As the group finishes their meal, all seated around the large kitchen table, Eren hesitates—visibly torn—before finally deciding to speak up.
"Thank you for taking us along," he says. "I've realized just how big the gap between us really is. I don't think we managed to help you out all that much, but I'll never forget what you've done for my siblings and me. More importantly... I'm starting to come up with an idea for my Hatsu. For the first time, I am genuinely in a good mood and can focus on myself, knowing that our future is secure."
"Thank you, Auren!" Both Mio and Kai say at the same time, smiling at him.
"I'm working hard on my Hatsu as well! I want something grand—something epic that'll make me famous instantly! It needs to have a huge impact! As soon as people see me, they should think of my incredible Hatsu and fear and respect me," Vanessa exclaims, her eyes lighting up with excitement.
That's literally the opposite of what you should do. Your Hatsu should be a secret... at least in most cases.
"Pick something useful. Forget flashy moves," Auren reminds her. "Although... going with your instincts is the right move too. We've been through this already. You know all the standard, 'correct' decisions. Now it comes down to your individual personalities. If you mess up, that's on you. I've done everything I could. If you want, ask me before you finalize your choice—or don't. It's all up to you now."
"I'll think about it," Vanessa says. "But revealing it to you just like that would be boring."
Auren shrugs, saying nothing more. Meanwhile, Konrad grips his glass tightly, raising it for a large gulp of wine.
Looks like he can barely hold himself back from insulting her.
"I've also thought of something," Jean says. "And despite being as antisocial as ever, Joanne is making progress too."
"I've only taught you the basics," Auren says. "You've just opened your Aura nodes. How can you be thinking about your Hatsu already? You haven't even learned Ren. Let's go over your ideas sometime in the future, but for now, you should focus on the basics. Of course, it doesn't hurt to start thinking about it early—but you should only decide after you've got all the information you need and at least some experience in all basic Nen skills. Personally, I think you should take your time. But I'm not going to force you."
"Don't worry," Jean says with a smile. "We're not especially interested in fighting, so we'll probably pick something useful—something that suits us. We're not trying to rush. To be honest, it's not like we really have a choice in the first place."
What does that mean?
Still smiling, Jean picks up her glass of water, plucks a small leaf from the basil plant Marsha keeps on the counter, and concentrates. Her Aura begins to spike—clumsy and unstable, but clearly going beyond a simple Ten. It gathers mostly around her hands, as she is breathing hard, obviously not used to this process.
She's already working on Ren? She just opened her nodes... That's impressive.
"Somehow," Jean says, breathing hard, "after opening our pores, we instantly knew how to use Ten. Just like you explained. Since you taught us the basics, and we know how Ren works in theory, I can barely manage this... although I can only hold it for about a minute."
Suddenly, the leaf floating in her glass begins to glow faintly—bright, but brief—before the light fades and the glass, along with the leaf, returns to normal.
After recovering her breath, Jean speaks up again, "I can't do more yet, but you said this means I'm..."
"A Specialist," Auren finishes the sentence. "That's a surprise, alright."
"What about Joanne?" he asks.
"Heh. She's the same—we're twins, after all. Though her reaction is a little different," Jean replies, while Joanne nods shily.
"Keep this strictly to yourselves," Auren says firmly. "Honestly, I thought you both were talented—but it looks like becoming Nen users has unlocked some kind of latent potential in you. Not because you're Specialists, but because of how quickly you picked up Ren. You shouldn't be able to use it yet—not even that unstable version you just showed. It looks like you both have a very interesting future ahead of you."
"I am a little jealous," Neffi admits. "Specialists have the most exciting abilities."
"I am not," Vanessa states, looking quite confident. "Specialists... they already have more or less a Hatsu that's decided for them right, and they can't decide freely? That is so boring. Where is the fun in that?"
"Specialists are incredibly rare," Auren explains. "Most of them are highly valued... also, even if they have their abilities more or less decided for them, they can still evolve and tweak them. In the first place, they are an image of the user, so it could be argued that their Hatsus are the most fitting and suitable for that individual. It's also possible for Specialists to come up with additional Hatsus, although it's supposedly rare and difficult. Most people won't bother with it, simply focusing on their Specialist Hatsu and trying to improve it."
"Hehe!" Jean replies, looking happy. "I guess it's all thanks to you, Auren! After all, you decided to save our lives and teach us. I guess we will be able to repay you after all. Ever since Dad went broke and amassed that debt—and nearly got us all killed afterwards—our luck really has changed."
