HUNTERS ALLIANCE - CHAPTER TWO: EYES IN THE CROWD

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The hall was too big.

Not just big in size—but in presence.

It swallowed sound, stretched silence, and made every step feel like it mattered more than it should.

Roshan Ryn stopped just a little past the entrance, his boots brushing against the polished stone floor as his eyes lifted—slowly, almost carefully—toward the ceiling.

It disappeared into shadow.

Massive pillars lined the hall like ancient guardians, each one carved with glowing inscriptions that pulsed faintly with mana. The light wasn’t bright, but it was alive… like the building itself was breathing.

And above them all hung banners.

Five of them.

Each one marked with a different symbol.

The founders.

The legends who saved the world.

Mike San.

Living Song.

Ted Moon.

Minnie Rondov.

Keal Forest.

Names Roshan had heard since he was a child. Names people spoke with pride… and fear.

“…Roshan.”

Miko’s voice snapped him back.

He blinked, realizing he’d been staring for too long.

“Yeah,” he said quickly, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m here.”

Miko raised a brow, her short black hair shifting slightly as she tilted her head. “You sure? You look like you just entered another world.”

“He kinda did,” Lira added with a grin, spinning once as she took in the hall. Her silver hair caught the light beautifully, drawing more than a few glances. “This place is insane.”

“Focus,” Daren said quietly, though his tone wasn’t harsh. His eyes were already moving—counting people, exits, patterns. “We’re not here to admire architecture.”

“Let him admire,” Lira said, nudging Roshan. “It might be the last nice thing he sees before training kills him.”

Roshan snorted lightly. “Encouraging.”

“Always.”

But even as they joked, something unspoken lingered between them.

This wasn’t home.

This wasn’t safe.

This was the beginning of something that could either change their lives… or end them.

A deep, resonating sound suddenly filled the hall.

BOOM.

The doors behind them shut.

The sound echoed—long, heavy, final.

And just like that, the noise died.

Hundreds of voices… gone.

Replaced by silence thick enough to feel.

Then came the footsteps.

Slow.

Measured.

Each one landing with purpose.

At the front platform, figures emerged from the shadows—members of the Hunters Bureau.

Their uniforms were sharp, almost too perfect. Black coats lined with silver, insignias glowing faintly against their chests. They didn’t look like soldiers.

They looked like control.

At their center stood a man who didn’t need to raise his voice to be heard.

“You stand,” he began, his tone calm yet absolute, “at the beginning of your new lives.”

Roshan felt his chest tighten slightly.

Something about the man’s voice…

It didn’t inspire.

It commanded.

“From this moment,” he continued, “you are no longer dreamers. No longer children clinging to hope.”

A pause.

“You are candidates.”

The word landed heavier than expected.

Not students.

Not trainees.

Candidates.

Like they were being selected… or discarded.

“For power,” he said.

“For status.”

“For survival.”

His eyes moved slowly across the crowd.

“And for sacrifice.”

That word didn’t fade.

It settled.

Roshan felt it sink somewhere deep, though he couldn’t explain why.

Beside him, Miko shifted slightly. “I don’t like that word,” she muttered.

“No one does,” Daren replied quietly.

The man continued, his expression never changing.

“This academy will not make you heroes. It will show us who deserves to become one.”

“And who doesn’t.”

The tension grew.

“You will train until your limits break.”

“You will fight until your instincts replace fear.”

“You will rise… or you will fall.”

A student somewhere swallowed loudly.

No one laughed.

“Everything you gain here comes at a cost,” the man said. “Strength demands it. Power feeds on it.”

A slight pause.

“And the Hunters Alliance… collects it.”

Roshan’s brow furrowed slightly.

That line felt wrong.

Not loud.

Not obvious.

Just… wrong.

But before he could think deeper—

His attention shifted.

Just a little.

Just enough.

Because that’s when he saw her.

She wasn’t doing anything special.

Not talking.

Not moving much.

Just standing.

Short brown hair, soft and uneven like it hadn’t been styled with care. Her posture was smaller compared to others, almost like she was trying to take up less space.

But her face…

Calm.

Gentle.

Innocent in a place that didn’t feel like it allowed innocence.

Roshan stared.

“…hey.”

Miko again.

No response.

“Roshan.”

Still nothing.

“Wow,” Lira whispered. “He’s gone.”

“I see her,” Roshan said quietly, almost unconsciously.

That got their attention.

“Oh?” Miko leaned slightly, eyes narrowing with curiosity. “That didn’t take long.”

Lira smirked. “First day and already distracted. We’re doomed.”

“Shut up,” Roshan muttered, though his voice lacked its usual sharpness.

The girl shifted.

And then—

She looked up.

Their eyes met.

It wasn’t dramatic.

No gasp.

No sudden realization.

Just a quiet, still moment in the middle of chaos.

Her eyes were soft.

Curious.

Then—just as quickly—she looked away.

Gone.

Like it never happened.

Roshan blinked.

“…okay,” Miko said slowly. “That was something.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Sure you don’t.”

At the front, the Bureau official finished.

“You will now proceed to collect your schedules. Training begins immediately.”

And just like that—

The spell broke.

Voices returned.

Movement exploded.

Reality rushed back in.

The hallways outside were packed.

Students flooded through, forming lines that quickly turned messy.

“Stay close,” Daren said. “We don’t get separated.”

“Got it,” Miko replied.

Lira leaned closer to Roshan. “So… mysterious girl?”

“Not now.”

“Oh, so there is a now?”

“Lira.”

“Okay, okay.”

They found their line, squeezed between groups already arguing over rankings and strength.

Typical.

“So,” Miko said, crossing her arms. “We need a plan.”

“We just got here,” Roshan replied.

“Exactly,” she said. “Which means everyone else is already thinking ahead.”

Daren nodded slightly. “We observe first. Learn the system.”

“Don’t stand out,” Miko added.

“Unless we have to,” Lira said.

Roshan looked at them.

His people.

His team.

“And trust?” he asked.

A brief silence.

Then—

“Only us,” Lira said.

“Only us,” Miko repeated.

Daren nodded once.

Roshan smiled slightly.

“Only us.”

It felt solid.

Unbreakable.

…for now.

The line moved.

Slowly.

Eventually, they reached the front.

Schedules were handed out.

Roshan grabbed his—

And froze.

She was there again.

Closer this time.

Holding her own paper.

Still quiet.

Still… different.

His chest tightened slightly.

Without thinking, he stepped forward.

“Roshan.”

Daren.

He stopped.

“Where are you going?” Miko asked.

“I just—”

“Don’t,” Daren said.

Not harsh.

Just certain.

Roshan hesitated.

Then looked back.

Then forward again—

But she was already walking away.

Blending into the crowd.

Gone.

“…bad timing,” Lira said softly.

Roshan exhaled.

“Yeah.”

But something stayed.

A feeling.

Like this wasn’t the last time.

Like it couldn’t be.

Above them—

Hidden in shadow—

A woman watched.

Silent.

Still.

Her eyes locked onto Roshan.

“…there you are,” she whispered.

A faint smile formed.

“Interesting.”

Below, Roshan laughed lightly, unaware.

Completely unaware.

The woman turned.

Stepping back into darkness.

“I’ve found my target.”

Her voice was calm.

Certain.

And cold.

“Let’s see… how long you last.”

And just like that—

She was gone.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmiNdr2j39

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