Chapter 166 - Small talk on the train
"Miss, I am sorry for this."
There were times when life didn't go the way we wanted, no matter how powerful we were. This is the undeniable truth of this world.
Even the noble families who had established themselves years ago aren't excluded from this rule.
"Can you repair it?"
And now, the girl standing in front of the car was feeling this reality exactly from the first perspective.
The sleek, modern car sat forlornly on the side of the road, its engine emitting an occasional pathetic sputter.
Irina, with her fiery red hair and an air of aristocratic impatience, scowled at the unfortunate vehicle. Her expectations for the day had not included a breakdown on her way to the prestigious academy.
"Really, of all the days for this to happen," she muttered to herself, her frustration evident in the creased lines on her forehead. "First, the dimensional travel is disturbed, and now this."
If it was one disturbance, things wouldn't be so bad, but it was two.
Her chauffeur, Thomas, approached her with an apologetic expression. "Miss Irina, I deeply apologize for the inconvenience. It seems the car has decided to betray us today."
Irina shot him a glare, her piercing blue eyes ablaze. "Betrayal is a human emotion, Thomas. This is just an inconvenience. Now, can you fix it, or do I need to find someone who can?"
Thomas swallowed nervously. "I'll do my best, Miss."
While Thomas delved under the hood with an uncertain look on his face, Irina waited impatiently while creating a small fire from her hands to protect herself from the cold.
"Sigh…." Another hearty sigh followed. The last few days had been hard, as the pressure her mother had pushed on her was overwhelming.
'I really want to return to the academy.'
It had just been a week, but she was already missing the atmosphere in the academy. Hanging around with others, fighting and sparring….It was quite a fun experience, different from the dullness she had felt in her home.
While she was thinking about the academy, suddenly she remembered a certain guy.
'Right….There was that too….'
Since she was busy with her responsibilities, she forgot what was reported to her.
'Trevor Philips….'
The name wasn't something unfamiliar. After all, Irina had been attending the higher society of the Valerian Human Federation since the moment she passed a certain age.
From all the banquets, she knew the name Philips as they were one of the high-ranking families in the Human Domain, thanks to their overwhelming influence in the Hunter Association and the economy of Hunters.
Naturally, as Irina attended the meetings, she came to know the heirs of such families, and Trevor Philips was one of them.
'If I remember correctly, he wasn't an attention-seeking guy.'
Irina hadn't interacted with him a lot, but from what she knew, he wasn't someone who stood particularly as an individual with a bad personality.
There were countless heirs who acted all-mighty, but Trevor wasn't one of them.
'He usually looked shadowed.'
Shadowed by his siblings would be the right term as Irina analyzed the past.
He was a talented kid, as he was one of the early awakeners. However, his talent fell short compared to his siblings. That particularly stood out when he entered the Arcadia Hunter Academy last year.
While his siblings attained a higher rank, he couldn't project the same progress and, in the end, was rather ranked in the middle ranks.
How did she know this?
It was due to the studies her mother forced her to do. She was forced to memorize every bit of information about the students before entering the academy.
'In any case…I still don't understand why he did such a thing?'
It was unusual.
Even if he felt inferior to his siblings, why would he randomly order the bullying of the last-ranked junior who had nothing to do with him? If it was a high-ranking student that reminded him of his inferiority, she could understand a little.
But this was way too out of the ordinary.
'Do they share some sort of past? Did something happen between them that I don't know?'
Questions after questions came. The revelation of the person behind those rumors didn't bring any sort of satisfaction but brought more questions.
"Tch….This pisses me off."
In the end, she couldn't help but swear to herself.
"I hate it when I can't reach an answer."
Whenever things were related to that guy, they would always end up with more questions.
"I will ask him when I see him in the academy."
-WRRR!
Irina, lost in her contemplation about Trevor Philips and the bullying incident, was abruptly pulled back to reality by the sound of her car's engine. The chauffeur, looking defeated, shook his head.
"Miss Irina, I'm afraid the issue is beyond my capabilities. I've tried my best, but the car is beyond immediate repair," he explained, a hint of frustration in his voice.
Irina's irritation flared up again. "You can't be serious. What did you say to my mother?"
The chauffeur hesitated before replying, "I contacted the Madam and explained the situation. However, her response was unexpected. She said you should find your own way out of this predicament."
Irina's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? Find my own way? Is she joking?"
The chauffeur sighed, realizing the predicament. "I'm afraid not, Miss. The Madam seemed quite adamant. It seems she's occupied with matters of greater importance."
Irina clenched her fists, frustration boiling within her. "This is absurd! I can't believe she'd leave me stranded like this."
The chauffeur nodded sympathetically. "I share your sentiments, Miss. I'll continue to try and fix the car, but for now, we might need to explore alternative options."
Irina, fuming with anger, stepped out of the car and glanced around. The unfamiliar surroundings heightened her sense of helplessness.
"Ugh, this is infuriating," she muttered to herself. "I can't believe I have to deal with this nonsense….." She was about to complain a lot more, but she calmed herself down.
"It was expected from her anyway."
She knew her mother and knew what kind of person she was.
'She probably arranged this knowingly.'
As she cooled, she understood that there was no way the car of the Emberheart family, which cost millions of Valer, would break like this randomly. That meant the entire thing was rigged, and possibly the driver was involved, too.
"I shouldn't get angry."
If it was before, she would get angry and fume, but right now, strangely, she was calm. Even though she didn't know it, due to the influence of her friends and someone else, she was becoming different.
Irina, deciding to take matters into her own hands, opened her smartwatch. The holographic display illuminated, and she navigated to the map application. As she zoomed in, she studied the unfamiliar surroundings, trying to pinpoint her location.
"Let's see what options we have," she muttered, her frustration transforming into determination.
Her eyes scanned the holographic map, and she noticed a small town and a railway mark not far from her current location. A glimmer of light flickered in her eyes. "A train station," she murmured.
'Heh….'
At that exact second, a plan came into her mind, and the corners of her mouth curled up.
"Hey, driver," Irina called out to the chauffeur, her tone oddly composed.
The chauffeur turned towards her, expecting another complaint or inquiry. Instead, he was met with a smirk playing on Irina's lips. Her eyes glinted with a mischievous light that took him aback.
"You know, I was just thinking," Irina began, her voice holding a hint of mockery. "It's quite a coincidence that the Emberheart family's esteemed car breaks down like this, isn't it? I mean, what are the odds?"
The chauffeur stammered, his expression shifting from confusion to discomfort. "I assure you, Miss, it's just a mechanical failure. These things happen."
Irina chuckled, her eyes narrowing. "Oh, I'm sure they do. But you see, I'm not as naïve as I might appear. I have a feeling this wasn't just a random mishap. Someone might have arranged for this little inconvenience, don't you think?"
The chauffeur avoided her gaze, fumbling for words. "Of course, not miss. There is no way such a thing would happen." But in the end, he didn't give in.
"Right….I guess I am mistaken. You see, the cold is getting on my nerves." Irina continued, her smirk widening with each second.
"Ehm…." The chauffeur coughed slightly as the response.
"So, you wouldn't mind if I heat things a little, right?"
Irina, however, was already a step ahead. She didn't wait for his response. Instead, she activated her fire magic, a skill she had honed during her lifetime.
BOOM!
In a burst of flames, Irina propelled herself into the air.
"Y-young miss…."
The chauffeur watched in astonishment as his young mistress defied gravity, flames trailing behind her like a phoenix taking flight.
"Good luck dealing with them."
