Chapter 176 40.1 - A test
The courtyard outside the academy echoed with the grumbles and yawns of students, all wearing various shades of disheveled uniforms. The early morning sun cast long shadows as they reluctantly assembled.
As the group grew, one by one, students arrived with tousled hair and bleary eyes. Some carried steaming cups of coffee, attempting to combat the persistent lethargy that clung to them. A particularly disgruntled student, Tessa, couldn't resist voicing her discontent.
"Why do we always need to gather this early?" she muttered, her voice laden with the weariness that still clung to her.
A nearby student, Aaron, yawned in agreement. "Right, I wish I knew that too."
A third voice, belonging to the ever-cynical Jake, chimed in, "Well, it is probably because they want to teach us how to be disciplined."
"Ho? We have a smart-ass here, huh?" mocked another student, Sarah, shooting Jake a teasing grin.
"What—"
"Bastard, do you think we don't know what? We just want to complain because we couldn't sleep enough," interrupted Mike, another student who shared the sentiment.
"Yeah. Of course, we know this is the right thing to do; it is just we hate it," added Lily, a normally cheerful student who seemed equally affected by the early hour.
The courtyard buzzed with grumbles and agreements, a collective sigh of discontent rising from the group.
Just as the disgruntled chorus reached its peak, a hushed silence fell over the courtyard as the students noticed a figure approaching.
Eleanor, the stern instructor known for her unwavering dedication to discipline, emerged from the shadows.
She walked with purpose, her gaze sweeping across the assembly of tired faces. The students straightened, attempting to shake off their morning grogginess and assume a semblance of alertness.
"Tch."
However, in the end, none of them could escape from the stern eyes of their insatiable professor.
"And these kids are supposed to be the saviors of the world," Eleanor grumbled as she took her position in front of them, her gaze continuing to assess everyone, one by one.
'But, there are still good ones in the batch.'
With the semester going forward and the cadets being tested every time, she now had enough data to assess most of the students.
Unsurprisingly, those from renowned families had already done well, and even then, some of them still surprised her.
Especially the blue-haired kid smiling in front of the rows.
Ethan Hartley.
He had already become the topic of the talk in the academy and in the Hunter Community, but as the professor who had been grading Ethan's notes from the start, she knew a lot better than everyone else how talented he was.
'That kid has that natural talent in him.'
When she was a student, she was also one of those 'natural' talents since she could feel a lot better than her peers all the time. Thus, she knew when she saw another monster.
According to her observations, Ethan's talent didn't lie in how good he was with mana or spear. It was his talent regarding combat.
Whenever he was against a strong enemy, even if he was overwhelmed, he had the possibility of winning.
'As if he was bound to overcome hardship.'
It was a weird feeling to see. The kid got stronger whenever he encountered someone strong. The more he fought, the stronger he got.
The more he fell into the pit, the stronger his desire to overcome it became, and that itself was a talent that was hard to come by.
'Adding this to his lineage…'
A monster that could never be stopped was about to be created, and she was witnessing it.
'I wonder if he is him?'
She asked herself once again. The possibility of the person she had been searching for all this time was Ethan.
-WRRR!
Just as she was lost in her thoughts, she suddenly felt a vibration on her watch and realized it was the time to speak now. With a calm yet authoritative demeanor, she stepped forward, redirecting the focus of the assembled trainees.
"Alright, everyone, gather around," Eleanor's voice carried through the training ground, commanding the attention of the young Hunters. The vast expanse of the practice area became a stage for honing skills, with eager eyes turning toward the instructor.
"As Hunters, it's crucial to understand that our strength goes beyond mere physical prowess. It requires a mastery of mana," Eleanor began, her gaze sweeping over the faces of the attentive trainees. "Mana is the life force that courses through every living thing. It's the wellspring of our power and the key to unlocking abilities that defy the natural order."
She stopped at that moment and looked at the cadets.
"These words are what you have been hearing all this time up to now." With that said, she waved her hand. "However, all those words are meaningless if you don't truly know how to control your mana like a true Awakened."
SWOOSH!
She extended her hand, weaving fingers through the air to conjure a small, luminescent wisp of mana. The ethereal light shimmered, captivating the trainees' attention.
"Most of you should be able to look what I had conjured with my hands...However, did you actually see it? This is the question that you need to ask yourselves."
