Emra paused, staring at the wall as though searching for the right words. "It's part of my family's legacy. My father is one of the higher-ups in the association. They train people like me—those with natural abilities or let me say, inborn potential."
Buji frowned, trying to process her words. "Natural abilities?"
"Yes. They seek out individuals with unique talents. Joining wasn't exactly my choice; it was expected of me."
"So… why are you telling me all this?"
Emra turned to him, a small smile on her lips. "Because I think you have potential too. I was indirectly inviting you to join."
Buji stared at her, stunned. And unlike expected from Emra, he gave no response.
Before he could respond, Emra glanced at him lying down with his arms stretched above his head.
"That's a bad habit, and I mind it."
"Okay, okay, I will sit up now," Buji said, reluctantly rising from the bed. He sat on the bed, stretching his hands in an uncivilized manner, narrowing escaping a hit on Emra's face who on her own part, dodged the careless hand.
"I told you I was a bit tired," but hearing nothing from Emra, he glanced an eye at her and uttered, "Okay, continue."
"But you're acting as if you can hear me."
"Yes, I heard you. And that is how I knew you hadn't finished your statement."
"You think you're fast enough to cover up, right?"
'I have nothing to say, Miss Emra. Just continue.'
As if reading his thoughts, Emra continued, "My academy is enrolling new intakes now. But they can only be recommended by establishments, institutions, and the higher-ups are also given an opportunity to recommend students."
"So…"
"So, their awakening ceremony is soonest. My dad has one slot of enrolment left, I was thinking you could fill it up."
"Slot of enrolment?"
Emra studied Buji after his last question for a moment, then answered.
"Yes. Establishments and institutions are allowed to recommend as many students or individuals they find with potential, but the higher-ups are, however, giving only five slots. My dad has recommended four already, so, I think you can best fill in the remaining."
'Why does she think I'm best? In my former school, I am considered the weakest, earning the nickname "the weakling". Now, here she is saying I could fill in the gap. Does she think I have a kind of ability, or even, an inborn potential?
"But…"
"But what?"
"I don't know much about all you have told me. I mean, starting with this evolution story of yours. It was not clear."
"I will be with you in a short time," Emra said, getting up from where she sat and headed towards the door. She stopped in the middle of the open door and remembered something.
"Also, don't forget to pull off your uniform and freshen up."
'Oh, how can I almost forget I was still in my uniform?' Buji thought and slumped back to the bed.
***
Kum, Kum, Kum…
"Dinner meal is ready. Let's have our dinner here too," Emra said, standing outside Buji's room door.
Buji had already freshened up, he was putting his shirt on when he heard the knock on the door. Without wasting much time, he made for the door and opened it. Behold, Emra was carrying their tray of food.
"I brought it along," Emra said, noticing the surprised look on Buji's face.
Allowing her in, Buji went over to a stool that was beside his standing mirror.
"We forgot this," he said pointing at the tray of empty plates on the stool.
"I will take them while leaving," came Emra's response.
'Well, change is always constant. She no longer wishes to depend on the maidservant. Interesting.'
As usual, Emra dropped the tray on the floor and invited Buji to come over so they could be fast and end their discussion. She threw something on the bed anyway.
"What's that?"
"The pamphlet I will be using to clarify your confusion of that hunter term and the evolution too," Emra replied.
"I see."
"…"
After dinner, Buji and Emra were sitting on the bed again. Emra was flipping through the pamphlet she held in her hands.
"I'm not sure you love history, but you will have to engage with me in case you don't," Emra stated, flipping back to the first page of the pamphlet and holding it high enough so Buji could observe it.
On it was the title, "WHY BE A HUNTER."
"This pamphlet will be given to the new awakeners during the awakening ceremony. It contains the brief story of what had happened, and why they were going to be future hunters."
'Hmm, just read it first.'
"Are you ready? I'm not going to be reading everything though, just the part that narrates how the evolution came to be."
"Go on," Buji's voice sounded instinctive and calm.
***
In the middle of the clamoring metropolis, a mysterious sound echoed through the streets, melodiously. It unleashed an enchanting tune that was fascinating and haunting, with lyrics that whispered secrets to the listeners. The song's name was "Unknown," and its origin was shrouded in mystery.
At first, the inhabitants of the metropolis were engrossed in the song, some hummed it as they went about their daily activities. But as hours turned into days and days into weeks and months, a sudden change crept over the city. Occurrences seen as strange began to plague these civilians.
'Author must be a good narrator.'
Industrial equipment would either malfunction or at worst, break down with no cause and no explanation. Erected buildings would develop cracks and openings as if the foundations shifted. Sometimes, they end up collapsing. People would engage in disturbing dreams during their sleep, only to wake up feeling exhausted.
What started with small insignificant events, soon grew more intense and occurred frequently. The government tried its very best to find the source and cause, but all efforts resulted in a dead-end.
It was then obvious. The "Unknown" was more than just a song—it was a curse.
A curse that was crafted to disrupt the fabric of reality.
'Just perfect.'
As the curse began to improve, the world began changing.
Monsters fell upon the earth, once concealed in the shadows, later emerged into the open. Strange energies began to manifest—magic came into existence. Humans unknowingly absorbed potentials, hidden, and were later called "Awakeners."
The Awakeners were those who were withdrawn from living under normal human capabilities. Among them was a young man named Yin, who, unlike others, possessed an unusual ability—the power to sense and track strange energies, especially magical energies. This ability led him to an ancient chamber, deep beneath the city, where he discovered an artifact.
An ornate box adorned with cryptic runes. It was small in size too.
As Yin touched the box, the curse revealed its true nature.
A powerful entity struck out from the small box, surprisingly escaping the enclosure in which they were. The formless entity, however, obeyed the principle of diffusion, spreading across the atmosphere.
Yin and the Awakeners who were closest to the box got affected the more since they inhaled most of its cursed scent—the scent that made one to be able to transform into beasts, and even, monsters.
Other Awakeners and normal humans noticed the strange scent spreading so fast, and the atmosphere changing its color to somewhat dark purple. Soon, the steady approach of different strange portals from atop the atmosphere. That was when the Awakeners realized that they were not going to be fighting against the curse but must prevent the catastrophic junction of what was approaching their world.
The fate of the humans hung in the balance as they furthered their research on how to stop the catastrophe.
The world changed forever, as magic and monsters became a basic occurrence in everyday life. The government of the world changed its politics from being handled by humans to hunters—the newly awakened who fought against and hunted down what was hidden in the mysterious portals.
This occurrence happened ten centuries ago.
"Continue," Buji said, after waiting for Emra to continue.
"I'm done. You will find out others when you enter the Academy. Take this as a prologue."
"Just like that? You are a good reader though."
"Thanks," Emra's face flushed.
"Okay, okay. It's late already. Good night," Buji noticed the hands of the clock.
"Don't forget the trays too," Buji reminded and slumped onto his bed, closing his eyes after hearing the closing sound of his room's door.
***