Ethan dropped his backpack with a thud to the ground. He felt exhausted, a mental exhaustion that weighed more heavily on him than the weight of the backpack itself. The physics exam had been difficult, and the homework he'd finished just before leaving hadn't helped his mood. He sighed, a deep sound echoing in the quiet room bathed in the orange light of dusk. He felt a little listless, as if he'd had a long and demanding day.
The System's voice echoed in his mind, this time with a tone of genuine concern that, while surprising, was not entirely unusual. "Relax Ethan, how did it go with your friends?". The softness in her voice was something Ethan had grown accustomed to by now, though sometimes the System reverted to its neutral, almost robotic tone. This inconsistency sometimes confused him, but it no longer caused him fear.
Ethan shrugged his shoulders. The image of Laura and Miguel floated in his memory. They had talked about the usual, the trivial things that filled their days, and the recent changes in their lives. The appearance of the monsters had been a significant event, to be sure, but it had not drastically altered their daily routines. They had talked about it, yes, but now, with fatigue, he was less eager to recall those details.
Suddenly, the System said, "I've been watching your friends. Laura and Miguel..."
"Why, are you spying on them?" asked Ethan, a little alarmed.
"Don't worry, I'm not spying. I'm just analyzing their statistics," replied the System.
"Don't do it!" exclaimed Ethan, a bit angrily. "I don't like the idea of you looking at my friends' information without their permission."
The System replied in a more serious tone, "I understand your concern, but I assure you there is no malice in my intentions."
"I know that, but still.... It's your privacy!" retorted Ethan.
The System replied with a digital wink, "Relax, I've already seen them."
Ethan fell silent, surprised. "What, what, but you said you didn't look at them?" he asked, confused.
"Let's just say there are ways to get information, even without looking directly," the System replied with a sly grin.
Ethan frowned. "I don't like that. I don't like you hiding information from me."
"I'm not hiding anything from you. I'm just offering you an opportunity," System said in a direct, assertive tone.
"An opportunity?" asked Ethan, intrigued.
"Look... Laura and Miguel are special. They have potential to be hunters," said the System.
"Hunters? But why do you say that?" asked Ethan, confused.
"Because I have seen their statistics. And I assure you they're special," the System replied.
Ethan thought about his friends. "I can't believe it... But how did you do it?" he asked, amazed.
"That's irrelevant. What's important is that Laura and Miguel have potential. Period.", replied the System, with a firm and conclusive tone.
Ethan was left thinking about his friends. "Well, I'll have to talk to them...", he finally said, with a thoughtful tone.