Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Astron stood frozen; his eyes locked onto the ethereal orchid, the vibrant colors of its leaves reflecting in his purple eyes. He wasn't just staring—he was entranced, completely absorbed by the sight of the strange flower. His expression, usually so calm and composed, had softened into something far more vulnerable as if the orchid held a meaning that only he could see.

"Junior?" Maya called out softly, her voice tinged with concern. She took a step toward him, but he didn't respond, his gaze still fixed on the flower. It was as if the world around him had faded, leaving only him and the orchid in a shared, silent connection.

Maya's heart skipped a beat. She had never seen Astron like this. No matter what situation they had faced before—whether in battle or during moments of deep strategy—Astron had always been in control, never showing any sign of being overwhelmed. But now, standing before this delicate orchid, it was as if something had broken through his usual defenses.

"Junior!" she tried again, more urgently this time.

Still no response.

Seeing that there was no response, Maya's worry deepened. She took another step forward, reaching out her hand to shake him out of his trance, but just as her fingers were about to touch Astron, the Lunaphen that had been guiding them suddenly leaped from its perch and landed right in front of her, its small body positioned protectively between her and Astron.

"Kyu!" the Lunaphen growled, a surprisingly fierce sound for such a tiny creature. Its large eyes narrowed, and its usually gentle demeanor had shifted into something more serious. The creature was warning her—don't disturb him.

Maya recoiled in surprise, her hand freezing midair as she looked at the Lunaphen. "What...?" she whispered, her brow furrowing in confusion. The Lunaphen was normally shy, and for it to act so defensively, something important was happening.

She hesitated, glancing between the small creature and Astron, who still stood as though he were frozen in time, his eyes locked on the radiant orchid. "But he's… trapped or something. I need to—"

"Kyu!" the Lunaphen repeated, more forcefully this time, its tail flicking sharply as it stood its ground.

Maya bit her lip, unsure of what to do. She had never seen Astron like this, and the idea of leaving him in such a vulnerable state did not sound well.

But she had nothing to do.

Just as Maya was about to step forward again, she froze, her breath catching in her throat as Astron began to move. His steps were slow and deliberate as if guided by something far beyond his conscious control. He walked toward the orchid, his movements unnaturally gentle, almost reverent.

Maya's eyes widened as she watched, her heart racing. "Junior…?"

But no words seemed able to reach him. His gaze was still fixed solely on the glowing orchid, and with one last step, he finally reached out, his fingers brushing against the delicate petals.

The moment his fingertips made contact with the flower, the clearing was bathed in a brilliant light. The orchid shone with an intensity that seemed to radiate from the very core of its being, its colors blending together in a vibrant display. Maya shielded her eyes against the sudden brightness, but her gaze remained locked on Astron.

She watched in awe as the orchid's light began to envelop Astron, wrapping around him like a cocoon of pure mana. The vibrant colors of the flower—red, green, blue, purple, grey—swirled around him, creating a dazzling spectacle that filled the air with an almost tangible energy. The mana pulsed and danced, each color representing a different essence, a different flow of life.

Maya's sharp senses kicked in, and she immediately began to analyze what was happening. The mana wasn't random—it was deliberate, focused. Each of the six distinct colors rose from the orchid in soft streams and entered Astron's body, one by one.

Red, Green, Blue, Grey, Purple and White.

"What… is this?" Maya whispered to herself, her mind racing to process the phenomenon unfolding before her. She had never seen anything like this, not in all her years studying mana or her family's ancient knowledge of the natural world.

Astron stood at the center of it all, still motionless, but Maya could sense the shift in his body as the mana flowed into him. It wasn't violent, nor did it seem to be harming him. Instead, it felt like the mana was harmonizing with him, merging with his essence as if the orchid had chosen him.

No, the orchid had chosen him was a wrong representation.

'It is as if the Orchid was waiting for someone like him.'

She could not help but feel that this Junior of hers was also not a normal kid. While he was filled with his revenge and his path was something that differed from his, there were also many mysterious things happening around him that she could not simply explain.

But at the same time, from how it looked, even her Junior himself did not seem to know about this at all.

'Just who are you?'

She asked while watching as the mana continued to enter Astron's body.

Suddenly, without warning, Astron's body collapsed. He fell to the ground, the radiant light fading away as his consciousness seemed to leave him in an instant.

"Astron!" Maya shouted, her voice filled with panic. Without thinking, she rushed to his side, her instincts kicking in before her mind could even process what was happening. She knelt down, her arms instinctively wrapping around his fallen form, pulling him close.

She must have known that as an Awakened, Astron shouldn't be vulnerable to something like this, but the sight of him lying there, unconscious and unmoving, sent a surge of fear through her.

