Oliver allowed the murmuring to continue for a few moments before he lightly tapped the base of his halberd against the floor. The sound was dull, yet it commanded attention. Silence followed almost immediately.

  “If anyone has any questions about anything, be it the monsters, the First Trial, the Heart Core, Keepsakes or anything else, feel free to ask.”

  A brief silence stretched across the room. The weight of Oliver’s words settled over the Hatchlings, their minds churning with countless questions. Some hesitated, unsure if their inquiries were worth voicing. Others glanced around, waiting for someone else to break the silence.

  Then, unpredictably, a young man who sat alone was the first to speak up.

  “What were to happen if a hunter were to die in the Trial? And what would happen to their Keepsakes?”

  The man was around the same age as Leo, maybe a year younger, he had a certain elegance around him if one could call it that. His long, straight black hair cascades down his back, his eyes were… closed? Without a doubt the man was very handsome, his face carried very youthful yet sharp features. Also his expression carried a soft, enigmatic smile that seemed too relaxed for the type of question he had asked.

  Oliver’s gaze shifted toward the young man who had spoken, his expression unreadable. The question hung in the air, drawing the attention of every Hatchling in the room.

  Despite all of the looks he was getting, the black-haired youth remained unfazed, his smile never faltering, even as an almost tangible weight settled over the room. His eyes, still closed, made it difficult to read his true emotions, but there was something unnerving about his composure.

  “If a hunter were to perish, it’s quite simple.” Oliver said, his tone direct and unwavering. “Their body will decompose into dust at an accelerated rate to the point nothing remains but the Heart Core within a few moments. As for their Keepsake, it will vanish and be recycled by the Gauntlet, ready to be claimed anew by somebody else.” The response was blunt and to the point.

  Akira’s gaze narrowed as he looked at Oliver's chest area. As I thought, Heart Cores from hunters can most likely also be absorbed.

  “I see.” The young man said, his expression did not change whatsoever. “Then, can Keepsakes be given to or taken from a hunter?”

  Inside of his heart Akira chuckled. This bastard, he’s not even trying to hide his intentions. I’ll have to watch out for him.

  Oliver’s gaze hardened, a flash of something unspoken crossing his face. It was clear he wasn’t entirely comfortable with this line of questioning. He adjusted his stance, the massive halberd resting against the floor as if its presence alone could anchor him against the subtle unease the room had begun to feel.

  “Generally, yes.” He said, his tone firm. “Keepsakes can be given and are a common trade source between Hunters, however you can not take another Hunter’s Keepsake forcefully, as it is bound to their Heart Core. Both parties must agree for the Keepsake to be transferred from one to another.”

  The young man with the closed eyes, seemingly unfazed by the heavy silence, gave a slight nod in acknowledgment before sitting back down.

  In order to grab his attention, Akira kicked Leo under the table.

  Startled slightly, Leo glanced at Akira with a raised eyebrow. "What was that for?" He whispered, his voice low enough that only Akira could hear.

  Akira didn’t answer immediately, his gaze still on the black-haired youth who had just spoken. The man’s calm demeanor, the calculated yet bold questions, there was something off about him.

  Why would someone exclaim such questions? Is he trying to instill panic? Is he simply a dumbass that looks smart? No, is this a sort of warning towards the others to not approach him?

  Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  Possibilities were endless and all Akira could do was guess in his mind, after all, he couldn’t read other people’s minds.

  Akira’s mask cracked, his eyes so sharp they could cut through a man’s soul. “Leo, if you find that guy in the First Trial before we regroup, make sure you don’t hesitate. He won’t.” Akira said while still staring at the long haired man.

  Turning over to also look at the black haired man Leo let out a sigh. “I get what you mean, his questions caught me off guard too but… he doesn’t give off that kind of vibe.”

  Akira’s eyes went back to normal as Leo’s words sank in. Doesn’t give off that kind of vibe? Leo, as usual, was too lighthearted and quick to dismiss what others might be hiding beneath their surface. But then again, Leo also had a strangely good intuition, it wasn’t something he could scoff off as a dumb hunch.

  For a few moments, Akira felt torn between what to think and say so he chose to play the only card he had left, watch and wait.

  “Are there any more questions?” Oliver’s gaze swept over the gathered Hatchlings, his posture still commanding, the massive halberd now took on a white glow before disappearing into a scattering mist.

  A quiet tension settled over the room. Even though Oliver had dismissed the strange young man’s line of questioning with a direct answer, the unease remained.

  Satisfied that there were no more questions, Oliver spoke again, this time with a softer expression. “If that’s all, then we’ll be heading out in a few minutes. Finish your meals and get ready. You’ll be seeing Verdant Haven’s inner city for the first time, try not to get too excited and do anything dumb.”

  Glancing at Leo, Akira asked. “You said that guy didn’t give you ‘that kind of vibe’. What do you mean?”

  Leo hesitated for a moment, clearly thinking over Akira’s question. His usual lightheartedness seemed a little more subdued as he glanced back toward the enigmatic young man with the closed eyes. There was something in the air that had shifted, something Akira wasn’t sure he could fully understand just yet.

  “I don’t know.” He started slowly, his eyes narrowing slightly in thought. “I just… I don’t get the feeling he’s dangerous, at least not in the way you are. He seems like one of those people who always knows what they’re doing, like he’s got everything figured out. But…” He trailed off for a second, then shrugged. “It doesn’t feel threatening, more like... he’s testing the waters. I know he’s got his own agenda, maybe he’s making it seem like he’s a bad guy so people don’t approach him, kind of how you put on that little play of yours of the helpless, weak little boy. But unlike you he’s making himself look more dangerous.”

  An idea came to Akira’s mind, one that would connect the reasons for why someone would try to make themselves look dangerous and stand out.

  I wonder… What kind of Trait does he have?

  The minutes passed swiftly, and soon enough, Oliver and the other caretakers led the Hatchlings out of the dining hall.

  The morning sun was higher now, casting long shadows over Verdant Haven’s stone pathways. Warm made the air stuffy, and the scent of soil and greenery filled the breeze.

  The group of Hatchlings moved in a loose formation, their steps uneven as they took in the sights of Verdant Haven’s inner city for the first time.

  Stone pathways beneath their feet felt lukewarm, though worn smooth from countless footsteps. They had yet to receive any kind of footwear so the smooth and warm texture of the stone felt quite pleasant under their feet.

  Buildings of various shapes and sizes lined the streets, some made of wood, others of stone, their designs functional yet sturdy. Despite the structured layout, nature was interwoven into every part of the city. Vines curled around the edges of buildings, towering trees provided shade at street corners, and patches of greenery bloomed in small gardens and courtyards.

  Unlike the barracks and the field where they had trained, this place felt far more developed and cared for.

  It was very lively, people were selling goods, the scent of freshly baked bread filled the air.

  Looking around Akira could see clearly that the amount of people in this place was no joke, bustling around there were people of all shapes, sizes and ages.

  All these people went through the Selection Trial, they all have Traits. So, why? Why stop here? Wait, if there’s kids here… Do they also go through a Selection Trial?

  Too many questions, stuff Akira didn’t even think to imagine was now a new questionmark among the countless others.

  Stalls of everything one could imagine were spread out as others shopped. Occasionally you would see a pair of people in armor, sometimes they were guards who patrolled around and sometimes Hunters who wanted to but had yet to enter the First Trial.

  Speaking of which. How do we get to the First Trial from here?

  Though, that was a question for another day, it was bound to be asked or simply be brought up one way or another.