Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 656

Chapter 656 144.4 - Finally

<Arcadia Dominion, 00.15 P.M>

Irina leaned back in her seat, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery as the vehicle glided smoothly along the path toward the Teleportation Center in Etheria Haven.

Her attire was meticulously chosen—a simple yet elegant ensemble in deep ember and charcoal tones, hinting at her family's legacy without the usual intensity.

Her hair, styled just enough to appear refined but understated, felt right for the occasion. It was exactly what she'd wanted: presentable without the overt glamor her mother might have insisted upon.

With each passing moment, her anticipation grew. She couldn't deny the way her pulse quickened, the faint sense of exhilaration that made the journey seem both endless and fleeting.

'Almost there,' she thought, glancing down at her smartwatch. A small smile tugged at her lips as she opened the messaging app and began typing.

Irina: "You're ready, aren't you? Waiting close to the Teleportation Center in Arcadia?"

She watched as the screen indicated that he was typing a response, a flicker of warmth sparking in her chest. It had been a while since she'd been able to simply reach out to him like this, to communicate without the barriers of family or duty.

Astron: "Yes, just outside the center." fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

Irina rolled her eyes, a soft laugh escaping her despite herself. Even through text, his calm, slightly teasing tone came through, grounding her in the familiarity of his presence.

Irina: "What are you doing?"

Astron: "Reading a book."

Irina stared at his last message, the casualness of it settling in her mind in an oddly irritating way.

Reading a book? she thought, almost scoffing. Here she was, dressed to the nines, her heart pounding, barely containing her anticipation. And he was waiting there… reading? Calm and composed, as if this were just another day for him.

'Of course, he'd be completely unbothered,' she mused, feeling a prickling annoyance. She almost felt foolish for how much she'd prepared, the time she'd spent thinking about this moment. Meanwhile, he was just… reading a book.

'You're the one making this a big deal,' she reminded herself, but it did little to settle her frustration. It was exactly like him to be so unaffected, always so calm and detached. And yet, it only made her determination grow—to surprise him, to see even the smallest flicker of something different in his expression when he saw her standing there instead of some random agent.

Irina: "Good, then. The agent there will handle everything when you arrive on this end."

She couldn't help but smirk slightly, knowing she'd be the one waiting for him, not some faceless envoy. It was her decision, after all, to take control, to ensure that she'd be the one by his side the moment he stepped through the portal. But there was no need for him to know that just yet.

Astron: "Understood. I'll see you soon, then."

Her thumb hovered over the screen, almost tempted to add something more, but she stopped herself, closing the messaging app and setting her smartwatch down with a satisfied huff.

'Heh…..Let's see the face you will make when you see me….'

Irina was excited.

********

At around 12:30, the faint ring of my smartwatch interrupted the silence, pulling me out of the mental labyrinth I'd been exploring. I glanced at the caller ID—Lyra Fendral, one of the Emberheart Family's assistants. Irina must have arranged for her to escort me to Etheria Haven.

I tapped to answer, leaning back as her voice came through, calm and professional. "Mr. Natusalune, this is Lora Fendral from the Emberheart Family. I'll be handling your transport to Etheria Haven. Could you let me know where you are currently?"

I glanced around the café, a relaxed smile from habit as I took in the surroundings. "I'm at the Arcane Oak Café, near the Teleportation Center," I replied.

"Understood," she answered promptly. "I'll be there in a few minutes. Please wait there."

The call ended, and I returned to my book, skimming the last few passages I'd been studying on mental fortification. Control, intention, precision, I reminded myself. These principles applied well beyond psychic magic—they were keys to survival and advantage in any setting.

Moments later, a figure entered the café, her posture straight and expression composed. Lora was tall, with a calm presence that conveyed both discipline and confidence, her attire formal yet efficient, suited for the duties of a high-ranking family's assistant. She scanned the room briefly before her eyes settled on me, and she approached with a polite nod.

"Mr. Natusalune," she greeted, her tone even but respectful.

'Indeed the same reaction….' As Lora greeted me, I caught the faintest stammer in her voice, almost unnoticeable—a subtle tremor as her gaze met mine. She quickly masked it, her professionalism reasserting itself, but it didn't escape my notice.

That reaction had become all too familiar ever since my charm had spiked; it was expected, almost routine by now. I gave no indication that I'd noticed, merely returning her nod with a calm, neutral expression.

But a faint, unexpected excitement stirred within me as we left the café. A thought crept in, one I hadn't anticipated: how would Irina react when she saw me again?

The last time we'd met, things had been different. Now, with this new face—one that seemed to draw people in effortlessly—I couldn't help but wonder how she would respond. She wasn't the type to be easily swayed, but this was no ordinary shift.

'With the increase in charm, would she even notice?' I mused, feeling the slightest hint of curiosity mixing with the growing anticipation.

'There is no way, she doesn't…..' Irina's reaction would be worth noting, at the very least.

Without further delay, I stepped onto the portal platform, feeling the mana gather around me, dense and charged with purpose.

A moment later, the familiar tug of teleportation took hold, drawing me through the dimensional boundary and straight into the heart of Etheria Haven.

The teleportation process felt slightly different this time, a faint but undeniable shift in the mana currents that tugged me forward.

The sensation was both familiar and strange, a subtle reminder that the gate to Etheria Haven wasn't an ordinary transport link. It had a depth to it, a resonance that hinted at the arcane layers woven into the very fabric of the portal.

And then, in a flash, I arrived.

As I stepped onto solid ground, the first thing I noticed was the mana. It was everywhere—dense, vibrant, and potent, saturating the air itself. Unlike any other place, the atmosphere here was thick with power, each breath filled with a faint charge that tingled against my skin.

Countless streams of mana in different hues and signatures coursed around me, almost as if the entire capital pulsed with its own lifeblood. 'So, this is the heart of Etheria Haven,' I thought, taking a moment to absorb the unique energy.

All around, people moved with purpose, their robes and attire marking them as scholars, mages, and various other practitioners of magic.

There was an air of quiet authority, a disciplined focus that distinguished the inhabitants here from those in other regions.

Many walked with the kind of calm intensity that spoke of years spent in study, research, or magical refinement.

'Even the breathing here feels different.'

That was something that I couldn't just get used to immediately, but even at this moment, my body started adapting to the conditions.

[Everchanging Glyph]

It was adapting to how the mana levels here were different.

Just then, as I was feeling absorbed in the potent atmosphere of Etheria Haven, feeling Everchanging Glyph adjusting to the dense mana currents around me, a sudden shift in the air alerted me.

My senses flared instinctively, picking up on the distinct presence moving quickly in my direction—a presence I recognized.

Before I could even turn fully, a familiar voice called out, a soft but excited shout breaking through the controlled hum of the capital. "Astron!"

And then, with a flash of motion, she was there.