Aestra and Elera rejoined the group for the hunt. There were seven of them in total: five seasoned hunters plus Aestra and Elera. The first to introduce himself was Wiliam, a master-rank mage in his early forties, known for his precise magic control and strategic mind. Following him were the rest of his team.
Jhone, a man in his thirties, specialized in long-range magic and had recently reached the peak of the advanced rank. There were also two women: Ania and Fanny. Ania, a healer with long blond hair and piercing green eyes, carried herself with calm authority, radiating a sense of quiet strength. Fanny, in contrast, was a swordsman. Her long black hair and matching black eyes gave her a mature, imposing presence. Despite her young age—twenty—her sword skills had earned her respect among warriors, though in society, swordmen were often looked down upon since they could not wield magic. Finally, there was Arin, a mage in his thirties who preferred to stay at the back, supporting the team with magic from a distance, earning him the unofficial role of porter.
After everyone introduced themselves, it was time for Aestra and Elera. The group already knew who Elera was, and her protection was a priority—they had been trusted with similar missions before, never once failing. This was why the king placed his confidence in them.
Aestra stepped forward.
"Hello, my name is Aestra," he said politely, bowing slightly. "I'm a friend of Elera. Pleasure to work with you all."
Ania and Fanny, curious and slightly flustered by Aestra's appearance, approached him. "How can a boy be this cute?" Ania asked, half teasing, half serious.
"Are you a prince from another kingdom?" Fanny added.
Aestra chuckled softly. "I'm just a commoner. No noble blood, no title. Just someone who wants to do his best."
The questions ceased, replaced by nods of approval. Slowly, the group moved through the streets of the capital, exiting toward the north where the forest lay. Elera wore a cap to conceal her identity, aware that her presence could attract attention. Even with the disguise, her appearance drew glances from Wiliam, Jhone, and even Arin, who found himself glancing at her every few minutes.
After several minutes of walking, they reached the edge of the forest. Towering trees loomed over them, their dense canopy filtering the sunlight. The northern forest was known for its monsters—both low and high-tier creatures made their home here. The other kingdoms formed a circle around the academy, humans placed in the center, while the elves resided in the forests, dragons in the mountains, dwarves in the deserts, and angels floated in the clouds above.
Each race specialized in certain elements. Angels favored light, elves spirit, dragons fire with elemental deviations, dwarves earth combined with magic technology, and humans… humans were average in everything, with no particular specialization.
A sudden roar echoed through the trees.
The group froze. A tiger—or what appeared to be a tiger—stepped into the clearing. Its claws were long enough to pierce armor, teeth hidden behind a muscular jaw, its body easily twice the size of a normal tiger.
"Everyone, low-tier monster! Prepare for battle!" Wiliam commanded.
The team quickly fell into formation. Monsters in this world had rankings: low, mid, high, peak, and king-tier. Each tier had five sub-steps: beginning, advanced, adapted, mastered, and breakthrough. Once a monster reached master in its tier, it could break through to the next rank. King-tier monsters were extremely dangerous; a single one could decimate entire villages. Beyond king, legends spoke of a "demi-god" tier, though no one had ever seen one.
Wiliam turned to Aestra and Elera. "When we encounter a monster, we create a formation. Fanny takes the front line because of her sword skills, Wiliam and Jhone provide support just behind, and Ania and Arin cover the rear."
Aestra and Elera already understood hunting strategies from the novel. Teams of at least five were required for hunting monsters of sufficient rank. The protagonist in the story would eventually form a harem of skilled hunters to take on king-tier monsters, but Aestra and Elera were here to test their powers without drawing unnecessary attention.
"What are you thinking, Aestra?" Elera asked, her voice calm but curious.
Aestra smirked. "Just wondering about the harem Michael will make."
Elera turned to him, raising an eyebrow, her tone serious. "Are you jealous of him?"
Aestra laughed softly, teasing her. "Of course not. I have the most beautiful girl as my friend. No need to worry."
Elera's cheeks tinged pink, and she turned her head away, muttering, "You're right."
Their moment was interrupted by Wiliam's voice, sharp and commanding. "Your Highness, Aestra—without disrespect—do you want to see a hunt or not?"
Aestra focused, nodding. "Yes, we do."
The team advanced deeper into the forest. Shadows shifted with every step, the forest alive with sounds of unseen creatures. Leaves rustled as Aestra and Elera adjusted their footing, the subtle glint of their weapons catching light through the trees. Wiliam and Jhone moved in perfect tandem, Arin covering from a distance, and Ania's gentle aura provided a subtle protective barrier around the group.
Suddenly, the tiger lunged. Its speed was terrifying, but Aestra reacted instinctively. Drawing his sword, he moved to intercept, meeting the monster with a controlled strike that barely grazed its hide. Elera, combining her soul and healing magic, reinforced Aestra's strike while keeping herself shielded from potential attacks.
The fight was quick. Coordination, strategy, and their unparalleled learning rates gave them an advantage even over low-tier monsters. In moments, the tiger was incapacitated, leaving the group standing victorious.
Wiliam looked at the two of them with quiet respect. "Not bad. You've both grown far stronger than I anticipated. Keep this pace, and you'll surpass even seasoned hunters in no time."
Aestra grinned at Elera. "We make a good team, don't we?"
Elera smiled back, her golden eyes reflecting determination. "We do. But remember, Aestra—we have much more to learn."
The forest seemed to settle around them, momentarily peaceful. Yet both knew this was only the beginning. Monsters of higher ranks waited deeper in the wilds, and the coming challenges would test not just their power, but their wits, their trust in each other, and their ability to adapt.
And so, the hunt began—not just a test of strength, but a step toward mastery, a step toward survival, and a step toward the destiny that awaited them both.