Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

With a heavy heart and a sense of urgency, Sylvie returned to her bungalow, contemplating the mysterious circumstances that had left everyone unconscious. As she gently laid Jasmine and Irina side by side, a deep worry etched across her face.

"What is happening here? How did everyone end up like this?"

Sylvie pondered the possible causes, but the mysterious nature of Phantom's Land seemed to shroud the answers in uncertainty.

No matter what she thought, this situation didn't make any sense at all. But, one thing was certain, in this place of Phenomena only she was awake now while others were not.

'And there are phantoms.'

The fact that she was attacked by phantoms countless times just on the way alone made the place dangerous as well.

'After the time comes to 06.06 P.M...'

She knew what this implied. The phantoms outside of the bungalows became infinitely more rampant and dangerous after that time.

'And many students must have lost their consciousness outside of the bungalows.'

They came to this land with the academy, and there were at least 200 students here right now, and she couldn't possibly carry all of them back to bungalows.

Let alone carrying them, even finding them in this mist would be quite a challenge.

'I can't possibly leave this place to call help either.'

The academy didn't provide them with possible ways to return since the students were meant to stay here all the time. Therefore, they had no way of knowing how to get out of Phantom's Land.

In the midst of her contemplation, Sylvie's attention was abruptly drawn to Jasmine's resting form.

From the spot where Jasmine lay, a mysterious distortion in the air manifested, taking the form of a phantom.

SCREECH!

Before Sylvie could fully comprehend what was happening, the phantom lunged towards her, catching her off guard.

"What the—"

The ethereal creature's attack sliced through the air, aiming for Sylvie. Instinct kicked in, and Sylvie, driven by a mix of fear and determination, reacted swiftly.

THUD!

With a forceful swing of her hand, she managed to smash the phantom down before it could land its strike.

"Hah..."

Panting slightly, Sylvie realized that this was no ordinary phenomenon.

As she caught her breath, another disturbance caught her attention.

SCREECH!

A phantom emerged from Irina's unconscious form, its spectral presence sending a chill down Sylvie's spine. Without hesitation, Sylvie focused her energy and swiftly dispatched the phantom, ensuring it dissipated into the mist.Follow current s on N(o)vᴇl(ꜰ)ire.nᴇt

"What is going on? Why are these phantoms appearing from our friends?"

The unsettling realization that the phantoms were somehow connected to the unconscious students deepened Sylvie's concern. Adding the fact that they could appear in the bungalows made everything more and more dangerous as well.

'Just what is this?'

She couldn't think of anything else as she sank into the couch. All of these things were taking a toll on her mind.

The chilling encounters with phantoms emerging from her friends only added to the mysterious and perilous nature of Phantom's Land.

As she pondered the situation, a realization dawned on her—a realization that could potentially be the key to unlocking the mystery.

Amidst the chaos, a thought surfaced in Sylvie's mind. Out of all the students in Phantom's Land, only she was awake, and her unusual powers seemed to play a role in her safety.

'First Lord's Authority…..'

The soft glow emanating from her hands caught her attention, reminding her of the unique abilities she possessed.

It made sense. After all, if what she thought was correct, then if she could implement how she did to herself, then everything would be okay.

As a healer who loved to experiment with herself, she closed her eyes and slowly started exploring her own body first.

The gentle glow of her healing powers intensified as she focused on the source of her abilities. As her consciousness delved deeper, she encountered a peculiar sensation—an obstruction within her own heart.

A black aura seemed to swirl around a specific area, creating a barrier that prevented her from getting grasped by the same black misty aura that was covering others.

'I see...'

Then she realized that this was the reason why she wasn't affected by it. Something inside her was autonomously protecting her from the dangers, even if she wasn't reacting to it at all.

Sylvie, realizing the protective barrier within her own heart, saw an opportunity to extend this safeguard to others who lay unconscious in the mysterious mist of Phantom's Land.

She first looked at Jasmine, her friend who was with her.

'No….'

But she knew her friend. In this situation where many other lives were in danger, she needed to be logical and should never think with emotions.

Her gaze shifted towards Irina, the rational and analytic mind that could prove invaluable in this situation.

'Yes. If it is Irina, then….'

She needed to accept. She wasn't the smartest person out there, and someone with a clever mind was needed right now.

"Haaaaah...Let's do it Sylvie."

Approaching Irina with determination, Sylvie took a deep breath, ready to apply her newfound understanding of her powers.

Placing her hands gently on Irina's shoulders, she closed her eyes and focused on the barrier within her own heart. The gentle glow of her healing powers surrounded both of them as Sylvie attempted to share this protective shield.

