Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 581

Chapter 581 128.3 - Sugar Mommy (?)

Astron couldn't help but shake his head with a small sigh. "I guess you're right, Senior," he replied, his voice calm and composed. "But can you blame me for doubting it? Starbloom Essence as a 'daily use' herb isn't exactly something most people would believe."

Maya crossed her arms and gave him a triumphant smirk. "Humph, Junior. When have I ever lied to you? You should know by now that I'm always serious about these things." She tilted her chin up slightly, clearly pleased with herself.

Astron couldn't argue with that. Maya was many things—enthusiastic, powerful, and at times, a bit airheaded—but she wasn't one to lie, especially about something like this. Still, the absurdity of it all made it hard to process. He'd grown accustomed to the rarities of the cultivation world, but the casualness with which she regarded such powerful ingredients was almost unreal.

He glanced back at the rows of plants, noting the gentle sway of the high-quality herbs under the soft breeze. It was clear to him now that Maya's family wasn't just powerful in name; they had deep resources, the kind of wealth and access that even the upper echelons of society couldn't match easily.

"Alright, alright," Astron finally said. "I'll take your word for it. But I have to admit, it's still hard to wrap my head around."

Maya's mischievous grin widened. "You'd better get used to it. Now that you're here, you'll be seeing a lot more of this."

She paused for a moment, her eyes gleaming with a playful glint. "Speaking of which, since the tour's almost over, I think it's about time, I order the maids to prepare something for you."

Astron raised an eyebrow, sensing something behind her words. "Something?" he repeated, clearly curious. "What kind of something?"

Maya smirked, a sly grin playing on her lips as she tilted her head slightly. "Oh, you'll see," she said cryptically. "It's a surprise, Junior. Just trust me."

Astron gave her a sidelong glance, feeling the weight of her teasing tone. Should he be concerned or intrigued?

The answer was a clear no. He was sure that she was not someone who would mean any harm to him as well, that is why he did not think much of it as they walked.

One thing was certain—Maya was enjoying keeping him in the dark.

As they walked further into the forest, the atmosphere shifted. The trees surrounding them were unlike any Astron had seen elsewhere. The air felt denser, charged with mana that seemed to hum beneath the surface, subtly altering the environment around them.

Maya's voice broke the silence. "Can you sense it, Junior?" she asked, her tone curious, but with that same playful edge. Her pink eyes gleamed with anticipation, waiting to see if he could pick up on the change.

Astron paused for a moment, scanning the area with his eyes and his heightened senses. At first, he'd only noticed the peculiar density of the mana, but now that Maya had mentioned it, he began to see more. The trees were ancient, their roots intertwined with the earth in a way that allowed them to absorb and channel mana, forming a natural array. It was subtle, but now that he focused, he could see the flow of mana converging around them, guided by the forest itself. freēwēbnovel.com

"These trees," Astron began, his purple eyes narrowing in focus, "they're not just any ordinary trees. The mana is flowing through them, almost like they're part of a larger network. It's like they're channeling it, converging the energy toward a specific point."

Maya's smirk grew wider, clearly impressed with his deduction. "You're absolutely right. This forest is special, Junior. Every tree here has been cultivated to enhance the flow of mana. It is part of my family's heritage."

"Hmm…..This place is where you train yourself, isn't it?"

Maya's expression softened as she nodded. "Yes, this is where I meditate and train my mana control. As you probably know, Junior, mastering mana control isn't easy. It's something that requires countless hours of practice, whether you're a mage or a close-combat fighter. For us Awakened, mana is everything."

Astron listened intently, his gaze still sweeping the forest. He understood her words well; mana control was a fundamental aspect of an Awakened's strength, and training it required more than just talent. However, something didn't add up in his mind. "But if this place is so important for your training, why are you attending Arcadia Hunter Academy? Wouldn't it be more beneficial for you to stay here and continue honing your skills in this environment?"

Maya glanced around the forest, her fingers brushing a nearby tree as if to draw comfort from its familiar presence. "From a pure training perspective, you're right. It would be efficient to stay here, but there's something more to it." She sighed softly, her eyes reflecting a mix of nostalgia and a deeper emotion. "The thing is, no matter how perfect this place is, the body and mind adapt over time. The more you use something, the more comfortable you become with it. At some point, it loses its effectiveness."

Astron nodded, understanding the logic. "I see. So, your body has already adapted to the mana flow in this forest, and it doesn't challenge you the same way anymore."

"Exactly," Maya agreed, her voice carrying a slight undertone of weariness. "It was an incredible place to train when I was younger, but now… I've reached a point where it's no longer enough to push me further. That's one of the reasons why I left and joined the academy."

Astron tilted his head slightly, sensing there was more to her decision. "But that's not the only reason, is it?"

Maya's expression shifted, and she let out a small, wistful laugh as she looked back at him. "No, it's not." And then she looked around. "The truth is… it gets lonely, Junior. Training here, alone, day after day… it wears on you. I wanted something more, something beyond just improving my skills. Being at the academy, around other people, even if it's for training—it makes a difference."