Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 841 194.6 - Path

Chapter 841 194.6 - Path

The night had long settled over the academy, but Lilia remained at the archery grounds, her presence solitary amidst the quiet. The crowd was gone, the remnants of the party fading into the distance. No distractions. No Adrian. No Selene.
Just her.
And the target.
Thwack!
An arrow shot forward, slicing through the air with practiced precision before embedding itself into the target's center.
Lilia lowered her bow, her breath steady but her mind restless.
Astron's words still lingered.
Are you sure this is what you want?
Her fingers tightened around the bowstring, irritation flickering in her chest. Of course, she was sure. She had to be.
Then why are you still thinking about it?
Her expression hardened as she nocked another arrow, raising her bow without hesitation.
She didn't need to entertain pointless doubts. She knew what she was doing.
She released.
Thwack!
The arrow struck the target again, just slightly off-center this time. Her grip tightened.
She drew another arrow.
This wasn't about proving anything. This wasn't about him.
It was about control. About regaining what had been stolen from her tonight.
The bowstring stretched taut as she took aim once more, her crimson eyes locked onto the target.
She inhaled.
She released.
Thwack!
Another hit. Another step closer to drowning out the thoughts that wouldn't leave her alone.
But the words remained.
The idea that—perhaps—she had been moving
The idea that—perhaps—she had been moving without thinking.
That maybe she was chasing something she had never actually chosen for herself.
Her breath came a little sharper, her heartbeat quickening as she fired another shot.
And another.
And another.
Each arrow flew, precise but growing wilder, her movements no longer as calculated. The thoughts she had tried to suppress came creeping back.
Was she really doing all of this because she wanted to?
Or was she just proving something?
Thwack!
Her final shot veered slightly off its mark, missing the bullseye by an inch.
Lilia lowered her bow slowly, staring at the target in front of her, frustration simmering just beneath the surface.
She had never doubted before. She had never needed to.
So why—why now?
She exhaled sharply, shaking her head.
It didn't matter. She would not let someone like Astron's words crawl beneath her skin.
She knew what she wanted.
"But do I really know that?"
"But do I really know that?"
The question settled in her chest like a stone, heavy and unyielding. Lilia stared at the target in front of her, at the arrows embedded deep into its surface. Some were dead center, some slightly off—but none were truly wrong.
And yet, she still felt unsatisfied.
Her grip on the bow tightened as her mind churned. Now that I think about it… do I really have to do all of this?
Her own words, her own actions—when she looked back at them, she could see it.
She could see the parts of herself that she had ignored.
Yes, she was ambitious. Yes, she wanted to win. But… there were moments, weren't there? Moments where she hesitated. Moments where she followed a path not because she wanted to, but because it was the right one.
She thought back to her fight with Adrian. She had pushed herself, fought with everything she had. But…
Did she really need to fight him at all?
Her fingers twitched slightly.
Yes, she despised Adrian. Yes, she wanted to prove that she was better than him. But why? Why had she let herself get dragged into his game, knowing exactly what kind of person he was?
Her mind raced further.
And Selene.
Her lips curled slightly in frustration as she thought about her sister. The power struggles. The manipulation. The endless battle of who will win in the end?
But when had it even started?
Lilia exhaled sharply, her crimson eyes darkening.
She had spent so much time wrapped in this battle—fighting to secure her place, pushing herself forward without stopping to ask…
Did she even want this?
She scoffed under her breath. Of course, I do.
But even as she said it, the thought gnawed at the edge of her mind.
She could act high and mighty sometimes, yes. But she wasn't the type to constantly belittle others. She wasn't Selene, she wasn't Adrian. She didn't need to force people beneath her to feel like she was on top.
Then why? Why do I keep fighting like this?
She let out a breath, running a hand through her hair.
Was it really about proving herself?
Or was she just doing what she thought she was supposed to do?
She told herself that this was about the Olympus Vanguard, about securing her position in her family. That was what mattered, right?
But here, at this academy, in a place that was just a simple club…
Why am I trying so hard?
She could have let Adrian and Selene play their little games. She could have focused on other things—on actual alliances, on real power-building tactics.
