Attending the academy offered tangible benefits, including access to resources and the opportunity to acquire new skills.
For those who become awakened, there's the potential to earn a living as a hunter, among other roles that arise with such a transformation. However, the financial rewards are fleeting, slipping through one's fingers almost as quickly as they arrive.
Becoming awakened marks merely the beginning of a much longer odyssey. One must invest in resources and treasures to harness and amplify their power, growing ever stronger in the process.
This quest for strength necessitates the acquisition of weapons, armor, and an array of medicines and pills, all of which demand a considerable sum of money.
Moreover, techniques are essential, serving as guides to effectively wield one's abilities in the throes of combat.
Possessing awakened power doesn't equate to immediate mastery. For instance, if you awaken the power of the Fire God path, it doesn't confer the ability to wield fire at will. You won't instantly become capable of spewing flames like a mythic dragon; this is where techniques become invaluable.
Techniques assist in refining and manipulating the energy drawn from your core, enabling you to tap into the elemental power of fire and truly harness your abilities.
Securing a potent technique is a formidable challenge, as the most effective ones are tightly held by prestigious families and influential organizations or factions. To access them, one must align with these powerful entities.
The academy, however, stands apart. With its several decades of existence, it has amassed a collection of techniques. As a student, by demonstrating proper academic performance, you can gain access to these invaluable skills.
Considering these factors, Ethan's sacrifices become apparent, revealing the depth of his commitment to ensuring Ava has a promising future.
But Ava, stubborn and headstrong, seems blind to Ethan's rationale.
*Sigh*
"How can someone so cute be so obstinately hardheaded?" Ethan muttered to himself as he continued eating his meal.
He understood her perspective, though—her not wanting to attend the academy stemmed from the fear of losing her older brother, not from a failure to comprehend the significance of his actions.
Her fears were not unfounded. Had Ethan not been reborebornn he did, the three-eyed wolf might have devoured his brother whole.
*Sigh*
'Why do I feel like this new existence will be anything but easy?' Ethan pondered in silence.
His rebirth had only just begun, and already he'd faced a perilous encounter with the three-eyed wolf. After a narrow escape, which left him with severe injuries inflicted by his teammates, confrontations seemed to follow him—one with the district master, and now with Ava.
These events augured a challenging life ahead.
*Sigh*
'A restful sleep is what I desperately need tonight,' he mused as he stood up from the sofa, taking his empty plate with him, having finished his meal.
With Ava still sobbing in her room, the prospect of doing the dishes loomed over Ethan—a minor yet unwelcome task.
Thankfully, it was just a single plate, so the ordeal wasn't too burdensome.
Dishes done, he returned to the living room and settled into the silence, gazing up at the ceiling, his thoughts adrift.
Even through the quiet of the night, Ava's muffled weeping sound could still be heard from the living room.
Ethan's concern for Ava grew; her prolonged crying might make her ill. Yet he knew that any attempt to check on her could escalate the situation. Resigned, he settled onto the sofa, contemplating the next day's tasks.
Eventually, Ethan decided to turn in for the night, resigning himself to the worn-out sofa with its sagging foam that barely concealed the wood and springs beneath.
'It's not as if anything's changed,' Ethan reflected, considering the previous owner's choice to relinquish the bedroom for Ava's comfort.
'You weren't completely useless, after all—except in matters of strength.' he mused.
He shifted from sitting to lying down, immediately feeling the sofa's discomfort.
'Well, there goes my hope for a good night's rest,' Ethan mused, extinguishing the gas lamp and plunging the room into darkness.
After the room went dark, he closed his eyes, hoping to get a good night's sleep, even though he knew it wouldn't be very comfortable. He was aware that the next day was going to be difficult.
*****
Ethan woke early the next morning, the faint light of dawn barely cresting the horizon.
Without needing to check the time, he guessed it was barely past six. A dull headache throbbed behind his eyes, a souvenir from Ava's prolonged crying and his restless sleep on the uncomfortable sofa. He didn't manage to drift off until well past midnight.
With a sigh, Ethan rose, stretching his limbs with an accompanying symphony of bone-cracking sounds. His body felt sore, and some parts were stiff, the poor circulation from the hard sofa making its presence known.
He knew Ava would still be asleep. She rarely woke up this early, and after her emotionally exhausting night, it was even less likely. Concern for her well-being nudged at him as he approached the bedroom door, seeking to check on her. To his dismay, the door remained firmly shut—Ava hadn't unlocked it from the inside after her ordeal.
Another sigh escaped him as he turned towards the bathroom. The routine of brushing his teeth and bathing in cold water offered a refreshing calm to his frayed nerves.
After his bath, Ethan stood by the sink, drying himself with his towel as he stared at his reflection in the mirror.
It wasn't admiring himself that drew his gaze to the mirror this time; instead, he regarded his reflection with a look of serious resolve.
Dressed and ready to leave, he noted it was around seven, yet there was still no sign of Ava. Ethan realized with a twist of irony that he would be skipping breakfast; his culinary skills, both in this life and his last, were disastrous. The last thing he wanted was to poison himself or face the day on an empty stomach.
Deciding on street food as a safer bet, he made his way toward the door but paused, feeling a pull to check on Ava one more time.
He stood before her bedroom door, hesitation seizing him for a moment before he lifted his hand and knocked gently.
*Knock* *Knock*