In a meeting hall was gathered all the first-year homeroom instructors sat around a large round table with the principal sitting at the head. The meeting hall was at the top of the building, overlooking most of the structures on the academy grounds. The walls surrounding them were made from glass that could be changed to control the amount of sunlight reaching the room.
On the glass wall facing the principal was a massive square display divided into grids, each showing the faces of an instructor who was not a homeroom instructor but had periods with the students as they taught different specializations.
The gathering of these instructors by the principal was to discuss the new batch of students received this year. Since admissions were mostly handled by a system that picks students based on their physical stats they recorded after awakening when they met the threshold.
"So, what can you tell me about our new batch of students?" Principle Seraph asked, starting the discussion. Her demeanour as she sat at the head of the table made no room for jokes, as the instructors were aware of her nature.
"Well, to start with, the number of first years this time is the highest we've ever had. Up to a 25% increase, and this without compromising the quality of students. Compared to other academies within the empire, we have the highest number of first years this time around." One of the seated instructors said, looking at the display before him showing the statistics of what he was saying.
He swiped and sent the file to the centre of the table where a copy of what he was reading appeared for everyone to see.
Another instructed, a female, continued, "Additionally, the students we have with high potentials are more than the previous years and this has nothing to do with the increase in numbers as one would expect."
The principal listened to the report given by these two instructors. As part of their duties as homeroom tutors, they were also responsible for gathering and presenting the collected student data in meetings such as this.
The principal looked at the data silently. Though she didn't say, she was glad that the quality had improved instead. The numbers also go to show how the quality of awakeners had improved in their region.
"That's impressive. What about their previous academic records and behaviour? Have those files been received?" She inquired. As much as the numbers and qualities are impressive, the personality profiles of the students must also be considered.
After all, they wouldn't want to waste resources on students who would quit halfway or stop the hunting profession after a few years.
"Yes. Most of the students are driven in their efforts to become hunters and their academics are all good. Though much is to be said about their personality." Said the man who spoke earlier.
This goes without saying. As students from different regions and backgrounds, they'd all have their unique personality traits, some more extreme than others.
However, the instructors had nothing to worry about on that front as the point system in place ensured that whatever actions the academy deemed inappropriate resulted in the loss of points. While it might seem ineffective, no one paid a dime for them to be here. And if they couldn't behave within the set bounds, the door was wide open.
After giving his report, the principal then set her sights on instructor Horvey Doe, the instructor for Class 1A1, the class with the star pupil.
"Do you have anything to say about the students you have in your class?" She asked, drawing the attention of all the tutors to him.
The instructor in question unfolded his crossed arms around his chest and looked at his fellow instructors before replying, "There isn't much to say at the moment. But if you're asking about Alexander Gray, from what I've seen so far, he indeed shows potential. However, …"
He momentarily paused, carefully choosing his words. The other instructors waited patiently for him to complete his statement. After all, they were all curious about the miracle boy, but without a suitable reason, they couldn't just call for him. Additionally, if anyone could accurately describe someone's biology, he would be the one.
Horvey raised his eyes to meet everyone and continued, "… his energies felt different."
"Different? How so?" His statement had stirred their curiosity. This was getting more interesting by the second.
"I'm not entirely sure. He does have mana in his system, but I also felt traces of a different kind of energy. This energy was similar to the one given off by void creatures, but at the same time, his felt…. Purer? I'm not sure how to describe it." Horvey stated with a pondering look as if revising the moment he resonated with Alex.
His ability was one that allowed him to resonate with any object, living or inanimate and through that, determine their weak points, and with that, he could transform a part of himself into a weapon and strike that weak point. It was a dual-natured skill, quite rare.
Of course, the first time he tried that on a void creature, he passed out. Their biology was simply different from what humans knew.
"Are you saying he is some kind of void creature or something?" One of the instructors muttered, but the silence in the hall allowed everyone to hear what he said.
"Of course not. What I am saying is that he gives off a similar vibe but not quite. Additionally, when my body felt that small trace, I nearly collapsed."
"…" His words rendered all of them speechless. Horvey could still recall how he felt when he resonated with Alex. It nearly brought him to his knees. Luckily for him, his strength and reaction speed far surpassed the students.
The principal looked at Horvey critically as if to see if his words were as he stated. His words were hard to believe, but if what he said was correct, then there was indeed something special about the boy.
'Even sir Zol asked me to keep an eye on him,' Seraph silently thought before speaking out loud. They were veering from their goal as they needed to finish this meeting and get back to their duties.
"Let's put that aside for now," Seraph stated, breaking the instructors from their thoughts.
"We still have a couple of things to cover before we close for the day…" The meeting continued with the instructors discussing the curriculum and activities planned for the first years.