Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

"Kyu!"

A small, high-pitched sound cut through the air, breaking the heavy silence between Astron and Maya.

"Kyu!"

Astron's eyes snapped up, his senses immediately sharpening, while Maya's gaze followed the source of the noise. There, just a few paces ahead of them, a small creature appeared, stepping cautiously out from the shadows of the ancient trees. It was delicate and ethereal in appearance, with a coat of soft, luminescent white fur that seemed to shimmer faintly in the dappled light of the forest. Its frame was small and lithe, resembling a squirrel but with features that marked it as something far more mystical. Its large, expressive eyes blinked curiously at them, and a long, sleek tail swayed gently behind it.

Astron studied the creature for a moment, intrigued by its almost otherworldly presence. "What is that?" he asked, his voice low, though not in alarm.

Maya's eyes widened, a flash of recognition crossing her face. "You are that cutie."

She immediately remembered the creature that she had seen at that time. Her memory, while not as strong as a genius, was still particular. That is why she immediately realized that this was the creature that she had seen at that time.

"Senior?"

"Ah…..Maya mumbled as she realized that she had been rather keeping silent. "A Lunaphen," she whispered, her tone filled with awe. "I can't believe it."

Maya nodded, her voice hushed as if not to startle the creature. "They're incredibly rare and shy. A type of monster that's usually hidden deep within nature's most untouched places. They're highly sensitive to the presence of others, especially humans, and it's almost unheard of for them to willingly approach anyone."

The Lunaphen took a tentative step forward, its round, bright eyes never leaving the pair. Despite its apparent wariness, there was a sense of curiosity in the way it regarded them.

Maya couldn't help but smile at the sight. "Even I've only seen them a handful of times, and I grew up in this forest. They're creatures of the moon, linked to lunar mana flows, and they usually hide during the day. For one to come out and approach us like this… it's incredible."

"Lunar mana?"

Astron mumbled, remembering.

But just as the words left his lips, the small Lunaphen, with a sudden burst of energy, darted forward. Astron's eyes narrowed, instinctively sharpening, but he felt no hostility from the creature. It was fast, but its movement wasn't aggressive. Before he could react further, the Lunaphen leaped gracefully and landed lightly on his shoulder.

Astron remained still, his body tense but not alarmed. The creature, now perched on his shoulder, gazed up at him with wide, innocent eyes. It was as if the Lunaphen was studying him, its soft, luminescent fur glowing gently under the forest's filtered light. There was a strange sense of calm that radiated from it, an aura of purity and serenity, as though it were a living embodiment of nature itself.

The Lunaphen's long tail curled around Astron's neck as it looked directly into his eyes, its expression curious yet peaceful. For a moment, Astron felt an odd connection with the creature, like the Lunaphen was drawn to something within him, something beyond the surface.

Maya, standing nearby, watched the interaction with wide eyes. She had seen Lunaphens before, but never like this. It was rare enough to even spot one, let alone have one willingly approach and interact with a human. She couldn't help but smile wryly at the scene.

"They don't willingly approach humans, right?" Astron asked, still keeping his gaze on the Lunaphen as it settled comfortably on his shoulder. The creature seemed content, its large eyes reflecting the same soft glow of the moonlight.

"That's how it's supposed to be," Maya replied with a bemused smile. "But even I didn't expect this to happen. Lunaphens are known to be shy and avoid human contact, no matter how peaceful a person might be." She tilted her head slightly, her expression growing more thoughtful. "Unless you are like me."

"Like you."

"This little one had approached me before."

"Hmm?"

"At that time, I was just training to balance my vampiric side, meditating in this forest. This little one was the first Lunaphen that willingly approached me at that time."

Maya looked at Astron with a thoughtful expression, her eyes reflecting a sense of nostalgia. "This little one must have sensed something in you," she said softly, her voice filled with a mix of curiosity and certainty. "Otherwise, it wouldn't have approached you like this. They don't just interact with anyone."

Astron remained silent, staring at the Lunaphen, his mind swirling with thoughts. It seemed innocent and pure, but the creature clearly had a deeper connection with the world around it—something instinctual and beyond simple understanding. Maya's words hung in the air, and Astron couldn't help but wonder what exactly the Lunaphen saw in him.

The Lunaphen, sensing the attention on it, tilted its head at Astron and let out another soft "Kyu!" before it suddenly jumped from his shoulder, landing gracefully on the forest floor. Its long, elegant tail swayed back and forth as it turned its head to look back at them, its eyes gleaming with intent.

Astron watched as the creature swung its tail again, more deliberately this time, almost as if it were signaling something. "It's trying to tell us something," he muttered.

