Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Irina folded her arms tightly, still simmering from the exchange. But deep down, beneath the frustration, a flicker of curiosity sparked. If she was going to lose-truly lose she at least wanted to understand why. Why was Astron so effective? What was she missing?

She shot him a sideways glance, her hazel eyes narrowing. "All right," she said finally, her tone begrudging. "Show me."

Astron raised an eyebrow, tilting his head slightly. "Show you?"

"Yes," Irina snapped, her voice tinged with exasperation. "You clearly know something I don't. I want to see how you actually do it-up close"

For a moment, he studied her, his sharp gray eyes thoughtful. Then, with a small nod, he gestured toward the bustling market. "All right. Follow me."

Irina trailed after him as he wove through the crowd with a calm ease that seemed almost instinctual. Unlike her fiery determination, Astron carried an air of quiet authority, the kind that made people notice him without even realizing they were doing so. She frowned, watching his movements. 'He doesn't rush,' she observed. 'It's like he's already in control before he even speaks!

Astron stopped at a modest stall displaying polished wooden carvings-figurines of animals, warriors, and mythical creatures. The vendor, a wiry man with a weathered face, perked up immediately, his eyes lighting with the practiced enthusiasm of a seasoned seller.

"Ah, sir! Welcome! Interested in something? These carvings are crafted from enchanted ebony wood, infused with-"

"Hold on," Astron interrupted gently, picking up a small carving of a gryphon. He

Turned it over in his hands, his gray eyes scanning it with precision. "Enchanted ebony wood, you said?"

"Yes, yes," the vendor said eagerly, leaning forward. "Rare and durable, perfect for collectors."

"Interesting. Because this grain pattern is clearly mahogany. Beautiful in its own right, but far from rare."

The vendor's smile faltered, and Irina's eyes widened as she watched Astron continue, his tone calm but firm.

"Mahogany's a fine wood," Astron said, setting the carving back down. "But it doesn't take enchantments well, does it? The mana residue on this piece is faint, likely from a weak infusion spell. So, let's skip the pretense. How much for this as a decorative piece?"

The vendor stammered, clearly thrown off balance. "Uh... well, for a decorative piece, I suppose I could-"

"500 Valer," Astron said, his tone final. "Fair for the craftsmanship, but that's all it's worth."

After a moment's hesitation, the vendor nodded, his earlier bravado replaced with a sheepish smile. "500 Valer it is."

Astron handed over the coins, pocketing the receipt with a nod before turning to Irina. "See?"

Irina stared at him, her hazel eyes wide. "You knew the wood type just by looking at it?"

Astron shrugged lightly. "It's not hard if you pay attention. The grain patterns are distinct. And the mana residue? That's just basic observation."

Irina blinked, her mind racing. 'Basic? How is that basic? I would've believed the whole enchanted ebony story without a second thought!'

Astron led her to another stall, this one selling gemstones embedded in intricately designed rings. The vendor, a plump woman with a warm smile, greeted them eagerly. "Ah, what a fine couple," the woman said, her tone sweet.

Astron talked with the vendor like that and at the end, she end the same.....

The vendor's confidence wavered, but Astron continued before she could respond. "I'll offer 1000 Valer, for the design. The stone's value is negligible."

The vendor hesitated, glancing at Irina as if hoping for some support. But when Irina said nothing, her frustration still tinged with curiosity, the woman relented. "Fine. 1000."

From the starting value of 9000 Valer, the price fell down to 1000.

As they walked away, Irina couldn't hold back any longer. "How do you know all this?" she demanded, her voice tinged with awe and irritation. "The wood, the stone-how can you tell so quickly?"

Astron walked calmly alongside Irina, his gaze flicking briefly to the bustling market. before returning to her as she asked her question. He seemed to consider her words for a moment before speaking, his tone steady and deliberate.

"Observation," he began, "is about identifying patterns and linking what you see to what you already know. It's finding relevant, discerning details and comparing them to your prior experiences."

Irina frowned, her hazel eyes narrowing slightly. "That sounds... vague. Can you be more specific?"

Astron nodded, gesturing toward a nearby tree. "Take that tree, for example. You

1

Know its trunk is brown. If I asked you to describe that shade of brown, you might compare it to something else-say, the color of milky coffee."

Irina blinked, tilting her head. "Alright... and?"

"How did you make that connection?" Astron continued. "You linked the tree's color to coffee because you've seen coffee before. You know it's brown. That prior knowledge lets you create a bridge between the two."

Irina pursed her lips, her mind working to keep up. "So... you're saying observation is just connecting things to what we already know?"

"Exactly," Astron said, his voice calm but firm. "When I looked at the carving, I recognized the grain pattern because I've seen mahogany before. When I examined the gemstone, I noticed how it refracted light, and I compared it to what I know about moonstones and feldspar."

Irina's brows furrowed as she considered his words. "But... what if you don't have that prior knowledge? What if you don't know what mahogany looks like or how

Moonstones refract light?"