Those words were her last words as Irina controlled the combustion with precise bursts, steering herself toward the small town she had spotted on the holographic map, while the sound she made attracted the monsters all around.
BOOM! BOOM!
The wind rushed past her, and the world blurred as she soared through the sky. The townsfolk below would witness an unexpected spectacle – the heiress of the Emberheart family flying over their town with flames dancing around her.
As she descended towards the outskirts of the town, Irina's flames extinguished. She landed gracefully; her arrival met with a mix of awe and confusion from the onlookers.
"Wow…."
"Is she an awakened?"
"How beautiful?"
Brushing off her clothes, Irina couldn't help but feel a sense of liberation. "Well, that's one way to handle things," she mused, a triumphant smile playing on her lips. She finally felt like she won against her mother in a long time.
Entering the station, Irina approached the ticket counter with a confident stride. The attendant, still recovering from the shock of witnessing her arrival, greeted her with a mix of curiosity and admiration.
"Good evening, my lady. How may I assist you?" the attendant inquired, adjusting their uniform.
Irina, with a composed demeanor, replied, "I need a ticket for the next train to the Capital, Arcadia. When is it departing?"
The attendant consulted the schedule.
-HORN!
And just as they were about to answer, the distant sound of an approaching train echoed through the station.
"I believe the next train to Arcadia is arriving shortly," the attendant said, a hint of urgency in their voice. "You might want to hurry; this is the last one for the day."
Irina's eyes widened slightly at the revelation, and without wasting a moment, she hurriedly purchased a ticket.
"Have a pleasant trip," the attendant wished, handing over the ticket with a polite nod.
With a ticket in hand, Irina dashed towards the platform, guided by the ever-growing sound of the approaching train. The station's announcements echoed in the air, a cacophony of instructions and reminders.
"Train to Arcadia arriving on Platform 3. All aboard, please!"
The urgency in the announcements matched the pounding of Irina's heart as she reached the platform just in time to witness the train pulling in. The doors began to close, and the attendant at the entrance signaled her to hurry.
Irina sprinted the last few meters, the horns of the train blaring as if urging her to make it in time.
With a burst of speed, she reached the closing doors and slid into the train just as they sealed shut behind her. The announcement chime played, signaling the train's imminent departure.
"Thank you for choosing Valerian Railways. We hope you have a comfortable journey to Arcadia."
As Irina caught her breath and settled into her seat, the conductor of the train, dressed in a neat uniform, made his way down the aisle. The hum of the train and the rhythmic clatter of the tracks provided a backdrop to the subdued murmur of conversations among the passengers.
"Ticket, please," the conductor said, extending his hand toward Irina.
Irina, initially proud of her independence, handed her ticket to the conductor, who inspected it with a practiced eye. As he reached her assigned seat, he paused, then addressed her with a polite tone.
"Excuse me, Lady Irina," the conductor said, leaning over the back of the seat. "It seems there might be a mistake. Your assigned seat is in compartment C, seat 12. Could you please move to your designated spot?"
Irina furrowed her brows in confusion, genuinely clueless about the concept of assigned seats on the train. "Why does it matter where I sit? I thought we could choose any seat."
The conductor, maintaining his composure, explained, "Train tickets usually have designated seats to ensure a smooth and organized boarding process. It helps us manage passenger flow and maintain order on the train. If you could please move to your assigned seat, Lady Irina."
Irina felt a sudden flush of embarrassment as the passengers around her exchanged knowing glances. She nodded, realizing her mistake. "Of course, I apologize for the confusion. I'll move right away."
As she was about to relocate to her assigned seat in compartment C, seat 12, Irina suddenly saw someone she didn't expect to see.
"Huh?"
The same person she was just thinking about was sitting on the seat right before her with his eyes locked into hers.
"You…."
Chapter 167 - Small talk on the train (2)
As Irina was about to relocate to her assigned seat in compartment C, seat 12, she was taken aback by an unexpected sight.
A familiar face, one she didn't expect to see on this train, was sitting in the seat right before her. The young boy with purple eyes and black hair, Astron.
"Huh?" Irina uttered in surprise, her eyes locking onto his.
Astron, maintaining his usual serious demeanor, slowly lifted his gaze to meet Irina's. The exchange of glances created a momentary pause, and the passengers nearby observed the unexpected encounter.
After all, Irina's presence immediately gathered attention from the surroundings the moment she entered the train. Her clothes and her demeanor alone suggested that she was someone with a high standing, and her beauty was enough to attract everyone.
"You…" Irina started, caught off guard by Astron's presence.
Astron looked at the girl standing right before him as he mumbled. "I should have expected it."
Irina, her annoyance growing, glared at Astron. "Expected what?"
Astron, unfazed by her glare, calmly responded, "I heard explosions even from inside the train. I should have known it was you."
Irina's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? How did you...?"
Astron pointed towards the direction they were heading. "Look outside. The signs of combustion are quite evident. And, there aren't many people in this world that use transportation methods like you. You left quite an impression even before getting on the train."
Irina, realizing that her attempt to escape her mother's schemes hadn't gone unnoticed, felt a mix of frustration and embarrassment.
Especially since the one realizing was this annoying guy.
"Sigh…."
She sighed and decided to take a seat, gesturing towards the empty spot across from her. But as she sat down, suddenly she realized something.
'What is he doing here?'
That guy, what he was doing here? Her curiosity grew as she looked at him. His clothes were casual, and he looked the same as usual, but there was something different about him that she could sense.
'Something has changed?'
Her curiosity grew. This annoying guy had been occupying a part of her mind recently, and most of the things about him were questions that weren't answered.
"Since you're here, you might as well tell me what you're doing on this train."
Astron, without a change in expression, took the offered seat. "I have my reasons. Business, you could say."
Irina raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "Business? On a train to Arcadia? What kind of business?"
Astron simply replied, "The kind that doesn't concern you."
"….."
Irina rolled her eyes, already regretting the fact that Astron had become an unexpected companion on her journey.
'Annoying bastard.'
His aloof demeanor and the way he spoke was getting on her nerves.
"I don't care anyway."
"You don't care? Then why did you ask?"
"...No reason."
"No reason?"
"Yep."
"And you want me to believe that."
"Believe what you want."
"I always believe what I want; you don't need to say it out."
"You.....Tch."
Whenever she argued with this guy, things always ended like this. He acted proud and retorted back whenever they talked.
It was like….
'He always needs to be the one that says the last line.'
She realized from their past talks that whenever it ended, she would end up feeling like she had lost.
'I can't stand it.'
"You know, your attitude really grates on my nerves," Irina remarked, shooting Astron an annoyed look.
"Likewise," Astron responded calmly, his eyes fixed on the passing scenery outside the train.
Irina huffed, crossing her arms. "Why are you even here? It's not like we're friends or anything."
Astron shrugged. "What do you mean? You are the one that came here after me."
"I didn't come here knowing you were sitting here. If I knew, rather than sitting on the same wagon as you, I would sit on the roof of the train."
"You would freeze on there?"
"Better than sitting with you."
"Then why are you not doing it?"
Irina rolled her eyes. "Because, annoyingly enough, I still want to get to Arcadia in one piece."
Astron turned his attention to Irina from the window. His expression didn't change, but Irina could swear that she had seen a small sneer in his eyes.
'How beaut-'
For a second, she almost got enchanted by them.
"You don't have to admit that you want my company."
Almost... as once again, the annoyance grew.
"Don't get ahead of yourself. It's more about not freezing to death than enjoying your company."
"Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that." Astron's tone remained calm, and Irina couldn't help but wonder if he was secretly enjoying their banter.
'He seems to be in a good mood.'
At first, she wasn't sure, but as she talked with him more, she realized his words were a little different than normal.
Normally, he would speak harshly while shutting down others, but this time, it felt like he was contributing to the talk quite differently.
'Should I ask?'
There were things that she wanted to ask—the questions in her mind.
'If not, then what else?'
The information she had was limited, and she didn't want to wait for another investigation as well. Since she got the change, why not use it?
"By the way, Astron," Irina began cautiously, "do you happen to know someone named Trevor Philips?"
Astron raised an eyebrow at the unexpected question, but his reaction wasn't something that much different. "Trevor Philips? Yeah, I've heard the name. Why do you ask?"
'He doesn't know him directly?'
Irina had dealt with countless people while reading their reactions, and she could at least say Astron didn't have anything in common with Trevor Philips.
Irina hesitated for a moment, choosing her words carefully. "It is nothing." But in the end, she didn't say much.
However, that reaction didn't go unnoticed by Astron's eyes. He leaned back in his seat, studying Irina with a discerning gaze. "Nothing, huh? You wouldn't bring it up for no reason. Spit it out. What's going on with Trevor Philips?"
Irina sighed inwardly, acknowledging that she might have unintentionally sparked Astron's interest. However, she was determined not to provide him with a straightforward answer, still holding onto the lingering annoyance from their earlier banter.
"I won't tell you," Irina asserted, meeting Astron's gaze with a defiant tilt of her head.
Astron, unfazed by her response, raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"So, even you can get surprised?" Irina teased a hint of mischief in her eyes.
"Everyone would get surprised if they talk to you," Astron deadpanned.
"Yeah, yeah," Irina replied dismissively, waving off his comment. "You really won't tell me?" Astron inquired once more.
"I won't," Irina affirmed, crossing her arms and maintaining a stubborn stance.
"Okay then," Astron conceded, leaning back in his seat as if he didn't even care. Just like that, the two fell silent as the train continued to move forward.
However, Irina's thoughts didn't leave her mind, as she couldn't help but question what Trevor Philip's goal was.
There was this feeling that she was getting from Astron, and she was still curious about it. However, she couldn't help but bury those feelings since she knew if she asked what happened, the answer she would get would annoy her more.
-WROOM!
As the train moved forward, the cozy atmosphere of the winter and the silence lingering in the environment slowly brought tiredness that had accumulated over the past week.
In the time she was supposed to be resting in her home, she had been running from one place to another, meeting her mother's demands as the family's heir.
Her eyes, heavy with exhaustion, blinked slower and slower until they eventually closed. The hum of the train's engine became a distant lullaby, and the passing landscapes outside the window formed a blurry backdrop to her drifting consciousness.
Irina succumbed to the weariness, her head gently resting against the cushioned seat, and her breathing gradually steadying into the rhythmic pattern of slumber. The train continued its journey, carrying its passengers, including the fiery noble heiress, into the embrace of dreams and respite from the demanding reality they left behind.
******
"She really fell asleep here."
Looking at the red-haired girl in front of me, I couldn't help but get surprised.
'Irina and using trains….This is surely a non-matching couple.'
I really didn't expect our mighty Irina-sama to use a common train. She was a noble and belonged to one of the highest-ranking families. Thus, one naturally would expect her to travel with a dimensional gate.
Even though they were expensive, her family could easily afford it different from me.
'But, why did she talk about Trevor Philips?'
As I watched her sleep soundly, I couldn't help but remember what she talked about.
Trevor Philips.
I knew him. He was a named character in the game….A bastard villain who made deals with demons and became one of the insiders in the academy and the human domain.
Philips Family was a high-ranking family. The head was the Vice-president of the Hunter Association, and he was also the 10th in the overall Hunter ranking, belonging to the council.
'She didn't mention it directly, but she shouldn't have any relations with him.'
Checking the things from the game, I knew Irina didn't have a relationship with Philips; neither was she interested.
'Then why did she ask?'
However, it was unnaturally for Irina to ask me about someone, considering most of the time, whenever we talked, we would bicker randomly.
'She looked serious.'
The way she spoke and her small mimics when she talked were all pointed in one direction.
'It is about me.'
I knew from our time in the dungeon, and when I observed her, that she had a small habit of pressing her thumb on her middle finger whenever she hid something.
And adding the way she looked at me while saying she wouldn't tell me as if I was in a loss meant it was about me.
'But what is it?'
I pondered. What did Trevor Philips have to do with me?
He was a senior in the academy and a villain, but there was no particular reason for him to be related to me.
If Irina knew he was a villain, then she wouldn't talk to me about it.
'Maybe she would, but it wouldn't be here at least.'
And since he was a senior, it also didn't make sense that he was interested in me.
'Wait.'
Just at that moment, as I continued to think about the possible reasons, a thought occurred in my head.
'If it was him….
One possible reason that he would be related to me.
'It even seemed to be spread in the senior classes and between seniors…..'
Slowly, everything started to make sense as my thoughts continued to wander.
'If it was him, then he would have the power to do such a thing.'
However, in the end, everything was my speculation, and I didn't have any proof.
'Why?'
His reasons were also unknown.
'Let's see if I was right.'
Looking at the girl sleeping soundly, I decided to ask her when she woke up.
Chapter 168 - Small talk in the train (3)
"Irina. It is fine, don't worry."
A small landscape and a familiar scene.
Sunlight entering the confines of the room….
"B-but….I-it is broken…."
A shaky voice of a young child.
The boy kneeling beside the broken vase, his hands gentle yet skilled. With a meticulous touch, he began the process of piecing the fragments back together.
"Don't worry, I will fix it," he reassured her, his voice a soothing balm to the young Irina's distress.
With a serene focus, the young child skillfully manipulated his mana, creating a phenomenon that was out of the norm.
Irina's eyes widened in awe as she witnessed the magical threads weaving through the air. The fragments of the broken vase levitated, drawn together by an unseen force.
It was a delicate symphony of mana, a manifestation of the boy's innate talent.
Just as the enchanting display reached its peak, the room's atmosphere shifted. The warm sunlight streaming through the windows seemed to waver as a woman entered, her gaze cold and piercing. Fiery red hair framed her stern face, and her eyes, a cold shade of yellow, locked onto the boy and the magically restored vase.
"What happened here?" the woman inquired, her tone cutting through the residual magic in the air.
The boy hesitated for a moment, his eyes flickering nervously. "It's nothing, Madam Emberheart. We were just playing."
However, the woman's sharp perception didn't miss the lingering traces of magic that had just unfolded in the room. Her cold gaze intensified as she scrutinized the scene. "Just playing, you say?" Her voice held an undertone of suspicion.
She approached the restored vase with measured steps, her eyes narrowing as she scrutinized the magical reconstruction. Without uttering a word, she extended her hand toward the vase.
With a wave of her hand, the atmosphere in the room seemed to shift. A strange force enveloped the restored vase, and, to Young Irina's astonishment, the intricate magic that had pieced it together began to unravel.
The vase returned to its shattered state, fragments scattered once more across the room.
Fear immediately enveloped her heart as she lowered her gaze. Even as a younger child, she knew what it meant to lie to her mother.
Madam Emberheart's eyes bore into the shattered vase, her silence amplifying the tension in the room. The air grew heavy with an unspoken weight as she finally broke the silence, her voice cold and measured.
"What is the meaning of this?" she demanded, her gaze shifting from the vase to the young boy.
