Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 701 157.4 - The Trip

The soft hum of the train persisted as the cabin lights dimmed, signaling the approach of nighttime. Irina tapped the interface on the wall, activating the cabin's transformation for its sleeping arrangement. 
The room responded instantly, the dining table and chairs shifting seamlessly back into the floor. The faint glow of runes lit up the walls as the bed emerged from a concealed compartment, a luxurious king-sized mattress draped in soft, plush linens. 
Astron, standing to the side, watched the transformation unfold with his usual calm. But as the bed revealed itself—its singular, unmistakably shared nature—he raised an eyebrow, his sharp gray eyes flicking toward Irina. 
"You…" He began, his tone as calm as ever but carrying a hint of incredulity. "…did you really book a single bedroom?" 
Irina turned toward him, her hazel eyes widening in feigned surprise. "What? I—I didn't know it was only a single bed!" she said, her voice laced with just the right amount of indignation. 
Astron's gaze lingered on her, his expression unreadable as he observed her for a long moment. The room fell silent save for the faint hum of the train as it continued its steady journey through the Arcadia Dominion. 
Then, he spoke his tone as cutting as it was calm. "You're lying." 
Irina stiffened, though she quickly tried to cover it by crossing her arms. "I am not!" she shot back, her voice firm, though her flushed cheeks betrayed her. 
"You can't escape my eyes," Astron said simply, his sharp gaze unwavering. "You booked this room knowing exactly what it was." 
Irina's lips twitched as she fought to maintain her composure. "I didn't," she insisted, turning her head away. "It's just a coincidence." 
Astron didn't reply immediately, but his silence was deafening. His piercing gaze seemed to strip away any pretense, leaving her feeling uncomfortably exposed. Irina avoided his eyes, her mind racing. 
So what if I'm lying? she thought defiantly. It's not like you can prove it. As long as I don't acknowledge it, what can you do? 
She glanced at him briefly, her smirk returning as a faintly mischievous glint shone in her eyes. And even then, we're already in this room. What are you going to do, leave the train or find another room? Heh, you're trapped here with me. You can't do anything. 
Astron sighed softly, his expression shifting into something between exasperation and resignation. "You're not very good at hiding your intentions," he remarked, his voice calm but tinged with dry amusement. 
Irina turned to face him fully, her arms still crossed. "And you're not very good at minding your own business," she retorted, her tone haughty. "Besides, it's just a bed. What's the big deal?" 
Astron raised an eyebrow. "It's not about the bed. It's about your inability to admit what's obvious." 
"Well, I'm not admitting anything," Irina said with a huff, turning her back to him. "So, you can think whatever you want." 
Astron shook his head slightly but didn't press further. Instead, he stepped forward, his calm demeanor unshaken as he approached the bed. "Fine," he said simply, his voice even. "I'll take the right side. You stay on the left." 
The room was quiet save for the faint hum of the train, the soft lighting casting warm shadows over the space. Astron stepped away from the bed, grabbing a small bag he'd brought with him. 
"Where are you going?" Irina asked, her hazel eyes narrowing slightly as she watched him head toward the bathroom. 
Astron glanced back at her, his sharp gray eyes calm. "To change." 
Irina huffed, crossing her arms. "Change here." 
Astron raised an eyebrow, his gaze flicking briefly to her before he shook his head. "No." 
"Why not?" Irina pressed a mischievous glint in her eyes. "What's the big deal?" 
Astron gave her a long, almost incredulous look. "I'm not into these kinds of things," he said flatly, his tone calm but edged with mild disbelief. 
Irina's cheeks flushed, and she immediately looked away, waving her hand dismissively. "Hmph! As if that's what I meant!" she muttered, though her voice betrayed her embarrassment. She shook her head, pretending to focus on the glowing runes in the room. "Whatever, just go." 
Astron turned back toward the bathroom, pausing only when Irina's voice stopped him again. 
"Wait." 
He turned slightly, his expression as unreadable as ever. 
"You should turn off the disguise," Irina said, gesturing vaguely toward him. Her hazel eyes flicked to the ring on his finger. "It's just us here. Why bother?" 
Astron raised an eyebrow. "What happened to being careful?" 
Irina rolled her eyes, letting out a soft huff. "It's just the two of us. No one's watching, and no one's coming in. Why are you being so uptight?" 
Astron shrugged, his calm demeanor unshaken. "If something unusual happens, it's not my responsibility," he said simply, then stepped into the bathroom without further argument. 
Irina watched him disappear, her gaze lingering on the closed door for a moment before she exhaled softly. So stubborn, she thought, her lips twitching into a faint smirk. But at least he listens… sort of. 
A few minutes later, the bathroom door opened, and Astron stepped out. He had changed into his sleeping clothes—simple, dark, and practical—but his appearance was striking nonetheless. His black hair was slightly damp, glistening faintly in the light, and small drops of water clung to his sharp features, giving his skin an almost luminous quality. His piercing purple eyes, no longer muted by the disguise, stood out vividly against his calm expression. 
