Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Sylvie sat at her desk, her fingers loosely gripping her pen as she stared blankly at her notebook. The lively chatter around her faded into background noise, her attention riveted to the scene unfolding across the classroom. Her chest tightened as her gaze flicked between Irina and Astron, her mind replaying the events she’d just witnessed.

The pictures. The headlines. The way Irina seemed so composed, so confident when faced with the teasing from her classmates. Everything about her demeanor suggested one thing—something Sylvie wasn’t ready to accept.

She really is… Sylvie’s thoughts trailed off, the rest of the sentence too painful to finish. The words felt heavy, like they carried a truth she wasn’t prepared to confront. Her grip on the pen tightened as her mind spiraled. She really is close to him.

The way Irina had handled Julia’s relentless teasing with such ease, her confidence in admitting she had nothing to hide—it all pointed to a connection Sylvie couldn’t deny. And Astron… His calm, steady demeanor never faltered, even in the face of Julia’s probing. He never offered any denial, any clarification. He didn’t need to. The silence spoke volumes.

Sylvie swallowed hard, her chest aching with a mixture of emotions she couldn’t name. She wanted to look away, to focus on anything else, but her gaze kept drifting back to them. Why does this bother me so much? she wondered, but the answer was already there, simmering beneath the surface.

Jasmine’s voice broke through her spiraling thoughts, soft but insistent. "Hey, Sylvie," she said, leaning closer. "You’ve been quiet. What’s on your mind?"

Sylvie blinked, startled, and quickly shook her head. "Nothing," she murmured, her voice barely audible.

Jasmine frowned, her blue eyes narrowing slightly as she studied her friend. "Come on, Sylvie. I know you. You’re thinking about it, aren’t you? The pictures. All this Irina and Astron stuff."

Sylvie hesitated, her fingers curling tightly around her pen. "It’s… not a big deal," she said, though her voice lacked conviction.

Jasmine sighed, leaning back slightly in her chair. "You don’t have to lie, you know. I saw the pictures too. Everyone has. And yeah, it looks a certain way, but that doesn’t mean it’s the whole story."

Sylvie didn’t respond, her thoughts too tangled to form coherent words. Jasmine’s attempt at reassurance felt hollow, even if she meant well. The pictures, the way Irina acted, the way Astron didn’t deny anything—it all felt too real, too impossible to dismiss.

Jasmine leaned closer again, her voice softer this time. "Sylvie, seriously. I don’t think it’s what you’re imagining. Astron… He’s not the type to get involved with people like that. You know that."

Sylvie nodded faintly, but her mind wasn’t convinced. Then why does Irina act like this? Why does it feel like there’s something there? The questions clawed at her, refusing to let go.

Jasmine hesitated before continuing. "Look, maybe they’re just…. You know how it works—sometimes people work together for the sake of strategy. It doesn’t mean there’s anything more to it."

Sylvie forced a small smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes. "Maybe," she said quietly, her tone lacking any real conviction.

Jasmine sighed, her expression softening. "Sylvie, you don’t have to figure it all out right now. Just… don’t let this get to you, okay? It might not be as bad as you think."

Sylvie nodded again, her grip loosening on the pen as she tried to focus on Jasmine’s words. But no matter how much she tried, the storm of emotions inside her wouldn’t settle. Her gaze flickered back to Astron, who sat calmly at his desk, his focus entirely on his tablet. He was the same as always—unshakable, unreadable.

And Irina… Irina’s confidence, her composure, only made it harder to ignore the truth staring Sylvie in the face.

She really is…

Sylvie clenched her fists, the ache in her chest growing. It wasn’t jealousy—at least, that’s what she told herself. But whatever it was, it refused to let her rest.

Jasmine leaned closer, her tone shifting to something sharper, more resolute. "Sylvie, even if that is the case—so what?"

Sylvie blinked, her chest tightening at the bluntness of Jasmine’s words. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Jasmine crossed her arms, her blue eyes narrowing with determination. "I mean, if you want something, go and take it. Why should you just sit here and concede? Why should you let someone else have it without even trying?"

Sylvie’s breath caught, her thoughts spiraling as Jasmine’s words sank in. "It’s not that simple," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Why not?" Jasmine countered, her voice unwavering. "You’re overthinking this, Sylvie. You’re acting like you’ve already lost, but you haven’t even tried. If you care about him—if you want to stand by his side—then do something about it."

Sylvie clenched her fists, her gaze dropping to her lap. "It’s not just about me," she said, her voice trembling. "There’s so much more to it. And what if… what if he doesn’t feel the same way?"

Jasmine let out a sharp sigh, leaning back in her chair as she studied her friend. "Then at least you’ll know," she said firmly. "But sitting here, torturing yourself over what might be—that’s not helping anyone. Least of all you."

