Chapter 8: Vanguard Academy (2)
Axel POV
I left the room and wandered the grounds, hoping the fresh air would clear my head. The more I walked, the more I realized just how massive this place was; like a self-contained town hidden from the rest of the world
’If I refuse, they kill me. If I accept, I still die... just later.’
I let out a long sigh. "This is rigged. The second option is just delaying the inevitable."
Plus, I could get executed just for being found out to be a rogue hunter...
Well, who knows... this might actually be better than my past life.
Suddenly, memories resurfaced without warning. The taunts. The laughter. The same words looping in my head like a broken record:
"You’re Useless"
"Walking corpse"
"Weak bastard"
I clenched my jaw. Then the Commander’s voice cut through the noise in my mind.
"We could use talent like yours."
Tch. People like me don’t have talent. They were probably just blowing smoke, knowing I’d die on my first mission anyway.
But if you think about it, joining the academy wasn’t so bad...
I mean, up until now, I’ve been nothing but a wanderer. Surviving on the points I earned to convert to money I could use to take care of myself...
And being a licensed hunter meant that the chances of meeting that devil again was higher.
But was it worth it? Joining their ranks basically made me lapdog for them to order around..
And I didn’t like that.
Frustrated, I kept walking until I reached the rooftop. I dropped down against the wall, staring at the sky, wondering how the hell my life had spiraled to this point.
I just wanted a normal life. Was it too much to ask?
The door suddenly slammed open. Someone stormed in, clearly pissed off.
Hayley POV
"Ughhh! How the hell did someone like that get in here?!"
This school was supposed to be for people with real potential: talented, gifted hunters. Not some random guy who was living a completely boring life.
I was still muttering under my breath when I reached the rooftop, my usual spot to cool off. The second I stepped out, I froze.
He was already there.
I remembered the messy hairstyle and the black hoodie. But when he turned and looked straight at me, something else hit me hard: those lazy grey eyes. Dull, intense, and... annoyingly attractive.
I felt my cheeks burn. Not the time, Hayley.
"I heard you, y’know," he said quietly.
I snapped out of it. "W-what do you mean?"
"Never mind. I was just thinking... Should I stay, or should I accept an execution?"
"Execution means you die, y’know." I raised my eyebrow.
A brief moment of silence then he spoke again :
"I was just walking. Decided to sit here for a while. I’ll get out of your hair." He met my eyes again.
As he passed me, he muttered, "Ending up with you would be a nightmare for me..."
"Yeah, well... I hate your face anyway."
The words left my mouth before I could stop them. Then it hit me that he was probably going to join the academy.
I rubbed my foreheard...
Shit.
No POV
Axel continued his walk through the main hall. The school was enormous, yet strangely empty.
’Guess there really aren’t that many people with special abilities.’
[You’re still alive. Impressive...]
He stopped dead in his tracks.
"Huh?"’
The voice sounded awfully human, like there was another person in his mind...
"Hello?"
He turned around just to be sure, but no one was there.
Even after asking, the voice didn’t come again.
’Weird...’
"Axel." a familiar voice called out.
He turned to see Commander Vaden approaching with a calm smile. "Taking in the sights?"
"Yeah... figured I should learn my way around if I’m stuck here."
"Good. Come with me."
Vaden led him through several districts until they reached one marked with a large "5." After a short wait, another commander returned with a girl following behind.
She had long brown hair that flowed down to her lower back and a noticeably curvy figure for her age. She wore a fitted jumpsuit, the zipper pulled down just below her chest to reveal a black undershirt.
The girl’s eyes lit up the moment she saw Axel. She practically bounced over and grabbed his hand.
"Hiiii! Nice to meet you! I’m Amy. What’s your name?"
"Axel. Nice to meet you too." He was visibly overwhelmed by the sudden gesture. People usually avoided him but here she was, rushing at him like he was something valuable...
Amy couldn’t stop staring. Those strange grey-colored eyes... and that scar. She needed to know everything about him.
"Perfect timing," Vaden said. "Amy will be your tour guide today. Show him around, keep him out of trouble. He already drew quite a bit of attention when he arrived." The Commander gave a small wave as he left. "You two can get going. We have matters to attend to."
"Ok, Commander!" Amy saluted cheerfully, then grabbed Axel’s arm. "C’mon, Axel, Let’s gooooo!"
As they walked, Amy chattered excitedly, explaining the sheer scale of the academy. Only those personally recruited by Commanders ever got inside.
"We can’t just let normal civilians walk in," she said. "It’d be sending them to an early grave."
"Yeah? But ours isn’t?" Axel asked dryly.
Amy burst out laughing and leaned against him without thinking. Axel stiffened slightly, a faint blush creeping onto his face. It had been a long time since anyone felt this comfortable around him.
Then reality settled in again. He had left Jean behind—the only person who ever put up with him. Now he had to start over, and he wasn’t sure anyone here would tolerate him for long.
Amy suddenly stopped, staring intently at his face. "Your scar... it’s gone."
Axel touched his cheek, surprised. The scar had indeed vanished. But when he looked back at Amy, her face was bright red as she studied him closely.
Without the scar, his features were sharper. Devilishly handsome. Those ash-gray eyes stood out even more.
Before either of them could speak, shouting echoed from ahead.
A group of students had surrounded a terrified boy. At the center stood Adam Chase, one of the top five deadliest Special Rank hunters in the school.
"You let the devil get away and lost the knife I lent you? Pathetic. People like you are too weak to be hunters. B-ranks shouldn’t even be allowed here. You’re all worthless. You don’t deserve the life you—"
A strong hand clamped down on Adam’s shoulder.
"Oi. What was that?"
The voice was low, almost demonic. A heavy, oppressive aura filled the air.
Adam turned and found himself staring into glowing yellow eyes. Red-tinted skin. Sharp teeth. A jagged scar running across the left side of a face.
Amy, who had rushed over, froze in shock. The easygoing guy she’d been touring with had transformed into something terrifying.
Adam’s bravado faltered for a second before he forced it back. "Who the fuck are you?"
"Just a guy who gives a shit about bullies." Axel’s voice was cold. "Leave him alone. He’s already struggling. He doesn’t need assholes like you kicking him while he’s down."
The entire area fell silent.
Adam glared, but something about Axel presence warned him not to push it. "Heh... Fine. I’ll let it slide this time. But trust me,I’ll get you back for this."
With that, Adam and his group stormed off.
Axel exhaled slowly, the demonic features fading as he calmed down. He hadn’t meant to go that far, but seeing someone in the same position he once was, he just... reacted.
Amy stared at him quietly registering what happened.
What kind of hunter was she looking at this time...?
Comments