Once they received their badges and basic gear, the hall slowly emptied.
Newly appointed novice hunters stepped out into the night in small groups, some quiet and overwhelmed, others whispering excitedly about mentors, assignments, and imagined futures.
One by one, they drifted home.
Except for three.
Teclos, Gillard, and Ralph remained standing in the town square.
It was cold. Their breath fogged in the winter air, drifting upward beneath a sky scattered with pale stars. Lanterns along the street flickered lazily, casting long shadows across the cobblestones.
For a moment, none of them spoke.
The badge was finally pinned to their chest.
The word hunter was now added to their name.
Gillard stared down at his own insignia, fingers brushing against the metal.
"We did it, boys," he murmured quietly. "We made it."
The words hung in the air for a few seconds.
Ralph froze.
Then—
