Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 656 144.4 - Finally

<Arcadia Dominion, 00.15 P.M>

Irina leaned back in her seat, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery as the vehicle glided smoothly along the path toward the Teleportation Center in Etheria Haven.

Her attire was meticulously chosen—a simple yet elegant ensemble in deep ember and charcoal tones, hinting at her family's legacy without the usual intensity.

Her hair, styled just enough to appear refined but understated, felt right for the occasion. It was exactly what she'd wanted: presentable without the overt glamor her mother might have insisted upon.

With each passing moment, her anticipation grew. She couldn't deny the way her pulse quickened, the faint sense of exhilaration that made the journey seem both endless and fleeting.

'Almost there,' she thought, glancing down at her smartwatch. A small smile tugged at her lips as she opened the messaging app and began typing.

Irina: "You're ready, aren't you? Waiting close to the Teleportation Center in Arcadia?"

She watched as the screen indicated that he was typing a response, a flicker of warmth sparking in her chest. It had been a while since she'd been able to simply reach out to him like this, to communicate without the barriers of family or duty.

Astron: "Yes, just outside the center."

Irina rolled her eyes, a soft laugh escaping her despite herself. Even through text, his calm, slightly teasing tone came through, grounding her in the familiarity of his presence.

Irina: "What are you doing?"

Astron: "Reading a book."

Irina stared at his last message, the casualness of it settling in her mind in an oddly irritating way.

Reading a book? she thought, almost scoffing. Here she was, dressed to the nines, her heart pounding, barely containing her anticipation. And he was waiting there… reading? Calm and composed, as if this were just another day for him.

'Of course, he'd be completely unbothered,' she mused, feeling a prickling annoyance. She almost felt foolish for how much she'd prepared, the time she'd spent thinking about this moment. Meanwhile, he was just… reading a book.

'You're the one making this a big deal,' she reminded herself, but it did little to settle her frustration. It was exactly like him to be so unaffected, always so calm and detached. And yet, it only made her determination grow—to surprise him, to see even the smallest flicker of something different in his expression when he saw her standing there instead of some random agent.

Irina: "Good, then. The agent there will handle everything when you arrive on this end."

She couldn't help but smirk slightly, knowing she'd be the one waiting for him, not some faceless envoy. It was her decision, after all, to take control, to ensure that she'd be the one by his side the moment he stepped through the portal. But there was no need for him to know that just yet.

Astron: "Understood. I'll see you soon, then."

Her thumb hovered over the screen, almost tempted to add something more, but she stopped herself, closing the messaging app and setting her smartwatch down with a satisfied huff.

'Heh…..Let's see the face you will make when you see me….'

Irina was excited.

********

At around 12:30, the faint ring of my smartwatch interrupted the silence, pulling me out of the mental labyrinth I'd been exploring. I glanced at the caller ID—Lyra Fendral, one of the Emberheart Family's assistants. Irina must have arranged for her to escort me to Etheria Haven.

I tapped to answer, leaning back as her voice came through, calm and professional. "Mr. Natusalune, this is Lora Fendral from the Emberheart Family. I'll be handling your transport to Etheria Haven. Could you let me know where you are currently?"

I glanced around the café, a relaxed smile from habit as I took in the surroundings. "I'm at the Arcane Oak Café, near the Teleportation Center," I replied.

"Understood," she answered promptly. "I'll be there in a few minutes. Please wait there."

The call ended, and I returned to my book, skimming the last few passages I'd been studying on mental fortification. Control, intention, precision, I reminded myself. These principles applied well beyond psychic magic—they were keys to survival and advantage in any setting.

Moments later, a figure entered the café, her posture straight and expression composed. Lora was tall, with a calm presence that conveyed both discipline and confidence, her attire formal yet efficient, suited for the duties of a high-ranking family's assistant. She scanned the room briefly before her eyes settled on me, and she approached with a polite nod.

"Mr. Natusalune," she greeted, her tone even but respectful.

'Indeed the same reaction….' As Lora greeted me, I caught the faintest stammer in her voice, almost unnoticeable—a subtle tremor as her gaze met mine. She quickly masked it, her professionalism reasserting itself, but it didn't escape my notice. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

That reaction had become all too familiar ever since my charm had spiked; it was expected, almost routine by now. I gave no indication that I'd noticed, merely returning her nod with a calm, neutral expression.

But a faint, unexpected excitement stirred within me as we left the café. A thought crept in, one I hadn't anticipated: how would Irina react when she saw me again?

 The last time we'd met, things had been different. Now, with this new face—one that seemed to draw people in effortlessly—I couldn't help but wonder how she would respond. She wasn't the type to be easily swayed, but this was no ordinary shift.

'With the increase in charm, would she even notice?' I mused, feeling the slightest hint of curiosity mixing with the growing anticipation.

'There is no way, she doesn't…..' Irina's reaction would be worth noting, at the very least.

Lora led the way through the bustling street toward the Teleportation Center, her pace brisk and efficient. She kept her gaze forward, saying little as we walked, perhaps determined not to betray any further reaction.