Yet she had spent weeks fighting for control over this club.
She had gone out of her way to win over cadets, to counter Adrian, to go head-to-head with him in a battle that, in the grand scheme of things, didn't even matter.
Did it?
Lilia's breathing was slow, steady, but her mind felt anything but.
She closed her eyes briefly, forcing herself to focus.
No. She wasn't weak. She wasn't wrong for pushing forward.
Just as Lilia was about to draw another arrow, she felt it—an unfamiliar yet unmistakable presence entering the training grounds.
Her instincts sharpened immediately, and without even turning around, she analyzed what she could sense.
The footsteps were light, graceful, but carried the confidence of someone well-trained. There was no hesitation in their movements, no lurking hostility.
A senior.
And given the distinct weight of her presence, how she almost seemed to glide rather than walk, Lilia could tell—it was a woman.
That meant there was only one person it could be.
Senior Elara.
Lilia lowered her bow slightly, but she didn't turn to face her right away. Instead, she exhaled, her posture relaxing just a fraction.
"Senior Elara," she said, her voice even. "Didn't expect you to be here."
A soft chuckle met her ears before the senior finally stepped into her line of sight. Elara, Vice President of the Archery Club, stood a few meters away, arms loosely folded, her golden-brown hair pulled into a casual braid over her shoulder.
Her hazel eyes, always sharp but carrying an unusual warmth, studied Lilia with mild amusement. "Didn't expect you to be here either," she replied smoothly. "It's late."
Lilia smirked faintly, turning back to her target. "Didn't feel like sleeping yet."
"Figured."
"How?"
"Your appearance when you were about to leave."
Lilia shook her head lightly, exhaling. "I guess that gave it away."
Elara smirked, shifting her weight slightly as she studied her. "Indeed."
Without another word, she stepped forward, coming to stand beside Lilia, her hazel eyes flickering toward the targets in front of them.
It had been a while since Lilia had recruited Elara. At first, it had simply been a calculated move—Lilia had recognized her talent, her sharp mind, and her ability to read people far too well. And in a place like the Archery Club, where influence was just as important as skill, that kind of talent was invaluable.
And Elara had delivered.
She was good—exceptionally good—at dealing with people. The way she maneuvered through conversations, how she could disarm hostility with a well-placed comment or a perfectly timed smile, was a skill Lilia had come to respect.
It made sense how she had been able to navigate Adrian so well, how she had balanced herself between the growing tensions in the club without ever making herself a target.
Lilia lowered her bow slightly, glancing at her. "You didn't just come here to talk about my expressions, did you?"
Elara chuckled, rolling her shoulders slightly. "I figured you'd want to be alone."
"And yet, here you are."
Elara smirked. "Like I said, I figured."
Lilia sighed, turning her gaze back to the target. She let the silence stretch between them for a moment before finally speaking.
"You're good at this."
Elara arched an eyebrow. "At what?"
Lilia shot her a look. "At navigating people. At reading them."
Elara's lips curled slightly, not in denial, but in amusement. "Is that a compliment or an accusation?"
Lilia exhaled sharply. "Both."
Elara hummed in response, glancing back at the targets. "Well, that's why you recruited me, isn't it?"
Lilia smirked slightly, nocking another arrow. "Among other reasons."
She drew her bowstring back, eyes locked onto the center of the target.
Thwack!
A perfect shot.
Elara watched, nodding slightly. "You know, it's funny."
Lilia arched an eyebrow. "What is?"
Elara crossed her arms. "For someone who claims to be so certain of herself, you sure seem to be questioning a lot tonight."
Lilia's grip tightened slightly around her bow, but she didn't turn to look at her.
Elara tilted her head. "That match with Adrian got to you more than you thought, didn't it?"
Lilia's lips pressed into a thin line. "Maybe."
Elara watched her carefully before finally speaking again. "You don't have to do everything alone, you know."
Lilia let out a breath, lowering her bow. "I know."
Elara didn't push further, and Lilia was grateful for it.
Because the truth was, she wasn't entirely sure what she wanted to hear right now.
And maybe—just for tonight—having someone stand beside her in silence was enough.