Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Astron raised an eyebrow, his gray eyes narrowing slightly. "Dull? That's an interesting way to put it."

Irina crossed her legs, leaning back into her seat with an air of confidence. Her hazel eyes glinted with playful defiance as she regarded him. "Yes, dull," she replied, her tone carrying a hint of mock superiority. "You view the journey as nothing more than a chore—a hurdle to get past. That's the problem."

Astron tilted his head slightly, the faintest flicker of amusement crossing his face. "Is that so?"

"It is," Irina declared, gesturing toward the glowing runes on the cabin walls and the soft hum of mana-infused magic in the air. "You're so focused on reaching the destination that you're blind to the beauty of the journey itself. And that's where you're missing out."

Astron's expression didn't change, but his silence invited her to continue. Irina leaned forward slightly, her voice gaining a touch of passion. "Think about it. At the end of the day, if you don't enjoy the journey, how can you truly enjoy your destination? The little details—the atmosphere, the people you're with, the experiences along the way—aren't those just as important as where you're going?"

Astron's gaze lingered on her, thoughtful but unreadable. Irina could tell he was processing her words, weighing them carefully, as he always did. The faint hum of the train filled the silence between them, broken only by the occasional murmur of passengers outside their cabin.

She smirked, satisfied that her words had struck a chord. "See? Even you can't refute that."

Astron remained silent for a moment longer, his sharp gray eyes drifting to the window. Outside, the golden hues of dusk had deepened into the soft blues of evening, the landscape blurring as the train's mana-fueled engines hummed to life. Finally, he spoke, his tone quieter than before. "You might have a point."

Irina's smirk widened. "Might?"

He glanced at her, though his gaze was a little different. Indeed, when he was thinking about things, he became someone who was much more different. "I said what I said."

"Hmph. Typical," Irina muttered, but the satisfaction in her voice was evident.

As if on cue, the train let out a soft huff, the sound of its powerful engines echoing through the station. A gentle lurch signaled their departure, and soon the rhythmic thrum of the wheels on the tracks joined the ambient hum of mana. The cabin lights adjusted subtly, casting a warm, cozy glow over the space as the Arcane Stream Express began its journey.

Irina leaned back in her seat, her gaze returning to the window. The world outside was already fading into motion, a blur of lights and shapes against the encroaching night. For a brief moment, she let herself savor the sensation—the movement, the sounds, the anticipation of what lay ahead.

Astron, meanwhile, remained quiet, his thoughtful expression unchanged as he turned his attention back to the cabin. Irina's words lingered in his mind, challenging the practicality that had defined him for so long. For the first time, he found himself considering the possibility that the journey itself might hold something of value.

The hum of the train and the subtle warmth of the cabin filled the space, wrapping them in a cocoon of tranquility.

******

As the Arcane Stream Express gained speed, the vibrant cityscape of Etheria Haven faded into the distance, replaced by the rolling landscapes of the Arcadia Dominion. Irina glanced out the window, her hazel eyes softening as the scenery shifted, the twilight glow casting a surreal hue over the surroundings.

The train cut smoothly through the Arcadia Dominion, its route weaving through a landscape shaped by both nature and magic. The Dominion, though small compared to the sprawling states of the Valerian Federation, was a hub of development and magical innovation. Its cities—five in total, aside from Etheria Haven—stood as gleaming examples of arcane-industrial prowess.

"Look," Irina said softly, gesturing toward the window. "That's Solren Heights."

Astron's gaze followed hers, his sharp gray eyes taking in the sight of a city nestled along the edge of a mountain range. Solren Heights shimmered under the faint glow of mana-powered lights, its buildings a seamless blend of stone and crystalline structures enchanted to radiate energy. Hovering platforms and mana-fueled transport systems zipped through the air, giving the city an otherworldly vibrance even in the growing darkness.

"Impressive," Astron murmured, his voice low.

Irina smirked faintly. "It's not just the cities. Even the environment here is different, thanks to magical industrialism."

As the train moved deeper into the Dominion, the landscapes shifted again. The mountain ranges loomed larger, their peaks glowing faintly with ambient mana. Waterfalls cascaded down jagged cliffs, their streams shimmering with a soft, unnatural luminescence—a testament to the mana that infused the land. Forests of tall, twisting trees with leaves that glowed faintly in the dark sprawled across the valleys, their bioluminescence a natural phenomenon enhanced by centuries of arcane influence.

"The mountains here aren't just mountains," Irina continued, her voice tinged with pride. "They're part of the Dominion's development. Teleportation networks and mana conduits run through them, linking the cities. Even the ranges themselves have been reshaped by magic—enchanted to prevent landslides and optimize the environment."

Astron leaned slightly closer to the window, his expression calm but his attention fully captured by the sight. The train began to curve along the edge of a ridge, offering a breathtaking view of the valleys below. Streams of light—mana-fueled transport vehicles and glowing ley lines—crisscrossed the landscape, connecting the cities like veins of energy pulsing through a living being.