Maya, already picking up on the Lunaphen's movements, smiled knowingly. "Looks like it wants us to follow it."

The Lunaphen darted ahead, its movements quick and fluid, but it frequently stopped, turning its head back to ensure they were still following. Without hesitation, Maya and Astron began to walk after it, curious about where the little creature might lead them.

As they ventured deeper into the forest, the atmosphere grew even more otherworldly. The mana in the air became denser, almost palpable, as though it were pooling around them. Astron's sharp eyes caught the subtle shifts in the energy flow, but something else was nagging at his mind.

He turned to Maya, his voice calm but curious. "Is it possible that there are things in this forest you don't know about?"

Maya glanced at him, her expression thoughtful. "It is indeed possible," she admitted, her tone serious. "Even though this forest has been cultivated by my family for generations, I haven't explored every inch of it. There are secrets here, places even I haven't fully uncovered. The forest is alive in its own way, and it holds things beyond our understanding."

Astron nodded, taking in her words. It wasn't surprising that such a mystical place would have hidden depths, but hearing it from Maya only reinforced the sense of mystery that surrounded them. The Lunaphen, with its ethereal glow, seemed to be leading them toward one of those secrets.

They continued to walk in silence for a while longer, the forest around them growing thicker, the trees towering above like ancient sentinels guarding something sacred. The air was cooler here, the light filtering through the canopy in thin, pale shafts.

Then, up ahead, Astron noticed something—a faint shimmer in the air, like the reflection of light on water. As they approached, the shimmering grew brighter, and the trees seemed to part, revealing a small clearing bathed in soft, radiant light.

The Lunaphen darted ahead, leaping gracefully onto a low-hanging branch of a tree that stood at the center of the clearing. As it landed, the light intensified, and Astron realized that the glow wasn't just coming from the clearing itself—it was coming from a cluster of other Lunaphens, their soft white fur glowing like tiny moons scattered across the branches.

Astron's eyes narrowed slightly, focusing on the scene before him. "So, there are more of them," he murmured.

Maya, standing beside him, was in awe. "I've never seen so many gathered in one place," she whispered. "This is incredible. Lunaphens are usually solitary creatures… for them to gather like this, something must be special about this spot."

The Lunaphen that had led Astron and Maya to the clearing suddenly leaped back toward Astron, landing on his shoulder with a soft "Kyu!" It then began to make a series of intricate, almost playful movements with its tiny paws and tail, as if trying to communicate something.

Maya furrowed her brow, tilting her head slightly. "What is it doing?" she asked, her voice a mix of curiosity and confusion.

Astron's sharp eyes followed the creature's movements, analyzing them carefully. He had seen animals exhibit strange behaviors before, but this felt more deliberate, almost like the Lunaphen was trying to convey instructions. After a brief pause, his mind pieced together an idea.

"I think it's trying to show us something," Astron muttered under his breath, more to himself than to Maya. He extended his hand, the tip of his finger glowing faintly as he allowed a thin thread of mana to flow outward. The Lunaphen immediately reacted, letting out an excited "Kyu!" before bouncing around, its eyes gleaming with approval.

The creature pointed out various spots in the clearing with quick flicks of its tail and tiny jumps. Astron followed the Lunaphen's guidance, extending his mana threads to each spot it indicated. Slowly but surely, a strange pattern began to form in the air, as if the threads of mana were connecting invisible points, creating a symbol that shimmered in the air.

Maya watched with wide eyes as the threads aligned, reflecting the soft lunar light back down onto the ground in the center of the clearing. The light focused, converging into a single spot, revealing something hidden beneath the earth.

At first, it was small—barely noticeable—but as the light intensified, the object began to emerge. The ground parted slightly, as though something was being drawn up by the focused energy.

As the focused lunar light gathered, the ground in the center of the clearing shifted further, and from beneath the earth, something began to rise. At first, it looked like just a small bud pushing through the soil, but then, as if responding to the Lunaphen's guidance and the mana threads Astron had woven, the bud slowly unfurled, revealing a delicate, ethereal flower.

It was an orchid—but unlike any Astron or Maya had ever seen before. Its petals glowed faintly, shimmering with a natural beauty that seemed otherworldly. What truly stood out were the leaves, each one radiating its own distinct color. One leaf was a deep, vibrant red, while another shone a rich emerald green. The third was a brilliant blue, as if reflecting the clearest sky. The fourth leaf was a royal purple, and the fifth, at the bottom, was a muted grey, exuding an air of mystery.

"This…..Just what is this?"

It was the first time Maya had seen something like this, so she could not help but narrow her eyes.

On the other hand….As for Astron….

He looked at the Orchid as if he was in a trance.

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