Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Irina glanced at the towering vine Astron had identified as predatory, a mischievous glint sparking in her hazel eyes. "You know," she began, her tone light but laced with curiosity, "it would be fascinating to see how it reacts if someone just... gave it a little nudge."

Astron turned to her sharply, his usually calm expression now edged with caution. "Don't even think about it."

She smirked, her arms crossed as she stepped just a bit closer to the vine. "What's the worst that could happen? This place has barriers, right?" ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

Astron's gray eyes narrowed, his voice low and firm. "Irina."

His warning tone only fueled her amusement. "Relax, I'm kidding," she said, though her grin widened. "Mostly."

Astron's gaze remained fixed on her, and for a moment, Irina thought she saw the faintest twitch in his jaw-a rare crack in his stoic armor. It was enough to make her laugh, the sound light and teasing as she stepped back from the vine.

"Your face!" she said between giggles. "You looked like I was about to summon horde of monsters or something"

Astron sighed, his gray eyes sharp as ever but carrying a faint glint of exasperation. "Knowing the kind of person you are, I really thought you'd do it."

Irina raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms as she looked up at him with mock offense. "Oh? And what kind of person do you think I am?"

Astron tilted his head slightly, his calm demeanor making the next words land with even more weight. "A fiery demoness, perhaps?"

Irina froze, her hazel eyes narrowing as she registered his choice of words. "Fiery demoness? Seriously?" Her cheeks flushed faintly as she remembered the nickname her peers had given her during training-a mix of admiration and intimidation that she hadn't entirely embraced.

"It's just a nickname," she muttered, cringing as she delivered a playful swat to his shoulder. "Don't act like it's a defining character trait."

Astron didn't even flinch, his expression calm but betraying the faintest hint of a smirk. "Is it not? It seems fitting"

Irina groaned, her hand flying to her forehead in mock despair. "Why do I even bother? You're impossible."

"Perhaps," Astron replied smoothly, brushing some imaginary dust off his sleeve, "but at least I'm consistent."

Irina huffed, though her lips quirked into a small, reluctant smile. "Fine. I'll let it slide

I

this time. But if you call me that again..." She raised a finger in warning, though the glimmer of amusement in her eyes betrayed her bluff.

"I'll consider myself warned," Astron said evenly, though the corners of his lips twitched as if suppressing a laugh.

The two continued their walk, the ambient mana around them shimmering faintly in the late afternoon light. Irina shook her head, muttering something about stoic swordsmen and their terrible sense of humor, while Astron remained as composed as ever, his sharp eyes scanning their surroundings as if nothing had happened.

Just like that, as Irina and Astron continued their walk through the garden, they followed a winding path that led to a lively section filled with artists, musicians, and enchanted tools. The Art Grove, as it was called, was a haven for creativity, where mana and art blended seamlessly to bring visions to life.

The first thing that caught their attention was a small group of people working at magical canvases. These weren't ordinary painting surfaces-each canvas shimmered with mana-infused particles, and as the artists moved their brushes, the strokes glowed faintly, leaving trails of vibrant, shifting colors. Some created serene landscapes, while others painted abstract depictions of mana flows or mythical beasts.

"This is..." Irina paused, her hazel eyes lighting up with intrigue. "Beautiful. Look at how they're using mana as part of the process."

Astron observed the scene quietly, his sharp gaze analyzing the subtle interplay of magical energy. "It's efficient." he said after a moment. "Mana isn't just powering the tools; it's part of the medium itself. The paintings are alive in a way, changing slightly based on the artist's intentions and emotions."

"I thought the same....The circuit looks for such manner...."

Irina stepped closer to one of the artists, her attention drawn to a depiction of a starry sky that seemed to ripple as though the stars were alive. "Still, it is amazing," she murmured. "It's like they're capturing the essence of the night, not just its image."

Nearby, a group of musicians played an ethereal melody using mana-infused instruments. A harp with strings made of glowing threads hummed gently, its sound weaving seamlessly with the chiming notes of crystal bells that resonated without being struck. Each instrument seemed to interact with the others, creating a harmonious symphony that enchanted everyone nearby.

"Even the music here is integrated...." Irina said, tilting her head as she listened. Irina's gaze lingered on the glowing harp, her hazel eyes narrowing slightly as she observed the intricate interplay of mana that emanated from its strings. "It's not just the instruments working together," she said thoughtfully, tilting her head. "The mana they're channeling is synchronized. Whoever designed these instruments must have calibrated their mana circuits to harmonize with one another."

Astron glanced at her, his gray eyes steady. Looks like she is enjoying it.'

Realizing what she was feeling, Astron decided to play along.

He glanced at her, his gray eyes steady. "So, you're saying the music itself is an

extension of their magic?"

"Exactly," Irina replied, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "The mana threads are binding the vibrations together, creating a resonance field. It's subtle, but you can feel it, right? The way it makes the air feel... alive."

"See those runes? They're designed to absorb any excess mana and redistribute it evenly. That's why the sound feels so natural-it's not just a performance; it's an

ecosystem."

