Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

"I need to take this call."

Without waiting for his response, Irina turned on her heel and walked away, her heart pounding with a mix of relief and anticipation.

She could feel Jeremy's eyes on her as she left, but she didn't care. All that mattered was that he had finally contacted her.

She moved quickly through the crowded hall, finding a quiet corner where she could answer the call in peace. Taking a deep breath, she tapped the screen and brought the smartwatch to her ear.

"Finally," she murmured, her voice tinged with both annoyance and relief. "Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting to hear from you?"

Irina brought the smartwatch's voice to her ear, activating the formation, her pulse quickening with a mixture of frustration and relief.

–I figured you'd be waiting," Astron's voice came through the line, calm and composed as ever.

"Do you even know how annoying it is to be left hanging like that?" she shot back, her annoyance clear in her tone. "You could've at least sent a message."

–I was busy. Besides, I knew you'd manage," Astron replied, a hint of teasing in his voice.

Irina rolled her eyes, though she couldn't suppress the smile tugging at her lips. "Manage? I was practically going crazy over here."

–And yet, here you are, still intact," he said, the amusement in his voice more evident now.

She huffed in exasperation, though the sound of his voice was enough to ease the tension she had been feeling. "You're impossible, you know that?"

–So I've been told," Astron replied, his tone shifting slightly, becoming more serious. –But enough about that. How are things on your end? You sound like you're at a party."

Irina glanced around the banquet hall, the elegant surroundings a stark contrast to her current mood. "I am. Just the usual—boring, tedious, and full of people I'd rather avoid."

–Sounds delightful," he remarked dryly. –Though I imagine you're handling it as gracefully as ever."

"Hardly," she muttered. "I'd rather be anywhere else. But you finally called, so I suppose that's something."

–Glad I could make your evening a little more bearable," Astron said, his voice carrying a warmth that made her heart flutter.

Irina leaned against the wall, her frustration melting away with each word. "You did. So, what's kept you so busy that you couldn't spare a moment to reply?"

There was a brief pause on the other end, and she could almost picture him weighing his words before he spoke.

–Training. I've been… occupied."

"Training for what?"

–Just usual." "What do you mean just usual?"

–Don't you already know it?"

"I want to hear it from your own mouth."

–...."

Irina could almost see Astron shaking his head on the other end of the line, that familiar gesture of his when he found her persistence both amusing and exasperating. He remained silent for a moment longer, clearly not giving in easily.

'This is what you deserve for ignoring me,' Irina thought, refusing to back down.

Finally, Astron spoke in a calm and measured tone, as always. –"You already know Reina. I've been training with them in a camp, honing my skills."

"Reina?" Irina echoed, her mind instantly conjuring up the image of the woman who had come to watch Astron during the duels. She remembered Reina's confident, teasing demeanor, her playful nature, and the way she had interacted with Astron. There was something about her—something that made Irina feel… uneasy.

A subtle, unfamiliar sensation bloomed in her chest. It was like a mix of irritation and something else she couldn't quite place. She frowned slightly, trying to push the feeling away, but it lingered, gnawing at her thoughts.

"She's the one who was at your duel, right? The woman who was all smiles and teasing," Irina said, trying to keep her tone neutral but failing to hide the slight edge in her voice.

–"Yeah, that's her," Astron replied, seemingly oblivious to the shift in Irina's mood.

Irina bit her lip, feeling a surge of annoyance. 'Why does it bother me so much?' she thought, a frown creasing her brow. The way Reina had acted so familiar with Astron, the way she had teased him—why was it making her feel this way?

She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but it was as if something was being tugged inside her, something she wasn't used to feeling. The more she thought about Reina, the more this odd sensation grew until it finally dawned on her: she was jealous.

'No way…' Irina thought, her cheeks flushing at the realization. 'Am I really jealous of her?'

She hated how petty it made her feel, but there was no denying it. The thought of Astron spending time with Reina and of her being close to him stirred a possessiveness in her that she hadn't expected.

–"You still there?" Astron's voice cut through her thoughts, bringing her back to the present.

Irina took a deep breath, forcing herself to sound composed. "Yeah, I'm here. Just… thinking."

–"About what?"

Irina hesitated for a moment, unsure if she wanted to voice her feelings. She opted for something else instead, trying to deflect. "About how you're spending all this time with Reina. Must be nice, huh?"

There was a brief silence on the other end, and then Astron spoke, his tone slightly teasing. –"Are you getting jealous, Irina?"

Irina's heart skipped a beat, and she could almost feel the heat rising to her cheeks. "N-no! Why would I be jealous?" she stammered, trying to sound indignant but only managing to sound flustered.

