Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

“Don’t leave yet.”

Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire

Astron raised an eyebrow at Lilia’s firm request, his dark purple eyes flicking to her face with mild curiosity. “Why?” he asked, his tone straightforward but carrying enough weight to make the single word feel heavier than it should have.

The question hung in the air, simple yet disarming, and for a brief moment, Lilia found herself at a loss. Why did I say that? she thought, her lips pressing into a thin line. She wasn’t close to Astron, not really. Sure, they had shared a few conversations—discussions about archery techniques, mana control, and other intellectual topics that he seemed to excel at—but their relationship was surface-level at best. Nothing about it was personal.

And it wasn’t as though she found him attractive. That wasn’t even a consideration. Lilia had no time for such frivolities—her life was already tangled in enough complications. Astron was intriguing, sure, but only in the sense that he was an enigma. A puzzle she couldn’t yet solve. That was all.

Then why had she asked him to stay?

The answer came to her in fragments, piecing itself together in the silence. Because I need someone. Someone I know, even just a little. Someone who doesn’t look at me the way Selene does, or the way those cadets inside do. Someone who isn’t playing a game.

It was a selfish reason, she realized. But it was also the truth.

Lilia exhaled softly, her gaze steady as she met Astron’s questioning eyes. “Because…” she started, carefully choosing her words.

But well, she didn’t have any.

“Because?”

Lilia met Astron’s gaze, her crimson eyes steady as she searched for the right words. But none came immediately. His simple “Because?” echoed in her mind, disarming her more than she cared to admit. She wasn’t used to being questioned like this—at least, not by someone who genuinely didn’t seem to care about her status or reputation.

So, she did what she was best at: she pivoted.

“I need allies,” she said finally, her tone quieter, more honest than she intended. She gestured back toward the training grounds, where the faint hum of voices and laughter spilled into the night air. “You must have seen them—Selene, Adrian. They’re… problematic, to say the least. And right now, I could use someone who’s not on their side.”

Astron raised an eyebrow at her, his expression unreadable. “Allies?” he repeated, his tone skeptical. “You’re asking me to pick a side.”

Lilia pursed her lips, her composure faltering for a moment. “I’m asking you to stand by me,” she clarified. “That’s all.”

Astron tilted his head slightly, his dark purple eyes narrowing as he considered her. “And why should I do that?” he asked, his voice calm but carrying a subtle challenge. “If I stick with you, won’t Adrian and Selene target me too? I don’t exactly blend in, Lilia.”

Her jaw tightened at his words, and she crossed her arms, feeling a twinge of frustration. He wasn’t wrong. By involving him, she’d be dragging him into her mess—a mess he had no reason to care about. If their roles were reversed, she might have refused outright.

Still, she couldn’t afford to let this chance slip away. She needed someone like him, someone who could see through the layers of politics and games and help her hold her ground. And if he needed a reason, she’d give him one.

“I’ll pay you,” she said abruptly, the words leaving her mouth before she could fully think them through.

Astron blinked, his expression shifting to one of faint amusement. “Pay me?” he echoed. “Hmm… That’s an interesting offer.”

Lilia huffed, her frustration bubbling beneath the surface. “Yes, pay you. Money, resources, training opportunities—whatever you want. Name it.”

Astron tilted his head, considering her with that infuriatingly calm demeanor. “So you want to hire me as your bodyguard?” he asked, his tone neutral but carrying a faint edge of mockery.

“No!” Lilia shot back, her voice a little sharper than she intended. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. “I’m not asking you to guard me. I’m asking you to stand with me. There’s a difference.”

“Is there?” Astron asked, raising an eyebrow. “Because it sounds like you want someone to absorb the heat while you navigate your family drama.”

Lilia’s glare sharpened, but she bit back her retort, knowing he wasn’t entirely wrong. “Look,” she said, her tone more measured now, “I’m not asking you to throw yourself into the fire. I just need… someone who isn’t playing their games. Someone I can trust to keep things grounded.”

Astron crossed his arms, his expression still unreadable. “And you think I’m that person?”

“Yes,” Lilia said firmly, her voice unwavering. “You’re not like them, Astron. You don’t care about posturing or politics. You see things clearly, and that’s exactly what I need.”