Irina glanced up from where she was seated, her gaze locking onto him for a brief moment before she quickly looked away, her cheeks heating. She let out a long, exaggerated sigh, feigning exasperation. "Your face… it's really fatal, you know that?" 
Astron tilted his head slightly, his gaze calm but questioning. "Fatal?" 
"Never mind," she muttered, standing abruptly. She grabbed her own bag, her movements brisk as she made her way to the bathroom. "I'm changing." 
Astron didn't respond, simply moving toward the bed and settling on his designated side. As the door clicked shut behind Irina, she leaned against it for a moment, taking a deep breath to steady herself. This is going to be a long night, she thought, shaking her head before beginning to change. 
A few minutes later, the bathroom door opened, and Irina stepped out. She had changed into her sleeping clothes—a simple but elegant set that spoke to her upbringing. Her damp chestnut brown hair, a result of her disguise, fell loosely around her shoulders, and her hazel eyes glanced briefly at Astron before she made her way toward the bed. 
Astron, seated on the far side, was leaning against the headboard, his sharp purple eyes fixed on the glowing scenery outside the window. His calm demeanor was unshaken as Irina climbed into the bed, curling up on her side with a content sigh. For a while, she simply lay there, watching the subtle glow of the runes that adorned the cabin walls and the occasional shimmer of light reflecting from outside. 
But her gaze kept drifting toward him—his relaxed posture, his striking features highlighted faintly by the ambient light, and the way his black hair framed his calm, unreadable expression. Finally, unable to resist, she sat up and shifted toward him, settling herself on his side of the bed. 
Astron's eyebrows twitched slightly as he glanced at her. "What are you doing?" 
"Watching the scenery," she said simply, her tone carrying a casual confidence that made it clear she wasn't moving. 
Astron's sharp gaze flicked from her to the window, then back again. "Haven't you watched enough already?" 
"So what?" she replied with a faint smirk. "I haven't had enough." 
He exhaled softly, his expression as composed as ever, though the faintest flicker of exasperation crossed his eyes. Irina, meanwhile, continued watching the scenery outside, her focus occasionally shifting to him from the corner of her eye. 
The glowing forests and mana-imbued cliffs of the Arcadia Dominion continued to pass by, casting a serene glow over the room. But for Irina, the view inside the cabin was proving far more captivating. 
Astron's voice broke the silence. "It's getting late. We should sleep." 
Irina glanced at him, then let out a soft sigh. "Fine," she said, her tone almost reluctant as she moved back to her side of the bed. Curling into the soft blankets, she turned her back to him, her eyes closing. "Goodnight," she murmured, her voice quieter now. 
"Goodnight," he replied, his tone as steady as ever. 
Irina lay curled in the bed, the soft hum of the train and the faint glow of mana-infused runes creating a serene atmosphere. But sleep didn't come easily. Her mind raced, filled with the novelty of the situation—sharing a bed in a train cabin, the quiet presence of Astron beside her, and the strange tension that lingered in the air. 
She shifted slightly under the blankets, glancing over her shoulder at him. His back was to her, his dark silhouette outlined by the faint glow of the window. After a moment of hesitation, she spoke softly. 
"Are you sleeping?" 
Silence. 
She frowned, turning a little more toward him. "Are you sleeping?" she repeated, her voice a touch louder. 
Still nothing. 
She waited for a beat, her lips pressing into a thin line. "Astron," she whispered insistently. "Are you—" 
Finally, his voice cut through the quiet, calm but carrying a faint edge of exasperation. "I'm trying, but someone isn't making it easy." 
Irina huffed, crossing her arms under the blanket. "Humph! Well, excuse me for not being able to sleep immediately. Not all of us are machines who can just turn off at will." 
Astron sighed softly, but he didn't respond. His calm demeanor only fueled her irritation. 
She turned fully to face him now, resting her chin on her arm as she stared at his back. "You don't seem tired, either," she accused lightly. 
"I was getting there," he replied, his tone still measured. "Until now." 
Her cheeks flushed slightly, but she masked it with a scoff. "It's not my fault this is… new." 
Astron tilted his head slightly, though he didn't turn to face her. "New?" 
"Yes, new," Irina repeated, her voice quieter now as if admitting something she wasn't entirely comfortable with. "I've never done this before—sharing a room, a bed, traveling like this. It's all… different." 
For a moment, there was silence again. Then, Astron shifted slightly, glancing at her over his shoulder, his sharp purple eyes catching the faint light. "Different doesn't mean bad," he said simply. 
Irina blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected softness in his tone. She quickly turned away, muttering under her breath. "You're annoyingly insightful sometimes, you know that?" 
"Yeah, I do." 
Imagining his smug face, she couldn't take it. 
'Humph! Take this.' 
And she rushed to his side. n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om