As Reina's footsteps faded into the distance, Garrett and I were left alone in the room. The silence that followed was heavy, filled with unspoken words and mories of a shared past.
Garrett, my guardian. The man who had sent to the orphanage after everything happened, the sa person who had personally trained with daggers, now stood before with an expression that was hard to read.
To be frank, I didn't know much about this Hunter. When we first t, he was soone who was sent to the exploration team for the village. At that ti, I wasn't thinking right.
The things that happened had already been overwheld to the extent that I couldn't even think. I could only see the claws piercing her chest; that was all I could think.
Yet, even then, from the pieces of those mories, I can easily say that Garrett wasn't as strong as he was at that ti.
He was stern and serious, a character fitting for a hunter. He didn't talk much, even while he was training . And since I myself am not much of a talker either, in the end, our relationship was sohow awkward all the ti.
I am pretty confident that this guy didn't know how to deal with a child, let alone a kid like .
In any case, things seem to have changed a lot over the years. Garrett had changed. He got stronger, and his presence beca a lot more refined.
From the aura he is excluding, it is evident that he is a lot more experienced and calm. His deanor, his posture, and the way he approaches things also suggest that he has experienced many life-and-death situations.
Since I can see one when I check, but aside from my observations, there is nothing I know about him. There are so miscellaneous things, but none of them are important.
"Well, that was...interesting," Garrett finally said, breaking the silence. His tone was casual, but I could sense the underlying tension. This guy…He sohow feels awkward around that woman, Reina.
'Interesting.'
I had never seen such a side of him since he was always calm.
I glanced at the bulky smartwatch on my wrist, its intricate design catching the light. "You know, Mister Garrett, you could have picked sothing a bit more...subtle."
"I thought you would like it."
"Really?"
"Yes."
But, seemingly enough, with Reina leaving our presence, his usual deanor slowly returned.
"Kid." This was his way of addressing . Even before, he had never called by my na.
Maybe he thought calling by my na alone would make feel uncomfortable, or maybe he himself felt uncomfortable calling my na.
I didn't know the reason for that, nor did I care. It was just a realization after rembering our past interactions.
"I know this is pretty sudden. Being dragged into this organization and dealing with their threats...."
"I know this is pretty sudden. Being dragged into this organization and dealing with their threats...." Garrett's voice trailed off, his expression thoughtful.
"But," he continued, "it's not necessarily a bad thing. This is also an opportunity for you, kid. Being alone without any backer in the Hunter field is hard. No matter what drives you forward, no matter your motivations, if you remain a lone insect, it will only be a matter of ti before you get crushed."
I listened, my gaze fixed on him. Garrett's words carried the weight of experience, of lessons learned through harsh realities.
He was right; the Hunter world was ruthless. I had seen it firsthand. The backers, I knew it as well. But at the end of the day,
"You need allies, resources, and training that you can't get on your own," Garrett went on. "They saw potential in you. They're offering you a path, a way to get stronger. And you'll need that strength to survive and achieve whatever it is you're aiming for."
I nodded slowly. Garrett didn't know all the details about her death.
"Look, kid," Garrett said, his tone softening a bit, "I know you're capable. You've already co a long way. But you can't fight the entire world on your own. Use this opportunity. Learn what you can from them, and grow stronger. Then, when the ti is right, you can make your own decisions about your future."
I appreciated his honesty. Yet, so of his words bugged .
'You can't fight the world on your own….'
In this world, is there ever soone who would fight the world just for a person like ? Do I have any right to request such a thing from them?
For , who couldn't even protect the only person I needed to protect? What right do I have to request such a thing from soone else?
'Right….'
The demons, her death. There were many questions that still needed to be answered.
There are still many mysteries and many holes that I need to uncover.
Sothing inside keeps telling that once I co to learn the truth, things will never remain the sa.
But even without that, the sole reason that I exist….
Isn't that revenge sothing that will eventually co to destroy ?
Maybe that is what I am hoping for, maybe not. At the end of the day, I have no right to drag others into this.
I am not that selfish. If the world does not permit to take my revenge on my own, it is not because of the world but because I am lacking.
That is it. I don't need anyone's help.
One part of ca to this world alone, and the other part of was left alone.
'Future?'
My future? Wasn't that obvious what I was going to do? After leaving this academy? Ending the ones who took her from . This is what I am living for.
'But….'
Yet, sohow, when these thoughts overlapped my head, a subtle feeling erged. A subtle feeling of what?
'Regret?'
A feeling that I thought I would never feel for other reasons since my biggest regret has always accompanied in my dreams and still accompanies .
I was lost in thought, the weight of Garrett's words, and my own unresolved emotions pressing down on . My mind wandered through mories and unanswered questions, doubts, and regrets, weaving a complex web.
Just as I was about to delve deeper into my reminiscences, I suddenly felt a hand on my shoulder.
–FLINCH!