"You've been to most of these places, I assume," Astron remarked, his voice steady but carrying a hint of curiosity.

Irina nodded. "Of course. My family has strong ties to the Dominion's cities. Etheria Haven is the heart of it all, but the other cities are just as important in their own way. Solren Heights specializes in mana-infused metals and materials. Veilspire focuses on magical artistry and enchantments. Starveil is the center of arcane research and experimentation. Each city contributes something unique to the Dominion's strength." ȐＡΝộ₿Ɛṧ

"..."

But then as if to remember something, Irina's smirk faltered slightly, her gaze returning to the window. "Though as incredible as all this is… it's suffocating sometimes. Living in a place like this means being constantly watched, constantly judged."

"This world is such a place. Regardless of where you go, as long as you are outstanding, you will always be watched."

"I know that, but that doesn't change much."

"Understandable."

"You….Don't you ever care about these things?"

"It is a bit late to ask such a thing, don't you think?"

"Why?"

"..."

"Humph. I still remember how you reacted to those rumors about you."

Astron's gaze remained steady, his sharp gray eyes fixed on the passing landscape as Irina's words hung in the air. The faint hum of the train accompanied their conversation, the rhythmic sound blending with the shifting mana currents outside. For a moment, he said nothing, allowing Irina's statement to linger.

Finally, he spoke, his tone calm and measured. "Why are you referring to it now?"

Irina's hazel eyes flicked to him, narrowing slightly. "Why would I not? The academy was practically buzzing with them when you first arrived. They said you were a criminal, a member of an underground organization… all kinds of ridiculous things."

Astron didn't respond immediately, his expression unreadable. The faint flicker of movement outside the window reflected in his ash-toned hair, making him appear even more detached.

Irina leaned back in her seat, crossing her arms. "Logically, anyone with half a brain would know that someone with a criminal record or ties to an underground group wouldn't be allowed in the academy. But logic isn't exactly a strong point for a lot of the students."

"They're young," Astron replied simply, his tone devoid of judgment. "Young minds latch onto rumors because it's easier than thinking critically."

Irina huffed, her gaze returning to the window. "That's true, but it doesn't make it any less frustrating. The way they whispered behind your back… spreading baseless accusations without even knowing you."

"It didn't bother me," Astron said evenly.

"Didn't it?" Irina turned to face him, her hazel eyes searching his expression. "You acted like it didn't matter, but I saw the way you reacted. You didn't lash out, but you didn't ignore it either. You let them talk, let them assume whatever they wanted."

Astron's lips twitched slightly, though it wasn't quite a smile. "What would you have preferred? That I confront them? Argue with every person who whispered about me?"

Irina's brow furrowed as she considered his words. "I don't know," she admitted. "But the way you just let it all roll off your back… It was like you didn't care at all."

"I didn't," Astron replied, his voice quiet but firm. "Not in the way you think. Rumors are just noise. They don't define who I am, and they don't change my purpose. Let them believe what they want—it doesn't affect me."

Irina frowned, a flicker of frustration crossing her face. "But it does affect how people see you. Don't you care about that?"

"Why should I?" Astron asked, his gaze turning toward her. "I'm not here to be liked. I'm not here to fit into their expectations. As long as I achieve my goals, the rest doesn't matter."

Irina stared at him for a moment, her frustration fading into something more complicated. "You really don't care what anyone thinks, do you?"

"It's a waste of energy," Astron replied simply. "I learned that a long time ago."

Irina's hazel eyes softened, and she looked away, her thoughts swirling. That's just like him—always focused, always detached. But… doesn't he ever get tired of carrying everything alone?

She let out a quiet sigh, her gaze drifting to the glowing forests passing by outside. "If it were me," she muttered, "I'd have dealt with the source of the rumors. Shut them down before they could spread."

"That is something only those with the ability can say," Astron said evenly, his gaze unwavering as he looked out the window.

Irina blinked, caught off guard by the weight behind his words. "What do you mean?"

"You say you'd deal with the source of the rumors, shut them down," Astron continued, his tone calm but laced with quiet intensity. "But you say that because you know you can. You've always had the strength, the authority, the resources to fight back when you wanted to. That's your privilege."

Irina frowned, her hazel eyes narrowing. "Privilege? You make it sound like I haven't earned what I have."

"I'm not saying you haven't," Astron replied, turning his sharp gray eyes toward her. "But not everyone has that luxury. For those who lack strength, power, or a voice, what choice do they have but to swallow it? To endure until they can stand on their own?"

Irina stared at him, her lips parting slightly as his words sank in. He's speaking from experience, she realized, her chest tightening. This isn't just theory for him. He's lived it.

"That's the difference," Astron said, leaning back in his seat. "You can fight back because you know you'll win. But for others, fighting back might cost them everything."

The cabin fell into silence, the rhythmic hum of the train filling the space between them. Irina's gaze dropped to her lap, her thoughts swirling. She didn't know how to respond, her usual sharp retorts feeling hollow in the face of his quiet truth.

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