That night, in the office of the Third Elder, the flickering lamplight painted long shadows across the walls. His attendant stepped forward, bowing lightly before speaking.
"Third elder… that boy has chosen the First Elder".
The Third Elder leaned back slightly in his chair, his expression unreadable. Slowly, he exhaled through his nose, a bitter smile visible at his lips.
"I see, So the First Elder had this planned from the start… to keep me in check" he muttered, his voice low "Or how else could a boy like him win the competition? She must have been training him in secret all along."
The attendant hesitated and said "But… wasn't the boy trained by his instructor, Kael?"
"Kael?" The Third Elder let out a short, humorless laugh "He must have been arranged by her as well. Otherwise, why would a instructor spar personally with a mere student? And why now of all times would she suddenly accept a student after refusing countless others over the years?" His eyes narrowed. "No… this is no coincidence. Every piece fits together too neatly. She must have planned this all from the very beginning".
The room fell into silence, the Third Elder tapped his finger against the armrest, his mind racing.
"She thinks she can play this game with me," he whispered to himself, his facial expression twisting into anger "I won't be so easily restrained" he said with a smirk on his face, just like his grandson.
"Call Aspen" the Third Elder ordered. The attendant bowed quickly and left the chamber. Moments later, he returned with Aspen beside him.
Aspen's right side of the face was still swollen, reddish and bruised, rest of his injuries had nearly healed. In another seven to ten days, he would be back to his full strength.
The Third Elder's cold gaze softened the instant he saw his grandson. He spoke gently, explaining the situation to Aspen that how Vayu's used a different weapon and the decision elders came up with and the First Elder's sudden acceptance of Vayu. The Third Elder expected anger, or at least frustration, to flare in his grandson's eyes.
Instead, Aspen lowered his head and said in a calm voice "Grandfather… a loss is a loss. I don't want to talk about it ever again."
The Third Elder frowned. "But, Aspen—"
"Leave this to me, Grandfather" Aspen cut him off firmly "I will train harder than ever, I won't lose again, Not to him… not to anyone".
The Third Elder stared at him for a moment, surprised by the will his grandson's showed. Slowly, a smile spread across his face filled with pride.
"Good, Very good" he said, his voice warm "You've grown well, I'm very proud of you".
Aspen bowed slightly before turning to leave. The Third Elder watched him go, his chest swelling with pride. As for Aspen, he understood very well that, how much his grandfather cared for him, but Aspen's was very prideful in himself and he knew how to accept defeat, instead of being sad he was motivated by his defeat. This was his first loss and he swore to himself that his will be last.
He had no interest in sparring with his classmates anymore. They no longer posed a challenge and overpowering them brought no satisfaction to him. His new target was the Hunter Squad itself. If he wanted to prove himself, he would have to join their ranks before any of his classmates could even think about it.
Tomorrow, he decided, his real training would begin. Under his grandfather's guidance, he would train himself so he would never lose again.
Same time at 2nd elder house
At the Second Elder's residence, his attendant entered swiftly, bowing before delivering the report.
The elder's face twisted in irritation "What is she thinking? That old hag… can't she just die already so I can claim the seat of Village Chief?" His words were filled with anger, the room itself seeming to grow colder.
Turning sharply, he jabbed his finger at his attendant "Keep your eyes on that boy, If you see anything — anything suspicious, you will report it directly to me, without any delay"
"Yes, Elder" The attendant struck his chest lightly with his fist in salute, then left without another word.
The Second Elder remained standing for a moment, his expression sour. Slowly, he moved toward a tall cupboard placed in the corner of his office. Pulling out a small iron key, he unlocked it with care.
Inside lay an object unlike anything crafted by the villagers, smooth, cold, and etched with strange markings that seemed to shimmer faintly even in the dim light. He lifted it with both hands, the weight oddly heavy for its size.
It had been discovered two months ago by one of his men during a Hunter Squad expedition. Since then, he had turned it over, examined it under flame, tested it with water, even tried attacking with weapons but nothing had worked, neither it showed any reaction nor it break down with force. And yet… his instincts told him that this was no ordinary relic, he was certain it was something powerful. He tried to give it a twist with his hands one more time hoping to see some reaction but still nothing happened.
Frustration flashed through his eyes, he carefully placed the item back inside the cupboard, locked it tight, and returned to his chair. Leaning back with a long sigh, the Second Elder stared at the ceiling, thinking deeply about something and soon a twisted smile appeared on his face.
The next morning, Vayu ate his breakfast quickly and made his way to the First Elder's office. The door was shut tight.
So, he sat outside, waiting.
One hour passed, Then two, Then three, By the fourth hour his legs started aching from sitting still, and his patience was beginning to get thinner and thinner. Finally, frustrated Vayu stood and decided to search for her himself.
He started walking towards the academy, at the academy, he was told that they had seen her going towards the infirmary. At the infirmary, they said she had gone to the market after checking on the patients. From the market, he was told the she had left towards her home after buying some fish and some fruits.
When he reached her home, the door was locked, no one was inside and now he had no clue of where she had gone.
Exhausted and annoyed, Vayu went back to her office, muttering under his breath. As soon as he reached her office the door was wide open and she was sitting inside, writing on a piece of a paper.
Vayu stepped into the office without asking any permission "Where have you been, First Elder?" he asked "I searched for you everywhere".
She looked up slowly, amusement flickering across her face. "I should be the one asking that. I told you to come to my office this morning, where were you till now".
"You said to come — I came, but no one was here, so I went looking for you." He tried to explain, but was cut of by first elder.
"Did I tell you to find me?" she said, her tone mocking "Or did I tell you to wait at the office, you could not follow a single, simple instruction?" Her sly smile deepened.
Vayu's mouth opened and closed, he knew any answer he gave now she would somehow turn them into excuses. He bowed his head and muttered, "Sorry".
The First Elder's was first amazed by the sudden change in his attitude, her expression softened, she wanted to irritate him with his own words, the more he had tried to explain the more she had twisted his answers, but this was even more fun then she thought .
"Good, now go into the backyard and begin your practice" she said pointing his finger towards the gate leading towards back of her office " choose an attendant to spar with. When you defeat him, report to me." She folded her hands and continued, "From tomorrow morning, do not wait for me to arrive, Open this office gates clean it, fill the water pot with fresh water and wash anything dirty and Then begin your training."
Vayu's jaw tightened. He had come here for training, not to do chores. As he was about to protest, but the First Elder raised a single hand and cut him off again.
"Defeat all the attendants I have" she said, eyes glittering with amusement, "and I will relieve you of these duties and I will teach you myself".
"All right" Vayu agreed, his voice steady "I'll do it".
After dismissing Vayu, the First Elder bent her head back to the paper she was writing on, her quill moving steadily across the parchment . Vayu, however walked out with his fists clenched half angry, half determined — and stepped into the backyard.
A attendant was already waiting for him in the backyard. Each attendant was once a hunter squad member, and they were handpicked personally by the first elder. What Vayu didn't know was that the First Elder had already instructed her attendants to not hold back " Do not go easy on him, If he is only here because he won the competition, he will regret it. If he is truly serious… he will grow" these were the instruction given to them by the first elder.
And just like that 1 month passed.