Three of them stood once again in front of the Hunter Academy training center, snow crunching beneath their boots. Their breath rose in faint clouds under the dim gray sky.
"No luck here either," Tora muttered, kicking at a patch of ice near the steps. His shoulders slumped, though his tone tried to stay light. "She must've gone further. Not many towns left on this route."
Avilio's gaze lingered on the academy's signboard, its paint half-faded, the wood scarred by years of harsh weather. He clenched his fists inside his coat pockets. How far could she have gone?
"We've been at this since morning," Liam finally spoke, his voice low, tired. His eyes wandered over the training yard beyond the gate, where apprentices sparred clumsily with wooden blades. "If she was here, the hotel records should've listed her. But there's nothing."
Tora exhaled sharply, pulling his scarf tighter around his neck. "Selene's not the type to vanish without a trace. Someone here must've seen her. Maybe she's using a false name?"
Avilio shook his head. "Not likely. Specialists can't usually hide their presence. And if she's a specialist someone would've noticed her."
The silence that followed was heavy, the kind that pressed against their thoughts. The wind carried faint laughter from the apprentices inside, but for the three it only deepened the weight of disappointment.
"Then…" Liam's voice cut through, steady but cold, "we head to the next town. No point wasting the whole day here."
Tora sighed, then tried to shift the mood with a grin. "No worries. This is a Specialist trial center. Avilio, you could give it a shot. And Liam, don't forget, you're still a pupil. You should try for the aqua marker."
Liam shook his head almost instantly. "Nah. I'm not at that level yet. It'll just be a hassle."
Tora leaned closer, lowering his voice so only Liam could hear. "You might get to see Avilio fight."
Liam's eyes flickered with interest despite himself. He straightened, no longer so dismissive.
"Well," Tora said louder, clapping his hands together, "What do you say, Avilio? You in?"
Avilio gave a small nod, calm and certain. "Yeah. I'll go for it."
That was enough to tip Liam over the edge. "Then… I might try too," he said, though his tone carried more excitement than reluctance.
"Good. Best of luck to both of you," Tora said, giving them a crooked smile. "I'll be cheering."
Tora parted ways from them in front of the trial center. Avilio and Liam stepped inside, Avilio with his large sword strapped to his back and Liam with his bow arrows. Inside, the Specialist trial center was alive with energy. The main hall was vast, lit by glowing crystal lamps that flickered against the high stone walls. Hunters, both young and seasoned, filled the place, some waiting for the next trial, others relaxing in the waiting area.
"Names?" the clerk asked, glancing at them briefly before jotting something in his ledger.
"Avilio," he said simply.
"Liam," the other followed, his tone clipped but edged with anticipation.
The clerk pointed toward the observation gallery. "Wait there. When your turn comes, you'll be called to the floor."
They joined the small crowd of challengers along the railing, looking down at the arena below. A trial was already in progress.
Liam whistled low. "So what are we up against? This might actually be fun."
He jabbed a finger at Avilio. "Hey, I know you. Do you remember me? We crossed paths in Sentril."
Avilio's gaze sharpened. He studied the man's face, the scar that cut across his jawline, the unshaken grin, but nothing surfaced. His memory drew a blank.
The stranger laughed at his silence. "I'm a member of the Inner Demons. You spoke with our leader, Naash. I remembered you because of that ridiculous sword you carry. It amused me then—it still does now."
At that name, a spark clicked in Avilio's mind. Naash… Inner Demons. Yes, he had remembered that name.
The man grinned wider. "Barnacle. That's my name. Though I'll admit, I've completely forgotten yours."
"Avilio," he replied flatly.
Barnacle slapped his own forehead in mock realization. "Right, Avilio! The quiet one with the blade too big for his own back. Hah! No wonder I remembered." He leaned in closer, lowering his voice but not his grin. "So, what brings you here? Don't tell me you're going for the Specialist trial. With a green marker?"
Liam bristled at the tone, stepping forward, but Avilio held up a hand to keep him back.
Barnacle noticed the boy and smirked. "Oh? A pupil too, huh? Brave little chick, thinking he can fly already." His eyes flicked toward Tora. "And you… you look familiar as well. Hmph. Small world."
Before any of them could reply, the clerk's voice echoed from below, calling the next set of names for the trial. "Next group get ready."
Barnacle stepped aside, his grin never fading. "Well, well. Looks like fate's handing me a front-row fight. Don't disappoint me, big sword. I'd hate to tell Naash you were all bark and no bite."
