specialty and announcement

The teacher finally reached the part of the lesson that had all the students leaning forward in anticipation. as he prepared to delve into the promised "special lesson."

"As I mentioned earlier," the teacher began, his tone taking on a more serious edge, "abilities are manifestations of the energy inside us. Each one is unique to the individual, shaped by their personality, their experiences, and their innate potential. Most of you know the basics of this already, but today we're going a bit deeper."

He paused, letting the tension build before continuing. "Now, there are two types of abilities that are considered extremely rare. Many of you might have heard of them, but very few truly understand their nature. These are different from the usual abilities people possess."

"The first type," he said, "is called a passive ability. As the name suggests, these abilities function without needing any active use of energy. They manifest naturally, without the need for conscious effort. For example, someone with a passive ability might be able to fly effortlessly or have enhanced vision like night vision or heat vision—things that continuously work without draining energy. Passive abilities can be incredibly useful, but their limitations lie in their simplicity. They often grant abilities that make sense as being constantly active."

Passive abilities were rare, but their nature made them easier to grasp.

"And now," the teacher continued, his gaze sweeping over the students, "we come to the second type—conditional abilities. These are far more complex and, some would say, far more powerful. A conditional ability requires a specific action to activate it. The nature of that action can vary greatly, and discovering what it is can be… challenging."

He began to pace in front of the class, his expression thoughtful. "For example, there was once a Hunter whose ability allowed him to switch the positions of objects by clapping his hands. It was incredibly versatile, making him a formidable opponent. Yet, not all conditions are so straightforward. Some conditional abilities are simple, while others can grant a range of powers, depending on how the condition is fulfilled."

The students leaned forward, absorbing the information.

"But," the teacher said, raising a finger to emphasize his point, "as promising as conditional abilities may sound, they come with a significant flaw. It's nearly impossible to identify the specific condition needed to activate the ability. Unless the condition is something obvious, like clapping or snapping fingers, most people struggle for years—or even their entire lives—to uncover it. This is why many potential conditional ability users remain stuck, unable to unlock their true power."

A murmur of understanding rippled through the class. The idea of such potential locked away, just out of reach, made many students frown. Eno found his thoughts drifting to someone he knew—a person whose struggles with understanding their ability made this explanation feel all too real. A slight sadness tugged at him, but he pushed it aside, focusing on the teacher's words.

The teacher clapped his hands sharply, pulling the students' attention back. "Now, onto the main focus of today's lesson—the part you've all been waiting for."

A sense of anticipation filled the room as the teacher's gaze grew intense. "You're all familiar with the ranking system of abilities, similar to how energy is ranked. Abilities, too, are classified from F-rank to S-rank. For example, if your ability is to make your fingertips sharper, that might be considered an E-rank ability—not particularly flashy, but useful."

Some students chuckled at the thought, but the teacher's serious expression stopped them.

"However, there's more to ability ranking than just the power it holds. There's a concept that most of you haven't heard about—something called a specialty."

The room fell into a stunned silence. It was clear that the term was unfamiliar to most of the class. The teacher continued, undeterred by their confusion. "A specialty is a unique property that an ability can gain once the user reaches C- rank. Think of it as an evolution of sorts. Your ability may develop a trait that makes it different from others with the same power. These changes can elevate the nature of your power, making it stronger, more versatile, or more dangerous."

He let that sink in before offering an example. "Most of you have probably seen the video circulating around the Academy of Eno Spencer's recent fight in the training hall."

At the mention of his name, all eyes turned to Eno. He felt a prickling sensation at the back of his neck and tried to keep his expression neutral, though he couldn't hide a flicker of annoyance at being singled out again.

"During that fight," the teacher continued, "many of you witnessed something unusual. Eno's lightning wasn't its usual blue—it was white. That, my students, is what we call a specialty."

A buzz of excitement and curiosity spread through the class. Some students whispered among themselves, while others stared at Eno with newfound respect or envy.

"Now, specialties aren't exactly a secret," the teacher explained, raising his voice to cut through the chatter, "but they're not well-known either, because many assume such changes are simply A part of the ability that they never know about. For instance, the number one Hunter of Erevos, Alan Mercer, has a specialty. His ability is fire manipulation, but after reaching C- rank, he developed the ability to turn his fire blue. And unlike ordinary flames, his blue fire freezes rather than burns."

The students' eyes widened in awe, and even Eno found himself more intrigued. A freezing flame—it sounded both paradoxical and powerful.

The teacher continued, his tone becoming more speculative. "Not all specialties are immediately obvious. Some abilities may gain properties without their users fully realizing it, while others, like Eno's white lightning, may be more apparent. For Eno, this could mean that his lightning has gained new properties, or it might simply be a color change without any deeper effect. Only time—and testing—will reveal the true nature of his specialty."

Eno glanced down at his hands, feeling the subtle hum of energy beneath his skin. He had been wondering the same thing ever since the change had occurred. What did it really mean? And how would it affect his path forward?

