Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Astron couldn't help but shake his head with a small sigh. "I guess you're right, Senior," he replied, his voice calm and composed. "But can you blame me for doubting it? Starbloom Essence as a 'daily use' herb isn't exactly something most people would believe."

Maya crossed her arms and gave him a triumphant smirk. "Humph, Junior. When have I ever lied to you? You should know by now that I'm always serious about these things." She tilted her chin up slightly, clearly pleased with herself.

Astron couldn't argue with that. Maya was many things—enthusiastic, powerful, and at times, a bit airheaded—but she wasn't one to lie, especially about something like this. Still, the absurdity of it all made it hard to process. He'd grown accustomed to the rarities of the cultivation world, but the casualness with which she regarded such powerful ingredients was almost unreal.

He glanced back at the rows of plants, noting the gentle sway of the high-quality herbs under the soft breeze. It was clear to him now that Maya's family wasn't just powerful in name; they had deep resources, the kind of wealth and access that even the upper echelons of society couldn't match easily.

"Alright, alright," Astron finally said. "I'll take your word for it. But I have to admit, it's still hard to wrap my head around."

Maya's mischievous grin widened. "You'd better get used to it. Now that you're here, you'll be seeing a lot more of this."

She paused for a moment, her eyes gleaming with a playful glint. "Speaking of which, since the tour's almost over, I think it's about time, I order the maids to prepare something for you."

Astron raised an eyebrow, sensing something behind her words. "Something?" he repeated, clearly curious. "What kind of something?"

Maya smirked, a sly grin playing on her lips as she tilted her head slightly. "Oh, you'll see," she said cryptically. "It's a surprise, Junior. Just trust me."

Astron gave her a sidelong glance, feeling the weight of her teasing tone. Should he be concerned or intrigued?

The answer was a clear no. He was sure that she was not someone who would mean any harm to him as well, that is why he did not think much of it as they walked.

One thing was certain—Maya was enjoying keeping him in the dark.

As they walked further into the forest, the atmosphere shifted. The trees surrounding them were unlike any Astron had seen elsewhere. The air felt denser, charged with mana that seemed to hum beneath the surface, subtly altering the environment around them.

Maya's voice broke the silence. "Can you sense it, Junior?" she asked, her tone curious, but with that same playful edge. Her pink eyes gleamed with anticipation, waiting to see if he could pick up on the change.

Astron paused for a moment, scanning the area with his eyes and his heightened senses. At first, he'd only noticed the peculiar density of the mana, but now that Maya had mentioned it, he began to see more. The trees were ancient, their roots intertwined with the earth in a way that allowed them to absorb and channel mana, forming a natural array. It was subtle, but now that he focused, he could see the flow of mana converging around them, guided by the forest itself.

"These trees," Astron began, his purple eyes narrowing in focus, "they're not just any ordinary trees. The mana is flowing through them, almost like they're part of a larger network. It's like they're channeling it, converging the energy toward a specific point."

Maya's smirk grew wider, clearly impressed with his deduction. "You're absolutely right. This forest is special, Junior. Every tree here has been cultivated to enhance the flow of mana. It is part of my family's heritage."

"Hmm…..This place is where you train yourself, isn't it?"

Maya's expression softened as she nodded. "Yes, this is where I meditate and train my mana control. As you probably know, Junior, mastering mana control isn't easy. It's something that requires countless hours of practice, whether you're a mage or a close-combat fighter. For us Awakened, mana is everything."

Astron listened intently, his gaze still sweeping the forest. He understood her words well; mana control was a fundamental aspect of an Awakened's strength, and training it required more than just talent. However, something didn't add up in his mind. "But if this place is so important for your training, why are you attending Arcadia Hunter Academy? Wouldn't it be more beneficial for you to stay here and continue honing your skills in this environment?"

Maya glanced around the forest, her fingers brushing a nearby tree as if to draw comfort from its familiar presence. "From a pure training perspective, you're right. It would be efficient to stay here, but there's something more to it." She sighed softly, her eyes reflecting a mix of nostalgia and a deeper emotion. "The thing is, no matter how perfect this place is, the body and mind adapt over time. The more you use something, the more comfortable you become with it. At some point, it loses its effectiveness."

Astron nodded, understanding the logic. "I see. So, your body has already adapted to the mana flow in this forest, and it doesn't challenge you the same way anymore."

"Exactly," Maya agreed, her voice carrying a slight undertone of weariness. "It was an incredible place to train when I was younger, but now… I've reached a point where it's no longer enough to push me further. That's one of the reasons why I left and joined the academy."

Astron tilted his head slightly, sensing there was more to her decision. "But that's not the only reason, is it?"

