Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Irina and Astron sat on a smooth stone ledge by the edge of one of the mana-infused pools. The faint glow of the water reflected on their faces, and the soothing sound of the cascading waterfalls filled the air. Irina leaned back slightly, her arms supporting her as she tilted her head to gaze at the shimmering canopy of bioluminescent leaves above.

"This," she said softly, her hazel eyes thoughtful, "is what peace should feel like, isn't it?"

Astron, sitting beside her, rested his forearms on his knees as his sharp purple eyes scanned the surroundings. For a moment, he didn't reply, his expression unreadable. Then, with his usual calm tone, he said, "It may look peaceful to you, but for someone who can discern the details, it's far from peaceful."

Irina raised an eyebrow, turning her head toward him. "What do you mean?"

Astron gestured subtly toward the forest and springs around them. "Look closer. Watch carefully."

Irina narrowed her eyes, following his gaze. At first, all she saw was the serene glow of the springs, the gentle sway of leaves in the breeze, and the faint movement of small creatures. But as she concentrated, she began to notice more.

"Over there," Astron said, pointing to a cluster of bushes across the spring. "See that small deer-like creature grazing?"

Irina nodded slowly. "Yeah, I see it."

"Now look to its left," Astron continued, his tone calm but edged with purpose. "There's a predator—a Slothien-Caster Wolf, crouching and waiting to strike."

Irina blinked, her hazel eyes sharpening as she spotted the faint shimmer of the wolf's fur blending with the surroundings. "I didn't notice that…"

"And that's not all," Astron added, pointing toward the water. "In the pool just below us, there's a school of mana fish. But look closer—see the serpentine shape weaving through the rocks?"

Irina squinted, her breath catching as she spotted the faint outline of a predator fish stalking the smaller ones. "They're hunting," she murmured.

"Exactly," Astron said, leaning back slightly. "Everywhere you look, there's movement, tension. The insects in the air—some of them are hunting others on a microscopic scale. In the distance, I can see two lesser mana beasts locked in a territorial fight."

Irina's gaze darted around as she took in the details Astron pointed out, her initial sense of tranquility giving way to a deeper understanding. "So… what you're saying is, what looks peaceful to us is actually full of chaos."

Astron nodded slightly. "For us, who aren't part of this ecosystem, it looks like a serene, untouched world. But for the creatures that live here, this is survival. Every moment is filled with their own conflicts, struggles, and balance."

Irina was silent for a moment, her thoughts swirling as she absorbed his words. "That's… kind of unsettling," she admitted, her tone quieter now. "But I guess it makes sense. Just because something looks calm on the surface doesn't mean it really is."

"Exactly," Astron replied, his gaze fixed on the water. "Perspective changes everything."

Irina leaned back again, her fingers tracing the smooth surface of the rock beneath her. "You always have a way of turning simple things into something complicated," she said, though her tone lacked its usual bite. Instead, there was a note of admiration hidden beneath her words.

"Or," Astron countered, "maybe I'm just seeing what's already there."

Irina chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Fine. You win this one."

The two of them fell into a comfortable silence, each lost in their own thoughts as the glowing springs and the chaotic, vibrant world around them carried on. It wasn't the peace Irina had imagined, but it was a different kind of understanding—one that left her feeling oddly grounded.

The gentle sounds of the springs and the subtle hum of mana-filled air surrounded them as Irina and Astron continued to sit in silence. Irina leaned back, watching the glowing water ripple with soft waves, her mind drifting aimlessly. Just as she began to relax fully into the moment, a loud grumble echoed through the quiet.

Irina froze, her cheeks immediately flushing as her stomach betrayed her. She glanced sideways at Astron, whose sharp purple eyes were now fixed on her, his eyebrows raised in silent question.

"Did you not plan for this?" he asked, his voice calm but carrying a faint trace of amusement.

"I—of course, I did!" Irina shot back, her embarrassment clear in her tone. She coughed lightly, rummaging through her bag. After a moment, she pulled out a neatly packaged set of portable meals, the branding of a high-end prepped meal company prominently displayed.

Astron tilted his head slightly, his gaze shifting from the meals to Irina's face. "That again?" he asked, his tone carrying a note of exasperation.

"What do you mean 'that again'?" Irina huffed, trying to mask her embarrassment as she began to unwrap one of the packages. "These are efficient, and they taste good. What's your problem?"

Astron sighed softly, his expression unreadable as he reached over and gently pushed the meal package back toward her bag. "Put those down," he said, his tone firm but not unkind.

Irina blinked, taken aback. "What? Why?"

Astron stood, brushing off his hands. "You always bring those whenever you go on an expedition or a dungeon crawl, don't you? A specific brand of prepped meals because you're a picky eater."

Irina crossed her arms, glaring at him. "So what? They're convenient and reliable. I don't see the problem."

"The problem," Astron replied, his voice calm as he pulled out his own supplies from his bag, "is that we're not in a dungeon right now, and there's no reason for you to eat something so bland when there's time to prepare something better."

Irina stared at him, her indignation faltering as curiosity took over. "You're going to… cook?"

Astron nodded, pulling out a compact cooking set and a small assortment of fresh ingredients. He set them up on a flat rock nearby with a quiet efficiency that left Irina momentarily speechless.

"You actually brought fresh ingredients?" she asked her tone somewhere between disbelief and curiosity.

"Of course," Astron replied, slicing into a mana-infused herb with practiced precision.

Irina folded her arms, her fiery gaze narrowing as she watched Astron work. "Since when did you become someone who isn't practical?" she asked, her tone carrying a mix of teasing and genuine curiosity. "You're always the one who prioritizes efficiency and practicality over everything else."

