144 The Old Man (2/2)
And to add to his shame, she bowed to him and was seeking guidance, 'who I was to guide you little monstrous girl.'
”You are pulling my leg__He he....right?” he scratched his beard with embarrassment.
”Is there some serious mistake__?” she was sure that the questions she gathered were because of her inefficiency in learning this Aptitude.
”Mum...I am feeling ashamed...!” he grinned.
”Did I lose__on your expectations__?” she felt dejected.
”En...I am not talking about expectations..!” he paused, ”Why would I expect big from small girl...!” he shook his head.
”That means I foiled your small expectations...?” she was trying to understand why the old man was at losing.
”You did not__little girl_!!” he patted her head.
”If I were your elder or grandfather__I would have been proud of you_do not worry I am still proud of you_ and I am older enough__!!” he winked laughing broadly.
Jen could not comprehend his ever-changing and winding expressions.
”You did it very well...can you show it to me, how you did it..?” he uttered grinning mildly.
She nodded and in next instant, she disappeared from naked eye vision, she moved around and then sped away and came back after a short pause.
She emerged perspiring.
She needed to practice further so that it could become part of her.
”Hahaha...you really did it well_!!” the old man was overjoyed.
He thought he would devote the last ten years of his life in tutoring this Aptitude some Rapscallion who he would seem agreeable.
He never thought that in less than a year he would be fired from his devoted job, he was thinking ways how he would spend his nine years, apparently bewildered.
Jen could see but could not understand it.
”May I know what made this senior nervy-got-edgy_!!” she asked hesitating.
If she learned the proper and old man was happy for her then why he behaved bewildering.
He scratched his head with embarrassment and said, ”Hehe__I was thinking to tutor this Aptitude for ten years to you_yet you learned so quickly_now what I am supposed to do with remaining nine years_!!” he grinned.
Jen.”•_•”
In ten years, her great grandfather was supposed to annunciate her next Defender of Celestial Sphere, if she is wasted ten years on a single Aptitude, then she was done for.
She looked on the bright sky, crying over her plight, the old man could see her dejected face, though she was standing right there she seemed distant and alone, the old man shook his head to see her silent complain.
He did not ask her but felt burdened.
Jen could not spend ten years on a mere single Aptitude.
The old man was standing like a broad giant, his beard fluttering with the air.
”Let's forget and visit Astral Manias_!!_ this time; rock there_!!” he winked at the sad silent girl.
The old man was whistling some melody, it was like shaking one from the heart and created soothing effects, Jen heard with pleasure, this void was filled with this melody.
Jen was contented though this old man was completely out of her chart and she never met such kind of person before he was with a transparent heart without any malicious concerns.
They walked along to the Astral Manias, Jen promised to herself that she would remember this old man even after she parted.
Melody stopped abruptly and she looked around, the old man was nowhere.
She entered in the Astral Manias alone.
She took the route which leads to the competition demesne.
Slowly demesne got lively with the disciples of Imperium Proficiency Schools, she was standing on a little distance.
There were few hundred disciples with their Intermediate and higher learning's of Contemplation and Aptitude, there were also who tamed Some Attribute too, they were simply more proud and confident than others.
Close to a hundred disciples would show up their proficiency in the Evanesce Aptitude because of a typical study.
Others would compete with different Aptitudes or Attributes.
Disciples were there with great valor and shouting to support their fellows.
It was a huge square, disciples standing around the round alter, cheering to their lungs.
The expected eminent winners were standing like a steel pole not ready to move like a human.
Jen was spot on, could see their confidence filled attitude.
~~~~
The old man saw a sharp brow middle-aged man while walking along Jen.
This elder was not on good terms with the old man, thinking this he immersed immediately, this elder was one prestigious elder of Imperium Proficiency School and the old man did not want to implicate Jen.
She was going to challenge in the competition, if this elder spotted her with the old man, her challenge would be rejected and her efforts would go waste.
Still, he entered in the Astral Manias after a while to see the little girl
in action.