Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 733

Chapter 733 167.1 - Return to the Academy

The faint aroma of freshly brewed tea filled the hotel suite as Irina stepped out of the bathroom, her fiery hair damp and clinging to her shoulders. She wore a soft white robe, loosely tied around her waist, the faint heat of her skin still lingering from the shower.

Her amber eyes swept the room, landing on Astron seated in the plush armchair near the small tea table. He had also showered, his damp hair tousled, and wore simple black pajamas that added to his relaxed yet composed demeanor.

On the table beside him sat a teapot and two cups, one of which emitted faint wisps of steam. Irina's lips curved into a small smile as she approached, her steps light on the carpeted floor. 'He made tea,' she thought, a flicker of warmth settling in her chest. It was a simple gesture, but after the day they'd had, it felt comforting.

She settled into the chair beside him, her movements uncharacteristically quiet. Reaching for the cup, she let her fingers linger on the warm porcelain before lifting it to her lips. The first sip was soothing, the earthy aroma mingling with the heat to chase away the last traces of tension from her body.

"Thanks," she said softly, her voice breaking the quiet but without disrupting the calm atmosphere.

Astron glanced at her, his sharp purple eyes briefly meeting hers. He gave a faint nod, his usual calmness ever-present. "I figured you'd need it."

Irina leaned back in her chair, the cup still cradled in her hands. The shower had done wonders for her mood, and the tea was a perfect follow-up. She felt lighter, more grounded, though the seriousness of their earlier encounter lingered at the edges of her thoughts. After a moment of silence, she spoke, her tone quieter than usual.

"So... Hawkins," she began, her voice carrying a note of resignation. "They really don't know when to quit."

Astron didn't reply immediately. He took a sip of his own tea, his gaze steady as he seemed to weigh his words. "They're escalating," he said finally, his tone matter-of-fact. "And it's not just about you anymore."

Irina sighed, setting her cup down on the table. "I know. They're not just after me- they're challenging my family. This isn't about personal grudges. It's about power, politics, and..." She hesitated, her fingers curling slightly. "And pride."

Astron tilted his head slightly, watching her carefully. "According to what you have said, they've been careful so far, but today's attack was different. It was reckless."

"Or calculated," Irina countered, her amber eyes narrowing. "They wanted to send a message."

Irina's fingers tightened slightly around the teacup, the warmth seeping into her

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palms as she stared into the amber liquid. The thought of her mother's involvement in this matter brought a flicker of reassurance to her, but it was tempered by an undercurrent of unease. She exhaled softly, leaning back against the chair, her damp hair falling over her shoulder. frёeωebɳovel.com

"I've already told my mother about this," she said, breaking the silence. Her voice was calm, but there was a weight to her words. "And as expected, she said she'd handle it. On her watch, no one dares to challenge the Emberheart family."

Astron didn't react outwardly, simply taking another sip of his tea as he regarded her with those ever-calm purple eyes. "Do you trust her methods?"

Irina let out a dry chuckle, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Her methods..." she echoed, her voice soft. "Let's just say I know exactly how she operates. And if the Hawkins think they've seen the worst of us, they're about to learn otherwise." 'Mother doesn't leave loose ends.' Irina's thoughts drifted to the cold efficiency her mother employed when protecting their family's name. If they dared to strike first, she'll make sure they regret it. No one plays with fire and walks away unscathed.' She set the cup down, her gaze flickering to Astron briefly. His composed demeanor seemed unshaken, as though he had already considered every angle of the situation before she'd even mentioned it. It was a quiet strength that Irina found herself appreciating more than she cared to admit.

Reassured by her mother's resolve, Irina allowed herself to relax slightly. Her thoughts wandered to the events of the day, the tension and danger that had unfolded with an almost surreal intensity. But as the adrenaline ebbed, she found herself reflecting on something else-something that made her lips curve into a small, unbidden smile.

'It's strange,' she thought, her gaze softening as it lingered on Astron. Today wasn't what I expected. Our trip was interrupted, derailed by danger and chaos, but... it wasn't all bad."

She glanced at him again, noting the way he seemed so effortlessly calm despite everything they'd gone through. "This is the first time I've been in a situation like that with just him. Back in the Phantom's Land, Sylvie was there too. But today... it was just us. And somehow, I liked that.'

Her smile faded slightly, replaced by a faint blush as she leaned her cheek against her hand. 'What am I even thinking? Liking a life-and-death situation? That's not normal. But... it was different. Trusting someone to watch my back, knowing he's there, steady as ever... it felt good."

Astron's voice interrupted her thoughts, low and steady as always. "You're unusually quiet."

Irina blinked, straightening slightly as she realized she'd been lost in her thoughts. "Just thinking," she said, brushing it off with a faint shrug. "Today was... different." Astron tilted his head slightly. his sharp purple eyes studving her with quiet curiosity.

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"How different?"

Irina let out a soft laugh, her fingers tapping lightly against her teacup as she leaned back in her chair. "Just... different from what I expected this trip to be," she admitted. "I thought it would be quieter-museum tours, good food, a bit of normalcy. But..." She paused, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "It wasn't bad."

Astron raised an eyebrow, his gaze steady. "Apparently, a bit of action is always good" Irina chuckled, setting her teacup down as she turned to him. "For people like us- who've been thrown into the chaos of life so many times-doesn't normalcy get a

little... boring?"

Astron didn't answer immediately. Instead, his gaze shifted toward the window, the city lights reflected in his calm, unreadable eyes. The silence stretched between them, not awkward but weighted, as though he were considering her words carefully. Irina watched him for a moment, her amber eyes softening as a bold idea sparked in her mind. She hesitated briefly, her fingers brushing against the armrest of her chair. 'What's wrong with me today?' she thought, but the idea wouldn't leave her. Before she could overthink it, she moved.

Leaning forward, she shifted in her seat and rested her head on his shoulder. The motion was fluid but tentative as if testing the waters of a new dynamic. Astron didn't. react immediately, though she felt the faintest stiffening in his posture before he

relaxed, allowing her presence.

"You didn't answer," she murmured, her voice quieter now, almost teasing.

"Didn't need to," Astron replied, his tone calm but with a faint edge of amusement.