Astron stared at her for a moment, his gaze calculating. Then, to her annoyance, he shook his head.

“Did you really think that some money would sway me? Is this how you operate?”

Lilia blinked at Astron’s blunt refusal, her crimson eyes narrowing as she prepared to counter him. But before she could speak, Astron raised his index finger, his expression calm yet firm.

“One,” he said simply.

Lilia tilted her head, frowning. “One what?”

“One favor,” Astron replied, his tone unchanging. “You’ll owe me one favor.”

Her breath caught for a moment as she processed his words. Her narrowed eyes studied him intently, searching for any hint of ulterior motive in his expression. But, as always, his face was unreadable, his dark purple eyes steady and unwavering.

“…A favor,” she repeated slowly, her voice skeptical. “What kind of favor?”

Astron shrugged lightly, his gaze never leaving hers. “Nothing ridiculous. Nothing dangerous. Just a favor, when I need it.”

Lilia’s lips pressed into a thin line, her mind already racing as she weighed the risks. A favor owed to someone like Astron was not a decision to take lightly. He wasn’t the type to exploit it frivolously, but he also wasn’t predictable. Whatever he wanted in the future, she had no way of knowing until the time came.

But at the same time, she knew she couldn’t afford to let him walk away. The value of having someone like Astron standing beside her—someone unaffected by Selene’s games and Adrian’s schemes—far outweighed the uncertainty of what he might ask for later.

She sighed softly, her gaze steady as she nodded. Should be fine, she thought, calculating the risks. “As long as it’s within reasonable limits, I don’t mind.”

“Good. Then we’re good to go?”

“Yes,” Lilia said firmly, extending her hand toward him.

For a moment, Astron regarded her hand with his usual calm detachment before finally taking it in his own. His grip was steady, neither overly firm nor hesitant, and the brief contact was enough to seal the unspoken agreement between them.

Lilia’s lips curved into a small, triumphant smile. “I’m glad we could come to an understanding.”

“Me too,” Astron replied, his voice carrying the faintest hint of dry humor.

With their agreement settled, the two turned and walked toward the entrance of the training grounds. The muffled sound of laughter and conversation grew louder as they approached, the glow of the lights spilling out into the cool evening air.

Lilia glanced at Astron as they neared the party, her smile still lingering. For all his aloofness and sharp remarks, he was someone she could rely on—even if only temporarily. And for now, that was enough.

As they stepped into the lively atmosphere of the party, the hum of voices and clinking glasses surrounded them. Cadets mingled, the faint scent of appetizers wafting through the air.

Adrian’s grin was as wide and confident as ever, his arms gesturing animatedly as he recounted some story that had the crowd chuckling. Beside him, Selene laughed lightly, her polished tone as effortlessly charming as her appearance.

“They’re always the life of the party, aren’t they?”

Lilia let out a soft, humorless chuckle. “If you call it that,” she replied, her crimson eyes narrowing slightly. “It’s all just a performance.”

“He seems to enjoy the spotlight.”

“Oh, he does,” Lilia muttered. “Adrian thrives on attention. And Selene… she knows how to use it.”

“Not subtle, are they?”

“Subtlety isn’t their style,” Lilia replied, her voice carrying a trace of bitterness. “But it works for them.”

As they stood at the edge of the room, Lilia’s gaze lingered on Selene, who was currently laughing at something Adrian had said. The two of them looked perfectly at ease, radiating confidence and control in a way that made Lilia’s frustration simmer beneath her composed exterior.

Just as she was about to suggest moving further into the room, Selene’s sharp brown eyes flicked toward her—and immediately locked onto Astron at her side. A subtle shift in her expression betrayed her interest, her lips curving into an almost predatory smile.

“Well, well,” Selene called out, her voice carrying effortlessly over the chatter of the room. “Look who decided to join the fun.”

The surrounding cadets turned at her words, their conversations halting as their attention shifted to Lilia and Astron. Adrian, too, glanced over, his expression flickering with surprise before settling into his usual smug grin.

“Lilia,” Selene continued, her tone light but laced with mockery. Though then her face turned to Astron.

“And….who is this?”