Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

With the final few presentations wrapped up, Professor Fenwell clapped his hands together, signaling the conclusion of the lesson.

"Well done, everyone. Today’s exercise was meant to sharpen your understanding of how artifacts complement combat styles, and I’d say you all did an excellent job. Keep these insights in mind as you progress through your training, because whether you realize it or not, the right artifact might just save your life one day."

He glanced at the clock and gave a satisfied nod. "That’s all for this week’s lesson. You’re dismissed."

The moment those words left his mouth, the room was filled with the sound of chairs scraping back, bags being slung over shoulders, and students chatting animatedly as they took the brief break period before their next class.

And why wouldn’t they?

The next lesson was Eleanor’s, and it wasn’t just another lecture. It was the class where each cadet’s mentor would be revealed and the results of the mentorship program would be finalized.

The energy in the room shifted immediately. Excitement buzzed through the air as cadets whispered among themselves, discussing which mentor they hoped to be assigned to.

Irina stretched her arms behind her back, smirking as she heard the enthusiastic discussions happening around her. "Seems like no one’s planning on skipping next class."

Jasmine chuckled. "Of course not. It’s the most important one yet."

Meanwhile, at Astron and Lucas’s table, Lucas exhaled dramatically, leaning back in his chair. "Man, I swear, every time Fenwell talks about artifacts, I end up wanting to buy one, but then I remember that my budget’s about as generous as a rock."

Astron, still looking at his tablet, didn’t respond.

Lucas glanced sideways at him and smirked. "What, no response? You’re usually all about giving pragmatic advice."

Before Astron could say anything, a blur of movement interrupted them.

With zero hesitation, Julia practically jumped onto their side of the table, grinning like she had been waiting for this moment all class. She dropped into the seat beside Lucas and Astron, leaning forward with a mischievous glint in her blue eyes.

"Well, well, well. Look at you two, sitting here all serious," she teased, resting her chin in her hands. "So, how does it feel, Astron? Sitting next to the academy’s most charming rogue?" Your journey continues on

Lucas shot Julia a flat look, rolling his eyes as he crossed his arms. "Who are you calling clown ass?" he muttered, though there was no real heat in his words. "You show up out of nowhere like a menace, and I’m the clown?"

Julia smirked, propping her elbows on the table. "Obviously. You’re way too easy to mess with. That’s practically a clown requirement."

Lucas scoffed. "Oh, please. You’re just mad because I’m funnier than you."

"That’s funny coming from someone whose jokes have the shelf life of expired milk."

Astron, who had been steadily scrolling through his tablet, didn’t so much as look up. Julia, catching this, immediately turned her attention to him, tapping a finger against the table in front of him. "And you, Mister Cool, are way too quiet. What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue? Or are you just pretending I don’t exist?"

Astron, as expected, didn’t react beyond a small, almost imperceptible sigh. His eyes remained fixed on the screen, his expression unreadable.

Julia’s grin widened, sensing a challenge. "You know, Astron, the more you ignore me, the more it makes me want to annoy you."

Still nothing.

Lucas, smirking now, leaned in. "Give it up, Julia. If silence was a sport, this guy would be the undefeated champion."

"Oh, I know," Julia said dramatically, throwing up her hands. "But that just means I need to up my game."

Before she could get another jab in, another voice joined the fray.

"Are you two seriously harassing him this early in the day?" Ethan strode up to the table, shaking his head in mild amusement as he pulled up a chair beside them. "I could hear you bickering from across the room."

Julia grinned. "That just means we’re doing it right."

"Doing what right?" Lilia’s voice cut in as she approached, her usual sharp gaze scanning the table before resting briefly on Astron. For a fraction of a second, her emerald eyes narrowed ever so slightly, something unreadable flickering across her face. It wasn’t overt, but the tension in her posture was enough to be noticeable.

Astron, still unreadable as ever, didn’t acknowledge it.

