inspire-indiana Chapter 20 Eleanor White
Chapter 20 Eleanor White
"Quiet."
The moment that word echoed in the classroom, the classroom fell silent.
Her stern expression softened, and she scanned the classroom, her sharp eyes scrutinizing every detail. Her authority commanded respect.
“Professor Eleanor White,” I thought, looking at the woman.
"Good morning, students," she said, quieting everyone down. "I'll start by taking attendance, and then we'll discuss the proper use and operation of weapons in combat."
Professor White had short, blond hair that framed her face, giving her an air of distinction. Her eyes were deep blue, seemingly capable of penetrating anyone.
In fact, she is also a highly active hunter who goes on missions from time to time.
“Eleanor White, ranked 210th globally among hunters.” I immediately recalled her ranking at the start of the game.
She was also the first female hunter to reach a triple-digit ranking at the age of 21.
She is known as the 'Controller', and she is one of the most talented people in the world. She has reached a state of complete mastery in using and manipulating magic, hence the nickname 'Controller'.
Her attire truly embodied that of a mentor, exuding authority and experience. She wore a neatly ironed white shirt with the Hunter Academy crest embroidered on the chest, symbolizing her status as a respected teacher. Over this shirt was a dark blue suit jacket, adding a touch of formality to her appearance.
Her trousers were made of a special material that allowed for easy movement, essential for the practical aspects of weapons training. She wore a pair of simple yet durable black boots, which completed the professional look.
Her blond hair was neatly tied in a ponytail, giving her a serious and unsmiling appearance, which complemented her stern demeanor. Her sharp, deep blue eyes seemed to see everything, as if they could detect even the slightest bit of laziness among the students.
Just as I was analyzing her like this, she started calling out names.
“Student ranking 2450, Morse Scott.”
As expected, he started calling roll from me. This was also to be expected, because that's how things always go.
The moment my name was mentioned in the classroom, everyone's eyes turned to me instantly, some with mocking smiles on their faces.
"Here," I replied calmly, paying no attention to anyone.
“Student ranking 2449, Ethan Hartley.”
"arrive"
Because he awakened later than his peers, Ethan's starting level was not high, so he was ranked at the bottom, just like Morse. This plunged Morse into despair and inferiority... seeing people like himself constantly progressing while he remained stagnant.
"Student rankings..."
......
......
As her ranking rose higher and higher, finally, the first main character appeared.
"Student ranking 756, Sylvie Solaris."
She was smiling brightly, raising her hand to look at the teacher. Because she was a therapist, her practical score wasn't high. Therefore, the principal arranged a special position for her, grading her solely based on her theoretical scores.
"arrive"
"Student ranking 567, Ash"
He was Victor's first henchman, sitting in the back, a burly man who wielded his fists. Victor found him in the slums and recruited him, possessing extraordinary fighting skills even as a child. At the time, as an eight-year-old, he defeated five adults.
"To!"
His enormous voice echoed in the classroom, roaring like a wild beast.
"Tsk." I couldn't help but purse my lips, because my senses are much more sensitive, and his loud voice annoyed me.
"Student ranking: Class of 456, Kaylan Storm"
"arrive."
This is Victor's second henchman, the son of a subordinate family of the Black family. His face is covered in scars, and he uses double axes as his weapon in the game.
......
......
"Student ranking 98, Carl Darian"
Carl made it into the top 100. He was tall and imposing, exuding an air of nobility.
"arrive."
"Student Level 75 Lucas Middleton"
Then there's Lucas, the protagonist's 'best' friend.
"Here, teacher."
Although these two are main characters, there is a reason why they are ranked low: they were late for the entrance exam, which caused their ranking to drop.
“Student ranking 43, Julia Middleton.”
Julia is very capable, but she is a bit slow and doesn't score well on her theoretical exams, ranking lower than others.
"arrive"
"Student ranking 5th, Alice Thornefield."
Alice excelled in both theory and practice, ranking fifth overall in her class and being the only archer to break into the top 50.
"arrive"
"Student Ranking #3, Irina Phoenix"
Although Irina has a fiery temper, she is actually quite intelligent in terms of theory. As a mage, she needs to be able to make quick and accurate calculations.
"arrive."
"Student level, Victor Black."
Then there's our cold-blooded prince... no further explanation needed, because this guy is basically the protagonist's first rival, so he's very strong...
"arrive".
And so, while the students were busy with their own things, attendance was taken over.
