CHAPTER 9 - Another chance.

He had really wanted to attend the last class properly and now he had messed it up again.

When the teacher saw how Azyl reacted to this news, he was greatly taken back. He had thought he would make a sad or even a nonchalant face. But looking at him silently trying to wipe his tears, even as more continued to fall, for the first time he thought maybe he had misjudged him. But he couldn't just change his mind like that so,

"Why would you even think that sitting in the first table would allow you to understand better when I taught. In fact, after sleeping through all the classes, there is no way you would have understood anything of what I taught in the class." He again spoke, this time his tone a little harsh.

"No that is not true. I have been asking and learning everything that you taught in class afterwards from my friend and dorm-mate Zewoulf. Even though I missed the class due to my mistake, I still wanted to learn." He spoke in a low voice, after he had calmed down. He knew what he said did not really made sense from a teachers perspective, it was the truth nonetheless.

His reply was even more confusing for the teacher now. He had thought this was another case of a student who got into the academy with only fantasies to look forward to. Before he could press him further to find out about, he was given a shock.

Azyl bowed down in front of him, his torso parallel to the ground as he spoke,

"I am really sorry teacher for my actions in the past two weeks. Can you teach me what I have missed today?"

He did not know what else to do now. After what Zewoulf had told him, he was already over-thinking, and after this he felt that even his chances of staying at the academy after the initiation test were starting to look low. And he did not want to return to his village, disappointing all those who had hopes of him. Although there were around 4-5 more students from his village that had been admitted in the academy in the previous years, each slot was a precious opportunity.

He had managed to get it this time, because his parents were well received and liked by everyone in the village and also because he was the only kid who was of the correct age. He was just a lucky person, because in the past when there was no talented kid of the required age, the village would sell their slot for money and food resources to others. He was lucky to get this chance and he did not want to waste it like this.

He could only apologize now and regret upon his actions later.

"You can call me Teacher Ren. Sit down and focus now, you can ask your doubts when I ask you too." Teacher Ren said to Azyl, after looking at him for a few moments. He might have a grudge against Azyl, but as a teacher he would not refuse any student asking him to learn. He still held his doubts, so he thought about testing the kid before judging him.

And after seeing Azyl's reaction, he felt that this kid might be different than what he had imagined earlier maybe. Whether he had any talent was yet to known, but he definitely had the will to take a step forward.

And in the next one hour he carefully went over what he had taught just ten minutes ago to the whole class. In fact he even went on to discuss and revise with him everything that had been covered in the last two weeks. Azyl did not interrupt or fall asleep during the whole time. His focus did slip away a time or two, but a call was enough to make him regain it. He asked a doubt when he was asked something he did not know of. And just like that three hours passed for them.

In theory, the requirements for becoming an Elementalist were not difficult as the bar was quite low. Slightly talented individual could become one if they had the knowledge. But the process one had to go through had to be completed for each individual and could be different. Explaining it was difficult.

Mainly there were three requirements.

Mental energy level, Prana level and finally forming a prana core.

Mental energy level was as told by Teacher Zeke earlier, something that was the projection of ones willpower.

Prana level was not something new for Azyl and it wasn't anything complicated. In the simplest terms, it was patience and stamina, as it tested for how long one could maintain prana meditation and how many circulations could be performed before getting exhausted. It could even be reflected as an application of ones mental energy.

Finally the prana core was the important aspect, as it would differ for everyone and required some secret information before attempting to form it. Basically a technique which was not known to common people.

Now that Azyl knew this, he immediately thought about the prana level. He wasn't exactly low on this or rather he was considered above average if he went by what the Teacher had just stated to him. While he wasn't practicing hard like every other student, he had tried prana meditation on occasions after Zewoulf had pestered him about it.

"Even after knowing this knowledge, it doesn't help your situation much. If you don't perform exceptionally in the initiation test, you won't get in the elemental class." Teacher Ren spoke to him lightly. He was already changing his opinion of this student after what had happened today. But alas maybe it was a little late now.

"Teacher is it true that the people who will get selected for the elemental class have already been selected?" Azyl suddenly raised such a question.

Although a little surprised, Teacher Ren calmly answered,

"That isn't exactly true. Instead it should be said that the initiation test for you all starts as soon as you enter the academy. There is a ranking maintained depending on your performance and you are all marked. The top students from this are then selected. The initiation test that takes place day after tomorrow is the stage where you get to apply your knowledge gained. This is also a place where students that did not showcase anything splendid can change their overall opinion of the elders." Teacher Ren calmly answered his question.

Azyl felt even more down when he heard this. Other than his performance in yoga class, he has done nothing eye catching. Seeing it like this, he might be assigned the yoga class after the initiation.

As if thought he saw through his thoughts, Teacher Ren suddenly asked him,

"What is your reason for wanting to come to this Academy? To become an Elementalist?"