The young boy, seemingly aware of the gravity of the situation, met Madam Emberheart's gaze without flinching. "I'm sorry, Madam. It was my fault. We were playing, and I accidentally knocked the vase over."
Madam Emberheart's gaze remained unwavering as she heard the confession. "Is that so?" she replied, her tone betraying no emotion.
"Yes," came the simple affirmation.
"Good. Bring me your hand," Madam Emberheart commanded with an air of authority.
Without hesitation, the person extended their hand toward her.
WOOSH!
Madam Emberheart's palm glowed with an ominous flame, and with a swift motion, she placed her fiery hand on theirs, leaving a searing mark on their palm.
"Argh-!"
A subdued groan of pain escaped the unnamed person's lips as he bit them hard. Slight tears enveloped the corners of his eyes as he tried to bear the pain he felt.
Madam Emberheart then turned her attention to young Irina, her expression unyielding. "This is what happens when one doesn't obey."
- - - -
At that second, a jolt shook through Irina's body, and her eyes snapped open.
"Haaah…"
She found herself back in the present, the gentle rocking of the train replacing the vivid yet haunting dream.
"Haaaah…"
Her breaths gradually steadied as she scanned her surroundings, the remnants of the dream still lingering in her mind.
'It is the same dream again.'
When she looked up, she noticed Astron's eyes fixed on her, his usual impassive expression not giving away any indication of what he might have observed.
"Did you have a nightmare or something?" Astron asked, his tone neutral yet with a faint hint of curiosity.
'Was it about him?'
As a player who played the game, of course, he knew about the things related to him since he was the most important factor in Irina's route.
"No, just a weird dream," Irina replied, avoiding eye contact as she tried to shake off the residual unease from the dream. "It's nothing to worry about."
Astron continued to regard her with an unreadable expression. "Dreams can reveal more than we think. They're a reflection of our subconscious thoughts."
Irina sighed, still feeling the echoes of the unsettling dream. "Well, it was just a memory. Nothing important."
"Memories…." At the mention of that word, his eyes turned slightly different, something that she couldn't quite point out. "I guess they shape who we are?"
Irina shot him a skeptical look. "You sound like one of those philosophers."
Astron shrugged. "Maybe I am. I just like to think a lot. If that makes me a philosopher, why should I complain?"
"I didn't say it, so you can complain."
"It surely sounded like you wanted, though."
Astron leaned back in his seat, his gaze shifting from the passing scenery outside to Irina. "You know, memories have a way of resurfacing when you least expect them. They're like fragments of our past, constantly influencing our present."
Irina raised an eyebrow. "And what makes you an expert on memories?"
Astron's expression remained neutral, yet Irina detected a subtle shift. "I observe. It's a habit of mine. People reveal more about themselves than they realize."
Irina felt a twinge of annoyance. "You observe, huh? What do you see in me?"
Astron's gaze locked onto hers. "Do you really want to hear the truth?"
Irina hesitated but eventually nodded. "I guess."
Astron's voice remained calm. "You are a spirited, strong-willed, and sometimes obnoxious woman. But beneath that exterior, there's a vulnerability you try to conceal. You think that by being loud and showing strength, you can escape from the things you wish to avoid."
Irina's irritation deepened as her eyes widened while she gritted her teeth.
'This guy thinks he knows me? First, it is that dream, and now this guy!'
Once again, she was pissed off, and this time she wasn't going to hold back as if a volcano was about to erupt.
"Oh really, Mr. Observer? Let's talk about you then. You act all cold and edgy, because you don't have a family, do you? You lost them, and now you're this lone wolf with a chip on his shoulder, observing everyone like you're some wise sage."
Astron's expression remained impassive. At least it tried to, but one could see his clenched hands and widened gaze as if he wasn't expecting such words to come out of her mouth like that.
A subtle tension lingered in the air. Irina's words had touched a nerve, and she continued, pressing her point without noticing the change in his expression.
"Isn't that why you're always so serious and distant? Are you trying to detach yourself from any connection so you won't have to feel the pain of loss again? Observing others is just a way to keep people at arm's length, huh, you punk?"
She continued to pour the words she held in for too long, not noticing those words were not even targeted at him.
"….."
The words hung in the air, and for a moment, a profound silence enveloped them.
Irina finally stopped, her gaze meeting Astron's face. It was then that she noticed the change in his expression, the vulnerability that had surfaced.
"Wait, I didn't mean—"
She was about to continue her words but stopped as she saw Astron raising his hand.
His eyes, usually distant and composed, now revealed a rawness that Irina hadn't anticipated. The weight of her words settled in the air, and she found herself at a loss for what to say.
After a moment, Astron spoke, his voice calm but carrying an undercurrent of emotions she hadn't seen before, as if he was reminiscing about his past actions.
"You're right, in a way. Loss does change people. But it doesn't give me the right to act as if I know others better than they know themselves."
Irina swallowed hard, the weight of her unintentional accusation sinking in. She wanted to take back her words, to rewind the conversation, but the momentary vulnerability in Astron's eyes held her in place.
"Apologies," Astron said, his tone slightly more distant than before as if it had returned to its normal coldness. "I shouldn't have intruded."
The abrupt return to his usual composure only accentuated the awkwardness in the air. Irina cleared her throat, attempting to find the right words to mend the unexpected breach in their conversation.
But she couldn't say anything.
Should she apologize for her words, which might have been a little hurtful?
As she saw his usual coldness returning, she understood that there was no need for any apologies, as he seemed like he wasn't expecting any.
'Did he lose someone?'
She asked herself.
'What did he experience in the past?'
She looked at him, looking out of the window with a distant gaze and thought.
As Astron gazed out of the window with a distant expression, the rhythmic clattering of the train on the tracks providing a backdrop to their silent contemplation, he broke the silence with a question that cut through the air.
"Was Trevor Philips the one that spread those rumors in the academy?"
Irina's eyes widened slightly, caught off guard by the unexpected shift in the conversation. She didn't anticipate Astron connecting the dots back to Trevor Philips in such a short amount of time.
She hesitated for a moment before responding, "Yes, it was Trevor. I had my men investigate, and they confirmed he was behind those rumors in the academy."
Astron's eyes, still fixed on the passing landscape, narrowed slightly. The revelation seemed to have stirred something within him, though his expression remained composed.
"Why did you do it?" He asked. "I didn't ask for such a thing from you."
Irina took a deep breath before responding, "I don't like being indebted to others. The money I paid you didn't feel like enough for what you did for me. So, I decided to help you in return. It's a matter of principle for me."
Astron's eyes flickered for a moment before he returned his gaze to the passing scenery. "I guess we don't have any debts, then?"
"Yeah," Irina nodded, a subtle sense of understanding passing between them.
"Good."
Just like that, the train continued to move forward under the dark sky.
Chapter 169 - Second Period
[Astron Natusalune, Cadet Rank 2450, approved.]
WOOSH!
As the door opened after my identity was confirmed, I slowly stepped into the training rooms inside the academy.
"Sigh…."
I needed to remove those thoughts from my head while also testing my new weapon, and that was the reason why I was here.
"You act all cold and edgy because you don't have a family, do you?"
The talk we had on the train was different from the past ones. I didn't know when it began, but strangely, I was comfortable when it came to talking with Irina, even though it was mostly bickering.
"You lost them, and now you're this lone wolf with a chip on his shoulder, observing everyone like you're some wise sage."
And the words that spilled from her mouth stung for some reason.
'She was right, though.'
Observing is a habit of mine. Watching other people, learning their weaknesses, and storing them in my head for future use.
