Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 1064

Lucas turned as they started walking, glancing over his shoulder. "Irina? What about you? You coming?"

Irina had been halfway through adjusting the cuffs of her sleeves, but she paused at the question—and slowly turned her gaze toward Astron, who still sat near the back, unmoving.

She didn't speak right away.

Then, calmly: "You guys go ahead."

The way she said it—level, smooth, like it was the most natural thing in the world—made both Lilia and Julia exchange a quick glance.

"Oh?" Julia's voice went up a note. "Now, why does that sound suspicious?"

Irina didn't flinch. "Because you have the imagination of a soap opera director."

"I'm just saying," Julia grinned. "We've got sunshine, early morning light, and two very independent people suddenly lingering behind. That's suspicious territory."

Lilia smirked. "I give it ten minutes before she walks out pretending nothing happened."

Irina rolled her eyes. "Or maybe I just want two seconds of quiet before I join a table full of sugar-crazed disaster children."

"Aw, come on, we're not that bad," Lucas protested as he nudged Ethan with an elbow. "Right?"

Ethan chuckled, though he clearly wasn't about to take sides.

Irina crossed her arms and added dryly, "We might join you later. Don't eat everything."

"Yeah, yeah…" Julia waved her off with mock offense. "Surely. I'll keep a seat warm."

And with that, the rest of the group made their way toward the courtyard exit, bickering and laughing as the echo of their boots faded into the corridor—

leaving Irina and Astron alone in the golden hush of the hall.

****

Irina walked slowly down the central aisle, the clack of her boots muffled by the velvet-lined runner that ran between the rows of seats. The morning light spilled long and golden across the polished floor, catching in her hair and setting a soft glow along the curve of her cheek. She stopped just short of where Astron sat.

He hadn't moved.

Not when the others left, not when her footsteps approached. He just sat there—hands folded, eyes half-lidded in thought, posture straight but not tense. Silent.

Irina looked down at him, tilting her head slightly. "What are you going to do?" she asked.

Astron's gaze lifted to meet hers, a slow blink following. "You came here without knowing?"

"Of course I didn't," she replied. "I came here because I was curious."

Her tone was light, but something in her eyes shifted. Because now that she was this close—close enough to really look at him—she noticed it.

He didn't look tired. Not in the traditional sense. His eyes weren't ringed with dark circles, his movements weren't sluggish. His face, as always, remained composed.

But there was something different.

A faint dullness in the edges of his gaze. A stillness that didn't feel deliberate. Like a mechanism that had been running without pause for too long.

"You…" she started, voice low. "Did you not sleep last night?"

Astron didn't answer.

She frowned.

"Answer."

A beat of silence passed between them. Then, finally, he said it.

"I didn't."

Irina's brow furrowed. "Why?"

"Training."

Her eyes narrowed. "Aren't the exams over? Why are you still training?" 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

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