Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 738 168.2 - Jealousy

Her [Authority] stirred within her, a quiet but potent presence. With the faintest effort, she let it unfurl, her vision shifting as she tapped into her enhanced perception. The emotions of those around her appeared first—a swirling array of hues and shapes, vibrant and chaotic. But she pushed past them, focusing on something deeper.

[Vitality.]

It was there, running like a network of glowing tubes within each person. Thin, steady streams in some, and wide, roaring currents in others. Vitality wasn't just a measure of life—it was strength, potential, and power made visible. The Headmaster had taught her how to discern its flow, to interpret its subtleties, and to use it as a guide.

As her gaze moved over the crowd, she saw the familiar steady lines of average students—healthy but unremarkable. But as she looked toward the front rows, where the top-ranked students always gathered, the scene changed.

Her focus sharpened as she saw them: a group of five standing apart from the rest, their vitality blazing like beacons.

Julia Middleton.

The first to catch her attention. Her vitality was vibrant, surging through her with such intensity that it almost hurt to look at. The way it moved was strange—synchronized and precise, as if it wasn't just power but something far more refined. Sylvie felt a faint sense of unease. Julia's energy didn't just feel strong—it felt controlled in a way Sylvie couldn't yet understand.

Ethan Hartley.

Beside Julia, Ethan was a storm. His vitality surged and pulsed with wild energy like a tempest barely contained within human form. It was erratic, dangerous, and somehow… alive. Sylvie felt her breath hitch. There was something in his presence that reminded her of her own powers—a raw, untamed edge that spoke of something beyond the ordinary.

Lucas Middleton.

Julia's brother stood nearby, his vitality quieter but no less formidable. His was like a steel blade, sharp and unyielding, its strength more reserved than Ethan's but no less intimidating. The way it pulsed felt deliberate, a reflection of someone who understood the value of control over raw power.

Carl Braveheart.

Carl's vitality was a steady burn, not as flashy as the others but solid and reliable. It wasn't the overwhelming force of Julia or Ethan, but it spoke of endurance and fortitude, like the unshakable foundation of a fortress.

Lilia Thornheart.

Finally, Lilia. Her vitality was unique—flowing with a gentle grace that belied its strength. It was almost soothing, but Sylvie could tell that beneath the calm exterior was power as fierce as the others. It reminded her of a coiled spring, waiting for the right moment to release its force.

Sylvie's gaze lingered on Julia and Ethan, their vitality standing out even among the other prodigies. There was something about them—something that felt… different.

Special.

It was a feeling she couldn't quite place, a sense of recognition that prickled at the edges of her thoughts. They weren't like the others.

They were like her.

Maybe not in the same sense as she was….But they were really similar….

She bit her lip, her curiosity growing. What was it about them that made her feel this way? Could they also have some kind of [Authority] or power beyond the ordinary? The idea intrigued her, but it also made her uneasy. If they were like her, what did that mean for the academy? For her place in it?

'But it also makes sense…..'

Sylvie's thoughts swirled as she observed the group at the front, her attention drawn again and again to Ethan and Julia. There was something undeniably extraordinary about them. She bit her lip, her curiosity now a steady hum in the back of her mind.

'They're not normal. They can't be.'

The thought lingered as she turned her gaze away, trying to focus elsewhere. But her mind kept circling back to them, their vitality, their presence. It wasn't just a feeling—there were moments to back it up.

'Ethan's lightning storm… I remember it clearly. The sheer power of it… it wasn't just skill. It was as if the storm itself obeyed his will.'

She shivered at the memory. She hadn't been anywhere near the frontlines during that duel, but even from the safety of the stands, she had felt the electricity in the air, the raw, uncontrollable power that had made the crowd fall silent. It was something beyond human—a force of nature.

Then there was Julia. Sylvie's gaze flicked back toward her, her mind unbidden to the strange, almost alien aura Julia had exuded during her matches.

'It wasn't just strength. It was… something else. Something deeper. That precision, the way her movements seemed… calculated to the smallest detail. Like she was seeing a fight no one else could.'

It had unnerved her at the time, though she hadn't been able to pinpoint why. Now, after her training with the Headmaster, the pieces were beginning to fall into place.

'They're like me. Or at least… similar. They're not ordinary Awakened.'

Her grip tightened on the strap of her bag as the weight of that realization settled over her. For the past six weeks, she had worked tirelessly to strengthen not only her body but her mind. The Headmaster had made it clear that intelligence wasn't some fixed trait determined at birth—it was a skill, one that could be honed with effort and discipline.

She had taken those lessons to heart, pushing herself to analyze everything with a sharper, more discerning eye. And now, as she pieced together the puzzle of Ethan and Julia, she felt a quiet satisfaction at how far she'd come.