Initially, the attempt seemed to falter. Sylvie's brow furrowed in concentration as she struggled to extend the protective aura to Irina. It was a delicate process, requiring a deep connection and understanding of the other person's inner workings.

But Sylvie didn't give up.

After several attempts, a breakthrough occurred. The protective aura expanded from Sylvie to Irina, enveloping her in a soft, yellowish glow.

"Haaaaaah....Haaaah….."

A gasp escaped Irina's lips as she jolted awake, breathing heavily as if she had just emerged from the depths of a drowning nightmare.

Sylvie looked at Irina with a mix of relief and anticipation. "Irina, are you okay? Can you hear me?" The success with Irina filled her with hope that she could replicate this process and awaken the others from their unconscious state.

******

Irina's daily grind, you know, the usual 'normal' stuff. Every morning, she'd get up with the sun peeking through the window – a bit of warmth, a bit of frosty air, setting the tone for the day. Breakfast served by the household staff, quick and routine, nothing extravagant.

Then it was off to her private study, surrounded by dusty spell books and crackling fireplaces. Hours lost in the arcane, pages turning, and mentors lurking around. Magic, etiquette, governance – a mix of responsibilities and expectations weighing her down, you know?

But there were those brief breaks, those moments of fleeting escape. Sometimes, the gardens provided a respite – blossoms and fragrance, a welcome distraction from the heavy air of the manor. Other times, she'd venture into the streets of Arcadia Dominion, where chaos and magic clashed in a dance of humanity.

Yet, no matter the respite, the weight of responsibility loomed large. Tutors, tower inspections, galas – a constant reminder of her role as the Emberheart heiress. A delicate balance, a dance between duty and desire, each step forward a cautious journey towards an uncertain destiny.

Sometimes, she would steal away to the gardens, where blossoms bloomed in a riot of color, their fragrance a welcome reprieve from the stifling confines of the manor.

And today was one of those days when she decided to escape from her house just as before.

And then, as the sun dipped low, the discontent brewed. Through opulent halls, a silent rebellion unfolded. Maids, tasks, and grumbling under her breath about the constraints of her scripted life. Always cleaning, always obeying – it wasn't the life she wanted, you get me?

So, she slipped beyond the manicured gardens into the wild embrace of the forest. The untamed, the unscripted – a sanctuary away from the mansion's polished walls. The scent of damp earth, the rustling leaves, a soothing balm for her restless spirit.

"Always cleaning, always obeying," she muttered to herself, resentment bubbling beneath the surface. "Do they not see how suffocating it is? This isn't the life I want."

And then came the cliff, the moonlit perch overlooking the city lights. A defiant climb to the highest point, where city sounds turned to distant murmurs. A whispered rebellion to the night air – "I won't be confined by their expectations. This is my life, and I'll shape it as I see fit."

At the peak of the cliff, where the city lights below shimmered like distant stars, Irina found herself caught in a moment of rebellion and self-discovery.

The night air was cool against her skin, and the echoes of her whispered defiance lingered around her.

And then, in that solitary defiance, a small movement caught her attention. A tiny squirrel, its fur aglow in the moonlight, scurried across the rocky ledge.

Irina couldn't help but feel a sense of relief as she watched the creature, taking a moment to forget about her responsibilities. "What a cute little thing," she thought, a rare smile forming on her lips.

The squirrel seemed unfazed by her presence and continued to nibble on an acorn. Irina decided to approach the tiny creature, taking careful steps towards it.

As she marveled at its tiny paws and fluffy tail, the worries of her daily life faded away.

Irina cautiously approached a squirrel, finding solace in her family's grand expectations. She admired the simplicity and beauty of the tiny creature when something extraordinary happened.

But just at that moment, the squirrel emitted a soft, glowing yellow aura in the moonlight, leaving Irina awestruck and confused.

Before she could make sense of the surreal scene, the glow intensified, blinding everything in its radiance. Irina felt a sudden tightness in her chest as the luminous yellow engulfed her senses. The air became thick, almost suffocating, and an unexplainable weight pressed down on her. As the vibrant glow intensified, she panicked, feeling swallowed whole.

Just as she thought she couldn't bear it any longer, the brilliance vanished, leaving Irina disoriented and gasping for air. As her eyes adjusted, she realized she was no longer on the cliff. She looked around, finding herself in a bungalow with the air still tinged with the scent of damp earth and the distant echoes of the forest.

"Irina, can you hear me?"