The Legend of Azhakkstadd

CHAPTER LV : OUR STRENGTHS II

-Ashtan-

             It’s so nice to be here… it’s so nice to finally see Kurezma again. Gosh, I missed her so much! So yesterday I had a special lesson with the Ordo King about what they have discussed the last time they had class. I mean, it’s totally not a special class like he made himself my tutor or whatever.

            He just told me some of what he exactly said in this classroom. Though I understood him in that short discussion, I’m not that slow learner after all. He didn’t have a problem telling it to me since I quickly understood him. What he said is also what we were taught before in our school.

            I already had a background knowledge about it and I think I can quickly cope with their lesson… he also told me that they just started their class so I am not that behind all of them. Besides, I still am a fast learner, I will learn everything whenever I wanted to learn them. I just needed a good teacher, and the Ordo king is far better.

            As I entered the class, I quickly looked for Kurezma. I eventually found her silently sitting in her chair while staring at me. I can’t clearly understand her expression because it looked so different… I don’t know, I can’t describe. But I think she’s also happy to see me ahahahaha.

            “Good morning everyone” the Ordo king greeted everyone inside the room the moment we entered. As soon as the students heard his voice, they all paused for a while as they looked at us and went back to themselves then ssat themselves properly as they recognized the Ordo King.

            “Good morning your highness” they all greeted back altogether in a polite manner. I slightly fell behind so I pulled my legs and followed him in front of the class. It seemed like no one knew that I’d be coming here. Not even Kurezma, I think none of the tribe leaders who knew tried orienting them about my arrival ahahahaha

            Their faces were so blank as they looked at me, they were like ‘Oh my gosh, who the heck is he and what is he doing here following the Ordo King? Is he a student too or his assistant?’ ahahahaha the thought was so funny and so as their faces.

            Kurezma turned her head to see who I was, her reaction suddenly turned into something ahahahaha I don’t know, is she like happy? But it doesn’t seem so, she’s like a mix of excitement, nervousness, and that reaction when you start to lose your mind because you don’t understand what in Azhakkstadd is happening here ahahahaha

            They all looked so hilarious, and Kurezma is not an excuse. Though she looked beautiful but she had the worst reaction right now ahahahaha

            “I’m so sorry I am late” the Ordo king apologized, As soon as things processed inside Kurezma’s mind, I assume, her eyes got bigger as she kept staring at me in an excited manner, I knew it! I knew she’s so excited to see me, I mean why wouldn’t she be? She missed me for sure… ahahahaha just kidding

            I just gave her a sweet smile to make herself calm a little… oh my gosh, why does her reaction that way? It’s as if she just saw a monster that will devour her any minute by now. I didn’t know that she reacts this way when she’s surprised… she looks so horrible, we should never ever surprise her ahahahahaha

            “Due to Kuzma’s absence, the Trueno chieftain, and I along with the Sioga King, we decided to replace him from being the Thunder Hero, and have Ashtan here as an exchange” the Ordo king started speaking about me to clear everything to everyone the reason why they are seeing such a handsome man like me in front of them.

            Ahahahahaha just kidding, but I’m serious about the handsome part.

            Their faces quickly went back to normal implying that they all understood what the Ordo king said just now. Even Kurezma, she’s now smiling plainly removing that weird face she just had a while ago ahahaha

            “Hi everyone, I’m Ashtan Montalvoii, I’m 19 years old, and I’m also from the Thunder Tribe, just like Kuzma and Kurezma…” I spoke introducing myself in front of them after the Ordo King said his words. I, then, smiled at everyone to have a nice impression towards them after I introduced myself.

            After saying that, I saw an empty chair just near me. No one seemed to be seating in that place who is just absent today. There’s no way he’d be absent ahahahaha so I walked towards it to finally take my seat. Gosh, my legs hurt due to standing for a long time.

            I managed to turne my gaze towards Kurezma who’s gaze is also following me as I sit down. I gave her a smile before I sat down, and the same thing she did, she also gave me a smile. I finally seated myself cutting off my stare towards her. Oh gosh, I missed her so much!

            I wish we could spend time together sometimes even though we’ll be busy here. I mean, that’s not impossible, right? It’s not that we’d lose time hanging out with each other sometime later…

            “Yesterday, we talked about knowing yourself… and two of you here are lucky to suddenly know their selves in that sudden time… yet Kuzma has to leave” the Ordo king initiated his lessons probably pertaining to Kurezma and Kuzma whom they talked yesterday. I heard about it in his office when they talked about it with someone.

            And that’s the reason why I’m here, I have to take Kuzma’s place as the Thunder Hero since he has his bigger responsibility as the prince of Fairy Kingdom.

