Irregular Elementalist

REPOSTED
Author's Note: Sorry for the grammar mistakes, I don't have anyone to PR me yet so again, I apologize. I added a little bit in this chapter before reposting it.

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002 - Awakening

When break ended, Erol went to his second class for the day. It was a practical class which test and gauge each of the student's progress in controlling the elements. Generally, this class covers most about the different elements that can be manipulated using Mana.

Everything around us, the air we breathe, the water we drink and especially our own body, they all contain this energy. To sum it all up, the presence of Mana is everywhere. That means the power that one can draw from his surroundings is limitless. If the body ran out of energy, it will quickly replenish itself by absorbing the energies in its surroundings and convert it to Mana itself. But of course, to absorb this energy from outer sources, once must have the proper skill and training to do so.

This is where Erol especially suck at. He lacks the control, skill, and the attitude.

Erol entered the Training Hall which is where their next class will take place. It was a very large room; compared to his classroom this one is three to four times larger. The walls were painted with silver mixed with dark colors which is somehow made of some kind of metal that is unknown to Erol. It gave an indestructible feeling to it which is true. The hall was made to be damage proof and sound proof which is really perfect for trainings, demonstrations, and mainly for duels.

Inside were 30 or so students. Most of them were chatting and gossiping. Erol did not heed their chatters instead he went to the corner in the back of the hall and lay low. A minute later, their teacher came in.

A middle-aged woman, dressed in a gray-colored tight looking uniform where a blue shield with a pentagram in the center was sewn in here left shoulder. A very thin aura caught Erol's attention, it was thin yet condensed aura that gave off a strong sensation to it. She has a fiery red hair, with matching flaming red eyes that added to her complete figure of beauty and power. One might mistake her to be in her 20's due to her still very young appearance.

What confused Erol is that, his classmates were oblivious to the aura his teacher emanates. The last time he attended this class, he was not aware of such aura. He looked closely to his classmates and to his surprise most of them emitted auras. But compared to his teacher's aura, their auras were barely noticeable, messy, and obviously lacked refinement.
Though there are also some who gave off auras of confidence and superiority.

"Erol Frousche, is something the matter?"

Professor Viola noticed Erol glancing on her side with a confused yet calculating gaze. Erol gaped in shock for a moment when he heard his name. He looked around him and noticed every pair of eyes fixated on him as if he did something terrible. Uneasiness welled up inside him.

"I-it's nothing ma'am.", he said with discomfort.

"Are you sure? Then let's start with our lesson for today.", Professor Viola said firmly.

Erol sighed with relief. He hated to be noticed by the teacher or be the center of attention so he always kept the low profile identity. He wanted it that way, of course, to avoid unnecessary trouble.

"Today, we are going to test each and everyone's auras. I will teach you how to release the energy inside you as aura. Earlier I released a bit of my aura to test whether there's someone here who can at least notice this flow of energy.

Anyone spotted my aura?

Some students shook their heads confirming their unawareness, some whispering to each other and some doesn't really care that much.

Erol, did you somehow noticed my aura earlier? Because I remember you were seriously staring at me when I entered the hall."

Everyone was looking at Erol with discrimination. He wanted to disappear in that exact moment.

"...no, Ma'am, I haven't."

"Of course, you won't. If we can't even see her aura, how can you be?", a kid from the front row exclaimed conceitedly.

Most of the students inside the hall laughed in a quiet manner.

"Cedrick!", the teacher called him out. "Why don't you go here in front and show us what you can do?"

Cedrick Bostwick stands up and let out an insulting grin towards Erol. His appearance shows that he's part of a well-off family. He was a little bit taller than Erol, quite good-looking with short golden hair, complemented by his navy blue eyes and a semi-athletic build overwhelming with self-confidence.

He was born in a well-known family of Elementalists, which stands on top 50 of the strongest and most influential people in the City of Tezkia and was blessed with above average skills compared to his other classmates. No wonder he acts so arrogant and bullies those who are below his level.

A normal person will feel very insulted to Cedrick's taunts but Erol pay less attention to his words. He's already used to his rudeness which is nothing new to him. But what he can't swallow is being humiliated in front of many people. Erol knows he can take Cedrick's words but to take in every scowl and insults from the majority of his classmates is too much for him. Whenever the whole class laughs at him, all he can do is shrink in shame inside his hoodie.

"Okay class, listen and observe. Now Cedrick, focus your Mana in the center of your body. Imagine it flowing in a circular manner forming a small circle."

Cedrick went into focus. He gathered his energy somewhere in the center of his body slowly forming a small circle.

"Now, slowly absorb this ball of energy back to your whole system. Then picture it flowing out from your body."

As Cedrick follow Professor Viola's instructions, a brush of warm air emanated from his body or rather what his classmate's picture out. But not from Erol's eyes.

Erol saw a faint blue mist-like aura emanating from him. His early bewilderment worsened as he saw his worst enemy slightly glowed in faint blue light. Jealousy, irritation, and awe filled Erol, he can't think of opposing such talented student in his life time considering the huge gap in skills and endowment.

Going back to the main topic, Erol's confusion persisted even after Cedrick finished showing off his aura.

'Why am I the only one who can see his aura? This is getting very... weird.', he thought, as a strange feeling welled up on him.

