HUNTERS ALLIANCE - CHAPTER THREE: QUITE PROMISES, HIDDEN MOVES

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The bell rang once more.

Not loud.

Not urgent.

But final.

It echoed through the academy halls like a closing statement, signaling the end of the first day’s orientation—and the beginning of something far more real.

“Dormitory allocation is now in effect. Male and female students will proceed to their designated wings.”

The announcement drifted through the corridors, calm and emotionless.

Around Roshan, students began to move.

Some with confidence.

Some with hesitation.

Some pretending they weren’t nervous at all.

“Already?” Lira sighed softly, folding her schedule as she glanced around. “Feels like we just got here.”

“That’s because we did,” Miko replied, though her voice was quieter than usual. Thoughtful.

Daren adjusted his grip on his paper. “It’s expected. Separation makes control easier.”

Lira gave him a look. “You always say things like that?”

“…yes.”

Roshan let out a small breath, his eyes moving between them.

For a moment, the crowd faded.

The noise softened.

And it was just the four of them again—like it had always been.

“We’ll be fine,” he said, though he wasn’t sure if he was reassuring them… or himself.

Miko met his gaze. “We stick to the plan.”

“Every day,” Lira added. “We meet. We talk. No secrets.”

Daren gave a single nod. “No one gets left behind.”

There it was.

Simple.

Familiar.

Safe.

Roshan smiled faintly. “Only us.”

“Only us,” they echoed.

For a second longer, they stood there.

Then—

The moment passed.

Movement resumed.

And slowly, they began to walk.

Boys’ Dormitory

The path to the boys’ dormitory stretched along the eastern side of the academy, quieter than the main halls but still filled with the steady sound of footsteps.

Roshan walked beside Daren, neither of them speaking for a while.

The air felt different here.

Less chaotic.

More… contained.

Tall stone walls lined the corridor, their surfaces smooth but cold. Narrow windows allowed thin streams of evening light to slip through, painting long shadows across the floor.

“…it’s quieter,” Roshan said eventually.

Daren glanced ahead. “Fewer people. More structure.”

“That supposed to make me feel better?”

“No.”

Roshan huffed lightly.

They reached the dormitory entrance, where a large board displayed room assignments.

Students gathered around it, some already pointing, others searching quietly.

Roshan stepped closer.

His finger traced down the list.

Names blurred for a moment—until he found it.

Ryn, Roshan – Room 47

He stared at it for a second.

Just a number.

Just a room.

But somehow…

It felt like a line had been drawn.

“Got it,” he said.

“Same floor,” Daren replied after a moment. “Room 52.”

Roshan nodded.

A small relief.

Not alone.

Not completely.

They stood there a second longer than necessary.

Then—

“See you later,” Roshan said.

Daren nodded once. “Don’t do anything reckless.”

Roshan smirked slightly. “No promises.”

“…I know.”

And just like that, they separated.

Room 47.

Roshan stood in front of the door.

Hand hovering just above the handle.

For a moment, he didn’t move.

It was strange.

How something so simple—just opening a door—could suddenly feel… important.

Like stepping into something new.

He exhaled quietly.

Then pushed it open.

The door creaked softly.

The room was still.

Empty.

Waiting.

Roshan stepped inside slowly, closing the door behind him with a soft click.

Silence settled around him.

He didn’t rush.

Didn’t drop his bag immediately.

Instead, he walked further in, his eyes taking everything in piece by piece.

The bed.

Neatly made.

Untouched.

The desk.

Bare.

The window.

Half-lit by the fading sun.

“…so this is mine,” he murmured.

He placed his bag down gently, almost carefully, like he didn’t want to disturb the space too quickly.

Then he sat.

The bed dipped slightly beneath him.

Roshan leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, staring at the floor for a moment.

Everything from the day replayed in fragments.

The hall.

The speech.

The word sacrifice.

The girl.

His chest tightened slightly.

“…yeah,” he whispered.

It was a lot.

More than he expected.

Slowly, he reached into his pocket.

His fingers brushed against something small.

Familiar.

He pulled it out carefully.

A pendant.

Worn.

Simple.

But held like something far more valuable.

His mother’s.

The last thing she gave him before he left.

Roshan stared at it in silence.

Memories didn’t rush in.

They came slowly.

Her voice.

Soft.

Steady.

“You don’t have to become a hero, Roshan.”

He swallowed lightly.

“…I know,” he said under his breath.

His fingers tightened around the pendant.

