Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 821

"However, the two of you will be different."

Ethan’s curiosity piqued again, his hazel eyes lighting up with interest. Astron, as always, remained composed, though his sharp gaze remained fixed on Eleanor.

"You two will have mentorship sessions with me directly," Eleanor stated, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Twice a week—each Saturday and Tuesday—for two hours per session."

Ethan blinked in surprise. "Wait, so… four hours a week?" he asked, doing the quick mental math. "That’s—"

"Significantly more than what the others will receive," Eleanor finished for him, her tone matter-of-fact. "And with one of the best Hunters in the entire Human Domain nevertheless."

Astron’s sharp purple eyes flicked toward Eleanor. "You really are humble, Professor," he said, his voice calm but carrying a dry undertone.

Eleanor’s expression shifted into the faintest of smiles, her sharp gaze steady as she regarded him. "When you reach my age, Astron," she replied smoothly, "you’ll understand your worth more. And being humble, in some cases, is simply a way of lying about yourself."

Ethan chuckled lightly at the exchange, leaning back in his chair, clearly entertained by the rare banter. "That’s one way to put it," he muttered under his breath.

But Eleanor’s smile faded almost imperceptibly as her demeanor turned serious. She straightened in her chair, folding her hands in front of her as her sharp gaze swept over both cadets. "But I need you to brace yourselves."

The weight in her tone immediately shifted the atmosphere in the room. Ethan sat up a little straighter, and even Astron’s calm expression seemed to sharpen slightly, his full attention now locked on her.

Eleanor raised one hand, and a faint hum filled the air as she channeled a small, concentrated flow of her mana. The room seemed to shift subtly under the pressure, the temperature dropping just enough to be noticeable, and the edges of the light flickered faintly. Though the mana was controlled and restrained, its intensity was unmistakable—a fraction of what Eleanor was capable of, but still a stark reminder of the power she wielded.

"When we are together in those two hours," she began, her voice steady but carrying an undeniable edge, "I will not be your professor. I will not be Eleanor White, the instructor of the Arcadia Hunter Academy."

The pressure in the room grew slightly, the faint hum of her mana reverberating through the air. Ethan swallowed hard, his usual grin completely gone as he felt the weight of her presence. Astron remained composed, though his sharp eyes glinted with a faint hint of focus, the only indication that he, too, felt the shift.

"In those sessions," Eleanor continued, her tone unwavering, "I will be the Professional Hunter Eleanor. One of the top Hunters in the Human Domain. And I will hold you to the standards of that world—not the world of cadets, not the world of training. The standards of reality. Do you understand?"

Ethan nodded quickly, his hazel eyes wide but resolute. "Yes, Professor."

Astron inclined his head slightly, his voice calm but firm. "Understood."

Eleanor let her mana dissipate slowly, the oppressive weight lifting from the room as the faint hum faded. The silence that followed was heavy, but not with tension—with understanding. She had made her expectations clear, and both cadets knew that this would be no ordinary mentorship.

"Good," Eleanor said finally, her tone returning to its usual calm authority. "Then prepare yourselves. This is an opportunity, yes, but it is also a challenge. You will be pushed harder than you’ve ever been before. And if you can’t rise to meet those expectations—"

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"..."

"Well, let’s hope that doesn’t happen."

Ethan let out a small exhale as the weight of Eleanor’s presence fully dissipated, the air in the room returning to its usual stillness. He glanced at Astron, who stood as calm and composed as ever, then back at Eleanor.

"Well," Ethan said lightly, though his voice was edged with genuine respect, "I guess we’ll see you on Saturday."

Eleanor gave a slight nod, her sharp gaze shifting briefly between the two cadets. "You will."

Taking that as their dismissal, Ethan turned and made his way toward the door, his steps lighter now that the tension had lifted. Astron followed silently, his posture precise and measured, as always. As the door clicked shut behind them, Eleanor leaned back in her chair, her gaze lingering for a moment on the space they had vacated.

Outside the office, the hallway stretched long and quiet, the echoes of their footsteps fading into the distance. Ethan stretched his arms over his head, letting out a low whistle. "Well, that was… something," he muttered, glancing at Astron out of the corner of his eye. "She really knows how to set the tone, huh?"

Astron didn’t immediately respond, his sharp purple eyes fixed ahead as he walked. Finally, he spoke, his voice calm but thoughtful. "She made her expectations clear."

Ethan smirked, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "Yeah, no kidding. Standards of reality, huh? Sounds fun."

Astron’s gaze flicked briefly toward him. "I don’t think she’s aiming for ’fun.’"

Ethan chuckled softly, his hazel eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and determination. "Maybe not, but it’ll be interesting. Besides," he added with a grin, "I’d rather have her pushing us than some random mentor who doesn’t care."

Astron didn’t respond, his expression remaining unreadable as they continued down the hallway. But his silence didn’t bother Ethan. If anything, he’d grown used to it—comfortable, even.

The two walked in silence for a while, their strides falling into an unspoken rhythm. Finally, Ethan broke it with a quiet laugh. "Hey, you think she meant it when she said she’d hold us to the standards of a top Hunter?"