Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 226

Chapter 226 Chapter 50.2 - A quick lesson

226 Chapter 50.2 - A quick lesson

"This should be enough for today."

As time went on, Sylvie forgot how fast it passed. She felt like, in the blink of an eye, the time to train was finished, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

"Ah..." Sylvie couldn't help but feel a tinge of regret that the training was over, yet a profound sense of relief washed over her.

It was as if, in Astron's company, the weight of her worries had momentarily lifted. The comforting thought lingered in her mind, creating a sense of peace she hadn't felt in a long time.

'That's right.'

The memories that had been haunting her for the past few days weren't there as she was focused. She knew very well that focusing on something helped, and that was the reason why she was pushing herself that hard.

But even then, fundamentally, something was different. She didn't feel this comfortable and relaxed, just as before.

"You did well."

As his calm voice echoed in her head, she turned to look at him. His face was as stern as ever without much change. Someone who didn't know would probably think he was just offering empty praise. But she, who had been observing him for a while, knew for a fact that he was actually genuine.

That was even without checking his emotions with her talent. She instinctively knew.

"Thank you." She smiled and nodded her head. Her body was aching all around as Astron didn't spare her from his rigorous training.

These last two hours, after the initial embarrassment, were actually filled with an intense workout session.

As Sylvie attempted to stand and express her gratitude, her muscles protested vehemently. Every inch of her body ached, and the fatigue from the intense training manifested in the unsteady way she rose.

"Oof..." she muttered as she stumbled, momentarily losing her balance. It was as if her legs had forgotten their usual coordination, weakened by the strenuous exercises Astron had put her through. Despite the discomfort, a sense of accomplishment tinged with soreness settled within her.

"Easy there," Astron said, steadying her with a firm grip on her arm. His touch sent a shiver through her, a peculiar mix of warmth and grounding assurance.

Sylvie managed a sheepish smile, acknowledging both the physical strain and the subtle little thing she felt with Astron. "I guess I have some more practicing to do."

"You certainly do have," Astron replied as he slowly let her adjust her balance.

Of course, when her muscles were this stressed, it was normal for her body not to adjust to that feeling.

'I won't be able to walk at this rate.' She thought. 'But, this is not right.'

Knowing that she needed to train more, the state of her body wasn't acceptable. She refused to stay weak like that. Thus, she was going to train more now. And there was only one thing she could do about that.

Her eyes, filled with fierceness, were closed as she concentrated on her feelings of muscles and arms.

She was about to use her powers and mana to relieve the tension and the fatigue accumulated on her muscles, making them return to their optimal position, just as she had done before.

'He-'

"Stop." The single word uttered by Astron cut through Sylvie's concentration like a sharp blade. Startled, her eyes flew open, meeting his intense gaze. His hand rested gently on her forehead, and the sudden touch sent shivers down her spine.

"Hick-?" she began, caught off guard and a little embarrassed by the unexpected interruption. The proximity of his cold hand against her warm skin heightened her awareness of his touch.

'His hands are cold.'

She couldn't help but think about whether he was healthy, as his skin was also pale compared to others. His body was also cold the last time as well, and that brought the memories of that time in the dungeon.

"You were about to use your powers again," Astron explained calmly, withdrawing his hand. He was looking at her with a squinting gaze, but inside, there was something she was familiar with. It was as if he knew what she was doing.

"What do-" Sylvie wanted to ask what he meant by that, but her words were intercepted.

"I appreciate your enthusiasm, Sylvie, but pushing your limits too far can have consequences."

"I am not push-"

"Look at your eyes. You are deprived of your sleep. Your focus is lacking, and your response timings are a lot lower than it was before." His words were sharp and precise, and they were right on the mark.

'He reads me like a book.'

Sylvie lowered her head, a mixture of embarrassment and realization washing over her. Astron's sharp observations cut through her attempts to mask her fatigue and determination. It was as if he could see through her facade, exposing the vulnerabilities she tried to hide.

"I just wanted to train," she admitted, her voice slightly subdued. "I don't want to remain weak." As she blurted what she felt, she couldn't look him in the eye.

"….."

However, she couldn't help but raise her head as no response came from his side. And when she raised her head, she couldn't help but widen her eyes. Astron was looking at her with a slightly different expression.

"It must have been hard."

As if he knew how she felt.

"….."

"You couldn't sleep because you couldn't forget, right?" Astron's words echoed with a somber understanding as if he had also tasted the bitter fruit of sleepless nights and haunting memories.

Sylvie's eyes widened, a mix of surprise and vulnerability surfacing. Astron's perception seemed to reach beyond the physical, delving into the depths of her emotional struggles. It was a revelation that left her both exposed and seen.

"You know," he continued, his voice carrying a weight of shared experience, "pushing yourself to your limits while drawing in guilt is not the way to do it."