Kairiki

Level 12: A-Rank Gate

[The food court of the mall buzzed with the chatter of families, the clatter of trays, and the distant hum of background music. The Mitchells and Poseys, along with Hydro and Francinilson, sat around a large table, sharing a meal. The atmosphere was light, the stress of the earlier dungeon encounter slowly fading as everyone relaxed into casual conversation. The bright fluorescent lights overhead reflected off the shiny surfaces of the tables, casting a warm glow on the group.]

[As they were eating, Linda Mitchell turned to Hydro, her curiosity getting the better of her. She had been observing him since they met, noticing the calm demeanor he held, which was quite unusual for someone his age.]

LINDA: [curiously, as she takes a bite of her sandwich] So, Hydro, how did you become a Hunter? You look pretty young for this kind of job.

[Hydro paused, mid-bite, feeling the weight of the question. He had yet to figure out much about this world's version of himself, including how he might have become a hunter. Trying to sound natural, he pieced together a story, his mind racing to make it believable.]

HYDRO: [slowly, choosing his words carefully] Well... it's kind of a long story. I guess you could say it just... happened. I always had a knack for fighting, so when I discovered my abilities, I decided to become a hunter. When I first registered, I was an E-Rank though, nothing special.

[He glanced around, trying to gauge their reactions. Linda and Rick listened intently, nodding along, while the Poseys seemed intrigued by the idea of a teenager doing such dangerous work. Francinilson, sitting across from him, noticed the hesitation in Hydro's voice but didn't comment on it.]

LINDA: [sympathetically] I see... that must've been tough. What kind of weapons do you use?

HYDRO: [quickly, trying to steer away from the more dangerous aspects] Swords. Just swords. I don't use anything else in battle.

[He reminded himself to keep his powers secret, knowing that his Shadow Soldiers could easily terrify the others.]

[Francinilson, sensing the growing curiosity of the group, decided to give them a broader explanation of what it meant to be a hunter, hoping to clear up any confusion.]

FRANCINILSON: [with a teaching tone] For those of you who might not be familiar, hunters are warriors who possess magical powers. We use these powers to fight magic beasts and clear dungeons. Hunters started appearing when humanity first encountered magic. It's believed that the mana in our bodies awakened these abilities, each unique to the individual.

[Rick Mitchell leaned forward, his brow furrowing slightly. He still seemed confused about the whole concept, comparing it to his understanding of a "hunter" as someone who hunts animals.]

RICK: [scratching his head] So, when you say "hunter," you're not talking about someone who hunts animals, right?

[Francinilson chuckled, realizing that the term could be easily misunderstood. He leaned back in his chair, nodding as he clarified.]

FRANCINILSON: [with a smile] Exactly. The term "hunter" in our work is different. We're more like warriors, each with a specific set of skills. There are two general categories-combat and non-combat hunters-and six specific classes: Fighters, Mages, Assassins, Tankers, Rangers, and Healers.

[As Francinilson explained the different classes, Hydro found himself reflecting on his own abilities. The more Francinilson described, the more Hydro realized that he didn't fit neatly into any one category.]