Eleanor's eyes scanned the faces of the trainees, measuring their reactions and anticipation. The subtle glow of the mana wisp lingered, a tangible reminder of the intangible force they were dealing with.
"Seeing through mana is not just perceiving the physical manifestation of spells or conjurations. It's about understanding the essence, the energy that flows through all things," Eleanor continued, her voice carrying the weight of experience. "Mana is not merely a tool; it's a language that speaks of the interconnectedness of the world. To truly see through mana, you must go beyond the surface and delve into the currents that bind everything together."
She walked among the trainees, each step deliberate, and stopped before one young Hunter.
"What did you see?" Eleanor asked, her eyes probing. The cadet hesitated, and Eleanor nodded knowingly.
"Mana is not just a visual spectacle; it's a sensory experience. You must feel it, understand its rhythm, and let it guide your perception. The mana wisp I conjured is a fraction of the vast energy that surrounds us. To be a true Hunter, you must not only see it but feel it coursing through your very being."
With her words lingering in the air, Eleanor shifted the focus to the upcoming practical test.
"Now, to put your understanding to the test," she announced, her eyes sweeping over the assembled trainees.
"We will release a variety of Mana Formulas into the sky. Each of these formulas contains different types of psions and constructions. These Mana Formulas will then infiltrate the Academy's Forest, manifesting as flowers, leaves, or trees. Your task is to 'acquire' these disguised magic formulas within the forest and unravel their formulas. According to your findings, you will write a report with your teammates, explaining your understanding of the Mana Formulas and possible ways to adapt them to your life as an Awakened."
FOOSH! FOOSH! The students exchanged determined glances as they dispersed into the forest, a sense of competition lingering beneath the surface.
After all, from the start, all the students understood that there wasn't anything saying that no student needed to find the formula.
They needed to 'acquire' it.
Eleanor, observing from a distance, subtly implied the unspoken challenge – the possibility of deciphering and perhaps adopting the formulas discovered by fellow students.
"The formulas will be helpful for your understanding of your mana," Eleanor declared, her tone cryptic. "Your ability to unravel them and make them your own will be a testament to your growth as Hunters."
With those words, she had signaled her watch with her arm raised.
"Your groups are already formed, and now you will get a message saying your party."
DING!
Following her words, all the students felt their watches vibrating.
"Now, good luck to you all."
With those words, she had left, leaving all the students alone in front of the huge forest of the academy.
******
I knew from the start that this period that things would be different from now on, and the events would be put forward.
'But, to think the first event would not be a game event.'
In the game, there weren't any events where we would explore the forest and look for mana formulas.
'Well, I guess that would be boring.'
In any case, it was obvious that the game wouldn't be able to cover all the tests or practical lessons in the academy, so it wasn't a hassle.
'The thing is….'
"Hello."
I was matched with two people that I would have expected.
"..."
The glaring girl and the timid girl.
'Certainly an impressive line-up.'
It was quite understandable that I had ended up with Irina since she was a high-ranker, and I still ranked low. But, I couldn't quite understand Sylvie.
'I thought the academy would look after her.'
I was expecting things regarding Sylvie to change, but I wasn't expecting her to be on the same team as me.
'I also refuse to believe that they put this girl as the high-ranker that would protect Sylvie.'
There was no way the academy thought Irina was a good choice to protect Sylvie from anything that would come her way.
If they really thought about that….Then, I have nothing to say.
In any case, now here we were.
"Great. How did I end up with him?" Irina mumbled to herself, the annoyance evident in her voice. Even then, she made sure I could hear her.
She seemed particularly in a bad mood today, as she was different from the time when she was on the train.
Not that I cared much.
"It is not like I wanted to be in the same team as you either." I also didn't back off and retorted back. I had been training the whole night and forgot the time, and I was quite sleepless right now, so I was also not in a good mood.
"Oh? Really?"
"Really."
"Then, I guess I will go alone then."
"….Are you stupid?"
"Hah?"
"If you could go alone, why do you think they put us in a team? Did you forget what happened in the first dungeon?"
"…..I didn't."
"Then?"
"Tch…..I know…."
Just as I was bickering with Irina as usual, suddenly, I heard a sound coming from the side.
"S-Seriously, can we, um, focus on the a-a-assignment?"
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