After weeks spent navigating public attention and private contracts, the students of Class A-2 finally returned to the Hunter Academy. The tall obsidian gates loomed as familiar bells echoed across the stone corridors, summoning everyone to the grand amphitheater for the headmaster's address.
Kaen walked casually beside Zian, who kept her expression neutral, though a faint twitch in her eye hinted at nerves. Mira and Leon trailed behind, talking about how many messages they'd missed during their off-campus activity.
"Feels weird coming back," Leon muttered. "Like everything's changed, but nothing's changed."
"It has," Mira replied, eyes glancing toward Kaen. "But not everyone knows it yet."
Inside the amphitheater, Professor Drayven resumed his post at the front, now looking more human than ever—though Kaen knew better. The slime construct remained loyal, silently ensuring Zian's development progressed.
"Welcome back, hunters," Drayven began. "This semester, you'll be tested harder than ever. A global hunter summit is approaching, and Class A-2 will represent the Academy."
Gasps rose from the crowd.
Kaen leaned toward Zian. "Guess we're famous now."
She rolled her eyes. "You were already acting like you were."
New classmates filtered into the seats, some glaring, others curious. Kyel waved smugly from the back row. Tessa nodded from beside a stack of scrolls.
A new semester had begun—and with it, new alliances, new threats, and unknown forces beginning to stir beneath the surface of the world.
Kaen smirked as the sky outside darkened slightly. "Let's see who lasts till the end."