Her hair shimmered like an ocean under the sun, cascading down her back in waves, and her sharp, violet eyes seemed to pierce right through him.
She was dressed in the Academy uniform, the pristine black fabric hugging her athletic frame.
There was an air of authority about her, something that commanded attention even in silence.
The girl's gaze lingered on him for a moment before her lips curved into a faint smile. "You should watch where you're going," she said, her tone light but firm.
"Yeah, uh, sorry," Elias replied, standing straighter. "I wasn't paying attention."
She tilted her head, studying him with a curious expression. "You're the one from the test, aren't you? The guy who didn't fall."
Elias blinked, caught off guard by her observation. "Uh, yeah, I guess that was me. And you were the last one standing, too."
"Correct," she said, her tone neutral. But then, her eyes narrowed slightly, and Elias felt... something.
It was subtle at first, like a faint whisper at the edge of his mind.
Then it grew stronger, an insistent pressure that felt as though someone was probing his thoughts, trying to peel back the layers of his mind.
It wasn't painful, but it was intrusive, like a hand reaching for something it wasn't meant to touch.
Elias's instincts flared to life. He didn't know what was happening, but his body reacted on its own, erecting an invisible barrier around his consciousness.
The pressure persisted for a moment longer before it dissipated, like water running off a stone.
The girl's expression shifted, her brow furrowing as she regarded him with newfound interest. "Strange," she murmured, more to herself than to him.
"What is?" Elias asked, his voice steady despite the unease prickling at him.
"Most people can't resist a mental probe," she said, her tone matter-of-fact. "But you... it was like I wasn't even there."
Elias's heart skipped a beat.
A mental probe? Was that what she had been doing? He tried to keep his expression neutral, not wanting to give anything away. "That's... not exactly a polite thing to do to someone you just met."
The girl's lips quirked into a smirk. "You're right. It's not. But I was curious."
"Curious about what?"
"About you," she said simply. "You're not like the others here. There's something... different."
Elias frowned. He didn't like where this conversation was heading.
The last thing he wanted was to draw attention to himself, especially from someone who could seemingly pry into people's minds. "I'm just another student," he said, shrugging. "Nothing special."
The girl didn't respond immediately. Instead, she studied him with those unnervingly sharp eyes, as if trying to unravel him with her gaze alone.
"I'm Celeste," she said finally, extending a hand.
Elias hesitated for a moment before taking it. Her grip was firm, her hand cool to the touch. "Elias," he replied.
"Well, Elias," she said, releasing his hand, "I'll be keeping an eye on you."
He couldn't tell if that was meant as a threat or a promise, but either way, it made him uneasy. "Right," he said, forcing a small smile. "Looking forward to it."
Celeste chuckled softly, a sound that was equal parts amusement and intrigue. "You should get some rest. Tomorrow's going to be another long day."
"Yeah, you too," Elias said, stepping aside to let her pass.
She walked away without another word, her hair swaying with each step.
Elias watched her until she turned a corner and disappeared from view.
As soon as she was gone, he exhaled a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. His mind raced, replaying the encounter and trying to make sense of what had just happened.
Who was she? And why was she so interested in him?
The thought of someone like her watching him sent a shiver down his spine. She was powerful — he could sense that much — and perceptive in a way that made him uncomfortable.
He'd have to be careful around her.
Elias resumed his journey to the dorms, his footsteps echoing in the empty hallway.
His body ached with every step, a dull reminder of the day's exertions. But despite his fatigue, his mind remained sharp, turning over the possibilities and implications of his brief conversation with Celeste.
By the time he reached his room, the other occupants were already there, talking quietly among themselves.
Elias nodded a greeting before collapsing onto his bed, the tension in his body finally easing as he sank into the mattress.
Elias stretched out on his bed, his body sinking into the thin mattress that offered little comfort after the day he'd had.
His limbs were heavy, and every muscle ached in protest as he tried to find a position that didn't remind him of the grueling schedule he'd just endured.
The dim light from the overhead fixture flickered slightly, casting faint shadows across the room.
He glanced around at his roommates, who were scattered across the small dorm. All four of them were still dressed in their uniforms, their black jackets bearing the Academy insignia faintly glinting under the light.
The room was plain — four metal-framed beds, a single desk crammed into the corner, and a small wardrobe that barely held their belongings.
It was clear that comfort wasn't a priority here. Hunters weren't supposed to feel at home — they were supposed to be ready for battle at any moment.
Elias's roommates seemed to be in a good mood despite the day's intensity.
One of them, a wiry boy with sandy hair and an ever-present smirk named Marcus, was leaning back on his bed, juggling a small knife between his fingers.
Across from him was Ren, a muscular guy with close-cropped black hair, who was casually flipping through a book on formations.
The third, Kyle, the bespectacled boy Elias had spoken to earlier, was perched on his bed, meticulously polishing a gauntlet that looked like it had seen better days.
"So," Ren started, his voice cutting through the quiet hum of the room, "how were your classes today? Any of you learn something that might actually keep us alive?"
Marcus snorted, tossing the knife into the air and catching it deftly. "Survival tactics was a joke. The instructor spent an hour lecturing us on formations like we're going to have time to draw neat little lines when we're surrounded by monsters."