Training, A Surprise, and A Family Meeting

After deciding on Hunters Academy, we doubled our training efforts. Every day was a brutal cycle of strength, speed, and technique. But we pushed through, knowing what awaited us at the academy.

Then, one day, Rean approached me with urgent news.

Rean: “Nether, I got some info—you’re gonna want to hear this.”

Nether: “What is it?”

Rean: “We might be getting a new sibling soon.”

I froze.

Nether: “...You serious?”

Rean: “Positive. My source is very reliable.”

Nether: “How much time do we have?”

Rean: “About half a year.”

I crossed my arms, deep in thought. Another sibling, huh? This was big.

Nether: “Did you tell the others yet?”

Rean: “Was just about to.”

Nether: “Good. Call a meeting. Tonight.”

Rean: “On it.”

---

Late Night Meeting – The Name Debate

That night, we all gathered in Rean’s room.

Except… one was missing.

Ivan: “Where the hell is Rean? Does he not know this meeting is in his room?”

Just then, Rean walked in, confused.

Rean: “I thought the meeting was in Arther’s room.”

Ivan (ready to yell): “YOU—”

Nether: “Enough. Let’s start.”

We got straight to the main topic.

Arther: “Listen, if it’s a boy, we should name him Albert.”

Ivan (grinning): “Nope. It’s a girl. I’m sure of it.”

Rean: “Then how about Elise?”

Ivan and I: “Good name. Approved.”

Arther: “Hey! What about my—”

All of us: “Shut it.”

Meeting adjourned.

---

The Birth of Elise

Six months later, we were in the training grounds when Rean came running toward us, out of breath.

Rean: “IT’S A GIRL!”

We dropped everything and sprinted to our parents’ room.

When we burst in, our parents looked at us, confused.

Father: “...Why are you four rushing in like this?”

Mother (smiling tiredly): “What’s the emergency?”

We all took a deep breath, then shouted in unison:

“HER NAME SHOULD BE ELISE!”

They stared at us, stunned. Then, they burst into laughter.

Father (chuckling): “Fine, fine. Elise it is.”

-----------------

Our Daily Time with Elise

Morning – Ivan’s turn: Ivan sat beside Elise, pretending to be serious, but he always ended up making funny faces, making her laugh uncontrollably.

Midday – Arther’s turn: Arther would try to read her storybooks, only to fail miserably at pronouncing some words, making us all laugh.

Evening – My turn: I gently poked Elise’s soft cheeks.

Nether: (grinning) "Gologloglog."

Elise giggled, grabbing my finger with her tiny hands.

Elise: "Hihihib~"

Holding her in my arms, I took her for a short walk around the house.

Nether: "Alright, let’s go home."

She smiled brightly in response, and my heart felt warm. These moments were precious.

Night – Rean’s turn: Rean would take her outside to gaze at the stars, humming lullabies to help her sleep.

And just like that, our peaceful days continued.

But soon, the day of our departure arrived.

---

The Journey to the Academy

The morning of our departure was filled with mixed emotions. As we stood outside, staring at our home one last time, it felt… surreal.

It wasn’t too big nor too small—a cozy two-story house with five rooms upstairs, and a kitchen, a hall, and a small yard in front. It had been our home for years, filled with memories.

But now, we were leaving it behind.

With one final farewell, we boarded the carriage that would take us to our new future—the Hunter Academy.

---

Inside the Carriage

The journey was long, and as the carriage swayed gently, Ivan decided to lecture us.

Ivan: "Now listen carefully. We are third-rate nobles, meaning we’re at the bottom of the noble hierarchy. Don’t expect any grand treatment."

We nodded. Third-rate nobles had some status, but we were far from influential.

Ivan: "Also, be wary of Dukes’ and Counts’ families—they hold true power in this nation. Do not provoke them unnecessarily."

Nether: (yawning) "Yeah, yeah…"

Ivan: (ignoring me) "We’re heading to the capital, so behave yourselves once we enter the academy. And don’t get into unnecessary fights."

His voice droned on. I struggled to stay awake, but eventually, my eyelids grew heavy, and I fell asleep midway through his lecture.

Meanwhile, Arther sat quietly, listening carefully to every word.

Rean, on the other hand, was completely distracted, staring in awe through the carriage window at the passing scenery.

---

The Capital – A City of Power and Prestige

As we approached, the grand capital came into view.

Unlike our small town, this place was massive—an old Western-style city with towering stone buildings, cobblestone streets, and majestic castles rising in the distance.

The noble district had extravagant mansions, lined with well-maintained gardens.

The merchant district was bustling with life, filled with vendors, inns, and exotic goods from all across the land.

The commoners’ area had rows of modest homes, with children running around and playing in the streets.

At the heart of it all stood the Hunter Academy, our destination—the place where our new journey would begin.

I could feel the excitement and tension in the air.

This was just the beginning.

-----

The First Day at Hunter Academy

As we stepped through the grand gates of Hunter Academy, a wave of energy washed over us. The atmosphere was thick with anticipation, excitement, and the subtle tension of competition.

Students of all backgrounds gathered in the massive courtyard—nobles in finely embroidered uniforms, commoners in well-worn training gear, and even beastfolk and elves standing tall among them.

A massive stone statue stood at the center of the courtyard, depicting a legendary hunter clad in armor, his twin swords piercing the ground. His eyes, carved from glowing blue crystals, seemed to watch over us.

"Welcome to Hunter Academy," a deep voice echoed.