But I could still sense her occasional, fleeting glances as if she was caught between curiosity and the restraint her position required.

As we approached the Teleportation Center, Lora broke the silence, her tone composed and reassuring. "Mr. Natusalune, I'll be handling all the documents and permissions for our travel to Etheria Haven, so there's no need for you to worry about any formalities," she said, glancing briefly in my direction. "The entire process should take no more than fifteen minutes."

I nodded, appreciating her efficiency. We entered the grand hall, and as expected, the teleportation area dedicated to Arcadia Dominion had drawn quite a crowd. A long line of travelers, each waiting for the standard spatial storage inspection, wound its way toward the security checkpoint.

This process was mandatory for nearly everyone heading into the Dominion—arcane items and other enchanted goods were tightly controlled.

–Nearly everyone, that is.

Lora directed me to a separate, less obvious pathway that led toward a discreet section at the back of the teleportation area. Here, the crowds thinned, and the only people present were either high-ranking officials or trusted individuals under the authority of the Dominion's pillar families. A guard in sleek, enchanted armor stood by the entrance, his stance alert but unintrusive. He looked up as we approached, noting Lora with a slight nod.

Without a word, Lora produced her ID card, the Emberheart family crest gleaming subtly on its surface. The guard examined it for a moment before stepping aside, gesturing us through with a respectful nod.

"This way, please," Lora said, her professionalism never wavering. She led me down a short corridor, bypassing the main inspection area entirely. I took in the process, noting the efficiency and the understated security Emberheart's influence afforded me. These were the privileges of association with one of Arcadia Dominion's elite families.

As we moved past the initial checkpoint, another line awaited us, shorter but nonetheless present—a reminder that even the Emberheart Family, with all their influence, couldn't circumvent every procedure.

This checkpoint was purely for document verification, an agreement that had been solidified by the Council of Magic to ensure that everyone, regardless of status, adhered to certain protocols. Etheria Haven's gates didn't open for just anyone without strict documentation.

'In the game, it was also the same for the player.'

Ethan would also go through the same procedure, regardless of whether the player was closer to Seraphine or Irina.

Lora glanced at me briefly, sensing my awareness of the situation. "This will only take a little," she informed, her tone maintaining its professional calm.

The line moved steadily, each person ahead of us presenting identification and entry documents to a group of officials stationed behind a desk.

When our turn came, Lora handed over a neatly organized bundle of documents to the official at the counter. The Emberheart crest caught his attention immediately, his demeanor shifting to one of careful respect as he scanned through each page.

"Emberheart Family authorization," he murmured to himself as he read, nodding in approval before marking the documents with a glowing seal. His gaze flickered briefly to me, curiosity in his eyes, but he offered no comment beyond a professional, "Everything is in order. Welcome to Arcadia Dominion, Mr. Natusalune."

With the final approval in hand, Lora led me toward the portal room where the gate to Etheria Haven was prepped and ready. The room's ambient hum of mana grew stronger as we approached, a testament to the level of magical prowess maintained within the Dominion's capital.

Lora paused at the portal, giving me a slight nod. "Once you step through, the Emberheart Family will be informed of your arrival. Thank you for your patience, Mr. Natusalune."

"Understood."

Without further delay, I stepped onto the portal platform, feeling the mana gather around me, dense and charged with purpose.

A moment later, the familiar tug of teleportation took hold, drawing me through the dimensional boundary and straight into the heart of Etheria Haven.

The teleportation process felt slightly different this time, a faint but undeniable shift in the mana currents that tugged me forward.

The sensation was both familiar and strange, a subtle reminder that the gate to Etheria Haven wasn't an ordinary transport link. It had a depth to it, a resonance that hinted at the arcane layers woven into the very fabric of the portal.

And then, in a flash, I arrived.

As I stepped onto solid ground, the first thing I noticed was the mana. It was everywhere—dense, vibrant, and potent, saturating the air itself. Unlike any other place, the atmosphere here was thick with power, each breath filled with a faint charge that tingled against my skin.

Countless streams of mana in different hues and signatures coursed around me, almost as if the entire capital pulsed with its own lifeblood. 'So, this is the heart of Etheria Haven,' I thought, taking a moment to absorb the unique energy.

All around, people moved with purpose, their robes and attire marking them as scholars, mages, and various other practitioners of magic.

There was an air of quiet authority, a disciplined focus that distinguished the inhabitants here from those in other regions.

Many walked with the kind of calm intensity that spoke of years spent in study, research, or magical refinement.

'Even the breathing here feels different.'

That was something that I couldn't just get used to immediately, but even at this moment, my body started adapting to the conditions.

[Everchanging Glyph]

It was adapting to how the mana levels here were different.

Just then, as I was feeling absorbed in the potent atmosphere of Etheria Haven, feeling Everchanging Glyph adjusting to the dense mana currents around me, a sudden shift in the air alerted me.

My senses flared instinctively, picking up on the distinct presence moving quickly in my direction—a presence I recognized.

Before I could even turn fully, a familiar voice called out, a soft but excited shout breaking through the controlled hum of the capital. "Astron!"

And then, with a flash of motion, she was there.