Astron didn't glance up as he continued slicing the mana-infused herb with meticulous precision. "You're not wrong," he admitted calmly. "I usually do prefer prepped meals when I'm on expeditions or in combat scenarios. They're quick and provide the necessary nutrients."

"Exactly," Irina said, leaning forward slightly as if she'd just won the argument. "So why are you suddenly acting like a chef out here?"

Astron finally paused, looking at her with his usual composed expression. "Because I knew a certain someone who's a picky eater," he said, his tone flat but pointed.

Irina froze, her cheeks flushing bright red as the implication hit her. "You… you brought all this because of me?" she stammered, trying to mask her embarrassment.

Astron shrugged, resuming his preparations. "I know you'd have glossed over something as important as proper meals, so I brought fresh ingredients from the kitchen before we left. Thankfully, Miss Esme was understanding. It seems she knows you well."

Irina's jaw dropped slightly, her face turning an even deeper shade of crimson. "Miss Esme? You—ugh, of course she'd say yes."

Astron shook his head lightly. "She did mention that you have a habit of overlooking meals when you're focused on other things. She was happy to help."

Irina huffed, crossing her arms and turning her head away. "Miss Esme is supposed to be on my side."

"She is," Astron replied, his tone calm as he pulled out a small pot and other cooking materials from his spatial storage. "Which is exactly why she helped me prepare for this."

Irina blinked as she took in the array of supplies he had at hand. "You were really prepared for this, weren't you?" she asked, her voice tinged with surprise.

Astron nodded slightly, pouring water into the pot and setting it over a portable mana burner. "In case something happens, having things like this in my spatial storage is always good. You never know when circumstances might require a little extra preparation."

Irina tilted her head, watching him as he worked with a surprising level of skill and care. "I didn't think you'd be the type to enjoy cooking," she admitted, her voice quieter now.

Astron shrugged. "It's not about enjoyment. It's about control. Preparing my own meals ensures I know exactly what I'm consuming and can adjust as needed."

Irina raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk returning to her lips. "Control, huh? You really do think about everything."

Astron glanced at her briefly, his sharp purple eyes calm. "It's better than leaving things to chance."

She sighed, leaning back slightly and resting her chin on her hand as she continued to watch him. "You're full of surprises, you know that?"

Astron didn't reply immediately, focusing instead on adding the sliced herbs and other ingredients to the simmering pot. The rich, savory aroma began to fill the air, and despite herself, Irina's stomach grumbled again.

"Just wait," he said, his voice carrying a faint note of amusement. "You'll see it was worth it."

Irina pouted slightly but didn't argue, curiosity and anticipation mingling as she watched Astron's quiet yet efficient movements. Maybe this won't be so bad after all.

******

The soft hum of the mana burner and the rich aroma of Astron's cooking filled the air as he worked efficiently, preparing their meal. Irina, for her part, busied herself setting out utensils and arranging their spot on a flat rock near the edge of the spring. It wasn't a proper table, but it would do. The ambient glow of the mana-filled springs provided a soft, natural light, casting a serene ambiance over the scene.

As Astron finished cooking, he began assembling their meal with quiet precision. Using the freshly grilled meat, he created sandwiches and wraps, layering them with mana-infused vegetables and a light herbal dressing. A small pot of hearty soup, infused with the same mana-rich herbs, simmered beside him, its aroma enticing even to someone as picky as Irina.

"You're surprisingly good at this," Irina remarked as she watched him plate the food.

Astron glanced at her briefly, his expression as calm as ever. "It's not difficult if you pay attention."

"Hmph, I guess you are good at paying attention," Irina replied, smirking as she handed him the last of the utensils.

Once everything was ready, the two settled down on the rock, their plates balanced on their laps. As Awakened individuals, their appetites were much larger than ordinary humans, and the portions reflected that. Despite her earlier embarrassment, Irina dug into the food with gusto, savoring each bite.

"This is… really good," she admitted between bites, casting a sidelong glance at Astron.

"I told you it would be," Astron replied simply, sipping his soup.

They ate mostly in silence, the peaceful sounds of the springs and the soft rustle of leaves around them creating a comforting backdrop. Once they finished, Astron tidied up with his usual efficiency, while Irina leaned back on her hands, her gaze drifting upward to the starry sky above.

The darkness of the night was illuminated by countless stars, their brilliance reflected faintly in the glowing waters of the springs. The sight was breathtaking, and Irina found herself momentarily lost in the beauty of it.

"I used to watch the stars all the time when I was a kid," she said softly, breaking the silence.

Astron paused in his movements, glancing at her. "Did you?"

She nodded, a faint smile playing on her lips. "It was one of the few things I could do that felt… free. No responsibilities, no expectations. Just me and the stars."

Astron didn't respond immediately, his gaze following hers to the sky above. The faintest flicker of something—nostalgia, perhaps—crossed his sharp features before he spoke. "The stars do have a way of making everything else feel small."

Irina turned her head slightly to look at him, her hazel eyes searching his expression. She remembered the memories she'd glimpsed of his past, the way he, too, had seemed drawn to the cosmos. The young Astron she'd seen had spent countless hours staring up at the sky, as though searching for answers in its endless expanse.

But she didn't mention it. Instead, she leaned back further, letting her fingers brush against the cool surface of the rock. "You ever wonder what's out there?" she asked, her tone lighter now. "Beyond what we can see?"

"Sometimes," Astron replied, his voice quieter than usual. "But I think it's enough to appreciate what's here."

Irina chuckled softly. "That's surprisingly grounded for someone like you."

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing."

"….."

They sat like that for a while, the conversation flowing easily between them as they talked about everything and nothing. The stars above seemed to shine a little brighter, their soft light mingling with the glow of the springs, creating a moment of peace that neither of them had known they needed.