Instinctively, I flinched, maybe for the first ti in years, unaccustod to the sensation and surprised that my senses had missed Garrett reaching out to . I realized there were too many thoughts in my head, too many distractions.
Garrett's eyes t mine, steady and sincere. "You've done well, Kid. There's no need to overdo it. I know you well enough to see when you're tired."
I stayed silent, the words catching in my throat. There was sothing in his presence…Sothing that sohow made unable to respond.
Was it those words? Maybe it reminded of sothing.
Was it that hand? Maybe it reminded of sothing.
It felt unnaturally deep, resonating inside.
One thing was obvious. I was like a stone statue at that mont.
His grip on my shoulder was firm, a grounding mont amidst the turmoil in my mind.
He stayed like that for a while. It was silent since neither of us was speaking. The silence was heavy, sothing I hadn't felt since before.
I generally loved being in silence since it felt like nothing would remind of those tis. But, sohow, right now, not being able to respond made feel suffocated.
And it seed Garrett was not that different.
After a mont, he coughed awkwardly and said, "I guess I overstepped my boundaries." He retracted his hand, but not before giving my shoulder a pat.
"If ever sothing happens, you can count on . I may not be your father, but I can at least act like a guardian."
"..."
The sincerity in his voice struck a chord within . Despite the fact that he was nothing more than a re hunter who had found a lost kid like , Garrett showed genuine care in his actions.
It was a simple, unspoken promise of support and guidance.
'Why?' This made wonder if he was this good at hiding that, it felt like he was genuine. Since it didn't make sense for him to show this care for soone like . I was unable to comprehend it since never once had I offered him sothing valuable, and he didn't have much to gain from this.
No, I did understand, and that was the problem. I had seen it before. I knew what happened to those who showed goodwill for no reason.
'She was just like this, as well.' They perish for the sake of others. This world was harsh, and those who extended a hand often paid the price.
I stayed silent, wrestling with the conflicting emotions inside . Garrett just smiled, sensing my turmoil. "Enjoy your school life a bit more," he said, his tone light. "You'll miss these days once it ends."
With that, he gave one last pat on the shoulder and turned to leave.
Sohow, I didn't feel like training today.
*******
The final exam period was different for those who were non-
combatants, especially for healers. While the combatant students were tested in duels and physical trials, the healers were evaluated on their ability to nd wounds and manage crises.
Their talents couldn't be showcased in the sa dramatic fashion, but their importance was no less significant.
Sylvie found herself in the bustling infirmary, the atmosphere charged with a mix of tension and urgency. Students filed in with injuries sustained from their duels, and it was the healers' job to patch them up and ensure they could continue their examinations.
This was their test to demonstrate their skills under pressure and prove their worth as indispensable mbers of the academy.
Sylvie moved from one injured student to the next, her hands glowing with a soft, soothing light as she channeled her healing mana. Cuts closed, bruises faded, and bones nded under her touch. Her sensitivity to mana had grown significantly through her training, allowing her to detect even the faintest disturbances in the students' energy flows.
"Next," she called, her voice steady despite the constant stream of patients. A student with a gash on his arm stepped forward, grimacing in pain.
Sylvie placed her hands over the wound, her mana flowing into the injury, knitting the tissue back together with practiced precision.
"You're good to go," she said with a reassuring smile as the student flexed his now-healed arm, relief washing over his face.
"Thank you," he replied. "This is the first ti I feel this smooth after a treatnt."
"You flatter ."
"No, really," he insisted, his gaze right on her eyes. There was a sincerity in his eyes that caught Sylvie off guard. As he continued to look at her, a faint blush spread across his cheeks, and he suddenly seed a bit flustered.
"Um, I an... you're really good at what you do, Sylvie," he stuttered, struggling to maintain his composure. "And, uh... I was wondering if you'd like to go out with soti. For a drink or sothing?"
Sylvie was caught off guard for a split second.
"Eh?"
But as those words reached out to her ears, she sohow felt….
Cold.
Maybe a bit angry?
"That, I was just asking-"
"I appreciate the complint and the offer. But, no."
Maybe it was a bit unfair. But she felt angry and didn't want to continue this conversation. Even explaining herself felt botherso at that mont.
Not against this boy, but against soone else.
The boy's blush deepened, and he lowered his head, clearly embarrassed. "I'm sorry, I didn't an to make things awkward," he mumbled. "Thank you again for the healing. I'll get out of your way now."
"It's okay," Sylvie reassured him, maintaining her gentle deanor. "Good luck with the rest of your exams."
As the boy hurried off, Sylvie took a mont to steady herself.
"Sigh…."
Taking a deep breath, she tried to fend off these thoughts since they wouldn't help.
"Look at what we have here."
Yet, a familiar voice ca from the side.
A voice she hadn't heard for years, yet she hadn't forgotten even once.
"My sister really grew up to be a fine lady."
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