Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 266

Chapter 266 Chapter 62.2 - Initiation

"Mother, why do we never leave our village? I want to see the outside world, to experience the wonders that lie beyond our borders."

"My dear child. Our village holds secrets, secrets that tie us to this land, secrets we must protect. The outside world is not always as welcoming as it may seem."

"What secrets, Mother? Why must we keep them hidden?"

"My child…. We are happy as we are right now….. We only need each other to live… You will understand everything when the time comes…"

The words mother had spoken to me came into my mind.

'Why am I remembering about these again? It had already been a long time….'

I asked myself. Sitting in front of my window and looking at the stars and the moon had already become a hobby for me.

The night sky, adorned with countless stars, always sparked my curiosity.

"What secrets lie beyond our village? What do the stars know that we don't?" I wondered aloud, my gaze fixated on the celestial canvas.

The allure of the unknown beyond our village boundaries tugged at my heart. I had never set foot outside our close-knit community, and my curiosity about the world beyond intensified with each passing day.

The stories in the books I read fueled my imagination, painting vivid pictures of distant lands, bustling cities, and unexplored territories.

I longed to witness the wonders that lay beyond our borders, to experience a world different from the one I knew.

"What are you doing now?"

At that moment, a voice came from the side.

"Ah….."

It seemed I had already gotten caught. Standing before the door, a small silhouette stood there. Even though the room was dark, her presence alone radiated enough light for me to notice.

"Estelle," I said, addressing my sister by her name. She stepped into the room, her white hair catching a hint of moonlight streaming through the window.

"I thought I'd find you here, lost in your thoughts again," Estelle remarked with a playful smile. Her green eyes gleamed, reflecting a mix of curiosity and affection. "What wonders are you pondering this time?"

I chuckled, realizing that my contemplation hadn't gone unnoticed. "Just dreaming of what lies beyond our village, the stories in the books always make me wonder."

Estelle joined me by the window, her eyes also drawn to the night sky. "The outside world does seem fascinating, doesn't it? Sometimes, I also wish we could explore beyond our borders and see the places we've only heard about in tales."

"However….."

Estelle's voice trailed off, and I turned to look at her. She leaned her head on my shoulder, pushing all her weight onto my body. It was a familiar gesture, one that conveyed both comfort and weariness.

I could tell she was tired from the constant training she underwent to harness the moon's power as her muscles seemed relaxed.

These useless eyes of mine made me proud in times like these.

"Sometimes," she continued, her voice soft and thoughtful, "what I wish for the most isn't to explore everything out there. It's not about seeing distant lands or unraveling mysteries. What I truly wish for is to stay beside you."

Wasn't exploring new things the innate desire for us humans? I always ask this question to myself. Do these questions that always plague my mind are something that is only special to me? Am I the one that can never fit in?

But, in times like this, hearing her voice calms me down. I know for a fact that, in this world, no matter how hard for me to fit in, there is always a place that I could stay.

Smiling slightly, I felt like my worries slowly disappeared as the innate desire to explore the unknown was chained once again.

"If that is what you wish...then I will gladly put every other thing aside."

Unbeknownst to me, I mumbled, it seemed, my words reached Estelle's ears. Her expression shifted, and a hint of anger flashed in her eyes.

She looked at me sternly and spoke with a determined tone, "No! That is wrong. Astron, you shouldn't live your life solely for others. Your dreams, your desires, they matter too. Don't chain yourself to my wishes or anyone else's."

Her words lingered in the air, and for a moment, the room felt heavy with unspoken sentiments. Her concern for me was evident, but I got angry at her words.

While I was here, was she not working for the sake of other people? Mastering the powers of the moon while continuously training with the village's shaman. Wasn't this also selflessness?

How dare she tell me to stop dreaming while she was doing the same for our sake?

Annoyed by her words, I couldn't help but retort, "And what about you, Estelle? Aren't you sacrificing yourself for others too? How is that any different?"

Estelle's response was unexpected. Instead of matching my frustration, she smiled warmly and turned her gaze toward the moon. "You see, Astron, it has always been my dream to help people in need. I've read stories about Saintesses who aided others with smiles on their faces, and I wanted to be like them. The powers I'm mastering, the training I undergo, it's not just for the village; it's for the joy of helping and making a difference."

Her words carried a sincerity that disarmed my anger.

Estelle's dream wasn't just about selflessness; it was about finding fulfillment in making a positive impact.

'Fulfillment….'

The word that I could never grasp.

Her gaze lingered on the moon as if drawing strength and inspiration from its serene glow.

Estelle's eyes shone with determination as she continued, "That's why, Astron, I don't want anyone to give up on their dreams, including you. Everyone deserves to pursue what makes them happy to explore their own desires. What dreams do you have, Astron?"

Her question hung in the air, and for a moment, I felt a stirring in my chest.

I couldn't help but wonder if I truly had dreams of my own.

Aside from learning new things and seeing new places, what other dreams could I have? In this place, we didn't even know anything.

'But, if I were to choose one thing…..'

"Maybe being a hero would be cool..."

********

"Astron... T-they are... They are gone?" Estelle's voice trembled with sorrow as she clung to me. Her tears dampened my shoulder, and my heart ached at the loss we both shared.

The air felt heavier, and a pervasive sense of grief hung over our small village. The shadows of a relentless disease claimed our parents, leaving a void that echoed through our home.

"..."

No words left my mouth. What words could I even say in this situation? I asked this question again and again, but none of them was answered.

Estelle's sobs reverberated through the stillness, each cry a poignant reminder of the gaping void our parents' absence left behind. Her anguish was palpable, her questions echoing the unanswerable mysteries of life and loss.