Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 837 194.2 - Path

Chapter 837 194.2 - Path

Lilia exhaled slowly, forcing her grip on the bow to relax. Her fingers trembled slightly, a lingering remnant of the mana she had poured into her final shot—a shot that should have secured her victory. But instead, it had missed. Not because of a miscalculation. Not because Adrian had outmaneuvered her. But because of something—or rather, someone—far beyond her control.
Selene.
Even now, standing there with that perfectly composed smile, Lilia could see it—the satisfaction hidden behind the mask of gracious amusement. She planned for this. She made sure, no matter what happened, I wouldn't win.
A hand clapped against her shoulder, light but firm. "You fought well," Adrian said, his voice smooth and just a touch too self-satisfied. "But I guess your talent was up to this point, huh?"
Lilia's breath stilled, her fingers curling at her sides. A deep, burning urge swelled inside her—an impulse to turn and strike him, to wipe that smug expression off his face with a single punch. It would feel so satisfying.
But it would also be exactly what they wanted.
She clenched her jaw, inhaling sharply before stepping away from him, shaking his hand off like it was nothing more than dust on her sleeve. "Next time, you won't be so lucky," she said coolly, her voice unwavering despite the storm beneath her skin.
Adrian chuckled, tilting his head slightly. "Luck?" he mused. "Is that what you're calling it?" His eyes gleamed with amusement, but Lilia could see it—that same faint edge he had carried throughout the match. He knew. He knew that she had nearly won, that it had taken more than just his skill to secure his victory.
But he would never admit it.
Lilia didn't bother responding. There was nothing more to say. With controlled, measured steps, she turned and walked off the platform, her back straight, her chin held high. The murmurs of the cadets swirled around her—some murmuring admiration for how close the match had been, others whispering about the sudden shift in the battlefield.
None of it mattered.
The weight in her chest tightened as she moved past the gathered crowd, her body feeling strangely heavy. It wasn't just physical exhaustion, though her muscles ached from the relentless pace of the match. No, this was something else—something deeper.
'What is this feeling?'
Her footsteps carried her farther from the main platform, out of the direct spotlight of the event. The air felt slightly cooler here, less suffocating than the charged atmosphere of the gathering. And yet, despite putting distance between herself and them, the feeling remained.
She clenched her fists. Frustration? That was obvious. She should feel frustrated. Angry, even. But there was something else, something unfamiliar gnawing at the edges of her thoughts.
Disappointment?
The thought unsettled her.
Not at Adrian. Not at Selene. But at herself.
She had known. Deep down, she had known what she was stepping into. And yet, she had walked right into their game. She had let herself believe, if only for a moment, that she could play by their rules and still win.
'How foolish.'
The realization sat heavy in her chest, but she didn't let it show. Not now. Not when she knew eyes were still on her.
She reached a quieter part of the grounds, exhaling softly. Her heartbeat had slowed, but that weight remained.
The cool night air did little to soothe the fire burning beneath Lilia's skin. Her fingers twitched at her sides, her breath measured but tense. She had expected the loss to sting, but this? This hollow weight settling in her chest—it wasn't just frustration. It was something more bitter.Then, just as she was trying to center herself, she heard the one voice she didn't want to deal with right now.
"Sister."
The word was laced with amusement, smooth and deliberate.
Lilia's body tensed as she turned, her crimson eyes narrowing as Selene approached with her usual composed grace. The faint sound of clapping filled the air as Selene brought her hands together in slow, measured applause.
"You really fought well," she said, her voice as sweet as honey but carrying that unmistakable edge of mockery.
Lilia clenched her jaw, her expression neutral but her mind already working through the layers of meaning behind Selene's words. She knew her sister far too well. There were no real compliments between them—only carefully veiled barbs, traps hidden in silk.
Selene came to a stop just a few paces from her, tilting her head slightly as if studying Lilia. Her brown eyes gleamed with something unreadable, a quiet satisfaction woven into her features.
