Alex sat at his desk, the glow of his tablet illuminating the dimly lit room. He had pulled up the profiles of Natalia's parents, intrigued by their impressive statuses within the Hunter Association. He had heard whispers of their roles before, but now, seeing the information laid out before him, it felt more real.
Michael Elmiane, Natalia's father, was a contractor of Ares, the God of War. His title was "Head of Operations," a position that meant he was responsible for coordinating attack teams, managing mission logistics, and overseeing some of the most dangerous operations in the association. It explained why Natalia carried herself with such confidence and poise—her father was a battle-hardened leader, entrusted with the lives of countless hunters.
Beside his profile was that of Natalia's mother, Seraphina Elmiane, who contracted with Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love and Beauty. She held the title of "Head of Training," responsible for honing the skills of young hunters, preparing them for the challenges they would face. Despite Aphrodite's association with love, Seraphina's reputation was far from soft. She was known for her strict discipline and a keen eye for talent. She could see potential in the rawest of recruits and mold them into warriors capable of facing the worst that the world—or other worlds—had to offer.
It was no wonder Natalia was the way she was. With parents like that, both powerful and highly respected, it was easy to see why she held herself above the rest of their peers. Yet, unlike Alex, who blended in and preferred to remain unnoticed, Natalia stood alone, proud and cold, as if she didn't need the validation of anyone around her.
Alex couldn't help but wonder what it must feel like to live in such a household, surrounded by strength, discipline, and expectations. Then again, they weren't so different after all. Natalia was nine, just like him, and would undergo her awakening next year. The looming prospect of awakening hung over both of them like an inevitable storm. It was only a matter of time.
A small part of Alex wondered what Natalia's awakening would be like. Would she follow in her parents' footsteps, inheriting the power of war or beauty? Would she stand even taller, becoming someone untouchable?
Alex was sitting at the kitchen table, his fingers absently tapping against the side of his tablet. He had just closed Natalia's parents' profiles and was lost in thought when Kael walked into the room, a slight smirk on his face.
"Something on your mind, Alex?" Kael asked casually as he poured himself a cup of coffee. "You've been staring at that screen for a while now."
Alex glanced up, momentarily startled. "Just doing some research," he replied, hoping to brush off the question.
Kael raised an eyebrow, leaning against the counter as he took a sip of his coffee. "Research, huh? Let me guess… you're curious about Natalia Elmiane?" He grinned, his tone playful. "Could it be love?"
Alex's face remained calm, though inwardly he was taken aback by Kael's question. "It's not like that," he said simply. "I'm just trying to understand the people around me."
Elias, who had just walked into the room in time to catch the tail end of the conversation, chuckled as he sat down across from Alex. "Oh? So if Natalia decides to join the Athena Guild, are you going to follow her there, Alex?" he teased, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Alex gave him a neutral look, trying to maintain his composure. "I don't make decisions based on other people," he answered calmly.
Kael rolled his eyes, setting his coffee down on the counter. "Why are you always trying to complicate things, Elias?" he said with a sigh. "Just because Natalia's parents are who they are doesn't mean Alex has to follow her anywhere."
Elias leaned back in his chair, his smirk widening. "Oh, I don't know, Kael. Athena's guild could be a good fit for him. After all, Alex is a bright kid, and Athena values intellect. Besides, you never know—maybe he'll be a strategic genius just like her."
Kael scoffed. "And maybe he'll decide he doesn't want anything to do with your guild. The kid doesn't have to be a warrior, Elias. There's more to life than battle."
Elias crossed his arms, his expression amused. "Says the man who runs the Hunter Association. You, of all people, should know how important it is to have strong, capable hunters. It's not like Alex can run from this forever."
Kael sighed, rubbing his temple. "He's still just a kid, Elias. He deserves to make his own choices. Not everything needs to revolve around awakening and guilds. Let him live a little before you try to recruit him."
"Live a little?" Elias snorted. "You say that as if we're not already surrounded by monsters and chaos. You know as well as I do that Alex is special. You can't just ignore that."
Alex watched the exchange silently, his expression unreadable as Kael and Elias continued to bicker.
"Special or not," Kael countered, "he's still human. He doesn't need a leash, and he doesn't need to be pushed into anything before he's ready."
Elias shook his head, leaning forward. "We'll see about that. But mark my words, Kael—when the time comes, Alex will have to make a choice. And whether you like it or not, I'll be there to offer him a path."
Kael glared at him. "You just can't help yourself, can you?"
Alex, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up. "I appreciate both of your…concerns," he said evenly. "But like I said, I'll make my own decisions when the time comes. Right now, I just want to focus on what's in front of me."
Both men fell silent, looking at him with a mix of respect and uncertainty.
"Well, that's that, then," Kael said, his tone softer now. "Just know that whatever you decide, Alex, we'll have your back."
Elias nodded in agreement, though the competitive gleam in his eyes hadn't entirely faded. "Fair enough," he said with a grin. "But don't think I'm backing off anytime soon."
Alex sighed inwardly. It seemed no matter what, his life was always going to be a tug-of-war between people with different visions for his future. For now, all he could do was navigate it the best he could, keeping his own goals in mind.
*****
Alex was seated comfortably on Kael's lap in the spacious, sunlit room of the Hunter Association headquarters. The room was filled with various reports and documents strewn across a large oak desk. Kael, with his usual air of authority, was flipping through the latest updates when Alex made a comment that made him pause.
