Supreme Hunter of Beautiful Souls

Kael let out a long sigh, feeling his patience wear thinner with each passing second as he watched the charged stares between Sylphie and Amelia. The air around them almost vibrated with tension, metaphorical sparks flying between their intense glares.

He drummed his fingers on the table for a moment before simply standing up. Neither of them even noticed his movement, too focused on their silent battle, like predators ready to strike.

"This is seriously getting on my nerves." Kael thought, rubbing the back of his neck as he grabbed his tray.

"They're just jealous," Umbra commented, floating around him with her spectral presence. "It's not entirely their fault. Be patient."

Kael rolled his eyes as he walked toward the tray drop-off area. "Patience? Yeah, that's not really one of my strong suits."

"And yet, you haven't killed anyone. See? You're patient."

"Not because I didn't want to."

Umbra only chuckled softly, but Kael was already tuning her out. He glanced back at the table, where Sylphie and Amelia remained locked in their silent war, too absorbed in their glaring contest to even notice he was leaving.

"I'm heading outside," Kael announced casually, not waiting for a response or permission.

And then he left.

The fresh night air greeted him as soon as he stepped out of the cafeteria, the magical streetlights scattered around the courtyard casting a soft bluish glow over the stone pathways. The academy, which had been bursting with life and noise just hours ago, now felt much more tranquil. Only the distant hum of voices and the gentle rustling of leaves filled the space.

He shoved his hands into his pockets and wandered aimlessly for a few moments, finally feeling his body relax.

"You're always the center of attention, huh?" Umbra mused, her voice echoing smoothly in his mind.

"Not by choice," Kael muttered, kicking a small rock along the path.

"And yet, people are drawn to you."

He didn't answer. He just sighed and sat down on one of the courtyard benches, gazing up at the starry sky.

It was strange how the academy could be so chaotic during the day and so peaceful at night, like two different worlds coexisting in the same space.

Kael rested his elbows on his knees, leaning forward slightly. The cold breeze brushed against his skin, bringing a sense of calm he hadn't felt in a long time.

"Running away from your responsibilities?" Umbra asked, amused.

"No. Just... taking a moment to breathe."

"And how long do you think you have before someone finds you?"

Kael let out a short, humorless laugh. "Not long."

He knew it wouldn't take long before someone—probably Sylphie or Amelia—came looking for him.

But until then, he would enjoy the fleeting peace.

Sitting on the bench, he looked down at the pathway in front of him.

[Name]: Kael Scarlet (11 years old)

[Physical]: Ultimate Soul Hunter

[Strength]: 133

[Agility]: 101

[Intelligence]: 214

[Stamina]: 140

[Mana]: 200

[Blessing]: World Tree (SSS)

[Contract]: Forest Spirit - Umbra (A+)

[Traits]: Conqueror, Universal Language, Expanded Vision, Mana Sensitivity, Mana Core Blessed by the World Tree, Authority of Yggdrazil (Hidden).

[Skills]: Soul Absorption (Level 1), Soul Hunter (Level 1), Blade Instinct (Passive), Slicing Shadow Dance (Level 1), Elemental Manipulation (Level 10), Shadow Manipulation (Level 1), Nature Manipulation (Level 1), Predatory Eyes (Level 1), Royal Web (Level 1), Intimidation Aura (Passive), Winged Sword Wield (Level 5), Magic Amulet (Level 1)]

Kael sighed, watching the stars scattered across the dark sky. The tranquility of the night made his mind wander to thoughts he would normally ignore amidst the daily chaos.

"I haven't been progressing in this place..." he murmured, leaning back against the bench. "In fact, it's only been holding me back."

"That's normal for someone like you," Umbra responded, floating around him, her spectral presence shifting like dancing shadows in the magical lamplight. "You were trained by the Witch Queen herself. It's no surprise that an ordinary school, especially in the first few days, doesn't have much to teach you about magic."

Kael closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the cold wind brush against his face. Umbra was right. He had already learned more than most students here could even dream of, but that only made this stagnation even more frustrating.

And then, his mind drifted back to the past.

He remembered his grandmother—the woman who had shaped so much of who he was today.

"Kael..." her voice echoed in his memory, as clear as if it had been yesterday. "You can learn every spell in the world, become the most powerful of mages, but if you never learn to listen, then you will never truly be strong."

He remembered that day well. They had been in the clearing of the forest surrounding the Witch Queen's dwelling. The scent of damp earth mixed with the aroma of herbs always burning in small incense holders nearby. The moonlight filtered through the trees, casting long, mysterious shadows across the ground.

A younger Kael had just unleashed a powerful spell at a training target—a spell that required precision, control, and an immense amount of mana. He had hit it dead on, but even so, his grandmother had not seemed impressed.

He could still recall the frustration burning inside him when he questioned, "I hit the target! So why aren't you satisfied?"

The Witch Queen had merely smiled, her gaze sharp as blades.

"You hit the target, yes. But you didn't even notice the change in the wind before casting your spell, did you? If this had been a real duel, that same wind could have deflected your attack. You must feel the flow of the world around you, not just push your power against it."