A man stood on an elevated platform—a towering figure with sharp eyes and long silver hair tied back neatly. He wore a dark blue hunter’s coat, adorned with golden embroidery.

"I am Headmaster Alric Von Durnhart. From this moment, you are no longer mere children of noble houses or commoner families. You are hunters-in-training."

His piercing gaze swept over the crowd, as if measuring each of us.

"This academy does not care for your background. Here, your strength, skill, and determination alone will decide your worth. Those who cannot keep up… will be expelled."

The murmurs among the students grew louder. Expulsion? On the first day?

Alric smirked slightly. "But first, let’s see if you even deserve to stand here."

He raised his hand, and suddenly, the ground trembled. The massive stone statue behind him began to crack—then shattered, revealing a glowing blue crystal pillar at its core.

"Your entrance exam begins now."

A wave of excitement and nervousness surged through the students.

The Entrance Exam – A Test of Worth

A middle-aged instructor with a scarred face stepped forward. His presence alone was overwhelming, radiating an aura of a battle-hardened veteran.

"I am Instructor Roderic, your examiner," he said. "Your first test is simple—prove your strength."

With a gesture, several large stone platforms rose from the ground. Atop each one stood a training golem, made of enchanted steel.

"You will each fight a golem alone. Defeat it, or last five minutes against it, and you pass."

The students gasped. These weren’t ordinary training dummies—golems were known for their durability and relentless attacks.

Ivan crossed his arms. "Interesting."

Rean smirked. "Finally, some action."

Arther cracked his knuckles. "This is gonna be fun!"

Nether simply gripped his dual swords, eyes sharpening.

"BEGIN!" Roderic commanded.

---

Nether vs. Golem – The Dance of Blades

The moment Nether stepped onto the platform, the golem’s glowing red eyes locked onto him. With a heavy BOOM, it lunged, swinging a massive stone fist.

Nether barely dodged, feeling the wind pressure as the fist smashed into the ground, cracking the stone.

"Fast," he muttered. "But not fast enough."

With a swift movement, he vanished from sight—only to reappear behind the golem. His dual swords flashed as he delivered a precise strike to its joints.

CLANG! Sparks flew, but the golem barely staggered.

"Tough bastard," Nether grinned. "Let’s see how long you last."

He darted around it, slashing at its legs, forcing it to constantly turn. But the golem was adapting, predicting his movements.

"Then let’s change the rhythm."

Nether slid under a swinging arm, flipped mid-air, and drove both swords into its shoulder.

A loud CRACK echoed as the golem’s arm detached, crashing to the ground.

The students watching gasped.

"He's… fast!"

"Who is that guy?"

"Wait, isn't he a third-rate noble?!"

But Nether wasn’t done. He dashed forward, twisting his body as he slashed in an arc—severing the golem’s head.

The golem froze, then collapsed into rubble.

"Winner—Nether!" Instructor Roderic announced.

Nether exhaled, spinning his swords before sheathing them.

"That was a good warm-up."

---

Ivan vs. Golem – The Mage’s Command

Ivan stepped onto his platform, his red eyes gleaming. Unlike Nether, he stood still, raising a single hand.

"Wind magic, huh?" He smirked. "Let’s see how far I’ve come."

The golem charged at him.

Ivan simply whispered:

"Gale Bind."

FWOOOSH!

A violent windstorm erupted around the golem, binding its limbs in a swirling vortex of air. The crowd gasped as the golem struggled to move.

"Wind magic can be overwhelming if used right," Ivan muttered. He flicked his fingers.

The wind compressed, tightening around the golem’s joints. CRACK! The golem’s body began to fracture.

Then, with a casual flick of his wrist—BOOM!

The golem shattered into countless pieces.

"Winner—Ivan!"

The audience stared in shock.

"He… destroyed it without even touching it!"

"His control over magic is insane!"

Ivan smirked, dusting off his coat. "Too easy."

---

Rean vs. Golem – The Silent Killer

Rean didn’t even wait for the golem to attack. The moment the battle started, he vanished.

The golem stood still for a second, scanning the area.

Then—

SHING! A dagger embedded itself in its knee joint.

Before the golem could react, SLASH! A katana severed its other leg.

Rean reappeared behind it, flipping his dagger in his hand. "You’re already dead."

The golem collapsed, unable to move.

The crowd was silent.

"...Did he just defeat it in two moves?"

Roderic raised an eyebrow. "Winner—Rean."

Rean grinned. "That was fun."

---

Arther vs. Golem – The Juggernaut

Unlike the others, Arther didn’t dodge or strategize. The golem swung a massive punch—

And Arther caught it.

The ground beneath him cracked from the force, but he stood firm.

Arther grinned, veins bulging. "My turn."

With a monstrous roar, he lifted the golem by its arm and slammed it into the ground. The sheer impact sent a shockwave through the air.

Then, he raised his giant sword, gripping it with both hands.

"Sorry, but you’re done."

With one mighty swing, he split the golem in half.

Silence.

Then—cheers erupted.

"What kind of strength is that?!"

"He's a monster!"

"Winner—Arther!"

Arther stretched his arms. "That felt good!"

---

After the Exam

When the dust settled, we stood together again, grinning.

Ivan smirked. "Well, I’d say that went well."

Nether crossed his arms. "Now, we wait for the results."

Rean chuckled. "Not like we’re failing."

Arther laughed. "This academy is gonna be fun!"

Little did we know, this was just the beginning.

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