Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 743: Chapter 169.3 - Second Semester



Eleanor raised a hand, silencing the chatter instantly. "This program is designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world experience. Each of you will be paired with a mentor-a professional hunter that the academy had made a contract with."

Julia's hand shot up, her curiosity outweighing her usual hesitation with authority. "Wait, we're getting mentors? Like one-on-one training?"

"Precisely," Eleanor confirmed, nodding toward her. "Your mentors will be tasked with guiding you through practical exercises, sharing their expertise, and providing insights you won't find in textbooks. They will push you to grow, challenge your assumptions, and help you navigate the complexities of what it means to be a hunter."

The whispers resumed this time with an air of cautious excitement.

Eleanor continued, her voice cutting through the rising buzz. "The mentors have been carefully selected based on their skills, experience, and suitability to guide cadets like yourselves. Some of them will be familiar faces to you, hunters who have returned to the academy specifically for this program."

Irina leaned forward, her yellow eyes sharp with interest. "How will the pairings be decided?"

Eleanor nodded, clearly expecting the question. "Pairings will be determined based on a combination of your performance last semester, your particular strengths and weaknesses, and, of course, your compatibility with potential mentors."

She paused, letting the students absorb the information. "The mentorship program is not optional. It is a mandatory part of your curriculum this semester. Your mentors will evaluate you, and their reports will contribute significantly to your final assessment."

That silenced most of the remaining whispers. The weight of her words was clear-this was not just an opportunity; it was a challenge.

Julia leaned back in her chair, muttering, "Mandatory, huh? Let's hope we don't get stuck with someone impossible."

Lilia smirked. "Or worse, someone boring."

Eleanor's sharp gaze cut through the chatter again. "Your pairings will be announced at the end of this month. Until then, I suggest you take some time to reflect on what you want to achieve this semester. The mentorship program is a chance to grow, but only if you're willing to put in the effort, and please note that."

Eleanor's gaze swept the room as she raised her hand again, ensuring the students' full attention. Her tone shifted slightly, adopting a more practical edge.

"This mentorship program," she continued, "will not consume your entire schedule. For first-year cadets, it will be limited to one or two hours per week, depending on your mentor's availability. Your time with them will be structured and focused, designed to maximize the benefit of their expertise."

Julia raised an eyebrow, whispering to Ethan, "One or two hours? That's barely enough time to do anything."

Eleanor's sharp hearing caught the murmur, and she addressed the room, though her gaze lingered briefly on Julia. "The limited time is deliberate. Your mentors are professional hunters with their own missions and responsibilities. Many of them have taken time away from their work to guide you. Respect that time and make the most of it."

The whispers among the students grew quieter as the weight of her words settled in.

"Additionally," Eleanor continued, "sophomore and junior-year students will also participate in the mentorship program. However, their sessions will be longer and more intensive. For you, as first-years, this is merely an introduction-a chance to understand what mentorship entails and how to adapt to working with a superior."

Irina leaned back slightly, her expression contemplative as she processed the explanation. Lilia tapped a finger against her desk thoughtfully.

"This is not meant to overwhelm you," Eleanor added, her voice softening slightly. "Think of it as a glimpse into the real world-a world where hunters are often guided by those with more experience. These sessions are an opportunity to learn, to grow, and to challenge yourselves in ways you may not expect."

Ethan exchanged a glance with Julia, who was still muttering about time constraints. Carl and Lucas, seated at the back, appeared to be weighing the possibilities, their usual easygoing demeanors replaced with faint seriousness.

Eleanor pressed on. "Your mentors are here to guide, not to hold your hand. They will assess your strengths and weaknesses, and they will expect you to come prepared and ready to learn. Use these sessions wisely."

The professor stepped back slightly, signaling the end of her explanation. "Now, as I said earlier, your pairings will be announced at the end of the month. Until then, your focus remains on the coursework and training already outlined in your syllabus."

She glanced at the clock, then back at the students. "Open your manuals to page three. Let's begin discussing this semester's objectives and expectations in more detail. Trust me when I say you'll want to get ahead before the workload increases."

At Eleanor's instruction, the students began pulling out their academy-issued tablets, the sleek devices lighting up as they powered on. A faint hum of technology filled the room as screens flickered to life. Each student navigated to their digital syllabus, scrolling to the designated page Eleanor had mentioned.

Ethan tapped at his tablet, finding the section for [Fundamentals of Mana Theory II], the header glowing softly at the top of the page. Julia leaned slightly over her own tablet, her usual energy subdued as she scanned the material with a faint frown.

"Alright," Eleanor said, her sharp gaze ensuring everyone was prepared. "This semester, we will expand on the principles we covered in the first term. Fundamentals of Mana Theory II will dive deeper into the relationship between mana and its application in controlled environments, both theoretical and practical."

