Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 566 126.3 - Evergreen

In the dimly lit room, soft candlelight flickered along the walls, casting gentle shadows over the intricate engravings and elegant décor that adorned the space. Maya sat cross-legged on a plush mat in the center of her room, her posture serene and composed. Her eyes were closed, and her hands rested lightly on her knees, fingers curled inward in a meditative pose.

For most of the Awakened, meditation might not be a necessity, but for someone like Maya, a mage who cultivated her mind and needed balance over her abilities, it was crucial. The very act of centering her mind allowed her to control the natural energies around her and, more importantly, to keep her vampiric urges at bay.

As she inhaled deeply, drawing in the ambient mana around her, her body seemed to still further, her presence becoming attuned to the room's energies. The forest-like engravings on the walls almost shimmered in response, as if acknowledging her connection to the natural world.

'Focus,' she told herself. The more she could align her mind with the peaceful flow of mana, the more she could stave off the dangerous pull of her vampiric nature. The hunger had been building steadily, especially as she pushed herself to rely less and less on the blood bags. It was a conscious choice, an effort to maintain her humanity without succumbing too deeply to her vampiric cravings.

But it wasn't easy.

Even now, as she breathed slowly, she could feel the stirrings of that dark part of her—the part that craved blood, that wanted to overwhelm her with the pure, animalistic need for sustenance. She gritted her teeth for a moment, feeling the fangs in her mouth slightly extend before she caught herself.

'Not now,' she thought, calming her inner turmoil.

The mana flowed more freely now, soothing her mind and quieting the relentless pull of her vampiric urges. In moments like these, it was as if two parts of her were constantly at war—the refined, controlled mage who sought balance and the primal, bloodthirsty predator that her vampiric nature threatened to unleash.

Her breath steadied as she slowly found a rhythm, each inhalation drawing in calming energy, each exhalation pushing out the remnants of her hunger. The deeper she meditated, the more control she regained. For Maya, this balance was everything—without it, she risked losing herself.

'I'm not a slave to it. I control it.'

She repeated this mantra in her mind, letting the words become part of the flow of energy, strengthening her resolve. Slowly, the hunger receded to the edges of her consciousness, like a distant echo.

The gentle flow of mana did its part, calming her immediate urges, but it couldn't quell the deeper, more insidious feeling that had been gnawing at her for weeks now: loneliness.

The mansion was vast, grand, and filled with loyal staff ready to attend to her every need. Yet, despite their constant presence, Maya felt a profound emptiness.

The academy had offered distractions, challenges, and—most importantly—a connection to others, particularly to Astron. But now, with the semester paused and the academy life distant, time had become her biggest enemy.

'Time…' she thought, her eyelids fluttering as she took another measured breath. It was time that stretched on endlessly now, leaving her in this limbo between moments of fleeting control and the overwhelming hunger that lurked beneath the surface. She repeated the mantra again, but this time, it felt hollow, more out of habit than conviction.

'I'm not a slave to it. I control it.'

She opened her eyes slowly, staring at the delicate patterns of light filtering through the curtains.

KNOCK!

The soft knock at the door echoed through the stillness of the room. Maya, having already sensed Alfred's approach, exhaled slowly, her breath mingling with the fading remnants of her mantra. "Enter," she said, her voice calm but laced with anticipation.

Alfred stepped in quietly, his ever-present composure intact. His eyes briefly scanned the room before settling on Maya, who had just begun to rise from her meditative pose. "My Lady," he began with his usual formality, "I apologize for interrupting your session, but I thought it best to inform you that the airship will be arriving in just a few minutes."

Maya's eyes sparkled, her heart quickening with excitement.

'Finally.'

The thought filled her with a surge of warmth, banishing the hollow feeling that had plagued her for days. She had arranged everything perfectly—her airship sent to collect him, the preparation of the estate. And now, after waiting and preparing, the moment was near.

"Thank you, Alfred," she replied, standing gracefully from her position. Her tone was calm, but the subtle joy in her expression betrayed her emotions. "I'm going to welcome him."

Alfred bowed slightly, acknowledging her decision. "Very well, My Lady. Shall I accompany you?"

Maya smiled at her loyal butler, her expression soft. "No need. I'll greet him alone. You've already done more than enough."

"As you wish," Alfred replied, bowing deeper this time as Maya moved past him with purpose, her footsteps light but filled with intent.

As Maya moved through the halls of the mansion, her steps were light but filled with anticipation. The elegant interior of the estate passed by in a blur, her focus solely on the moment she would see him again. Each step felt like it was carrying her closer to something she had long been waiting for.

