Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 764  Chapter 176.1 - Talk

As Sylvie descended the rugged parkour course with Jasmine at her side, she couldn't help but feel a strange sense of relief. The tension from earlier had begun to ebb, replaced by a comfortable camaraderie as she and her friend navigated the path. Along with them was a new addition to their little group—Layla, one of Jasmine's regular teammates, who had ended up joining them during the descent. 
Layla was a bright presence, her honey-blonde hair tied back in a simple ponytail that bounced as she walked. She had an easy smile that rarely left her face, and Sylvie's [Authority] detected nothing but positive emotions radiating from her: curiosity, amusement, and the steady warmth of friendliness. It was refreshing, especially after the emotional chaos of earlier events. 
"Whew, that was intense," Layla said, brushing some dust off her hands. "I think I've got rocks in places I didn't know existed." 
Jasmine laughed, her own auburn hair sticking to her forehead from sweat. "Speak for yourself! I swear, whoever designed that incline was trying to break us." 
Sylvie couldn't help but smile, her gaze drifting between her two companions. For all the challenges of the day, it was nice to end it on a lighter note. Layla's cheerful energy felt infectious, and for the first time in a while, Sylvie felt herself genuinely relaxed. 
As they reached a flatter section of the course, Jasmine glanced sideways at Sylvie, her eyes narrowing playfully. "You know, I'm starting to think I got the short end of the stick." 
"Huh?" Sylvie blinked in confusion. 
"I mean, you got to ride on Irina's bus," Jasmine teased, her tone dripping with mock envy. "While the rest of us mere mortals had to scrape by on our own two feet." 
Sylvie flushed, waving her hands defensively. "Hey, I wasn't just riding along! I contributed too, you know." 
"Oh, sure you did," Jasmine said with an exaggerated roll of her eyes. "Just sitting there all regal, smoothing out terrain and letting Irina blaze the trail. Must've been so hard." 
"It was hard!" Sylvie protested, her cheeks puffing slightly in indignation. "I was using my [Authority] the whole time to make sure the team didn't lose footing! Without me, they could've tripped or worse." 
"Uh-huh,"