“But I want to.”

A pause.

The room felt even quieter now.

“I want to protect them.”

His voice steadied, gaining a little strength.

“Our home.”

Another pause.

“And everyone else.”

He leaned back slightly, his eyes drifting toward the window where the sky had deepened into shades of orange and gold.

“The legendary hunters…”

He let the words sit for a moment.

Then—

“I’ll reach that level.”

Not loud.

Not dramatic.

Just certain.

A promise.

“I will.”

Girls’ Dormitory

The girls’ dormitory was quieter in a different way.

Not empty.

Not silent.

But controlled.

Like everyone was aware… even if they didn’t show it.

Miko stepped inside, her movements slow, deliberate.

Her eyes moved carefully across the room.

Entrances.

Corners.

People.

She didn’t speak.

Lira stretched beside her, letting out a small breath. “Okay… I expected worse.”

Miko glanced at her briefly. “You always expect worse.”

“That way I’m never disappointed.”

A small pause.

“Meet later?” Lira asked.

Miko nodded. “Yeah.”

Lira smiled faintly before heading off.

Miko watched her go.

Then turned toward her own room.

Inside, she closed the door gently.

Locked it.

And stood still.

She didn’t move immediately.

Didn’t unpack.

Didn’t sit.

She just… listened.

The faint sound of footsteps outside.

A distant voice.

Then quiet again.

Her brow furrowed slightly.

“…something’s off,” she murmured.

It wasn’t loud.

It wasn’t obvious.

Just a feeling.

A subtle tension sitting just beneath the surface.

She walked slowly around the room, her fingers brushing lightly against the desk, the wall.

Everything looked normal.

Everything was normal.

But her instincts—

They didn’t agree.

Miko exhaled quietly.

“Maybe it’s just the first day,” she said, though it didn’t fully convince her.

Still…

She didn’t relax.

Not completely.

Somewhere in the Academy

Darkness settled into the hidden corners of the academy.

Places students weren’t meant to see.

Places that felt… older.

A woman stood there.

Still.

Patient.

Across from her, a man cloaked in black watched silently.

“You’ve chosen?” he asked.

Her answer came without hesitation.

“Yes.”

A pause.

“So quickly?”

Her lips curved faintly.

“He’s not like the others.”

The man tilted his head slightly. “Or perhaps you’re seeing potential where there is none.”

She let out a quiet breath.

“I know what I saw.”

Silence stretched between them.

Then—

“And you’re certain?” he asked again.

This time, her gaze sharpened.

“Yes.”

No doubt.

No hesitation.

“I’ll make my move soon.”

The man studied her for a moment longer.

Then nodded slightly.

“Be careful.”

A small smile touched her lips.

“I always am.”

And with that—

She turned.

And disappeared into the shadows.

Far Beyond the Academy

The capital was quieter at night.

Controlled.

Predictable.

Inside a private chamber, two figures sat across from each other.

Desmond Dutchman leaned forward slightly, his fingers resting calmly against the table.

Across from him, Ember Snowfield remained composed, her posture relaxed—but her eyes sharp.

“You’re suggesting we take control of Rashenghart,” she said.

Desmond shook his head slightly.

“Not take.”

A pause.

“Shift.”

She studied him carefully.

“That’s not possible.”

“The Hunters Alliance controls everything.”

A small silence followed.

“Kings and queens stopped existing for a reason.”

Desmond nodded.

“Yes.”

His voice remained calm.

“But power didn’t disappear.”

Her gaze narrowed slightly.

“It changed hands.”

Another pause.

“Whoever controls the Alliance controls the country,” she said.

“Yes,” he replied.

“But that’s not where control begins.”

Silence settled.

Then—

“People,” he said simply.

Her expression shifted.

“…people?”

He nodded.

“Whoever controls the people…”

A small pause.

“…controls the country.”

Her fingers tapped lightly against the table.

“And then…”

“…they control the Alliance,” she finished.

A quiet understanding settled in the room.

Slow.

Dangerous.

A small smile formed on her lips.

“…I see.”

Desmond leaned back slightly.

Satisfied.

Because now—

She understood.

And once someone understood something like that…

There was no going back.

Back at the academy—

Roshan sat alone in his room, a quiet promise resting in his hands.

Miko stood in hers, unease lingering in her chest.

And somewhere in the shadows—

Plans were already beginning to unfold.

Slowly.

Carefully.

Inevitably.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qzecPfCY4

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