Avilio gave him a steady, unreadable look before moving toward the stairway that led down into the arena. Liam remained behind, eyes narrowed at Barnacle, who was already chuckling to himself as he leaned on his staff.
The heavy iron doors groaned open, and Avilio, Barnacle and Liam stepped inside. The air shifted instantly damp, heavy with the scent of soil and iron, the faint echo of growls vibrating through the stone chamber. Torches flared along the walls, casting long shadows that danced across the arena floor. It was a circular pit, wide enough to hold a small battlefield, yet its structure felt oddly familiar to Avilio. The same cold stone, the same barred gates on opposite ends. Just like before, he thought. A trial ground meant to test survival.
The adjudicator's voice thundered from above, reverberating off the walls.
"This is the First Trial. Strength and instinct. You will face creatures drawn from the wilds outside this town. Survive, endure, and prove that you are not simply wielders of weapons but hunters."
The words rolled through the arena like a drumbeat. Liam's hand tightened around his bowstring. For all his bravado on the balcony the night before, his pulse was racing. He scanned the gates nervously, waiting for them to open.
But then he noticed movement beside him. Avilio stepped to the side, lowering his sword casually. Liam's jaw almost dropped. "What are you doing?" he whispered harshly.
Even Barnacle, who had been smirking with folded arms, blinked in confusion. "Huh?" He leaned toward Avilio, disbelief painted across his scarred face.
The adjudicator's voice rose from above, booming in the silence: "Hunters, prepare!" The growls from the other side of the gate scraped louder, sharper. The crowd above stirred in restless anticipation. Yet Avilio stood there, almost relaxed.
Avilio tilted his head slightly, his voice calm and steady. "The trial isn't about me cutting down every beast. The judges don't care for slaughter, they care for capability. If you can convince them you have it in you, they'll pass you."
His words struck both Liam and Barnacle like cold water.
Liam's fingers trembled against the bowstring. "Then… what about you? You'll have to cut down at least one of them!" His voice cracked, a mix of fear and frustration.
Avilio finally glanced at him, the faintest smirk curling at the edge of his lips. "That's what I'm going to do."
The gates groaned open with a metallic screech, and the ground shook as the swarm poured out. Dozens of small, wolf-like creatures with jagged horns and glowing red eyes flooded the arena floor, their snarls blending into a deafening chorus. The crowd erupted into cheers, anticipating carnage.
Liam's pulse spiked, but instead of faltering, a grin spread across his face. His voice carried over the chaos, sharp and steady. "This might be my only chance to show you my true skills. I'm not great at close fights…" He drew his bowstring back, eyes gleaming with a sudden, dangerous focus. "…but I'm hell of a swarm killer."
The first arrow whistled through the air, piercing a beast clean through the skull. It collapsed mid-leap, crashing into the tide behind it. Liam was already moving, loosing arrows in quick succession, his hands a blur. Each shot found its mark—throats, hearts, skulls—the monsters dropping in twos and threes before they could even reach the center.
The swarm tried to circle, flanking him, but Liam shifted his stance. He drew an arrow, fired upward, and the shaft split midair, breaking into three glowing streaks that rained down, skewering the beasts in a crackling burst. The observers gasped, the judges leaning forward in their seats.
Dust and blood filled the arena, but Liam's rhythm didn't break. His bow sang, every release precise, every step calculated. He leapt atop the carcass of a fallen beast, gaining height, and rained death on the pack below.
Barnacle let out a low whistle. "Kid's a damn storm."
Avilio, arms still crossed, said nothing. But for the first time since they entered, his eyes softened just slightly.
Minutes later, the swarm lay in heaps of lifeless bodies, arrows jutting from skulls and chests, the sand soaked in black blood. Liam's chest rose and fell with heavy breaths, his quiver nearly empty, his bow still trembling in his grip.
Avilio finally stood up. "You did good, kid."
Liam looked toward Avilio, sweat dripping down his temple. "So… was that enough?" he asked, half-smile tugging at his lips. Avilio didn't answer right away. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword, but he hadn't moved an inch since the start. Finally, he gave a small nod. His gaze was fixed on a pig-like large size monster. It was bigger than the others on the ground.
"Time to go to work."
Barnacle was constantly fighting but he seemed to enjoy it. When he saw Avilio charging towards the Pig monster, he thought Can we expect some large-scale action now?
But his ambitions got destroyed in a moment. When Avilio reached the attacking range, he simply pulled out his sword and with right precision launched an attack on the Pig monster. And within a moment the pig was lying on the ground, dead.
At that moment Barnacle and Liam realized, It really was enough.