"Yes..." Joanne adds, looking at Auren with a flicker of determination in her eyes, partly hidden by her long hair. "You won't regret teaching us."
After the twins reveal the news and everyone finishes their food, the group splits up, Auren deciding to sleep early to be perfectly rested for tomorrow.
As he lies in bed, he thinks about the twins' future.
I wonder what their Hatsu turns out to be. I'm rather surprised. Twins—and both of them Specialists... what are the odds? Specialists are by far the rarest type, with only around 0.03% being ones, if I remember. Are these odds correct? Are they really that rare? There's also one thing to consider: many Specialists awaken their Hatsu by themselves, like that fortune-telling girl or the blind Gungi player. That means the odds of being a Specialist might be even lower, since many of them at least partially learn their Hatsus alone. Add to that twins... did that ever happen? This could be something unique.
I might be a specialist myself... though I'm a rather boring one. I guess I really lucked out. It was a great decision to hire Jolt and decide to teach them Nen. It didn't cost me much time and and the return on my investment seems to be incredible.
Whatever. It's certainly welcome news.
After sleeping, Auren decides not to get up early, deliberately resting a little longer, sitting on his bed, and using Zetsu.
Finally, he gets up and, after eating, showering, and dressing himself, makes his way back to the Association—once again.
I'm getting sick of this place already.... It's time to leave... for good.
Going straight for the elevator leading to the basement, Auren is immediately alarmed as he exits it upon his arrival.
He senses multiple powerful Nen users.
They are strong... must be... Zodiacs! What is happening?
As he walks toward the room where Ella is being exorcised, he sees Pariston, Cheadle, Mizaistom, Botobai, and even Ginta.
Further inside the room is Zamra, a few of her assistants, and Ella—still lying on a bed, tightly bound, unable to move—while Zamra recites silent prayers. A large circle surrounds the bed, written in strange symbols that Auren immediately recognizes as the special Nen inscriptions. They contain a large and dense amount of Aura, surprising him.
"So it has already started," Auren says, walking inside.
"Good morning, Auren," Pariston says with a bright smile. "This is not yet the final stretch. Our dear exorcist is planning to take a break and finish the procedure afterward."
"Why is he here?" Mizaistom asks, eyeing Auren suspiciously.
"I paid for the treatment, I brought her here, and I'm responsible for her," Auren briefly replies.
Cheadle looks a little surprised and then responds, "That's unexpectedly generous of you. On the other hand, you've got the money, after all."
Botobai also stares at Auren. "You are the one who brought down the witch? I was planning to take her down personally, as her acts were vile and an insult to the Association—as well as a blight on humanity. You did well, ridding the world of her, young Hunter. I am impressed."
"Thank you," Auren replies, deciding not to antagonize them for no reason.
"Something is wrong," Cheadle suddenly notes. "The patient's Aura is surging for no reason! It should weaken further and further. It looks like the Entity is going berserk, making its last struggle."
Auren steps forward, drawing Eternity.
"You need to leave the room now," Auren yells to the Zodiacs. "I have a deal with Zamra, and I need to be alone!"
"We can help!" Ginta says, looking worried, while Cheadle outright dismisses him. "What can you do? I will save the life of the girl!"
"Leave now!" Auren says, pointing Eternity at the group. "This is my patient! Do not interfere. I have a plan—get out!"
"I guess I'm in the mood for a piece of cake," Pariston says with a smile as he slowly turns around and leaves. "See you later, Auren."
"Pariston?!" Cheadle yells in surprise.
"It's his decision," Botobai says. "I'll wait outside. If things go south, I will interfere..." He then also leaves the room, the others following him reluctantly, with only Cheadle standing still.
Finally, after staring into Auren's determined eyes, she shakes her head and leaves.
"I will wait outside! Don't mess this up!" she yells, turning around once more and pointing her finger at him.
With the Zodiacs gone, Auren approaches Zamra, standing next to her, Eternity still in his hand.
"I can't..." Zamra begins to speak. "Hold on... it will break out! Auren!"
"Don't worry, you can even help it get outside," Auren says. "Just make sure the girl is fine!"
Suddenly, Ella's Aura spikes even more, stretching toward the ceiling of the room, as if trying to break out of her body.
"It's happening!" Zamra announces, falling backwards onto the ground.
Time to get rid of this disgusting spirit once and for all!
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