Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Astron leaned back slightly on the mana-infused bench, his gaze steady as he absorbed Maya’s words. His thoughts turned inward, piecing together the observations and theories he had been cultivating for some time.

"This aligns with what I suspected," he said, his voice calm but with an undertone of quiet satisfaction. "Your inconsistencies—the way you suppress yourself but occasionally lose control—always pointed to something deeper. A psyche tied to your vampiric nature, one you’ve been subconsciously suppressing."

Maya studied him, her expression unreadable but her hazel eyes gleaming with curiosity and a hint of unease. "You’ve been thinking about this for a while, haven’t you?"

"I have," Astron admitted, his tone matter-of-fact. "Your moments of eruption weren’t just random—they were too distinct, too defined. It wasn’t merely a loss of control. It was as if a completely different person emerged. One with desires and instincts that contrasted sharply with your usual demeanor."

Maya’s fingers tightened slightly against her lap. "And that’s why you made the amulet?"

Astron nodded. "Exactly. I needed a way for you to confront and understand that part of yourself without it taking over. Suppression only works for so long. When pressure builds, it finds a way out—often in destructive ways. The amulet provided a controlled means for you to access it, to interact with it rather than let it erupt unchecked."

Maya’s lips pressed into a thin line as she processed his words. Her gaze drifted briefly to the faint glow of the chamber’s mana patterns before returning to Astron. "And now that I’ve seen it, what’s next? What do I do with this… part of me?"

Astron’s violet eyes flickered with a quiet intensity. "You don’t suppress it anymore. You learn to understand it, to integrate it into who you are. This hidden psyche isn’t an enemy—it’s a part of you. It’s instinct, survival, power. But it needs to be tempered with your rationality and control. That balance is where your strength lies."

Maya exhaled softly, her posture relaxing just slightly. "You make it sound so simple."

"It’s not," Astron replied, his tone firm but not unkind. "But you’ve already taken the first step. Acknowledging its existence and facing it is harder than most realize. The rest will take time, discipline, and self-awareness."

Maya leaned back slightly, her gaze shifting to the faint glow of the mana patterns on the chamber floor. "I’ve spoken to my brother about this," she began, her tone thoughtful. "Not in full detail, of course, but enough for him to understand that I needed guidance. He’s been helping me work on strengthening my mental discipline and resilience."

Astron nodded approvingly, his expression steady. "That was a wise decision. While we can try to face these challenges alone, having someone you trust—especially with the resources and insight your family can provide—makes the process more efficient and grounded."

A faint smile tugged at Maya’s lips. "I thought you might say something like that. You’re practical, as always."

Astron didn’t reply immediately, but the subtle shift in his demeanor hinted at his agreement. The quiet between them was comfortable, punctuated only by the faint hum of elemental energy in the chamber.

As Maya glanced at him, she caught the faintest hint of a scent—fresh, clean, with a touch of lavender. It was subtle, but it lingered in the air, likely from the towel he’d used earlier after his intense training. Her mind briefly wandered, piecing it together. That must be his scent—his natural one, perhaps accentuated by the exertion.

The realization brought a flicker of warmth to her thoughts, but she quickly pushed it aside, her expression remaining composed. She straightened slightly and fixed him with a look of quiet determination.

"Now that you’re here, Junior," she said, her voice gaining a firmer edge, "it would be a waste to leave without making the most of it. This chamber isn’t always this empty, and the elemental energy is at its peak."

Astron tilted his head slightly, his violet eyes narrowing in curiosity. "I had other plans for the evening."

Maya’s brows lifted slightly, a hint of her strong personality returning as she countered, "Plans can wait. This opportunity won’t come around every day, especially not with this kind of atmosphere."

Astron regarded her for a moment, his expression unreadable. He was clearly weighing her words, calculating the worth of her suggestion. "Senior," he began calmly, "I’m not one to waste time, but—"

"Exactly, Junior," Maya interrupted a small but commanding smile on her lips. "You don’t waste time. Which is why I suggest you take full advantage of this. Unless, of course, you think you’ve already reached your limit?" There was a faint teasing lilt to her tone, but her gaze remained steady.

Astron’s eyes flickered with a faint glimmer of amusement. "You’re persistent."

Maya crossed her arms, her expression calm but resolute. "You already know that I don’t back down easily, especially when it comes to potential wasted opportunities."

’After all, now that she had the opportunity to capitalize on her Junior, she might as well do it fully, wasn’t that right?’