            “Have you reflected to yourselves about our lesson yesterday?” the Ordo king asked, everyone silently nodded as they looked at each other. That’s good, but it’s not easy to reflect in just a day. It’ll take time to know yourself, yet that process is the beginning of it. Maybe as we progress with this training we’ll get to know more about ourselves.

            “Today, we have to know our strengths so that we will become stronger as well as our weaknesses in order to overcome it” the Ordo king continued… this is also our lesson way back in our school. I can still vividly remember all of those. I treasure every lesson taught to me that’s why I train hard to become stronger.

But the level of difficulty and challenge is different. Whatever it is, we really have to know that aspect. It’s so important though, learning never stops.

            “Your strengths are things you can leverage on, things you can use to push yourself further. On the other hand, your weaknesses are not your downfall. These are areas you need to improve on. It is not something you lack. It is something you need to develop and build” the Ordo king explained as he stood in front of us

            Well he’s right. Before I became strong, I also have my weaknesses. I also have something in me that prevents me from doing something or being something that I have to become. Yet the Trueno Chieftain always tells me that I have to use it as a key to unlock my inner strength.

And so I did, you will never fail when you try stand up for yourself against something that holds you back from being successful. Hear that from me.

            “But how will you hold on to it anyway? Well, in order to leverage your strengths and improve on your weaknesses, you first need to know them” he added as looked at us strongly giving emphasis to every word that comes out from his mouth. Gosh, his lectures really hit so hard… now I know why Psychic are the most intelligent people of Azhakkstadd.

            “First of all, what is strength? And what is weakness? Anyone?” he asked us… the basic question… it’s so easy, yet everyone should know the answer. Someone raised his hands from us… He wears a purple clothing just like the Ordo King, something in him tells me that he’s also from the Psychic Nation, and he seems to be a smart one.

            “Strengths are the skills and abilities that are easy for you. So when you’re leveraging those skills and abilities you do quite well. Knowing your strengths means you know what activities to engage in that will allow you to shine” he clearly explained before us all

            “Weaknesses are those skills and abilities that don’t come easy to you. When you are using those skills and abilities, you might struggle. Knowing your weaknesses allows you to understand how you can work around them” he added and sat down after answering

            “So in short, strengths are things you are good at, and weaknesses are the opposite…” a girl raised her hand as the boy sat down and spoke in her soft voice

            “You are both correct” the Ordo King commented towards their answers

            “Why are you laughing? Is there something funny?” the Ordo king suddenly called out someone, I don’t know who. I turned my gaze towards the direction he is looking at right now. It was the guy who answered a while ago, he seemed to be holding his laughter along with the guy who sat next to him…

            “Nothing, your highness I’m so sorry” the guy next to him answered lowly as he bowed and the both of them stopped laughing. They seemed to be so close, I just think so.

            “Why is it important to know our strengths and weaknesses? Stand up” the Ordo king said facing the guy who just asked for his apologies, he slowly stood up still preventing himself from laughing. That’s so difficult, but you can’t just laugh in front of the Ordo king, that’s disrespectful… I can’t imagine myself in that situation.

            “Strengths and weaknesses are part of being self-aware. When you know your strengths and weaknesses, you can create a development strategy that focuses on your specific development needs” he shortly answered yet he still seemed shy and then he sat down quietly after answering. Oh gosh… good thing, he managed to answer.

            “You two, behave… if you keep on laughing, I’ll separate you too. You can laugh all you want after class. Don’t embarrass the two highest Nation of Azhakkstadd in front of the others” the Ordo king said teaching them both their lesson then shifted his gaze towards all of us as if telling us that we will be proceeding with the lesson.

            “So just like yesterday, I can’t tell you who you really are. Right now, I still can’t tell you what your strengths are and what your weaknesses are either. So I am leaving that to you again for you to find out with yourselves all of those things” the Ordo King said telling us that we have to see it for ourselves.

            He’s right, he already did his part making us understand all of those important things. It’s now up to us how we do it ourselves. Besides, there’s no one to tell us who and what we are unless we say it ourselves.

            After saying those, he walked outside not looking at us. It seems like class is over. That was quick. This is not the usual class we went before. It’s not the same where the teacher has to tell us everything right from the very start. This is just like a review to refresh our minds and to remind us again in case we’re forgetting it.

            This time it’s not all about what the teacher teaches, in learning we also have to do our part to learn. That is to find it out ourselves. And I think that’s the reason why he’s leaving it all to us now.

            I, myself already tried finding it out before and that’s why I become a better version of myself now. Yet I still wanted to improve, I still wanted to be the best version of me. Learning never stops. I wanted to improve more, not just for me and my friends, but for the whole Azhakkstadd who always face such destruction and turmoil.

            I just quieted myself and sat still on my chair thinking about everything from the very beginning. No one seemed to move from all of us, I think I’m not the only one doing it. Good for all of us.