This wasn't something bad; at least, I don't think it is. However, looking at the past and what I did, it is quite easy to say that I didn't behave well and acted like I knew everything.
I also acted edgy and cold towards other people, and I was rude.
'Some of them deserved it, but then some of them didn't.'
This was especially the case with Sylvie.
'Now that I felt how those words feel like, I guess I was being an asshole.'
Whether she needed to get stronger or confront her past…There were better ways to do that, but rather than doing those, I spoke what I had in mind without thinking how it would make the other party feel.
"Well….I can't change the past, and it is not like what I did was wrong."
Of course, being an asshole and speaking harshly doesn't necessarily mean it is something bad.
The other party may feel angry, but feelings are temporary, and nobody cares about how you feel. If it gets you to the results you want, then feeling bad is not important.
I could approach the topic a lot more gently, but it would take a lot more time and effort, which I didn't have. I couldn't invest such a large amount of time into that and went with the most optimal decision from my point of view.
"At least I won't hold this moral superiority from now on."
In the future, I might change the way I speak or the way I act, or I might not change it. At the very least, I am acknowledging what I did wrong, and this is the first step to improving.
"Anyway, enough with the useless thoughts."
Mumbling like that, I readied myself. Right now, what was important was to familiarize myself with my weapon and understand its capabilities.
Reaching out to the empty shooting range, I readied myself.
'I guess the cadets are all resting.'
This was a common occurrence. Since the mid-terms had just ended and the cadets came from their break, nobody was here training, and I was here all alone.
[Which stage you wish to set?]
"Stage 3."
[Understood.]
The stages for shooting range were not much different from combat training rooms. It was just that the targets wouldn't attack you, and you could solely focus on your skills.
[3.]
I instinctively knew how to use the weapon in my head. Just like how it felt to draw different colors of my mana, the process was similar.
[2.]
'I should thank Senior Maya when I have a chance.'
It was largely because of her that I was able to learn how to control my mana precisely.
[1.]
'Let's start.'
As I drew my green mana and supplied it to my weapon, the rifle manifested in my hand, an ethereal creation with intricate designs glowing softly. Just as I had seen in my head, the design was the same.
It didn't seem like a normal modern rifle that shot bullets but rather a fantasy weapon with a futuristic design.
[The training starts.]
With the voice of the training room voice assistant, the dummy targets appeared on the shooting range one by one.
WR!
A low hum resonated as I channeled mana through the rifle. Orbs of condensed energy danced on its surface.
'Deep breath.'
Relaxing myself, I focused on the feeling of the weapon. The mana I had channeled was like an extension of my energy, and now I was feeling how it felt to condense it on the tip.
'Aim.'
The energized bullets formed a vortex at the rifle's muzzle as my eyes observed the movements of the dummies.
'Certainly, the increase in my stats is evident.'
I was able to feel the movements of the targets a lot better than before, thanks to the increase in my intuition parameter.
SWOOSH!
Countdown reaching '1', I squeezed the trigger.
Energy erupted, bullets speeding toward holographic targets.
PAT! PAT! PAT!
Each shot found its mark, the targets shattering one by one.
'The power is a lot more than before.'
This change in the power output was something that was incomparable to the previous times.
'I knew the Moonstone would help.'
Just as I had expected and speculated before, my power output was limited because of the medium I had been using. And, now that it was Moonstone, the power of the moon was flowing a lot more swiftly than before.
'I need to experiment with the power a lot more, but I don't think it will fall short against the rank-4 or maybe rank-5 awakened.'
It was very hard to measure the limits of my new power in this short amount of time, but I was not in a hurry in any case.'
SWOOSH! TAP!
But, aside from the power output, there was one other important thing.
'The characteristic of the green-colored mana is still preserved.'
Just like before, whenever the condensed energy of green-mana hit the enemy, it left a trail. A small thread that connected me to the target that was shot revealed the target's location and guided a possible trajectory.
'This will come in handy.'
As the last target vanished, I lowered the rifle, a mix of satisfaction and concentration on my face. The hum faded, and the weapon returned to its dormant state.
"Sufficient," I muttered, recognizing the successful integration of the rifle's capabilities. The exploration didn't meet its end, but there were many things I needed to check more.
"Change the formation."
I called the voice assistant.
[Which form do you wish to set?]
"Unmoving."
[Understood.]
The shooting range shifted, adapting to my new command. This time, the targets weren't going to stand still.
I drew out the green mana within the weapon, this time channeling blue-colored mana to initiate the transformation. The ethereal rifle morphed seamlessly into a dazzling longbow, bathed in a vibrant, fiery blue hue as if ignited by celestial flames.
'It is pretty shiny.'
It was probably because of the intrinsic characteristics of the blue mana.
The radiant weapon felt weightless yet potent in my hands. I marveled at its new form, the azure glow casting an ethereal light across the training room.
[3.]
A familiar countdown resonated through the room.
[2.]
'Senior Maya's training will pay off with this too.'
[1.]
The azure longbow pulsed with energy, ready to unleash its devastating power.
'Let's see what you can do.'
I notched an arrow infused with violent blue moon energy, the room darkening with anticipation.
SWOOSH!
The arrow released, soaring through the air with unparalleled speed.
BOOM
As it hit the first dummy, a resounding explosion echoed, the force of the impact reverberating through the room.
'Incredible power.'
Each subsequent shot created a symphony of explosions, the room filled with the sound of destruction. The azure arrows left trails of sizzling energy in their wake, painting a mesmerizing spectacle against the holographic targets.
'This is a game-changer.'
The high firepower of the longbow was unparalleled. The room transformed into a battlefield of simulated chaos, arrows striking with precision and leaving nothing but remnants of the holographic dummies.
'I've never felt this level of power before. I think this power output can rival the ones of the first 100 students.'
The power was this high.
'However, again. It is very hard to control.'
The energy was very hard to direct for a ranged attack. The power output might go head-to-head with a high-ranking student's power, but the lack of consistency was its disadvantage.
'I will need to spend a lot of time mastering it.'
What I had the advantage of wasn't head-on confrontation but stealth. This was the basics of a ranger, and I needed to master this form to the extent that I should be able to use it consistently.
'Then, again, it is still better compared to before.'
There wasn't much time I needed to spend to channel energy, and I also didn't need to use strong and expensive arrows as a medium. I was just compressing the raw energy in the form of arrows and firing it, and this was what made it hard to control.
But it also meant the more I improved my control and mastered the weapon, the more freedom I would have.
'The skill ceiling got higher.'
That was the end of the test for the first two forms. Aside from these two, the others were mostly related to close combat; thus, I would need to go to another location to test my strength.
Finishing the training with the longbow, I left the shooting range and entered the general training grounds, where I would normally be training for my close combat fights.
Of course, on the way, I also removed the weapon by drawing out all the mana I had supplied. The weapon's dormant state was basically invisible and it was In my chest.
'This place is not that empty.'
Different from the shooting range, there were some people who were still training on the general training grounds.
CLANK!
Sounds of metal clashing came to my ear from time to time. Paying no attention to those sounds, I made my way to the individual training rooms and entered one of them.
There, I drew upon the red color within me to initiate the transformation once again. The weapon instantly took its form.
Dual daggers of crimson color appeared in my hands, both of them shining.
'The feeling is familiar.'
They didn't look fancy and looked simple but lethal.
"Set the training stage to stage five."
[Understood.]
The room responded, plunging into darkness before gradually illuminating.
TOK! TOK!
