After an additional 10 minutes of waiting, Alex received a message on his phone.
The message conveyed the news of his success in passing the second test and his mana capacity assessment.
Despite receiving an F rank due to the absence of elemental affinity, he was still eligible to proceed to the third test.
While the F rank limited his magical abilities and potential as a mage, it didn't deter Alex from pursuing his goal of becoming a hunter.
While this result limited his options, he still had the opportunity to attempt the third test and prove his worth as a hunter.
However, the question that loomed over him was how he could acquire and wield skills without possessing any elemental affinity.
In the apocalyptic world he now inhabited, the use of elemental magic was tied to one's affinity for specific elements. For example, without an affinity for fire, one would never be able to wield fire magic.
Seeking answers, Alex turned to Aira, the system that had provided him with guidance and information thus far.
With genuine curiosity and a hint of concern, he asked, "Aira, can you tell me how I can use skills, as you mentioned before, even though I don't have any elemental affinity?" This question had been on his mind since the system had first introduced the concept of skills, and he hoped for some clarity on the matter.
[You don't need to worry about anything; you'll learn everything once you reach level 10,] the System replied with a calm and composed tone.
Alex received a reassuring message from the system, alleviating his concerns.
It was a comforting prospect for Alex, knowing that he had a path forward to acquire the skills and abilities he desired to become a formidable hunter.
Alex wasted no time and promptly followed the room number mentioned in the message he had received. The room was located on the 7th floor, so it didn't take him long to reach it.
However, as Alex was making his way towards his assigned room, his eyes fell upon a young woman in her late teens, probably 19. She was sitting in a quiet corner on the floor.
While Alex didn't think much of it initially, one thing caught his attention – the girl's vibrant green hair. "If my memory serves me correctly, could she be...?" Alex pondered briefly, but he didn't dwell on it.
He had around 20 minutes to spare before the third test was scheduled to begin.
Alex approached the young lady cautiously. What he saw intrigued him even more.
She was a stunning girl with short, shimmering green hair that resembled a lush forest. Her emerald-green eyes matched her hair perfectly, and her fair skin added to her overall allure. What fascinated Alex the most, however, was a significant scar on her right hand. '
"Yes, I was right; it surely is my lucky day," Alex muttered to himself with a satisfied grin.
As he drew closer, he couldn't help but admire the beauty that seemed out of place in this desolate area. Her presence was enigmatic, and her scar hinted at a hidden story, but for Alex, who retained the memories of his previous life, there was nothing truly concealed from him.
Without hesitation, Alex decided to approach her, compelled by an inexplicable curiosity about the green-haired girl and the mysteries she might hold.
Seeing Alex approaching her, the girl wiped her eyes, which appeared to be swollen from crying.
"Hi…" Alex attempted to introduce himself to the green-haired lady, but before he could utter more than a greeting, she curtly cut him off, stating, "I have a boyfriend," as if she wanted to shut down any conversation with him.
Alex was taken aback by the abruptness of her response and attempted to clarify, saying, "I think you've got something wrong..."
However, the lady interrupted him again, this time more firmly, "I told you, I have a boyfriend. Don't irritate me."
Alex couldn't help but burst into laughter, finding the situation rather amusing. He laughed heartily, seemingly unfazed by the lady's rejection.
Still, he decided to reveal his knowledge, saying, "HAHAHA... You are Elizabeth Miller, right? Daughter of Uncle Allen Miller."
The shock in the girl's eyes was evident, and it became clear to Alex that he had correctly identified her.
On the other side, Elizabeth was utterly astounded. In her entire life, she had never known or even seen this man's face before. The unexpected recognition left her speechless and bewildered.
Alex quickly recovered from his laughter and decided to make amends.
He introduced himself with a friendly tone, saying, "Oh, how bad of me. Let me introduce myself. My name is Alex Thorn. I noticed you didn't have anyone with you, so I came here to say my greetings when I recognized you. You see, your father once saved me and my brother from a dungeon overload. So, I've seen your picture once."
Alex spun a convincing tale, even though it was fabricated through and through. The concept of dungeon overloads and her father's heroics were entirely fictional, as he had never encountered her face-to-face in his previous life except on TV.
What piqued Alex's curiosity, however, was the lady in front of him. In his previous life, she was an SS rank healer known as the 'Holy Maiden' and was a part of one of the top guilds in the world.
Elizabeth's renown as a skilled healer had garnered her significant fame within the hunter community.
In Alex's previous life, he had come to know about her father's story during an interview she had given. In that interview, she had candidly discussed her family's challenges and successes, including the revelation that her father had been a hunter who tragically lost his life in a dungeon expedition.
Elizabeth's expression shifted from surprise to confusion as she processed Alex's words. It was clear that she was struggling to make sense of the situation, especially since she had no recollection of ever meeting Alex or hearing about her father's supposed heroics.
While his father had been a hunter, he held a low rank, and the most intriguing part was that he had never shared anything about this aspect of his life with Elizabeth.
Now, faced with someone who seemed to know her father, Elizabeth wondered if there was a reason her father had kept his hunter life hidden from her.
Despite the curiosity that was building within him, Alex decided not to press further on this sensitive topic during their first encounter. He realized that he needed to tread carefully and earn Elizabeth's trust before delving into such personal matters.
After all, forming an alliance with her could potentially help him navigate the world of hunters more effectively.
Alex, on the other hand, maintained a composed demeanor, eager to learn more about the woman in front of him and potentially form an alliance.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know about anything related to my father's hunter experiences. He never shared those stories with us," Elizabeth explained, her voice tinged with apology.
"That's alright. It happened about six months ago. By the way, I was curious when I saw you sitting alone, and I thought I could meet your father once again to properly thank him because at that time, I never had the chance to do so," Alex replied, offering a warm smile.
Alex had known that Elizabeth would awaken as an S-rank healer six months from now, but he had never expected to meet her today