"All this money being spent on engineering and new gadgets seems like a waste," Alex said, his voice steady as he pointed to the expenditure on high-tech equipment in the report. "You'd be better off investing in a specialized defense team with high-spec tank hunters."
Kael raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback by the suggestion. "Where on earth am I supposed to find someone like that? Not exactly easy to come by."
Alex shrugged, the movement barely noticeable as he leaned against Kael's arm. "Train them. Develop a unit from scratch. It's not impossible."
Alex was deep in conversation with Kael, discussing the latest reports and strategizing about the best ways to allocate resources. As he sifted through the documents, his mind wandered back to his training days, stirred by the talk about strengthening defense capabilities. He couldn't help but remember the endless hours he had spent in the company of Second Lieutenant Krieger.
Krieger had been a legend among the cadets, known for his intense focus on physical conditioning. He was often the subject of jokes and whispers among the trainees, who had affectionately—if not mockingly—dubbed him the "muscle freak." The nickname had stuck due to his unrelenting belief in the power of sheer physical strength.
While discussing Kael's proposal, Alex found himself lost in recollection. He remembered how the cadets would huddle in small groups, their faces flushed from exertion, laughing and groaning about their grueling sessions with Krieger.
"Can you believe Krieger had us doing deadlifts for three hours straight yesterday?" one cadet had said, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Yeah," another had replied with a grin, "and then he made us run a full marathon right after. The guy's a total muscle freak. He's convinced that if we don't break ourselves, we're not trying hard enough."
"Seriously," a third cadet chimed in, shaking his head, "the way he talks about muscle, you'd think it's the answer to every problem in the world. Makes you wonder if he's ever seen a book that wasn't about lifting weights."
The camaraderie among the cadets had been filled with this kind of banter, a way to cope with the sheer intensity of their training. Even Alex had joined in, laughing about how Krieger's obsession with muscle seemed almost cult-like at times. They had all shared the same feelings of exasperation, their jokes a way to bond over their mutual struggle.
Despite the humor, there was an underlying respect for Krieger's dedication. As brutal as the training was, the results spoke for themselves. The physical endurance and resilience instilled in them by Krieger had been crucial in their subsequent missions.
The door to the office swung open. Seraphina, Natalia's mother and the head of training, entered with a warm smile, followed closely by Natalia.
"Good morning, President!" Seraphina greeted cheerfully, her voice bright and filled with genuine warmth. "I brought Natalia by. Thought it might be nice for her to see you and Alex in action."
Natalia, standing beside her mother, looked around the room with a curious glint in her golden eyes. She maintained her usual distant demeanor, but there was a subtle hint of interest in her gaze as she glanced at Alex.
"Morning, Seraphina," Kael replied, rising from his chair and setting the report aside. "And Natalia, good to see you. How are things?"
Natalia nodded politely but kept her distance. Her attention flickered to Alex, who had shifted slightly to make room for the visitors. Her gaze was inscrutable, but there was an unmistakable curiosity behind her silver hair and golden eyes.
"Hello, Natalia," Alex said calmly, offering a small, neutral smile. "It's nice to see you here."
Natalia's expression remained aloof, but her eyes betrayed a hint of curiosity. "Hello," she replied softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Seraphina, ever the optimist, beamed at the interaction. "I thought it would be good for Natalia to see how things are run around here. And, of course, it's always nice for her to spend time with her peers."
Kael nodded in agreement, giving Natalia a welcoming smile. "Alex here has some very interesting ideas about improving our defenses. Maybe he'll share them with us later."
Natalia's curiosity seemed piqued, though she did her best to keep her face composed. As she stood by her mother, she kept glancing at Alex, her mind working over the details of their brief interaction.
"Well," Kael continued, "if you're ready, we can discuss these ideas further. Alex, why don't you show Natalia around and explain your thoughts?"
*****
As the conversation continued, Alex couldn't help but observe Natalia with a growing sense of curiosity. Despite her age of only nine, there was something about her demeanor that suggested a level of intelligence and maturity far beyond her years. She sat quietly, her golden eyes occasionally glancing at the documents on the table, her expression inscrutable.
Alex's thoughts drifted, reflecting on his situation. He was well aware of the stark contrast between his own experiences and Natalia's apparent intellect. The complexity of her reactions and the subtlety in her observations seemed to defy her age. He found himself wondering if she was, in fact, a prodigy in disguise, rather than just another child.
Sighing inwardly, Alex felt a pang of self-reflection. In many ways, he was just an old soul trapped in a young body, a consequence of his reincarnation and the burden of his past life experiences. He had spent so much of his early years trying to fit in, to be just another kid among his peers. But now, surrounded by people like Natalia, he couldn't ignore the realization that he was different.
Natalia's composed demeanor and the way she absorbed information reminded Alex of how he had always tried to blend in despite the weight of his past. He was constantly torn between his true nature and the facade he maintained to live a normal life. He wondered if Natalia had similar struggles, though hers were obscured by her seemingly natural brilliance.
For a moment, he envied her. She appeared to possess an innate intelligence, a natural capability to navigate the world with a clarity he felt he lacked. He was the one who had to grapple with the burden of knowledge and experience from a previous life, trying to make sense of his current existence while concealing the truth from those around him.
As Seraphina and Michael Elmiane engaged in light conversation with Kael, Alex couldn't help but notice Natalia's silent scrutiny. Her gaze, though distant, seemed to be evaluating everything and everyone around her. Alex wondered if she was truly the genius she appeared to be or if there was more to her than met the eye.