Ethan followed the blue-haired girl to the training grounds, curiosity getting the better of him. As they walked, the murmurs of the crowd grew louder.
"...heard she's from the Tokyo branch..."
"...SS rank at her age? Unbelievable..."
"...wonder what her Essence is..."
The blue-haired girl seemed oblivious to the attention, her focus fixed on the training grounds ahead.
As they arrived, Ethan saw a group of students gathered around a large, holographic display. The display showed a 3D map of the surrounding area, with a large, red dot indicating the Kraelion's location.
Professor Orion, a tall, imposing figure with a no-nonsense attitude, stood at the front of the group. "Alright, students! We have a situation here. A Kraelion has been spotted in the nearby woods. We need to deploy a team to take care of it."
The blue-haired girl raised her hand, and Professor Orion nodded. "Ah, yes. Our new student, Lila. You're with me on this mission."
Ethan felt a pang of disappointment. He wanted to join the mission, but without an Essence, he was useless.
As Professor Orion began to explain the mission details, Ethan's mind wandered. What was Lila's Essence? Why was she so confident?
"...and remember, students, teamwork is key. We need to work together to take down this Kraelion," Professor Orion said, his voice snapping Ethan back to attention.
Lila turned to Ethan, a hint of a smile on her face. "Hey, you're...?"
"Ethan," he replied, feeling a little awkward.
Lila's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Ethan, what's your Essence?"
Ethan hesitated, feeling a familiar sense of embarrassment. "I...I don't have one."
Lila's expression changed, her eyes filling with surprise. "Really? That's...rare."
Ethan shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Yeah, I guess so."
As they continued to talk, Ethan couldn't help but wonder what Lila's Essence was. And why she seemed so interested in him...
---
As Ethan stood up, his classmates snickered and whispered to each other. "Hey, look at Ethan trying to be a hero," someone jeered.
Ethan's face flushed with embarrassment, but he tried to ignore them. Professor Lumen handed out the mission briefing packets, and the students began to discuss their strategy.
"Hey, Ethan, you should stick with us," said a student named Alex, smirking. "We wouldn't want you to get lost or hurt."
The other students chuckled, and Ethan felt a surge of frustration. "I can take care of myself," he said, trying to sound confident.
But Alex just laughed. "Sure, Ethan. That's why you're always the last one to finish the simulations."
Ethan clenched his fists, feeling his anger rise. But before things escalated, Professor Lumen intervened.
"Alright, alright. Let's focus on the mission. You'll be heading into a simulated combat zone, where you'll need to work together to complete objectives."
The students nodded, still snickering and glancing at Ethan. But Ethan was determined to prove himself. He was going to show them that he was more than just a weak link.
"Remember, teamwork is key," Professor Lumen said, as the students prepared to depart. "Stay together, watch each other's backs, and you'll succeed."
Ethan nodded, trying to ignore the doubts creeping into his mind. He was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
But as they entered the simulated combat zone, Ethan couldn't shake off the feeling that he was in over his head...