The teacher's gaze swept over the students once more, bringing the lesson to a close. "Understanding your ability is crucial, but so is recognizing when it changes. A specialty can be a powerful asset, but only if you learn to control it. Keep that in mind as you continue your training." (AN specialty is short for special tear

The teacher's lesson on specialties had left the students intrigued, but now the class quieted down, sensing that something more significant was about to be addressed.

"Alright," the teacher began, "I hope you all learned something important from today's discussion about specialties. But there's another matter—something much larger—that we need to discuss. One that will affect all of you, particularly the third-year students."

The room buzzed with anticipation as the teacher's tone shifted to one of gravitas. This wasn't just a regular lecture; everyone knew what was coming.

"The tournament for the final year is fast approaching," the teacher said, pacing slowly at the front of the room. His gaze swept across the students, making sure everyone was focused. "As you all know, the Hunter Academy of Erevos doesn't follow the tradition of holding a typical graduation ceremony like other schools. We believe in something far more fitting for the future hunters of this world—a challenge that tests your abilities, strategies, and willpower in the most rigorous way possible."

The air in the room became tense as the weight of the upcoming event settled over them.

"Instead of a standard ceremony or a graduation party, we host a tournament," the teacher continued. His voice had an edge to it now, one that demanded respect. "This tournament isn't just an internal competition. It's a battle between the top students from our Academy and the top two ranking schools on the continent. It's a public event, open for everyone to see—including potential guilds, sponsors, and recruiters."

The significance of this sank in. This was more than just a graduation event; this was where the students would be introduced to the wider world.

"This tournament is broadcasted to the public, and it's one of the highlights of the year," the teacher said. "It's not only a crucial moment for each of you but for the people watching, for those who will one day depend on you to defend them, and for those who may seek to recruit you. For many, this tournament will be your first real step into the world of hunters."

The room remained quiet, the students absorbing the importance of the event. For most of them, this tournament wasn't just a test of skill; it was an opportunity to make their mark, to prove themselves on a stage where everyone would be watching. For some, it could be the first step toward joining a prestigious guild. For others, it could define their path in the future.

"And this year," the teacher continued, "the Hunter Academy of Erevos has been chosen to host the tournament."

A collective groan spread through the class. Hosting the tournament came with its own set of challenges and irritations. Everyone knew what this meant—extra responsibilities, the pressure of being the hosts, and the influx of students from rival academies, which meant heightened competition and tension.

The teacher noticed their reactions and gave a small nod of acknowledgment. "I know, I know. It's not exactly what you were hoping for. Hosting the tournament means you'll have to deal with the additional challenges that come with it. While the top four students from our Academy will be the ones competing, the top 50 from The other two academies will also attend, making the event a large-scale field trip."

Another groan rippled through the class. Even Eno and his friends exchanged weary glances. It was always stressful to host the tournament, and being dragged along for the field trip was far from appealing.

"But," the teacher added, his voice shifting slightly, "there's an upside to this."

A few of the students sat up straighter in their seats,

"Because we are hosting the tournament, we are also hosting the pre-tournament games," the teacher announced.

That got their attention. The games were just as important as the tournament itself, especially for students who weren't in the top four. It was a chance for everyone—first years through third years—to demonstrate their abilities in front of guilds, sponsors, and the public.

"These games," the teacher explained, "are an opportunity for all students, regardless of rank, to participate. They are designed to test everyone's abilities, not just the top four. For some of you, these games are the perfect chance to make a name for yourselves. Just because you're not in the top four doesn't mean you can't catch the attention of someone important."

The students perked up at this. The games were more than just warm-up events. For many, they were just as crucial as the tournament, offering a rare chance to showcase what they could do. For those who performed well, the games could open doors to opportunities they hadn't even considered.

The teacher's gaze then shifted to the top four students in the class, his expression becoming more intense. "But for those of you in the top four, the real challenge is the tournament itself. You've got twelve days. Twelve days to train, strategize, and prepare. This is your chance to prove yourselves on the biggest stage of your lives."

Eno, Lily, and their friends exchanged determined glances. Twelve days didn't feel like much, but it was all they had. Every moment would count.

"I expect nothing less than your best," the teacher said, his gaze unwavering. "The tournament will be here before you know it. Prepare yourselves."

With that, the teacher glanced at the clock and then back at the students. "I'm dismissing the class early today so that you can start preparing. For those of you who will be competing in the games, use this time wisely. And for those in the top four—train hard. Your performance will define not only your futures but the reputation of this Academy."

As the teacher dismissed the class, the students began to gather their belongings, conversations buzzing with excitement and nerves. The announcement of the tournament had solidified what many of them had already been thinking. The pressure was on.

Eno and his friends lingered for a moment, the weight of the upcoming days settling in. The tournament—and everything that came with it—was now their primary focus.