Julia, however, did notice the subtle shift, and if she hadn’t been so fixated on trying to get a reaction from Astron, she probably would have commented on it. Instead, she leaned back, stretching. "We’re just making sure our dear Astron here doesn’t drown in his own silence. Very noble work, really."

Lilia exhaled through her nose, unimpressed. "And how’s that going for you?"

"Oh, terribly," Julia admitted with a dramatic sigh. "But it’s not about the result. It’s about the effort."

Lucas snorted. "That’s one way to justify failure."

Before Julia could fire back, the last addition to the group finally arrived.

Irina, walking at her usual unhurried pace, caught the tail end of the conversation as she approached. She took in the scene—Julia poking at Astron, Lucas watching with amused detachment, Ethan leaning back as if he had seen this all before, and Lilia, whose expression had hardened just slightly.

Her sharp yellow eyes flickered between Astron and Lilia for the briefest moment. The silence that passed between them wasn’t long, but it was there—something subtle, something off.

Irina’s gaze sharpened.

"Hm…?" she hummed quietly, the sound more of an observation than a question. But she didn’t press further.

Instead, she took a seat beside Astron, resting her chin on her hand. "So, what’s all this about?"

Julia perked up instantly. "Oh, you know, just seeing if Astron is actually capable of casual conversation."

Irina smirked faintly. "And?"

Julia sighed. "It’s a losing battle."

Irina chuckled. "Took you this long to figure that out?"

Julia huffed. "Hey, I like a challenge."

Irina tilted her head slightly, her sharp yellow eyes studying Astron’s ever-neutral expression. "What are you reading?" she asked, her tone casual but genuinely curious.

Astron, for the first time since the conversation began, raised his head slightly. His sharp purple eyes met hers before he shifted his tablet just enough for her to see the title.

Fundamentals of Mana Disruption and Skill Cancellation: A Modern Approach to Combat Countermeasures.

Irina’s eyebrows lifted. "Mana disruption and skill cancellation?" she mused, leaning forward slightly. "That’s not exactly light reading."

Astron finally spoke, his voice calm and even. "It’s relevant."

Irina smirked. "I guess it would be. Countering skills in live combat situations isn’t something most people focus on unless they have to."

Astron gave a small nod. "Understanding the mechanics makes counterplay easier."

Irina’s eyes flickered with intrigue. "That depends. Are you focusing on passive disruptions, or are you looking into active countercasting?"

Astron’s gaze remained steady. "Both. The book covers field applications for individual casters and group coordination."

Hearing that, Irina leaned back, crossing her arms. "I see… Then does it discuss conditional feedback loops in mana dispersal? Because from what I’ve read, countering mid-tier spells efficiently relies more on the caster’s adaptability rather than a set formula."

Astron gave another small nod. "It does. The author argues that successful cancellations depend on both precise timing and the ability to read the opponent’s mana signature. There’s a chapter dedicated to case studies of counterspell failures due to rigid execution."

For a moment, the background noise of the classroom faded as the two continued their conversation. Irina, genuinely intrigued, pressed further, and Astron, to everyone’s mild surprise, continued answering without hesitation. Their discussion shifted between theories, real-world applications, and personal experiences with spell disruption—each speaking with a calm confidence that suggested neither was treating this as just idle talk.

Across the table, Julia and Lilia had stopped their own conversation entirely, their eyes narrowing in sync as they observed the exchange.

"Heeeeh…." Julia let out a slow, exaggerated breath, leaning her chin on her palm, her blue eyes glinting with something between amusement and curiosity.

Lilia, more subtle but no less interested, simply raised an eyebrow.

Irina, mid-sentence, caught their looks and immediately frowned. "What?"

Julia grinned. "Nothing~" she sang, drawing out the word. "It’s just funny that he actually answered your question."

Irina blinked, her gaze flickering to Astron for a fraction of a second before returning to Julia, but it was a bit late.

Julia’s grin widened. "Only yours…."

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