"So what you're saying is…"
Sundrin finally said with a wry expression as he continued to massage his temples with frustration,
"No one is joining our team cause they are scared of me?"
Completing his sentence he looked at Torvyn who could only nod his head in defeat, he had tried coaxing many kids into joining their team but not a single one accepted,
"It's probably mostly because of your background, you not being from the central region and all"
Torvyn said, mustering out a wry smile, too tired to even talk as he had been scurrying around all day trying to find even one person ready to join their team.
Sundrin scrunched his brows in bitterness as he could only release a defeated sigh,
"What about you, are you really ok with being on the same team as me?"
He asked his friend with a weak smile, and even if Torvyn at this point said that he didn't want to participate in the hunt with him, he would understand afterall his previous outburst was indeed quite scary,
"Huh? What you talking about? Ain't no way i am leaving my little bro alone,after all you have a tendency to get into trouble so i gotta watch over you"
Torvyn said with a mock Disdaining smile as he laughed out loud.
Sundrin felt quite warm inside and couldn't supress a smile from forming on his lips,
"Thank you…"
He muttered quietly as he got up from his bed and looked at Torvyn,
"Well now that that's decided you go get some sleep, after all you should be ready for tommorow"
The next day was the beginning of the hunt so he didn't want Torvyn to exhaust himself too early, after having said that he walked towards the gate,
"What about you? Not gonna get some sleep?"
Torvyn asked with a frown worrying that Sundrin might be sad becuase no one joined their team, but Sundrin just turned around and said with a nonchalant smile,
"Don't worry about me, i just want to get some fresh air, i will be back before you know it."
The door closed behind him as he moved forward with steady steps, the wind caressing his face and the gentle moonlight cascading down his figure.
He made his way through the waterfall and then entered the forest continuing his steps.
The clearing he had been visiting often for the last few months came into view, and so did the silhouettes of two people standing there.
He hastened his steps and approached the figures.
As he entered the clearing he could see the faces of Solenya and Ignessa clearly.
Soon he stood in front of Ignessa and beside him stood his fellow student,
"Good that you are here Sundrin"
Ignessa started with her usual gentle smile and continued,
"As i had said yesterday, there will be no classes today and you both should get enough rest for tomorrow, today i just asked for you to come so that i could check your condition before the hunt"
Hearing her talk Sundrin and even the usually cold Solenya couldn't help but smile. Ignessa had always been nothing but kind towards them and always given them her motherly love unconditionally, so even if they did not say it out loud, they felt very emotionally attached to this woman,
"Don't worry Granny, we are both the top two in our classes, we will ace this test"
Sundrin said with an arrogant smirk, but it quickly backfired as Ignessa looked at him sternly,
"Do not underestimate the wild Sundrin, it is nothing like fighting with your fellow comrades, nor is it the same as hunting the weak beasts you have been eating all this while"
Hearing her brute words Sundrin couldn't help but swallow back his words and look down in apology,
*sigh~*
"I am not scolding you Sundrin, In there every beast preys upon the weak, they are surrounded by deadly aura and even the night is not safe, so all i am saying is to be careful"
Ignessa said, her tone becoming soft and gentle once again as she patted Sundrin's head and ruffled his hair,
"I won't keep you here for long, it's your duty to serve the tribe and lead it to prosperity thus you will have to go hunt for our people. I will take my leave now, just be cautious of everything out there and don't overestimate your abilities"
Finally turning around she started to leave, and as she walked further and further away, her last words echoed out through the forest,
"I will be waiting for you both, so come back safely"
Sundrin looked on at the disappearing back of the woman for a while until her figure couldn't be seen anymore.
Finally heaving out a sigh he stretched his back a bit leting out a satisfied groan and turned away to leave,
"....Sundrin"
Not even having taken a few steps a soft and melodic voice entered his ears and he turned around.
Startled he looked at Solenya who usually liked to remain silent and distant towards others. He had not expected her to call out to him out of the blue thus he was a bit confused, but soon enough he smiled a bit said,
"What is it Solenya?"
Solenya's usually cold eyes showed a bitt of hesitation but she still spoke,
"...Are you prepared…for the hunt?"
Sundrin was taken aback by her question but still answered with the calm smile on his face,
"Huh? Yeah don't worry about it, it's gonna be a breeze for me"
"...but…your team…"
Hearing Solenya's words his smiled didn't laten at all, instead it became a bit gentle, touched by the fact that there was another person who would worry for him,
"Hahaha!, don't worry about that, me and my buddy torvyn are a two man squadron who could hunt an alpha beast alone by ourselves, it's just that teacher doesn't give us enough opportunities to shine"
He said jokingly as he puffed up his chest in mock arrogance, a small chuckle escaped Solenya's mouth which shocked Sundrin,
"Oh, so you can smile, and here i thought you were made up of ice. More importantly, if you have the time to be worried about me, you should go train and prepare for the hunt, otherwise you will always be stuck in the second place, and i will be first for the rest of our time here"
Sundrin let out a laugh as he teased her, but Solenya just nodded as if accepting his challenge and turned around to leave,
"Be vigilant out there. I will wish for your safety"
Leaving her last words hanging in the air she left gentle steps.
The smile on his face started disappearing as he looked up at the beautiful night sky and the moon at the centre of it with a solemn expression,
"...two man squadron huh?"
He released a small chuckle as he recalled his words and looked back as he started walking towards the cottage,
"Welp if no one wants to join my team, then so be it, but if they think i will just give up, then they are truely dreaming. Maybe it's time i showed everyone what strength truely means"
Sundrin said as a smile slowly formed on his face, but it was far from the gentle one he showed to Solenya.