A quiet sigh escaped Astron, though it wasn’t one of annoyance—it was more like reluctant acceptance. "Fine," he said, rising from the bench with his usual deliberate grace. "What do you suggest?"

Maya’s smile softened, her confidence shining through. "Let’s see how well you handle a session under my guidance. Consider it an extension of the lessons I gave you last time."

Astron’s gaze met hers, calm but curious. "Then lead the way, Senior."

Maya gestured toward the center of her reserved platform, the patterns of elemental mana glowing faintly as the energy responded to their presence. She turned, her steps deliberate as she prepared to show him that even in moments of casual training, there was room for growth—and perhaps, a little rivalry.

Maya gestured for Astron to take the lotus position at the center of the glowing platform. He complied without protest, his movements precise and deliberate as he settled himself on the mana-infused floor. The faint hum of elemental energy around them grew stronger, the patterns on the ground responding to his presence.

She moved quietly behind him, her footsteps soft against the enchanted surface. Without warning, she leaned forward, wrapping her arms lightly around his shoulders in a sudden, casual hug.

Astron stiffened for a moment, the slightest tension running through his frame. "Senior," he said, his tone calm but with an edge of exasperation.

"Hm?" Maya replied innocently, her chin resting lightly on his shoulder as if she had done nothing out of the ordinary.

"Did you not say you wanted to train?" he asked, his violet eyes glancing at her from the corner of his vision.

"I will," she said, her voice teasing, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "But I thought we could start with something more… grounding."

Astron’s tone remained steady, though a hint of dry humor slipped in. "If you’re going to keep doing this, I’ll leave."

Maya pouted slightly, though she released him and leaned back, her expression playful. "Fine, fine. You’re no fun, Junior."

She adjusted her position, sitting cross-legged behind him. A mischievous glint lingered in her eyes, but she quickly replaced it with a calm and composed demeanor. "Well, since you’re here, let me show you something useful—a mana gathering method I use during training."

Astron tilted his head slightly, his curiosity piqued but tempered by his usual pragmatism. "You do know it won’t work for me."

Maya’s lips curved into a knowing smile. "Why not just observe it? You might learn something. At the very least, it won’t hurt to watch."

He considered her words for a moment before nodding. "I suppose I don’t lose much from it."

"Exactly," Maya said, her tone confident. She adjusted her posture, closing her eyes briefly as she raised her hands in front of her, palms up. A soft glow of mana began to form between them, the energy swirling gently like a controlled current.

"This method focuses on aligning your breath with the natural flow of mana in your surroundings," she explained, her voice steady and precise. "It’s less about forcing the energy and more about synchronizing with it. The patterns on this platform help guide the process."

Astron’s gaze fixed on the glow in her hands, his analytical mind quietly dissecting every movement. While he knew her technique wouldn’t directly translate to his own unique mana structure, he still watched with an intent focus, noting the precision and control in her method.

Maya opened one eye, glancing at him with a faint smirk. "See? Not so dull, is it?"

He gave a small shrug, his expression neutral. "It’s… structured."

Maya chuckled softly, the sound light and melodic. "Coming from you, that almost sounds like a compliment."

As she continued the demonstration, her focus shifted between guiding the energy and watching Astron’s reactions. While he remained as composed as ever, she noticed the subtle shifts in his posture—the slight tilt of his head, the faint narrowing of his eyes—as he absorbed the information.

’Typical Junior,’ she thought with an inward smile. ’Always observing, always calculating.’

But well, it was not that bad.

’If he somehow likes it….Who knows, he might start coming to this place quite a lot?’

After all, there was nothing free in this world. Whenever there was a deal, there was always a catch.

And Maya knew that well.

Though she still had not noticed someone watching them.

******

A pair of eyes….

They bore into their interaction from afar, sharp with envy and growing malice.

Beyond the confines of the mana-infused chamber, hidden in an unlit alcove, a young man stood, a faint glow illuminating his hands. The artifact he held—a small, intricately carved mirror of black obsidian—shimmered faintly as it projected a translucent image of the scene inside the chamber. His face twisted with bitterness, his jaw clenching tighter with every second that passed.

"Still, at this point!" he muttered under his breath, the words laced with venom. His fingers curled around the edges of the artifact, his nails biting into the cool surface as if it might crack under the pressure of his grip.

Still, after all that time, he was still unable to deal with this pest.

The image flickered slightly, showing Maya’s soft chuckle as she demonstrated her mana-gathering technique. The way her voice carried a light, melodic quality, the faint glimmer in her eyes as she teased that guy.

’This must end.’

But he was smiling.

’Heh…..You will find your justice soon.’

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