'But it's not just about analyzing them. It's about what it means for me.'

She let her gaze drift back to the rest of the students, their vitality was steady but unremarkable compared to the blinding presence of the prodigies. For so long, Sylvie had felt like she didn't belong like she was simply drifting in a sea of extraordinary talent. But now… now, she wasn't so sure.

'If they're special… if they're different… then what about me? What does it mean for someone like me to stand among them?'

The thought sent a ripple of unease through her. She had grown stronger, no doubt. Her training had made her more capable, and more confident. But what if she was wrong? What if her strength still wasn't enough to bridge the gap?

'Don't do it again Sylvie.'

She thought to herself. 'That is how you should think of yourself.'

In the end, it always ended up like this, and it was a problem that she needed to solve.

Her thoughts softened as she glanced at Julia and Ethan again. For all their power, all their presence, there was something else she felt as she looked at them—a spark of excitement. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

'Maybe they're not my rivals. Maybe they're the proof that I can be more.'

The idea brought a small smile to her lips. There was still so much she didn't understand about herself, about her [Authority], but one thing was clear. She wasn't alone in this. Others were extraordinary too, and maybe, just maybe, they could teach her something about what it meant to be special.

As the hum of the gathering students grew louder, Sylvie straightened her posture, her resolve hardening. She had work to do—questions to answer, and challenges to face. But for the first time, she felt ready.

'This semester is going to be different. I'm different. And I'll prove it.'

Sylvie blinked, pulling herself from her swirling thoughts as she realized just how long she had been silent. Jasmine's chatter had faded, and the background hum of the other students filled her ears. 'I've been zoning out again…' she thought, a twinge of guilt rising in her chest.

She glanced to her side, expecting Jasmine's usual teasing remark or impatient glare. Instead, Jasmine was scrolling through her phone, a faint smile on her face as she thumbed through something amusing. Sylvie let out a soft sigh of relief.

'Thank goodness. She's not mad.'

Jasmine's carefree energy was something Sylvie always appreciated, even when she was distracted. It was comforting to know her friend wasn't the type to take her silence personally.

But just as she began to relax, her attention was drawn to movement at the edge of her vision. She turned her head and spotted a familiar figure entering the line of students nearby.

Irina Emberheart.

Sylvie straightened slightly, her gaze sharpening as she focused on the girl. As always, Irina carried herself with a calm authority, her faint aura rippling around her like a quiet flame. But this time, Sylvie noticed something she hadn't seen before.

Her [Authority] pulsed gently, sharpening Sylvie's senses as she honed in on the details. Irina's vitality was strong—less overwhelming than Ethan's, but still far above the average student. It was steady, deliberate, and exuded a sense of purpose.

But there was something else. Sylvie's eyes narrowed as she examined the faint glow surrounding Irina.

'Mana?' she wondered, a spark of recognition blooming in her chest.

'It's not just vitality. Her mana presence is… dense. More focused than anything I've seen before.'

The discovery intrigued her. Unlike most students, whose mana and vitality were often unrefined, Irina's seemed to exist in perfect harmony, like a tightly woven thread. Sylvie couldn't help but admire the balance, the sheer control it suggested.

And then there was the other, more subtle difference—one that Sylvie almost missed. Irina's emotional palette was always tinged with a fit of faint anger, a quiet simmering that never seemed to leave her. It wasn't overt or disruptive, but it was always there, like an ember waiting to ignite.

But today, it was… different.

'She's in a good mood.'

The realization caught Sylvie off guard. She could see it clearly in the warm hues of Irina's emotions—a lightness that wasn't usually present. The anger, while not entirely gone, had dimmed, replaced by something calmer, more at ease.

'Why?'

Sylvie tilted her head slightly, curiosity gnawing at her. She couldn't recall seeing Irina like this before. What could have changed? Was it something personal, or had something happened over the break?

'Hmm….'

What was it?

Sylvie's brow furrowed slightly as she observed Irina's unusual demeanor. The lightness in her emotions, the absence of that constant simmering anger—it should have made her feel happy for Irina. After all, seeing someone who always seemed burdened by a quiet storm find a moment of peace was a rare sight.

'I should feel better for her. I really should.'

And yet, she didn't. Not entirely.

Something stirred in her chest, a faint, almost imperceptible nudge. It wasn't an emotion, nor was it a thought she could articulate. It was just… there, lingering in the background of her awareness like a faint shadow at the edge of her vision.

'What is this?' she wondered, her grip tightening on the strap of her bag. Her [Authority] hummed faintly within her, but even its guidance felt murky….

"Ah…."

Just then she heard Jasmine exclaiming…