"I must say," she continued, placing a hand delicately on her hip, "for a moment, I truly thought you had it. The way you moved, the way you handled your mana—it was quite impressive."
Lilia said nothing, letting Selene speak, waiting for the inevitable turn in the conversation.
Selene's smile widened, her voice dipping into something softer, something almost conspiratorial. "But in the end… well." She let out a light, almost pitying sigh, her fingers brushing a stray lock of emerald hair behind her ear. "I suppose there are just some things that can't be overcome, aren't there?"
There it was.
Lilia's fingers curled slightly, but she forced herself to exhale, keeping her expression level. Don't react. Don't give her that satisfaction.
Instead, she let out a small, humorless chuckle. "You're right," she said smoothly. "Like the part where you manipulated the battlefield."
Selene blinked, then let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "Manipulated? My dear Lilia, the barriers were shifting randomly from the start. I had nothing to do with it." Her voice was the picture of innocence, but the glint in her eyes told a different story.
Lilia tilted her head, feigning curiosity. "Oh? Is that so? How strange that the timing always worked in Adrian's favor, then. What impeccable luck."
Selene sighed, as if truly lamenting the accusation. "Luck is a fickle thing, isn't it? Sometimes, it's with us. Sometimes, it's against us. But surely, you wouldn't suggest that your loss was solely due to something so trivial? That would be rather… unbecoming."
Lilia's lips twitched. "Of course not." She met Selene's gaze evenly, her voice cool and unwavering. "But let's not pretend, Selene. You and I both know what happened tonight."
Selene's eyes gleamed, her smile never faltering. "Do we?"
They stood there, locked in silent battle, neither willing to look away. The air between them crackled, the weight of years of rivalry pressing down on both of them.
Then, Selene's gaze flickered downward for just a moment, and when she looked back up, her smile had shifted—just slightly. There was something sharper now, something more… amused.
"You seem tired, Lilia," she murmured. "You should get some rest. Losing takes a lot out of you, doesn't it?"
Lilia inhaled slowly, forcing herself to remain composed. "You'd know."
Selene let out another soft laugh, stepping back slightly. "Oh, little sister," she mused. "You make this so entertaining."
She turned smoothly, her hair catching the dim light as she walked away, leaving Lilia standing there, her fists clenched at her sides.
Lilia exhaled sharply through her nose. The exhaustion she had been holding at bay finally caught up with her, settling in her bones.
Selene's words echoed in her mind, blending with the bitter weight of disappointment.
Not in Selene.
Not in Adrian.
But in herself.
She had walked into this knowing the risks, knowing what they were capable of. And still, she had let herself get caught in their game.
Then she walked briskly, her mind still storming with the aftermath of the match, Selene's words echoing faintly in her head. The frustration gnawed at her, mingling with the weight of exhaustion pressing down on her limbs. She needed to be alone. She needed space to think.
But then—
"Leaving without me?"
The voice was cool, detached, yet somehow familiar. Lilia stopped mid-step, her breath steadying as her crimson eyes flicked to the side.
There, leaning casually against one of the trees near the edge of the training grounds, stood Astron. His arms were crossed, his dark purple eyes watching her with his usual unreadable expression. He looked completely at ease, as if the tension of the night had never touched him.
Lilia blinked. Had he been there this whole time?
She hadn't noticed him—not once. And for someone as naturally aware of her surroundings as she was, that realization irked her. I must be slipping.
Still, for reasons she didn't fully understand, she felt a small, almost reluctant sense of relief that he was still here.
She raised an eyebrow at him, tilting her head slightly. "I thought you left after the match." Her voice was even, betraying none of the turmoil still simmering inside her.
Astron shrugged. "Didn't feel like dealing with the crowd." He pushed off the tree, his posture relaxed as he stepped toward her. "Figured you'd do the same."
Lilia exhaled softly, shaking her head. "Not quite. I had… unfinished business."
Astron's gaze flickered slightly, as if he already knew exactly what—or who—that 'unfinished business' had been. He didn't press, though, instead eyeing her with a faint trace of curiosity. "So? How do you feel?"
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