"That's where experience comes in," Astron replied, his gray eyes sharp. "You can't observe what you don't understand. But every observation builds on the last. The more you expose yourself to, the more connections you can make."

He paused, gesturing to the market around them. "Think of it like building a web. Every piece of knowledge is a strand, and observation is about weaving those strands together. The more strands you have, the stronger your web."

Irina tilted her head, her expression thoughtful. "So... when you observe something, you're not just looking at it-you're analyzing it based on everything you've seen

Before."

"Exactly," Astron said. "Observation isn't just about the object itself. It's about the context, the details, and the patterns, And it's not just objects-it applies to people

Too."

Irina raised an eyebrow. "People?"

Astron nodded. "Take the vendors we just dealt with. The first one hesitated when I mentioned the wood type. That hesitation told me he wasn't confident in his claim, which made it easier to push back. The second vendor, on the other hand, tried to double down. But when I pointed out the flaws in her stone, she glanced at you, looking for support. That glance told me she was desperate to salvage the sale, so I

Pressed harder."

Irina stared at him, her hazel eyes wide. 'He's not just observing the items, she thought. 'He's reading everything-the vendors' reactions, their body language, their tone. It's like he's picking them apart without even trying!

Astron's calm gaze met hers, and for a moment, she felt a flicker of frustration. He

Made it sound so simple, but she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to it than he let on.

"So," she said slowly, "it's all about finding patterns, making connections, and reading

People."

Astron continued walking through the market, his tone calm as he elaborated, "That's exactly what it comes down to. Observation isn't some mystical skill-it's about building a knowledge bank, a repository of connections and experiences that you can refer to as needed. But the trick is in knowing how to build that bank."

Irina walked alongside him, her brows furrowed as she absorbed his words. "And how do you do that? Build a knowledge bank, I mean."

"You observe more," Astron replied simply. "The more you expose yourself to different environments, objects, and people, the more you start recognizing patterns and traits. Over time, those patterns become your references. You don't need to memorize every detail-just the ones that matter."

Irina tilted her head, her hazel eyes narrowing. "But how do you know which details matter? Isn't that the hard part?"

"Not as hard as it seems," Astron said, stopping at a stall selling spices and dried herbs. He gestured subtly toward the vendor, a middle-aged man whose hands were stained with yellowish hues from handling turmeric. "You don't analyze everything-that would take too long. Instead, you focus on key areas."

Irina's gaze followed Astron's gesture. "Key areas?"

Astron nodded. "Look at his hands. They tell you he handles his products frequently, meaning he's likely familiar with their quality. His apron is worn but clean-he takes pride in his work, even if his setup is modest. And the arrangement of his spices? Meticulously organized, which suggests he values precision. Those small details are enough to tell me he's not the kind of vendor who'd overinflate prices without good

Reason."

Irina stared at the vendor, her eyes darting to his hands, his apron, and his display. "You got all that just by glancing at him?"

"Yes," Astron said, his tone steady. "Because I know where to look. That's the real skill-

Not just observing, but knowing what to observe. The key is efficiency. You don't need to analyze the entire context-just the parts that matter."

Irina let out a low whistle, her frustration giving way to reluctant admiration. "That's... impressive. And a little annoying, honestly. You make it sound so easy!"

"It's not about being easy," Astron said, his gray eyes meeting hers. "It's about practice.

Inherently, some people are better at noticing where to look. But even that can be trained. The more you observe, the better you get at filtering out the noise and zeroing in on the important details."

Irina crossed her arms, her lips pressing into a thin line. "So, what you're saying is... I've been looking at the wrong things."

"Not wrong," Astron corrected. "Just less relevant. You were focusing on the vendors' words, their sales pitches, and the aesthetics of the products. Those things are designed to distract you from the truth. If you want to observe effectively, you need to cut through the distractions and find the details that actually tell the story."

Irina considered his words, her hazel eyes narrowing thoughtfully. 'He's right,' she admitted to herself begrudgingly. "I was too caught up in the surface-the presentation, the charm of the market. I never thought to look beyond what they wanted me to see.

Astron gestured for her to follow him to another stall, this one selling intricately

Designed lanterns. Without hesitation, he pointed to a specific lantern. "Take this one, for example."

Irina leaned closer, inspecting the lantern carefully. "What about it?" "Notice the welds along the edges," Astron said. "They're uneven-likely done by hand. The metal is sturdy but shows signs of patchwork repairs. This isn't a new piece, but

It's functional. The vendor might try to sell it as an antique, but it's probably just a repurposed design."

Irina blinked, studying the lantern again. 'Uneven welds? Patchwork repairs? I wouldn't have noticed any of that.

"You don't need to know everything about metallurgy or design," Astron continued.

"Just enough to spot inconsistencies. Once you know where to look, the rest falls into

Place." Irina straightened her expression a mix of frustration and determination. "All right. I get it. I've got a lot to learn."

"If you pay attention, with a mind like yours.....you will naturally get better at it. You are one of the smartest after all."

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