Kael blinked, returning to the present.

The night breeze swept gently through the academy courtyard, and for the first time since arriving here, he truly paid attention to it. He felt the magic in the air, the subtle pulse of the world around him.

He had been so focused on power and progression that perhaps he had forgotten one of the first lessons he had ever been taught.

"Memories from the past?" Umbra asked, noticing the shift in his expression.

"Yeah," Kael murmured, a small smile forming on his lips.

"And what do you plan to do now?"

He leaned back on the bench, his eyes fixed on the sky.

"Listen."

And for the first time since arriving at the academy, he truly allowed himself to do just that.

Kael remained silent, absorbing the world around him. The cold wind blew softly, carrying with it the distant sounds of movement within the academy. He closed his eyes for a moment, just listening.

Then, footsteps approached.

He didn't need to open his eyes to know who it was. Her energy was familiar, comforting in a way.

Sylphie.

She stopped beside him, hesitating for a moment before finally sitting down. No words were spoken at first—just the sound of her breathing and the rustling of her clothes against the stone bench.

Kael kept his gaze fixed ahead, waiting.

"Sorry." Her voice was soft, missing the playful tone or impulsive energy from before. It was a genuine apology.

Kael turned slightly to look at her. Sylphie had her head lowered, idly playing with the ends of her hair—a gesture he remembered well from their childhood.

"For what?" he asked, already knowing the answer but giving her the chance to say it.

She sighed, gripping the fabric of her dress tightly. "For today. For causing that whole scene. For letting myself get carried away and… for putting you in a difficult situation."

Kael raised an eyebrow. "And you just realized that now?"

Sylphie puffed her cheeks in a slightly pouty expression. "I'm not that stubborn, you know? I just..." She let out another sigh, her shoulders relaxing. "When I saw you after all this time, I kinda forgot everything else. I just wanted... to hug you. To have you close again."

Kael didn't respond immediately.

Sylphie had always been like this—intense, full of emotion. He understood what this meant to her. After all, he also missed the time they had spent together before everything changed.

But now… things were different.

"Did Amelia give you a lecture?" he asked, a small smile playing on his lips.

Sylphie huffed. "She wanted to, but I left before she could start."

Kael chuckled. "Still running away from arguments."

She lifted her gaze to meet his, her green eyes shining under the dim courtyard lights. "Not all of them."

Kael smiled. "Yeah, that wouldn't be like you."

'What the hell am I supposed to say in a situation like this?!' he thought, scrambling for something smart or at least natural to say.

Determined to break the awkward atmosphere, he took a deep breath.

"Sylphi—"

"I MISSED YO—"

BAM!

The impact was so strong that both of them saw stars.

"Oww!!!"

They instantly pulled back, each clutching their own forehead as a throbbing pain spread across the area of impact.

"Why is your head so hard?!" Sylphie complained, blinking rapidly as if trying to chase away the lights dancing in her vision.

"I should be asking you that! You were the one who suddenly yelled out of nowhere!" Kael shot back, rubbing his forehead with a look of pure suffering.

"I just wanted to say that I missed you, but you cut me off halfway!"

"I didn't even get a chance to say anything before you screamed in my face!"

They stared at each other for a moment, still holding their foreheads… until Sylphie suddenly started laughing.

Kael looked at her, confused at first, but her laughter was so contagious that he soon let out a low chuckle as well.

The whole scene had been so ridiculous that any lingering tension between them simply evaporated.

"So… you missed me, huh?" Kael teased, a small smirk playing on his lips.

Sylphie blushed slightly but held her chin up. "Obviously! I won't deny it!"

He shook his head, still amused. "Well, I guess I can say the same…"

Sylphie's eyes widened in surprise for a second. But then, a mischievous grin spread across her face.

"Look at how swollen it is now!" She pointed at his forehead with an amused glint in her eyes.

Kael blinked, noticing something in her gaze. She's flirting with me…

He let out an internal sigh. Well… what else can I do but play along?

Without hurry, he raised his hand and gently brushed aside the elf's bangs, revealing the redness where they had collided.

"Hmm… looks serious." He murmured, feigning a grave tone.

Sylphie blinked, curious. "What are you—"

Before she could finish, Kael leaned in slightly and placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

Sylphie froze.

Her eyes widened, her lips parted slightly, and for a second, it was as if her entire system had shut down.

Silence. Absolute silence.

Kael pulled back, watching her stunned expression with a hint of amusement. "There. Magic kiss. It should heal now."

That was the moment Sylphie's brain finally rebooted…

And completely exploded.

Her face turned so red she could easily be mistaken for a ripe apple.

"Y-you—" she stuttered. "You just—"

Kael raised an eyebrow. "What? I thought you liked cute gestures."

Sylphie covered her face with both hands, mumbling something unintelligible, her body trembling slightly.

"I-I thought you hated me…" she muttered.

"How could I hate the first person who ever taught me magic?" He smiled.