Gently, she lowered him onto her lap, cradling his head as she knelt in the soft grass of the clearing. Her hands trembled slightly as she adjusted his position, making sure he was comfortable. She could feel the steady rise and fall of his chest—he was breathing, but the energy that had once radiated from him was now eerily still.

"Junior," she whispered softly, her fingers brushing against his cheek as she tried to wake him.

But well there was still no response.

'It is not finished, it seems.'

She thought as she felt that mana around the place was still hovering around the Junior. It seemed that this process would take a little bit longer, though seeing him like this, it seemed it was not something that would be painful or anything.

Maya looked down at Astron, lying peacefully in her lap, his face free of the usual tension and focus he carried when awake. In this moment, he seemed so different—defenseless, vulnerable, and strangely at ease. The energy that usually radiated from him, sharp and intense, had faded, leaving only a soft, quiet presence. She couldn't help but find it a little surreal to see him like this.

She raised a hand slowly, hesitating for a brief moment, before lightly poking his cheek. His skin was smooth, softer than she expected, and for a moment, the seriousness of the situation seemed to melt away. A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she continued to poke at his cheek.

'So different from how he usually is,' she thought, her fingers lingering for a moment as if she were trying to understand this side of him. Just earlier, they had shared a moment of connection, but she hadn't paid attention to how soft and boyish his features still were. For all his strength and control, there was a gentleness about him now that was hard to ignore.

Maya's heart softened as she looked down at him. "You really don't let your guard down much, do you, Junior?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Her fingers brushed his cheek once more before she sighed softly, letting her hand rest on his shoulder. She felt protective of him, though she knew he didn't need her protection.

'Even like this, you manage to surprise me,' she thought, her gaze lingering on his peaceful expression.

The Lunaphen that had been watching them from a nearby branch gave a soft "Kyu" as if reassuring her that everything was still proceeding as it should. Maya nodded quietly, content to wait for Astron to finish whatever process he was going through.

As Maya sat there, lost in her thoughts, a soft glow began to emerge around Astron's neck. At first, it was barely noticeable—a faint shimmer, like moonlight reflecting on water—but it gradually grew brighter, forming the delicate shape of a necklace. The pendant was a small crescent moon, ethereal in its glow, as though it had been crafted from the light of the stars themselves.

Maya's breath caught in her throat as she stared at the necklace, her heart racing. "What...?" she whispered, her eyes wide with shock. She had never seen anything like this before, not even with her extensive knowledge of mystical phenomena.

Before she could fully comprehend what was happening, a soft voice echoed in the clearing—a voice that sounded distant, otherworldly, and filled with emotion.

"Brother."

The single word was filled with warmth and sadness, spoken so softly that Maya wondered if she had imagined it. But then, from the glow of the crescent moon, a figure began to materialize. Slowly, the silhouette of a young girl appeared, her form delicate and translucent, as if she were woven from the very fabric of the moonlight surrounding them.

The girl was ethereal, her presence both calming and haunting. She seemed to hover just above the ground, her soft, pale features framed by long, flowing hair that shimmered with the same glow as the crescent necklace. Her eyes were wide and kind, filled with an ancient sadness that seemed far too deep for someone of her apparent age.

Maya instinctively tightened her grip on Astron, unsure of what to do. "Who... who are you?" she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

The girl's head slowly turned, her translucent form now facing Maya. Her once soft and kind eyes narrowed, and the sudden shift in her expression sent an icy shiver down Maya's spine. The weight of the girl's gaze was suffocating, as if the very air around them had thickened, pressing down on her with an unseen force.

Maya's breath caught in her throat, her mouth opening slightly, but no words came out. The pressure from the girl's presence felt overwhelming, and for the first time, Maya found herself completely frozen, unable to muster her usual confidence.

"Parasite," the girl hissed, her voice no longer gentle but cold and sharp, like the edge of a blade. "Taking advantage of him."

Maya's eyes widened in shock, the accusation cutting deep. Her mind raced, trying to make sense of the girl's words, but she couldn't find her voice to respond. The weight of the girl's presence felt too oppressive, crushing any response before it could form.

"You don't deserve to be near him...Yet this is his wish, so I will respect it for now," the girl continued, her tone growing more venomous. "It is too early for you to know about me... too early for you to understand. So go to sleep."

Maya's body felt heavy, her eyelids growing impossibly heavy as if the girl's words were pulling her into unconsciousness. She fought against it, her instincts screaming at her to resist, but it was like an unstoppable tide pulling her under.

"And don't ever forget..." the girl's voice softened into a chilling whisper, though the malice remained. "I will be watching you. Always."

With that final warning, the ethereal figure raised her hand, and a soft pulse of light emanated from her, washing over Maya like a wave. The last thing Maya saw before her vision faded was the girl's piercing, cold eyes.

And then, darkness.

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