.
It was sort of sneaky and contrasted from the good and quiet boy image Zenith had of Alez but it should be expected if that quiet boy was a friend to a boy like Alexandria that acted mischievously and brazenly all the time but also had skills.
Zenith had learnt the skill but didn't find it flashy enough to perfect it but his level was better than the boy currently had.
"It's a good skill that supports any element. I'd do my best to help you with it."