However, something that most students hadn't noticed immediately caught my attention.
Their names are not here.
Those were the three students who left this world on Saturday night; none of them were on the list.
It seems Eleanor White doesn't care. She's not the type to waste time worrying about bullying other students.
"Alright, let's begin the lesson."
Next, she began to explain in detail the various weapons used by hunters, from swords and bows to staves and daggers. Her enthusiasm for the subject was evident throughout her explanation, and her knowledge was truly profound.
While almost every student here knows how to use weapons, that doesn't mean they understand the advanced theories related to weapons. And no one would refuse some pointers on weapons from a hunter ranked 210th globally.
"The sword is..." She started by talking about the sword. However, while she spoke, I was also observing the main characters and Eleanor. After all, this was the first time I was seeing them through someone's eyes, unlike when I was inside the necklace.
"Morse, are you listening?"
Just as I was trying to catch someone's expression with my eyes, she probably sensed my scrutinizing gaze and turned her eyes to me.
"Yes, Professor White."
I looked up and answered. However, her squinting gaze did not leave me; she was observing me, trying to see through me.
I didn't get along well with most of the teachers because Morse always sat at the back and didn't participate in asking questions, which left a bad impression on her.
This woman's way of thinking is almost entirely about pros and cons.
The more benefits you can bring her, the more you will receive in return.
So, what can students bring?
That is your future.
This means that if you are talented and promising, then you will get attention.
If you don't have it, then go die.
This is basically how the college actually operates, not as the principal claims.
Professor White kept her eyes fixed on me, her expression unchanged. I could sense she was planning something, perhaps testing my concentration during class.
“Morse,” she said with a gentle smile, “since you seem so focused, let’s see how well you’re listening. Can you tell me what the main advantages of using a compound bow are compared to a recurve bow?”
Hearing this, I almost burst out laughing. During the time I was inside the necklace, I was probably the most attentive student in class, because I had no other choice. And this was the weapon I had just acquired.
"The main advantage of using a compound bow compared to a recurve bow is that the pulley system of a compound bow can provide greater power and higher precision." I casually quoted a textbook answer.
“You’re right, but what’s the principle behind it?” However, Eleanor White wasn’t about to let me off the hook. The answer was correct, but she pushed the question further.
"Because compound bows utilize cams or wheels on the upper and lower bow limbs, they can release the bowstring when it is fully drawn. This means that when I pull the bowstring back, the pulley system reaches a point where the weight required to hold the bowstring is greatly reduced. Holding the drawn bow in this position becomes easier, reducing the strain on my muscles, making aiming more stable, and allowing me to maintain aim for longer." In that instant, I recalled the definition I had read in a book.
"I don't know." I answered casually, not caring. If I answered, I might get advice or something, but I didn't care. I didn't plan to join a guild, nor did I care about achieving higher scores.
As long as I can stay in this college and make good use of the resources given to me, that's enough.
"Don't you know?" She narrowed her eyes, her pressure on me growing stronger. Although she wasn't at the principal's level, her authority was not to be underestimated.
“Yes,” I replied, my words choked with pressure. “Because you haven’t gotten to this point yet.”
“But you should still do your homework before coming here.” She looked smug and turned her gaze to the girl in front of her.
"Irina, can you answer?"
"Yes. The reason compound bows can provide more power is because they utilize cams or wheels on the upper and lower bow limbs to release tension when the bow is fully drawn. This means that as the bowstring is pulled back, the pulley system reaches a point where the weight required to hold the bowstring is significantly reduced. Holding the drawn bow in this position becomes easier, reduces muscle strain, and makes aiming more stable and longer."
This is exactly the same answer as in the textbook. Clearly, Irina came to class after previewing the material.
"Did you understand, Morse?"
"Pfft pfft..."
I saw my classmates laughing and laughing so hard they were doubled over, but I didn't mind or get angry.
"A person who satisfies himself by belittling others is always a pathetic wretch. After all, I could also reveal that I know this, and I could also satisfy myself here and now by embarrassing the woman in front of me."
However, this does me no good.
Ultimately, I'm just a small fish in a pot. Sometimes, getting burned is necessary to achieve my goal.
"Understood"
“Very good, where were we?” As she began to explain again, I saw her gaze sweep over me.
It seems I'm already on her blacklist, but I don't care.
And so, I lowered my head, stared at the textbook, and memorized everything in my mind.