Humans fear many things. Darkness, insects, animals, the depths of the ocean… Death, hunger, disease. But in this age, what people feared most could be summarized in a single word: Creatures.
A dim light seeped through Eren's eyelids. There was a pain in his body, but he had definitely rested well. He got up from where he was lying, supporting himself with his right hand, and opened his eyes. He turned his head to the left but saw no one; there was only a stool with papers on it.
When he turned his head to the right, he saw Kayra. The events of the night slowly came back to his mind. His eyes widened, his pupils constricted. Sweat began to pour down his face. He looked at Kayra, who was sitting.
With a trembling voice, Eren asked: "So... what's our plan now?"
Kayra slightly raised his head. His face was expressionless, as if the two people hadn't died last night. He looked into Eren's eyes.
Kayra responded: "Plan? You're already at the Safe Haven Hunter Center. At the end of the day, your goal was to get here, wasn't it? You're here, enjoy it."
Just then, the door opened abruptly. The senior hunter, wearing a fedora and a long cloak, entered through the dim light. He was accompanied by two guards. His eyes fell on Eren's chained wrists, then turned to Kayra.
Senior Hunter Kael Duskgrave stated: "Time's up. From this moment on, you are under arrest by the Safe Haven Hunter's Guild. You are forbidden to speak until I ask you a question or give you permission. Your interrogation will be conducted personally by me, Kael Duskgrave."
Kael began to remove his armor: first his gloves, then his wrist guards, shoulder pads, boots, greaves, chest armor, and finally the hat on his head. His face finally became visible, revealing a young man in his twenties with white hair and green eyes. And with no decrease in the seriousness of his voice, Kael asked: "Now, what were you doing in that forest? Kayra, you answer first, Eren, then you. And I'm asking individually, not as a group, why you went into that forest."
Kayra, hesitantly, replied: "When I was little, when I first learned to read, I performed a ritual on myself, thinking it was a game. This allowed me to use magical energy. I went to keep an eye on them so nothing would happen to them. I hadn't expected a vampire to appear so early, but even if it hadn't been a vampire, I didn't approve of what was being done."
Kael, with the same seriousness, asked: "So, how many of those zombies did you kill?"
Kayra, a little more relaxed, responded: "I killed one."
Kael asked: "And Eren, why were you in that forest?"
Eren looked into Kael's eyes, as if challenging him.
Eren replied: "It's very simple. To become a Hunter. My only expectation in this life is to become a hunter and rise. There was nothing more logical than killing a few simple, weak creatures to increase my chances of being accepted into the Academy, until that vampire showed up."
Kael asked: "So how many of those zombies did you kill?"
Eren's eyes fell; his disappointment was evident on his face. Eren replied: "Unfortunately, I only killed one."
A small smile appeared on Kael's face. Kael asked: "So how did that vampire die?"
Kayra explained: "The vampire sprang from among the trees. Luna and Sahra were dead before we could do anything. Then the only thing that came to my mind was to cast the spell called 'Night Chain.' I successfully cast the spell. Raphael lunged at the vampire to kill him, but the vampire freed his right arm and plunged it into Raphael. At that moment, Eren suddenly reached for his gun and shot the vampire."
Kael fell silent. It was as if he was re-evaluating what had been said in his mind. Then he slowly took out two parchments folded like letters. Their seals were still intact. He placed them on the table.
Kael said: "Let me tell you a secret. Actually... these letters were already prepared when I came here. You had already been accepted into the Academy. I... I just had my suspicions. That's why I asked questions."
Eren's face flinched. Even his chains made a sound. Kayra's eyes widened.
Kael continued: "The others—the Council members, the Academy teachers—had made their decisions about you. The death of two students... unfortunate. But even if one of you had returned, you would have been accepted. Because Safe Haven needs hunters. My difference is this: I wanted to know who you were. Are you just brave, or are you fools who know how to hide your fear?"
Kael slowly leaned over the table. His eyes locked with Eren's.
Kael stated: "I got my answer. You—you overestimate yourself, Eren. And Kayra... you are caught between foolish courage and rational fear. Raphael is not here anyway, seriously wounded. But that's not important. What's important is this: Today you are officially accepted into Safe Haven's Hunter Academy. Your letters are here. But know this—there's no turning back now."
Kael straightened up. He picked up the parchments one by one and placed them in front of the chained Eren.
Kael added: "This is just the beginning. Everything you learned there will be cheap compared to the prices you will pay. Your survival last night was a stroke of luck. From now on, there is no luck. There will only be your choices."
Kael knocked on the door. One of the guards outside unlocked the door. The tension in the room eased, but the lingering heaviness in the air was still palpable.
Kael with a cold smile: "Welcome to the Academy."
When the door opened, the metallic clinking of medicine bottles carried from the corridor. It was unclear whether Raphael would survive. But as Eren's chains were unfastened, something else shone in his eyes. It was something more akin to anger and stubbornness than fear.
Kael scrutinized them. Perhaps he still had doubts. But for now, these young people were merely pawns for Safe Haven. But no one could know at which move pawns would turn into queens.