Her voice carried a quiet authority that demanded attention. "As many of you now understand, mana is not merely a resource. It is a force tied to both the body and the mind, influenced by your emotional and physical states. This semester, we will focus on refining your control and understanding the nuances of mana flow under varying conditions."

Lilia raised a hand. "Will this include scenarios like maintaining mana control during combat?"

Eleanor nodded, her expression approving. "Exactly. Mana flow during combat is erratic and heavily influenced by adrenaline, fatigue, and external interference. Your ability to maintain balance under such conditions is what separates novice hunters from true professionals."

Irina, seated at the front, jotted down notes on her tablet, her expression focused. Beside her, Lilia made her own notes, though her sharp eyes darted back to Eleanor, clearly eager to

absorb every word.

Eleanor continued, tapping on her podium, which synced with the students' tablets. A diagram of a mana circuit appeared on their screens, glowing faintly as it pulsed with energy. "Let's start with a refresher. This is a basic mana flow chart, detailing the connection between your body, channels, and output."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

She gestured toward the screen at the front of the classroom, which mirrored their tablets. "Notice the three primary phases of mana manipulation: Concentration, Circulation, and Application. Each step is critical, and this semester we will explore how disruptions in any one phase can cascade and destabilize the others."

Julia whispered to Ethan, "Sounds like we're about to learn how to make a mana explosion." Ethan smirked, whispering back, "Or how to avoid one."

Eleanor's gaze flickered toward them, silencing their brief exchange. "Since you all should have mastered the basics last semester," she said, her tone firm, "we will begin with analyzing what happens when mana flow is disrupted or imbalanced. Turn to subsection 1.3: 'Interference Patterns in Mana Circuits.""

the students navigated to the section, a subtle hum of anticipation filled the room. The glowing diagrams and notes on their screens promised a semester of challenging but invaluable lessons. For now, though, the classroom was quiet, save for Eleanor's commanding voice and the soft tapping of fingers on the glass. The semester had truly begun.

********

Sylvie sat stiffly at her desk, her tablet glowing faintly in front of her, but the words on the screen felt meaningless. Eleanor's voice, clear and commanding, barely registered as it cut through the quiet hum of the classroom. Instead, Sylvie's thoughts churned relentlessly, tangled in the unease that had taken root earlier.

Her fingers tightened around the stylus she held, the tension in her chest growing with every passing second. No matter how much she tried to focus on the diagrams and explanations before her, her mind kept circling back to one thing.

'Why can't I stop thinking about it? About him?'

She chanced a quick glance across the room, her gaze flickering to where Astron sat. He was at

his desk, his posture relaxed yet attentive as he focused on Eleanor's lecture. His purple eyes scanned his tablet with the same calm precision she had seen countless times before, as if

nothing had changed.

But everything had changed.

Sylvie's chest tightened again as her thoughts raced. 'How can he act so normal? Like nothing's different? After the way he looked this morning, the way...'

Her train of thought faltered as she noticed the subtle but persistent glances from other students in the room. Boys and girls alike cast furtive looks in Astron's direction, their expressions ranging from curiosity to awe. Some were less subtle, openly staring before quickly averting their gazes whenever he shifted slightly.

It wasn't surprising, Sylvie realized. How could it be? The Astron sitting in this classroom was a far cry from the unassuming boy most of them had known last semester. His refined appearance, the quiet glow (?) that seemed to hum around him-it all commanded attention, whether intentional or not.

Still, the sight of those glances gnawed at Sylvie, though she couldn't quite explain why. 'It's not like I don't understand. He does look... different. But why does it bother me so much?' She shook her head slightly, forcing herself to look back at her tablet. Eleanor was explaining interference patterns in mana circuits, her voice steady and authoritative as she guided the class through the intricacies of mana flow.

"Notice how external factors like adrenaline and fatigue can cause fluctuations in circulation," Eleanor said, her words accompanied by a glowing diagram on the students' screens. "These disruptions can cascade, affecting concentration and application if not

properly managed."

Sylvie frowned, willing herself to focus. But the words blurred together as her thoughts spiraled again. She had barely been able to process the mentorship program announcement, much less anything about mana theory. Her mind kept returning to that strange void surrounding Astron, the absence of color in her [Authority], and the pink hue in Irina's.

"Student Sylvie."

Sylvie froze, the sound of Eleanor's voice cutting through her spiraling thoughts like a sharp blade. The classroom fell silent, all eyes turning toward her as the weight of the moment

settled in.

Eleanor's gaze was sharp, her expression a mix of patience and firm expectation. "Since you seem so preoccupied, perhaps you'd like to explain how adrenaline affects mana circulation

during combat?"

|| ||

She got caught....