The familiar Iron Golems materialized, their imposing figures standing tall in the dimly lit training room.
'Time to put these crimson daggers to the test.'
With swift movements, I engaged the Iron Golems.
CLANK! CLANK!
The clash of metal on metal echoed through the room as I danced around the formidable adversaries.
The crimson daggers moved with an almost innate precision, finding openings in the Golems' defenses while also leaving cut marks on them.
'Certainly, before I wasn't able to leave even a mark on them.'
Stage five meant the golems would have the defense of rank-5 monsters, and before, I was helpless against those.
'Now, my attacks can leave a mark.'
However, these dagger's strength didn't simply lie in the close quarters.
'After my attacks, a wave of energy slashes through the trajectory.'
The daggers demonstrated a unique capability, releasing a residual wave of energy after each strike. It was a technique common among close combat damage dealers, known by different names such as aura or compressed intent.
'In the end, what matters is the impact beyond the physical strike.'
This added range to my attacks, creating a dual threat in both close and mid-range combat. The versatility of the crimson daggers had surpassed my initial expectations, making them a formidable weapon in various scenarios.
'And, now, with the last one.'
Feeling the need for further exploration, I drew upon the gray color within me to initiate the transformation once again.
The crimson daggers dissipated, replaced by two silent but deadly gray chakrams. Connected to me by green-colored threads, they floated in the air, ready for action.
'Chakrams, a less familiar territory.'
The chakrams held an air of mystery, and I hesitated before sending them whirling through the air. I was slightly familiar with what kind of weapon they were, at least theoretically, but I didn't have any practical experience.
Therefore, their movements were less controlled compared to the daggers, showing my initial lack of proficiency with this form.
SWOOSH!
'This will take some getting used to.'
I threw the chakrams towards the Iron Golems, the silent energy they emitted leaving a trail in the air.
CLANK! CLANK!
The speed was insanely fast. The weapons clashed with the Iron Golems, but they didn't leave a scratch.
However, things were hard at the start, as I didn't know how to get them back.
Retrieving them proved challenging at first, but with practice, I began to understand the nuances of calling them back.
'Gray thread, a connection.'
The gray-colored threads connected the chakrams to me, allowing for a seamless recall.
It was a dance of precision and control, and the room echoed with the sounds of the silent but deadly chakrams.
'Different, but potential.'
While less familiar, the chakrams hinted at untapped potential. It was clear that mastering this form would require time and practice, but the prospect of expanding my arsenal was too intriguing to ignore since the speed of the weapons was insanely high.
Just like that, I continued my training as the time ticked.
Chapter 170 - Second Period (2)
-CHATTER!
What is the shortest thing in the world?
For students, the answer would be simple.
Holidays.
Sitting in the classroom, students had gathered for the second period of the first semester after a one-week break and were talking amongst themselves.
"How was your holiday man?"
"Oh, you know, the usual. Tried to catch up on sleep but ended up binge-watching shows."
"Same! I had big plans, but my bed was too cozy to leave."
"I went hiking. Almost got lost, but it was worth it."
Amidst the exchange of holiday stories, one student looked particularly contemplative.
"What's up with you, Jake? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Jake sighed, leaning back in his chair. "I had a weird dream. Like, it's super weird. Can't shake it off."
His friends leaned in, curious expressions on their faces.
"Spill it! What happened in the dream?"
"I was in a surreal forest, and there were these glowing orbs floating around. Each one had a different symbol. And then, there was this voice..."
The others exchanged glances, intrigued by Jake's description.
"Maybe you're secretly a fantasy novel protagonist," someone teased.
"Or maybe too many late-night snacks before bed," another chimed in.
"Nah…You probably forgot to take your pills before going to bed...Didn't you say you were an anime-girl hunter last time?"
"You bastard….You know I said it as a joke."
"It didn't seem like a joke, though. You were pretty serious."
"Tch."
TAK!
The banter in the classroom ceased as the door swung open, and all eyes turned toward the newcomer.
"Ah, he is here."
One of the students exclaimed, looking at the figure entering.
Ethan Hartley, with a tall build and sharp hazel eyes, entered the room. His presence commanded attention, and the hushed murmurs of the students quieted as he walked to his usual desk.
Normally, his presence wouldn't gain much attention from the students since he was rather on the lower ranks, even though he was Hartley.
But, because of the performance he had displayed in the mid-terms, those who had witnessed it wrote articles about him on the school forums.
The students exchanged glances, and one of them whispered, "Isn't that Ethan Hartley, the mid-terms star?"
"I heard he's got some crazy grades."
"Yeah. You know, I was there. He slaughtered all monsters like they were nothing."
"I guess he is a Hartley for a reason?"
Even for the students, witnessing such usual growth firsthand was a unique experience. The student who said to awaken just right before the academy started surpassed them in terms of strength.
And they couldn't do anything about it because he was from one of the most renowned families.
"Ah, Ethan, you are here." Just at that moment, two students made their presence in the room.
Julia, with her tomboyish charm and short white hair, grinned at Ethan. "Hope you had a good holiday, big guy."
Lucas, the teasing brother, nudged Ethan playfully. "Any monsters give you trouble over the break?"
Ethan said seriously, without any change in expression, "Not anything worth mentioning."
"….." Lucas' expression deadpanned for a second, and then he nodded to himself. "As expected, no one can surpass you in terms of denseness."
"Hah? What did you say?"
"I said what I said."
"….." Not being able to refute Lucas' claims, Ethan averted his gaze.
Amidst the lighthearted banter, Julia shifted the conversation to more serious matters. "Speaking of, have you seen the mid-term results, Ethan?"
Lucas chimed in, "The whole academy is buzzing about your scores. They're calling you the prodigy of the mid-terms."
Ethan's expression remained stoic, but there was a subtle twitch at the corner of his lips. "It's just grades. Nothing to make a fuss about."
Julia laughed, a teasing glint in her eyes. "Come on, Ethan, don't downplay it. You're like the hero of the academy. We're just regular students in your presence."
Lucas joined in the teasing. "Yeah, we should probably start calling you Sir Ethan of the Honor Roll."
Ethan sighed, feigning exasperation. "You two never change."
THUMP!
The laughter and banter were interrupted by a sudden thump as Julia slammed her hand on Ethan's back, creating a loud sound that echoed in the classroom.
"Hey, big guy, how about a little spar after the class to celebrate your genius moment?" Julia suggested with a mischievous grin. "I want to see if you're as tough as those grades of yours suggest."
Lucas joined in, throwing a challenging smirk on Ethan's way. "Come on, Sir Ethan of the Honor Roll, show us your moves. Or are you afraid your grades won't hold up in a real fight?"
Ethan's serious façade crumbled at the sight of his friends laughing. With a glint of competitiveness sparkling in his hazel eyes, he answered. "Fine, if you insist. But don't say I didn't warn you."
After all, the last week wasn't something ordinary for him. He returned to his home, but rather than resting, he had been honing his family's technique all this time.
'Hehe, it is finally payback time.'
The elixirs and resources he had consumed also increased his stats, and overall, he had already reached the strength of the first 1000 in terms of ranking.
And, he had yet to completely absorb the effects of the elixir on his body, leaving room for another rapid improvement.
As the trio playfully bantered among themselves, the door swung open, and in walked Irina. Her vibrant personality and fiery spirit added an extra layer of energy to the room.
"Yo!" Irina greeted with a wave, making her way toward Ethan and the twins. She pulled up a chair and sat down beside them, her eyes filled with curiosity.