Maya's expression shifted, and she let out a small, wistful laugh as she looked back at him. "No, it's not." And then she looked around. "The truth is… it gets lonely, Junior. Training here, alone, day after day… it wears on you. I wanted something more, something beyond just improving my skills. Being at the academy, around other people, even if it's for training—it makes a difference."

Looking at it from that perspective, Astron thought about his own experience. For him, training was just training. He had always spent nearly at least three hours a day training on his own and he rarely trained with someone else.

Most of the time that he was spending, he always did it alone.

For Astron, solitude had become second nature—a necessary companion to his thoughts, his focus, and his relentless pursuit of strength. He had grown so accustomed to the silence that filled the spaces between his training sessions, the quiet that allowed him to reflect on each step forward, every breath taken, and every obstacle overcome.

Before he also disliked being around people as he ostracized himself from the society, but there was also a certain clarity that came from being alone, away from distractions.

His mind could sharpen, honing in on the precision required to control mana with the level of mastery he sought.

It was in those moments of isolation that he felt most connected to the raw essence of his abilities, a time when the world narrowed to just him and the flow of energy within and around him.

'I've always been this way,' Astron thought, his gaze turning inward as he walked alongside Maya through the forest. 'Ever since I lost her… I've kept people at a distance. It's easier that way. Fewer distractions, fewer vulnerabilities.'

He had learned early on that relying on others could lead to disappointment, to loss, and the painful emptiness that followed. The only thing he could trust was his own strength, his own mind.

Every hour he spent training was a form of control, a way to keep the past from overwhelming him. Alone with his thoughts, he could process everything—his pain, his goals, his need for vengeance.

'But maybe,' he glanced over at Maya, 'maybe that's not enough.'

Slowly, she also came to another realization. After dealing with countless different people and getting newer experiences.

Maya had a point about isolation, the need to be around others, and finding something more than just the relentless pursuit of power.

Astron could feel the weight of her words settling in his mind. Maya had her own reasons for stepping out of her family's protective cocoon and facing the world, and for the first time, he wondered if he had been too rigid in his approach.

Was he missing something by always being alone? Was there more to growth than just sharpening the blade in solitude?

Astron glanced at Maya, his expression softening as he spoke. "That's understandable," he said, his tone thoughtful.

Maya raised an eyebrow at his response, surprised by his sudden shift in perspective. "Understandable?" she echoed, her voice filled with curiosity.

He nodded, his eyes still focused on the path ahead. "While I've always had a goal that pushed me forward—something to strive for, to keep me moving even in isolation—did you have the same thing when you were younger and training here?" His voice was gentle, yet there was a certain sharpness to the question, as though he was trying to uncover something deeper within her.

Maya fell silent, her steps slowing as his words settled over her. She hadn't considered it before, but Astron's question hit a chord. When she had been younger, training in the solitude of her family's land, there hadn't been any grand goal driving her. She hadn't been fighting for survival or seeking revenge like Astron had been. She had trained because it was expected of her, because it was part of her lineage and the role she was supposed to fulfill. But there hadn't been that same fire, that same singular purpose pushing her forward.

Astron continued, sensing her silence as an unspoken answer. "You most likely didn't have that kind of goal, yet you were still able to endure such intense training. That shows your willpower, your resilience. It's not wrong for you to seek something beyond that, to want a life that includes more than just endless training. It's natural to seek connections with others."

Maya's gaze softened as she looked at him, her earlier surprise shifting into quiet understanding. But then she thought of something.

Maya's steps slowed even more as she replayed Astron's words in her mind. His compliments and insight into her situation had made her feel understood, but something about the way he spoke, as if those ideas applied only to her, gnawed at her.

She looked at him, her gaze narrowing thoughtfully. "Junior," she began, her voice soft but insistent. "You said it's not wrong for me to seek something beyond training… to want connections with others. But doesn't that apply to you, too?"

Astron's stride faltered for a moment. He glanced at her, a brief flicker of surprise crossing his expression. He hadn't expected her to turn the conversation back on him. His eyes shifted, and for a moment, he seemed to be searching for the right words, the right explanation.

Maya pressed on, her tone gentle but firm. "You're always so focused on your goals, always pushing forward like nothing else matters. But doesn't what you said also apply to you? Isn't it okay for you to seek companionship too?"

Astron stopped in his tracks, his gaze dropping to the ground as he mulled over her words. His hand instinctively flexed at his side, as if trying to grasp something intangible. "Seeking companionship..." he mumbled, almost to himself, the words foreign on his tongue.

But then just as Astron mulled over Maya's words, the weight of the conversation settling into the air between them, a strange, high-pitched sound suddenly broke through the silence.

"Kyu!"

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