Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Maya walked down the hallway, her steps steady, though her mind was anything but calm. Her head felt strangely heavy as if a dull ache had settled behind her eyes, clouding her thoughts. She pressed her fingers to her temple, trying to ease the discomfort, but the sensation lingered, almost unnatural.

'What happened back there?' she wondered, replaying the events in her mind, yet she could not remember anything at all.

Maya let out a soft sigh as she neared her studio, hoping that the quiet solitude of her space would help her clear her mind. But just as her hand reached for the door, a familiar voice interrupted her.

"Lady Maya," Alfred's calm, composed tone cut through the fog in her mind.

Maya turned to see the butler standing just behind her, his expression as unreadable as ever. "Alfred," she greeted, though her voice was slightly strained from the headache. "What is it?"

"The dinner, my lady," Alfred reminded her, his eyes flickering with a hint of concern. "You may recall that your brother, the Lord, will be arriving soon. He is expecting you to join him."

Maya blinked, the realization slowly sinking in. 'Ah….Brother… is coming.' She had completely forgotten about this fact.

Maya sighed inwardly, pressing her fingers once more to her temple. How could she have forgotten something so important? Her brother, the Lord of the family, was coming, and he had specifically mentioned wanting to meet Astron. After everything that had happened that day, it completely slipped her mind.

'How could I make such a mistake?' she chastised herself. But then again, the events earlier had been overwhelming—Astron's strange connection to the orchid, the appearance of that girl, and the subsequent exhaustion that had washed over both of them. She could hardly blame herself for being distracted.

Still, her brother wasn't someone she could afford to keep waiting, especially since he had expressed an interest in Astron. She had to handle this delicately.

With another sigh, she turned back to Alfred, her voice more composed now. "Thank you for the reminder, Alfred. I'll prepare myself for the dinner."

Alfred gave her a small, respectful nod, but his eyes flickered briefly toward her as if he could sense the turmoil behind her calm facade. "If there's anything I can assist you with, Lady Maya, please don't hesitate to ask."

Maya smiled slightly, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I appreciate that, Alfred. I'll let you know if I need anything."

As the butler turned and left, Maya leaned against the door of her studio, gathering her thoughts. She would need to inform Astron about her brother's visit, but she couldn't do it just yet. He had been through enough already. The moment they had arrived at the mansion, she hadn't even given him a chance to rest or settle in.

'He deserves at least some time to relax,' she thought, her mind briefly drifting back to their earlier moments in the forest. Everything had happened so fast, and now they were heading into something even more serious. A meeting with her brother could bring complications, but at the same time, this was what she had wanted in the first place.

The moment she brought him here, he became entangled with her family, and that was all there was to it.

'Hmm…..'

Thinking about it, she remembered that she had promised him a special drink to be prepared.

'Yeah, that would be better.'

She could visit him while giving him the drink, and that seemed to be the normal excuse. And then she would inform him about her brother's visit.

'Indeed, that is how it should be.'

Thinking that she had pushed her mana into the small button right on the corner of her table, and then, following that, the button lit.

Maya sat down at her desk, waiting patiently as the soft hum of mana surged through the button, signaling the arrival of the maid. Moments later, a light knock echoed from the door, and a young maid entered, her head bowed respectfully.

"You summoned me, Lady Maya?" the maid asked, her voice polite and steady.

Maya gave a small nod, her mind already focused on the task at hand. "Yes, I need you to prepare a special drink. The Sylvara's Essence."

The maid's eyes widened slightly at the mention of the elixir, but she quickly composed herself, giving a respectful nod. "Sylvara's Essence, my lady? Understood." She bowed slightly, her face showing a subtle understanding of the significance of the drink.

This elixir wasn't just an ordinary drink. It was a rare, carefully crafted mixture of herbs passed down through the royal family of elves, said to have been created by Aelion himself—the first ruler of the Elven kingdom. The recipe was guarded closely, and only those with the highest connections to the Elven bloodline could access the ingredients needed for such a drink. The Starbloom Essence, Silverpetal Lotus, and Everglow Root were all part of its blend, each herb adding to the power and vitality of those who consumed it.

