Supreme Hunter of Beautiful Souls

Some students, noticing that Eva wasn't going to wait forever, began offering themselves, eager to show off their skills. A boy with short hair and a bold look was the first to step forward, with a challenging grin.

"I'll fight that thing!" he declared confidently, wielding a long sword dramatically, as if preparing for an epic duel.

Eva watched him for a moment, evaluating the gleam in his eyes. "Very well, then. Go ahead," she said with a wave, gesturing for him to advance.

With a swift movement, the boy charged at the creature, which seemed more irritated with every passing second. The monster, a hybrid of dragon and wolf, growled and lunged with its sharp claws, answering the challenge. The boy with the sword tried to dodge the creature's claws, but with a quick motion, the monster grazed him, knocking him to the ground. The fight lasted only a few seconds, and he was forced to retreat, his eyes wide with surprise.

"I... I wasn't expecting that," he said, panting, as he struggled to get up and wipe the sweat off his face.

Eva remained silent, offering no comment. She then turned to the other students, her penetrating gaze moving from one to the other. Some began to offer themselves, but without words of encouragement or disapproval, Eva said nothing. Instead, she waited in silence for action.

Kael, who had remained silent until now, finally leaned against the wall of the arena, observing the scene in front of him with an indifferent look. He ignored the students offering to fight and moved away from the commotion, preferring to observe rather than participate. He knew he didn't need to do anything for now, and perhaps that was the best course of action.

Eva, noticing he wasn't moving, slowly approached him. She sat down beside him, still keeping an eye on the arena, but now wearing an enigmatic smile—one that Kael knew well.

"Are you going to sit the whole time, Kael?" Eva asked in a soft tone, but one laced with a hint of provocation. She didn't seem concerned with the ongoing battle. She knew Kael had his own reasons for not acting immediately.

Kael glanced at her quickly, his golden eyes flashing with a faint challenge. He then let out a sigh and shook his head lightly. "I don't see a reason to act now," he replied calmly, his eyes returning to the fight still unfolding in the arena. "It's not my style. I'm not interested."

Eva smiled softly, understanding what he meant, but at the same time, enjoying the idea of keeping Kael in his place. "I knew you'd think that," she said, her eyes sparkling with amusement. She looked at him for a moment before returning her attention to the arena.

As the fight continued, Eva and Kael watched the students struggle to defeat the beast. Some approached cautiously, trying to dodge the monster's claws and strike where it was vulnerable, but their attacks seemed ineffective. The creature, with its impressive agility and brute strength, appeared invincible. Every strike from the students was met with a counterattack that forced them to retreat quickly.

Eva observed the scene with patience, but her eyes also held an intensity, as if she was waiting for a specific moment. "This is how things work here," she finally said, breaking the silence that had stretched between them. "They have to learn that real combat isn't about brute force or enhanced skills, but adaptability. Strength isn't the only factor to consider. Some of you are good, but you don't know how to handle the unpredictability."

Kael didn't respond immediately. He just watched attentively, feeling distant from what was happening around him. But as he looked at the arena, something changed. He realized the fight was taking a more desperate turn. The students were beginning to tire, and their strategies were failing. The creature was clearly winning, and the others were starting to pull back, unsure of what to do.

Eva looked at Kael and then back at the arena.

"Did you notice anything strange here?" Eva suddenly asked, her voice tinged with a curiosity disguised as caution. Kael knew exactly what she was talking about. She had warned him before, before he entered Azalith, about the subtle dangers he might encounter.

"So something is happening after all," Kael replied with a cold smile, his eyes fixed on Eva. He knew she wasn't just interested in his observations. There was something else she feared. "A professor attacked me, and I beat him... A few days later, in his class, he tried to kill the Emperor's daughter."

Eva watched him silently for a moment, her brows furrowing. "He didn't seem to be acting on his own," Kael added, noticing the way Eva's expression softened slightly. "It was as if he was being controlled... or possessed."

"Anything else strange happening?" Eva pressed, now with a slight tone of impatience, as if she knew Kael wasn't revealing the full story.

"Yes," Kael said, his expression hardening. "In one of the fights... one of the assistants was letting the students fight to the death." He paused, observing Eva for a moment. "It was as if nothing mattered to him, just the fight itself. Some died, others were gravely injured. But he didn't seem to care."

Eva murmured, absorbing Kael's words. "I see..." She closed her eyes for a moment, as if processing everything he had said.

Kael, noticing her concern, decided not to leave the tension hanging in the air for too long. He turned to her, a playful smile on his lips. "Can I know what's bothering you, Eva?" He asked casually, but the seriousness he felt about the situation was reflected in his voice. "I know you're not here just because you're a teacher. You're too eccentric for just that."

BONK!

"Ouch!" Kael exclaimed, bringing his hand to his head, his eyes wide with surprise. "Damn, that hurt!"

Eva, still with her hand outstretched, was grinning mischievously, but her eyes held a threatening intensity. "You're too smart for your own good, that irritates me," she said with a mild reprimand, but her smile didn't fade. She was actually enjoying herself. "And yes, we're investigating some things. Keep an eye out. What happened to Sylphie years ago... might be happening again." Her voice grew serious, as if she were sharing a dark secret.

Kael watched her closely, realizing that her words carried a much heavier weight than he had imagined. Sylphie... He remembered the story. They had tried to enslave and sell the elves, but they were especially after Sylphie, something Eva was trying to prevent from repeating.

And now it seemed like a shadow from the past had returned.

"Are you sure?" Kael asked, his expression more serious now. He knew that if he was at the center of something bigger, he couldn't ignore it. Not this time.

Eva stared at him for a moment, her blue eyes flashing with a mix of contained rage and bitter sadness. "I hope not," she said finally, her voice quieter. "But what we're seeing here... are signs that it might be."

Kael fell silent, absorbing Eva's words. He knew she wouldn't speak any more about it, not for now. He also knew that something big was about to happen, and he would have to be ready to face it, no matter what it was.

"If you find out anything else, let me know," he said, now more serious than ever. "And don't hide anything from me, Eva. I'm worried about this too."

Eva smiled, but the smile was melancholic, as if she were sharing a heavy burden she didn't want to carry alone. Her eyes, always so confident, now carried a shadow of concern. "You know where to find me, Kael," she said softly, her voice full of a seriousness that didn't go unnoticed. "But now, if you'll excuse me..." She slowly stood up, her expression grave, as if preparing for something. "We have more to do. And you've got a Magma Dragon to face."

She gestured toward the dark cage, where there was no sign of light, only a restless shadow moving within it. The iron door of the cage began to deform, the outlines of the bars seeming to distort with brutal force. With a loud, metallic snap, the door gave way, crashing heavily to the ground with a thud, revealing the creature inside. The massive, blazing figure of the Magma Dragon rose before them, its scales glowing like molten lava, and its incandescent eyes burning with primal fury.

"He's all yours," Eva said in a tone of challenge, her gaze fixed on the Magma Dragon, a threatening presence spreading across the arena. Then, without missing a beat, she shouted to the students around, her voice sharp and full of authority. "GET OUT OF THE WAY! THIS ONE'S FOR KAEL!" she ordered, the tension in her voice making it clear that no one should interfere.

"You can go," she added, turning to Kael with a look that spoke more than words. There was something in her eyes, a mix of confidence and perhaps a quiet concern.