"What's all this excitement about? Did I miss something?" Irina asked, looking at each of them in turn.
Julia and Lucas exchanged amused glances before filling her in on the playful banter about Ethan's recent achievements.
"We are just here to greet Mister Honor Roll here."
Irina chuckled. "Ah, Sir Ethan of the Honor Roll, huh?"
'Ah, I missed this.'
Finally, away from her family's suffocating atmosphere, Irina was free to speak what she had in her mind.
"So? What did you do in the holiday?" Julia focused her attention on Irina this time, looking at her with a smile.
Not being able to say what she was doing all the time, Irina went with a slightly awkward tone. "Well…..Homework, I guess."
"Homework? Did we have one?"
"Hmm? I don't remember."
"Is it because you are a mage?"
"You can say that." Feeling stiff, she averted the conversation. "Anyway, today, they will announce our new rankings, right?"
Ethan nodded with a slightly expectant smile. "Yes, they'll announce the new rankings today. Let's see if there are any changes."
CREAK!
At the opening of the door, another important figure made his entrance. The young man had an incredibly handsome face and a commanding presence that gathered everyone's attention.
"Maybe someone will dethrone him this time," Julia mumbled, looking at the newcomer. The guy was immediately approached by another two of his lackeys.
Lucas chuckled. "Dethroning Sir Victor? That's a tall order."
Julia grinned. "I'd pay to see that."
Irina, who had been quietly observing the friendly banter, couldn't help but feel a little uncomfortable at the mention of Victor.
'Where is that guy?'
For some reason, her eyes looked for another person in the classroom. The moment they left the train, he disappeared, leaving her alone. Of course, he didn't have any responsibility to stay with her, but
'He could at least say a goodbye.'
Of course, she knew she was at fault, but that guy was also not the brightest either.
Her eyes gazed around on the backseats where that guy would usually sit, but he couldn't find any traces of him.
"Humph, whatever."
She huffed and turned her head to the conversation they were having.
Just then, the classroom door opened once more, and Professor Eleanor, a figure of authority, made her entrance.
-SILENCE!
As Professor Eleanor entered, a hush fell over the classroom. Her stern demeanor and no-nonsense attitude commanded respect, and the students quickly settled into their seats, the air of casual conversation dissipating.
Eleanor's sharp gaze surveyed the room, ensuring that everyone was in their assigned place.
"Good." She mumbled to herself. She thought the students would lose their discipline after coming back from the holiday, but that didn't seem to be the case.
The students, aware of her reputation for punctuality, cast occasional glances at the clock. There were only two minutes left before the class officially started, and Eleanor was known for her strict policy of not allowing latecomers.
"Hmm…."
-CREAK!
At that moment, the door opened, and another student made his appearance. He had a bulky body with a military haircut.
NOD
He simply nodded his head without saying anything and made his way to his desk.
As Carl took his seat right behind Ethan, he gave a friendly nod to the others. The trio - Ethan, Julia, and Lucas - greeted him with a mix of nods and casual gestures. Carl, with his military-style haircut and solid build, exuded a disciplined aura.
'Where is that guy? Is he planning to ditch the first class?'
Irina thought. She was well aware of Professor Eleanor's habits and how she didn't let any students come late.
"Huh?"
However, as she looked back once again, she couldn't help but be surprised.
'He was here?'
The guy she was looking for was sitting on his usual seat with his head on the desk. Even though his face was covered, Irina could easily see who he was.
TAP!
Before she could think anything, though, a sound echoed in the front side of the classroom.
Professor Eleanor wasted no time. "Good morning, cadets. I trust you all had a restful holiday. Now, let's get straight to business." She began addressing the students immediately.
Professor Eleanor, standing at the front of the class, pulled out a stack of papers from her bag. The room fell silent as she began the announcements of the new rankings. The students' eyes were fixed on her, and the air was thick with anticipation.
"In the mid-term rankings, we have some notable changes compared to last year's," Eleanor stated, her gaze sweeping across the room.
"As expected, Student Victor retains his position at the top, showcasing exceptional proficiency in both theory and combat. However, we have a new name in the top rank."
Eleanor paused for effect, allowing the curiosity to simmer among the students. Julia exchanged a quick glance with Lucas, both intrigued by the prospect of someone challenging Victor's reign.
The student from class HA217, Seraphina Frostborne, is now another occupier of the first rank." Eleanor's voice echoed through the classroom, the revelation hanging in the air.
CRACK!
The sudden, sharp sound of a pen breaking cut through the brief silence. All eyes turned towards Irina, who sat frozen with the remnants of her broken pen in hand. A mixture of surprise and frustration crossed her face, realizing the unexpected reaction.
"Eyes on me, Irina," Eleanor's stern voice cut through the room, and Irina reluctantly met her gaze. "Control your reactions. This is a place of discipline and focus."
The announcement of Seraphina's name had stirred something within Irina as she knew the possible reactions coming from her household.
'Tch.'
She clicked her tongue, but she calmed her feelings down.
"….Understood, Professor."
"Good." Eleanor nodded in satisfaction at Irina's answer. She was one of the fiery characters that Eleanor knew she needed to take care of.
While analyzing and grading her past dungeon explorations, she came across that habit of hers.
'I guess she is calmer now, good.'
"Now, I will start announcing your new ranks." She said as she grabbed the list from her desk.
"Rank 2419, Timothy Grey."
.
"Rank 2256, Mia Anderson."
.
"Rank 2121, Oliver Park."
The names continued to be called, each student's rank announced with precision. The room remained mostly quiet, with occasional shuffling as students checked where their peers stood in the hierarchy.
"Rank 1729, Astron Natusalune."
At the mention of this name, some of the students turned their attention to him.
"Wasn't he ranked last?"
"Yeah, he jumped 700 ranks?"
Of course, not many were interested in lower ranks. It was pretty common for students of the lower ranks to jump ranks at a higher rate since the numbers would be piled up more on the lower scores.
"Rank 1555….."
"Rank 1401….."
Eleanor continued to announce the names of the students.
"Rank 970. Ethan Hartley."
Until she mentioned Ethan's rank.
"What?"
At that exact moment, the room fell silent, with nobody giving any reactions…..
Chapter 171 - Second Period (3)
"Rank 970. Ethan Hartley."
The moment Eleanor revealed Ethan's rank, a stunned silence enveloped the room. Whispers that had been circulating about the surprising jumps in ranks ceased abruptly.
All eyes were on Ethan, who tried to maintain his serious expression but couldn't hide the subtle glint of pride in his hazel eyes.
"Ethan's in the top 1000? Seriously?"
"He climbed over 1000 ranks in just one semester?"
"How did he even—"
The small attention that students paid to Astron immediately disappeared. All of the attention was on Ethan.
This improvement in the ranks had never been seen before in the academy. This success was something that didn't even make any sense.
Whispers of disbelief and opposition echoed through the classroom as the reality of Ethan's jump in rankings sank in.
"This doesn't make any sense. How did he—"
"I call BS. You can't just climb a thousand ranks in one semester. They are probably making an exemption for Ethan because he is a Hartley."
Accusations and skepticism filled the air, creating a tense atmosphere. The disbelief in the room was palpable, and Ethan's quiet demeanor only fueled the suspicions.
Eleanor, sensing the unrest, raised her hand for silence. "Enough. The rankings are accurate, and accusations without evidence are baseless. Focus on your own progress and improvement instead of speculating about your peers."
As Eleanor quelled the rising dissent, a tense silence settled in the room. Most students heeded her advice, quieting their speculations and returning their attention to their own thoughts.