The maid remained calm and collected, though the gravity of the request was not lost on her. Preparing Sylvara's Essence was a task only entrusted to a select few in the Evergreen mansion. Each maid trained in the art of crafting this elixir had undergone a strict, sacred ritual—one that included a soul-binding oath. This binding was etched deep into their very being, ensuring they could never reveal the recipe or the process by any means, even under the most dire circumstances.

The elixir itself was a legacy of the Elven royalty, passed down through the generations. The knowledge of how to create it had been woven into the minds and souls of those deemed worthy, protecting it from falling into the wrong hands.

"Only the finest ingredients, of course," Maya continued, her voice steady, though her mind lingered on the significance of what she was requesting. "This is for someone special."

The maid nodded, her demeanor reflecting the utmost respect. "As you wish, Lady Maya. I will begin preparations immediately. It will take some time, but I will bring it to you as soon as it is ready."

********

A little while later, Maya stood near the entrance of Astron's room, holding a delicate tray with a single, intricately crafted glass containing Sylvara's Essence. The light from the hall reflected softly off the glass, illuminating the shimmering liquid inside—pale green, with faint swirls of gold and silver, a drink that seemed to pulse with life itself.

After gathering herself for a moment, Maya gently knocked on the door.

"Come in," came Astron's calm voice from the other side.

Maya opened the door and stepped inside, her eyes immediately finding him seated at a small table near the window. His posture was thoughtful, his eyes distant as if he were lost in deep contemplation. He didn't look up at first, seemingly absorbed in whatever thoughts occupied his mind. The evening light cast a soft glow through the window, creating a peaceful atmosphere in the room.

She stood there for a moment, taking in the sight of him before speaking.

"Junior," she said softly, stepping closer and placing the tray on the table in front of him. Her voice brought him out of his reverie, and he blinked, his gaze slowly shifting to her.

He raised an eyebrow, his expression curious as he glanced at the glass in front of him. "Senior, what's this?"

Maya smiled slightly, her tone playful yet gentle. "I promised you something special, didn't I?" She gestured to the glass. "This is Sylvara's Essence, a very rare elixir. Only a select few have ever tasted it."

Astron looked down at the drink, studying the swirling colors within. His face looked calm as if he had not understood what this thing was, but in fact he knew.

'This…..It really is Sylvara's Essence.'

Astron stared at the swirling, ethereal liquid in the glass, the colors of gold and silver mingling in a way that was almost mesmerizing. He kept his expression neutral, but inside, his mind was racing.

'Sylvara's Essence…' he thought, recognizing it immediately from his knowledge of the game. This elixir wasn't just rare—it was an end-game item, one that held immense power and value. It was the kind of thing you could only obtain after spending countless hours building relationships with key figures in the world, especially the Elven Princess. The only way to get the formula for this elixir was to earn her trust, which was no small feat.

That Maya had access to something so rare wasn't necessarily surprising, given her background, but it did confirm one thing for Astron: her family's ties to the Elven royalty ran deeper than he had initially realized. Aeilon, the Elven Royalty that Maya had mentioned before, must have passed this knowledge down through their lineage.

Still, Astron wasn't going to let any of this show on his face. He had spent years perfecting the art of keeping his thoughts hidden, and now was no different.

'If she knew I recognized this, it might raise too many questions,' he thought, his gaze still fixed on the elixir.

"Seems fancy," Astron said, his voice casual, as though he were simply humoring her. He picked up the glass, swirling the liquid gently as if he were merely curious. "So, what makes this drink so special, Senior?"

Maya smiled, her pink eyes twinkling with the same playfulness that had been there earlier. "Hehe….You will see….. It's not something that many people get the chance to taste, and those who do…" She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a softer, almost conspiratorial tone, "…are considered very lucky."

Astron chuckled lightly, playing along with her tone. "Well, I must say, I do feel honored."

Maya's expression softened, and she took a seat across from him, watching him closely. She wasn't just sharing a rare drink; there was more weight to this gesture than simply offering him something special. Astron could sense it. This was her way of bringing him closer into her world, of showing him trust, and perhaps even testing his loyalty.

"You should try it," she said, her voice quieter now, the teasing edge replaced with something more genuine. "I want to know what you think."

Astron nodded slowly, lifting the glass to his lips.

After all, there was no reason for him to refuse.

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