"Okay, good. Next!", Professor Viola exclaimed. "Erol come here in front."

Soft chattering can be heard inside the room. Everyone knows his skill.

Weak.

Unqualified.

Incompetent.

A laughing stock.

Erol walked slowly, shaking obviously. He felt the glares of his classmates especially Cedrick letting out his wicked smirk.

'This is just a quick test... This'll be over soon as I even know it.', he thought trying to convince himself. 'Just go to the front and follow her instructions, easy right?'

Erol faced his classmates with an anxious expression. Some looked at him with pity, others with mocking eyes, worse they're silently jeering on him. His teacher noticed his nervous face.

Professor Viola walked beside him and whispered something. Suddenly, Erol's face lightened for a second.

"Okay, Erol I want you to clear your mind and relax.

Focus.

Draw the Mana inside you. Visualize this energy gathering in the center of your very being forming a small ball."

Erol focused himself as per instruction. He willed the energy inside him, swirling, condensing, and forming into a ball. A warm feeling grow in the very center of his body.

I can feel it...

"Now, let this energy flow back freely in your system, feel it emitting through your skin, out from your body."

He let the ball of energy scatter inside his body letting it flood his system without restraints. Erol felt the gush of energy searching for a way out. He pictured the energy spurting out everywhere in his body.

A gust of air escaped and dispersed from where Erol is standing. In the eyes of his professor, a strong aura let loose itself from a long time of captivity. It's like a newborn baby letting out its very first cry.

[Mana Manipulation Basic Mastery Learned.]

A small notification box appeared in front of Erol but it quickly disappeared before he opened his eyes.

After a short moment, his aura dissipated into nothingness. Erol drained himself completely and almost fell unto his knees.

He was perplexed, but excitement filled his heart completely dominating what he felt earlier.

'Something...', he pondered while looking in both of his hands.

'Something has changed in me...'

Dead silence fell inside the Training Hall.

His classmates stood puzzled as to what actually happened. They just saw was a strong pulse of air stronger than Cedrick slapped their faces. What they can't believe is that it came from Erol, who they often call a weakling.

"Very good Erol!", Professor Viola broke the outwardly silent atmosphere.

Without a care in the world, Erol went back quickly to where he was before. But this time his heart was racing with enthusiasm.

...

"Most of you must be quite confused. Just a moment ago, Cedrick and Erol released their auras in front of you but it appears that no one noticed it. Both of them showed different levels of power in their auras.

The same goes for all of you. It doesn't mean that you have a weak aura, weak control, and unpolished skills, you can be like that forever.

Everyone is different. Erol today broke through his dormant system. I won't be surprise if Cedrick will have a competition this year.", Professor Viola let out a faint smile to Erol's direction.

"What competition? He just let out a weird air earlier to who knows where it came from or what kind of evil energy he was using. He needs to work hard ten times to at least be considered a match for me!", Cedrick exclaimed.

The whole class was left speechless as they noticed that the overly confident-bully Cedrick was now frantically tensed in front of everyone.

"I don't know about that. But I can only advice you to not let your guard down Cedrick.", his teacher retorted.

...

"Okay students, listen. In the next few meetings, we will focus solely on how we control our Mana and convert it as our own unique auras. By the time you get the basics of this, we will start focusing on perceiving each other's auras.

Now, in the next few hours I want you to practice releasing your auras. Pair yourselves together and start practicing!"

---

"Erol, come here for a second.", Professor Viola called him with an expectant smile.

While everyone was busy pairing up, Erol went to his teacher as requested.

As he approached his teacher, a timid look filled his face.

"No need to be so anxious young man. I just wanted to congratulate you!"

"C-congratulate... me?", Erol was baffled as to why his teacher suddenly let out such a word. "What about professor?"

"You don't know?!", Professor Viola slightly frowned in Erol's reaction. "Just earlier I clearly saw pure energy gushing out from your body!"

"Pure energy?"

Erol wasn't really oblivious about energies. In fact, he learnt of this in his class in Elemental Energy but only introduced to its applications and hadn't really seen any of these energies in display. Of course, the same applied to the students in his year.

"Yes, pure energy. Though it's still raw and impure Mana, to make it flow freely in your body means that your system is now open. In short, you can now freely access this energy inside you unlike before that you can hardly tap unto it. If you're lucky, you might get something good in the future.

For now you should rest. You can take your break early because I am sure you're still recovering from earlier.

I can only advice you to practice first on purifying your Mana so you won't have a hard time using it in the future."

Professor Viola went back to her students. Erol, on the other hand, left the hall with his mind still muddled in confusion.
He himself doesn't know how he did it. He realized and felt it himself that something has changed, and still changing inside of him but doesn't know what exactly it was.

Erol took his break in the cafeteria knowing that for the time being no one will bother him. While still pondering about what happened earlier, he let out a faint smile when he remembered his classmate's expression especially Cedrick's.

...

Third and fourth subjects ended in a flash. Erol, still hiding under his hoddie, went out from his classroom trying to avoid garnering any attention. He rushed to the deposit machine, withdraws his hover board and left the school.

As he rode his board on his way home, he stumbled onto the three figures with obviously not so good intention. One of the three figures was someone he really knows...

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Thank you for reading the second chapter of IE!
Expect a poll next chapter. See you!