Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 738 168.2 - Jealousy

chapter 738 168.2 - jealousy

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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.

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...