My Hermes System (Web Novel)
chapter-32

"Are you… really a System Holder?"

"!!!"

Van's eyes could not help but widen as she heard Ms. Elton's words. She could copy the skills of other Systems? Wasn't that… a bit too much? But of course, if you look at it objectively, it made sense. There was no way that the Academy would be putting a normal instructor to be the adviser of the Unique-type System Holders.

Once again, Van was shown the infinite possibilities of what System Holders are capable of.

"What's that?"

"Hm?"

Van squinted his eyes as Ms. Elton seemed to be muttering something to him. But after a while, Van realized that Ms. Elton was actually talking… to herself.

"Wait… maybe you're right", Ms. Elton said as she looked to the side, her eyebrows furrowed.

"Maybe that's it. He has a skill that blocks--"

"No, that's ridiculous. Only high-level Systems can do that"

"He's a Unique-type! I am sure he has a skill to block us away"

"Interesting, interesting", Ms. Elton placed her hand on her chin as she looked Van straight in the eye. Once again, her eyes were as if staring directly into Van's soul.

"What are your powers, boy?", Ms. Elton squinted her eyes.

"...Powers?", Van tilted his head. Was Ms. Elton asking him what kind of Skills he has?

"There's no use in hiding your skills from me, boy", Ms. Elton crossed her arms, "I would find out about it sooner or later"

"Although I probably won't remember it tomorrow", she then touched her forehead as she shook her head, "So many systems, so many systems", she hummed.

"...", Van still hesitated in telling her, but it is as she said, if she was going to be his adviser, then she would definitely find out about it sooner or later. And so, with a slight stutter, "I… can run fast"

"Fast? That's it?", Ms. Elton raised her eyebrow.

"...I also have a Skill which allows me to step on air", Van sighed.

"Interesting. Show us, show me", Ms. Elton put up an excited expression as she trotted towards Van.

"It's… my first time using it", Van stuttered as he looked to the side. Ms. Elton's jet-black eyes were truly making his skin crawl. It was as if, if she moved one inch closer towards him, he would be swallowed alive.

"Doesn't matter, use it, use it!"

"O...kay", Van slightly flinched back as Ms. Elton leaned in closer to him. He then took a deep breath and lifted one foot in the air.

[Air Step]

He then relaxed his lifted foot, only to feel like he was stepping on something flat. And then, like walking up a stair, he casually lifted himself up. Of course, since it was his first time using the skill, he stretched out his arms as he tried to balance himself in the air.

"Interesting, interesting", Ms. Elton waved her hands below Van's feet with her mouth slightly open, "I feel no breeze whatsoever, it isn't Wind magic"

"Ms. Elton, please move!", Van then shouted before the [Air Step] disappeared.

"What else do you have, boy!?", Ms. Elton bellowed as she once again leaned in closer to Van, one might say too close as her forehead was already touching Van's chest.

As soon as Van felt a warm feeling planting over his chest, he instantly backed away as he took a quick breath.

"Just tell me, boy", Ms. Elton tilted her head as she saw Van's furrowed eyebrows, "Secret is safe with us, with me. I won't tell anyone, yes?"

"...", Van slightly furrowed his eyebrows. He had seen weird people in the Relic Graveyard, but the woman in front of her, he could not truly follow her thoughts. Was she... crazy?

"I need to know your skills if I will train you", Ms. Elton's voice then suddenly turned colder as her jet-black eyes stared Van straight in the eye.

"I can… somewhat slow down time", Van whispered, his words still full of hesitation, "...But at the same time not really?"

"Slow down time?", Ms. Elton tilted her head as she looked to the side.

"I can't really explain it too well", Van shook his head while sighing quickly. And he was not lying. He learned how to activate and use his skills instinctively. If the instructor were to ask him how he uses his super-speed, then he truly won't have an answer to it. As unlike his active skills that trigger with activating it, his super-speed activates… by will. Like when one moves a finger, he just knows how.

"I see, I see", Ms. Elton placed her hand on her chin as squinted her eyes, "Enhances senses plus combining it with your speed… very fitting"

"Yes?"

"Use it", Ms. Elton then stepped back a few meters, "Get behind me. Go, go!"

Seeing Ms. Elton waving her hand excitedly and gesturing to him to use his powers, Van could not help but take a deep breath. And so, after a few seconds, he let out his breath and activated his [Time Perception] skill, with his eyes sparkling gold at the same time.

Once he saw Ms. Elton's waving hand slowing down, he casually jogged forward towards her. But when he was only a few feet away from going behind Ms. Elton, he noticed something that made his whole body shiver.

"!!!"

Ms. Elton's jet-black eyes were looking directly at him, following his body as he moved. And soon, even though slowly, her head was also turning towards him.

Was Ms. Elton… adjusting to his speed!? Van could not help but take a gulp as he continued to get behind her. This was probably the creepiest thing that has happened to him ever since he enrolled in the Academy.

Ms. Elton's body was getting faster and faster with every millisecond. She said she couldn't copy Van's skills, does this mean... this was purely her raw speed?

After taking another gulp and pushing out his thoughts, he finally deactivated all of his skills.

"Ah!", Ms. Elton quickly turned her body towards him, "Fast, very fast. Definitely as fast as Ray, but not as fast as Garry", Ms. Elton muttered as she once again got lost in her own world.

"But…", she then stopped muttering as she looked Van straight in the eye once more, "...You're only level 2?"

"!!!"

"Interesting, really interesting", Ms. Elton clapped her hands, "You have crystals on you, yes? I can smell it, no need to hide it"

"Y...yes?", Van could not help but back away. Does this woman know everything? He thought.

"Why are you not using it?"

"I… don't know how"

"I see", Ms. Elton squinted her eyes, "Just place it on your forehead and absorb it"

"...Sorry?", Van squinted his eyes. Was it... that simple?

"Next week I will teach you how if you still haven't absorbed it. Don't sell it. Money is useless", Ms. Elton waved her hand before starting to walk back towards the classroom's… living room, her words still echoing through Van's ears.

'...Money is useless?', Van let out a tiny breath as he followed the instructor back to the living room.

As soon as they got back, Van's eyes moved towards the two new people that weren't there before-- 2 female students.

And one, very very familiar to Van-- Gemma.

"Gah!", Gemma pointed her fingers towards Van as soon as their eyes met, "Nathan, you lied to me!", she screamed as she marched towards him.

Seeing Gemma's figure getting close to him, Van only had one thought running in his mind…

...Why is she everywhere?