Morning arrived, but only for one of them.
Leora was already up, dressed, hair tied in a messy bun, suitcase zipped and standing by the door. She had been awake since before sunrise, cleaning, packing, and pacing around the penthouse like someone about to start a new arc in life.
Erlen, on the other hand…
Was dead asleep.
Not peacefully.
Not gracefully.
But face-first in his pillow, hair covering half his face like some gothic model who passed out after a photoshoot.
When President Rimon walked into the living room, he instantly knew.
"He's asleep, isn't he?" Rimon sighed, adjusting his glasses.
Leora rolled her eyes.
"Yes, unc."
Rimon rubbed his forehead tiredly.
"You know what? Forget it. I'll just give him my credit card. He can buy clothes later. We're taking him like this."
Before she could respond, Rimon barged straight into Erlen's room and shook him aggressively.
Erlen's eyes slowly opened, barely functioning.
"I'll go just like this…" he mumbled, still half-asleep. "Just give me your card, I'll buy new things…"
He stood up, hair wild, clothes wrinkled, and absolutely zero care in the world.
Leora watched him, torn between laughing and crying.
"Stop looking at me like that," he yawned.
"Then stop looking like THAT," she shot back.
Within ten minutes, they were downstairs, entering Rimon's armored SUV.
The ride to the airport was quiet — Leora scrolling through her phone while Erlen leaned on her shoulder, falling asleep again.
"You really sleep like it's your full-time job," she muttered.
"It pays well," he replied, eyes still closed.
Rimon shook his head with a helpless smile.
AT THE AIRPORT
Of course, they didn't go through the public terminal.
Rimon led them straight to a private gate, where a sleek jet waited — one meant for presidents and CEOs, not two barely functioning teenagers.
As soon as they stepped inside, Erlen instantly claimed the softest-looking seat and curled up like a cat.
Leora sat beside him, clutching her bag.
Rimon strapped in, cleared his throat, and the jet took off.
Two hours later, they landed on a remote private island — one so isolated it was closest to Point Nemo, the place farthest from any human civilization.
The moment Erlen stepped out, sunlight hit his face.
"Aggghhhh…" he groaned loudly, stretching like he owned the entire sky. "Feels nice."
Leora grinned.
"Let's go, handsome."
He blinked at the nickname but said nothing.
ACADEMY
They walked toward the structure — and Erlen's eyes widened.
It wasn't a school.
It wasn't even an academy.
It was a small city.
A massive futuristic compound sprawled across the island — glass buildings, training towers taller than airports, mana reactors humming beneath the ground, and hologram gates marking different departments.
For a moment… even Erlen was impressed.
Rimon nudged him with an elbow.
"Listen carefully," he whispered. "Just… don't kill anyone, okay? Please? I'm begging you here."
Erlen smirked.
"Yea yea."
Inside the main hall, the noise was overwhelming. Hundreds of hunters — beginners, intermediates, apex trainees — all talking, laughing, arguing, sparring.
When Leora and Erlen walked in, the entire place froze.
Not because they were newcomers.
But because they were stupidly attractive newcomers.
Erlen's black eyes, sharp jaw, perfectly cut hair, and calm demeanor made people double-take.
Leora, with her emerald eyes and confident posture, looked like someone from a luxury magazine cover.
Whispers spread instantly.
"Who are they?"
"Yo… is that his girlfriend?"
"No way… look at him."
"Look at HER."
Erlen smirked slightly.
He loved attention.
So he flexed — just a little.
He let out a tiny fraction of his aura.
Not even 1%.
Maybe 0.1%.
But it was enough.
THUD.
Hunters dropped to their knees.
Some gasped.
Some choked.
Some flinched as if crushed by invisible gravity.
"What… the hell… is this… pressure…?"
"My… bones…"
"Who… IS this asshole?!"
"Shut up, bitch!"
"Go die in a sewer!"
Rimon panicked.
"ERLEN! ENOUGH!"
Erlen sighed and retracted his aura casually — like turning off a switch.
Instantly, everyone could breathe again.
He walked ahead, calm, expression blank.
But the crowd parted for him like he was a walking natural disaster.
Leora nudged him from the side.
"You're such a show-off."
He gave her a sideways glance.
"Maybe."
"And you enjoy it too much."
"Maybe."
She kicked his foot lightly.
"You're impossible."
"Takes one to know one," he said.
Her face reddened.
She looked away.