She really liked the feeling of explaining things to him. Sure having him explaining things to her was not bad, but she also liked the feeling of giving.

Only receiving knowledge made her feel like she was somehow below him? Even if that was not what he meant, overly experiencing the same thing tended to become a little

boring.

As Irina and Astron wandered further into the Art Grove, they came across a small gathering of couples around a series of shimmering, empty canvases. Each canvas radiated a faint glow, and it was clear that these weren't ordinary painting surfaces. Some couples were working together, their brushes moving in tandem, while others took turns painting as their partners watched. The air around the area was filled with laughter, soft conversation, and the occasional hum of mana as the canvases responded to their creators.

Irina paused, her hazel eyes drawn to the scene. 'Painting on the spot? The idea felt strangely compelling. There was something about the atmosphere-the ambient mana, the peaceful surroundings, the sheer creativity of it all-that made the concept seem...

inviting.

"I want to try it," she said suddenly, turning to Astron with an almost childlike enthusiasm.

Astron raised an eyebrow. "Painting?"

"Yes, painting," Irina replied firmly, her excitement undeterred by his skepticism. "Look at how everyone's enjoying themselves. Don't you think it's... nice?" Astron's gaze shifted to the couples for a moment before returning to her. "I suppose."

Irina smirked, grabbing his wrist and dragging him toward the nearest empty canvas before he could protest. A friendly attendant greeted them, explaining the activity in a warm, practiced tone. "This canvas is designed to resonate with the holder of the brush," the attendant said, gesturing to the glowing surface. "The mana within will subtly assist you, acting as a guide or corrector based on your intentions. Even if you're not experienced, it will help bring out your creativity"

Irina's smirk widened at that. "Well, that works out perfectly for me. I've already had

training in painting."

Astron gave her a flat look. "Of course you have."

The attendant handed them brushes, and Irina grabbed hers with an almost triumphant air. "Let's see if you can keep up, Mr. Brooding Genius."

Astron didn't dignify her taunt with a response, taking his brush with his usual calm demeanor. He dipped it into one of the shimmering paint pools provided and made his first stroke. The result was... underwhelming. The line wavered, uneven and clumsy,

much to Irina's delight.

"Oh, this is rich," Irina said, her laughter light and teasing. "You're supposed to be this all-knowing, hyper-competent guy, and you can't even paint a straight line?" Astron glanced at her, unbothered by her teasing. "Not everyone was given noble lessons in painting as a child."

Irina waved her brush dramatically, already beginning her own painting. Her strokes were confident, and the canvas responded beautifully, enhancing her work with subtle, glowing details. "Maybe you should've signed up for a few. Look at this- perfection," she said smugly, stepping back to admire her blossoming depiction of a glowing, enchanted forest.

Astron's lips twitched faintly as he focused on his own work. His strokes were slower, more deliberate, but there was a quiet determination in his approach. The canvas, true to its nature, began to assist him, smoothing out his lines and enhancing the shapes. While it wasn't as refined as Irina's, there was a certain raw charm to the abstract shapes and faint mana flows he was beginning to create.

Irina noticed this and frowned, leaning slightly to peek at his canvas. "Imph. It's not terrible," she admitted grudgingly. "But don't think you're catching up to me." Astron made no comment, dipping his brush again and continuing to paint. The quiet

focus on his face only spurred Irina on, her competitive spirit igniting as she added more intricate details to her own work.

'He might be good at everything else,' she thought, 'but, this time I will not let it

happen casily.'

As the two finished their paintings, it became clear that Irina's work was a standout. Her canvas depicted a stunningly vibrant enchanted forest, its glowing flora intertwined with chaotic bursts of light that gave it a dynamic, almost alive quality. The spectators who had gathered around couldn't help but admire it, their voices filled

with awe.

"This is incredible," one of them said, their gaze transfixed. "The details, the energy-

it's so... alive!"

"Such a unique blend of beauty and chaos," another added.

forest itself is

telling a story." Irina basked in the praise, her smirk growing as she crossed her arms and gave Astron

a triumphant glance. "Well, it seems I've got a natural talent for this," she said, her tone dripping with mock humility. "Maybe I should've gone into art instead of magic." Astron, meanwhile, looked at his own canvas, which depicted an abstract representation of mana flow. While it had an intriguing concept and raw appeal, it was clear that some areas lacked the polish or resonance that Irina's work possessed.

The strokes in certain spots seemed disjointed, and the overall composition didn't flow as smoothly.

Irina tilted her head, studying his painting with a faux-critical eye. "Not bad," she said,

clearly relishing her victory. "But... it's a little inconsistent, don't you think? Here-this part doesn't even resonate properly."

Astron sighed softly, shaking his head as he put his brush down. 'She should have this win at least,' he thought, letting her bask in her moment.

But then Irina, emboldened by her win, leaned closer, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Maybe it's because you're not used to expressing yourself? All that cold, stoic energy -you probably have no idea how to let loose, do you?" For that comment, strangely Astron felt something.