The grand entrance of the mansion loomed ahead, and beyond that, the airship was just beginning to descend, its sleek form casting a shadow over the landing platform.

As the airship gracefully touched down, Maya's gaze was fixed on its descending form. She had been waiting for this moment, her heart quickening as she sensed the familiar mana signature. Though her face remained composed, inside, she was brimming with anticipation.

The forest around her whispered with life, its energy blending with the natural mana that permeated the estate. But today, none of that mattered—her focus was solely on him.

HISS!

The doors to the airship opened with a soft hiss, and there he was—Astron. He emerged from the ship, his form silhouetted against the interior light for a brief moment before stepping into the open air. His presence, calm and collected, seemed to fill the space.

The breeze carried a subtle mix of scents, the fragrance of nature and the earth mingling with the unique, familiar scent that Maya had come to associate with him. She breathed it in deeply, savoring the moment as she watched him take in his surroundings.

'He's here.'

"Junior," she greeted, her voice soft but carrying with it a warmth that was reserved only for him. She kept her tone calm and collected, though her heart beat faster with every second he stood before her.

Maya took a step forward, her movements as graceful as ever, closing the distance between them effortlessly. Her purple hair, catching the light, shimmered as she moved, and her pink eyes locked onto his—eyes that usually held so much power, but now, they were focused only on him.

And the moment she stepped closer to Astron, the familiar, intoxicating scent of his blood reached her senses. Her breath hitched, and for a brief moment, her vision swam in crimson. The world around her—the grand estate, the soft breeze, the natural energy flowing from the forest—blurred into the background as her instincts sharpened on him. His presence, his scent, and the sight of his neck, where his skin was exposed just enough under his neatly arranged clothes, sent her urges spiraling.

He looked healthier than she remembered, his body having grown stronger since their last meeting. The subtle shift in his demeanor, his sharpened focus, and the sheer vitality emanating from him seemed to amplify the temptation. The veins in his neck, pulsing with life, drew her in like a magnet.

'No…' she thought, her heart pounding. The hunger gnawed at her, more powerful than ever before. It was as if her body craved what it knew it could have, what it had tasted before. But this time, she had promised herself she wouldn't give in.

Her fangs itched, extending slightly before she caught herself. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she fought against the primal desire that threatened to overwhelm her. For weeks, she had trained, practiced, and meditated, all in the hopes of gaining control over this part of herself. She didn't want to be a burden to him. She didn't want to be the one always taking from him.

'He's been through enough,' she reminded herself, forcing her eyes away from his neck and meeting his gaze instead. His calm expression showed no sign that he was aware of the inner battle raging inside her, but she couldn't let herself slip. Not now. Not in front of him.

With a deep breath, she centered herself, repeating the mantras she had used during her meditation. 'Control it. You are not a slave to this.' Her vision slowly cleared, the crimson receding, but the ache remained, buried beneath layers of discipline she had painstakingly built.

She smiled, though it was strained, and spoke again, her voice steady but carrying the weight of her struggle. "I hope the journey wasn't too tiring for you, Junior."

Astron nodded, his eyes scanning the estate briefly before settling back on her. "It was fine, Senior," he replied, his tone neutral, though there was a warmth in his gaze that grounded her.

Maya forced herself to relax, letting go of the tension in her body. "Good," she said softly. "Everything is ready. Shall we go inside?"

As they began to walk toward the mansion, Maya remained hyper-aware of the distance between them. Her instincts were still on high alert, but she had made a decision—a promise to herself. She would not let her desires control her, not now.

At the very least, Maya wanted to show him that she was not a parasite that needed to be looked after, as if she were a fragile thing. She had always prided herself on being strong, on being someone who could carry her own weight, and now, more than ever, she wanted to prove that to Astron.

'I'm not a burden. I'm not just someone who takes.'

With every step toward the mansion, she reaffirmed that thought. She had spent countless hours training, meditating, and suppressing her vampiric urges to gain control, not just for her own sake but for his as well. She wanted to be someone who could stand beside him, not just someone who relied on him.

As they walked, the natural energy of the estate seemed to hum around them, and the mansion loomed larger with every step. Despite her internal struggle, Maya carried herself with grace, her movements fluid and confident. She had mastered the art of maintaining her composure even when turmoil brewed beneath the surface.

"Thank you for having me here, Senior."

And well, this felt kind of like a reward as well.