Sylvie’s chest ached as her thoughts twisted and turned, Jasmine’s words cutting through her like a blade. If you want something, go and take it. The idea felt impossible—reckless, even—but a small part of her couldn’t ignore the truth in it.

Why am I so afraid? Why do I feel like I don’t have the right to try?

Because deep down, the thought of rejection—the thought of losing even the small connection she had with Astron—was too painful to bear.

"I don’t know if I can," Sylvie said finally, her voice quiet and strained. "What if… what if it’s already too late?"

Jasmine frowned, her gaze softening slightly. "It’s not too late unless you decide it is," she said gently. "Sylvie, you’re stronger than this. I’ve seen it. And you know Astron—he’s not someone who makes decisions lightly. If you want to be a part of his life, then fight for it. Don’t just sit here and let it slip away."

Sylvie’s heart pounded, her mind a whirlwind of doubt and resolve.

Fight for it.

******

Sylvie sat frozen in her seat as she watched Irina approach Astron, the composed confidence of her strides catching the attention of nearly everyone in the room. The fiery glow of Irina’s aura pulsed faintly in Sylvie’s awareness, her [Authority] picking up the swirling emotions beneath the surface.

To anyone else, Irina seemed completely unshaken—her head held high, her movements deliberate and sure. But to Sylvie, the truth was clear.

Irina’s emotions were like a whirlwind.

Beneath the pride and self-assuredness, Sylvie could feel the faint flicker of something else. Nervousness. It was subtle, carefully hidden, but it was there—a trembling thread running through the vibrant colors of her emotions. Alongside it were shades of eagerness, the soft pink glow of affection, and a distinct note of determination.

Even if she’s trying to act tough… Even Irina feels nervous, Sylvie thought, her chest tightening. That realization hit her harder than she expected, stirring something deep within her. Then it’s okay for me to feel nervous too. Right?

But the thought brought no comfort. Her hands trembled slightly as she gripped the edge of her desk, her gaze flicking between Irina and Astron. It’s not enough to just understand. I need to act.

Her breath quickened as she watched Irina lean toward Astron, her smirk faint but unmistakable. The murmurs in the classroom grew louder, Julia’s delighted whispers cutting through the noise like knives. Sylvie clenched her fists, her heart pounding as a single, inescapable truth settled over her.

If I don’t act now, I’ll regret it forever.

Summoning every ounce of courage she could muster, Sylvie pushed her chair back and stood, the scrape of wood against the floor drawing a few curious glances. Her legs felt unsteady beneath her, but she steadied herself, forcing her voice to remain calm as she spoke.

"Wait," she said, her words cutting through the low hum of the room.

Irina turned, her fiery eyes narrowing slightly as she looked at Sylvie. The faintest flicker of surprise crossed her face, though she masked it quickly with her usual composure.

Sylvie met Irina’s gaze, her heart racing as she forced herself to continue. "Shouldn’t we talk about the practical session as a team?" she asked, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her.

The room went quiet for a moment, the air thick with tension as all eyes turned to the two girls. Astron’s sharp purple eyes shifted to Sylvie, his expression unreadable but focused.

Irina raised an eyebrow, her smirk returning as she crossed her arms. "The practical session?" she asked, her tone calm but carrying a faint edge of curiosity.

"Yes," Sylvie said firmly, her gaze unwavering. "We need to plan as a team. It’s important to coordinate if we want to succeed."

For a moment, Irina said nothing, her fiery eyes studying Sylvie intently. The whirlwind of emotions beneath her composed exterior flickered in Sylvie’s awareness—curiosity, a touch of amusement, and a faint but growing note of irritation.

Irina’s fiery yellow eyes locked onto Sylvie’s, her smirk deepening as she crossed her arms. "We can meet an hour before the practical session," she said, her tone casual but carrying an unmistakable edge. "That’s more than enough time to plan."

Sylvie’s heart raced, her chest tightening as the tension in the air grew heavier. But she refused to back down. Clenching her fists at her sides, she steadied her voice. "Why not earlier?" she countered, her tone firm. "If we meet sooner, we can make sure everything is aligned. We’d have more time to adjust if something doesn’t work."

Irina raised an eyebrow, her smirk not faltering. "One hour is enough," she said again, her voice calm but unwavering. "We’re all competent enough to handle this without wasting time on over-preparation."

Sylvie stepped forward slightly, her gaze unwavering. "What if it isn’t?" she asked, her voice sharper now. "What if something unexpected happens and we don’t have enough time to adapt? Shouldn’t we make sure we’re fully prepared?"

The room was deathly silent, the weight of their exchange drawing the attention of nearly every student. Irina’s smirk faltered for a fraction of a second, a flicker of irritation crossing her face before she quickly masked it with her usual composure.

And then she turned her head to Astron.

"Then….What do you think?"

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