Astron chuckled softly, the sound sending a shiver down her spine. –"Just making sure."

Irina huffed, crossing her arms as if he could see her through the phone. "You're impossible."

–"Heh….." She heard a small laugh from the phone. A small laugh that she had only heard once. Now, this was the second one.

So, she could not help but smile as well. In just a matter of seconds, the frustration that had been gnawing at her seemed to melt away.

Her thoughts drifted back to the night under the moon, the night she had seen that rare, fleeting smile on his face. It was a moment she had replayed in her mind countless times, a memory that always brought warmth to her heart.

Irina raised her head, her eyes catching sight of the moon hanging low in the night sky. Its soft, silver light bathed the world in a gentle glow, casting long shadows and illuminating the path ahead. The sight was mesmerizing, and for a moment, everything else faded away.

"It's beautiful," she mumbled to herself, almost forgetting she was still on the phone.

–"What is?" Astron's voice came through the line, pulling her back to reality.

Irina hesitated for a moment, then smiled softly, deciding not to explain. "If you were here, you'd know."

There was a pause on the other end, and then Astron's voice responded. –"It's a pity, then."

"Yes, indeed it is," she agreed, her tone thoughtful.

She realized that, despite her earlier frustration and irritation, just talking to him had already improved her mood. The banter, the teasing, the way he seemed to understand her without needing many words—it all made her feel lighter, more at ease.

Even though he wasn't physically there with her, his presence was still felt through their conversation, and that was enough for now.

'Ah, right….'

And then she remembered why she had been calling him all that time. While hearing his voice was important, she also needed to talk about something else.

"Sigh…." She could not help but sigh to herself. She got carried away by the conversation just now and almost forgotten the most important thing.

–"Did you determine the time?" Astron asked, his voice still calm, though there was a hint of curiosity.

Irina nodded, even though he couldn't see her. "Yes, but I figured you'd be busy. For the next month, you're probably going to be stuck training, right?"

There was a brief pause before Astron responded. –"Yes, that's correct. I'll most likely be busy training, so I won't be able to come out."

Irina had anticipated this. She knew that Astron's dedication to his training was unwavering, and it wasn't something she could easily disrupt. "I thought as much," she said, her tone understanding. "That's why I've decided we'll do it during the last week of the vacation."

She could almost hear Astron considering her proposal on the other end of the line. –"The last week, huh? I suppose that could work."

"It will work," Irina insisted, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "So, make sure you're ready when the time comes. I don't want to hear any excuses."

–"I won't," Astron replied. –"Though you better not forget your promise either."

"I won't either." Irina smiled.

'Though, mother also wants to see you.' Well, she wanted to see the expression that he would make when he faced one of the strongest people in the entire Human Domain.

'This is my payback for not getting any replies.'

Irina's smile widened as she thought about what awaited Astron at the end of the vacation. "Oh, and one more thing before you go," she added, her tone softening.

–"What is it?" Astron's voice was calm, as usual, but there was a hint of curiosity.

"I want you to call me at least once a week," Irina requested. "I know you're busy, but it's not too much to ask, right?"

There was a brief pause on the other end as if Astron was considering her request. –"Okay," he finally replied. –"I'll call you every week at this hour."

Irina's heart fluttered with happiness, a warm smile spreading across her face. "Good. I'll be waiting."

But just as she was about to end the call, Astron's voice came through again, his tone slightly more serious. –"Aren't you going to a training camp?"

Irina's eyes widened in surprise. "How did you know?" she asked, genuinely curious. She hadn't mentioned it to him, and yet he seemed to know about her plans.

–"It wasn't hard to guess," Astron replied. –"You've been busy with preparations, and given your family's status, it's only natural that you'd have some intense training lined up."

Irina couldn't help but remember this guy was always like that. 'Always good at seeing things that others won't.' "You're right," she admitted. "I'll be going to a training camp for three weeks, starting tomorrow. It's something my mother arranged for me as the heir of the Emberheart family. I'm visiting a special place, which is why I'll have that last week to myself."

–"I see," Astron said, his voice thoughtful. –"Then I'll make sure to call you during that time. And good luck with your training."

"Thanks," Irina replied, feeling a strange mix of excitement and nervousness. "But remember, I'll be expecting your call. Don't make me wait."

–"I won't," Astron promised.

With that, they ended the call, and Irina found herself staring at the screen of her smartwatch with a contented smile.

Knowing that Astron would be in touch, even during their time apart, made her feel more connected to him.

As she prepared for the days ahead, she couldn't help but look forward to the week they would spend together at the end of the vacation.

Whatever challenges lay ahead in her training camp, she knew that having something to look forward to would keep her motivated.

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