However, amidst the subdued atmosphere, a girl with a contemptuous gaze raised her hand. Eleanor, acknowledging her, nodded for her to speak.
The girl, her voice edged with skepticism, questioned, "Professor Eleanor, with all due respect, isn't there a protocol for such drastic rank changes? It's not about accusing anyone, but shouldn't we understand how someone jumped over a thousand ranks in one semester, especially in one mid-term?
We all have been notified that we will be entering the dungeons, whose levels are adjusted according to our ranks. All of us here could get a high score if we had entered the low-level dungeon Ethan did. It's highly irregular, and we deserve an explanation."
Eleanor's eyes glinted for a moment, acknowledging the valid nature of the question. The skepticism in the girl's inquiry was not lost on her, and she understood the need for clarity.
"You bring up a valid point," Eleanor responded, her tone measured. "The Academy takes into account the adjusted difficulty of dungeon exploration based on the students' ranks. In Ethan's case, the dungeon assignment was indeed one with a lower difficulty level. However, his achievements went beyond the levels of the lower-rank dungeon on the first day."
She paused, ensuring she had the attention of the entire class. The skepticism in the room lingered, but Eleanor continued with a tone of authority.
"Given the perceived ease of the initial assignment, the Academy deemed it necessary to evaluate him under more challenging conditions. As a result, Ethan underwent an additional test where he entered the same dungeon as higher-ranking students. But because you had already taken the test, he went in alone, and you were not aware of that."
She observed the expressions in the room, gauging the impact of her words. The students, though still skeptical, now faced a more nuanced explanation. Eleanor's explanation shed light on the fact that Ethan's abilities were tested under varied circumstances, addressing the concerns about the apparent ease of his initial dungeon assignment.
"This decision was made to ensure a more accurate assessment of his capabilities," Eleanor added. "The Academy's priority is to provide a fair and thorough evaluation of each student's potential. Ethan's exceptional performance under these circumstances has led to his commendable rise in ranks."
She let the information settle before moving on to the next set of announcements.
"I see….So that was where you were at that time." Julia mumbled to herself. "You rascal, you were planning to give us a surprise, huh?"
"If he went under another test, then it makes sense."
"I knew the academy was fair anyway."
The students, though not entirely convinced, seemed more accepting of the explanation.
"Now, I am going to follow with the ranks. Are there any objections?"
Eleanor's gaze swept across the room, inviting any objections or comments before proceeding further. The silence hung briefly, broken only by the rustling of papers and the occasional creaking of chairs.
"No objections? Good."
She resumed announcing the rankings, moving through the list with methodical precision. The tension in the room gradually eased as students focused on their own names, discussing their positions in hushed tones.
"Sylvie Gracewind. Rank 971."
"Lucas Middleton. Rank 85."
"Julia Middleton. Rank 60."
"Carl Braveheart. Rank 42."
"Lilia Thornheart and Irina Emberheart share rank 3."
The revelation of shared ranks prompted a hushed buzz of curiosity. Eyes turned towards Lilia and Irina, recognizing their equal standings. However, none of the two seemed to be satisfied with the results they had gotten in their exams.
Lilia seemed unbothered, while Irina seemed angry as her hands were clenched.
"Victor Blackthorn and Seraphina Frostborne share rank 1."
The final announcement echoed through the room, cementing Victor's continued dominance at the pinnacle. The shared top rank of Seraphina Frostborne and Victor Blackthorn sparked conversations among the students about the age-old rivalry between the Frostborne and Emberheart families. Whispers spread like wildfire, speculating on the implications of this shift in dominance.
"This time, the Frostbornes won."
"Can't deny their power, huh?"
"Guess the Emberhearts have some catching up to do." However, as students continued to exchange words, they were met with an unexpected interruption.
FLINCH!
Irina Emberheart, her fiery gaze ablaze with indignation, snapped back at the presumptuous remarks while intentionally or unintentionally leaking her intent.
The students felt the suffocating aura of the second-best student in the academy, and they understood the mistake they made.
Eleanor, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, clapped her hands, drawing attention back to the front of the class.
CLAP!
The sharp sound echoed through the room, and she began addressing the students with her usual stern demeanor.
"Good. Now, let's focus on what's ahead. There have been some adjustments to the curriculum for the second period, so pay close attention."
The hologram of the human domain materialized before Eleanor, and she began explaining the adjustments made to the curriculum for the second period. As the three-dimensional representation of the human domain hovered in front of her, she highlighted various areas on the map.
"Attention, cadets. Over the break, the activities of monsters have shown a significant increase in several regions. The number of incidents has risen, necessitating changes in our curriculum to better prepare you for the challenges that lie ahead."
Eleanor pointed to different sections of the map, indicating areas with heightened monster activity.
"Normally, you would familiarize yourself with the academy more; however, according to the instructions from the Government, we need to take the necessary steps. From this point on, we will be focusing on tactical and strategic combat training, which will increase your skills in the real world."
Eleanor pointed towards the representation of the mana on the hologram, drawing the student's attention to the changes in the manasphere.
"As you can see, the fluctuations in the manasphere are becoming more pronounced. Understanding and harnessing mana is crucial for your survival. The upcoming semester will not only focus on honing your combat skills but also on mastering the intricacies of mana manipulation."
She paused, allowing the significance of her words to sink in.
"While you'll be refining your combat techniques, we'll introduce a specially designed curriculum. You will explore countless small skills that will contribute to your overall growth. Adaptability is key in these changing times, and you must be prepared for the unexpected challenges that lie ahead."
Eleanor's stern expression intensified, her eyes scanning the room with unwavering seriousness.
"Let me make this abundantly clear. The resources are being invested in this academy, and they expect results. The coming challenges demand excellence from each of you. Falling behind is not an option. If any student fails to meet the standards set by the academy, they will be cut off directly. There will be no room for mediocrity in the face of the challenges that await you."
The moment those words hit the students, every one of them absorbed the information given to them. No sound escaped their mouths as they looked into their instructor.
"This year's curriculum will be a lot more draining and harder than before, but it will eventually make you the strongest version of yourself. Make sure to keep on improving."
As the weight of her expectations settled over the students, Eleanor shifted to the next point.
"Now, for your first assignment of the second period, you will undergo a test to assess your mana sense. The details of the test are classified, and you will form teams of three students each. The team assignments will be announced tomorrow. Make sure you are prepared."
As Eleanor's final words echoed in the room, the bell rang, signaling the end of the lesson. The students, released from the stern atmosphere, began to talk among themselves. The mood was a mix of apprehension and weariness.
"I can't believe how much harder it's going to get."
"Yeah, and we thought the first semester was tough."
"Mana sense test, huh? Wonder what that's going to be like." Teams of three students each added another layer of uncertainty to their discussions, but in the end, it was evident that things were no longer going to be the same as they had expected, making it a lot different than before.
"I heard the teams are crucial. If you get stuck with someone not pulling their weight, you're done for."
"I hope I get someone reliable on my team."
"Ugh, more tests and challenges. I'm already exhausted."
In the midst of the conversations, some students shared nervous glances while others tried to muster enthusiasm for the trials that lay ahead.
"What do you think?" Julia turned her attention to others as she digested the information.
"I was expecting such a thing to happen," Lilia answered without even bothering. "Father also mentioned things were going to change."
"Indeed, I heard the same from my father as well," Carl said as he stood up.
"Where are you going?"
"I need to visit the headmaster."
"Okay, let's go together."
Just like that, from the start, the first day of the second period was hectic for the students.